The Third Sunday after the Epiphany.

Instruction.---Our infirmities signify the weaknesses of our mortal nature through which we frequently fall into sin. Our necessities signify all our bodily and spiritual wants. God's right hand means his providence.

Questions.---What are we subject to fall into through our infirmities? [Ans. Sin.] To what are we exposed every day of our lives? [Ans. Dangers.] Can we defend ourselves from them? [Ans. No.] Can we supply our own wants? [Ans. No.] If God did not by his providence help and defend us, what would become of us? [Ans. We should perish.]

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.

Instruction.---The frailty of our nature means that weakness which makes us unable to resist temptation without the grace of God. Standing upright signifies resisting temptatation so as not to fall into sin.

Questions.---What do we pray for in this collect? [Ans. Strength and protection.] What do we often yield to through frailty? [Ans. Temptation.] Can we stand upright, that is, resist temptation and do our duty by our own strength? Ans. No.] What will the strength and protection of God do for us? [Ans. Support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations.]

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.

Instruction.---The Church, or whole body of Christians, is in several parts of Scriptute called the Household of God, because God, as the master of this great household, provides for and governs it; but God expects and requires that every member of it should depend upon his grace, and trust in his promises.

Questions.---Does not the master of a household upon earth provide for his family and govern it? [Ans. Yes.] What is meant by God's household? [Ans. The Church.] What forms the Church? [Ans. The whole body of Christians.] What does God expect every member of it should depend upon [Ans. His grace.] What does God require very one to trust in? [ns. His promises.]

The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.

Instruction.---The works of the devil which Christ came to destroy, were his bringing death and inisery upon mankind by tempting them to sin. If Christ had not come in our nature, we could never have been the adopted children of God, and heirs to eternal life. Christ requires that we should lead a pure and holy life, in imitation of his example in the flesh; if we do not we must never expect admittance into his glorious kingdom.

Questions.---For what purpose was the Son of God manifested in the flesh? [Ans. That he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God and heirs of eternal life.] If we are the adopted sons of God through Jesus Christ, and heirs of eternal life, what should we strive to do? [Ans. To purify ourselves even as he is pure.] Why should we desire to be thus purified? [Ans. That when our Saviour comes again in power and great glory, we may be like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom.] With whom does Christ live and reign as one God in this eternal and glorious kingdom? [dns. With the Father and the Holy Ghost.]

Septuagesima Sunday, the third before Lent.

Instruction.---This collect is particularly suited to those who are in any kind of affliction. Those who are in prosperity should join in it in behalf of other members of the Christian Church, who are in a state of suffering.

Questions.---In what light does this collect teach us to consider afflictions? [Ans. As punishments for sin.] What will God do in his own good time if we pray to him? [Ans. Deliver us out of affliction.]

Sexagesima Sunday, the second before Lent. Instruction.---Adversity signifies whatever causes sorrow. Questions.---Who alone can defend us from adversity? [Ans. God.] Should we put our trust in any thing we can do ourselves? [Ans. No.] Why not? [Ans. Because we can do nothing without God's help.]

Quinquagesima Sunday, the next before Lent. Instruction.---The word Charity is used in Scripture for that good-will to all our fellow creatures which our Saviour calls love, and this love or charity Christ makes the badge or

sign, to distinguish his disciples by. It is called the bond of peace and of all virtue, because it binds Christians together.

Questions.---What do we pray God in this Collect to pour into our hearts? [Ans. Charity.] What is meant by the word Charity in Scripture? [Ans. Love or good-will.] Who is it that inspires our hearts with charity and every other good gift? [Ans. The Holy Spirit.] Why is charity called the bond of peace? [Ans. Because it unites Christians together.] How are those reckoned before God who live without clarity in their hearts? [Ans. Dead.]

The First day of Lent, commonly called Ash Wednesday.

The Children should have the Commination for the First Day in Lent explained to them, before they go to Church on Ash Wednesday, as well as the Collect for the day.

instruction.---The word Lent signifies Spring; the season of Lent is the Spring fast, or the time of humiliation tisually observed by Christians before Easter, in commemoration of our Saviour's fasting forty days in the wilderness. There are forty days in Lent, withou: reckoning the Sundays, which are always festivals. The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday, from the custom which prevailed formerly in the Church for penitents at this time to express their humiliation, by lying in sackcloth and ashes. These outward signs of humiliation are left off, but religious people in general use abstinence in Lent to mortify themselves for their

sins.

Questions.---What is the season of Lent kept in memory of? [Ans. Our Saviour's fasting in the wilderness.] What is the first day of Lent called? [Ans. Ash Wednesday. What do religious people observe during Lent? [Ans. Abstinence.] What is that? [Ans. Eating a less quantity of food. Does God hate any thing he has made, so as to desire its destruction? [Ans. No.] Who will God forgive, and save them from everlasting death? [ins. The penitent.] Who are the penitent? [Ans. Those who repent and turn from their sins.] What is a contrite heart? [Ans. A heart truly sorry for sin,] Are we not as sinners wretched creatures? [ns. Yes.] What do we hope God will in his mercy grant us, if we worthily lament our sins? Ens. Perfect remission and forgiveness of our sins.] Through whom do we

expect such a blessing? [Ans. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.]

The First Sunday in Lent.

Instruction.---Abstinence from food is not reckoned fasting withou tthe abstinence of the spirit, by which is meant denying ourselves the indulgence of every sinful desire, and bringing our minds into perfect obedience to the will of God. Godly motions signify those which we feel in our minds to do God's will rather than our own.

Questions.---Had our Lord Jesus Christ any sins of his own to repent of? [Ans. No.] For whose sake did he fast? [Ans. For our sakes.] What is meant by abstinence or fasting? Ans. A sparing use of food.] What does this Collect say abstinence will do? [Ans. Subdue the flesh to the spirit.] What is the flesh? [Ans. The desires of our corrupt nature.] What is here meant by the spirit? [Ans. The Holy Spirit.] When may the flesh be said to be subdued to the spirit? [Ans. When we obey the godly motions of the Holy Spirit.] What does the Holy Spirit move us to? [Ans. Righteousness and true holiness. Whom do we honour when we practise holiness? [ns. God.]

The Second Sunday in Lent.

Questions.---Can we foresee or prevent accidents which may happen to the body? [Ans. No.] Can we tell that a horse will fall with us, that a chimney will be blown down, that a house will be set on fire, or many other things which may happen? [Ans. No.] What should we then pray God to do? ns. To keep us outwardly in our body.] we not subject to have many evil thoughts come into our mind? Ans. Yes.] What should we pray God to do then? [Ans. To keep us from evil thoughts.] Can we expect God will do this, if we do not try to keep from evil thoughts? [Ans. No.]

The Third Sunday in Lent.

Are

Questions---Which should we have hearty desires for, earthly things or heavenly things [Ans. Heavenly things.] If we have desires for earthly things rather than heavenly, can we expect God to grant them? [Ans. No.] What enemies in particular should we pray God to defend us from? [Aus. Our spiritual enemies.] What are they? [Ans. The world, the flesh, and the devil].

The Fourth Sunday in Lent.

Questions.---Do we not all deserve to be punished for our evil deeds? [Ans. Yes.] Is it not very painful to think of this? [Ans. Yes.] What can comfort and relieve us? [Ans. God's grace.] What hope does the goodness of God permit us to form? [Ans. That he will pardon us through Jesus Christ.]

The Fifth Sunday in Lent.

Questions---Ought we not to wish to be governed both in body and soul by God? [Ans. Yes.]

The Sunday next before Easter.

Questions.---What did Almighty God do out of his tender love to mankind? [Ans. He sent his Son to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross.] Was not this a wonderful instance of humility as well as of love in the son of God. [Ans. Yes.] Did not our Saviour give numberless proofs of his patience while he was in our nature? ¡Ans. Yes.] What should we follow? [Ans. His example.] How shall we do this? [Ans. By being humble and patient.] What shall we be partakers of if we do so? [Ans. His resurrection.] What is meant by the resurrection? [Ans. Our bodies rising again from the grave.]

Passion Week.

Instruction.---This whole week, set apart for the commemoration of our Saviour's sufferings, was called formerly the Great Week, because of the great work which was finished. in it. It was also called the Holy Week, on account of its being spent by pions Christians in holy exercises, fasting and praying both in public and private.---The Church still calls upon her members to follow this pious custom; and it is hoped that many do so. This week is now called Passion Week. The Thursday in this week is called Maunday Thursday, from the commandment which our Saviour gave his disciples, to commemorate the holy Sacrament of his Supper, which he this day instituted. The Sunday Collect is used for the four days following till Good Friday.

Questions.---What is the week before Easter called? [Ans. Passion weel:] Why is it so called? [Ans. Because of our Saviour's sufferings.] What was it. formerly called? [Ans. The great week.] Why was it called so? [Ans. Be