The Epistle-Rom.* ch. xiii v. 8.

Preface.

In the first part of this chapter, the apostle tells the Jewish converts, that the Christian religion claimed no authority in the affairs of civil government, but strongly inculcates the necessity of obedience; he then proceeds to assure them:

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That he will always be the best subject who is the best Christian for that universal benevolence which Christianity prescribes, will the most effectually preserve them from the transgression of every law; and of course the most effectually fulfil it.

We Christians have motives beyond all other people to draw us to our duty. The night of this world is well nigh over; we consider the day as beginning to dawn. Let us then lay aside whatever relates to darkness, and make preparation only for the approaching light.

The Gospel-Matt. xxi. 1.

Jesus arrived at Bethphage, a town situated nearly at the foot of the mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem. From hence he sent two of his disciples to a neighbouring village, describing in what circumstances they should find an ass + with

The design of St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, is, to heal certain domestic disputes that divided the converted Jews and Gentiles. To end their contentions, St. Paul applies himself to restrain the presumption of both parties. He shews that neither of them could pretend to any merit, or had any reason to glory or boast of their vocation, which proceeded from the mere grace and mercy of God. That nothing but faith in Jesus Christ, enlivened by charity, and good works, can justify us without which all signifies nothing.-Vide Calmet.

The ancients did not consider it as any degradation to ride on asses: on the contrary, persons of the best quality in Palestine rode on asses. Deborah, in her song, describes the greatest men in Israel by "those who rode on white asses," Judges v. 10.-Calmet.

her colt, and instructing them what to say to the owner, if he should offer to prevent their bringing them. The disciples, following their instructions, laid their garments on the colt, and set Jesus upon it, while the people, spreading their garments, and strewing sprigs in the way,* attended him with a song of triumph, crying, "Hosannab† to the son of David; Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosannah in the highest !"

Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, “Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold thy king cometh unto thee, meek and lowly, sitting upon an ass, a colt, the foal of an ass."

In this manner Jesus entering Jerusalem, the whole city was in commotion, every one inquiring who he was to which inquiry voices from every part of the crowd were heard, this is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. At the temple Jesus alighted; and, passing through the outward court, was disgusted at seeing it occupied by buyers and sellers; all of whom he drove out saying,

* Spreading garments, and strewing branches in the way of conquerors and princes, were customary modes of shewing great respect amongst the Orientals in ancients times.-Gilpin. + Hosannah. The meaning of this exclamation is, we beseech thee!" It was a zealous and sincere invocation of God's blessing on the Messiah.-Vide Hewlett's Bible, Matthew, xxi, Notes.

"Save

In the temple of Jerusalem, says St. Jerome, where the Jews assembled from almost all the countries of the earth, sacrifices of different kinds, some for the rich and some for the poorer sort, were offered according to the law. But because those who came from distant countries often wanted such sacrifices, the priests took the advantage of buying up all the beasts appointed for that purpose, sold them to those who wanted them, and received them again at their hands. They even went so far as to appoint a set of people like pawnbrokers, who

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"It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer;' but ye have made it a den of thieves."

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

The Collect.

This collect is a humble petition to Almighty God for a blessing on our study of his Holy Word. It was composed at the Reformation, and, like the preceding, was incorporated into the Liturgy in the reign of Edward the Sixth.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that, by patience and comfort of thy Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Epistle.-Rom. xv. 4.

Preface.

The apostle, having exhorted his disciples to bear with the weaknesses of others, bids them remember the blessed example of our Saviour, and continues: hence,

Learn those principles of Christian charity, which are the foundation of all your hopes; and may God Almighty enable you to reduce them to practice; that your petitions to God may ascend from hearts full of love to each other! In a word, shew that affection to each other which Christ shewed to us all. Let the Gentile respect the Jew, as

received from the poor, fruits, herbs, or other commodities, for which they gave them a small sum of money to purchase the offerings. It was these abuses that called forth our Saviour's rebuke.-Vide Hewlett's Bible, Matthew, xxi. 13, Notes.

