from the fear and surprise, occasioned by the awful appearance of the Heavenly Messengers, they immediately left their flocks and herds, and went unto Bethlehem, to see, (as the angel had told them they should do) their Saviour Christ.

Questions,

What alone makes a lowly station respectable? When those placed in it are honest and industrious. And what have we reason to suppose these shepherds were? Good-hearted, honest men. Whose directions were they ready to obey? Those of God Almighty. What, therefore, did they do, after they had recovered from their fear and surprise? They immediately left their flocks and herds. And where did they go to? To Bethlehem. Who had the angel told them they should find there? Their Saviour Christ.

Teacher.

In the lectures for the Sunday in Advent, you have been already told, that the world in general, and the Jews in particular, had been in expectation for some time, of a great Person or Prince, to be born among the Jews. These shepherds no doubt had heard this rumour. It was the opinion in those days, that when any extraordinary person was born, a new star was seen in the heavens.

Questions.

What have you already been told, in the lectures during Advent? That the world, and particularly the Jews, expected some great Person or Prince to be born. Among what people was he to be born? Among the Jews. Do you not suppose these shepherds had heard the rumour? Yes. What was the opinion in those days, when any great person was born? That a new star was seen in the heavens.

Teacher.

In the 2nd chapter of St. Matthew, and at the 2nd verse, we are told, that when the wise men from the East, came to worship our Saviour, then an infant, they said, "Where is He who is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him." All these tokens or appearances prove that our Saviour was the very Christ-that seed of the woman which was to bruise the Serpent's head. By which we are to understand, that though God, for wise purposes, has suffered wickedness to be upon earth, yet that at the last the Devil will lose all his power. God suffers wickedness to try the good.

Questions.

In what chapter in St. Matthew, are we told that the wise men had seen the star in the East?

C

In the 2nd, and 2nd verse.

What do all these

tokens prove? Christ. What head is he to bruise? The Serpent's. Do not you understand by that, that at the last the Devil will lose all his power? Yes.

That our Saviour was the very

Teacher.

It was this glorious hope and assurance that made the good shepherds return to their homes and flocks, praising and glorifying God, for all the wonders they had seen and heard. And no doubt, they are now enjoying in heaven, the happiness arising from that peace and good-will which they had heard proclaimed upon earth.

The First Sunday after the Epiphany.

ST. LUKE ii. 50, 51, 52.

At the end of the Gospel.

"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."

Teacher.

It was the custom of the Jews to take their children to Jerusalem when they had attained the age of twelve years. The Doctors of the law,

(the same as our Clergymen,) then examined them in their religious knowledge; and if they found them sufficiently well-informed, they were confirmed.

Questions.

At what age did the Jews take their children to Jerusalem? At the age of twelve. Who then examined them? The Doctors of the law. Who have we in our church, whose office is the same as those Doctors of the law? Our Clergymen. In what did they examine them? As to their religious knowledge. And if they found them well instructed, what did they then do? They confirmed them.

Teacher.

This shews that confirmation, or being confirmed, was considered a necessary duty among God's own people—and it has been very wisely continued in christian times. In the first part of the gospel for this day, you are told that as Joseph, (the reputed Father of your Saviour,) and the Virgin Mary, returned from Jerusalem to Nazareth, they discovered that your Saviour was not with them, or with any of their friends. They therefore returned to Jerusalem: and after a search of three days, they found him in the temple or synagogue of the Jews. The Synagogue was the Jew

ish place of worship, answering to our Church. In the assembly of learned men, there sitting, he was hearing and asking them questions.

Questions.

What did

As confirmation, or being confirmed, was ordained among God's people, is it not our duty to continue it in these christian times? Yes. Who took your Saviour to Jerusalem to be confirmed? Joseph and the Virgin Mary. What did they discover on their journey homewards to Nazareth? That our Saviour was not with them. they then do? They returned to Jerusalem. And where did they at last find him? In the temple or synagogue of the Jews. What was the temple or synagogue used for? A place of public worship. Who were assembled there? Learned men. And how was your Saviour employed? Hearing and asking them questions.

Teacher.

Those questions were of a kind far beyond his age, and proved that he was endowed with power from on high. The learned men were astonished at his questions and answers. Nevertheless, though he knew himself to be the Son of God, yet he submitted to the duties of the station he had chosen in life. He went back to Nazareth with his parents, and became subject unto them.