tection; but, with the dignity of the God, He thereby proved Himself to be. His disciples saw and believed-blessed are they who have not seen, and yet believe.

The First Sunday after Easter.

ST. JOHN xx. 19.

"The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord."

Teacher.

"The same day at evening," means the same day on which our blessed Lord arose from the dead. In the verses you repeated last Sunday, a description was given of Mary Magdalene coming to the sepulchre, and upon perceiving the stone to have been taken away; she immediately ran to tell St. Peter and St. John. They came back with her; examined the sepulchre, and then returned to their own homes; but still she lingered near the place where her Lord had been laid; and

as she wept, and looked into the sepulchre, she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Questions.

What is meant by the same day at evening? The day on which our blessed Saviour rose from the dead. In the verses you learned last Sunday, who is described as coming to the sepulchre, and seeing the stone to have been taken away? Mary Magdalene. What did she then do? She immediately ran to tell St. Peter and St. John. Did they return with her? Yes. And what did they do? They examined the sepulchre and returned to their own homes. And did she return home? No; she lingered near the place where her Lord had been laid. Did not that shew great affection for Him? Yes. As she wept, and stooped down to look into the sepulchre, what did she see? Two angels in white, sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had laid.

Teacher.

They asked her why she wept; and upon her replying, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him," Jesus Himself stood by her, and called her by her

name-He ordered her to tell His brethren, (as He affectionately called His disciples,) that He should ascend to His Father, and their Father; to His God, and their God. It was on the evening of this eventful day, that our Lord appeared among His disciples when the doors were shut.His body was now become spiritualized, and no bolts or bars had power to prevent His going any where. Then follow the verses you have been repeating.

Questions.

After the angels had asked Mary Magdalene why she wept, and her answer was given, who stood beside her? Our Saviour. To whom did He tell her He was going to ascend? To His Father, and their Father; to His God, and their God. Could doors, or bolts, or bars, prevent our Lord from going any where? No.

Teacher.

He had then, as He still has, power over all nature. In the course of this interview with His followers, He shewed unto them His hands and His side, to convince them that He had raised from the grave the self-same body which had been crucified;-He gives them some portion of the Holy Ghost, which was more largely communicated at the day of Pentecost, after which, we find

that their minds were opened to understand the Scriptures; and from this we should be convinced, that the assistance of God's Spirit, is necessary for our understanding them. The happiness of the disciples in again seeing their Lord and Master, risen from the dead, must have been greater than words can describe, "Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.”

Questions.

Who had then, as He still has, power over all nature ? Our Saviour. What did He shew them? His hands and His side. Why did He? To shew that He had raised the same body. What in the course of His interview with His disciples did He give them? A portion of the Holy Ghost. When was it given more fully? At the day of Pentecost. Was it not afterwards that their minds were opened to understand the Scriptures? Yes. What should we be convinced of from this circumstance? That the assistance of God's Holy Spirit is necessary for our understanding the Scriptures. Whose happiness must have been greater than words can describe? That of the disciples. And upon what account? Seeing their Lord and Master risen from the dead.

The Second Sunday after Easter.

ST. JOHN x. 11

"Jesus said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Teacher.

The compassionate care of our Saviour for mankind, is well described by comparing it to the care which a shepherd shews for his defenceless flock. A pastor of the church and a pastor of sheep, are compared together in many parts of the Old and New Testament.

Questions.

How is the compassionate care of our Saviour for mankind, well described? By comparing it to the care a shepherd shews for his defenceless flock. What two persons are often compared or reckoned like each other in their employments, in many parts of the Old and New Testaments? The pastor of the church, and the pastor of sheep.