IT

may

be well by way of Apology for the appearance of this little publication, to premise: that the same motives which actuated me, in conjunction with my brother Ministers generally throughout the kingdom, to preach upon the subject of the Reformation on the Tercentenary-day of the translation of the Scriptures into English, induce me now to print the following Discourse. I do so in the hope, under the blessing of God, of not only keeping my own Parishioners in mind of these things, but also of beneficially extending to others some seasonable, and salutary admonitions,salutary indeed only in as far as they are deduced or deducible from the Book of divine Revelation itself. most of my Reverend Brethren discharged their high and voluntary office, on the above occasion, more ably and effectually than I have done, and therefore I trust that this publication may suggest to many of them the idea of enlarging the sphere of their usefulness by giving to the world the substance of those simultaneous appeals to the fundamental principles of Protestantism, in a durable and cheap form, for universal dissemination among all classes of the population of the Empire, at this most eventful period.

I doubt not but that

There happening to be such striking coincidences of subjectmatter in almost all the proper Lessons and Psalms for the Day 16th. Sun. after Trin.) with that involved in the great topic of the Commemoration, wherever I have quoted from any of these, he sources of their derivation are particularly specified in the Lote of reference. The Collect, likewise, appearing so remarkably appropriate, is prefixed, together with that for the 2nd Sunday in Advent generally made use of before Sermon.

Vicarage, Oving, Oct. 1835.

T. A. H.

COLLECT.

Blessed Lord, who has 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.

COLLECT FOR THE DAY.

O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SERMON.

MARK 7. 7.

[Lesson for the Day]

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

THIS sentence, you will recollect, my brethren, forms part of a quotation from the prophet Isaiah which was applied by Jesus Christ to the scribes and Pharisees. It appears that some members of these the strictest and most formally ceremonicus of the sects and orders among the Jews, having observed our Lord's disciples eating bread without having first washed their hands, after their own peculiar custom, expressed their indignant surprise at the omission. "For," the Evangelist tells us, in explanation, "all the Jews except they wash their hands oft, eat not, helding the tradition of the elders." And not only themselves did they wash so diligently, but also many vessels, and various other articles of furniture, before they were used, for some select purposes; indicating thereby the uncleanness which the persons or things were supposed to have contracted in the ordinary occupations of life. These Jewish doctors, then, could not understand how the followers of one professing to be a teacher

B

of religion and morality, could neglect the obserance of what they esteemed a religious duty; and they ventured to challenge the Master himself on this head, enquiring of him: "why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" To which question "He answered and said unto them: well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written: this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."" In this reply, and in the context, Jesus intimates that those scrupulous ceremonies of ablution to which they alluded, together with others of a like nature, not being commanded by God, but being merely the superfluous and unnecessary adjuncts of men, were not only not binding or efficacious in themselves, but, on the contrary, were positively injurious: for these, and other such like things inculcated in their traditions, actually thwarted the object of God's commandments, and rendered his divine Word of none effect Now, these traditions were certain unwritten institutions and regulations of man's device, which, transmitted down from age to age, by word of mouth, and by continuous observance, had become mixed up with the doctrines of the Scriptures, and regarded as of equal efficacy with them. Nay, more, for things had come to such a pass, that the commandments of God were rejected, and laid aside, and the commandments of men were preferred, and made to supersede them. No wonder, then, that the Sa viour of the world denounced the religion of the