Chapter VE. "WHY DOTH ONE DAY EXCEL ANOTHER, WHEREAS ALL THE LIGHT OF EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR IS OF THE SUN?" "BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD THEY WERE DISTINGUISHED, AND HE ALTERED SEASONS AND FEASTS. SOME OF THEM HATH HE MADE HIGH DAYS, AND HALLOWED THEM, AND SOME OF THEM HATH HE MADE ORDINARY DAYS." CHAPTER VI. THE CHRISTIAN'S RULE WITH RESPECT TO HEN we look upon ourselves and see what we were by nature, when we reflect upon the deep taint of corruption still abiding in us, when we remember how, in spite of our regeneration, the whole course of our subsequent life has been little else than a dreary catalogue of continuallyrecurring frailties, infirmities, and sins, even if it has not been marked by some lengthened course of deliberate transgressions, when,-to use the words of Bishop Taylor, 66 we groan for the labours of our pilgrimage and the dangers of our warfare," and sum up all the "duties and contingencies, causes, instruments, and acts of sorrow," we shall feel that if it had pleased God to bid us lie in the dust, and go mourning all our days, He would have only required us to do that which for our iniquities we had deserved. Nevertheless, in His pity and tender mercies He hath had compassion on us. He knoweth whereof we are made: He remembereth that we are but dust. The beings whom He hath created He doth not forget: the creatures whom hath redeemed He will not forsake. As in outward circumstances He giveth us all things richly to enjoy, so for our souls He provideth rest and refreshment, lest they should be swallowed up with over much sorrow. While He bids us serve Him with fear, and rejoice unto Him with reverence, still He does bid us rejoice, and in the ordinances of His Church He gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for |