No. 97.]

[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;

LONDON AGENTS, MESSKS. RIVINGTONS, St. PAUL'S-CHURCH-YARD

Just Published, price 3s. 6d.

THE

PULPIT POCKET COMPANION,

AND

LITURGICAL MANUAL OF GENERAL DEVOTION.
BY THE REV. I. E. N. MOLESWORTH,
RECTOR OF ST. MARTIN'S, CANTERBURY, AND ONE OE THE SIX
PREACHERS OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.

The aim of this work is principally to assist the Clergy, in the selection of a collect, or prayer, from the Liturgy, harmonizing with the subject of the sermon, before which it is read. For this purpose, analphabetical reference to the variety of topics, which abound in the petitions of our beautiful and comprehensive Liturgy, has been prepared. But the copiousness of the table of reference, will render it also generally useful to the private aspirations of the devout layman. Few are the desires, the hopes, the necessities, the fears, the sorrows, the feelings of piety and faith, gratitude and admiration, for which he may not there find expression in language unrivalled in comprehensiveness and conciseness, dignity and simplicity, pathos and sobriety.

** Vols 1, 2, and 3 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 volumes though dated 1835 and 1836, form manuals of Sunday reading, adapted to every year.

c. W. BANKS, PRINTER, ST. GEORGE'S STREET, CANTERBURY.

No. 97.] THE PENNY SUNDAY READER. [Vol. IV.

Nov. 6, 1836.-Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.

MORNING PRAYER.-FIRST PROPER LESSON. Proverbs xi.

As in the first three Proper Lessons taken from Solomon's Proverbs, we have had general recommendations of true wisdom, and exhortations to practice it, so, in the remaining ones, we have the application of its principles, in short maxims, to some of our numerous relations and dealings one with another in society.

As the very nature of these maxims prevents any variety of remark, unless upon a scale too extensive for this work, we again take the brief statement of Travell, adding a few remarks of our own, to combine the meditations of our readers, upon these Lessons, with the services of the day.

"It is only at the tenth chapter that, what are properly called, the Proverbs, begin. The preceding chapters are rather a kind of preface, or introduction, strongly exhorting men to the practice of those useful lessons which they convey. These proverbs are either similitudes and comparisons of one thing to another, which is the proper signification of a proverb, or they are contained in short distinct sentences, and have little, or no connection with each other. They chiefly relate to the conduct of human life, the virtues and vices which mankind pursue, and the rewards or punish

ments which are the usual consequences of them. They are generally so clear, that it would be needless to attempt to explain them; and being wholly unconnected, they cannot well be formed into any regular discourse. My observations upon them, will therefore be short, only taking notice of such as contain the most important lessons, or whose meaning appears to be less obvious and intelligible.

"The present chapter, consists of many and various subjects. Among other things, it recommends to us justice in our dealings, humility, integrity, and uprightness, caution in our words and actions, and liberality in relieving the needy. On the other hand, it warns us against pride, hypocrisy, tale-bearing, and cruelty. It points out to us the hopeless end of the wicked, the danger of trusting in riches, the advantage of good counsel, and the different recompense which the righteous and the wicked shall not fail to receive.

"The eighth verse is the first in which there seems to be any difficulty. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.' The good man frequently escapes from the snares which are laid for him, while the wicked man takes his place, and finds his own ruin in the mischief he had plotted against another.

"At the twenty-first verse there is this expression; though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.' This probably means, that however he may strengthen himself by the aid of associates in his wickedness, the punishment he deserves shall be sure at length to overtake him.

"The twenty-fourth verse runs thus: there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth

to poverty.' The word scattering must here mean communicating and doing good to others; which if it do not directly increase a man's possessions, will undoubtedly increase his satisfaction and enjoyment. Whereas they who merely hoard up their fortunes, without any benefit to others, are in a state little better than that of poverty.

"The following verse has much the same meaning: 'the liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered himself.' It is a great encouragement to acts of charity, that they draw down the blessing of God upon him who performs them: the bounty which he diffuses, like the plenty diffused by a copious stream, shall flow back in full measure upon himself.

"At the twenty-ninth verse we read, he that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the wind and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.' That is, whoever cherishes quarrels and dissensions in his own family, whatever advantages he may hope to gain by it, will find his expectations vain and empty, as a puff of wind: and he who foolishly adopts this conduct, will sink himself beneath those whom he ought to govern.

66

Many excellent reflections may be made upon several of the wise maxims in this chapter. The false balance spoken of in the first verse, is an important one. They who are greedy of gain and make haste to get rich, are too apt to offend in this point: but though they may contrive to defraud their neighbour, and to screen themselves from the eye of justice, they may here learn how abominable this sin is in the sight of God.

"A very awful reflection may be drawn from