promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another Psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption : but he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish : for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

T. Where is the Epistle taken from?

S. St. Paul's discourse in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia.

T. Who does he address?

S. The Jews; and not only them, but those who fear God (the proselytes, xiii. 16).

T. What was he to proclaim to all such?

S. The word of salvation.

T. Were the Jews familiar with the prophets?

S. Yes. From the time of Ezra portions of the law and the prophets were read every Sabbath day, and persons were appointed to expound them.

T. Where do we find instances of this?

S. When our Lord went about Galilee He taught and preached in the synagogues (Matt. iv. 23); "and at Nazareth, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read" from the book of Esaias, explaining to the people the prophecy relating to Himself (Luke, iv. 16-23); and on the occasion of this discourse of St. Paul, he was called upon by the rulers of the synagogue to preach (v. 15).

T. How had the ignorant and hard-hearted Jews fulfilled the prophets?

S. In condemning Christ, even though they found no cause of death in Him?

T. The Jews stumbled at Christ's death; what does St. Paul, therefore, explain?

S. His resurrection, which had been witnessed by many; and that by it the promises made to the fathers were fulfilled unto us their children.

7. The words of the second Psalm were said to David after his great persecutions, when God raised him out of them, giving him the title of king, which originally belonged only to God. How are these words applied to Christ? Rom. i. 3, 4.

S. He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

T. The "sure mercies of David" was the everlasting covenant that God would perpetuate His promise to David, that one of his seed should sit on the throne for ever. How was this expressed? Isa. lv. 3, 4.

S. "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people."

T. How was this fulfilled in Christ?

S. By His resurrection, now no more to die, but reign for ever over His people.

T. Could Ps. xvi. 11, apply to David?

S. No; for he died, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption. 1 Kings, ii. 10.

T. (The expression, "laid unto his fathers," is in allusion to the Jewish custom of burying whole families, for many generations, in large sepulchres.) Through whom, then, have we the forgiveness of sins?

S. Through Christ, in whom these prophecies were fulfilled.

T. How may we apply the warning of St. Paul to ourselves? Hab. i. 5.

S. When we are tempted to doubt and disbelieve the word of God, we should recollect it may be by reason of our pride, and sinful lives; and try to seek after a more lowly and teachable spirit.

T. Are there works in our days hard to be understood? S. Yes; the prosperity of the wicked, the trials of the good, and severe and sudden judgments of God; which are yet capable of being understood by them that take God's word for their rule and guide.

The Gospel. St. Luke, xxiv. 36.

JESUS himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were

terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honey-comb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

T. (This was the fourth appearance of our Lord on this day.) Who were gathered together on this occasion? S. The eleven, joined by Cleopas and the other disciple.

T. How did our Lord salute the disciples?

S. He said, "Peace be unto you."

T. What may we observe concerning this salutation? S. He commanded His disciples, when He sent them to preach, "Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say,

Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again." Luke, x. 5, 6.

T. (It was, indeed, the common Jewish salutation, but most significant from the lips of the "Prince of peace." Is. ix. 6. What was their fear?

S. That they had seen a spirit.

T. When do we read of their having had such a fear before?

S. When He came to them walking on the sea. Mark, vi. 49.

T. How does He calm their fear?

S. With words of kindness. He suffered them to touch Him, and to behold His wounded hands and feet, that they might perceive it was His real body that had risen from the grave: finally, He eats before them, as a living person.

T. What was their feeling?

S. They believed not for joy.

T. How were they enabled to understand the Scriptures?

S. He opened their understanding. In St. John we read that He breathed on them, saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." xx. 22.

T. What does this teach us?

S. We can believe nothing, unless God enables us to perceive it by the Spirit.

T. What did He command them to do?

S. To preach His Word to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and the doctrine of repentance and forgiveness of sins through Him.