No. 87.] [Vol. IV. THE PENNY SUNDAY READER. EDITED BY THE REV. I. E. N. MOLESWORTH, RECTOR OF ST. MARTIN'S, CANTERBURY, AND ONE OF THE SIX PREACHERS OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY, IN WHICH CHRISTIANITY WAS FIRST EMBRACED BY A KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS, AND THEIR QUEENS THY NURSING MOTHERS.-Isaiah, ch. xlix. 23. CANTERBURY: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, AT THE OFFICE OF THE KENTISH OBSERVER. TO BE HAD OF G. BARNES, KING'S ARMS LIBRARY; AND OF ALL BOOKSELLERS. LONDON AGENTS, MESSRS. RIVINGTONS, St. PAUL'S-CHURCH-YARD. SECOND EDITION. Just Published, Price Threepence, (Printed to bind up with the Penny Sunday Reader,) GOD'S GLORY DECLARED IN THE HEAVENS; A SERMON ON THE 19TH PSALM, SUGGESTING PLAIN AND DEVOUT MEDITATIONS ON THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, MAY 15, 1836. THE announcement of the eclipse, to which this discourse refers, had escaped the observation of the Author, till long after the PENNY SUNDAY READER for the 15th of May had been printed, and he was, therefore, prevented from offering, as he would otherwise have done, in that Number, reflections suitable to the occurrence. As the best means of supplying the omission, he has printed the Sermon which he addressed to his parishioners on the occasion; and this forms his apology for putting forth a publication of so little pretension. CANTERBURY: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE KENTISH TO BE HAD OF MESSRS. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. ** Vols 1 and 2 of the PENNY SUNDAY READER, for 1835, may now be had of all booksellers, price 2s. 9d. each, neatly bound in cloth, with the wood-cut of St. Martin's Church, Canterbury, printed on the cover. It should be noted that these two vols., though published in 1835, form a comment on the Collects, &c., and a manual of Sunday reading, adapted to every year. C. W. BANKS, PRINTER, ST. GEORGE'S STREET, CANTERBURY. No.87.] THE PENNY SUNDAY READER. [Vol. IV. August 28, 1836.-Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. MORNING PRAYER.-FIRST PROPER LESSON. 2 Kings, xix. IN this chapter, the subject of the first Proper Lesson, for Evening Prayer, of last Sunday, is continued. We find the remarks of Mr. Wo Vogan, in his preface to this Sunday, so suitable to our purpose, that we shall wholly avail ourselves of them. "The fear of man bringeth a snare,' saith the Wise man; but, Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.' The difference, and inequality, that appears in the conduct of Hezekiah, affords us a remarkable example of both these axioms. In one and the same person, we behold an instance of that ensnaring fear, and this happy trust. His mean and abject submission to the King of Assyria, as related in the foregoing chapter, and especially the sacrilegious price he paid, to purchase peace, plainly argued too great pusillanimity, for one who professed the true religion, and had the God of Jacob for his refuge. But the measures he now takes, upon the blasphemous message of Sennacherib, is a pattern worthy of imitation. First, he consults the prophet; then, repairs to the temple, and commends the whole affair into the hand of God, in a prayer full of pious zeal, and profound humility. "His message to the prophet is an example and instruction to all that are in trouble, to consult the L Word of God for advice and relief. His repairing to the house of the Lord, and spreading the blaspheming letter before God, may teach us, that a recourse to prayer, and the public worship of God, is the best security against public evils; especially, in a concern of religion, where the honour of God is blasphemed, and his enemies are too mighty for us to deal with. In such an exigence, the most effectual means to prevail against them is, to commit the whole to God, in devout and humble prayer. "From this part of Hezekiah's example we may also learn, wherein true Christian fortitude consists. It is true he rent his clothes; he covered himself with sackcloth, &c. And such a conduct may seem, to worldly people, to be a mark of fear and cowardice. But, if we consult the same history, as related 2 Chron. xxxii., we there find, that he acted a prudent and courageous, as well as a pious and religious, part. It is there said, He took counsel with his princes; stopped the waters; fortified the city; gathered an army; set captains of war over the people; spake comfortably to them, and said, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid, nor dismayed for the King of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him, &c.' This, we must allow, shewed both prudence and courage; but what is further related, and particularly in this Lesson, shews us what was the true ground of courage; it was a firm trust and reliance upon God. He rent his clothes indeed, and covered himself with sackcloth; but this was to propitiate God by repentance, for those sins which had provoked the Lord to send so formidable an army against him; and, very probably, for his unbecoming fears. The effect of this repentance, accompanied now with a greater zeal for the honor of God, was a firm and unshaken reliance on the assistance and protection of the Almighty; so that he could boldly say, in his speech to his army, Be not dismayed for the King of Assyria, nor for the multitude that is with him, for there be more with us than with him: with him, is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battles.' And then it follows, (as a proof of the mighty efficacy of such a divine confidence,) The people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, King of Judah.' "Fortitude, then, is not so properly a cardinal virtue, (as some moralists affect to call it,) but the result of many united virtues; particularly of humility, and a just diffidence of ourselves; a conscience purified by repentance, and without offence; a pious dependance upon God, grounded on a just knowledge of ourselves, and a due sense of his almighty power and mercy; so that a true faith is also a necessary ingredient in the composition of true fortitude. This is finely described and exemplified (verse 21 of our Lesson,) in the character of a virgin, the daughter of Zion, laughing at the hearty threats of the Assyrian King; not terrified, though a virgin, but despising him, while she placed her trust in God. This made the wise man say, 'The righteous are bold as a lion.' This, also, inspired the psalmist with such undaunted resolution and triumph,— The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid?' &c. (See also Psalm xlvi, Acts iv. 29, &c. &c.) "We see, then, in this Lesson, the powerful influence and happy effect, of humility, of prayer, and a pious recourse to the Word of God, in all times of trouble; that faith and trust in him is the true, and only sure, foundation of fortitude and courage. At |