bread of life. It is, however, only as we exercise faith, that is, trust and hope in Jesus that we can truly come to Him in His Church and receive Him in the Lord's Supper. Without faith on our part the use of the means of grace will not benefit us, but if, in the exercise of true faith, we make use of these means, we shall by the power of Christ's life be freed from all hunger and thirst, first spiritually, and then corporeally. Jesus can and will satisfy our every want, if we come to Him and believe on Him. "What did you just now say to sister?" "I told her to be quiet." "But you said, 'Hush up!' and said it very loudly and rudely. And what did you, ten minutes ago, say to Martha ?" "I told her to go out of my way." "But you did not say it half so nicely as that. You said, Get out of this!' and I think you called her some name. What was it?" PERFECT FAITH.- A story is told of a street boy in London who had both legs broken by a dray passing over them He was laid away in one of the beds of the hospital to die, and another little Harry looked ashamed, and the tears creature of the same class was laid near came; but he answered, "I called her a by, picked up sick with famine fever.' dirty snick.'" The latter was allowed to lie down by "Just so. That is what I mean by the side of the little crushed boy. He street talk. All these naughty words, crept up to him and said: "Bobby, did and especially the rough tone and manyou never hear of Jesus?" "No, I nev-ner, you hear on the street. They beer heard of Him." 'Bobby, I went to long to those boys who have never been mission school once, and they told us taught any better, and to those men who, that Jesus would take you to heaven though knowing better, yet do not care when you died, and you'd never have anything about the better way. But my hunger any more, and no more pain, if little boy must never use street talk." you axed him." I couldn't ask such a great big gentleman as he is to do anything for me. He wouldn't stop to speak to a boy like me." "But he'll do all that if you ax him." "How can I ax him if I don't know where He lives, and how can I get there when both my legs are broke?" "Bobby, they told me at the mission school as how Jesus passes by. Teacher says He goes around. How do you know but what He might come around to this hospital this very night? You'd know Him if you was to see Him." "But I can't keep my eyes open. My legs feel so awful bad. Doctor says I will die." "Bobby, hold up your hand, and He'll know what you want when He passes by." They got the hand up. It dropped. Tried again. It slowly fell back. Three times he got up the little hand, only to let it fall. Bursting into tears, he said: "I give it up."" Bobby, lend me yer hand; put yer elbow on my pillar; I can do without it." So one hand was propped up. And when they came in the morning the boy lay dead, his hand still held up for Jesus. You ONLY TWO. Only two ways. One broad, the other narrow; one leads to destruction, the other to life; many go by the one, few by the other. Which is your way? Only two sorts of people. Many sorts in man's opinion-many societies, classes, sects, and denominations. Only two in God's sight: the righteous and the wicked, the wheat and the chaff, the living and the dead. Which are you? Only two deaths: the death of the righteous and the death of the wicked. Which do you think you will die? Which do you wish to die? Which would it be if you were to die this moment? Only two sides at the day of judgment: the right hand and the left. Only these two. Those on the right hand will be blessed-' Come, ye blessed of my Father.' Those on the left will be cursed-'Depart, ye cursed.' All must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, to receive the things done in the body, whether good or bad. What word shall be spoken to you? On which side of the throne will you stand? What is Christ said to have done about the same time He uttered the words of this lesson ? To what may the words of the lesson accordingly be considered an answer? What important truth does the lesson especially teach us? Vers. 25, 26. What did Jesus say? Why did He address the Father as Lord of heaven and earth? For what did He thank Hin? Who are meant by the wise and prudent? Who by babes? What things are hidden from the former and revealed unto the latter? Why does God thus deal with men? 27. What hath the Father delivered unto Jesus? Who is Jesus? Who does He say knoweth the Son? Who knoweth the Father? Who else knoweth the Father? What kind of knowing does Jesus here mean? What do these words of Jesus clearly prove? 28. Whom does Jesus invite to come unto Him? Who are the laboring and heavy laden? What does He say will be given them if they come unto Him? Who will give them rest? What kind of rest will He give them? 29. What does Jesus invite us to take upon us? What does He mean by my yoke? What further does He invite us to do? What is it to learn of Jesus? Why does He say we should take His yoke and learn of Him? Did He show Himself to be really such while on earth? Can you give any proofs of this? What does Jesus say we shall find if we take His yoke upon us and learn of Him? 30. What does He say His yoke is? What His burden? What does He mean by His yoke being easy and His burden light? If we be truly wise will we do what Jesus invites us to do? CATECHISM. XXVII. 72. Is then the external baptism with water, the washing away of sin itself? Not at all, for the blood of Jesus Christ only, and the Holy Ghost, cleanse us from all sin. 73. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism "the washing of regeneration," and "the washing away of sins?" God speaks thus not without great cause, to wit, not only thereby to teach us, that, as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ; but especially that, by this divine pledge and sign, He may assure us that we are Lord's Day. spiritually cleansed from our sins as really as we are externally washed with water. 