allowed to do? To revenge themselves. In what way? An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. By whom was this law given to the Jews? By Moses. What does the blessed Gospel order us to do? To love our enemies ;—to do good to those who hate us. And how are you to behave towards those who despitefully use, and persecute you? To pray that they may have better tempers.

Teacher.

In the Gospel for this day (which 1 hope you have read with attention) this duty of the forgiveness of injuries is explained, by the very interesting history of the unforgiving fellow servant. The certain king who would take an account of his servants, you are to suppose is God Almighty. You are His servants and are indebted to Him, not only for every thing you have, such as life and health, and food and raiment; but you are also debtors to Him for every sin committed against His divine Majesty. You owe Him ten thousand talents, and could never by any means of your own, pay the debt, if He, in His mercy, had not sent His Son, your blessed Saviour, to redeem you, and thereby "frankly to forgive you all."

Questions.

In what way is the duty of forgiveness explain ed, in the Gospel of this day? By the history of

the unforgiving fellow-servant. Who are you to understand by the King who would take an account of His servants? God Almighty. What are you to Him? His servants and debtors. How many talents do you, as well as every other human being owe Him? Ten thousand. And how can this debt be cleared? By His having sent our blessed Saviour to redeem us.

Teacher.

The mercy thus shewn to us increases the guilt of an unforgiving temper, as it did in the unforgiving servant ;-how very soon he seems to have forgotten the kindness of his Lord. He went out the history relates, which seems as if it were an immediate action, and not only demanded the money of his fellow, but seized him by the throat; -thereby adding cruelty to unkindness; indeed if we once let the passion of anger take possession of us, it is impossible to say to what lengths it may carry us.

Questions

What is it that adds to the guilt of an unforgiving temper? The mercy shewn to us by God Almighty. Was not the unforgiving servant yet more guilty, because he had had so much kindness shewn to him? Yes. How does the history describe his soon forgetting his Lord's pardon? It says, he went out and seized his fellow-servant by

the throat. Was not that being guilty of personal cruelty as well as being unkind? Yes. If we once let the passion of anger get possession of us, what is impossible to say? To what it may lead

us.

Teacher.

Now, though as children, you have little or nothing to do with debts of money, yet scarcely a day passes in which you may not be indulging a bad temper, and all bad temper springs from the Devil. A good Christian cannot have a bad temper; good Christians forgive, as they hope to be forgiven; and if a brother or sister, or any other person, tresspasses against them, not only seven, but seventy times seven, they remember their own. want of forgiveness from God, and "Do as they would be done by."

Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.

ST. MATTHEW, xxii. 15.

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in his talk. And they sent out unto Him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar or not?"

Teacher.

At the time your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was upon earth, the Jewish nation was become subject to, or under the dominion of, the Romans; and on that account the Jews were obliged to pay a yearly tax, or tribute, in acknowledgment of their subjection. Each man's share amounted to about fifteen pence of our money. The payment of this tax was a very grievous and mortifying thing to the Jews; but they lived in the hope and expectation that the Messiah would come as a mighty king in great worldly power, and deliver them from the Romans.

Questions.

When your Saviour was upon earth, to what nation were the Jews in subjection? To the Romans. And what were they obliged to do, because they were subject to the Romans? They were obliged to pay every year, a tribute, or tax. How much did each man's share amount to? To

fifteen pence of our money. How did the Jews like this payment, or tax? It was very grievous and mortifying unto them. What did they live in the hope and expectation of? That their Messiah would come as a mighty king. And to free them from what? From the dominion of the

Romans.

In order to entangle our Saviour in His talk, the persons sent to Him asked Him about the lawfulness of paying this tribute. If He had said it was lawful, they knew He would make the Jews His enemies, because they hated the Romans; and if He had said it was not lawful, then they could have accused Him to the Roman governor of being a rebel; but His reply to this artful and treacherous question, shewed His entire knowledge of the thoughts as well as the actions of

men.

Questions.

What question did those persons ask who wished to entangle our Saviour in His talk? They asked Him if it were lawful to pay tribute. And if He had said it was lawful would not the Jews have become yet more His enemies? Yes. And if He had said it was not lawful to pay tribute, to whom would they have accused Him? To the Roman governor. Did not His answer to this artful and treacherous question shew that He knew the thoughts as well as the actions of mankind? Yes.

Teacher.

The piece of money here called a penny, was a Roman coin of about the value of seven pence half-penny. The Jews allowing this money to be