degree of knowledge, of which, nevertheless, she has sufficient on essential points. Seemed to feel that she is a sinner. Had made up her mind to come to the Sacrament: thought it necessary: had felt last Sunday's sermon much. Not finding I could draw out much more, but being satisfied that there was, at least, sincerity in what she said, I dismissed her. Approved. 9. MARY DICKS, aged 16.—This good girl was agitated when she came in she evidently made a great effort to suppress her feelings, which made her more restrained than usual with me: at length she burst into tears which greatly relieved her, and she recovered and spoke more naturally: has been thinking very much about her confirmation: trusts, with God's help, to be able to keep her promise: feels her sins to be a great burthen has prayed much and found comfort: intends to come to the Sacrament: made up her mind to this when she witnessed our taking it the other Sunday: I encouraged her by speaking to her of the blessing which God had already given to the confirmation of her brother and sister. MARGINAL READINGS. No. I. COMPARATIVELY few of the ordinary readers of the Bible make any use of the marginal readings which our Translators have supplied for them: and yet they are almost invariably great helps in arriving at a knowledge of the sense of any passage. It is well known that it is scarcely possible to convey in the English language, all the force which, in many cases, is contained in the Greek. Every occurrence of a marginal reading is an acknowledgement of a certain degree of difficulty, on the part of the translators; in which they have not thought it necessary to come to a decision; but have left to the reader a choice, at least between two or more expressions. In such a case, the lay reader has a right to look to his ministerial guide to help him in his selection. Hence the clergyman would seem to be called upon, in his Scriptural expositions, to take particular notice of the more important marginal readings, and to guide the minds of his hearers in making use of the liberty thus conceded to them by the translators. In doing this it will be found, in a great many cases, that the marginal reading throws much light upon the meaning of the original; and in not a few it will be seen, that the sense of a phrase, equivocally expressed in the text, is determined by the help of the words used in the margin: and in such cases, the popular notion has not uncommonly affixed a wrong sense to the text; which is carried on from mind to mind, and from generation to generation, with inveterate prejudice; when a glance at the margin would suffice to rectify the mistake. In order to draw the pastor's attention to the necessity of correcting such errors as these, by means of his Scriptural expositions, a series of short observations will be given from time to time, pointing out particular instances in which the marginal readings may be especially explained with advantage. 66 1. Acts ii. 6. "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together." In the second verse we were told that suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind," which filled all the house where the disciples were sitting. This was one of the effects produced by the descent of the Holy Ghost; and while the other effects stated were visible to the eyes, and perceived by the minds of the persons then present, "the sound from heaven" was heard much more generally; perhaps, all over the city; for it is immediately said, that "there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven;" and then these words occur,γενομένης δὲ τῆς φωνῆς ταύτης; which are translated in the margin "When this voice was made"-that is, the sound of " a rushing mighty wind" as stated in the second verse. There can be no doubt that the word own is capable of the rendering in the margin with reference to this "sound;" since, without controversy, it is applied in precisely the same manner in drawing the comparison with the Holy Spirit at John iii. 8. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound (rýv povǹv) thereof.” It seems clear therefore, that the meaning of Acts ii. 6 is, that when the inhabitants of Jerusalem (which at that time was crowded with pious Jews from all parts of the world, who had come to the feast of Pentecost) heard the loud noise produced by the descent of the Holy Spirit, they were drawn to the spot in crowds, to ascertain what was the cause of this extraordinary sound. The popular notion, gathered from the language of the text, is, that the first witnesses of the miraculous effusion went out and talked of it to their neighbours; who, in consequence of their report, came afterwards to see and hear for themselves. This must have required some time to elapse between the actual descent of the Holy Ghost and the preaching of Peter's sermon; while in fact, all the events recorded happened in immediate succession, and without any interval of delay. PART SECOND. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PASTOR WITH HIS FLOCK. THE PASTORAL CALENDAR. JULY, 1842. --00 FIRST WEEK. July 3rd. Sunday. (Psalm iii.) SIXTH SUNDAY After Trinity. CHURCH INSTRUCTION. As we pray in the Collect to be able to love God above all things, the fruits of that love are taught, in the Epistle, to be newness of life; and in the Gospel to be a purifying of our motives from secret anger, and a greater righteousness than mere profession. Epistle, Rom. vi. 3-11. Gospel, Matt. v. 20-26. First Lessons, Morning. 2 Sam. xii. Second Lessons, Morning, Luke xv. Afternoon, Phil. iii. Suggested Text-Ps. xxvii. 