avail us that we had made such good provision for meeting future trouble, that we had taken such "thought for the morrow?" Wise forethought is not only not forbidden, but it is the positive duty of rational and Christian men; a duty implied by the gift of reason, and enforced by all the claims of morality. It is the useless, distracting care for the ills, either certain or possible, of the future, against which we are here warned; and the fruitlessness of which is self-evident, seeing man is not the disposer either of himself or his circumstances, save as His GOD may permit him to assist in bringing about His will concerning him. But in addition to the fruitlessness of it, and our having a positive command to the contrary, there are other reasons, cheering and encouraging, why we should dismiss it from our bosoms: GOD takes thought for the morrow for us. Nor is it less in His mercy when the grief and suffering which we have dreaded, and vainly tried to ward off, are our appointed portion; for He prepares our afflictions and sorrows as a skilful physician prepares his various remedies for divers diseases, each one exactly suited to correct the ill for which it is intended. And, measured out by infinite love and wisdom, they cannot fail of being perfectly fitted for their end; the bringing forth the "peaceable fruits of righteousness" in them who are "exercised thereby." It is our FATHER that chastens, and He will give us strength to bear the chastening, grievous indeed though it be, and not joyous, and if our trust be in Him, He will not suffer us to be destroyed by His rebuke; but will be unto us as a "refiner and purifier of silver," watching over us until His image be reflected in us. GOD has both the will and the power to make us happy; though for this purpose He sometimes employs means that to our ignorance seem strangely. ill adapted for their end. But "the day shall declare it;" He will make the "crooked straight, and rough places plain," and then shall we see how wisely, how kindly have all those events been ordered which have appeared so harsh or unnecessary; for He "correcteth as a father the son in whom He delighteth," not for His pleasure, but for our profit. And it is one of the appointed exercises of the life of faith which, as Christians, we are called to lead, to believe this now. Could we but draw aside the veil which conceals from mortal eye that world to which we are hastening, and let the full light of eternity on our path, how carefully should we obey every command of our GoD, how fully acquiesce in every dispensation of His providence. How should we count what we now call good, evil; that which is sweet, bitter; how entirely submit that His will, and not ours, should be done. But this may not be; faith would thus be lost in vision, and here we must live by faith. Faith is as seed cast into the ground of our heart, which, when this "mortal shall put on immortality" shall perish, having brought forth the how wrong I was. But how you could speak so confidently to the fact I cannot but wonder. I thought no man could search the heart." "I will tell you, Edward. I cannot search the heart; but 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.' * Now among all the pleasures and privileges of Twelfth Day, you forgot to advert to the highest, which you would never have done, had it been in your heart." "And what is that, papa?" "The services of the Epiphany. So glorious! so triumphant ! so instructive! If you could forget these in any remembrance of Twelfth Day, it is not surprising you could forget the precepts of Him Whom they honour." 66 Indeed, papa, I fear I have been forgetful and sinful. And yet, you know, we go to Church daily, but we have only one Twelfth Day in the year." "We have the Epiphany service only once in the year, Edward. It is natural, perhaps, that you should think more of your companions and festivities; but what is natural is not therefore right, rather the contrary. However, when you come to consider the matter, you will both see your error and renounce it." "I should so like to hear you explain the festival, papa." "You must not think, my dear boy, that I am condemning the amusements of young people on Twelfth Night, which can hardly be, since I promote them myself. But certainly I often see them prosecuted in a manner which is painful to me. People keep the festivals of the Church, without keeping the holydays. They feast, and rejoice, for instance, on the evening of the Epiphany, though they have never partaken its services, or meditated its blessings. Now nothing, surely, can be more senseless than this. The ancient ceremonies of Twelfth Night were, in all probability, originally heathen; they are permitted by the Church as innocent and amusing, and not unsuited to the hilarity of a festive season, which draws the young and the beloved around the domestic hearth. Taken in this connexion, they have a principle of Christian life within them, which sweetens, and in a manner hallows them. But by themselves, they relapse into their heathen origin, and are cold, unmeaning pastimes. I can never therefore understand the principle on which people "keep" Twelfth Day, as they call it, without any participation in the services of the Church, or meditations of the occasion. It would be thought very improper to treat Christmas Day after this fashion. No doubt, Christmas Day is the higher festival; but this does not affect * Matt. xii. 34. the principle. If we think fit to feast on Twelfth Day, we ought to think more fit to share its religious duties. Every creature of GOD is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of