because we may have God's Holy Spirit if we ask for it, to dwell in us, who will show us all things, teach us all things, be our Guide and our Comforter (John xvi. 13). Are not the Bible and God's Holy Spirit better than visions?

Now we will see what our lesson has taught us to-day, that we may make it useful. (1) Never come to school without first seeking a prepared heart; (2) Be much in prayer-morning, evening, and noon-day; (3) Seek counsel alone with Jesus; (4) Try to learn the lessons that He whispers to you by His Holy Spirit; (5) Go to Him, as you are, unclean, unworthy; tell Him all you wish to be, and all you are not, and ask Him to be your Teacher. Expect great things from the teachings of Jesus, and some very hard lessons; but these will prove to be happy ones in the end, if you give proper attention to them. LILIAN IDA.

THE STORY OF THE CENTURION. No. III.

Acts x. 17-24.

LAST Sunday how did we leave Peter? We left him doubting what the vision he had just witnessed could mean. Now, while Peter was thinking and wondering, God's answer came; for the servants sent by Cornelius the Gentile (ver. 17) arrived and asked for the apostle. What did the Spirit (God's own Holy Spirit) tell Peter? (See vers. 19, 20.) That these three men had come, and that he was to go with them at once, and not to doubt; for God had sent them.

Ver. 21. Was Peter quite obedient? Did he stop to say, "But they are Gentiles: ought I, a Jew, to go with them and teach them?" Perhaps he thought of his dear Master's last command, before He was taken up to heaven (Matt. xxviii. 19), and remembered how Jesus said (John xv. 14), "Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Are you little friends of Jesus? Do you try to obey all His commandments? You can't go and teach "all the world," but you can help to send others. Do you

give some of your pennies to the missionaries, instead of spending all of them on cakes and toys? If we think about Jesus, and try to please and obey Him, we shall be kind to every one: that was why Peter did not keep these messengers waiting, but went down at once, and asked them what they wanted.

Ver. 22. Notice the message they bring; in what a simple and straightforward manner they tell it. First they say who sent them, and what his office is a centurion; and then they say, he is "a just man." Was not that very high praise, exactly what we should expect the character of a "devout man to be? Whoever is faithful to God will be sure to be honest and true in all his dealings with his fellow-creatures. shall be "just," too, if we copy our great Example, Jesus (1 Pet. ii. 21); for He was "the Just One" (Acts vii. 52).

We

Ver. 23. The messengers no doubt were tired; but did Peter forget to be hospitable? No, he practised what he taught (1 Pet. iv. 9). The next day, when they were rested, he returned with them. In the meanwhile (ver. 24) Cornelius had been learning another and a very difficult lesson-he had been learning to wait (Isa. xxv. 9; Ps. xxvii. 14; Hab. ii. 3). Patience is a lesson that God teaches all His children sooner or later (Jas. i. 3, 4); and those are truly happy who, like Cornelius and the apostles (as we read in Acts i. 14), employ their waiting time well.

How did Cornelius use his time? Very possibly he wanted his friends to hear the good tidings (Luke vii. 27–29). In the same way, if we have received the Gospel in our own hearts, we should try to help others to know it. I once read about a poor dog that broke its leg, and a kind surgeon took the animal home with him and set the limb. When it was quite well and strong again, the dog went away; but not very long afterwards he came back, bringing with him another lame dog for the doctor to cure.

Why have I told you this anecdote? Simply for this reason. If Jesus has forgiven you, and you feel that all the bad actions you have done are pardoned, why should not you try to lead others to

What lessons are we all to take to heart to-day? (1) To listen to the still voice of God's Holy Spirit, telling us where to go and what to do; (2) To think over the commands of Jesus, that we may carefully obey them; (3) To be very careful to be quite true in all we say and do; (4) Always to be willing to wait God's time for everything we need; (5) Never to lose an opportunity of helping our friends to come to Jesus.

LILIAN IDA.

THE STORY OF THE CENTURION. No. IV.

Acts x. 25-44.

READ ver. 25 very carefully, and tell me what great mistake Cornelius made. (He fell down and worshipped Peter.) Why was this a great mistake ?– Peter was only a man, and we must only "worship God" (Rev. xix. 10).

We must never worship either good men or good women, or kneel down to pictures, because God has said, Matt. IV. 10. But it is not surprising that Cornelius should have made a mistake on this occasion; all good people make mistakes sometimes. There is only One who can never err; who is that?-(God) Ps. cxxxix. 1-12.

Sometimes what appear to be mistakes to our friends are not so in reality, although the latter condemn us, because they can only judge by our outward actions-by what we do; but God, who reads our thoughts, sees things in a very different light, and when others blame us He does not; too often, however, dear children, when others praise us He has seen a wrong motive, al

though in some cases it has led to a right action.

Ver. 26-28. Did Peter tell Cornelius of his error? What did he say?("Stand up: I myself also am a man.") He did not speak hastily or roughly, but took Cornelius's hand and lifted him up. Perhaps when he did so Peter remembered the many mistakes he had himself made. At any rate, when he entered the house he spoke of the one he was almost on the point of committing, and how God had corrected him.

