nesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us; by the which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him."

The Gospel. St. Luke, ii. 15.

AND it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

T. What is described in the verses preceding those chosen for to-day's Gospel?

S. An angel relating Christ's birth to the shepherds, and many singing praises to God for it.

T. What do we remark in the conduct of the shepherds?

S. They believed and obeyed the angel's sign, being anxious to behold their Saviour; and when they had seen

Him, they published the glad tidings to others, and glorified God for the things that they had heard and seen. T. What may this teach us?

S. To seek Christ as we are taught by God's word, not resting till we have found Him; then to tell of Him to those who know Him not, and to be ever praising and thanking Him for the privileges we enjoy by His coming into the world.

T. Where did the shepherds find the Lord?

S. "Lying in a manger;" for Mary" brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke, ii. 7.

T. What do we read of the conduct of the blessed Virgin?

S." She kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

T. What does the prophet Malachi say of those who remembered and pondered upon the things of God? iii. 16.

S. "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it; and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name."

T. What are we taught to ponder this day?

S. The circumcision of Christ in obedience to the law.

T. What was the time prescribed by the law for the rite of circumcision?

S. Eight days. (Lev. xii. 3.)

T. What accompanied it?

S. The naming of the child; thus John the Baptist was named when he was circumcised (Luke, i. 59); as also our Saviour.

T. By whom was our Saviour's name determined?

S. By the angel of God, before His birth.

T. Do we read of discussions arising about the necessity of the Christian Gentiles being circumcised after His ascension?

It

S. Yes (Acts, xv. 6, 28, 29), at Jerusalem. "And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter; and they wrote letters, after this manner. seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well."

T. Who had done away (for them) with the sign of the old covenant?

S. Jesus Christ, who is "the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Heb. viii. 6.

THE EPIPHANY, OR THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST TO THE GENTILES.

The Collect.

O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest Thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant, that we, which know Thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of Thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. [Epiphany is a Greek word, which signifies manifestation, i.e. showing forth.] What are the three manifestations we celebrate to-day in the Collect and Second Lessons for the Morning and Evening Service? (Luke, iii.; John, ii.)

S. First, the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

by the guidance of a star; secondly, the manifestation of the glorious Trinity at the Baptism of Christ; thirdly, Christ manifesting His glory or divinity in his first miracle of turning the water into wine in Cana of Galilee.

T. Which do we refer to in the Collect?

S. The first.

T. How was this accomplished?

S. A star was seen by certain wise men in the East. They came therefore to Jerusalem to inquire of Herod, where he was who was born king of the Jews. When he sent them to Bethlehem, "Lo, the star which they saw in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was." Matt. ii. 1, 2, 9.

T. To whom was it expected Christ would alone manifest Himself?

S. To the children of Israel, to whom the promises were made.

T. What did they expect He would work for them? S. Their deliverance from their enemies.

T. Was the purpose of God thus limited?

S. No. "He will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim. ii. 4.

T. What was the deliverance He came to work?

S. A spiritual one; as He saith, "My kingdom is not of this world." John, xviii. 36. He came to deliver us "from the power of death, that is, the devil," (Heb. ii. 15); " and from the wrath to come." 1 Thess. i. 10. T. How does this manifestation to the Gentiles concern us?

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S. Because we, like them, are by nature" aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise." Eph. ii. 12.

T. How do we know God?

S. "By faith, not by sight,"

S. "By faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. v. 7.
T. How do we possess this faith?

S. Through the operation of the Holy Spirit now poured out on the Gentiles.

T. What do we desire in the Collect that God will mercifully grant?

S. That after this life we may have the fruition of His glorious godhead.

T. What do we mean by fruition?

S. The enjoyment, perfection.

T. When will this be?

S. When Christ "will appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. ix. 28. When "we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Pet. iii. 13.

The Epistle. Ephes. iii. 1.

FOR this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to youward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his Holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach