who would not teach any thing contrary to Christ their master.

Questions.

to depend more

What are you to understand by not taking thought what you shall eat or what you shall drink? Not to be anxious, or upon ourselves than upon God The religion of Christ does not forbid you to be properly careful, on the contrary what does it forbid you to be? Idle. If people do not work, what does the apostle say they shall not do? Neither shall they eat. And who does he say is worse than an infidel ? He who does not provide for those of his own household.

Teacher.

You are therefore to do your best to live by honest labour, and in doing that to trust that God will bless your endeavours,—and as He provides sustenance for the fowls of the air, and gives beauty and sweetness to the lilies of the field, He will provide all things needful for those who serve Him with truth and fidelity. It will be your own faults if you are not much better provided for than they.

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

ST. LUKE, vii. 11, 12.

"And it came to pass the day after, that Jesus went into a city called Nain, and many of His disciples went with Him, and much people. Now when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her."

Teacher.

There are few histories in the New Testament which affect the heart more than this of the widow of Nain. It was one of which all, or any of you, may believe yourselves to be spectators, and not only the spectators but the sharers in her grief, and afterwards in her joy. It seems probable, or likely, that this poor woman had been left a widow some years, that her son had felt it to be his duty to do what he could to maintain her, and make her life comfortable; supplying by those means the loss of his dead father.

Questions.

Which is a very affecting history in the New Testament? That of the widow of Nain. Cannot you, or any of you, believe yourselves, that is, think of it, as if you really were the spectators of

her son's funeral,—of her great grief,—and afterwards of her inexpressible joy? Yes. How long may you suppose this poor woman to have been a widow? Some years. How is it likely her son had behaved towards her? That he had felt it to be his duty to do what he could to maintain her. Not only to maintain her but what else? To make her life comfortable, supplying by those means the loss of his dead father.

Teacher.

There is great ground for supposing all this, or your Saviour would not have raised him to life again; a worthless son would not have been worth the trouble. But to return to the history. The happiness of this poor woman's life as well as her subsistence, all arose from this excellent son. The manner of his death is not related, but whatever it might be, her grief for the loss of him must have been very great. It called forth the kindness and sympathy of her neighbours; for when the body of this beloved son, was, according to the customs of eastern countries, wrapped in grave clothes, and carried to the place of burial without the city," much people went with her."

Questions.

Would it have been worth while to have raised a worthless son from the dead? No. Is there

not reason then to suppose that this son had been good and dutiful? Yes What must have been his mother's grief at losing him,—and not only losing him but losing her subsistence also? Her grief must have been very great. Why do you suppose that she was respected and pitied by her neighbours? Because much people went with her to her son's funeral.

Teacher.

Our Saviour at the time this happened, was staying at Capernaum, and had just healed the centurion's servant, without having seen the man ; the humility of the centurion being so great, that he did not think himself worthy of so divine a person entering under his roof. The very day after that cure, your Saviour went into a city called Nain, -led there no doubt by the spirit of God, that He might give happiness to the poor widow by restoring her son to life. As He came near to the gates He saw the melancholy procession, and going up to the bereaved mother, He said unto her, "weep not." With dignified authority He commanded those who bare the body to stand still, -they immediately obeyed. With the same authority He said unto the young man, "I say

unto thee arise."

Questions.

Where was our Saviour residing at the time of

this young man's death? At Capernaum. Who had He there cured without having seen the man? The centurion's servant. To what city did He go afterwards? To the city of Nain. What led Him there, and to what purpose? The Spirit of God, to give happiness to the poor widow. When He came up to her what did He say? Weep not. Who did He command to stand still? Those who bare the body. What did He say unto the dead man? Young man I say unto thee arise.

Teacher.

Accordingly he did arise, and began to speak, and having thrown aside his grave clothes, our Saviour delivered him to his mother. Their joy in being restored to each other can be better imagined than described! Had they not been good people this mercy would not have been shown to them. Their Saviour is still your Saviour,-endeavour to make yourselves worthy of His kind

ness.

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.

ST. LUKE, xiv. 1st, and following verses.

"It came to pass, as Jesus went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched Him. And behold, there was a certain man before Him,