SERMONS ON THE GOSPELS FOR THE FESTIVALS, APPOINTED TO BE KEPT HOLY BY THE CATHOLICS IN ENGLAND; TO WHICH IS SUBJOINED ODLE! A SELECTION OF SERMONS PREACHED MANY YEARS AGO IN LONDON, AND RECENTLY REVISED AND CORRECTED. BY THE REV. JAMES WHEELER, M.A. DURHAM: FEWSTER AND JAMES, SADLER STREET; BALDWIN AND CRADOCK, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. MDCCCXXXV. PREFACE. THE favorable reception which the Sermons published last year on the Gospels for Sundays appear to have experienced, has encouraged the Author of them to venture to produce another volume, the first part of which may be regarded as a kind of supplement to the two preceding, as it consists of Sermons on the Gospels for the Festivals which are appointed to be kept holy by the Catholics in England. To these is subjoined a Sermon for Good Friday, on the Passion of Jesus Christ, which is followed by a selection of discourses on various religious subjects, delivered many years ago in London, and recently revised and corrected by the Author. Should this present volume have the good fortune to meet with a reception similar to that of its two predecessors, the Author will certainly derive from such reception additional gratification. Gratifying, however, as it will always be to his feelings, to obtain the approbation of those whom he wishes to please in order to serve, "Lectorem delectando, pariterque monendo," yet he can say with sincerity, that to contribute, in any degree, to the promotion of the everlasting interests of his readers, will be incomparably more SO. He therefore earnestly entreats them to present, in the first place, their most fervent petitions to Almighty God to give a blessing to his feeble endeavours. And he exhorts them, in the second place, to pray most ardently for the Divine influence of his grace upon their own hearts, that the seed of His holy word disseminated by him who is no more than an humble labourer in the service of their common Lord and Master, may not have the misfortune to fall either on a rocky soil, or on a soil overgrown with thorns, but that being happily received into a good soil, it may be productive of a rich and plentiful harvest, which will nourish their souls unto everlasting life; and that thus, in the words of our blessed Saviour, "both he who soweth, and he who reapeth, may rejoice together." (JOHN, c. iv. v. 36.) BURN HALL, December 1st, 1835. CONTENTS. FESTIVAL OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS CHRIST. The promptitude, courage, and perseverance of the wise |