Christ was, in a peculiar manner, the Messiah of the Jews, by fulfilling the predictions of their prophets and let the Jews respect the Gentile; as he equally fulfils the predictions of the same prophets; who have with one voice notified his gracious call to the blessings of the Gospel. God grant that you may all believe the great truths of the gospel, and rejoice in its blessed hopes, with unanimity and peace!

The Gospel.-Luke, xxi. 25.

Preface.

In the preceding part of the chapter our Saviour had prophecied the destruction of Jerusalem; and after remarking that, among the many instances of ruin and destruction that ever happened in the world, this surely would be the greatest ;-he continues

Not only shall the city of Jerusalem be destroyed,*

* The following_particulars (which are extracted from the Roman Historian Tacitus, who flourished in the reign of the Emperor Trajan, about thirty years after the destruction of Jerusalem; and from the Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eye-witness of what he relates) will shew how literally our Saviour's prophecy of the downfall of this proud and magnificent city was accomplished.

Tacitus thus describes Jerusalem, at the time when it was besiged by Titus :

"Jerusalem stood upon an eminence difficult of approach: it was surrounded by walls of prodigious strength, which was further increased by redoubts and bulwarks, that even on a level plain would have secured it from insult; within those walls were enclosed four hills, two of which, namely Sion and Acra, were also fortified by strong walls, which on the outside were washed by a broad and rapid stream, that rushed like a torrent from east to west." The Temple stood on Mount Moriah, and was not less remarkable for the splendour and magnificence of its ornaments, than for the enormous stones of which it was built. These stones were blocks of marble, upwards of seventy feet in length, nine feet in height, and

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but the whole Jewish government shall be dissolved; and that nation shall become a standing monument.

eleven feet in breadth; and were so admirably put together, that it is difficult to determine whether beauty or strength was pre-eminent. The richness of the decorations within corresponded with the grandeur and magnificence without : altogether it surpassed every other building in the world.

The impiety of the people drew down upon them the judgments of God. False prophets arose, direful prodigies and portents announced their impending fate. Swords were seen glittering in the air; embattled armies appeared; and the temple was illumined by a stream of light that issued from the heavens. The portal flew open, and what, says the celebrated Bossuet, could be so alarming a signal of the impending wrath of heaven, as the hollow murmur heard by the priest in the sanctuary, and the voice that issued from the Holy of Holies, "Let us leave this place." Desolation and ruin stalked even in the sanctuary! Dreadful as are the miseries a people is doomed to suffer from a besieging enemy, they were nothing to the horrors which the Jews sustained from civil, dissentions. Three bold and ambitious leaders of as many armies, inflamed with mutual envy, rage, and ambition, filled every corner of the city with slaughter, whilst the besieging army encompassing them with a wall, cut off their supplies of provisions. Thousands perished by famine, tens of thousands by domestic treachery, massacre, and assassination. The streets were covered with the dead and the dying. Old men, women, and children, stretching forth their feeble hands for sustenance, expired in the act of receiving it. The rites of sepulchre were neglected. In vain did Titus, the Roman general, offer pardon to all who would submit; in vain did their countryman, Josephus, exhort them in the most pathetic terms, and represent to them the inevitable destruction that awaited them; "I see," said he, "I see too late, that I am struggling against the will of God, who sends the Romans to bury all in ruin. Titus wishes to save you from destruction, but your doom is pronounced above: it is God, it is a powerful, an avenging God, who delivers you to your enemies!"

At length the city was taken. Titus anxiously desired to save the temple, but he could not; a soldier threw a combustible weapon against the golden window, which adhering to the woodwork, set fire to the building. With the exception of three towers, the whole city was laid in ruins. Titus, when he beheld the conflagration, lifted up his hands to heaven, exclaiming, "The God of the Jews has fought against them, to him we owe

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