blessings which they thus lose, coming to the service of the Church long after it has begun! But I pause these are fearful evils to which men's eyes are only just beginning to be open; I pray that we may have grace to amend them. The outward frame-work of the Church doth not need mending half so much as the inward and spiritual condition of the worshippers.

For you, especially, the people of this parish, God forbid that I should not be anxious! I desire to gather around me a large multitude of holy and acceptable people, to meet their Saviour and Judge at his appearing. Much may be done, I am. sure, towards accomplishing this, if we will but look to what was "written aforetime for our learning"-if we will but strive to unite a holy "PATIENCE" with a humble seeking of that " comfort of the Scriptures," which none but the “ poor in spirit," none but the "pure in heart" can hope to know.

We live in an impatient world: the openly ungodly are impatient even of civil controul; and even among Christians, there is much impatience, which may be more or less sinful. Some are impatient of the aboundings of vice, when they ought rather to be thankful for the long-suffering of God;

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for which of us doth not daily contribute to swell the amount of human sin? Some are impatient of God's providential doings-impatient of " knowing in part"-impatient, it may be, of the authority of God's Church-unwilling to wait, in faith, and see the eventual working of God's hidden plans. Strange !-passing strange it is, that many professing Christians seem to be impatient of every method which God takes to prove them and try them. Impatient of the means of holiness which Christ has given-impatient of oft-repeated prayers -impatient even of monthly Communion! It was not thus of old. The blessed St. Basil, "writing aforetime for our learning," tells us that in his days the Holy Eucharist was administered four times a week! But things are different now! yet, even the voice of regret is hardly heard among us! And if it were authoritatively proposed, that in some forgotten things we should return to the ancient practice of God's Church, I fear that some of the strongest opposition might be expected even among those who claim a high degree of Christian spirituality or orthodoxy, and at times seem impatiently to wonder that God delays to "visit his people," and purify his elect. It is plain that the peculiar evils of these times, arise from an

impatient, unsubdued, disobedient spirit. An impatient Christian (O! strange anomaly!) is certainly an unhappy, peaceless Christian! True patience, like a lamp of heavenly fire, shineth evermore in the humble heart, as in its proper temple. True Christian patience resteth in quiet confidence on God's love and wisdom, and as some tranquil star sheds its meek light through the often parted clouds of a dark stormy sky-even so the patient faith of the humble spirit doth dwell apart from all the noise and contention of the tempestuous world, serene and undisturbed. "For yet a little

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while, and He that shall come will come, and will "not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith."

III.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, A WITNESS AGAINST

SCHISM.

FROM THE EPISTLE." Judge nothing before the time, until the "Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of dark66 ness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then "shall every man have praise of God."-1 COR. IV. 5.

FEw things are so difficult as to persuade men to renounce long-cherished opinions. To too many it is troublesome to be obliged to think at all carefully on any serious or unusual matter; a new idea seems almost to bewilder them; and, when thus bewildered, a mental indolence, or acquired incapacity, prompts them to relapse into the accustomed thoughts of previous years-and, in such cases, men sink into that ease, which they desire more than truth, with a sort of fixed resolve that nothing shall disturb them; in a spirit very similar to

1 The Third Week in Advent.