then never been guilty of covetous envious desires ? Has ours always been that godliness with contentment which is great gain? Have we habitually crushed all unkind feelings towards others who have more of this world's goods than ourselves? Have we never allowed any earthly object to usurp God's place in our affections, which is the throne?

C

As we ponder these ten holy commandments, who does not confess, By the law is the knowledge of sin ? Who does not confess with the patriarch, "If man will contend with God, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand"?" The apostle's witness is true, By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight." Nay, more than this, "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." We are verily guilty before God; we can only stand afar off with the publican, and cry, God be merciful to me a sinner. Is it so with us? Then are we prepared to welcome the assurance, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. God sent forth His Son to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons; and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father: wherefore thou art

a

Job ix. 3.

Rom. iii. 10.

c Gal. iii. 10.

no more a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. And now the commandment, so holy and just and good, is no longer an accuser and an enemy, but a faithful monitor and a trusted friend. For now we are the children of God, and are trying to walk in the footprints of Him who said, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart."

"The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."-JOHN vi. 51.

I hunger and I thirst;
Jesu, my manna be :
Ye living waters, burst

Out of the rock for me.

Thou bruised and broken Bread,

My lifelong wants supply;

As living souls are fed,

Oh feed me, or I die.

Thou true life-giving Vine,

Let me Thy sweetness prove;
Renew my life with Thine,
Refresh my soul with love.

Rough paths my feet have trod,
Since first their course began;
Feed me, Thou Bread of God;
Help me, Thou Son of Man.

For still the desert lies
My thirsting soul before;
O living waters, rise,

Within me evermore.

MONSELL.

THE COLLECTS FOR THE QUEEN.

¶Then shall follow one of these two Collects for the Queen, the Priest standing as before, and saying,

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting, and power infinite; Have mercy upon the whole Church; and so rule the heart of Thy chosen Servant VICTORIA, our Queen and Governor, that she (knowing whose minister she is) may above all things seek Thy honour and glory and that we, and all her subjects (duly considering whose authority she hath) may faithfully serve, honour, and humbly obey her, in Thee, and for Thee, according to Thy blessed Word and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Or,

Almighty and everlasting God, we are taught by Thy holy Word, that the hearts of Kings are in Thy rule and governance, and that Thou dost dispose and turn them as it seemeth best to Thy godly wisdom: We humbly beseech Thee so to dispose and govern the heart of VICTORIA Thy Servant, our Queen and Governor, that, in all her thoughts, words, and works, she may ever seek Thy honour and glory, and study to preserve Thy people committed to her charge, in wealth, peace, and godliness: Grant this, O merciful Father, for Thy dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We now come to the two (alternative) collects for our sovereign, our country, and our Church.

It may seem to us strange at first sight to be thus drawn into national life in the midst of deep searchings of heart and the preparation for the most spiritual and heavenly service of the Lord's Supper. But to have omitted these prayers would have left one important element of our many-sided life untouched in our Communion Service. The Ten Commandments have just affirmed to us not only our duty to God, but also all the claims of family and social life. And now these collects for our Queen, our fatherland, and the whole Church remind us we are subjects, and citizens, and members one of another, and that these facts involve corresponding duties for which we are responsible to God.

Let us thank God for the robust and masculine faith of the compilers of our liturgy. Their faith was no weak thing, which was ashamed or afraid to grapple with this practical world. It interpene

trated their whole life.

In the first collect we appeal to Him "whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite." When about to plead with God for our Church and Queen and country, how duly we remind ourselves that He to whom we come sits upon the throne of the universe from everlasting to everlasting. The kingdom of our sovereign is but a province of His boundless empire. For her we pray that "she, knowing whose minister she is, may above all things seek the honour and glory of God," than which no holier motive can govern the soul, no

loftier standard regulate the life. And this petition for our Queen demands one that answers to it for her people, claiming their heaven-taught obedience and service. And these intercessions are offered under the sanction of the blessed Word and ordinance of our God, by whom kings rule and princes decree justice.

And the second collect asks that all heavenly and earthly blessings may be so vouchsafed to our Queen that they may flow down from the sovereign on the throne to every subject of her dominions, her study being to preserve the people committed to her charge in wealth (ie. weal or wellbeing), peace, and godliness. Our forefathers were not ashamed to pray for national integrity and national godliness. May we, their children, hold fast these priceless heirlooms, which have come down to us from a simpler, and perhaps a grander, age.

As we ponder these collects, the apostle's words will recur to our mind, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." " We have cause indeed for humiliation, intercession, and thanksgiving. Humiliation for our national sins, coveta 1 Tim. ii. 1-3.