heart what is read. 1 Cor. ii. 10-14; Ps. cxix. 18. Is faith to be blended with the study? Yes; we are to mix faith with all we read; thereby accepting the mercy of God offered in the gospel, and applying it to ourselves with suitable affections, still depending on the teaching of the Holy Spirit to lead us on. Heb. iv. 2; 1 Thess. ii. 13. Is a high and self-dependent mind to be seriously guarded against? Yes; the word of God should be read and studied with all humility, reverence, and a sincere desire to know the truth as it is in Jesus. Ps. cxix. 25; xxv. 9; James i. 21. Is a frivolous and thoughtless state of mind fatal to success in studying the word of God? Yes; it must be studied with patient and prayerful meditation, with self-examination and self-application. Ps. cxix. 97, 148; 2 Pet. iii. 2. What is the best method of DEVOTIONAL reading for private personal improvement? Not to read a great deal at a time, nor the whole Bible in its course, but select portions, pondering and applying the same to the conscience and the heart, looking up for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and converting the matter of the passage into prayer, with the Bible open before us. IMPROVEMENT. Do you set apart a time every day for reading the scriptures and prayer? Have you derived benefit of a spiritual kind from so doing? Can you use the words of David as expressing your own feelings? Ps. cxix. 97, 98, 103, 104. APRIL 28. Morning Reading, 1 Kings x. Morning Lesson, Matt. xx. 20-23. NOTES ON THE LESSON. Salome. See VERSE 20. What was her name supposed to be? Mark xv. 40; xvi. 1. Who were these sons? James and John. Mark x. 35. How did they worship Christ? By falling down and paying homage to him, as was the usual mode of showing honour. Compare this account with Mark x. 35-45. How is it that no mention is made of their mother by Mark? Probably it was their own request, but made to Christ through her.-VERSE 21. Why did she wish them to be placed in such a position? Because to sit on the right and left hand of a prince was the highest honour that could be conferred. See 1 Kings ii. 19; Psalm cx. 1. What does this request prove? That they had wrong notions of Christ's kingdom.-VERSE 22. What does drinking of a cup' often signify in the scriptures? To suffer affliction or punishment. Isaiah li. 17, 22; Psalm 1xxv. 8. What was the cup which Christ had to drink? The sorrows and sufferings he bore for our sake. John xviii. 11. Were they able to endure such afflictions as he did? No; their answer proved that they were unacquainted with the nature of Christ's kingdom.-VERSE 23. In what way were they able to suffer for him? In enduring persecution for his name's sake. Did these sons suffer persecution? James was slain by Herod. Acts xii. 2. John was banished to Patmos. Rev. i. 9. Did Christ grant their request? No; he told them that such an honour would be conferred by his. Father, and only to such as he should prepare for it. The correct sense of this part of the verse is seen by leaving out the words which are written in italics. IMPROVEMENT. Show that if we would become Christ's disciples we must expect many trials and sufferings, but our reward hereafter will be great and glorious. Matt. x. 38, 39. APRIL 28. Afternoon Reading, Gen. xlix. Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xx. 24-28. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 24. What 'ten' were these? The ten other apostles. Why were they offended with their brethren? Because they wished to be exalted above them.-VERSE 25. Why did Jesus call them unto him? That he might set them right in their views of his kingdom. With what did he contrast it? With the kingdoms of this world. Kings raise their favourites to seats of honour and power without respect to their character, but in Christ's kingdom he will be the greatest who is the most humble and the most anxious to do others good.-VERSE 26. What is the meaning of ‘a minister?' A servant. Why are ministers called servants? Because they are the servants of God and his church. 1 Cor. iii. 5. -VERSE 28. Whom have we as an example of meekness and goodness? The Son of Man. Why is he called the Son of Man? To signify the peculiar love and interest he felt for man, and to identify himself with us. Did he come in the form of a servant? Phil. ii. 7; John xiii. 4, 5. What is a 'ransom?' That which sets one free from a state of punishment or suffering, as when prisoners are taken by an enemy, the money demanded for their release is called a ransom. How did Jesus provide a ransom? By giving himself for our salvation. He died in our stead, and God forgives our sins for his sake. What is this called? The atonement. John iii. 16; John i. 29; Heb. vii. 27. IMPROVEMENT. Enlarge upon the infinite value of Christ's precious blood shed for us, and dwell upon the necessity of our having very lowly hearts if we would be like him. Matt. xi. 29. MAY 5. Morning Reading, 1 Kings xi. 1-37. Morning Lesson, Matt. xx. 29-34. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 29. Where was Jericho situated? On the banks of the Jordan, about nineteen miles from Jerusalem. What is it called Judges i. 16. In in the Old Testament? 2 Chron. xxviii. 15; going from Samaria to Jerusalem, did his way lie through Jericho? Yes.