anxiety lest by mistake any should be put in their cups, and they should thus be deprived by their parents of the pleasure of bestowing their little gifts.

Let us ever remember that "to every one" is given talents to be accounted for. Let it not be said of any of us, as when Israel was reproved, "He is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself." And let not the poor murmur at their lot," Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." The talents were allotted to every man according to his several ability. Will you lament on your death-bed that you had not possessed more to give an account of? Think you at that awful hour you will ever regret that the way was not made harder, and the strait gate narrower, whereby you must enter into the kingdom of heaven?

66

P.

QUESTIONS ON THE COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

FOR what do we pray in this collect?

For grace to believe in and profit by the word of God. What is the end we are to seek in reading the Scriptures?

To have a firm faith in all the promises of God which are contained therein.

What was the second thing our godfathers and godmothers promised for us?

That we should believe all the articles of the Christian faith.

What does St. Paul pray for his brethren at Rome, in the epistle for this day?

That God would fill them with all joy and peace in believing, and that they might abound in hope.

What is the hope set before us in the Scriptures?
The blessed hope of everlasting life.

What else do we pray for in the collect?
For patience and comfort.

1 Hosea x.

2 Matt. xxv.

3 Matt. xix. 23.

From whom do those blessed gifts proceed?

From God our Father, who is called in the Epistle the God of patience and consolation.

Was the hope of everlasting life given to the Jews only ?

No; it is also given to us and to all other Gentiles.— See Rom. xv. 9-12.

Is there any prophecy (read to-day) relating to the conversion of the Gentiles?-See Isaiah xxiv. 15.

Why was the history of Israel's transgressions (recorded in the lesson of this day) written and preserved? For our learning; lest we, who have been favoured as they were, should like them fall away from our God. Under what figure are the people of Israel described ? Under that of a vineyard. See Isaiah v. 1—7. Of what does this remind us?

That we were in our baptism made members of Christ, and branches of the true vine; and that, unless we bring forth good fruit, we shall be cast into the fire that never shall be quenched.

When will it be known who are living branches of the true vine?

At the second coming of our Lord, described in the Gospel for this day.-Luke xxi. 25-27.

CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTION FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

Who was the messenger sent to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus?

John the Baptist. See Mal. iii. 1.

Luke i. 17. 76.

Matt. iii. 1—3.

Who are those now set apart by the Lord to prepare the hearts of men for his second coming?

The ministers of the Gospel.

Why are they called stewards?

Because they are set over God's house, to give to each one of their fellow servants their portion of spiritual food, as a steward in an earthly master's house gives to each his portion of meat in due season. See Matt. xxiv. 45.

What is meant by mysteries?

The wonderful things of God, which ministers are appointed to explain and make known to their people. See 1 Cor. iv. 1.

What then is the duty of ministers ?

To be faithful to their trust, and so to prepare the hearts of those under their care, that they may be found an acceptable people in God's sight.

What is the duty of people towards their ministers ?

To submit themselves to them, to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, to obey them, and to pray for them. See 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. 25. Heb. xiii. 7. 17.

What do the lessons for this day teach us?

1. To trust in the Lord; to depend entirely on Him for strength to do his will and for our final salvation. See Isaiah xxvi. 3, 4. 12.

2. To prepare for his coming to judgment. See Isaiah

xxvi. 21.

3. To look forward with hope and rejoicing to the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. See Is. xxv. 8, 9; xxvi. 19.

INSTRUCTION FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

For what do we pray in the collect for this day? For strength and grace to run the race set before us. See Heb. xii. 1. 1 Cor. ix. 24-27.

What is that race?

Our Christian course, the prize of which is eternal life.

How are we hindered in this race?

By our sins and wickedness, which prevent our runing in the way of God's commandments.

Who alone can give us grace so to run, that we may obtain the prize?

Our heavenly Father, for we cannot do these things of ourselves, nor walk in his commandments, nor serve Him without his special grace.

How must we obtain this grace?

We must call for it by diligent prayer-In every thing

by prayer and supplication, we must make our requests known to God. Phil. iv. 6.

What is promised to those who thus seek the Lord for his help, and trust not to their own strength ?

The peace of God which passeth all understanding. Phil. iv. 7.

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Is. xxx. 15.

The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Is. xxxii. 17.

What further are we taught by the Scriptures read this day?

To rejoice in the Lord. See Phil. iv. 4.

To have no anxious care for any earthly thing. See Phil. iv. 5.

Nor to desire any thing too eagerly; to let our moderation be known unto all men.

By whom are these blessed gifts of peace and joy given to us?

By the Holy Spirit; for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. Gal. v. 22.

ADDRESS FROM AN ABSENT MASTER TO HIS HOUSEHOLD AT CHRISTMAS.

MY DEAR FRIENDS AND FELLOW CHRISTIANS, As I am called away from you at this season, (by what I humbly think and believe to be my duty,) I hope you will permit me to say a few words to you in this way, about the cause and nature of that true joy with which we are invited now to rejoice. That there should be a rejoicing of some kind at this time is a settled common understanding: but it may be questioned whether all who agree to this recollect and feel what ought to give rise to it.

I trust, however, that none of you will be among the number of the forgetful or indifferent. For we know that our cause of joy is the introduction, as at this time, into the world, of that glorious scheme of salvation for man, into which the angels desire to look; as at this time our blessed Saviour was born in the flesh, and the Son

of God assumed the infirmity of man, though without his sin, to redeem men from the power of Satan and sin here, and from everlasting punishment hereafter. Surely here is a cause of joy; but what sort of joy?

The very nature of the unspeakable benefit conferred directs us at once to the reply. Shall we mock the Almighty God, our Saviour, by offering, as our tribute of thankfulness and adoration, that unhallowed and wicked joy which is hateful to Him? Can we think trangression acceptable to Him who cannot look upon iniquity? Is the indulgence of carnal appetites agreeable to the law and will of that most gracious Being who gave his own Son to die for us, that He might deliver us from the yoke of these appetites? or why did Christ come into the world, and suffer, and die; but that, by the free grace of God, He might thereby restore us to the forfeited favour of our Heavenly Father, and make us fit for the enjoyment of that only true happiness of which sin had deprived us, and which consisted in the love and the service of Him? I pray God, my dear friends, that He may enable each one of you to remember these things, and to consider, that while He calls upon each one of you to rejoice, it is with a spiritual and heavenly joy, a joy unknown but to the children of God, which the world can neither give nor take away.

"Be not of a sad countenance," for we have, of all men, abundant reason to "shout for joy" if we be the children of God; but "be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour," and "putting a stumblingblock and an occasion of falling" in your way, even by means of those very things which you consider, and which may be, if temperately used, perfectly innocent. God has not, indeed, forbidden a moderate and thankful use of the temporal good He bestows; but the true Christian draws but small pleasure from worldly sources, and cares but little for them; and the nearer we are enabled to approach to this state of feeling, the closer do we draw to God. While, therefore, you are joyful, pray God that you may be truly and heartily thankful for the hope that makes you so; let your joy be mingled