Ver. 12. But ye cannot bear them now. The apostles were not then prepared to understand fully the truths which Christ wished them to know, because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit, whose office it was to guide them into all truth (St. John xvi. 13). It is remarkable how often Christ kept back something in His teaching for future time; He chose proper seasons for His revelations, always keeping back something for the day when His disciples could better understand Him. Thus, after His resurrection, He taught to them truths which they could not have understood before His resurrection took place.

Ver. 14. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you. The Holy Ghost would lead the apostles to glorify Christ by receiving a revelation from God, and making it known to them.

Ver. 15. All things that the Father hath are mine. All the wisdom and revelation that the Father gives are Christ's. Therefore, said I, He shall take of Mine. It is for this reason that the wisdom and revelation which the Holy Ghost receives from God may be called Christ's wisdom and revelation. Christ, equally with the Father, is the source of wisdom and truth.

Questions. To what great event in Christ's history does the Gospel for to-day refer? [His Ascension.]

Ver. 5. Of what does Christ speak when He says that He is going His way? [His Ascension.] Who, does He say, sent Him? But does not Scripture declare that Christ came of His own will? Where does it declare that? ["Notes."] Then, since God sent Christ, and as Christ came of His own will, what do you learn in relation to God s will and Christ's will? [That they agreed.] Where has Christ taught us to pray that our wills may agree in all things with God's will? ["Notes."] What question does Christ say the apostles did not ask Him? Did He praise or chide them for not asking that question? [Chided them.]

Ver. 6. What effect did His words about leaving them have upon the apostles? [They made them sorrowful.] What would Christ most likely have done had they asked whither He was going? [He would have removed their sorrow.] What reasons might He have given why His going away would be good for them? ["Notes."]

Ver. 7. Why did Christ say it was expedient that He should away? What does the word "expedient' mean here? Notes."] To whom was His going away of benefit? [To the apostles themselves.] He says that unless He went away the Comforter would not come: whom did He mean by the Comforter? Could the apostles understand why Christ's going away was necessary to their receiving the Comforter? Explain why it was necessary. ["Notes."] Did Jesus declare that He would send the Holy Ghost the Comforter? What did He say on that point? What doctrine do you learn from this? [That the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son as well as from the Father.] Where is that same doctrine taught besides in Scripture? When were the words "and the Son" inserted in the Nicene Creed? [See foot-note to ver. 7, "Notes."] When was the doctrine that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son as well as from the Father generally received in the Western Church? [See footnote to ver. 7, "Notes."]

Ver. 8. Of what three things would the Holy Ghost reprove the world when He came ? What does the Greek word mean which is here translated "reprove"? ["Notes."]

Ver. 9. What was the first thing of which He would convict the world? Whose sin? [The world's sin.] Their sin in not doing what? Can you mention any cases mentioned in Scripture in which persons were convicted and pricked in their consciences? ["Notes."]

Ver. 10. What was the second thing of which the world would be convicted by the Holy Ghost? Does this mean that the world would be convicted of its own righteousness? [No.]. What does it mean? ["Notes."] How was the world to be convicted of Christ's righteousness? [The Holy Ghost would convict the world of its sin in not perceiving Christ's righteousness, and in condemning Him-a righteous person.] reason does Christ give why the world would be so convicted? [Because He was going to His Father.] Explain how His going to His Father would be the means of convicting the world of His righteousness. [His going to heaven was the means of sending the Holy Ghost, whose office it was to convict the world.]

What

Ver. 11. What was the third thing of which the world would be convicted? Of judgment upon whom? [Satan.] What is Satan called in this verse in relation to the world? [Its prince.] But how could the world be convicted, if only Satan was to be judged? [Satan represents the evil world, and to condemu Satan is the same thing as condemning the world.]

Ver. 12. Why did Jesus say He could not tell the apostles

many things which they ought to hear? Why could they not then "bear them"? ["Notes."]

Ver. 13. Who was to guide the apostles into all truth? Who is here meant by the spirit of truth? [The Holy Ghost.] What

was He to show them when He came ?

Ver. 14. Whom would the Holy Ghost glorify? In what way? [By receiving heavenly truths, and showing those trutl.s to the apostles.] How would that glorify Christ? ["Notes."]

