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Questions.

How did it shew itself?

What festival is celebrated this day? That of the coming down of the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit upon the apostles. As cloven fiery tongues. What other miraculous power was immediately given to the apostles? That of speaking languages they had never heard spoken before.

Teacher.

The name of this festival among the Jews was that of Pentecost; and it was kept at Jerusalem. It was observed by them fifty days after their Passover, in memory of the law delivered at mount Sinai. At this feast, great numbers of Jews attended, from all the neighbouring nations, and some from very distant parts of the world; so that the gift of languages now bestowed upon the apostles, made them able to spread abroad the glad tidings they had to tell-which glad tidings consisted in the remission and forgiveness of sins, through Jesus Christ, and the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to enable mankind to discharge their duty.

Questions.

What was the name of this festival among the Jews? The feast of Pentecost. Where was it kept? At Jerusalem. At what time was it kept

by them? Fifty days after the Passover; and in memory of the law delivered from Mount Sinai. Who assembled at Jerusalem at this feast? Great numbers of Jews from all nations. And as those Jews came from different and distant nations, was not this knowledge of their languages very useful to the apostles in spreading the knowledge of the Christian religion? Yes. What were the glad tidings they had to tell? The remission and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ; and the assistance of the Holy Spirit. What does the Holy Spirit assist you in? The discharge of my duty.

Teacher.

This festival is called Whitsunday among Christians, because it was in former times, the day appointed for people to be baptized; on which occasion, they were clad in white garments, as types or marks of that spiritual purity they received in baptism; and which it should be the endeavour of every one to attain and preserve through life. Persons in those days were often grown up before they became acquainted with the Christian religion; but those who were born of Christian parents, were baptised as you have been, in infancy.

Questions.

Why is this festival called among Christians Whit-Sunday? Because it was in former times the day appointed for people to be baptized. What did they usually wear on that occasion? White garments. What were those white garments a type, or mark of? Of the spiritual purity they received in baptism. What should it be the endeavour of every one to attain and preserve through life? That purity. Were not persons in those days often grown up before they became acquainted with the Christian religion? Yes. And when were the children born of Christian parents baptized? In their infancy.

Teacher.

The way in which the Holy Spirit dwells and acts within us, cannot be explained to you.-The wind bloweth where it listeth, and you cannot tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth-such is the mysterious nature of the Divine Spirit. It inclines you to do what is good and acceptable to God, because it proceeds from Him; but if you resist it, that is, if you suffer yourself to be tempted by the Devil to do wickedly, the Holy Spirit of God will forsake you. And it is whilst you are young, that these good and evil dispositions take the deepest root. I do not say that a wicked

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child never becomes a good man or woman— God forbid, that such a change should be impossible! But it is always difficult; and the surest way for you to attain peace of mind and comfort in this world, and never ending happiness in the next, is, to ask for the help of God's grace, and then, to use your best endeavours to obey His commandments.

Questions.

Can it be explained how the Holy Spirit visits you? No. What is it compared to, or reckoned like? The wind that bloweth where it listeth. What does the Divine Spirit incline you to do? What is good and acceptable to God. But if you resist it, that is, if you suffer yourselves to be tempted to do wickedly, will this Divine Spirit continue with you? No. When is it that these good or evil dispositions take the deepest root? Whilst we are young. If a wicked child becomes a good man or woman; is it not difficult? Yes. What is the surest and the readiest way to attain peace of mind and comfort in this world, and never ending happiness in the next? To ask for the help of God's grace, and then to use our best endeavours to obey His commandments.

Trinity Sunday.

ST. JOHN iii. 1, 2.

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the the kingdom of God."

Teacher.

Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews here spoken of, was probably one of the learned men who in the temple had heard our Saviour's discourse and questions, when He stayed behind His parents at Jerusalem. The sense and judgment He (your Saviour) then shewed, were so extraordinary for a boy of twelve years of age, that they could not fail to raise curiosity.-Nicodemus would naturally enquire whence He came, and to whom He belonged. And as the journey of Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem was a part of the Jewish religion, and was made once in every year, at the feast of the Passover; our Saviour would continue to be known to, and remembered by, Nicodemus.

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