Immoveable, where there is a blank left in the Column of Lessons, the Proper Lessons for all which days are to be found in the Table of Proper Lessons. (6)

(6) The Church of England in the appointment of Lessons observes two different courses. One for ordinary days, and another for holidays. On ordinary days she begins the course of her first Lessons with the book of Genesis, in the beginning of her civil year January; and proceeds regularly through the greatest part of the Bible. Isaiah alone is not read in the order in which it stands; our Church reserving the evangelical prophet, in conformity to Primitive usage, to be read in the season of Advent. Before Isaiah, and after the other canonical Scriptures, the Church substitutes some Apochryphal Lessons in the room of the canonical Scripture that has been omitted.

But though the most part of the Bible is read through every year once, yet some chapters of particular books, and three whole books, are left unread for reasons that sufficiently appear.

Of GENESIS, (containing 50 chapters) 10, 11, and 36, are not read, 10 and 36 evidently because they contain little else than genealogies. The first nine verses of chap. 11, giving an account of a most extraordinary display of the Divine power, the confusion of tongues at Babel, is received into the table of Lessons for Holidays, viz. Monday in Whitsun week.—Of EXODUS (40 chaps.) the first 24 chapters are read, excepting some repetitions and genealogies in the latter part of chap. 6. From chap. 25 to the end of the book, there is little that does not relate to the Ark, and other local and temporary particulars, except chaps. 32, 33, 34, which are accordingly read. Chapters 35 and 40 are retained in the Scottish Calendar.-Of LEVITICUS, (27 chaps.) as it treats chiefly of Jewish sacrifices, and ceremonial observances, of clean and unclean beasts, and birds, lepers, &c. only 4 chapters are read, viz. the 18, 19, 20, and 26. In the Scottish Calendar the 9, 12, 16, 21, 23, 24, 25, and 27 are retained. Of NUMBERS, (36 chaps.) the first ten chapters are omitted which relate to the men of war, the Levites, their services and offerings. Chaps. 15, 18, 19, 26, 28, 29, 33, and 34 are also omitted, as containing similar subjects; the Scottish Liturgy retains chaps. 5, 6, 8, 9. 10 and 15.-All DEUTERONOMY (34 chaps.) is read, except chap. 23, which the Scotch Calendar retains, while it rejects chap. 14.-In JOSHUA (24 chaps.), the history contained from chap. 11 to 22, treating of the destruction of several kings, and the division of the land of Canaan, is not read; but chaps. 14, 20, and 22 are retained in the Scotch Calendar.-The whole of the book of JUDGES is read (21 chaps.), and also that of RUTH (4 chaps).—So are also the two books of SAMUEL (the first, "otherwise called the first book of the Kings," containing 31 chapters; and the second, "otherwise called the second book of the Kings," containing

And note, That whensoever Proper Psalms or Lessons are appointed,

24 chapters). Also the two books of KINGS, (the first, " commonly called the "third book of the Kings," containing 22 chaps. and the second, "commonly " called the fourth book of the Kings," containing 25 chaps.)-Both the books of CHRONICLES, (the first containing 29 chaps, and the second 36 chaps.) are entirely omitted, probably because they consist of the details of facts which are related in the preceding historical books. In the Scottish Calendar, 1 Chronicles, chap. 10, is to be read instead of the Apocryphal Lessons, at Morning Prayer on November 23; and then from 13 to 22, with 28, 29 and 30. Of 2 Chronicles, 1, 2, 5, 6, &c. to 36, are read, extending to Evening Prayer on December 16.-Of EZRA (10 chaps.) chap. 2 being a catalogue of names, is omitted, as are also chaps. 8 and 10, partly for the same reason. In the Scotch Calendar chap. 7 is omitted, and 8 and 10 retained,-Of NEHEMIAH (13 chaps.), 3, 7, 11, and 12, consisting of the names of the builders of the wall, genealogies, &c. are omitted.—Of ESTHER (10 chaps.), the 10th, containing only three verses, is omitted, probably on that account. In the Scotch Calendar chaps. 9 and 10 make one Lesson; a rare occurrence in that Calendar, but frequent in our's. -The whole of the book of JOB (consisting of 42 chaps.) is read. The book of PSALMS (150) is passed over as being otherwise used.-Of PROVERBS (31 chaps.), chap. 30, the Prayer of Agar, &c. is alone omitted; but the Scotch Calendar retains it. The book of ECCLESIASTES (12 chaps.) is read throughout; but the whole of the SONG OF SOLOMON (8 chaps.) is omitted; as containing mystical descriptions not likely to edify. The Jews did not permit this book to be read by any one under thirty years of age.-The whole book of ISAIAH is read (66 chaps.), but not in its regular place, as before remarked; the 1st chap. being read on the 23d of November, and the 66th concluding the year. In the Scotch Calendar it retains its proper place.-The whole of JEREMIAH (52 chaps.) with-the LAMENTATIONS of Jeremiah (5 chaps.) are read throughout.-Of EZEKIEL (48 chaps.) only 9 are read, viz. 2, 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 18, 33 and 34. For the omission of so large a portion may be assigned the reason given for the omission of almost the whole of the Revelation. It consists in a great degree of visions, many of which are very obscure even to the most learned. The Scotch Liturgy retains nearly the whole book. The remainder of the Old Testament is read through regularly, viz. DANIEL (12 chaps.)-HOSEA 14 (chaps.)-JOEL (3 chaps.)—AмOS (9 chaps.)—(OBADIAH 1 chap.)-JONAH (4 chaps.)-MICAH (7 chaps.)-NAHUM (3 chaps.)-HABAKKUK (3 chaps.)-ZEPHANIAH (3 chaps.)-HAGGAI (2 chaps.)-ZECHARIAH (14 chaps.)-MALACHI (4 chaps.)

See more more fully, as to the subjects of the omitted chapters, Bennet's Paraphrase Com. Pr. Appendix No. II. and 1 Shepherd Com. Pr. 176.

Of the Apocryphal Lessons, (from аñо тηs ×gʊñтns, removed from the place,

then the Psalms or Lessons of ordinary course appointed in the Psalter

or chest where the sacred books were kept; or from anоxguжтw, to conceal or hide; i. e. either as being kept from the people, or as not being canonical: and see fully 2 Hey's Lectures, 480, and Bingham's Antiquities, book 14, ch. 3. sec. 15, 16), those read, and those omitted are as follows. The whole of ESDRAS (2 books, of 9 and 16 chaps.) is omitted.—The whole book of Tobit (14 chaps.) is read, except chap. 5.-The whole of JUDITH (16 chaps.) is read. -The remainder of the book of ESTHER (6 chapters) is passed over.-The WISDOM of Solomon (19 chapters) is read throughout.-And the whole of the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or ECCLESIASTICUS (51 chapters), except the 26, and part of the 25, 30, and 46.-The whole of BARUCH is read (6 chapters.)-But the SONG of the Three Children (1 chapter,) a continuation of Daniel iii, 23, is omitted; principally, perhaps, as the greater part of it is the "Benedicite," &c.-The History of SUSANNAH (1 chapter) and that of BEL and the DRAGON (1 chapter) are both read.-The two books of MACCABEES (16 chapters and 15 chapters) are omitted.

N.B. See the third Book of Maccabees (7 chaps.) in Wilson's Bible.

We fix articles of faith, and things necessary to salvation, upon the Scriptures; we do not allow any part of the Apocrypha a casting voice in the establishment of any doctrine. (Boys on the 39 Articles, p. 40.)

For the sentiments and practice of our Church as to the Books of the Apocrypha see ante page 47, note (5). And consult Hooker's Eccl. Pol. book 5, sec. 20.-Falkner's Libertas Eccl. book 1, ch. 4, sec. 5, 6.-Bingham's Antiq. book 14, ch. 3, sec. 15, 16.-Hoadly on Conformity, 68.-London Cases, No. 12.-Bennet's Paraph. App. No. II,-1 Shepherd Com. Prayer, 190, and the other Commentators, &c. &c.

