who were bidden made light of the invitation. One who came did not provide himself with "a wedding garment." What was the result? (Matt. xxii. 11-14.)

Results of true self-examination.Persons, when the Lord's Supper is about to be administered, may reflect on their past conduct and present purposes, and may perceive they are unfit, and therefore stay away. They are still under God's displeasure. If unfit for the table of the Lord, they are unfit for heaven. The Apostle Paul directed the Corinthian professors to examine themselves. The result was to be, that they should come in a proper manner. They were to turn their backs, not on the table of the Lord, but on their sins. "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat," &c. (1 Cor. xi. 28.)

ILLUSTRATIVE FACTS.

Mother and Children.

THERE was great joy, one Sabbath forenoon, at the Butterworth Mission-station. A Kaffir woman and her two little children were to be baptized. The woman had been very ignorant, and awfully wicked. But she had heard of Jesus, and had obtained the grace of God. During six months she had been "walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." Her conduct had been so blameless, that the Missionary thought the time had arrived when, though the woman had been so vile a sinner, she might be publicly received by baptism into the Church of Christ. She was allowed to bring her two children with her, that they also might be baptized, and might afterwards be trained for Christ. The good people who had known the woman in the years of her folly and wretchedness, and who had seen the marvellous change, were overjoyed. She came forward before the congregation to declare how she had, by the grace of God, renounced all her wicked practices, and how, henceforth, she would serve the blessed Saviour. She could scarcely speak, however, for the tears of joy and gratitude would gush forth from her eyes. thus weeping caused the people present to weep also. But her vows were at length

Her

publicly uttered, and she went forth from the Christian sanctuary to "fight the good fight of faith," and so "lay hold on eternal life." She also went forth to train her little children to overcome. May they all be crowned at length! (No. II. May 10.)

The Poisoned Wafer.

A PIOUS Woman had a Romanist husband. This circumstance was the occasion of many annoyances. The priest had free access to the house, and was constantly endeavouring to lead the good woman to join the Romish Church. She, however, had been accustomed to read the Word of God, had found it precious to her soul, and was resolved never to part with that priceless Book. She could not, however, avoid being often engaged in discussion with the priest. Among other dogmas which he affirmed, was that of transubstantiation. He taught that, when he had pronounced the words of consecration, the bread and wine were no longer what they seemed to be; that they were Christ Himself, both in His human and Divine natures. The good woman, at length adopted a somewhat strange method of confuting the priest. She had been directed to make the small cake, called a wafer, which the Romanists employ in the Lord's Supper. She was to be present when the priest administered the Sacrament to her husband, who was sick. She arranged accordingly. When the priest had consecrated the elements, and was about to place the wafer in his mouth, she suddenly asked him, "Is that no longer bread?" priest, somewhat angrily, replied, "It is Christ Himself." Proceed, then," was the woman's answer; adding, "I thought you ought to know that I put some arsenic into the wafer. If it happens to remain as I made it, and you persist in eating it, You you will speedily be a dead man." may be sure that the priest did not make the experiment. (No. II. May 17.)

The

Mrs. Susannah Wesley. THE mother of the Rev. John Wesley (and of Charles) was a woman of high moral worth, and of a very strong, highly cultivated, and richly-stored mind. From her early days she endeavoured to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and to serve God with a loving heart. But at that time the Gospel was not generally preached in its fulness and power. Mrs. Wesley had not been taught that an assurance of the Divine favour was the common privilege of all believers; so she did not claim it for herself. About the time

the Methodist Society was founded, Mrs. Wesley obtained clearer views respecting the forgiveness of sins, and the direct witness of God's Holy Spirit. She, therefore, became exceedingly desirous to obtain the blessing of conscious pardon. Her gracious Lord was pleased to reveal Himself to her soul whilst she was commemorating His dying love at His table. One of her sons-in-law, a Clergyman, was placing the cup in her hand, repeating the words, "The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee," when the blessing was imparted. She afterwards told her son, the Rev. John Wesley, "The words struck through my heart, and I knew God, for Christ's sake, had forgiven me all my sins." (No. II. May 24.)

Rev. William Entwisle.

IN his thirty-second year, and when anticipating a life of usefulness, Mr. Entwisle was called to enter the dark valley. But he was graciously sustained. It seemed strange that he should have to leave his father, and his wife,-to whom he had only been united a few years,-and his work, upon which he only seemed to be fully entering. But he knew that the arrangement must be wise and loving, because it was made by God. During the closing weeks of his life the Saviour graciously revealed Himself to His suffering servant, especially in the Lord's Supper. His Superintendent (the Rev.

John Newton) administered it to the invalid, his wife, his father, and others. The dying saint greatly rejoiced: he said,— "How can it be, Thou heavenly King,

That Thou shouldst me to glory bring?" For a season, towards the end of his life, his mind was depressed through bodily weakness and temptation; but victory and joy were imparted whilst receiving the emblems of his Redeemer's passion. He exultingly declared,—

"I'll praise my Maker while I've breath," &c. (No. II. May 31.)

Lady Maxwell.

Nor many of God's saints have attached a higher value to the Lord's Supper, or derived from thence more sanctified delight, than Lady Maxwell. In reflecting on her enjoyment on one of these occasions, when she was in feeble health, and frequent pain, and much perplexity, she uses the remarkable expression, "My heaven of indescribable enjoyment." But it is well to bear in mind that Lady Maxwell was accustomed to employ strict selfexamination before approaching the table of the Lord. The day before, or during several days, she would endeavour to search her heart, that she might yield herself fully to the Saviour. She waited on her Father in heaven, who "seeth in secret," and He rewarded her "openly." (No. II. June 7.)

May 3.-Secret Faults.

PSALM XIX. 12: "Cleanse Thou me from secret faults."

1. Faults.-What is a fault? Whatever we do that is wrong. Sometimes evil is done through not knowing better; sometimes through want of care, not doing what we ought to do; sometimes because we will not do right. Then there are many kinds of faults: faults of temper, of words, of thoughts. Who could count the faults of a single day? David said of his, "They are more in number "than the hairs of my head."

2. Secret faults.-A secret is something hid: and faults may be hid from the sight of others. A child may hide a naughty temper, or an evil thought from parents and teachers. But this is foolish, and may be sinful. Sometimes an open fault is a less evil than one hid in the heart. Who would hide a bag

of poison in a fountain? Every stream that trickled forth would carry death with it. So faults, though hid long in the heart, will surely be seen in evil words and ways. Yet some faults may be hid even from our own sight. can any fault be hid from God? Hear what David says of this: "Thou understandest my thought afar off." "O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee."

But

3. How to get rid of faults.-They are like spots and stains on what should be white, or like sores upon the body. But no water can cleanse them away; no medicine can cure a secret fault. God only can do this. But will He do so? Yes, in many parts of His Word He says that from all our sins He will cleanse us. Have you any faults? Pray that you may be rid of them. Say every day, "Cleanse Thou me from secret faults."

REVISION.-What are faults? Name different kinds of faults? Have we many or few! What does David say of this! What is a "secret fault?" Why is it wrong to hide our faults? How may they be got rid of!

Repeat David's prayer?

May 10.-The Evil and the Cure of Sin.

ROM. v. 12: "By one man sin entered into the world."

1 How sin came.-When God had made the first man and woman, He placed them in a garden to dwell there. What was the name of the man, and of the garden? What kind of place was the garden? No place on the earth is so fair and so full of happiness as Eden was. It had all that was pleasant to the sight and the taste, and everything needful to make Adam and Eve happy. But there was one reason which did more to make it full of joy than the beauty of its trees and flowers, and the richness of its fruits; there was no sin there. Yet, sad to say, after a time sin came. Eve, tempted by Satan,

took the fruit of the tree which God had said must not be touched. Then Adam also took it, and thus sinned against God. There was no joy in Eden now; its happiness had gone. For, see

- As

2. What sin brought with it. Adam and Eve walked in the garden, they heard the voice of God calling them, and they ran and hid themselves under the trees. God said to Adam, "Where art thou?" And Adam said, "I heard Thy voice,..and I was afraid!" Why afraid? They had ever had joy in the presence of God before; but Adam knew he had done wrong, and sin had brought fear, and shame, and sorrow. Ever since then it has been SO. A child who has done wrong will fear the face of his father who loves him.

"We all have sinned." How soon it shows itself. Even a little baby shows selfwill and naughty tempers. Besides these evils, sin has brought God's anger upon men, and the punishment of death. But is there no escape from sin? O yes! let us now learn

3. How sin may be cured.-It cannot be done by man, for all are alike sinful. We are like the Israelites bitten by the serpents; no one can cure another. Where, then, is our help? In the Lord

Jesus Christ. For this He came down from heaven, to bear the punishment for us, to die, that we may be saved from sin. If we go to Him as He has bid us, we shall be cleansed from sin. Do you remember the leper's prayer, and the answer it brought? The Bible speaks of a place and a time when there shall be no more sin. When and where shall that be?

REVISION.-How did sin "come into " the world? What has sin brought with it? Why was Adam afraid to see God? How may sin be cured? Where shall there be no more sin?

May 17.-Jesus Transfigured. MARK ix. 5: "Master, it is good for us to be here."

1. The scene on the mountain-top.Jesus once took Peter and James and John to "a high mountain, apart by themselves." These three disciples were often much favoured in this way, but this was the most wonderful time of all. As they were alone in the stillness of the hill-top, a great change came upon Jesus: His face shone as the sun, bright and glorious. His raiment became white and beautiful, so as nothing had been seen on earth like it before. While they wondered, and were in great awe at this, behold, there appeared Moses and Elijah talking with Him. But Moses had been dead hundreds of years, and Elijah had long since gone from the earth. Do you remember where he was taken, and how he went there? From what place, then, had these come to the mountain? Here was a wonder as great as the change upon the Lord Jesus. These two appeared "in glory." They had brought with them something of the brightness and glory of heaven, from which they came.

