PRAYER.

" ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent, create and make in me a new and contrite heart, that I, worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness through Amen."

Jesus Christ our Lord.

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN John, the fore-runner of our Lord, preached on the banks of Jordan the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, the crowds of people which resorted to him were equalled only by the wants to be relieved. The expression of the Evangelist is strong. "Then went out to him Jerusalem "and all Judea, and all the region "round about Jordan, and were bap"tized of him in Jordan, confessing "their sins *." It was not novelty

Matt. iii. 5, 6.