Questions.---What were the Holy Scriptures written for? [Ans. Our learning.] Should we hear or read them without attention? [Ans. No.] What should we do? [Ans. Mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.] Will not our souls be nourished if we learn patience, and apply to ourselves the comfort of God's word? [Ans. Yes.] What should we embrace and ever hold fast? [Ans. The blessed hope of everlasting life.] Where is this hope given to us? [Ans. In Scripture.] Through whom is it given? [Ans. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.] Is it not a most blessed hope? [Ans. Yes.]

The Third Sunday in Advent.

Instruction.---By the messenger who came before pur Saviour, is meant John the Baptist. By the ministers and stewards of Christ's mysteries, are meant the ministers of his Church. An acceptable people signifies a people whom God will receive as his own.

Questions.---What did John the Baptist come for? [Ans. Το prepare the way before Christ.] What are the ministers of the gospel to prepare us for? Ans. For Christ's second coming to judge the world.] If we follow their instructions, what kind of people shall we be found in the sight of God? [Ans. An acceptable people.] What is meant by an acceptable people? Ans. Such as God will receive as his people.]

The Fourth Sunday in Advent.

Instruction.---The race that is set before us means a Christian course of life. Every sin we commit stops and hinders us in this, and we should never reach the end of it, so as to gain the glorious prize of everlasting life, if God in his grace and mercy did not help and deliver us.

Questions.---What is here meant by the race in which we are frequently stopped by our sins and wickednesses? [Ans, A Christian course of life.] What leads people into sin and wickedness? [Ans. Temptation.] What will help and deliver us if we pray for it? [Ans. The grace and mercy of God.] What is meant by the satisfaction of our Lord? [Ans. His death on the cross.]

Read the Rubrick.

Instruction.---The day set apart for the commemoration of the birth of Christ, is the 25th of December; it is not cer

tain that our blessed Lord was born on that day, but provided we perform the duties of the festival in a proper manner, the fixing of the day is of no consequence. Christmas-day, and the eleven days following, are considered as holydays. It is very proper that we should express our gratitude for the blessing of our Saviour's birth by rejoicings, but they should be such as become Christians. It is also right to use hospitality towards our fellow creatures at this holy season, but it is a mockery of our Saviour to celebrate his birth with drunkenness and rioting, as is too often the case.

Questions.---What is meant by the Nativity of Christ? [Ans. His birth day.] What day in the year is kept as such? Ans. The 25th day of December.] What is it called? [Ans. Christmas day How many days are reckoned holydays besides Christmas day? [Ans. Eleven.] Is not Christmas a very proper season for rejoicing? [Ans. Yes.] Should it be made a time of drunkenness and rioting? [Ans. No.]

The Collect for Christmas Day.

Instruction.---The only begotten Son of God took our nature upon him, and thus became Man, that we might through him be regererated or born anew, and become the children of God by adoption and grace, that is, by being chosen for sons though not born so. As the adopted children of God through the temptation of their spiritual enemies commit sins daily, they have need to be renewed daily by the Holy Spirit.

Questions.---What is meant by being regenerate? [Ans. Born again.] What is meant by being God's children by adoption and grace? [ns. Being made the children of God in baptism.] What are we by nature? [Ans. The children of wrath.] How came we to be children of wrath? [Ans. By Adam's sin.] For whose sake does God make those who are baptized, his children by adoption and grace? [ins. For Christ's sake.] What is meant by being renewed daily by the same spirit? [Ans. Being daily cleansed from sin and renewed unto holiness.] Can it be expected that God will renew us daily by his holy Spirit, if we do not use our best endeavours to keep from sin? [Ans. No.]

Questions.---What nature did the Son of God take upon him, to be born of the Virgin Mary? [Ans. Our nature.] What did he become then? [Ans. Man.] Did he cease to be God? [Ans. No.] Was not Christ both God and Man? [Ans. Yes.] What are Christians reckoned for the sake of

Christ? [Ans. Sons of God.] Are they children of God by nature, as Christ was? [Ans No, by adoption.] What is meant by adoption? [Ans. Being chosen.] What do God's adopted children stand in need of from day to day? [Ans. To be renewed by the Holy Spirit.]

The Collect for St. Stephen's Day.

Instruction.---St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr, and his martyrdom is commemorated on the 26th day of December, the day after Christmas day. There is a full account of his death, persecution, and martyrdom, in the 6th and 7th chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. He was one of the seven deacons appointed to assist the Apostles. Repeat the Collect, Grant, O Lord, that in all our, &c.