74. Are infants also to be baptized? Yes, for since they as well as the adult are included in the covenant and Church of God; and since redemption from sin by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult; they must, therefore, by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted into the Christian Church, and be distinguished from the children of infidels, as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision, instead of which baptism was instituted in the new covenant. 1. Jesus! I live to Thee, The loveliest and the best; My life in Thee, Thy life in me, In Thy blest love I rest. 2. Jesus! I die to Thee, Whenever death shall come; 3. Whether to live or die, I know not which is best; 4. Living or dying, Lord, COMMENTS.-About the same time that Christ spake these words, St. Matthew tells us, He upbraided the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done because they repented not. When we consider the unbelief of these cities the question naturally arises, Why did they so persistently refuse to believe on Jesus, notwithstanding He gave them such striking proof of His divine mission? To this question the words of the lesson may be considered an answer. Viewed in this light, they teach us the important truth, that salvation is of God alone. 25, 26. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. In this thanksgiving Jesus confesses the entire justice of His Father's doings, and with a heart burning with love to His brethren, celebrates the condescension of the Divine to the weak and poor. He addresses the Father as the Lord of heaven and earth, because in His dealing with men He manifests Himself as such, and also, perhaps, to contrast His greatness with the littleness of those to whom He condescends. These things which the Father has hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes, are the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. By the wise and prudent are here meant not the truly and spiritually wise, but men possessed merely of worldly wisdom and learning, such, for instance, as were the Scribes and Pharisees. By babes are meant the humble and spiritually disposed, who having a low opinion of their own wisdom, are willing, like babes, to yield themselves to divine guidance; such persons as were the believing followers of Jesus, whom the Pharisees despised. By the mysteries of the Kingdom being hid to the one and revealed to the other, we are to understand, that in accordance with the laws by which God governs the universe it is impossible for the one to apprehend rightly spiritual things, while it is made possible for the other to do so. Even so, Father, etc. In these words Jesus expresses His full acquiescence in the Father's government of the universe, because He knows it to be in all cases wise and gracious. 27. All things are delivered unto me. To Jesus, as Mediator, all things were committed by the Father. He is head over all things to His Church. This, however, does not imply that the rule of the Father had ceased, but that all things were by the Father brought into connection with and subordination to the economy instituted by Christ."(Lange.) And no man knoweth, etc. The knowing here spoken of is true, essential knowing. This saying of Jesus affords strong evidence in favor of His divinity. It also clearly teaches that men can never come to a true knowledge of God apart from Christ, and hence that salvation is wholly of God through Christ Jesus, His only begotten and well beloved Son. 28. Come unto me, etc. In this gracious invitation the condescending love of God in Christ is most strikingly manifested. All ye that labor and are heavy laden. In some sense this may be said to include all men, as all are more or less laboring and burdened, but, more especially, those are meant who labor under a deep sense of sin, and who, feeling the burden of sin, desire sincerely to be delivered from it. To all such as come to Jesus He will give rest, that is relief, freedom from spiritual commotion and disquietude, and finally also from all intellectual and physical suffering and unrest. 29. Take my yoke, etc. That is submit yourselves to my authority, receive my teachings, and be guided by my Spirit. We must submit ourselves to Christ, before we can learn of Him, we must believe in Him, in order that we may know the things which make for our peace. For I am meek, etc. This Jesus assigns as a reason why we should take His yoke and learn of Him. Meek and lowly He showed Himself to be during His whole sojourn on earth, and especially in His treatment of the erring and penitent, and in the forbearance He manifested in dealing with the weakness and ignorance of His disciples. Ye shall find rest. Those who come to Christ will not be disappointed. What He promises them He will most assuredly give them. Christ 30. For my yoke is easy, etc. speaks of His yoke and burden, because, on account of the sinfulness which still clings to them, those who submit themselves to Him at first feel such submission to be somewhat burdensome and oppressive. His yoke and burden are, however, easy and light compared with the yoke and burden of sin, inasmuch as submission to Him is in full harmony with man's true nature, while submission to the wicked one is not. When totally rid of sin, submission to Christ becomes for man the greatest possible freedom. In view of the unspeakably great blessings which Christ bestows on His disciples, it is the highest wisdom on the part of men, to take His yoke upon them and learn of Him. laborer drawing from its depths all the time, whether in his dreams upon the couch, his morning thoughts, his evening meditations, or in his daily cares; and this, not for himself, pouring into the trough only, but here and there are the appointed agents to see that every little tree is watered and refreshed with the living stream. "AT a certain hour every afternoon," says a correspondent of The Boston Times, "Washington loungers on suburban drives meet an old gentleman "I WAS wandering," said Dr. Tyng, jogging along on a very trusty, surescarce two years ago, in a beautiful footed animal. It is George Bancroft. garden outside of the town of Jaffa, the His gray hair and long floating gray ancient Hesperides. . . . Oranges and beard run together. His large speccitrons and pomegranates, with every tacles seem to be held on by the shield variety of the nectarine and apricot, of the low cap he