Our collect, moreover, ascribes eternity to God, because, from the mention of this glorious attribute of Deity, confidence in the application to the throne of grace which follows may be derived. For when we speak of God as everlasting, we contemplate not only His existence but also His perfections and character. What He was in the beginning, that He is now, and ever will be world without end. The adorable name by which He is made known is "I AM," implying immutability of will as well as of being." He is "in one mind, and who can turn Him? and what "His soul desireth, even that He doth." Now He has always been "the God of peace." For no sooner was the friendship which subsisted between Him and His creature man interrupted by the first transgression, than it appeared that He had provided means of reconciliation; which means He immediately revealed for the preservation of our guilty parents from the torments of despair. The Revelation of His will, the substance of which is the gospel of peace, from the beginning to the end of it, accords with the first discovery of Divine goodness, and may be compared to "the waters of Shiloah that go softly;' for its undiscoverable source is in the everlasting hills on which Mount Sion is built, from whence it flows with a gentle and even course, undiverted by human guilt, unaltered by the lapse of years, and undiminished by the supply which it has afforded to millions who have drank of it. In the fulness of time God sent His Son into the world to "make peace by the blood of His cross;" at whose birth angels sang "Peace on earth;" and at whose death "all things were reconciled to "God, whether they be things on earth or things "" in heaven." Now if God be "everlasting," VOL. I.

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"the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" if He be without variableness or shadow of turn"ing;" with what confidence may we approach His throne and say, "Grant us Thy peace all the days of our life!" For who can question for a moment His readiness to hear and answer the request of our lips? By the mention of these attributes therefore our church may be considered as addressing each of her members for His encouragement on approaching the mercy-seat, in the gracious words of the Prince of Peace, "O thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou doubt ?”

We proceed to ascribe unto God universal dominion. And this consideration stands also in close connection with the act of supplication which constitutes the body of the prayer. For He who "governs all things both in heaven and "in earth," must be allsufficient to "grant us "His peace all the days of our life." No creature can thwart His intention, or finally disappoint His purpose of mercy.

The myriads of angels who surround His throne, and are the first subjects of His kingdom, delight to do His will; and being His obedient servants, are employed on behalf of His church, for "they "are all ministring spirits, sent forth to minister "to them who shall be heirs of salvation." thing which the principalities and powers in heavenly places, under the direction of a special providence, can effect, can be wanting to the church of God, or to any member thereof.

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The hosts of hell, though they are not particularly specified by a mention of their abode in our collect, are also subject to Divine control. They also are God's instruments for the good of His people; not willingly indeed but of necessity. Their opposition and temptations are included

in the comprehensive catalogue of " things which "work together for good to them that love God, "and are the called according to His purpose." Their malignant efforts are the means of purifying what they labour to destroy: they eventually assist those in their way to heaven, whom they intend to thrust down to hell.

The things in earth, which are subject to the universal dominion of our God, are either rational or irrational. Among the rational subjects of God's kingdom here on earth, some are the voJuntary, and others the involuntary friends of His church. But all obey His will and do Him service by promoting His glory in the salvation of His redeemed. In the catalogue of the former may be reckoned the ministers of His word and sacraments, and the Christian governors of the world, who are the nursing fathers and mothers of the church, affording to it outward protection and support. Among the latter, persecutors public and private, by word or deed, subserve the gracious intentions of the Divine will: for as of old "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of "the church; so now, the sneer of contempt, to which the disciple of the despised Nazarene is still exposed, proves the means of alienating His affections more and more from the world, of forcing him into a nearer connection with his heavenly Friend, and of fixing his affections more surely there where true joys are to be found.

The irrational subjects of His dominion are the powers of nature, employed in our corporeal support or dissolution. "Fire and hail, snow "and vapour, stormy wind, obey His word." Riches and poverty, health and disease, life and death, are subject to His almighty will. "saith to one, Go, and he goeth; to another,

"He

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Come, and he cometh; and to His servant, Do this, and he doeth it." Not a hair falls from the heads of His children without His permission, for they are all numbered by Him. He hath "made a covenant for them with the beasts of "the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and "with the creeping things of the ground." "All "things are theirs; whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs;" "for they are Christ's, and Christ is God's."

Oh! what a boundless ocean of comfort is this consideration that God governs "all things in "heaven and in earth," when it is viewed in connection with the covenant of grace! May the reader dwell on it with increasing delight till his soul is "filled with all joy and peace in believing!"

The petition which forms the body of our collect divides itself into three parts: A general solicitation of attention to the united prayers of the church;-A specification of the particular blessing now implored; and-The ground on which the request is made.

The introductory petition for Divine regard to the supplications of the church shews the importance of the blessing afterwards to be implored. It is indeed so great that solemnity and importunity well become us in approaching the Divine Majesty to intercede for it. When Jacob expected an interview with Esau his brother whom he had offended, and of whose displeasure he was afraid, he sent messengers before him as a token of respect and to conciliate favour. The words of this preparatory address bear a resemblance of Jacob's messengers. Their office is of the same kind. Therein we humble ourselves before God

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as sinners by appealing to His mercy. remind Him that we are united in the request we make. Mercifully hear the supplications "of Thy people !"-" Thy lips, most adorable Saviour! have declared, If two of you shall agree upon earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'Now, Lord, we are more, many more in number than two or three assembled in this place which is consecrated to thy service; and we are agreed at this time to ask of thee the unspeakable blessing of PEACE. O, be thou in the midst of us and confer it upon us!"-The encouragement which is afforded to acts of public prayer is very great. May we feel it!And may our excellent forms be endeared to us by their tendency to produce that agreement in supplication to which our Lord has annexed success!

We proceed now to consider the inestimable blessing which the collect implores. It is PEACE a little, but a very comprehensive word—a boon of which eternity alone can disclose the full value.

A request for peace supposes parties at variance who are to be reconciled. Who then is the the offended party, with whom we seek a reconciliation?-With the hosts of hell? By no means. They, it is true, are our enemies, and we are engaged in war with them. But no hope is to be entertained of a peace, or even of a truce, with them. Their enmity to God and His people is inexorable, and can never be abolished. Nor indeed is peace with them to