Questions.---Who was Stephen? [Ans. One of the seven deacons. Why is he called the first Christian martyr? [Ans. Because he was the first who suffered death for the truth of the gospel.] What day of the year is called his day? Ans. the 26th of December.] What should those who are persecuted for the sake of their faith learn from St. Stephen's example? [Ans. To look up stedfastly to heaven.] What may they learn from his behaviour towards those who put him to death? [Ans. To bless their persecutors.] What will Christ do for all those who suffer for the sake of his religion? [Ans. Help and succour them.]

St John the Evangelist's Day, December 27.

Instruction.---The 27th Day of December is kept in commemoration of this good Apostle, the beloved disciple of our Lord, through whose writings the church of Christ has received great light, and we should study them diligently, that we may know what the truth of the gospel is, and conform to its divine precepts.

Questions.---What day is kept in remembrance of St. John the Evangelist? [Ans. The 27th of December. What was St. John to Christ? [Ans. The beloved Apostle.] Why is he called an Evangelist? [ns. Because he wrote the gospel.] What kind of light is here prayed.for at the beginning of this Collect? [Ans. Spiritual light.] Is there not a great deal of this light in St. John's gospel? [Ans. Yes.] Has not God revealed through him many divine truths not known before? [Ans. Yes.] Have we not in St. John's gospel

good rules to live by? [Ans. Yes.] attain to if we follow this light? lasting life.]

What shall we at length [Ans. The light of ever

The Innocents Day, December 28.

Instruction.---By the Innocents are meant the children king Herod put to death, in and round about Bethlehem. These babes are reckoned among the martyrs, because they died for our Saviour's sake, and obtained a great recompence. The 28th of December is the Innocents'-day.

Questions.---Who are meant by the Innocents? [ Ans. The children Herod caused to be slain at Bethlehem.] How did they glorify Christ by their death? [Ans. Because they died martyrs.] How should all Christians desire to glorify Christ? Ans. By the constancy of their faith, and the innocence of their lives.] What must we be strengthened with in order to do this? [Ans. The grace of God.]

The Sunday after Christmas Day.

N. B. This being the same as the Collect used for Christmas-day, turn back and ask the Questions relating to it.

The Circumcision of Christ, January 1.

Instruction.---The day appointed for commemorating the circumcision of our Saviour, is the first day of January, commonly called New Year's Day, because it begins the year. Circumcision was a Rite of the Jewish Church, by which the people were taken into covenant with God as they now are by the Sacrament of Baptism. Children were circumcised eight days after their birth, at which time a name was given. Our Lord was circumcised because he was to fulfil the whole law. By the circumcision of the Spirit is meant, rooting out all evil desires, and bringing all the desires of our sinful nature into obedience to the will of God. This is our great work on earth, but we can never accomplish it without the grace of God.

Questions.---What Sacrament of the Christian Church is used instead of the Rite of Circumcision in the Jewish Church? [Ans. Baptism.] What is meant by the circumcision of the Spirit? Ans. Bringing all our sinful desires into obedience to the will of God.] Can we do this without his grace?

Ans. No.

How must we obtain it? [Ans. We must pray for it.] On what day is the circumcision commemorated? { Ans. The first of January.] What is the day usally called? [Ans. New Year's day.]

The Collect for the Epiphany, or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, January 6.

Instruction.---This is commonly called Twelfth day, and it is the last of the Christmas holidays; it is kept the 6th of January. The meaning of the word manifestation is, making known publicly. By the Gentiles are meant all the people who were not Jews. The Gentiles to whom our blessed Saviour was first manifested, were the wise men of the east, who came to Jerusalem in the days of Herod, by the guidance of a star, to see one who was born king of the Jews.

Questions.---Who were the first Gentiles to whom our Saviour was manifested? [Ans. The wise men of the east.] Would they have taken a lorg journey to see a king of the Jews, if they had not had faith in what God had revealed to them? [ns. No.] Cannot we have faith in a Saviour before we behold him? [Ans. Yes.] If we have the faith which the Scripture teaches, where shall we behold our Saviour hereafter? [Ans. In heavenly glory.] What shall we be made partakers of? [Ans. The blessings of his kingdom.]

The First Sunday after the Epiphany.

Instruction.---This is a prayer for divine grace, without which we can neither understand our duty nor practise it.

Question.---Can we know what God requires of us without the Scriptures to guide us? [Ans. No.] Can we understand them properly without the help of his Holy Spirit ? [Ans. No.] Is not the grace of God necessary to enable us to do his will? [Ans. Yes.]

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany.

Instruction.---Supplications signify humble prayers. The peace of God means that inward peace which God by his Holy Spirit bestows upon his faithful servants under the various troubles of this mortal life.

Questions.Is not the peace of Ged a most invaluable blessing? [Ans. Yes.]

VOL. II.