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He clothes them with the power

Of His forgiving love,

As clothed at His baptismal hour
With unction of the Dove.

The Light hath burst its prison And shines Creation o'er : The Everlasting Life hath risen, And risen to die no more.

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

Lessons: Num. xx. I-14, xx. 14-xxi. 10, xxi. 10. Epistle 1 Peter ii. 19. Gospel: St. John x. II—17.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given Thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that His inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congrega tion. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount."-Num. xx. 27, 28.

A strange awe lay upon the silent tents
Of Israel, when the three,-their aged chief,
Aaron his brother and his brother's son,-

Pass'd through the camp. Men, women, little ones
Stood in the tent-doors gazing. Never a word
Was spoken, as the priest so pale and calm,
In all his robes pontifical array'd,

Walk'd through the trembling multitudes. They knew

They should not see his reverend form again :
He knew he was about to meet his God.
But when the camp was left, then Aaron gave,
In measured words and slow, his latest charge
To Eleazar;-words of noble faith,

As one who long had proved Jehovah's power;
Words of stern warning, being he himself
Had proved the weakness of the heart of man ;-
Few words but graven on the soul henceforth.
Still onward, upward led the path; and ere
They gain'd with patient steps the ridge of Hor
The sun was sloping towards the western sea.
And then,-in sooth he knew it was not long
Before himself upon another mount

Should yield his spirit to the hands of God,—
Moses with firm unfaltering hand stripp'd off
His brother's priestly garments, and therewith
Clothed one who shudder'd to receive them.
Then

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A heavenly radiance shone in Aaron's eye
And, lifting up his hands to bless them both,
Even as the words of blessing pass'd his lips,
He knelt, he sank, he fell upon the earth :
The fire was dimm'd, the lamp of life was quench'd,
The eyelids closed in death. And Aaron slept.

And where he sank they scoop'd his narrow grave;
And piled the massive stones for sepulchre :
And all the weight of Israel's ministry
On Eleazar rested. So it was

The priest was dead, the priesthood never died.

O Thou, who through the grave and gate of death

Hast pass'd to glory in the highest heavens,
Who livest still for us to intercede,
Vouchsafe us evermore to rest in Thee,
Our One Eternal Priest unchangeable,
As from the everlasting yesterday,
So through to-day's innumerable needs,
For ever and for ever still the same.

THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

Lessons: Num. xxii., xxiii., xxiv.

Epistle: I Peter ii. 11-18. Gospel : St. John xvi. 16—23.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."-St. John xvi. 22.

When the weary at heart and the laden with sin Have open'd to Jesus the things that have been, When all is forgiven, for all is confess'd,

In the blood of His cross there is rest, blessèd rest.

When in struggling for right and in wrestling with wrong

The rough doubtful path seems most lonesome and long,

Ah, then like a babe by its mother caress'd

In the bosom of Jesus is rest, blessèd rest.

When the home of our childhood is shadow'd and

dim

And the loved ones we clung to are gather'd to Him,

While we nestle and weep on His sheltering breast,

Still, still Jesus only is rest, blessèd rest.

But the shadows shall pass and the tears shall be dried

And the light and the love shall for ever abide : Without cloud, without end, inexpressibly blest For the people of God there remaineth a rest.

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