13, 14. A Sacramental Exposition. (See No. 5.) THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER ADMINISTERED. Afternoon, 2 Sam. xix. 4th. Mon. (Ps. iv.) 5th. Tues. (Ps. v.) 6th. Wed. (Ps. vi.) 7th. Thurs. (Ps. vii.) 8th. Fri. (Ps. viii.) 9th. Sat. (Ps. ix.) (Gen. Un. for Priv. Prayer.) SECOND WEEK. July 10. Sunday (Psalm x.) SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. CHURCH INSTRUCTION. As the increase of true religion in us is the prayer of the Collect, the Epistle sets before us a contrast between the service of sin and the service of God. The Gospel contains one of the compassionate miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Epistle, Rom. vi. 19-23. Afternoon, 2 Sam. xxiv. Gospel Mark viii. 1-19. First Lessons, Morn. 2 Sam. xxi. Suggested Text-John iv. 24. (See Liturgical Lectures, No. 1.) 11th. MoN. (Ps. xi.) 12th. Tues. (Ps. xii.) 13th. Wed. (Ps. xiii.) 14th. Thurs. (Ps. xiv.) 15th. Fri. (Ps. xv.) 16th. Sat. (Ps. xvi.) (Gen. Union for Private Prayer.) THIRD WEEK. July 17th. Sunday. (Ps. xvii.) 8TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. CHURCH INSTRUCTION. The doctrine of God's Providence suggests the prayer of the Collect. In the Epistle we are taught, that having the Holy Spirit of adoption, we may trust to God as our FaVOL. I.-NO. VII. EE ther; though, by His providence, he calls us to suffering; and in the Gospel we are re minded that doing the will of the Father is the proof of the children. Epistle, Rom. vii. 12-17. Gospel, Matt. vii. 15-21. First Lessons, Morn. 1 Kings xiii. Afternoon, 1 Kings xvii. Second Lessons, Morning, John v. Aft, 1 Tim. i. Suggested Text-Exod. xx. 7. (See Compendium, No. 9.) 18th. Mon. (Ps. xviii. 1-29) 19th. Tues. (Ps. xviii. 30-50.) 20th. Wed. (Ps. xix.) 21st. Thurs. (Ps. xx.) 22nd. Fri. (Ps. xxi.) 23rd. Sat. (Ps. xxii.) (Gen. Union for Pri. Prayer.) FOURTH WEEK. July 24th. Sunday, (Psalm xxiii.) 9TH SUNDAY AFTer Trinity. CHURCH INSTRUCTION. In the Collect we pray for the Spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful, that we may live according to God's will. In the Epistle the conduct of the Jews, who acted wrongly, though possessed of the knowledge of right, is put before us as a warning; and, in the Gospel, the conduct of the world, in ac'ing wisely even from a wrong principle is shewn to us as ar example, as far as their wisdom is concerned. Epistle, 1 Cor. x. 1-13, Gospel, Luke xvi. 1-9. First Lessons, Morning, 1 Kings xviii. Afternoon, 1 Kings xix. Second Lessons, Morning, John xii. Afternoon, 2 Tim. iii. Suggested Text-Acts xx. 35. (See Compendium, No. 10.) 25th. Mon. (Ps. xxiv.) ST. JAMES'S DAY. CHURCH INSTRUCTION. On this day the Church points out the ready obedience of St. James, in leaving every thing to follow Christ, in order to excite us to a similar readiness. Fpistle, Acts xi 27 to xii. 3. Gospel, Matt. xx. 20-28. 28th. Thurs. 26h. Tues. (Ps. xxv.) 27th. Wed. (Ps. xxvi.) (Ps. xxvii.) 29th. Fri. (Ps. xxviii.) 30th. Sat. (Ps. xxix.) (Gen. Union for Private Prayer.) wwwwww FIFTH WEEK. July 31st. Sunday. (Ps. xxx.) TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. CHURCH INSTRUCTION. From the prayer of the Collect we are taught that, to have what we ask of God, we must ask such things as please Him. The Epistle shews us that it is by the gift of the Spirit that we come to Christ for such things; and in the Gospel, the importance of praying for spiritual things is gathered from our Lord's lamentation over Jerusalem, because they knew not the things that belonged to their peace. Epistle. 1 Cor. xii. 1-11. Gospel, Luke xix. 41-49. Suggested Text-Prov. xi. 24. (See Proverb, No. 3.) August 1. Mon. (Ps. xxxi. 1-14.) 2nd. Tues. (Ps. xxxi. 15-24.) 3rd. Wed. (Ps. xxxii.) 4th. Thurs. (Ps. xxxiii) 5th. Fri. (Ps. xxxiv.) 6th. Sat. (Ps. xxxv.) (Gen. Un. for P. Prayer.) SACRAMENTAL SELF-EXAMINATION. No. V. 29. What are my thoughts of the manner in which a true Christian ought to live? 30. Do I suppose that the atonement of Christ makes it more likely that God would excuse any sinful state in one who professes to believe in it? 31 Do I imagine that my own frailties or infirmities (as I may call them) are less likely to be offensive to God because I am sorry for them, although I still continue to give way to them. 32. Do I continually struggle against all my infirmities, knowing that the more light I have, the more offensive to God would be my giving way to them? 33. Is it with a deep sense of the danger of grieving the Holy Spirit by sin, that I attend the Holy Communion? and also with a clear conviction, that by doing wrong, while I know what is right, I (as it were) knowingly crucify Christ? SACRAMENTAL EXPOSITION, No. V. PSALM XXVII. 13, 14. Verse 13.-I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 66 He Hope deferred maketh the heart sick :" this is declared in one part of the word of God. (Prov. xiii. 12.) "Faith is the substance of things hoped for:" this is declared in another part of the same word of God. (Heb. xi. 1.) The verse before us brings these two thoughts together. The Psalmist does not say that he then actually saw the thing he desired, but that he fully believed that he should see it; and, but for this faith, his heart would have failed him. This is the true Christian's case. fully expects to see and to experience the goodness of the Lord towards himself: and it is this confident expectation which stands, as it were, in the place of the very thing he desires; and supplies him with the very comfort which is the special blessing flowing from that goodness, and is the evidence that it has been already shewn towards us. The communion of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus is one of the principal means by which this expectation is kept in a lively state. It is the food of the heart, which nourishes the faith, and overcomes the sickness of hope deferred, by bringing the things hoped for clearly before us. What is the thing thus desired? To see the goodness of the Lord---to see it even now, while we are in this present life---" in |