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which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

Miss M. And also 2 Corinthians i. 22.

Selina reads. "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

Miss M. How does St. Paul tell us to have our feet shod?

Kate. "With the preparation of the gospel of peace." Eph. vi. 15.

Miss M. And then, having received the penitent as a son, all the angels of heaven rejoice over his return to his Father. But there are those who have all their lives rendered to God a formal lip-service, attending to the outward ordinances of religion, and they are angry that others should be received who have hitherto lived a life of disobedience to His commands, and despised His ordinances. Of these persons we have also an example in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. What did those who had worked all the day say, when all received a penny ?

Charlotte. "These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day."

Miss M. Such were the feelings of the elder son in the parable; such, alas! are the feelings of some of us. We see the penitent received by God, happy in his Father's love, and we are jealous: perhaps we have not had the same worldly blessings. But how did the father answer the murmuring of his elder son? Kate. 66 Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."

Miss M. In like manner, if we are really Christ's

disciples, we shall rejoice in having God always with us, in possessing spiritual joys, which ought to make up to us for the loss of all earthly things. You will see that such were St. Paul's feelings, if you read Philippians iii. 8, 9.

Selina reads. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him."

Miss M. You shall now find me some texts to prove that all that our Father hath is indeed ours. for 1 Corinthians iii. 21-23.

Look

Mary reads. "All things are your's; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."

Miss M. And also 1 Timothy vi. 17.

Ellen reads. "But in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

Miss M. Now find me some texts proving that the righteous are always with God. John xiv. 23.

Jane reads. "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

Miss M. And again, John xv. 5.

Selina reads. "I am the vine, ye are the branches." Miss M. Let us all rejoice in this living union to God; but let us also remember that it is right that we should make merry and be glad, when others who have wandered in sin return to their merciful Father. We find this lesson taught in 1 Corinthians xii. 12-27. Children read in turn.

Miss M. I will read you some verses, describing the love which God's saints have one for another.

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"AND he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for

my lord ?

And he

my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto And he said, An hundred measures of oil. said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."

Miss Morton. This parable has been justly considered the most difficult one to understand, and you must therefore pay great attention while I try to explain it to you. There are a great many parts of Scripture, which, if left to ourselves, we could not properly understand, but by the guidance of God's Holy Spirit they may be made clear to us. And be sure, children, that the more you read and try to understand God's Holy Word, the more beautiful you will find it. It may be compared to a mine, where the deeper you dig, the more gold and precious stones you will find. We know that it was all written for our learning, and if we follow its precepts we shall be safe, whatever our lot in life may be. To it we may look for comfort when we are in sorrow, and for

help when we are in doubt or difficulty. What did St. Paul say to Timothy ? 2 Timothy iii. 15.

Mary reads. "And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Miss M. Begin studying them at once, then, that you may one day be wise unto salvation; and let us all thank God for this, His inestimable gift, and use it as we ought to His glory. Now let us begin the parable. We read that a certain rich man had a steward, tell me, Mary, what is meant by a steward. Mary. A man who takes care of his master's goods. Miss M. Yes; you will find that in the Bible the ministers of God's Word are often called stewards. Look for 1 Corinthians iv. 1.

Jane reads. "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Miss M. And again, Titus i. 7.

Elizabeth reads. "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God."

Miss M. As the steward's duty is to take care of the worldly goods of his master, so must the minister of God take care of the souls of his people, and try to save them from everlasting death. Did the steward in the parable do his duty towards his master?

Charlotte. No, he was accused of having wasted the goods that had been entrusted to him.

Miss M. Read Ephesians vi. 5-7.

Susan reads. "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

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