The New Testament is read through three times in the year, for the second Lessons; i. e. the four Gospels, and the Acts, for the second Lessons in the Morning Service; and the Epistles, (the Revelations of St. John being omitted) for the second Lesson in the Evening Service. The Gospel of St. Matthew, and the Epistle to the ROMANS, beginning respectively on the 1st day of January-the 3d and 2d of May-and the 31st of August-the 1st chapter of St. Luke being on the first and third reading, divided into two portions, and the 7th chapter of Acts on the third reading. O the Epistles, the 2d and 3d chapters of 1 Timothy, and of Titus, are read together; as are also the 2d and 3d Epistles of St. John, on the first and second reading, but not on the third. This order is broken into only on four Sundays in the year, i. e. the sixth Sunday in Lent, (or Sunday before Easter)-Easter Day, Whitsunday, and Trinity Sunday, but more frequently in holidays; for all which days proper Lessons are appointed.

and Calendar (if they be different) shall be omitted for that time. (7) Note also, That the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed for the

The book of the REVELATION of St. John is wholly omitted, except on his own peculiar day, when the 1st and 22d chapters (the first and the last) are read; and on All-Saints Day, when part of the 19th chapter is read.

(7) When a Sunday, and a Saint's Day, coincide, we appear to be left in some degree of uncertainty, whether the first Lesson together with the service for the Holiday, or that for the Sunday, is to be read, The consequence is, says Arch-deacon Sharp, (Visit. ch. 3, [Disc. IV.) that the Clergy differ in their practice, and use the service appropriated to that festival, to which in their private opinion they give the preference. Some chuse to intermix them, using the Collects appointed to each, and preferring the first Lesson for the Sunday, taken out of a Canonical Book, to that for the holiday, if it happens to be appointed in the Apocrypha. Uniformity of practice was certainly intended by the Church, and what now may seem to require the direction of a Rubric, or at least the decision of the Diocesan, our forefathers, in all probability, thought sufficiently plain. They knew that prior to the Reformation, (admitting that the practice of England corresponded with that of the Roman, and Gallican Churches,) the service for all the holidays now retained, being "Doubles," generally took place of that appointed for ordinary Sundays, (excepting those of Advent and Lent, with Easter-Day, Whitsunday, and Trinity Sunday.) They would, therefore, naturally read the service for the Saint's Day, and omit that for the Sunday in general. This continues to be the practice of the Roman Church, and it was the practice of the Gallican Church for more than a century after the era of our Reformation. In some parts of the late Gallican Church a change took place about the beginning of the present century, and the service for the Sunday was appointed to supersede that for the Saint's Day. But in our Church no such alterations have been made by lawful authority. Hence it would appear that the service for the Saint's Day, and not that for the Sunday, should be used.-And notwithstanding there exists some diversity of opinion on this subject, yet the most general practice seems to be to read the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, for the Saint's Day, and it is most consonant to that practice to read also the first Lesson appropriated to that day. This remark I have heard made by the Lord Bishop of London. (1 Shepherd, 185.)

When the feast day falls upon a Sunday, it was ordered in the service of Sarum, that the Sunday service should give way to the proper service ordained for the Festival, except some peculiar Sunday only, and then the one or the other was transferred to some day of the week following. (Overall.)

Sunday shall serve all the week after, where it is not in this Book otherwise ordered. (8)

(8) The following curious calculation is often met with, but who would undertake to verify it!

In the BIBLE the middle chapter (and it is also the least) is the 117th Psalm; the middle verse is the 8th of the 118th Psalm; the middle line is in the 2 Chron. iv. 16th verse.

In the OLD TESTAMENT the middle book is Proverbs; the middle chapter Job. xxix.; the middle verse 2 Chron. xx. 13, and the least verse is 1 Chron. i. 1.

In the NEW TESTAMENT the middle book is 2 Thessalonians; the middle chapter between Romans xiii, and xiv.; the middle verse Acts xvii. 17, and the least verse John xi, 35.

The 21st verse of Ezra vii. has all the letters of the alphabet in it.

The 2 Kings xix. and Isaiah xxxvii. are alike.

The word "AND" occurs in the Old Testamant 35,535 times; in the New Testament 10,684 times.

The word " JEHOVAH" Occurs 6855 times.

In the whole book of Esther, containing ten chapters, there is neither the word "LORD," nor " GOD,"

“ ¶ PROPER LESSONS."(1)

"To be read at Morning and Evening Prayer, on the Sun-" days, and other Holy-days throughout the Year."

" ¶ Lessons proper for Sundays."(2)

OBSERVATION. The Church begins her year, (the Ecclesiastical year,) in Advent, as immediately looking to the birth of Christ; and there

(1) The proper Lessons were not originally arranged in a table, but the Order for Proper Lessons at Mattins was prefixed, and that for those at Even