tion; 4, comforting promises, encouraging the duty of almsgiving; and 5, example inciting to liberality.

All of these divisions would vary somewhat in expression, one from another.

1. The Injunctions.-These passages have more of the preceptive and pronounced utterance of authoritative direction or command, softened by the moral purpose in view of persuading men to be merciful after their power.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven."-St. Matt. v., 16.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth; where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."-St. Matt. vi., 19, 20.

66 Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets. St. Matt. vii., 12.

"Let him that is taught in the Word minister unto him that teacheth, in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap."-Gal. vi., 6, 7.

"While we have time, let us do good unto all men ; and especially unto them that are of the household of faith."Gal. vi., 10.

66

Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be ready to give, and glad to distribute; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal life.”—I. Tim. vi., 17-19.

"To do good, and to distribute, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."-Heb. xiii., 16.

"Give alms of thy goods, and never turn thy face from any poor man; and then the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee."-Tobit, iv., 7.

"Be merciful after thy power. If thou hast much, give plenteously; if thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of necessity."-Tobit, iv., 8, 9.

2. Explanatory Declarations.-These portions have the effect of both explanations and statements. They are less emphatic than the direct injunctions.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."-St. Matt. vii.,

21.

"He that soweth little, shall reap little; and he that soweth plenteously, shall reap plenteously. Let every man do according as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.-II. Cor. ix., 6, 7.

"Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath for we brought nothing into this world, neither may we carry anything out."-I. Tim. vi., 6, 7.

"God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works, and labor that proceedeth of love; which love ye have showed for his Name's sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister."-Heb. vi., 10.

3. Oratorical Interrogation.-The interrogative appeal is equivalent to emphatic assertion. In the first of the sentences below the inquiry is given in the form of reasoning by parallel instances; in the second, it is reasoning based on a principle of justice; in the third, it is reasoning from example, in the interrogative form, with the statement, "even so hath the Lord ordained," etc.; and in the fourth, affectionate expostulation.

"Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own cost? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock ?"-I. Cor. ix., 7.

"If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great

matter if we shall reap your worldly things?"—I. Cor. ix., 11.

"Do ye not know, that they who minister about holy things, live of the sacrifice; and they who wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord also ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel."-I. Cor. ix., 13, 14.

"Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ?"-St. John, iii., 17.

4. Comforting Promises encouraging to Duty.-More of gentleness, and consequently more of sympathy, in expression, characterize the two sentences following:

"He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him. again."-Prov. xix., 17.

"Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble." -Psalm xli., 1.

5. Example inciting to Liberality. The particulars of the act described below, to be impressive, should be delivered with marked emphasis:

"Zaccheus stood forth, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have done any wrong to any man, I restore fourfold." -St. Luke, xix., 8.

If the sentences are to be used instructively, and as incitements to Christian duty, especially when that duty relates to our offerings to the Lord, as a part of the most solemn act of our religious offices, every expression should bear some proportionate character to the solemnity of the duty. In other words, the correct reading of these sentences should actually so instruct and exhort the people to almsgiving that they would be thus provoked to love and good works.

As it is not the intention to attempt an analysis, nor

suggest the character, of the reading of all portions of the Liturgy, it may be sufficient to state that, after the prayer for the Church Militant, the Service following, in all its varied divisions, is marked by greater solemnity and reverence than any of the other Services; and, therefore, to be read with expressive propriety, should receive the emphasis of these characteristics.

THE BURIAL SERVICE.

This is the one Service, above all others, which, out of the Church and within it, is acknowledged to be as nearly perfect as any humanly ordered Service can be. The reading of it, therefore, should be with the laudable purpose of making it not merely appropriate, in an expression free from marked defects, but also to interpret it according to the most impressive effect.

The sub-bass, so to speak, of the characteristic reading of the Service is the depth of solemnity pervading every portion of it. Even in the triumphant part of the Apostle's argument, in the Lesson, the majesty of the solemnity is still heard. And with this feeling we find accompanying the tenderest sympathy for the bereaved, and the kindly prompting of the heart which yearns to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. A single sound of the voice, out of keeping with these characteristics in the Service, is like the utterance of a thoughtless word, or the doing of some incongruous act, which shows the heart out of sympathy with the occasion. There is no Service where the voice of the pastor may be made to convince his people that he, with St. Paul, has them in his heart, and there is no occasion when unsympathetic, unfeeling, and inappropriate reading can estrange so completely the interest and affection of parishioners.

The Sentences.-The first is designed to inspire faith in the One mighty to save. Any utterance which does not

imply the profoundest solemnity and tenderness of feeling, or fails to suggest that we may rest securely in our faith in Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, does not rightly interpret this opening passage in the Burial Service. We should endeavor to utter them as the very words of the great Conqueror of Death, employed by the Church for the instruction and comfort of bereaved hearts in the trying hour of the burial of their dead. All hurried, unfeeling, and careless utterance shocks the ear, and does not suggest the sustaining comforts of the Christian faith in the thought of the Saviour's triumph.

"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die."-St. John, xi., 25, 26.

The Second Sentence.-As in the first Sentence it is the words of Christ we hear, encouraging faith, so in the second is heard the response. The language seems to apply to the assured belief of the departed. Deliberate emphasis, with confident, yet tranquil, trust, will give the key-note to the reading.

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."-Job, xix., 25-27.

The Third Sentence.-With more subdued voice now follows the utterance of the reverential submission and resignation of the bereaved. Hurried utterance and negligent expression do not comport with the thoughtfulness of the quiet trust which acknowledges the Divine mercy and wisdom in ways past finding out.

"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain. we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.”—I. Tim. vi., 7; Job, i., 21.