the disciples glad." John, xx. 20. "They believed not for joy." Luke, xxiv. 41.

T. Do we still hear of their rejoicing after Jesus had been taken from them into heaven?

S. Yes; in Acts, ii. 46, we read, "They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

T. Could persecution deprive them of this joy?

S. No; when they were persecuted at Antioch, "the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." Again, at Jerusalem "they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." Acts, xiii. 52; v. 41.

T. Do the promises of the Gospel also belong to us?

S. Yes; "through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Ephes. ii. 18. "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs of the same body, and partakers of the promises in Christ by the Gospel." iii. 6. T. How does St. Peter describe the joy of the Gentiles who believed? 1 Pet. i. 8, 9.

S." Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

T. What does our Lord declare of such believers? John, XX. 29.

S. "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto Thy people, that they may love the thing which Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. . Amen.

T. What are the unruly wills and affections also called in the Scriptures?

S. The will of the flesh. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Gal. v. 17. The carnal mind. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. viii. 7. "The old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." Ephes. iv. 22.

T. What does St. James call an unruly evil? iii. 8. S. "The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

T. Who can alone order the unruly wills and affections? S. Almighty God.

T. How does He order them?

S. By enabling us to overcome them with the help of the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings

which cannot be uttered."

Rom. viii. 26.

"For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, of His good pleasure." Phil. ii. 13. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." Gal. v. 24.

T. For whom do we pray in this Collect?

S. For His people, i. e. His church, His children by adoption and grace. Rom. viii. 17.

T. How does St. Peter describe these? 1 Pet. ii. 9.

S." But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."

T. What do we ask for these (of whom we reckon ourselves)?

S. That they may love the thing which God commands, and desire that which He does promise.

T. What was promised in your name when you became a child of God?

S. "That I should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life."

T. On which two commandments hang all the law and the prophets?

S. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment; and the second is like unto it: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matt. xxii. 37-39.

T. We must not only follow, but also love that which God commands. How does David express this feeling in the Psalms?

S. "Oh, how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day;" "I love thy commandment above gold; yea, above fine gold;" and "Great peace have they which

love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." Ps. cxix. 97, 127, 165.

T. We must also desire that which God hath promised. What promise hath He left us?

S. "This is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life." 1 John, ii. 25.

T. If we desire this blessed promise, will the sundry and manifold changes of this life affect us?

S. No.

"Our hearts will surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found."

T. How does God's word teach us to regard the trials of this life?

S. Not to wish to escape them, but to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. xii. 1, 2.

The Epistle. St. James, i. 17.

EVERY good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

T. What are the words of John the Baptist recorded by St. John, iii. 27?

S. "A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.'

T. How does our Saviour encourage us to pray for all heavenly gifts? Matt. vii. 11.

S. "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" T. What does St. James call God in this Epistle? S. The Father of Lights."

T. Where do we find this expression elsewhere?

S. In 1 St. John, i. 5. "God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

T. What does this signify?

S. That God is the author of all that we call light. "The sun to rule by day, the moon and stars to rule by night" (Ps. cxxxvi. 8); the spiritual light we enjoy, such as the knowledge of salvation.

T. How does St. Paul admonish the Ephesians? v. 8. S."Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light."

T. What should the knowledge of the unchangeableness of God teach us?

S. To believe His promises, and to fear His judgments. T. For what does St. Paul say to Timothy? 2. ii. 13. S." If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself."

T. How does St. John explain our being begotten by the "word of truth?" i. 12, 13.

S. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."