shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God : if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

T. St. Peter might have referred in these words to the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem: What end must we all consider "at hand?"

S. The last day, when "the world passeth away." 1 John, ii. 17. "For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James, v. 8.

T. What end must we daily prepare for?

S. The end of our life on earth; "for our days are as a shadow that passeth away." Ps. cxliv. 4.

T. How did our Lord teach His disciples to be ready for the last day?

S. "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always." Luke, xxi. 34-36. T. Against whom must we watch? S. Against the devil," who as a

about, seeking whom he may devour."

roaring lion walketh

1 Pet. v. 8.

T. What must we have above all things?

S. Charity among ourselves; i. e. love. 1 Cor. xiii.
T. What blessed effect is here ascribed to love?

S. The covering of many sins. Thus, in James, v. 20, read: "He which converteth a sinner from the error of

his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

T. What reason does St. Paul give to induce to hospitality? Heb. xiii. 2.

S. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have received angels unawares."

T. Who are instances of this?

S. Abraham (Gen. xviii. 3) entertained the three angels, by whom he received the promise of a son; Lot received the two angels sent to save him from the destruction of Sodom. Gen. xix. 2.

T. What rule of charity is here given?

S. That having nothing but what we have received, we should readily minister of the same to others.

T. What gifts of one kind or other have we all received from God?

S. Health and strength, talents, time, and opportunities, riches and influence.

T. What punishment was inflicted on the servant who neglected his lord's gift? Matt. xxv. 30.

S. That which he had received was taken from him; and his lord said, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

T. How must we speak in Christ's behalf?

S. As the oracles of God. Thus our Lord said to His disciples, "Whatsoever shall be given you, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost." Mark, xiii. 11.

T. How must we minister?

S. According to the ability which God giveth.

T. What should be our object in all we do?

S. The glory of God through Jesus Christ; "to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever."

T. Is this ascription of glory rendered in heaven?

S. Yes; the multitude of the saved are thus described as saying in heaven, "Salvation to our God, which sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb;" and to this the angels respond, saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. vii. 10, 12.

The Gospel. St. John xv. 26, and part of Chap. xvi.

WHEN the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that, when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

T. What clause of the Nicene Creed is derived from the opening words of this Gospel?

S." Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son." T. Comforter means one called in to help. Why does our Saviour call the Holy Ghost the Comforter?

S. Because His mission was to comfort or help the disciples. T. How does He now comfort us?

S." He helpeth our infirmities." Rom. viii. 26.

T. How did the Spirit testify of Christ after His death?

S. Revealing to the Apostles the things of God; "for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Cor. ii. 10.

T. How did the Apostles also bear witness?

S. By their preaching: "Not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." 1 Cor. ii. 4. By their sufferings: "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." 2 Cor. iv. 10.

T. What was the peculiar fitness of the Apostles as witnesses?

S. They had had perfect understanding of all things from the very first.

T. Why did Christ reveal to them the things to come? S. "That they should not be offended" when persecu

tions arose.

T. To what did our Saviour liken one who, when trouble and persecution ariseth because of the word, is offended? Matt. xiii. 6, 21.

S. To seed sown in stony places, which "forthwith sprung up because they had no deepness of earth and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root they withered away.

T. To whom must we turn to prepare our hearts for tribulation?

S. To Jesus.

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation aboundeth by Christ." 2 Cor. i. 5. T. Show how the troubles which Christ foretold came

to pass.

66

S. In Acts, viii. 1, we read, there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles." Herod killed

"He pro

James the brother of John with the sword. ceeded further to take Peter also." xii. 2, 3. St. Paul described his persecution of the Christians before his conversion : "Many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” xxvi. 10, 11. See also St. Paul's account of his own sufferings in behalf of Christ, 2 Cor. xi.

T. How came the Jews to persecute the preachers of truth thus?

S. Because they knew not the truth.

WHIT-SUNDAY.

The Collect.

GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

T. What do we commemorate to-day?

S. The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.

T. Why is it called Whit-Sunday?

S. God as at this time having sent the light of His Holy Spirit, this day was specially fixed for baptism in the early Church, and those who were baptized put on white gar

ments.