GOD, and prayer." But where there is no thanksgiving, and the word of GOD and prayer are neglected, I fear the creatures will bring no blessing. I fear there is sometimes too much to touch us in those words of the Prophet, which the Church reads in Advent, to prepare us for occasions like this: "The harp and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of His hands." And I cannot forget the comment which the words of the Psalmist furnish on this text: "Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up." + "But, papa," said Edward, "you have not explained the Epiphany festival." That will I now do, my dear. But I wished to show you the spirit of Christmas rejoicing, before I entered more on the subject. The word Epiphany is Greek, and signifies Manifestation. It is given to this festival, because we celebrate on that occasion the first manifestation of our LORD to the Gentiles, in the persons of the wise men who came from the East. In the chapters of Isaiah, read in the services of the day, this event appears to be foretold, together with future glories of the Church, of which it was but the faint and far-off shadow. But I hope I am not wrong in saying that these triumphs of the Church less touch my heart than the simple narrative of the Gospel for the day. Rich and poor, the shepherds and the sages, came alike to the cradle of the LORD, and were alike accepted by Him Who is no respecter of persons; for they were alike in diligence and simplicity, alike in forwardness to come to Him. Whence the wise men came is not known; they were of the order called Magi, of whom the prophet Daniel had been chief;§ and probably they had learned from his prophecy of the seventy weeks that the time for Messiah's birth was come. They desired to see Messiah, but what could they do? They had no Bible to tell them where He should be born; all they knew was He was to be King of the Jews. They were believers in astrology, and they sought their information thence. Their science was vain and superstitious; but their faith and love were pure, and GOD answered them according to their sincerity. Rather shall false science * 1 Tim. iv. 15. Ps. xxviii. 5. + Isa. v. 12. This seems implied in Daniel's prophecy, which connects the Messiah with the rebuilding of the temple and holy city. But the expectation of a king arising out of Judæa was common throughout the East at that time. 66 guide to truth, than the sincere seeker of CHRIST fail to be guided. The sages and the shepherds were in one Communion of Saints, though they knew not of each other, though their manner of life had been different, and their lot distant. It has even been thought they were guided by the same light, the distant view of the heavenly glory being the star which guided the Magi. As the shepherds said, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem," and came with haste," so did the Magi immediately set out on a long and painful journey-a journey which, as some suppose, must have occupied a year! They, like the shepherds, never rested till they came where their Saviour lay, whom the chief priests and scribes, who knew where He should be born, would not go a few miles to see! They presented to Him of their choicest and best, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They never reasoned that such things could not profit a child-it was to testify love, a love that would not offer of that which cost nothing, that they brought these things. They did not argue that, because we cannot benefit Him, we should not honour Him with our substance. There was, no doubt, something also more implied-worship, homage; perhaps some deeper mystery. But there was the thankful and self-denying heart. How much these men had learned! yet with how slender means of learning! I can never contemplate this history without feeling how much better love is than knowledge. "Knowledge puffeth up; but charity (or love) edifieth."+ Love indeed is the highest and purest knowledge: when we know how to love GOD aright, we know much, and we may be assured we shall know yet more. You remember our LORD says, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words," and, "If any will do the FATHER'S will, he shall know of the doctrine," § and, "he that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My FATHER, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." || "I had never thought, indeed, papa," said Edward, who had listened solemnly, "there was so much to be learned and enjoyed in the contemplation of the Epiphany. I trust now I see how heedless I was." "that "It was scarcely to be expected," replied his father, you should, at your age, have discovered so much of the hidden instruction of Scripture; yet now that it is pointed out to you, and you understand it, you will be answerable for keeping it. Yours is the happy and most important time for growth in holy knowledge and dispositions. You are in the Epiphany of life's year at present; in its early days, while the star which is to *Luke ii. 15, 16. John xiv. 23. John xiv. 21. † 1 Cor, viii. 1. guide you is rising and undimmed. Make your boyish pleasures true happiness by consecrating them to the Author of all blessedBut I will leave you now to reflect on this in the words of our favourite poet : ness. Star of the East! how sweet art thou, Pointing to Thee in Thy sure rest." * H. T. BISHOP OF NEWFOUNDLAND. "A TRAVELLER in North America, while resting at a lonely inn, was roused at night by a voice chanting the Psalms. On inquiry he found that it was the Bishop of Newfoundland chanting alone the Evening Service." |