What was Peter's mistake ?—(That he should call any man common or unclean.)

Can you tell me what was really intended by this?-(That he should teach the Gentiles.) Yes; that Jesus was "a light," etc. (Luke ii. 32, 50.)

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Jews and Gentiles are all one in Christ (Gal. iii. 26-28); and this new lesson which was set before Peter led him to practise that which was contained in the oldest lesson of all. What was that? None of you can tell me; and yet you yourselves practise it every day. It was obedience (see ver. 29). "Obey and live" was the first command given to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden; it was their disobedience that made us all sinners (Rom. v. 19). But the obedience of Christ restored us to God's favour. Obedience is at the bottom of almost everything in this world; even the Bible itself is one long instance of the necessity of this duty.

Ver. 29-32. Does Peter ask why they have sent for him?-(Yes.) Cornelius's story is a very simple one; and many words are not required to tell it. Are you always very careful, my young friends, when relating anything, to tell it exactly as it happened, and not to add to it or try to embellish it, so as to idly and foolishly gratify yourself by creating surprise or astonishment in those to whom you are speaking? I hope so.

Ver. 33. Cornelius puts matters simply and plainly before Peter; he says, "We are all here present "—all of one heart, waiting to hear everything that has been given you by God to tell Now this is a true picture of what a Sunday class should be: (1) To be all

us.

of one mind, loving God and loving each other; (2) To be all attentive, waiting to hear, not looking about the room, not whispering to each other, but anxious to learn about Jesus; (3) All feeling that teacher is only the "voice" (Matt. iii. 3), nothing in herself, but only obeying God's command, doing God's work, with the help, it is humbly hoped, of His Holy Spirit; (4) All receiving with gladness and humility the message sought to be conveyed, because it is God's loving word-not your teacher's word-to poor, unworthy sinners.

Now if, dear young friends, as a class, you are all acting in this way, yours will be the same blessing as that which Cornelius and his friends received; for after they had listened, lovingly, earnestly, faithfully, to Peter's teaching, we find in ver. 44 that the Holy Ghost descended on them.

Let me now affectionately ask each of you what you know of these things? Don't answer me immediately; but go home, and in the quietness of your own rooms, alone with Jesus, ask your own hearts what you really know about the Saviour of the world. Ask yourselves whether or not He is your dearest Friend? Are your happiest thoughts always centred in Him? If not, don't rest until they are. Remember, time flies very quickly; soon, it may be very soon, you and I will be called away to render up an account of all our various thoughts and actions; and we shall need Jesus for our friend. Without His help we are assuredly lost; but if we have given our hearts to Him, and fearlessly placed all our sins at the feet of His all-atoning cross, then may we courageously put aside all our terrors, and rely upon the strong arm of our truest and best Friend.

LILIAN IDA.

THE GENTLE LIFE.
Ephesians iv. 31, 32.

In these verses is clearly pointed out the necessity of a "gentle life," if we would be the disciples of Christ "not in name only, but in deed and in truth." Many

a child who has a bitter, envious spirit, or a wrathful angry spirit, or a clamorous spirit, or a malicious spirit, has comforted himself with thinking he was born with it, and could not help it, until he has let the time go by when he might have curbed it, have "put it away," as St. Paul says; and in after years he has bitterly repented of his early folly, and has reaped according as he sowed, feeling that it was now too late. Therefore take warning by others, and "let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you."

That is the first step; but you must not become indifferent. Having begun to drive out the evil habits, you must contract good ones. You must be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

I. You see here what our character should be,-kind, tender-hearted, forgiving.

1. We should be kind one to another, loving, gentle, ready to do any little service that we can, even if sometimes we put ourselves a little out of the way to do it. True kindness is disinterested. You would never feel half the pleasure in anything given to you, or done for you, if you thought it was only given or done by some one who expected something in return. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive; and there is a satisfaction in doing a kind action, hoping for nothing again, which the profusest thanks can never afford.

2. Then we should be tender-hearted, never passing by another in trouble without giving them the best we can, a sympathising word if we can do no more. Never see your brothers or sisters or any one you have any power of comforting in trouble, and think,-"It is no business of mine."

"Kind words can never die,
Saith my philosophy;
Deep in the soul they lie,

God knows how dear."

Remember the parable of the good Samaritan: how a certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped

him and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead. Many people passed along the road, and doubtless looked curiously at the miserable, senseless object, but without offering help or assistance. No one thought it was "his business." But a certain man, not even one of the sufferer's nation, went by, and seeing him took him and set him on his own beast, and saw to his wounds, and provided for his comfort in every way. When Jesus delivered this parable, He added, "Go and do thou likewise."

3. The third point in our character takes in the other two; but it is applied particularly to our enemies-forgiving. It is all the love and kindness and tender-heartedness which we could show to our friends displayed towards our enemies. Therefore you see it is a much higher quality, and requires a much greater effort than the other two. 'If ye love them which love you, what thanks have you?"

