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he beholds the LORD'S CHRIST: whereupon he takes Him up in his arms, and blesses GOD, and pours out his soul in solemn thankfulness. LORD, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation:'-a Hymn whose echoes, while the world lasts, the Church will never suffer to die away.

And surely the lesson to be derived from this incident is the same which is taught us by many a page of Holy Scripture besides; namely, that Blessedness is to be found in the path of Duty. If the history of those who enjoyed the greatest personal marks of God's favour is called to mind, it will be found that Mercy and Goodness. overtook them while they were quietly pursuing their ordinary duties:-Moses, tending the flock of Jethro Gideon, threshing wheat: Saul, seeking his father's asses: David, feeding his father's sheep: Elisha, at the plough: Amos, with the herd. So again, the Shepherds while they were keeping watch over their flock by night: Simon and Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee (their partners), while engaged in fishing: Matthew, when sitting at the receipt of custom: Cornelius, at the hour of prayer: and, to conclude as we began, devout Simeon and Anna, in the course of

those duties to which their holy spirits most inclined them, the service namely of ALMIGHTY GOD in His Temple.

The lesson thus gathered from the example of many of those who have waited upon God most faithfully, or whom GOD has favoured most, may not be overlooked; neither is it one which any can afford to neglect. Every one is apt to think that there is something in his own position, peculiarly uncongenial to Holiness. He thinks his own path of life peculiarly difficult and embarrassing. Especially are men prone to think that the common round of daily duties affords but little time, and presents yet fewer opportunities, for the service of GOD. The daily task is so humble, or so uncongenial; so simply worldly, or so extremely private; that many who desire a closer walk with GoD are apt to wish that they were not exactly what and where they are; but indeed, almost any thing besides.

Let us remind one another that it is our own infirmity if we thus think. It is good things, not great things, which God requires at our hand. He can do without us; and it is He who does in us all that we ever seem to do well. Moreover, if He does but find in us a perfect willingness to serve Him, let us be well assured that

He will minister to us occasions of Holiness; or rather, that we shall find ample room for the execution of our best designs and desires, in those same daily duties, that same lowly round of perhaps distasteful task, which we half dislike and half despise. It was common raiment, doubtless, which our Blessed SAVIOUR wore in the hour of His Transfiguration; common, yea probably coarse raiment it was which in that mysterious hour covered His Divine person: yet consider how dazzlingly white it became, how unspeakably glorious, because it was wrapped about Him! And the commonest actions, in like manner, become glorious when they are done to His honour. He invests them with such a radiance as nothing upon earth can impart. Yea, they are made to shine like the Light because they belong to Him.

It is not however so much the opportunities of serving and pleasing GOD which our daily life presents, as the special Blessedness which may reasonably be expected to overtake us while we are walking in the path of Duty, to which we now desire to call attention. Let us humbly try to believe this, and to act upon it likewise. It may not be amiss to connect such a lesson henceforth with the Song of Simeon, as often as it is

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repeated in Church; and indeed it may perhaps be thought a useful practice secretly to connect some one thought of special edification with each part of the daily Service, as it comes round. There can at least be no doubt that we shall be acting wisely, if, as often as we bear our part in the Nunc Dimittis,' we rejoice to think that we are where holy Simeon was when he spoke those words; are engaged precisely as he was then himself engaged; yea, are awakening the echo of his very Song. Those words of humble, adoring love will be sure to remind us further that CHRIST is present in every place that He is to be sought for in the path of duty; and that we enjoy His own gracious promise that He will never be sought, without being found.

St. Matthias' Day.

THE OUTER AND THE INNER LIFE.

AcTs i. 20, (quoting Ps. cix. 8.)

His Bishoprick let another take.

WHEN the traitor Judas Iscariot fell by his accursed crime, it was necessary that some other disciple should be numbered with the Apostles, and take his Bishopric, and fill his throne, and wear his crown. The eleven Apostles, when they met to arrange this matter, 'appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, 'Thou, LORD, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two Thou hast chosen; that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.' And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.' Thus St. Matthias took the place of Judas;-fills the space in the Prayer-Book which the other would else have occupied ;—and claims to himself all his honours.

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