Christ; they must take Christ and His yoke, Christ and His cross, as well as Christ and His crown.'

The feast of unleavened bread, lasting seven days, immediately followed the paschal supper, so that the two are spoken of as one, sometimes under the term Passover, and sometimes as the feast of unleavened bread. The feast was observed annually, and commemorated the deliverance from Egypt. When our Paschal Lamb was offered, the type ceased, for the antitype had come; and in room of the Jewish Passover, our Lord instituted the Lord's Supper, the feast of the Christian Church,-observed in remembrance of Him who has delivered us, by the sacrifice of himself, from a bondage infinitely more dreadful than that which held the Israelites in Egypt.

Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 97.-1 Peter i. 19.

Subject to be proved-Without Shedding of Blood is no Remission. Golden Text-"With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."-1 Peter i. 19.

NOTES.-In the verse before this Peter was speaking of our being redeemed. Explain and illustrate this word-a slave, or a prisoner in time of war. He has to pay a ransom-the ransom is in proportion to the importance of the prisoner. Then shew what ransom was paid for us. No wonder the apostle calls it precious-worth a great price. The ransom was the blood of Christ. How valuable must that be for which such a price was paid! What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Lesson 95.-October 26.

REVIEW.-MOSES: GOD'S SERVANT, THE PEOPLE'S FRIEND.

This Review is simple, as almost all children know the outline of the early career of Moses.

There are three leading thoughts in the whole lessons under review.

I. OPPRESSION.

Dwell for a little on the oppression of the Israelites-its cause, its nature, and its severity.

(a) Its Cause.-The wonderful increase of the people, and the fears which a jealous king cherished as to this increase.

(b) Its Nature.-Barbarous cruelty to stop the increase of population; and when that failed, constant work-no time allowed for thinking on their wrongs. (c) Its Severity.-Their hearts were crushed-they would not listen to Moses because of their cruel bondage.

II.-A DELIVERER.

(a) His wonderful preservation.

(b) His special training in the court of the Pharaohs-his knowledge of all the learning of that age.

(c) His withdrawal from public life for forty long years in Midian, as essential a part of his training as in the court of the Pharaohs. He learned self-control and that meekness which enabled him, under God, to convert a nation of slaves -an undisciplined rabble-into a well-ordered community and a nation of soldiers, who, under Joshua, carried all before them.

(d) His Divine call by God at the burning bush. (e) His boldness and confidence before Pharaoh. III. DELIVERANCE.

(a) The Precursor of the deliverance-the Plagues. (b) The Consummation of it-the Passover.

Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 98.-Hebrews xi. 25.

Golden Text-" Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."-Hebrews xi. 25.

NOTES.-A wise choice. Moses had come to the dividing of the ways-one broad and the other narrow-one apparently easy and pleasant-the other apparently difficult and forbidding. Both ways are before him. He may choose either. Honour, glory, ease, &c., in the palace, or affliction, insult, mocking, among the people of God. His whole future depends on his choice. What is his choice? The application is easy. Every one has to make the very same choice that Moses did. Every one comes at one time or other to the dividing of the ways-two roads open out before him, and this inscription meets him:"Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." Make the choice of Moses yours.

Lesson 96.-November 2.

JESUS HEALING THE BLIND AND THE DUMB.-Matthew ix. 27-34.

I. Jesus restores sight to the blind, (verses 27-31,) in which note,— (a.) The men were conscious of their infirmity, and desired a cure (ver. 27)— two most important qualifications for receiving a cure. If we do not feel our need we shall not likely go to the physician. Illustrate this important point. Remember Christ's own words: "They that be whole," &c.

(b.) Faith was essential in every one on whom, or for whom, a miracle was performed. There is no exception to this rule; so here you have Christ's question in verse 28, and their answer. Faith is as essential now as then. Illustrate Christ's estimate of faith-compare, among many other passages, Matthew xvii. 20. Our spiritual blindness cannot be taken away unless we have faith.

(c.) The reward of faith, (ver. 29.) The result was according to their faith. Remarkable words. We should have expected-"according to my divine power;" but no; it is "according to your faith." (Compare Matthew xv. 28.) Note, also, this peculiarity, that, in healing the blind our Lord always employs some material means. So here-He touched their eyes. (Compare Matthew xx. 34; John ix. 6.)

(d.) The charge and the breach of it, (verses 30, 31.) The reason of the charge is obvious. He did not wish His work to be interfered with, which it would have been by the rulers if the idea had spread abroad early in His ministry that He was the Messiah. For the same reason He spake in parables, (Matt. xiii. 11-13.) The breach of the charge was natural. It would be well if we were so full of gratitude as to be speaking of God's doings to us.

II. Jesus gives speech to the dumb, (verses 32-34,) in which note,— (a.) There was Satanic agency in this case. The man was possessed of a devil. We may not be able fully to explain this, but the possession was real. There can be no doubt of that. The devil, in the Bible, is a living, personal agent— not the personification merely of evil.

(b.) Speech was restored when the devil was cast out, (ver. 33.) So long as the devil is in possession of our hearts, we are dumb as regards God's praise. Get the devil out, and the heart is opened to sing aloud of God's salvation.

(c.) Two opinions-1st, That of the common people, the unprejudiced, (ver. 33.) -wonder and admiration-it was never so seen in Israel. 2nd, That of the Pharisees, (ver. 34.) Their explanation bore absurdity on the face of it. (Compare Matthew xii. 25-30.) But any excuse will be sufficient to those who will It was thought a sufficient explanation of the events of the day of Pentecost to say, These men are full of new wine." So, now, men say of earnest Christians, They are mad-Methodists-Ranters; and they think this will excuse their own want of earnestness. Take care, and never speak slightingly of God's work.

not see.