I should like to hear you read Matt. xviii., ver. 23 to the end.

Without the atonement of Christ we could none of us have been forgiven; with it the vilest sinner, the weary and heavy-laden, every one that thirsteth, all may come to Him.

Therefore, since we, the best of us, have sinned far more grievously against God than any of our fellow-men have sinned against us, and since God freely forgives us, never let us say we cannot forgive our enemies, lest we bring down God's curse upon us, and shut ourselves out from His presence. Let us rather be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us."

E. J. R.

CHRIST'S DEALING WITH A SINNER.

John iv. 1-42.

WHAT was the occasion of our Lord leaving Judæa?-(Ver. 1.) Yes, Jesus would not needlessly expose Himself to danger, and thus hinder His work before it was accomplished.

What expectations do the Pharisees seem to have had at this time ?-From their question to John the Baptist (see chap. i. 19, etc.), they seem to have been expecting the coming of Messiah. John had told them he was not the Christ, but that a Greater than he was coming amongst them; and now, when they heard that Jesus made more disiples than John, doubtless their attention was drawn towards Him.

What was from the first the stumblingblock which kept the Pharisees from receiving Christ? The low estate of Jesus of Nazareth, who was so unlike

the Messiah their proud hearts were prepared to welcome.

Can you give me any reasons why Jesus did not Himself baptize?-Firstly, He would prevent the disputes which might have arisen, if some had valued themselves above others on account of having been baptized by the Lord Himself. Secondly, He would show that the benefit of the sacrament does not depend on the hand that administers it. Thirdly, He would reserve for Himself the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Matt. iii. 11). And lastly, He would show that the great work for which He was anointed was to preach the Gospel (Is. lxi. 1).

Which of the apostles speaks of this as a greater work than baptizing?-St. Paul: see 1 Cor. i. 17. What province must "needs" be passed through in the direct way from Judæa to Galilee? The Jews, in their enmity against the Samaritans, would often go a long way

round to avoid them; but our Saviour bore ill-will to none.

What was the Samaritan city He came to? This Sychar is generally thought to be the Shechem of the Old Testament, because the latter belonged to Jacob and became the inheritance of Joseph (Josh. xxiv. 32); and a well called Jacob's well is still in existence near the ruins of Shechem. Other travellers doubt this, and think Aschar, a place still nearer the well, more likely to be the ancient Sychar.

What are we told of Jesus at this well, which shows us that He had indeed taken human nature upon Him? It may well help us to bear infirmities, and weariness, and poverty, when our Saviour chose to take them upon Himself for our sakes (2 Cor. viii. 9).

How did He prove Himself intent on His great work of saving souls, even though He was thus weary? We are sure that Christ knew exactly what sort of person this woman was: let us observe how wisely and kindly He spoke to her. He began by speaking of that which at the time occupied her mind, namely water; and then, far from at once reproving her for her sins, the Lord asked a favour of her; and we may judge at the same time what was the holiness of His look and manner by the quick change from the flippant answer the poor woman at first gave to the quiet respect of her speech afterwards.

Why was the Samaritan woman surprised that Jesus spoke to her ?-Ver. 9. The origin of this ill-feeling arose from the fact that the Samaritans were a mixed people, partly descended from those foreigners whom the king of Assyria sent from Babylon and other cities of his empire, after he had taken the people of Israel captive (2 Kings xvii. 5, 6, 24); and at the time the Jews were rebuilding Jerusalem, in the days of Ezra, they had cruelly stirred up the mind of the king of Persia against them, and greatly hindered the rebuilding of the city (Ez. iv. 10, etc.).

Does it appear, from the conversation of this woman, that the Samaritans had retained any knowledge of the truth?

Ver 12 25 How did Jesus declare.

His readiness to show me: poor sinful woman?-Ver. 10 who ask Him in sincerity be away?-Matt. vii. 7, 8.

What did Jesus mean by " God"?-Rom. vi. 23; Eph it may mean especially Chris who is God's best gift to through whom alone all oth flow.

To what did Christ compar cies He was ready to bes "living water," Jer. ii. 13. woman understand the spiri ing of our Lord's words?Nicodemus when Jesus spok "born again," or the Jews talked of "the bread that con from heaven," or even His ciples when He said that His was to do His Father's will,understood Christ's words in sense, she evidently thought that He could give her fresher abundant water than that from Jacob's well, and bega Him how sufficient that had Jacob and all his numerous cc

How did Jesus teach the far cellence of His gifts, when comp the things of this world?-Ve By what word in His reply did now show the woman that H speaking of any worldly thing? lasting." Observe how ger patiently Jesus led on this po ant, sinful woman, to understa ual truth; her attention was n gained, that she felt the Stra was talking to her could besto some great benefit, though she but darkly.

Did Jesus allude to anythi than Jacob's well when He said. soever drinketh of this water sh again"? It may most truly be all that this world can give, worldly good can ever satisfy th the desires of the soul; but whom Christ has given His Ho know where to find a neve supply for all their wants: the draw from this well, the more a shall we find the supply.

What was the first sign the Se