T. How did He bestow on them this solemn office?

S." He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." John, xx. 23.

T. Had He before intimated to them that they should have this authority?

S. Yes. First to Peter, saying: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Matt. xvi. 19. And afterwards to the other disciples:

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Matt. xviii. 18.

T. How were the disciples commanded to teach all nations? Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

S." Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." T. How does Christ fulfil this promise?

S. By dwelling in the Church, and giving the Holy Spirit to those ordained to the ministry.

T. How did the Apostles appoint ministers and witnesses for Christ?

S." By laying on of hands." Acts, vi. 6; and xiii. 3. T. What were St. Paul's solemn words to Timothy concerning this?

S." Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." 1 Tim. iv. 14. Lay hands suddenly on no man." v. 22. "Wherefore I put thee in remem

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brance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." 2 Tim. i. 6.

T. What is the practice of the Church in obedience to this rule ? (See Ordination Service.)

S. "The Bishop with the Priests present lay their hands severally upon the heads of every one that receiveth the order of Priesthood: the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the Bishop saying, ' Receive ye the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained.' "'

T. What does St. Paul teach concerning our duty to our spiritual pastors?

S." Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Pray for us." Heb. xiii. 7-9, 17, 18.

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given Thine only Son, to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace, that we may always most thankfully receive that His inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves

to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. By whom do we say in this Collect that Christ was given ?

S. By God the Father.

T. Show that there could be but one will in the blessed Trinity that He should be offered for us. Rom. viii. 32; Ephes. v. 2; Heb. ix. 14.

S."He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" "Christ hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God." "Christ through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God."

T. Who offered the first sacrifice, and what did its acceptance prove?

S. Abel. thereof."

"Of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat Gen. iv. 4. God's acceptance whereof proved that, "without shedding of blood is no remission." Heb. ix. 22.

T. What did all the sacrifices under the law point to? S. The one perfect sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the whole world.

T. What are we taught to consider Christ in this Collect? S. As an "ensample of godly life.”

T. What do we learn of Him in childhood?

S. He was subject to His parents. Luke, ii. 51.

T. Whose will did He perform on earth?

S. His heavenly Father's. "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me." John, vi. 38.

T. What do all His miracles and death teach us?

S. His love to man. "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." John, xiii. l

T. How may we show our thankful remembrance of Christ's death?

S. By partaking of the Holy Communion of the body and blood of Christ.

T. What do we need for this?

S." Grace."

T. What will this also enable us to do?

S."Follow the blessed steps of His most holy life." T. What must those do who would follow Christ daily according to His words?

S." If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke, ix. 23.

The Epistle. 1 St. Peter, ii. 19.

THIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

T. What blessing did our Lord pronounce on those who suffer for conscience' sake toward God?

S. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. v. 10.

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T. What do we read of those who suffered death for Christ? Rev. vi. 9-11.

S. "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

T. How did St. Peter fulfil his own words, rejoicing

a partaker of Christ's sufferings?"

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S. When Peter and the apostles were beaten at Jerusalem, "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." Acts, v. 41.

T. While we remember that Christ suffered who did no sin, what must we say of ourselves?

S." We, indeed, justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss." Luke, xxiii. 41.

T. What is acceptable to God?

S. If when we do well, and suffer for it, we take it patiently.

T. For to what are we called by Christ?

S. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek, and lowly in heart." Matt. xi. 29.

T. On what occasion did our Lord say,

"I have given