This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

(This chapter is read in the service for the ordering of priests.)

T. To whom were these words spoken, and where ?

S. To the scribes and pharisees, the teachers of the people, after they had agreed that if any man did confess Christ he should be put out of the synagogue. John, ix. 22. At Jerusalem, whither our Saviour had gone to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. 7-10.

T. To what does Christ liken His Church?

S. To a sheepfold; i.e. a pen or fold, under the care of a doorkeeper, where the sheep were secured both from wandering themselves and from thieves and enemies from without.

T. How does the Church resemble this?

S. It is also a place of safety, for we are taught in it all that is necessary to our salvation, under the care of shepherds "who watch for our souls." Heb. xiii. 17. Into such a quiet refuge our Lord would fain have gathered the Jews, but they would not. See Luke, xiii. 34.

T. How must the shepherds enter Christ's fold?

S. By that way which He has appointed, no man taking the honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as

was Aaron (Heb. v. 4), and when called, still showing all humility, according to St. Peter's charge (1 Ep. v. 5), “ All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility;" prepared also to endure hardness, 2 Tim. ii. 3.

T. Who are they who climb up some other way?

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S. Those who follow the devices and desires of their own hearts, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men," (Matt. xv. 9); not after the traditions received from the Apostles. 2 Thess. iii. 6.

T. What is the token of the good shepherds?

S. They lead their sheep, calling them by name; and the sheep hear their voice, and know them: i.e. by their works. They diligently seek for those who are lost; doing the work of evangelists; making full proof of their ministry. 2 Tim. iv. 5.

T. The Eastern shepherds went before their flocks, leading them by the sound of their voice. Will Christ's true sheep follow the stranger?

S. No; they who love Christ will not be "carried about with divers and strange doctrines" (Heb. xiii. 9), but "do all things without murmurings and disputings," Phil. ii. 14.

T. How did David use this emblem in recounting God's mercies to the Jewish Church?

S. "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock." Ps. lxxvii. 20; lxxx. 1. T. When they understood not this parable, how did Jesus further explain it ?

S. He declared, "I am the door of the sheep."

T. How do we enter the sheepfold by Christ?

S. "By that new and living way which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.", Heb. x. 20.

T. The evil shepherds who left their flock are described, Ezek. xxxiv. 2-10: what was their object?

S. To steal, to kill, and to destroy.

T. What is the purpose of Christ?

S."That the sheep might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

TRINITY SUNDAY.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us Thy servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech Thee, that Thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

(Having celebrated the accomplishment of Christ's work on earth, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, we are called upon this day to adore the Trinity in Unity, and confess our belief in the One God in Three Persons.)

T. When have we confessed our faith in the doctrine of the eternal Trinity?

S. In baptism, when we called upon God our Father, through Jesus Christ, to regenerate us with the Spirit; and were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

T. What is the doctrine of the Trinity?

S. That there are Three Persons in One God.

T. How is this taught in the Scriptures?

S. By their being distinguished one from the other as

three several Persons: as, in our Saviour's commission to the disciples concerning baptism (Matt. xxviii. 19); the form of benediction used by St. Paul (2 Cor. xiii. 14); and St. John's testimony, that "there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost." 1 John, v. 7.

T. Is each Person called God, and proved to be such in the Scriptures?

S. Yes; it is said, "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephes. i. 3); "The Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John, i. 1); "and The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (14). Peter declared unto Ananias, when he lied unto the Holy Ghost, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Acts, v. 3, 4.

T. How are we taught the power of the Divine Majesty in the Unity?

Deut. vi. 4.

S. "The Lord our God is one Lord." Our Saviour declares, "I and my Father are one" (John, x. 30; and xvii. 11); and that "the Spirit proceedeth from the Father" (15-26), and therefore from the Son. St. Paul declares, there is "one Lord" (Ephes. iv. 5), and St. John, "these Three are One." 1 John, v. 7.

T. What do we therefore learn to pray in the Collect? S. That God would "keep us steadfast in this faith," as it is necessary to our salvation.

T. What adversities may this Collect refer to ?

S. Those which might lead us from our faith in the mystery; such as, divisions and dissensions in the Church, and trials of our faith, by reason of our own pride or weakness.

The Epistle. Rev. iv. 1.

AFTER this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard

was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne: and He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four-and-twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four-and-twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold and out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts, full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory, and honour, and thanks, to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four-and-twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and