2. How the disciples felt.-All was so strange, the brightness and glory were so great, and Jesus, and His heavenly visiters, so different from anything they had seen before, that "they were sore afraid." Yet this was not all; for Peter said, "Master, it is good for us to be here." The sight was so grand, and the company so good, that Peter wished Jesus to let them make tabernacles in which He and Moses and Elijah might dwell for a time. But this could not be: "he knew not what he said."

3. The Voice from heaven.-As Peter

spake, a bright cloud came down, overshadowing them all, and a Voice from its midst said, "This is My Beloved Son hear Him." Whose Voice was that? What did it show Jesus to be? Now the disciples were more full of fear than before; they fell on their faces and were afraid to look upon the cloud. But Jesus touched them, and bade them arise, and be not afraid. And when they lifted up their eyes, the brightness had passed away; Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw "Jesus only."

4. What the disciples learned.—(1.) Something about Jesus,-that He was the Son of God. They saw how much greater He was than themselves, and why He had so much power, and wisdom, and glory. The Voice said, "Hear Him." Think of this as you pray to Him, and trust in Him. (2.) Something about heaven, that it was a real place of glory and happiness. They saw something of its glory, and of those who dwell there. None are there but such as have been cleansed from sin through the blood of Christ.

Our last

1. Plagues through sin. Lesson about Pharaoh told us of the river being turned to blood. Do you remember the distress of the people, and how the King refused to do as God bade him? After that, other evils were brought upon the land; swarms of frogs came in vast numbers from the river; then the dust of the ground was turned to lice, and the wisest men of Egypt feared, and said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God!" Then a great swarm of flies was brought upon the land, and at this plague even Pharaoh trembled, and seemed about to obey the word of the Lord; but, when God took away this plague, he dared still to refuse to let the people go.

2. Fighting against God.-God was now very angry with this stubborn King. He sent a punishment more severe than before. God smote all the beasts of the Egyptians with a

sore disease. "The hand of the Lord was upon the cattle which was in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep;" "and all the cattle of Egypt died." Here was a sign of the anger and of the power of the Lord. Yet, sad and terrible to say, Pharaoh's heart was hardened; "he did not let the people go." Here was one so bold in sin as to "fight against God!" Can any man win the victory in that dreadful contest? How strong a hold has sin upon the heart!

3. God's longsuffering.-Why did He not at once destroy this wicked King? To give him time and motives to repent; to show His kindness and great mercy; to show the evil of sin, and its power over man. These are lessons for us, of warning and of guidance. you thus contend against God, and raise His anger against you? Flee for mercy before sin gets power over you.

Will

REVISION. Name some of the plagues brought upon Egypt? Why were they sent? Why could not Pharaoh let the Israelites go? Why did not God at once destroy him? How may we get free from the power of sin?

1. God is the Father of all. — He created us, and preserves us, and all living things. The prophet Malachi asked, "Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?" Both man, and all things living, are His great family; for "He hath made us," and by His power and care we are kept from day to day. The Lord Jesus has taught us to pray to God as "Our Father." We are all His children. But, though He is the Father of us all, He is especially,—

2. The "Father of the fatherless."The father is the guide and support of his family. It is a sad loss to a child when his father is taken away by death. None but those who have felt this loss can tell the grief it brings; or know how sad the home is when "father" is gone, and that love and comfort are lost which his presence only can bring. But is there no light to cheer such a home? Is there any one to whom those who dwell there may turn for comfort? Here is a word for such: "A Father

OUR SCHOOL SAVINGS' FUND. In the year 1857, notice was given in our day-school that if any of the scholars would bring their pocketmoney to the master instead of spending it, he would not only take care of it for them till they wanted it, but would add a penny to every shilling that any child deposited. Since that time nine hundred scholars have taken advantage of the teacher's offer; and the amount deposited has reached the sum of £400. As this statement will probably suggest a few inquiries as to the manner of working the fund, we will endeavour to supply answers to the most likely questions.

1. Is not the collection of so much money in small sums a troublesome business?—There is, of course, some trouble about it. We average about eighty depositors per annum, and in the course of the year these depositors make about one thousand payments; but we find twenty minutes at noon, every Tuesday, quite sufficient.

parents for paying unavoidable arrears of school-fees. The increase in schoolpence soon repays the outlay of the Committee. A couple of guineas per annum will pay the interest on deposits amounting to £40. The interest on the sum deposited with us has not reached £18, which is less than four-and-aquarter per cent.

3. But £40 at one penny in the shilling come to £3 6s. 8d.; how do you make two guineas meet the case?-Our third regulation says, "In no case shall more than one shilling per annum be given." We found that some parents were anxious to send their savings to be taken care of; we decided, therefore, that, since no child would be likely to save more than twelve shillings in a year, one shilling would be a sufficient gratuity. We do not, therefore, pay interest on the parents' savings, though we are willing to let them have the convenience and security of our Savings' Fund, if they desire it. About onefourth of the deposits may be set down as the parents' savings. Some small sums receive no interest because they are withdrawn before they have been deposited a year.

4. How do you manage with depositors who leave school to go to work?— We deal with old scholars exactly the same as with those continuing in the school. These deposits often amount to £10 in the course of a year.