-VERSE 30. What was the name of one of these blind men? Mark x. 46. How did they know that Jesus was passing by? By the noise of the multitudes that surrounded him, for they must have heard of his fame. See Luke xvii. 36. Why did they address him as the 'Son of David?' Because he was descended from David. See Matt. i. 1. What did their calling him by this name prove? That they believed him to be the true Messiah or Christ, and that he had power to heal them.-VERSE 31. Why did the multitude rebuke them? Because they had little pity for them, and were annoyed at their importunity. Did they attend to the voice of the multitude? No; it was the ear of Jesus they wished to gain.-VERSE 32. Why did Jesus stand still? That these blind men might be brought to him. Did he know beforehand what they wished him to do? Yes. Then why did he ask them? Because he wished to hear it from themselves; and if we require a blessing we must in like manner ask him for it. Matt. vii. 7.— VERSE 34. Why did he touch their eyes? To prove that the healing power proceeded from him. What was it that saved them? Mark x. 52. How could faith make them whole? It led them to trust in him who can do all things. Why was this miracle performed? To restore these poor blind men, and to convince the multitude that he was truly the Son of God. IMPROVEMENT. Show that by nature we are all poor and blind, and that it is only by faith in Christ we can be saved from our miserable condition. John i. 9. MAY 5. Afternoon Reading, Gen. 1. Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xxi. 1-11. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 1. Where was Bethphage situated? On the foot of the Mount of Olives. How far was this mountain from Jerusalem? Acts i. 12.-VERSE 2. What village was this? Bethphage. Where had Jesus lodged the night before? John xii. 1. What were horses generally used for in Judea? For war. sidered a mark of rank and dignity to ride on an ass? Was it con Yes; see Judges x. 4; xii. 14; 1 Kings i. 33. Had our Lord seen this colt in Bethphage? No; his knowledge was a proof of his divinity.— VERSE 4. Where is this prophecy? Zech. ix. 9.-VERSE 5. Who was intended by the daughter of Sion? Jerusalem. Such expressions are often made use of in oriental language. What does the word 'meek' signify here? Peaceful, in opposition to warlike.VERSE 6. Did the disciples meet with any opposition to their errand? Mark xi. 5, 6.-VERSE 7. Why did they put their clothes on the colt? As a mark of respect to Jesus. See 2 Kings ix. 13. -VERSE 8. What was all this intended to signify? That they wished to honour Jesus, as they would do a conqueror or a prince. What kind of branches were these? John xii. 13. Of what was the palm-tree an emblem? Of joy and victory.-Verse 9. What is the meaning of Hosanna.' It is a Syriac word, meaning, "Save now, I beseech thee;" it was used by the Jews as a form of acclamation, and was commonly applied to the Messiah. Where is this passage taken from? Psalm cxviii. 25, 26.-VERSE 10. Why was the city moved? There was a great excitement at the What city was this? Jerusalem. sight of such a multitude. IMPROVEMENT. Explain the object of scripture prophecy; and show the necessity of our following Christ on earth, before we can join in the blissful hosannas of heaven. THE SAFETY OF FALLING IN WITH GOD'S LAWS. When the soul lives under the influence of spiritual, holy laws, bringing the body along with it, even across the track, so to speak, of natural agencies, or into collision with their operations, the temporal life is often saved by virtue of its association with the spiritual. It is lifted above the secondary into the sphere of the primary cause. When Mrs. Graham was on her way from New York city to Edinburgh, the vessel was driven upon a rock off the Irish coast. All the passengers were panic-struck. They came into the cabin and gathered around Mrs. Graham, who sat calm amid the tempest, reading the word of God. The portion to which she opened was Psalm cvii. When she had pronounced the 29th verse, "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still," the vessel rose from the treacherous rock, and moved safely away. But if the temporal life be lost, the soul is secure. It can rise from the billow of foam, "to its seat in the skies!" It can leave its mortality with as much ease and peace and exultation, in "The less of this cold world the more of heaven: The Path of God, by the Rev. E. Adams. A SHORT STORY IN SHORT CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I. It was a lovely April morning—and the Sabbath. The wind blew gently from the west, now and then laden with showers, which pattered down briskly for a few minutes and then ceased. The beams of the sun, though not very warm, were cheering, and drew forth from their homes many villagers of the VALE. The young children were the first to make their appearance, some gambolling before the cottage door, others strolling into the lanes and over the fields in search of something new. And if you passed down the village and glanced in at the windows, you might see some with small books in their hands; but every now and then, casting wistful looks through the small panes at the clear blue sky, or the passing shower, as if they too wished to enjoy the varying scene without. In one cottage you might see the family group partaking of the early meal-in another you might see the old and young, parents and children, bowing down for prayer. And now the door-latch would tell that some little hand had lifted it, and forth would sally the "toddling wee things" with bag and book, and merry faces and skipping steps, to wend their way to the village Sunday school. In one of these cottages-perhaps the prettiest amongst them |