is made to the Sun of Righteousness, to whose beams all true worshippers desire to lay open their hearts. Ad Nonam was 3 P.M.; allusion is made to its being the time when our Lord expired on the cross. Our word noon is derived from hence; it seems the three hours of which each division of the day consisted, received their name from the service they preceded. Thus the three hours before "Ad Nonam," were called the "Ad Nonam" time, or noon-tide. Thus the beginning of noon-tide was immediately after the "Ad Sextam" was over, or just over 12 o'clock. Hence 12 o'clock came to be called noon, or the beginning of "noon-tide," the Ad Nonam service was not till 3 P. M. Vespers, or Evensong, was about the going down of the sun, and the close of the day; which circumstances are noted in the hymn. The Completorium, or Conclusion, as I have called it, for want of a better name, was at 9 P. M., and seems to have been intended for a wind-up, as it were, to the services of the day, and a last committal of self into the hands of God, before retiring to rest for the night. In the present days, these systematic subdivisions may stand a chance of being objected to, as formal and old-fashioned, or be condemned as tending to cramp the energies of the awakened soul with unwarrantable shackles. When we consider, however, how the naturally wayward heart needs every appliance and means that can be devised, to keep it to a right frame, there seems to be much wisdom in them. They tend to sanctify the whole day to the service of God, by constantly providing the mind with some holy employment to fall back upon. They are seasons of spiritual refreshment multiplied to the wearied soul; opportunities for the child of God to be ever drawing near to his heavenly Father: channels, as it were, opened at equal distances, for the streams of divine grace to flow equally over the whole space. SEASONS OF THE CHURCH. ADVENT. NOCTURN. Instantis adventum Dei. (No. 36.) THE Advent of our God Our prayers must now employ, And we must meet him on his road With hymns of holy joy. The everlasting Son Incarnate soon shall be: He will a servant's form put on, Daughter of Zion, rise And greet thy lowly King, And do not wickedly despise The mercies he will bring. As Judge, in clouds of light, With Him in Heaven to reign. Before that dreadful day Praise to the Saviour Son From all the angel Host: MATINS. (Jordanis oras prævia. No. 37.) Ox Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry, Announces that the Lord is nigh: Come then and hearken, for he brings. Glad tidings from the King of kings. Een now the air, the sea, the land And welcome Him with cheerful voice. Then cleansed be every Christian breast, For Thou art our salvation, Lord, Stretch forth thine hand, to heal our sore, To Him, who left the throne of Heaven OR THIS. (Verbum supernum prodiens. No. 38.) THY Father's bosom thou didst leave, On earth awhile, to save mankind, Enlighten, then, our breasts, we pray, Inflame them with thy love: And fill our renovated hearts With rapture from above. That so, when sinners shall be doomed And thou shalt summon thine elect, We may not to that curst abode, |