wears, and his slight, were growing there in such profusion trim, lithe form is always closely comthat it seemed as if the heavenly world passed by a snug-fitting, double-breasted had been brought down to vegetate upon coat. He rides with ease and, for so the earth. Roving around this enchant- old a man, with grace. Mr. Bancroft is ing place, I remarked a well of water, as vigorous as many men of half his age. and one man employed continually with His habits are regular, studious, mea peculiar, ancient, Eastern mechanism, thodical. He rises early-at about 5 in drawing water. It consisted of a row o'clock in the winter-kindles his own of buckets tied on a thong going round grate-fire, takes a cup of coffee, and on a wheel, each one, day and night, works. He has taken upon him many drawing its own bucketful of water into of the habits of the student men of the a trough prepared to receive it. As I Old World, and performs much of his wandered around I saw a little boy, who labor before the day of modern political with his foot turned the current of water, men begins. The afternoon he spends throwing it now upon the root of this in taking his constitutional' exercise. little tree, and now upon another, stop-In the evening he either receives his ping it off from this and turning on friends or attends the reception of some another, till each little thirsty root got distinguished person." its own appointed portion of the living stream. And thus fertility, beauty, loveliness, and unlimited attraction were growing up everywhere around. Ah! suppose the man at the buckets kept all the water in the well-we might call him a deep man, because he had got down where nobody could see him-but of what avail would he be to the thirsty garden? Or suppose, having drawn the water, like a careless child pumping into a narrow-necked bottle, he should splash it around on every side, and thus deluge one spot while every other was left dry and parched! All this, my friends, might be illustrated in certain moral cases not well for us to pursue in the particular; but the fact was it not a perfect illustration of the Sunday-school? Revelation is the well, and the pastor is the TRAVELERS tell us that sometimes in the Alps the guide forbids a word of conversation, so perfectly poised on the mountain is the great avalanche, that even the reverberation of a whisper as it quivers through the air, may start the mighty mass from its resting-place and send it crashing into the valley below. And there are hearts that carry such burdens that one unfit word may make them break. There are souls so poised over the abyss of ruin that one harsh or ill-spoken word may send them plunging into hopeless despair. How important that the right words should be spoken by those who minister to burdened hearts, and by those who would win souls! How tenderly Jesus treated the bruised reeds that lay crushed in His path! JULY 15. LESSON XXVIII. 1877. Seventh Sunday after Trinity. Luke xv. 11-24. THE PRODIGAL SON.-SIN AND GRACE. 11. And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he dívided unto them his living. 13. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country: and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. 17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. 18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants. 20. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat, and be merry: 24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. QUESTIONS. What is the subject of to-day's lesson? Where is this parable found? What does it portray? Vers. 11, 12. What is said of a certain man? Of whom may this man be said to be a type? Of whom are the two sons types? What class of men does the elder son represent? What class the younger? What did the younger son say to his father? Of what is this request an expression? What did the father do? Does God thus deal with man? 13, 14. What did the younger son do not many days after? What does the far country represent? How did the younger son act in the far country? Is this the way sinners always act? When he had spent every thing he possessed what arose? What was his condition then ? 15, 16. What did he next do? How did the citizen treat him? What would he fain have done? Did any man give unto him? What does this teach us? What does the citizen of the far country represent? Does the world always treat those who serve it in this way? 17-19. What is next said of the prodigal? What do you understand by came to himself? May all sinners be said to be out of their right mind? When do sinners come to their right mind? What did the prodigal say to himself? When sinners truly repent of their sins, are they always willing to confess them? When a man who has acted very badly, is not willing to acknowledge his wrong-doing, what does it show? Are the truly penitent always humble? 20, 21. What did the prodigal do? Should all sinners follow his example? How did the father act? Is God always ready to receive those who truly repent of their sins? What did the son say unto his father? What does this show? When a man truly repents will he always carry out his good resolutions? 22-24. What did the father say to the servants? Of what were these things a pledge? Of what may the best robe be said to be a type? Of what the ring and shoes? Of what the feast? What reason did the father assign for what he did? In what sense was the prodigal dead? In what sense had he become alive? In what are sinners dead? In what do they become alive when they repent of their sins? Should we all seek to become alive to righteousness? CATECHISM. XXVIII. Lord's Day. OF THE HOLY SUPPER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 75. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord's Supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross, and of all His benefits? Thus, that Christ has commanded me, and all believers, to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, in remembrance of Him; adding these promises, first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me: and further, that He feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with His crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ. |