ing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

T. How was this revealed to the prophet Isaiah in a vision, by the voice of God? Isa. vi. 9, 10.

not.

S. "And He said, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed."

T. What is the seed sown in our hearts?

S. The word of God.

T. Give an instance of one who heard the word of God, and the devil came and took away the word from him. S. Judas Iscariot at the Last Supper: "After the sop Satan entered into him." John, xiii. 27. T. Need we fear the

harm us?

devil having such power to

S. No. We are told: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James, iv. 7.

T. Mention some who received the word gladly, and in time of temptation fell away.

S. Those disciples who, when our Lord's words were hard to understand, "went back, and walked no more with him." John, vi. 66. St. Peter likewise, and the other disciples, who fled when He was betrayed.

T. How was St. Peter (and these last) restored?
S. By repentance.

T. What comfort have we in temptations? 1 Cor. x. 13.

S." God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it."

T. Give an example of one in whom riches choked the good seed.

S. The rich young man, "who went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions," when our Lord bade him give these to the poor. Matt. xix. 20, 21.

T. Did our Saviour say it was impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven?

S. No. "How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God." Mark, x. 24. T. Mention a rich man who forsook not Christ at His death.

S. Joseph of Arimathea. "He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock." Matt. xxvii. 58-60.

T. How are our hearts prepared for the reception of the seed?

S. By God's gift of the Spirit at baptism.

T. How are we to bring forth fruit?

S. With patience.

soul." Luke, xxi. 19.

"In your patience possess ye your

T. Why may we glory in tribulations also?

S." Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom. v. 3-5.

T. What three dangers which threaten God's word in our souls are we warned against in this parable?

S. First, the devices of Satan; then, our own carelessness; and lastly, the snares of the world.

T. When do we bind ourselves to strive against these?

S. First, at Holy Baptism; again, at Confirmation; and always in a right reception of the Holy Communion. T. To whom must we look for pardon in our backslidings?

S. To Jesus Christ," who is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. vii. 25.

THE SUNDAY CALLED QUINQUAGESIMA, OR THE NEXT SUNDAY BEFORE LENT.

The Collect.

O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; send Thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before Thee: Grant this for Thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

T. How do we begin this Collect?

S. "O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth."

T. By whom do we say we are taught this?

S. By God Himself.

T. How has He taught us?

S. As man; by His own example, and by His precepts.

T. What proof of perfect love did God the Father give us?

S." God so loved the world, that He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John, iii. 16.

T. Were we deserving such love?

S. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. v. 8.) "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." ii. 4, 5.

Eph.

T. What is our Saviour's new commandment? John, xiii. 34.

S. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

T. Does charity consist in loving our brethren only?

S. No. Christ says, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." (Matt. v. 44.) And He prayed for His murderers: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke, xxiii. 34.

T. How has He taught us to express our charity in our prayers?

S. "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Matt. vi. 12.

T. How are we to pray for such perfect love?

S. "Send Thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity," "because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom. v. 5.

T. What are called the fruits of the Spirit? Gal. v. 22. S. "Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

T. How do we describe charity in the Collect?

S. As the "very bond of peace, and of all virtues."

T. In what sense is it a bond?

S. He who has charity, has all other virtues; because charity is the source of all.

T. How is it especially the bond of peace?

S. "Because love worketh no ill to his neighbour." Rom. xiii. 10.

T. What do we mean by all virtues?

S. All that is good, and pure, and holy.

T. Without charity, what does St. Paul say of himself? S. "I am nothing."

T. What do we acknowledge in the Collect?

S. "We are counted dead;" for " he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death." 1 John, iii. 14.

T. Why is this Sunday called Quinquagesima?
S. It is about fifty days before Lent.

The Epistle. 1 Cor. xiii. 1.

THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, en