T. What is "to prove ?"

S. To try and examine, as the Bereans, "who received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so." Acts, xvii. 11.

T. By what power did St. Paul thus exhort all Christians?

S. By "the grace of God, which had been given unto him," 1 Cor. iii. 10, being called to the apostleship.

T. What is it to think soberly of ourselves?

S. Not to be puffed up with pride, but to be "clothed with humility." 1 Pet. v. 5. "Esteeming each other better than ourselves." Phil. ii. 3.

T. How are we all members in one body?

S. We are limbs, or portions of Christ's body the church, Eph. v. 30, by baptism.

T. What are we taught to remember?

S. That all have not the same office. Each must do his own duty.

T. As members of Christ together, what do we enjoy ? S. Communion with each other in the doctrine, and fellowship, and worship of the whole Church.

T. The wise men's gift of myrrh may signify such mortifying of the flesh, and offering our bodies a holy sacrifice to God, by Christ (Sparrow's "Rationale”), as we are enjoined in this Epistle.

The Gospel. St. Luke, ii. 41.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast. And when they had ful

filled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, and stature, and in favour with God and man.

T. What feast did our Lord's parents go to Jerusalem to celebrate?

S. The Passover.

T. What was the law concerning this? Deut. xvi. 16. S. "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles."

T. What was it held to commemorate?

S. The Lord's Passover. "Who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians and delivered their houses." Exod. xii. 27. T. Why is it called the feast of unleavened bread?

S. While it was kept no leavened bread was to be eaten by the Israelites, because when thrust out of Egypt in haste they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared themselves any victuals. Exod. xii. 39.

T. [Women are not commanded to attend.] What other instance do we read of one accompanying her husband to keep the feast?

S. Hannah, the mother of Samuel. 1 Sam. i. 7.

T. How long was this festival kept?

S. Eight days.

T. [It was the custom for the Jewish children to be publicly taught in the temple by the doctors.] Who spoke of himself as brought up at the feet of a doctor?

S. St. Paul, who says: "I verily am a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers." Acts, xxii. 3. T. What did our Saviour manifest, or show forth, by His questions and answers?

S. His more than human knowledge.

T. What did His answer to the blessed Virgin declare ? S. That He was the Son of God, for this could not be the business of Joseph, his reputed father.

T. What was His office as the Son of God?

S. To teach the way of God in truth.

T. How did He declare this latter? John, iv. 34.

S. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work."

T. What do we next learn of our Lord's childhood? S." He was subject to Joseph and Mary: and increased in wisdom, and stature, and in favour with God and man."

T. What does this teach us?

S. Obedience to our earthly parents, after God our heavenly Father: and as we grow in years, to strive to grow in wisdom too.

T. How may we follow His mother's example with profit?

S. If we, like her, keep His sayings in our hearts: fearing to speak on that we do not understand, but anxious to believe and learn their full meaning.

T. What is the meaning of stature?

S. Height, growth.

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. What do we call God in this Collect?

S. Almighty and everlasting.

T. What does Almighty mean?

S. Able to do all things.

T. Show that God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, have been from everlasting.

S. David says: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the

world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." Ps. xc. 2. Of the Son we read: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John, i. 1. And of the Holy Ghost: "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Gen. i. 2), in the creation.

T. What do we say of God's power in the Collect?
S. "He governs all things in heaven and earth."

T. Whom does God govern in heaven?

S. The heavenly host, the angels.

T. How does Christ prove their obedience?

S. By teaching us to pray, "Thy will be done in earth as in heaven."

T. What do we learn of the duties of angels? Heb. i. 14.

S. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?"

T. Prove from Proverbs, xvi. 4, that God rules the evil in this world for a purpose?

S. "The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."

T. After thus calling to mind the greatness and power of God, how do we continue our prayer?

S. "Mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people," i. e. the humble and earnest prayers.

T. Give an example of such prayers?

S. Those that Christ offered for us before His passion. "Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, was heard in that He feared." Heb. v. 7.

T. What do we pray God to grant us all the days of our life?

S. His peace.