of eternal sinning. The question, whe- no remorse, no repentance is conceivather an everlasting punishment is possi- ble, and therefore no conversion, no ble, or not, depends upon another fact, forgiveness-no salvation. namely, whether it is possible to attain to an everlasting sinfulness. There is a growth and harvest state in grace; but so, too, there is a maturing and ripening in evil. Both truths are taught us in God's Word, (Rom. vi. 23). It is to be noted that our Lord speaks of the sin against the Holy Ghost, as though it lay in some wicked form of speech. "Whosoever speaketh," etc. He does not, however, mean to locate this awful state of the soul in the words of men, any further than men's thoughts, words and actions are the exponents and outgrowths of the inner man. "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," (Matt. xii. 34). Because the hearts of the Pharisees were eet in evil, therefore did they blaspheme Jesus, and were in danger of going further to blaspheme the Holy Ghost. As the tree is known by its fruits, so were His enemies exhibiting their spirit and mind, in their conversation and conduct. Not to be able to discern and acknowledge God the Father, in the book of Nature, is not a sign of hatred against the truth. Nor is it a proof of final impenitence not to recognize God the Son under the humble garb of a carpenter. But when the soul's eye sores and festers and closes against the Spirit of Light and Truth-that is a symptom of a fatal disease of the eye within us, which may, indeed, end in stone-blind All persistence in sin points towards this awful state, and will end there at last. How solemn the warning, then, of our Key-note! As we quench fire, so may we quench the Holy Spirit: 1.) By a deluge of the waters of iniquity. 2.) By a smothering of convictions. Planting Fruit Trees for others. The Spaniards have a maxim, that a that planted the trees from which he man is ungrateful to the past generation the next generation, unless he plants eats fruit, and deals unjustly towards the seed that it may furnish food for those who come after him. Thus when the roadside, wherever he is, he digs a a son of Spain eats a peach or pear by hole in the ground with his foot and covers the seed. Consequently, all over Spain, by the roadsides and elsewhere, fruit in great abundance tempts the taste and is ever free. Let this practice be imitated in our country, and the weary wanderer will be blest, and will bless the hand that ministered to his comfort and joy. We are bound to leave the world as good or better than we found it, and he is a selfish churl, who basks under the shade and eats the fruit of trees which other hands have planted, if he will not also plant trees which shall yield fruit to coming generations. Home Circle. Robert Burns, a son of the poet's eldHospital. He was once a school-masest son, has just died in the Dumfries ter, but his school dwindled away till he had to take refuge in the poor-house, from which about eighteen months ago he was transferred to the more comfortable quarters in which he died. Lord Bacon said: If a man be gracious to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins them. JUNE 12. LESSON XXIV. Trinity Sunday. Acts ii. 14-36. 1881. THE SUBJECT.-ST. PETER'S PENTECOSTAL SERMON. the pains of death: because it was not possible 14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy : 19. And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke; 20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22. Ye men of Israel hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and sigus, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed 25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved : 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad: moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life: thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30. Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne: 31. He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ve now see and hear. 34, For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. QUESTIONS. What name does this Lord's Day bear? In honor of what mystery is it so called? What Three Persons constitute the Holy Trinity? Do the Scriptures teach this doctrine? How does the Baptismal Formula read? Matt. xxviii. 19. Repeat the Apostolic Benediction. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. Do we express our belief in the Trinity when the Doxology is sung? How does God dwell with His Church since the first Christian Pentecost? John iv. 24; xiv. 23. Whose Pentecostal Sermon have we to-day? VERSE 14. What was St. Peter's subject? verses 1-13. How could there be eleven, since Judas was no more? Chap. i. 23-26. Was St. Peter's audience composed of Jews entirely? 15. What charge does St. Peter repudiate? Did a Jew eat or dine before 9 o'clock in the morning? What force had this argument? 16. What Prophet foretold this event? VERSES 17-21. Repeat the substance of Joel's prophecy. Joel ii. 28-32. What time was meant by the last days? Upon what classes should the Spirit come? In what measure? Does the Holy Spirit now dwell in Christians? 1 Cor ii. 16-17; 2 Cor. vi. 16. What figures of speech here teach that hearts enlightened by the Holy Ghost shall know and proclaim the truths of the Gospel? By what other phrases were the calamities of the Jewish Dispensation here foretold? What Dispensation was to succeed? What will the Lord do for all who enter His Gospel kingdom? VERSE 22. By what name does St. Peter call his hearers? Of whom does he begin to tell them? What titles of humiliation does he give our Lord? How does he say God honored them? 23. Had God delivered Jesus, in His wise counsel to be the Saviour of mankind? What did the Jews do with Him? What people are meant by wicked hands? On whom does Peter charge the crucifixion of Christ? 24. What does he say, God did to His Son, then? VERSES 23-28. Whose saying does he quote, to prove the Resurrection of Christ? Ps. xvi. 8-11. VERSE 29. Of whom could David not have spoken this prophecy? Why not? VERSES 30-32. Of whom must he have spoken it? 2 Sam. vii. 12-.3. Who were witnesses of Christ's Resurrection? 33. Of what other event does St. Peter now speak in Christ's history? 34-36. Whose words does he quote to prove Christ's Ascension? Ps. cx. 1-2. How does he conclude his sermon ? Are the Three Persons in the Godhead mentioned in this sermon? What is the Key-Note? When is this generally used? Do you accustom yourself to receive the Benediction in faith? REMARKS.This Lord's Day is named in honor of the Holy TrinityFather, Son, and Holy Ghost. The mystery of a Triune God is taught us in the Baptismal Formula, (Matt. xxviii. 19); in the Apostolic Benediction, 2 Cor. xiii. 14; and in the Doxology sung by all our congregations. Since the first Christian Pentecost, God dwells in His Church through the Holy Spirit. See John iv. 24; xiv. 23. St. Peter's Sermon tells us all about the Advent of the Holy Spirit. COMMENTS.-VERSE 14. St. Peter was the speaker for all the Apostles. Though Judas had hanged himself, there were again eleven. See chap. i. vs. 23-26. The audience was composed of Jews-men of Judea-either residing or sojourning in Jerusalem during the Feast days, (verses 9-11). and totally destroyed-like as if our world were to perish by the sun, moon, and stars falling. But a New kingdom was to be at hand-Christ's kingdom, or Church, in which the Lord is ready to save all who call upon Him. VERSE 22. Ye men of Israel, i. e., Jews. St. Peter begs them now to hear without prejudice and passion, while he would relate in brief words the history of Jesus, whom they had so wickedly slain, but whom God had so wonderfully exalted. He commences with our Lord's lower stage of humiliation, calling Him Jesus of Nazareth; the title of contempt by which the Jews knew Him. He wisely speaks of Him as a man-lest they might shut their ears against his words, were he to call Him at once the Son of God. But low and mean they had conceived of Him, they could not deny that He had been approved or owned of God, by the miracles-great works--wonders--strange acts--and signs, or proofs of God's favor. These they could not gainsay. as VERSE 15. These are not drunken, as had been charged, (v. 13). The third hour was about 9 o'clock, before which Jews would neither eat nor drink any thing. VERSE 16. The Prophet Joel, speaking 800 years before, had already fore- VERSE 23. Him God had delivered, told this event. His Jewish hearers or given forth, to be Lord and Christ; would surely believe what their own by His determinate counsel, or fixed inSeer had preached. tention, and foreknowledge, by which VERSES 17-21. Here the whole say- the proper time, place, and circuming of Joel is repeated for them. See stances were arranged. But Him ye chapter ii. 28-32. In the last days, was have taken, violently and unjustly understood by the Jews as the age of served, and through the instrumentality the Messiah-our Christian era. Then the universal reign of the Spirit was to occur. Not sparingly was the Spirit to come, but copiously-poured out. Not merely for a few prophets, leaders and holy men; but upon all flesh, or mankind; upon young and old; upon sons and daughters; upon servants and handmaidens-i. e., all classes, (1 Cor. iii. 16-17; 2 Cor. vi. 16.) Prophecy-see visions, dream dreams -are phrases which imply that all who are thus enlightened by the Spirit, shall understand and teach the great and glorious truths of the Gospel of Christ. The wonders in heaven above-the signs in the earth beneath-blood, fire, vapor of smoke-as well as the "darkened sun," and "blood-colored moon"all these expressions are highly figurative of the calamities which were to fall upon the Jewish kingdom. The whole economy of Israel was to be eclipsed of wicked hands, the Gentiles, have crucified-until He was dead-slain. He boldly charges the Jews with the crime of having murdered the Son of God! Unless St. Peter had been emboldened by a Divine Power, he would not have spoken thus. VERSE 24. He now turns to the exalted side of Jesus Christ's historyWhom God hath raised up. He teaches the Resurrection of Christ in these words: Having loosed the pains of death, means to open the region of the departed, and the grave. The Prince of Life would as little be holden of Death, as the Night can stand against the Sun. VERSES 25-28. To prove the Resurrection of Christ, St. Peter quotes the words of their own great King and Singer-David-whom they certainly should believe. Psalm xvi. 8-11. VERSES 30-32. Being a prophet, and having been assured of God, (2 Sam. vii. 12-13), that the Messiah was to come through his own posterity, David was evidently speaking of Christ, whose soul was not left in hell, (death); nor his body in corruption, (grave). This Jesus was the Christ, whom God raised up-a fact of which we (120 disciples) are witnesses. VERSE 33. Having proven the Resurrection of Christ, in which fact David's words found their fulfillment, he now proceeds to prove Christ's Ascension to God's right hand, where He received the Holy Spirit into His glorified Person, and sent them forth, as they could themselves see and hear, from the incidents of the day. them; and as brethren, or brother Jews, preparing it (it may seem) for Chrishe urges them to reflect on the prophecy tianity. The equitable character of of the Royal Psalmist. There could be their domestic institutions was in harno dispute between them, as to the re-mony with their nobler religion. The markable utterance itself. And, just historian Josephus many times insists as little could the Patriarch David have on the excellence of their social pracmeant to apply it to himself, since he tices and sentiments. What he says of certainly was dead-buried, and his se- their simplicity of life and the