together in the likeness of His death and resurrection? Phil. iii. 10, 11.

S. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

T. Describe the crucifying of the flesh?

S. Putting off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Eph. iv. 22. Mortifying our members which are upon the earth. Col. iii. 5. Denying ourselves daily, taking up the cross, and following Him. Matt. xvi. 24. T. What freedom does this spiritual death give us? S. Freedom from sin.

T. How does St. Peter exhort to this for that reason? 1 Pet. iv. 1.

S. "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin."

T. What belief is our hope and comfort throughout? S. "If we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with Him." 2 Tim. ii. 11. For we live with Him here spiritually, and therefore hereafter for ever.

T. Is the resurrection of Christ a lasting victory over sin and death?

S. Yes; "Death hath no dominion over Him." He is "alive for evermore." Rev. i. 18.

T. Why is it said, "He died unto sin once?"

S. Once for all. "As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." Heb. ix. 27, 28.

T. How are Christians to profit by this doctrine?

S. Counting themselves "dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

T. How is this life unto God described ? Gal. ii. 20. S. "The life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God; who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

T. How does our Church pray for this in baptism?

S. "O merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen." "Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and, that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen."

The Gospel. St. Matt. v. 20.

JESUS said unto His disciples, Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council : but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to

the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

T. Why were the Scribes and Pharisees considered eminently righteous ?

S. They kept the law to the letter, they paid tithes of mint, anise, and cummin (even the meanest herbs). Matt. xxiii. 23. They kept the Sabbath (Luke, xiii. 14), showed great reverence to the Scriptures (Matt. xxiii. 5), fasted often, prayed everywhere, and gave alms, and were scrupulous in small observances, such as the washing of hands, cups, pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Mark, vii. 3, 4. T. Were these things displeasing to God?

S. No. Christ said, "These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matt. xxiii. 23.

T. What was wanting in all that they did?

S. The spirit of love to God.

be seen of men. Matt. xxiii. 5.

T. What does Christ call them?

S. Hypocrites.

They did these things to

T. How must our righteousness exceed theirs?

S. We must observe all the ordinances of religion to God only, not desiring or inviting the praise of men.

T. How does our Saviour enlarge upon the meaning of the Sixth Commandment?

S. He pronounces all to be guilty of breaking it, who indulge in causeless anger and evil speaking against their brethren.

T. (Raca is a Hebrew word expressive of scorn and contempt. "Thou fool," conveyed a meaning of deeper malice. The three degrees of guilt are figured by the different courts of justice among the Jews, which before the Roman Government had the power of life and death; the

court of Twenty-three, and the Great Council of Seventytwo, or Sanhedrim, which tried the highest crimes, and generally punished by stoning; and lastly by the term "hellfire," which denoted the place of execution, the Valley of Hinnom, where the idolatrous Ammonites sacrificed their children to Moloch, and the carcasses of animals were burnt; so that the place was considered the emblem of hell.) How did the Pharisees break this commandment?

S. They hated our Lord without a cause, and spoke evil of Him, and sought how they might slay Him.

T. How does our Saviour proceed with the doctrine of Charity?

S. By reminding us, that without it all our offerings to God are vain.

T. What course does He recommend for one who is about to approach God's altar, and recollects that he is at variance with his brother?

S. First, to be reconciled to his brother, and then to come and offer his gift.

T. How does He enforce the necessity of doing this?

S. By reminding us, that if judgment once take its course it will be too late for mercy. "Then shall it be too late to knock when the door is shut; and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice." (Commination Service.)

T. Have we yet time to be reconciled with God?

S. Yes; God is "long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. iii. 9.

T. If we should be condemned, will our punishment be heavier than that of the Pharisees?

S. Yes; for we have had greater advantages. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Luke, xii. 48.

THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

The Collect.

LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. How do we address God in this Collect?

S. "Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things."

T. Is He thus spoken of in Holy Scriptures?

S. " By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." Ps. xxxiii. 6. "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good." Gen. i. 31. "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." Ps. xxxiii. 5. T. How does Daniel describe the continual over-ruling power of God? ii. 20-22.

S. "Wisdom and might are His: and He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him."

T. What is it to graft?

S. To insert the branch of one tree into another, so that the young shoot may bear fruit on an old stem.

T. Have we not received the knowledge of true religion? S. Yes; but "it is God alone who giveth the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 6.