T. How did Daniel explain the manner of his fasting ? Dan. x. 3.

S. "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

T. What other token of affliction does the Prophet Joel refer to ?

S. The rending of garments.

T. Give some instances of this being the custom of the Jews.

S. Jacob, mourning the supposed death of Joseph, "rent his clothes and put sackcloth on his loins." Gen. xxxvii. 34. When the Israelites were smitten at Ai, "Joshua rent his clothes." Jos. vii. 6. At the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan, "David took hold upon his clothes and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him" (2 Sam. i. 11); and Job, when he was bereft of his goods and children, "arose and rent his mantle and shaved his head." Job, i. 20.

T. What does the Prophet say in reference to this custom?

S. "Rend your hearts and not your garments."

T. How does God encourage His people to turn unto Him?

S. By declaring His mercy and loving-kindness.

T. How does David record God's long-suffering to His rebellious people? Ps. lxxviii. 38, 39.

S. "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”

T. How does God often leave a blessing behind Him in the midst of our trials?

S. He giveth fresh and more abundant grace and strength to help us through them.

T. What blessing does the Prophet mention?

S. "A meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord."

T. Why had this been withholden from the house of God (according to the words of Joel)?

S. "For the field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth." Joel, i. 10.

T. Why should we desire the renewal of all holy ordinances of religion?

S. They are means of grace to those who use them through faith and obedience.

T. What was the signal in use among the Jews to call their assembly?

S. The blowing of trumpets, according to the direction of God to Moses. Numb. x. 2.

T. Might each man keep this national fast in his own way?

S. No; the priests, the ministers of the Lord, were to stand between the porch and the altar, using the words appointed.

T. How is this Epistle suitable to this season?

S. We being now all called to gather together, and sanctify ourselves to keep the fast of Lent.

T. What comfort may we take from it?

S. The assurance that God will forgive all who truly turn unto Him.

The Gospel. St. Matt. vi. 16.

WHEN ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad ountenance for they disfigure their faces, that they

may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

T. Whose words are we now repeating?

S. Our Saviour's, from the Sermon on the Mount.
T. What is their purpose?

S. To give rules concerning fasting.

T. What does this prove?

S. It was a general custom in those days.

T. What holy persons do we read of in the New Testament who fasted?

S. Anna, the prophetess, "served God with fastings and prayers night and day" (Luke, ii. 87); and Cornelius was "fasting" when an angel appeared unto him. Acts, x. 30.

T. How did our Lord answer the question of John the Baptist's disciples, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not?" Matt. ix. 14, 15.

S. "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."

T. Give some instances of their fasting after our Lord was taken from them into heaven.

S. We read of their "ministering to the Lord and fasting," when the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them;" and again, when these two "had ordained them elders in every church, they prayed with fasting, and commended them to the Lord." Acts, xiii. 3; xiv. 23. And St. Paul, describing his labours as a minister of Christ, adds, " in fastings often." 2 Cor. xi. 27.

T. How did our Lord commend this practice when speaking of the efficacy of faith?

S. He added, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matt. xvii. 21.

T. How does our Lord describe the hypocrite's fast? S. "They disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto, men to fast."

T. What is the reward of such?

S. The praise of men, and the gratification of their own vanity.

T. How does our Lord teach His disciples to fast?

S. In secret, unto their heavenly Father.

T. What must we remember with regard to the injunction, "Anoint thy head and wash thy face?"

S. That we must make no change in our usual appearance, dress, or manner.

T. With what should we accompany our fasting ?

S. With prayer and almsgiving (like Cornelius, Acts, x. 2).

T. What may we lay up for ourselves by self-denial to give to others?

S. Treasure in heaven.

T. How do we lay up treasure on earth?

S. By labouring only for the meat that perisheth

(John, vi. 27); or for riches which moth and rust doth corrupt, or for pleasure which passeth away.

T. What may be the sentence of one who, having laid up treasure for himself for many years, prepares to enjoy it?

S. “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." Luke, xii. 20.

T. What must the rich in this world be taught to lay up in store for themselves, as "a good foundation against the time to come ?" 1 Tim. vi. 17-19.

S. "That they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate."

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT.

The Collect.

O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey Thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to Thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

(T. The Sundays in Lent are not to be included in the fast, Sunday always being a festival.)

T. How do we begin this Collect?

S. "O Lord, who for our sakes did fast forty days and forty nights."