III. Christ's unwearied labours, (ver. 35.) Read the verse slowly, and let every word produce its own impression. But note particularly that He combines preaching and healing. Surely He means us to follow His example. Illustrate hence the importance of Medical Missions, and the need that exists for their increase.

Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 99.-Ephesians ii. 8.

Subject to be proved-We are saved through Faith.

Golden Text-" By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."-Ephesians ii. 8.

NOTES.-SALVATION-its source. Grace-i. e., free, unmerited favour. We have no desert-we cannot claim it. How, then, do we attain it ?-By faith. But whence is faith ?-God's is the gift. So, then, salvation is entirely of free grace is entirely a gift. The gift of God is eternal life. What then? "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." This is God's promise, and He cannot deny himself. He abideth faithful. Put Him to the proof, and THE GIFT will be yours.

ов,

The Teacher's Quiver;

ILLUSTRATIONS

OF THE LESSON S.

LESSON 93.-MOSES AND THE PLAGUES.-Exodus viii. 1-32.

171. God's Mercies are often readily Forgotten, (verses 15, 32.)—On some hearts God's warnings make no more lasting impression than the paddle-wheels on the water-creating a violent agitation for a few minutes, leaving a white track for a brief space longer, which, melting away from view, all becomes as it had been before. On such hearts all kindness descends as showers of rain, or rivers of fresh water falling into the sea; the sea swallows them all, but it is not at all changed or sweetened by them. So it was with Pharaoh: his goodness was as the morning cloud and early dew.

172. False Repentance is Short-lived, (verses 8, 15, 28, 32.)-See the ice, how hard it is! But twelve o'clock comes; there is then a great heat from the sun, and the ice cracks and melts: but the sun goes down and night comes on, and the ice is as hard as ever. How often it is so under God's dealings! A great calamity often produces, as in the case of Pharaoh, a melting of the heart; the tears, apparently of contrition, flow freely; but when the trouble is over the tears are dried up, and the heart becomes as hard as ever.

LESSON 94.-THE FIRST PASSOVER.-Exodus xii. 1-28.

173. Without shedding of Blood there is no Remission, (verses 12, 13.)—An old preacher used always to carry about with him a little book. This tiny volume had only three leaves in it, and it contained not a single word. The first was a leaf of black paper, black as jet; the next was a leaf of red-scarlet; and the last was a leaf of white, without spot. Day by day he would look upon this singular book, and at last he told the secret of what it meant. He said, "Here is the black leaf, that is my sin, and the wrath of God which my sin deserves; I look, and look, and think it is not black enough to represent my guilt, though it is as black as black can be. The red leaf reminds me of the atoning sacrifice, and the precious blood; and I delight to look at it, and weep,

and look again. The white leaf represents my soul, as it is washed in Jesus' blood and made white as snow. The little book was fuller of meaning than

many a learned folio.

174. Christ's Blood cleanseth from all Sin, (verses 22, 23, 27.)-A man on the Malabar coast had long been uneasy about his spiritual state, and had inquired of several priests how he might make atonement for his sins. He was directed to drive iron spikes, sufficiently blunted, through his sandals, and on these spikes to walk a distance of four hundred and eighty miles. He undertook the journey, and travelled a long way, but found no peace. One day he halted under a large shady tree, where the Gospel was sometimes preached; and while he was there one of the missionaries came and preached from the words, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin." While he was preaching the poor man's attention was excited, and his heart was drawn; and, rising up, he threw off his torturing sandals, and cried out aloud, "This is what I want!" and became henceforth a witness of the healing efficacy of the Saviour's blood.

LESSON 95.-REVIEW.-MOSES: GOD'S SERVANT, THE PEOPLE'S FRIEND.

LESSON 96.-JESUS HEALING THE BLIND AND THE DUMB.-Matthew ix. 27-34.

175. "Whatsoever ye ask, BELIEVING, ye shall receive," (verses 27-30.)—A little boy, who was a Sabbath scholar in a school in Edinburgh, said one night to his teacher, "Teacher, I wish my sister could be got to read the Bible; she never reads it." "Why, Johnny, should your sister read the Bible ?"-"Because I am sure it would do her good, and she would be converted and be saved." "Do you think so, Johnny ?"-"Yes, I do, sir; and I wish the next time there's a prayer meeting you would ask the people to pray for my sister, that she may begin to read the Bible." "Well, well, it shall be done, John." So the teacher gave out that a little boy was very anxious that prayer should be offered that his sister might begin to read the Bible. When the prayer began John was observed to get up and go out. The teacher thought it very rude of him to do so, and so the next day, when the lad came, he said, "John, I thought it was very rude of you to get up in the prayer meeting and go out."-"Oh, sir," said the boy, "I did not mean to be rude; but I thought I should just like to go home and see my sister reading the Bible for the first time." That is the manner in which we ought to pray, really expecting an answer to our prayers.

176. Jesus gives Sight to the Blind, (verses 29, 30.)-At the annual examination of a school for the blind one of the scholars said, "I am a little blind boy. Once I could see; but then I fell asleep a long, long sleep-and I thought I should never wake. And I slept till a kind gentleman, called Mr. Mott, came and opened my eyes; not these eyes," pointing to his sightless eyeballs, “but these," lifting up his tiny fingers, "these eyes. And, oh! they see such sweet words of Jesus, and how He loved the blind."