Application.-Why did Christ say that it was necessary He should leave the world? [Because the Holy Ghost would not come unless He did so.] Who sent the Holy Ghost? Mention the several reasons why the Holy Ghost was sent into the world. [(1) To purify the hearts of Christians; (2) To give spiritual strength to Christians when tempted by the world, their own evil desires, or by the devil; (3) To give them comfort when in sorrow; (4) To teach them the truth.] Can you see the Holy Ghost? Why not? Is it possible for you to strive against Him when He seeks to guide you? [Yes.] What people were accused of having always resisted Him? [Acts vii. 51.] Is it possible for Christians to quench or put Him out of their hearts? [1 Thess. v. 19; Eph, iv, 30.] How so? [By. persisting in sinful thoughts, words, or acts.] Then, when you are inclined by the Spirit to think what is right, what should you do? [Ask for more strength to do what is right.] And if you are sincere, who will help you? [God; He will give me more of the Spirit to obey what the Spirit has already taught me,]

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

St. John xvi. 23-33.

23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you

in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father.

26 At that day ye shall ask in my name and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you :

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

28 I came forth from the Father, and

am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now

believe?

32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Notes.-The Gospel which we are about to examine is appointed for this Sunday for two reasons: firstly, because it foretells Christ's Ascension, which the Church will commemorate next Thursday; and secondly, because by referring to prayer to God it is well suited to the three Rogation Days, which are the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in this week.

Ver. 23. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father. The word "ask" means here to request or pray for, not to question. In my name. Our prayers are to be addressed to God through Christ. Thus the Church has taught us to place Christ's name at the end of almost every prayer which we use; the exception to this rule being in the case of such prayers only as are immediately addressed to Christ Himself. There is only one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. ii. 5). Christ is called our Mediator because He comes between us and His Father. The word "Intercessor has the same meaning as "Mediator." Christ's mediatorial office was prefigured by the office of the Jewish High Priest, who came between God and the people. It is in allusion to this that Christ is called the Mediator of the new covenant (Heb. xii. 24); which better covenant was purchased by His blood, and to which we become parties in Holy Baptism. He will give it you. This does not mean that God will give us every

• The Rogation Days, or Days of Special Supplication, previous to Ascension Day, were instituted by Mamercus (or Mamertus), Bishop of Vienne in France, about the middle of the fifth century. It was the custom until the time of the Reformation to chant on those three days Litanies or Rogations in procession. The perambulation, or "beating the bounds of parishes," is now the sole and corrupted remnant of the old practice of singing Litanies in procession.

thing which we ask for in Christ's name. When we ask for things which may be hurtful to us, or when we ask in Christ's name without sufficient faith, God will not answer our prayers. Men do not always know what to pray for; even Solomon confessed that he could not discern between good and evil without God's aid (1 Kings iii. 9).

Ver. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name. "Ye have hitherto been accustomed to pray to the Father, but not in My name, as ye shall hereafter pray to Him." They were to pray through Christ their Mediator, who was to sit at God's right hand.

Ver. 25. In proverbs. Christ means that He had taught them by parables, or figurative discourses. This was His usual mode of teaching: "Without a parable spake He not unto them" (St. Matt. xiii. 34).

Ver. 26. At that day. Christ here refers to the day when they should receive the Holy Ghost.

Ver. 28. Because ye have loved me. Christ gives this as the reason why the Father loved them. We learn, therefore, that God loves all who love His Son.

Ver. 29. Now speakest Thou plainly. They could now understand Him, for He had plainly told them (ver. 28) that He was going back to heaven.

Ver. 32. The hour cometh, yea is now come, that ye shall be scattered. These words were spoken by Christ on the same night on which He was betrayed, for when He had finished speaking He crossed the brook Cedron, and entered the garden of Gethsemane, where Judas had arranged with the chief priests and scribes to betray Him. Jesus tells the apostles that they shall be scattered, for He well knew they would leave Him that evening as soon as He was seized. Notice, too, that by their leaving Him, the prophecy of Zechariah would be fulfilled (Zech. xiii. 7). Christ was "the shepherd," His apostles were "the sheep." St. Peter, although he had confidence in his love for Christ (St. Matt. xxvi. 33, 35), was among those who forsook Him. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. Jesus teaches His apostles that, although He might seem to them to be alone when they