(Rom. viii. 15; Gal. iv. 5, 6). It is through the Spirit that God, who fills the world's space, yet nevertheless abides in the heart of each true Christian.*

Ver. 17. Even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive. Jesus said He would send the Spirit into the world; and yet He declares that the world cannot receive the Spirit. How is this to be explained? Doubtless the meaning is, that the evil world would not be able to distinguish the working of the Spirit, and that only the humble and sincere would be able to do so. And shall be

in you. The Holy Ghost was to be in the apostles on the Day of Pentecost, and to continue with them.

Ver. 21. And will manifest myself to him. Christ makes Himself known more and more, through the Spirit, to those who wait on Him and hold converse with Him in

frequent prayer. It is, perhaps, in this way that we may explain the fact that persons who are wont to pass much of their time in devotion, although unlearned and simple-minded, yet often seem to understand more of the mind of Christ, and the spirit of His teaching, than the greatest philosophers.

Ver. 22. Judas saith unto Him (not Iscariot), Lord, how is it, &c. It was not the traitor Judas who asked the question, but Judas, or Jude, otherwise Lebbæus, surnamed Thaddæus, brother of James the Less. He was one of Christ's cousins, or, as they are sometimes called,

brethren (Mark vi. 3). Judas expected a Messiah to exalt the whole Jewish nation, and could not therefore understand how Christ's manifestation would be only to a few.

Ver. 23. We will come unto Him. By the word "we" Jesus joins the Father with Himself, and thus shows that their presence would be spiritual, not bodily.

The truth that God, who fills all space, nevertheless dwells in the heart of the Christian, was strikingly put by a plain countryman in answer to Collins, a Deist. He told the Deist he was going to church. The Deist asked for what purpose: the countryman replied, "To worship God." In answer to the inquiry whether he was a great or a little God, the countryman said, "He is both." "How then," said the Deist, "can He be both?" "He is so great," was the answer, "that the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him; and yet ittle that He can enter into and dwell in my heart."

Ver. 24. The word which ye hear is not mine. Jesus meant that He was "the Word" who had come to declare God's will, not the will of a mere man.

Ver. 27. Not as the world giveth. Jesus taught them that the peace which He gave was not earthly. Earthly peace is not lasting. It is as changing as the world itself. The heart which is not in heaven is always yearning for something to come. Before we gain the thing we long for, we picture to ourselves the happiness we shall experience when we have obtained it. Soon, however, we find that the things of this world are unsatisfying. Solomon, who had sounded the depths of worldly honour, declared that all was "vanity" (Eccles. i. 2).

It

Ver. 28. For my Father is greater than I. Other parts of Scripture teach that the Son is equal to the Father. How then could Jesus say that His Father was greater than He? The Athanasian Creed explains this. asserts that Jesus was "equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, but inferior to the Father as touching His manhood." It was the Son (not the Father) that humbled Himself to be born into the world, and to suffer death on the cross.

Ver. 30. The prince of this world cometh. The time was near when Satan, and the Powers ruled by Satan, would assail Jesus. And hath nothing in Me. Jesus meant that Satan would find no sin in Him, and would not be able to prevail against Him.

Questions.-How many days after Christ's Ascension did the Holy Ghost descend upon the apostles? What feast were they keeping at the time? How many days after the Passover was the feast of Pentecost kept? [Fifty.] As Easter is kept about the time of the Passover, and as Whit-Sunday is held about the time of the Pentecost, how many days must WhitSunday be after Easter? [Fifty.] From what is Whit-Sunday said to take its name? ["Notes."] Why was it anciently called White-Sunday? ["Notes."] Is the word Whit-Sunday said to be derived from a French word? Explain this. ["Notes."] What remarkable fact may the student of English history connect with Whit Sunday? ["Notes."]

Ver. 16. How does Jesus say those who love Him will prove their love? Where are Christ's commandments found? [In the New Testament.] How do parents expect their children to prove their love for them? ["Notes."]

Ver. 16. Whom did Jesus say He would pray the Father to give the apostles? What does the word "another" prove with reference to the Holy Ghost? ["Notes."] Mention a text of Scripture in which the Holy Ghost is named with real persons. [2 Cor. xiii. 14.] What event in Christ's history proves that the Holy Ghost is distinct from the Father and the Son? ["Notes."] What did the Holy Ghost do on that occasion? Where was Jesus then? And where was the Father? [In heaven, speaking.] How long was the Holy Ghost to abide with the apostles? Is He with the Church now? [Yes.] When does He take up a dwellingplace in the Christian's heart? ["Notes."] Through whom does God take up His abode in the Christian's heart? ["Notes."]

Ver. 17. Why could not the world receive the Spirit? But did not Jesus promise to send Him into the world? [Yes.] Then what did Jesus mean by saying that the world could not receive the Spirit? ["Notes."]

Ver. 21. Pass on to ver. 21, to do to him that loved Him. mean? [To make known.] now to those who love Him? them comfort.]

and tell me what Jesus promised What does the word "manifest How does Jesus manifest Himself [He fills their hearts and gives

Ver. 22. What question did Judas ask Jesus? Which Judas was it that asked that question? ["Notes."] Whose brother was Jude or Lebbæus? ["Notes."] Do you mean he was the brother of James the brother of John? [No; of James who is called the Less." What sort of a Messiah did Judas expect? ["Notes."] What could he not therefore understand? ["Notes."]

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Ver. 23. How did Jesus explain His meaning? [The scholar should read aloud the whole of this verse.]

Ver. 27. Pass on to ver. 27, and state what parting gift Jesus gave to His apostles. [His peace.] Was it outward peace from their enemies that Christ gave? [No.] Do you learn from any part of Scripture that they endured persecution afterwards? What part of Scripture in particular teaches you that? [The Acts of the Apostles.] Then you see it was not outward peace which Christ gave them: what kind of peace therefore was it? [Peace of mind and confidence in Christ.] Is the outward peace of the world lasting? Do earthly possessions always give

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rest? Who was it that declared that everything in the world was vanity"? ["Notes."] Prove that he was rich, and had received everything this world could bestow. [Eccles. ii. ver. 1 to 12.]

Ver. 28. What did Jesus tell the apostles He was shortly about to do? What did He say they would do if they loved Him? This was because He was going to His Father: was His Father equal to Him or greater than He? [He said the Father was greater than He.] But as both were Divine Beings, were they not therefore equal? [Yes.] Then how could the Father be greater than Jesus? [The Son was inferior to the Father as being man.] Was He not equal to the Father as God? [Yes.] How are both truths expressed in the Athanasian Creed? "Notes." (The scholar should read aloud the article of the Athanasian Creed.)]

Ver. 30. Who was shortly coming to assail Jesus? Whom did Jesus mean by "the prince of this world"? [Satan.] What did Jesus mean when He said the prince of this world would find nothing in Him? ["Notes."]

Application. Jesus said that He left His peace with the apostles, and yet He gave not such peace as the world could give what kind of peace did Christ leave with them? [Peace in their own hearts.] How does the peace of the world differ from Christ's peace? [(1) It is not lasting; (2) it depends entirely upon outward things, such as the absence of war.] Is it true peace? How do you know it is not? [Because those who enjoy every worldly gift are often seen to be longing for something yet to come.] Have those who trusted in and served God ever found God to fail them? [Psa. xxxiv. 22, Bible.] To whom is there no peace? [Isa. lvii. 21.] Where ought you to lay up your treasure? [St. Matt. vi. 20.]

The Holy Ghost came down from above as on this day: when did He first take up His abode in you? [At my baptism.] What did He then do to you? [Sanctified me.] What is your body called in Scripture because the Holy Spirit dwells in you? [1 Cor. iii. 16; 1 Cor. vi. 19.] How long will He continue with you if you obey His motions within you? [Until my death.] Is it possible for you to drive Him from you? How so? [By wilfully repeated sin.] What therefore should be your daily prayer to God with reference to the Holy Ghost's suggestions? [That I may obey them.]

TRINITY SUNDAY.

St. John iii. 1-15.

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Notes. Although the doctrine of the Trinity is indirectly brought before our notice in the services of each Sunday and Holy-day in the Christian year, yet the Church has set apart one day on which we think more directly upon "the glory of the Eternal Trinity."

There is no distinct trace of the commemoration of the Festival of the Holy Trinity before the 10th and 11th centuries. It was at first observed by different Churches at different seasons. Pope John XXII. appointed this day as the time of its celebration about the beginning of the 14th century. Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch, was the first person who used the word "Trinity" to express the doctrine of three persons in the Godhead.*

* The Unitarians are opposed to Trinitarians. They worship only one Person as the self-existent God. This sect sprang up A.D. 1550. They consider Christ to have been a mere man of blameless character.