she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and, when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.) And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place; for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

T. What things did Jesus speak to John's disciples ? S. He showed them that His disciples had no need to fast while He was visibly with them.

T. Who was the "certain ruler" who came to Him? S. Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue at Capernaum, Mark, v. 22; Luke, viii. 41.

T. How did he approach our Lord?

S. In faith he came worshipping Him; "fell at His feet and besought Him greatly." Mark, v. 23.

T. How was his faith rewarded?

S. Our Lord arose at once, and followed him, instead of further trying him, as was oftentimes His custom, and when others sent saying, "Trouble not the Master, thy daughter is dead," He graciously comforted him, saying, "Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole." Luke, viii. 50. T. What happened on His way thither?

S. He performed another act of mercy.

T. What may these different cases teach us concerning the trials of life?

S. They are diverse; some sudden and sharp, claiming

the pity of every one, as the loss of the ruler's only child; others a burden to be borne in secret for years, which man cannot relieve, and of which God only knows the bitterness, like this poor woman's affliction.

T. What do we observe in her?

S. Her faith; she had doubtless heard of Christ and seen His works, and believed: her humility; she was fearful of unworthiness: and her thankful confession of the benefit she received. Luke, viii. 47.

T. What do we observe in our Lord's treatment of her? S. His tender compassion, calling her "daughter," bidding her be of good comfort, after He had led her to confess Him before men.

T. What is remarkable in our Lord's conduct on this occasion, as mentioned by St. Mark and St. Luke?

S. His divine knowledge, discerning her faithful touch while the multitude pressed upon Him, and giving forth the healing virtue which she needed in answer to it.

T. What does this teach in a spiritual manner?

S. That many who seem to follow Christ have no part in Him; it is those only who with true faith use the outward signs He has vouchsafed, who receive the inward grace they contain.

T. What are the outward signs by which Christ bids us all draw near, and in their use touch Him by faith, to the cleansing, and strengthening, and refreshing of our souls?

S. Water in Baptism, and bread and wine in the Holy Communion.

T. What was the law concerning the hem or border of the garment worn by the Jews? Num. xv. 37, 38.

S. "The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a

ribband of blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring."

T. What was the reason of the noise in the ruler's house?

S. It was the custom at funerals to hire persons to sing mournful songs, and make lamentations for the dead.

T. What would our Lord's comforting words teach ? S. That death is but a sleep, from which He hath power to waken us again.

T. What do we perceive in the way in which the people received His words?

S. Their unbelief: those who have no faith or love to Christ cannot understand the things of God, and will make a mock of His promises.

T. What did our Lord do unto them?

S. He commanded that these unbelievers should be sent

out of His presence. "He suffered no man to go in, save

Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden." Luke, viii. 51.

T. What does His raising the maiden prove?

S. His power to give life or call back the spirit. (Luke, viii. 55.) "The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” John, v. 28.

T. When did He show this power on other occasions?

S. When He raised Lazarus, who "had lain in the grave four days" (John, xi. 43); and the widow's son at Nain. Luke, vii. 14, 15.

T. Into what land did the fame of this miracle spread abroad?

S. Galilee.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

The Collect.

STIR up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of Thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. What do we pray?

S. That our wills may be stirred up.

T. What do we mean by this?

S. That our weak affections and desires towards God may be aroused and excited.

T. What reason does St. Paul give for such a prayer? Philip. ii. 13, and Heb. xiii. 21.

S. He declares, "It is God which worketh in you both to will and do of His good pleasure;" and commends his brethren to God, to "make them perfect in every good work to do His will, working in them that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ."

T. Give some examples of this in Scripture.

S." The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia," to build the temple (Ezra, i. 1). "And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God. Hag. i. 14.

T. What effect do we hope from God's stirring up the wills of His faithful people?

S. That they may plenteously bring forth the fruit of good works.

T. Give instances of this.

S. The Jews, who, when they heard St. Peter's sermon,

were pricked to the heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren what shall we do? Then they that gladly received the word were baptized. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers." (Acts, ii. 37, 41, 42.) Lydia, "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul; and who, when she was baptized and her household," exercised hospitality towards them. (xvi. 14.) The disciple Dorcas, who "was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did." (ix. 36.)

T. Must we wait for God working in us, and do nothing towards it?

S. No; we must prepare our hearts before Him, working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Philip. ii. 12.

T. What may those hope whose wills are stirred up to good works?

S. To be plenteously rewarded.

T. Have we any such promises?

S. Yes; our Lord declared, "The Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. xvi. 27. And St. Paul says, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." Rom. ii. 6, 7.

T. Why is this Collect especially appropriate for this Sunday?

S. This being the closing Sunday of the Church's year, we desire to begin the next with renewed diligence in God's service.