absence pulchre well known to all. To whom, of luxury may have been colored by then, did David mean to apply this the contrast reflected from Roman extrasaying? vagances; but what he says in detail of the honor paid to industry, the zeal of all to be self-supporting, the approval of personal work, and their freedom in imparting goods to one another, which he calls colonnia, (community, fellowship,) and andosis, (yielding up, or distribution,) must be accepted literally. We have full reason to believe that mechanical art and rustic labor were as honorable then in Judea as now in the American Union or at Salt Lake, and that many doctors of the law maintained themselves with their hands. The case of St. Paul is an obvious illustration. Moreover, the laws of Judea were equitable and the punishment mild. Tacitus himself declares that "among themselves the fidelity of the Jews was rigid, (obstinata) and their tender mercy prompt." Such a people, it might seem, had deserved to live, even in the Roman Empire. Not so thought Roman wisdom. That model Emperor Titus, "the delight of mankind," took counsel with his high officers whether to save the Temple of Jerusalem, a building esteemed magnificent. But they argued that out of Jerusalem had come two detestable religions, the Jewish and the Christian, which would best be destroyed by uprooting their original home; therefore the Temple and the city were to be utterly demolished. After Roman cruelty had done its worst upon the oppressed and ruined nation, Christian animosity succeeded, to play a like part. Jewish proselytism ceased, indeed, became impossible, after the violent and deadly war: yet the Jews and their religion. have long survived the domineering, oppressive, and self-destroying rule of Rome; it has undergone no deterioration by the lapse of centuries; yet they still have to plead for toleration and justice from Sclavonic Europe. VERSES 34-36. This proof St. Peter, likewise, draws from their own favorite King and Psalmist-David, (Ps. cx. 1, &c.) This saying, too, was intended to be realized by Jesus Christ, who had ascended, and was to reign as Lord and Christ. Then, once more, with a holy boldness, he reminds them of their awful crime, charging the house of Israel with having crucified Jesus. In order to awaken penitence in their hearts, he again assures them, that this same Jesus is none other than the Messiah, whom their own Prophets had foretold. Thus did Peter explain the wonders of the first Christian Pentecost to the Jews. And Christians may, likewise, best understand it from St. Peter's sermon. Titus and the Jews. Between the era of Antiochus Epiphanes and the Emperor Nero, it appears certain that the Jews made a very beneficial impression on the mind of Western Asia and the Roman world, Frazer's Magazine. JUNE 19. LESSON XXV. 1881. First Sunday after Trinity. Acts ii. 37-47. THE SUBJECT.-THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION. KEY-NOTE.-" IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD."-Luke xvi. 41. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying. Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common: 45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. QUESTIONS. In what city was the first Christian congregation established? chap. i. 4. On what Festival occasion? chap. ii. 1. What Christian Festival, then, constitutes the Birth day of the Church of Christ? VERSE 37. Whose sermon had the multitude in Jerusalem now heard? What effect had St. Peter's sermon? What did the attentive hearers ask? From what were they anxious to be saved? 38. How did St. Peter answer? What two things did he tell them to do? What is it to repent? Why were they to be baptized? What two results were to follow, in case they performed those duties? 39 What promise did St. Peter refer to? verses 16-18; Joel ii. 28-29. What people are meant by you and your children? Who are meant by those that are afar off? To whom, still further, does the promise extend? 40. Is the entire sermon of St. Peter recorded for us? What does testify mean? Exhort? Untoward? What nation is meant by generation? 41. Did all believe St. Peter's sermon? What did the believers at once submit to? How many were baptized the same day? Did this occur, do you think, at the hands of St. Peter alone, and in one place? 42. Did these converts think their duties over after their baptism was consummated? In what did they continue subsequently? How did they continue? In what famous Creed was the Apostles' doctrine embraced? What does fellowship mean? Of what highest grace was their brotherly conduct a proof? 1 Cor. xiii. 13. To what Sacrament does the breaking of bread, probably, refer? 1 Cor. x. 16-17. What duties does the term prayers, cover here? What example does this congregation of believers set for all others? 43. Why did fear fall upon the population in Jerusalem? What followed the Apostles' ministry? 44. Does the expression-were togethermean oneness of mind and heart, or an assembling in one place? How did they regard their individual property? Was this a habit even with the Jews during their Festival times? 45. What did they do with their possessions and goods? Did they, likely, part with everything! 46. Where were they found during the set hours of prayer? Where were they found at other times? What spirit pervaded the congregation? 47. Why did they delight in praising God? How did their daily life and conduct strike the people? Did the congregation grow? What was the character of the new converts? should be saved ? From what men be saved? In what kingdom Who should all be saved from the consequences of all men When and where was the Christian Church founded? How were the earliest members told to enter Christ's kingdom? What Spirit animated this body of believers? What does all this teach the Church in all ages? 1. Our God is love: and all His saints 2. O may we love each other, Lord, |