S. With the wicked. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." John, iii. 20.

T. How must every Christian die unto the Lord?

S. We must "reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ." Rom. vi. 11. T. Why does St. Paul teach us to love God's chastening hand?

S. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Heb. xii. 6.

a

T. Why does St. Paul say there was given to him " thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan" to buffet him? 2 Cor. xii. 7.

S. "Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations."

T. How could the Apostles make many rich?

S. By teaching them to lay up heavenly treasure; “for godliness is profitable unto all things, having the pro mise of the life that now is, and that which is to come." 1 Tim. iv. 8.

The Gospel. St. Matt. iv. 1.

THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an-hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the

temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

T. What are we now considering?

S. Our Lord's temptation of the devil in the wilderness.

T. What promise did this fulfil?

S. The promise of God to our first parents and all mankind, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. Gen. iii. 15.

T. What may all Christians learn from it?

S. That they must endure temptation, with Christ's ever-present help and succour. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." Heb. ii. 18.

T. What do the first words teach us?

S. Jesus was led by the Spirit; so we must follow only where He leads, not choosing trials, or placing ourselves in the way of temptation, without His guidance.

T. How did He prepare for this struggle with the evil spirit?

S. He fasted; so must we cast off the lusts of the flesh, and arm ourselves only with spiritual weapons. (So did Moses fast, Ex. xxxiv. 28; and Elias, 1 Kings, xix. 8.)

T. How did Satan begin to tempt our Lord?

S. He says, "If thou be the Son of God;" suggesting doubts, as with our first parents.

T. What advantage does he take of our Saviour's hunger?

S. He tempts Him to satisfy it by a miracle-casting aside His confidence in God's sustaining power.

T. How does our Saviour reply?

S. With the word of God.

"That man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Deut. viii. 3.

T. How does the devil tempt us in like manner?

S. He would make us to doubt God when we are weak, alone, and hungry, and to require some special favour to be wrought for us, and our trial at once removed.

T. What must we then do ?

S. We must comfort ourselves with God's word; believe, and wait His time of relief.

T. How does the evil spirit show more subtlety in the next temptation?

S. He quotes God's word (Ps. xci. 11, 12) for his own ригрозе; as it were, transforming himself into “ an angel of light." 2 Cor. xi. 14.

T. What does he thereby tempt our Lord to do?
S. To show His miraculous power out of pride.
T. How does the devil try us in the same way?

S. By tempting us to put ourselves in danger and

temptation, to try how far God's goodness can reachdesiring more evidence than He has given.

T. What does our Saviour's answer show?

S. Such conduct is no less than tempting God, which He has forbidden. Deut. vi. 16.

T. How does the devil next attack our Lord?

S. Through the love of the world, showing Him the pomp and glory of it.

T. How does he say these are to be obtained?

S. By serving and worshipping him.

T. But will Satan, or can he, fulfil his promises?

S. No; for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Ps. xxiv. 1); and Satan is "a liar, and the father of it."

T. How will he use the things of this world—such as power, riches, honour-as instruments to tempt us into his bondage?

S. He may make us desire them, and try to obtain them by evil means, breaking God's commandments.

T. How did Jesus rebuke him this time?

S. Saying, "Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Deut. vi. 13.

T. How must we stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free?

S. By keeping God's commandments; believing and serving Him through Christ Jesus.

T. Who are our "cloud of witnesses" in this strife?

S. The saints of old time, of whom the world was not worthy (Heb. xi. 38; xii. 1); and the angels, who are all "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." Heb. i. 14.

T. How was our Lord comforted?

S. "The angels came and ministered unto him."

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. With what confession do we begin this Collect? S. "We have no power of ourselves to help ourselves."

T. Who sees and knows our helplessness?

S. Almighty God.

T. What do we mean by this declaration?

S. To express our faith and trust in God only.

T. How has God declared His displeasure at those who trust in man? Jer. xvii. 5.

S. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

T. What is our sin if we do not make such confession as is here suggested?

S. We are trusting in our own righteousness, or our own strength.

T. Where may we find an example of trust in God?

S. In David, who says, "Mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust" (Ps. cxli. 8); and in Job, who says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Job, xiii. 15.