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T. [This appearance in the heavens, like a star, would naturally attract the attention of men accustomed to observe the heavenly bodies.] By whom was the Messiah's appearing foretold under this emblem?

S. By Balaam: "There shall come a star out of Jacob." Numbers, xxiv. 17.

T. What is the first thing we remark in the conduct of the wise men ?

S. Their anxiety to find Christ, their search for Him, and travelling a long and tedious journey to Jerusalem.

T. [Let us apply this to ourselves.] How does God, now, draw his people unto Him?

S. He has given them the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. iv. 6.

T. What is their long and weary journey?

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S. This present life, where they are strangers and pilgrims." 1 Pet. ii. 11.

T. By what beacon are they directed on their way?

S. By the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ. "Search the Scriptures, they are they that testify of me." John, v. 39.

T. Who will instruct us in these?

S. His enlightened ministers.

T. What was Herod's feeling when he heard the words of the wise men?

S. "He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

T. How do we too often resemble them?

S. If we love the pomps and vanities of this world too well to renounce them for Christ, like Herod; or refuse to hear Christ's messengers, and to believe the tokens of His coming, like the people of Jerusalem, who "killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto them." Matt. xxiii. 37.

T. Whose words did the chief priests and scribes refer to?

S. The prophecy of Micah, v. 2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

T. What do we notice in Herod's words to the wise men?

S. His want of truth, deceiving them as to his purpose. T. What was the reward of their faithful search?

S. "The star" went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was.

T. What similar guidance does this remind us of?

S. The Lord going before the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light to lead them out of the land of Egypt and the house of bondage, to the land flowing with milk and honey. T. How may we compare the state of the wise men with theirs?

S. They were led out of a state of darkness, and ignorance, and bondage to sin, to a knowledge and belief in Christ, and a share in His promise of a heavenly inherit

ance.

T. What was their conduct on finding Him?

S. "They rejoiced with exceeding great joy, they fell down and worshipped Him, and presented unto Him gifts."

T. What did their gifts signify?

S. The gold, that he was a king; the frankincense signified His priesthood; and the myrrh was a sign of His death.

T. How did God save them from a share in Herod's guilt?

S. "Being warned of God in a dream, they departed into their own country another way."

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people which call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. How do we pray that God will receive the prayers of His people?

S. Mercifully. "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." Titus, iii. 5.

T. Whose prayers do we beseech God to receive?
S. His people's.

T. Who are his people?

S. All Christians. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Rom. viii. 14. "Ye are Christ's." 1 Cor. iii. 23.

T. What must those prayers be to which He will listen? S. Believing prayers. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much; "Let him ask in faith." James, v. 16; i. 6.

T. What other condition of our prayers being accepted do we learn from 1 John, iii. 22?

S. That we do His will. "Whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

T. Therefore, how do we further pray in this Collect? S. To perceive and know what things we ought to do. T. Can we do this of ourselves?

S. No. "Our sufficiency is of God." 2 Cor. iii. 5. T. What did our Saviour promise His disciples, to enable them to discern the truth? John, xvi. 13.

S. The Comforter. "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth."

T. Can we, when knowing the truth, perform it unassisted?

S. No. St. Paul says, (Romans, vii. 18, 19) "How to perform that which is good, I find not: for the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do."

T. For what, then, do we pray?

S. For grace, i.e. the Spirit's disposing influence; and for power, i. e. His enabling influence.

T. How do we pray to fulfil our duty?

S. Faithfully, i. e. truly, sincerely, with all our hearts.

The Epistle. Rom. xii. 1.

I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and

all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

T. What does St. Paul beseech us in this Epistle? S. "To present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, as our reasonable sacrifice."

T. What spiritual or holy sacrifices can we offer to God? S. The sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving: the sacrifice of righteousness (Ps. iv. 5); "to do good, and to communicate, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. xiii. 15, 16); and repentance, "for the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." Ps. li. 17.

T. Who will make these acceptable to God? 1 Pet. ii. 5; Eph. i. 6.

S. Jesus Christ.

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." T. How is this our reasonable service?

S. Because we are servants of the Lord, "bought with a price." 1 Cor. vi. 20.

T. How does St. Paul speak of us to prove this? 1 Cor. vii. 22.

S. "For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also, he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant."

T. What is being conformed to the world?

S. Following its evil ways and customs.

T. How are Christians bound to renounce these things?

S. By their baptismal covenant.

T. What must they be to fulfil this?

S. Transformed by the renewing of their mind.

T. When were we once renewed unto God?

S. At baptism, by the "washing of regeneration and

the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus, iii. 5.

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