S. "They cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

T. What did they mean by "before the time?"

S. Before the day of judgment, for which "the angels which kept not their first estate are reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness." Jude, 6.

T. What did Christ manifest by His casting out the devils ?

S. His power over them.

T. What was the law amongst the Jews concerning swine?

S. "Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you." Lev. xi. 8.

T. (The destruction of the herds of the Gadarenes might, therefore, be to punish their unlawful gains.) What did they do after this miracle?

S. They besought Jesus to depart out of their coasts. T. Did their rejection of Christ fulfil any prophecy? S. Yes. Isaiah says, "He was despised and rejected of men." Isa. liii. 3. These "men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John, iii. 19.

T. What will be the fate of those who deny Christ? S. "Him will Christ deny before the Father, which is in heaven." Matt. x. 33.

T. What is the first miracle in this Gospel an emblem of?

S. Of Christians tossed on the sea of this world, afraid of its storms, doubting if Christ will save them, yet at last crying unto Him, and being delivered.

T. What class of persons do the Gadarenes represent? S. Those who love gain and follow after it, rejecting Christ if His laws do not permit it.

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech Thee to keep Thy Church and household continually in Thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of Thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by Thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. What do we call the Church, of which we are members?

S. The Holy Catholic Church.

T. What is the meaning of Catholic?

S. Universal, i. e. all over the world.

T. Who is the Head of this universal body?

S. Jesus Christ, "He is the head of the body, the Church." Col. i. 18.

T. How do we distinguish the Church of Christ on earth and in heaven?

S. The former is the Church militant, "fighting under Christ's banner, against sin, the world, and the devil;" the latter is the Church triumphant, who have entered into their rest, having won "the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. xv. 57.

T. How is Christ described in the Gospel?

S. As a householder.

T. What is the meaning of a household ?

S. A family.

T. To what family do we belong as Christians?

S. To God's. "Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Eph. ii. 19.

T. How do we pray God will keep His household?

S. In His true religion.

T. To whom did our Saviour commit the teaching of true religion?

S. To the Apostles, saying, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, 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." Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

T. What is the earliest instruction which we receive in religion?

S. The explanation of our baptismal vows in the Catechism.

T. By whom is that instruction afterwards enlarged and carried on?

S. By our spiritual pastors.

T. How are the first believers recorded to have lived? Acts, ii. 42, 46.

S. "They continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers;" and were daily with one accord in the temple.

T. Where do we find the Apostles' doctrine summed up? S. In the Apostles' Creed.

T. How is their fellowship described?

S. "All that believed were together, and had all things common and sold their possessions, and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need." T. How do we continue the "breaking of bread ?"

S. In the Holy Communion.

T. May we even now continue daily with one accord, in the temple, praising God?

S. Yes; if we attend the daily services of the Church. T. Who may hope to be defended by God's mighty power?

S. Those who do lean only upon the hope of His heavenly grace.

T. Can we be accepted by our own merits?

S. No. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus, iii. 5-7.

T. Hath God appointed any outward and visible signs of this grace?

S. Yes the two Sacraments. Compare Heb. x. 22.

The Epistle. Col. iii. 12.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

T. How does St. Paul address the Gentiles in this Epistle?

S. As "the elect of God."

T. Why did he consider them as such?

S. Because God had now given them the Holy Ghost even as he did to the Jews, Acts, xv. 8.

T. What may we observe concerning the teaching of the Epistles, for the Sundays after Epiphany?

S. They teach the new duties of those who have been admitted into the fellowship of Christ's true religion. T. What is the first duty here set forth?

S. To put on "bowels of mercies, and kindness."
T. What is the next? and how described?

S. "Humbleness of mind," i. e. not the appearance or practice only, but the true inward feeling of humility. T. How may we show "long-suffering?"

S. Bearing our own sorrows or the injustice of others with patience, waiting God's time of relief.

T. What conduct does St. Paul exhort us towards one another?

S. "Forbearing one another." i. e. not hasty in taking offence, but bearing the weaknesses and sins of others with indulgence. "Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thess. iii. 15), and "forgiving one another."

T. What motive does he set before us?

S. Christ's example, who forgave us.

T. How are we taught to fulfil the law of Christ? Gal. vi. 1.

S. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

T. What does St. Paul call the bond of perfectness? S. Charity.

T. Why is it so?

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