T. How had they thought of Christ?

S. As the "Son of David;" perhaps like him to reign over them, and conquer their temporal enemies.

T. What is meant by the expression

"in Spirit?"

S. By the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. David was a prophet. Acts, ii. 30.

T. The Jews considered the 110th Psalm as prophetical of the Messiah. What does David there call Him?

S. His Lord; a title given only to superiors, which David as king would give no man on earth.

T. What did this prove?

S. Though our Lord was the Son of David in His human nature, He was his Lord in His divine nature, being the Son of God, equal with the Father.

T. Did the prophecy relate to an earthly throne?

S. No.

"This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool." Heb. x. 12, 13.

T. Could these wise and learned Pharisees and Scribes answer our Lord?

S. No. "Neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions."

THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

The Collect.

O GOD, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able to please Thee; Mercifully grant, that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. What do we acknowledge?

S. We are not able to please God of ourselves.

T. How can God be with us to help us?

S. Through the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts.

T. When are we made partakers of this help?

S. In Baptism," by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Tit. iii. 5. "Whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephes. iv. 30. T. What do we pray?

S. "That the Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts."

T. When do we again solemnly and publicly avow our desire and need of this?

S. In Confirmation, when we pray for the increase of the gifts of the Spirit to keep our baptismal vow, and are confirmed by the bishop in the same, by the laying on of hands.

T. How are we taught to discern the Spirit of God abiding in us? 1 John, iii. 24; Rom. viii. 10.

S. By our obedience. "He that keepeth his command. ments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." T. How does St. Jude describe those who were without such direction? 18, 19.

S. As "mockers . . who walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."

T. What is the end to which we are bidden to attain, by Divine help given us?

S. Perfect love and peace; as St. Paul says: "Put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." Col. iii. 14.

The Epistle. Ephes. iv. 17.

THIS I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind; having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ : if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind ; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye

kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

T. How did the unconverted Gentiles walk?

S. "According to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air." Ephes. ii. 2.

T. How does St. Paul describe the effects of the vanity of their heathen mind? Rom. i. 21-23.

S. As leading to idolatry: 66 They became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God to an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."

T. What was their understanding blind unto?

S. Spiritual things.

T. Without such knowledge and grace, what were they? S. "Alienated from the life of God," or, "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." Ephes. ii. 12.

T. What was the state of their conscience?

66

S. They were past feeling" as it were, "having their conscience seared with a hot iron." 1 Tim. iv. 2.

T. What difference did St. Paul make between these and the converted Ephesians? i. 13.

S. They were enlightened and assured by the faith which is in Christ. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

T. What was the "truth as it is in Jesus" to teach?
S. To put off the old man, and to put on the new ; i. e.

T. (Our Lord lived chiefly at Capernaum, which is therefore called "His own city.") Where did our Lord pass over?

S. The Lake of Gennesareth.

T. What additional circumstances do St. Mark (ii. 4), and St. Luke (v. 18), record concerning this miracle?

S. They relate of the friends of the sick man, that "When they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."

T. (The bed of the natives of the East often consists of a mat, which is rolled up, or portable couch.) What similarity may we observe between this man's bodily and our spiritual infirmities?

S. His helpless state is like those who, continuing in sin, lose their spiritual life, and have neither strength nor resolution to amend.

T. What do we remark in the conduct of the sick man's friends?

S. Their faith and charity, their boldness and perseverwhich overcame all difficulties.

ance,

T. What was their reward?

S. Jesus saw and approved of their faith in behalf of the sick man.

T. What is this an encouragement to us to do?

S. To pray for those who are unable to pray for themselves; to bring infants to Christ, not doubting but that He will accept our charitable work.

T. How does our Lord address the sick man?

S. He calls him "son," and bids him be of good cheer, forgiving his sins.

T. What did these words teach?