mand. Let us fail not to study the picture of his mind, as delineated in his history and in his writings: let us examine the particulars of these and of his other virtues; let us ponder them in our meditations; let us imitate them in our practice; and withal let us "follow the holy doctrine which he taught;" and his conversion will have in us its perfect work. So having followed him, as he followed Christ, during the season of trial, we may be qualified to welcome the close of it with his triumphant exclamation, uttered not in the vanity of self-righteousness, but in devout reliance on the merits and mediation of the Saviour, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day."

Collects.

"O GOD, who through the preaching of the blessed Apostle St. Paul hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

“O MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live: Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Hereticks, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen."

"ALMIGHTY God, who shewest 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 truth 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."

y Third Collect for Good Friday. third Sunday after Easter.

* Collect for the

BEHOLD yon horseman hurrying by,
With armed hand, and ruthless eye!
Damascus-bound, he dooms to die,
Or deep in dungeon gloom to lie,
Or feel th' apostate's shame,
Whoe'er the stamp of Jesus wears:
Nor sex nor innocence he spares,
Nor beardless cheek, nor hoary hairs,
All-reckless if his victim bears

The Galilean's name.

Mark well the man! 'tis SAUL, 'tis he,
Jew fierce as e'er ye saw;
Of straitest sect a Pharisee,
A slave to Moses' law.

Behold yon preacher patient stand,
With placid mien and aspect bland!
Persuasive, lo! he waves his hand,
And tells of toils by sea and land,

Of dangers and of loss;

His limbs by bonds and scourges torn,
With weariness and watchings worn,
The Gentiles jest, the Hebrews scorn,
Assaulted, trampled on, forlorn,
Yet all for Jesus gladly borne,

The triumph of the Cross!

Mark well again: 'tis SAUL, 'tis he,

From legal bondage freed: Strong in the Christian's liberty, True to the Christian's creed.

List to his tale! ye hear him say,
What vision met him on his way:

How from the heavens a piercing ray,
More brilliant than the orb of day,
Struck on his dazzled eye;

And how, when smitten to the ground,
His ear received th' accusing sound,
"Me wherefore does thy fury wound?
Hard task and painful hast thou found,
Thy Saviour, Saul, am I.”
Appall'd, to guide his footsteps blind
He seeks another's sight:

But on the darkness of his mind
Has dawn'd a holier light.

PAUL, on thy truth's unshaken base

Our faith's foundation firm we place;
Nor less with adoration trace

The riches of celestial grace

In thy conversion shewn.

And though no change like thine we seek, Nor hope to hear our Saviour speak,

Nor hope to see his glory break

Through opening clouds; with spirit meek

His ceaseless grace we own:
And lowly beg, that, when away
From his straight path we roam,
His grace may meet us as we stray,
And lead the wanderers home.

ST. MATTHIAS.

The lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. Acтs i. 26.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE of st. MATTHIAS.

THERE is no express mention made in holy Scripture of Matthias, the Saint of this day, except in the account of his election to fill up the vacancy in the number of the Apostles, caused by the apostasy of Judas Iscariot. It is probable however that he was one of our Lord's seventy disciples: it is certain that he had attended on our Lord during his publick ministry, being all the time from the baptism of John a constant companion of the Apostles; and a witness finally of our Lord's resurrection, and of the subsequent transactions until the time of his being taken up into heaven.

It is upon the occasion just alluded to, that Matthias is first introduced by name to our

Acts i. 21, 22.

N