S. "We make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." T. We know that "God cannot lie." Titus, i. 2. Therefore, "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves; know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobate." 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

The Gospel. St. John, xxi. 19.

Then Peter,

JESUS said unto Peter, Follow me. turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, That that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose, that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.

T. To whom were these words of our Saviour spoken ? S. To Simon Peter, after our Lord's resurrection; after His divine commission to him (thrice given) to "Feed His sheep, His Lambs;" and the words which he spake, signifying by what death he should glorify God."

T. What might be our Lord's meaning in saying,

"Follow me?"

S. He required Peter to follow His example as a good shepherd, while alive; and to suffer a cruel death (like His own) for the glory of God.

T. Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved?

S. St. John the Evangelist, who wrote these things. T. What others are mentioned in the Bible as beloved by Jesus?

S. Lazarus, John, xi. 3, 36; and the rich young man, Mark, x. 21.

T. What distinguishing proofs of Jesus' love did John receive?

S. He was permitted to lie on His breast at the Last Supper, and to him Jesus showed by a sign who it was that should betray Him, John, xiii. 26; and to him He commended His mother, xix. 26.

T. What may we suppose from our Lord's reply to St. Peter?

S. That his motive was not right in asking what St. John should do.

T. What lesson may we take from it?

S. We must do our own duty without inquiring too closely into that of others; for while it may be our lot to be actively employed, it may be the Lord's will that they should serve Him by waiting patiently.

T. What has been spoken of as Christ's coming again? S. The destruction of Jerusalem.

T. [John did indeed outlive this, and is supposed to have died a natural death in extreme old age.] What is most remarkable in St. John's writings?

S. His love to Jesus Christ, and desire that all men should imitate His Master's love, and thereby prove themselves Christians indeed.

T. [We are told that when too feeble to preach, St. John caused himself to be carried to Church by his disciples, to say but these words to the people, "Little children, love one another."] What other writings have we by St. John?

S. The Epistles and the Revelations.

T. What do we finally learn concerning Christ?

S. That He did many other things than those recorded in the Bible. "Many other signs did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book." John, xx. 30. "If they should be written, every one, even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." 25.

THE INNOCENTS DAY.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify Thee by their deaths; Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by Thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify Thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. What do we commemorate this day?

S. The death of the Innocents.

T. Who were these?

S. The infants slain at Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, when Herod sought the young child (Jesus) to destroy Him." Matt. ii. 16.

T. With what words of David does this Collect begin? S. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength." Ps. viii. 2.

T. Does the Psalmist go on to say wherefore?

S. "That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." Ps. viii. 2.

T. How did the death of the Innocents turn to God's glory?

S. They died in Christ's stead to satisfy the vengeance of Herod; and by their death accomplished God's word, (Jer. xxxi. 15); and because the first-fruits of them that are slain to the Lamb to praise Him for ever in heaven.

T. Were they, therefore, martyrs ?

S. Yes, in deed, but not in will.

T. How does the thought of their innocence move us to pray?

S. " Mortify and kill all vices in us."

T. What does this mean?

S." Put to shame and destroy the evil that is in our hearts."

T. What words of our Saviour does this remind us of? S. "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven: Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. xviii. 4.

T. How does St. Paul teach us to understand these words? 1 Cor. xiv. 20.

S." Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men."

T. What do we need to lead innocent lives? S. To be strengthened by God's grace. "His grace is

sufficient for us; His strength made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. xii. 9.

T. What does St. Paul show must accompany the innoHeb. x. 23.

cency of our lives?

S. The constancy of our faith. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.")

T. How must we all expect our faith to be tried?

S. By the trials of life,- sickness or sorrow, poverty or riches, injustice of others, and finally by death.

T. To whom may those look in perfect peace whose lives have been innocent, their faith constant ?

S. To Jesus, "Who also hath once suffered, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter, iii. 18.

For the Epistle. Rev. xiv. 1.

I LOOKED, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's Name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders; and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth: these were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God, and to

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