Morning Reading, 1 Kings xiii.

MAY 19.

Morning Lesson, Matt. xxi. 23—27.

NOTES ON THE LESSON.

VERSE 23. Into what part of the temple did Jesus go? Probably into the court of the Israelites; not being a Levite he could not enter further. What things did the chief priests refer to? Verse 12. See also Mark xi. 15-17. Was there an appearance of propriety in their question? Yes, because Christ had no authority derived from any office recognized by men.-VERSE 24. How did Jesus answer their question? By asking them a question which, if they answered, convicted themselves, and proved his own divine authority.-VERSE 25. What is meant by the 'baptism' of John? His mission, which mainly consisted in baptizing. Why could they not say John's mission was divine? Because the inference was clear that Jesus, of whom John spake, was the true Messiah. John i. 29-36. Did they dare to say he was not divine? No; because John was accounted by the people as a teacher sent from God.'-VERSE 27. Was their answer a falsehood? Yes; but they could not acknowledge John without also acknowledging Jesus. Was Christ's answer a falsehood? No. They said that they could not tell-Jesus that he would not.

IMPROVEMENT. Compare John's testimony concerning the divinity of Christ with the proofs of Christ's divinity in his character and life-and show that he is indeed worthy of our deepest reverence and love.

Afternoon Reading, Ex. ii.

Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xxi. 28–32.

NOTES ON THE LESSON.

VERSE 28. Whom did our Lord intend by these two sons? The Jews, and the publicans and sinners. What is meant by working in a vineyard? It is used figuratively to represent the work which God requires man to do.-VERSE 29. Was this the language of the publicans and wicked men? Yes, their conduct seemed to say

'I will not,' but afterwards they repented and obeyed. What is it to repent? To change the mind. It implies also a thorough change of heart and life.-VERSE 36. Had this been the conduct of the scribes and pharisees? Yes, they professed to obey God, and observed the external forms of religion, but were really opposed to him, and united to put his son to death. Matt. xxiii. 1—33.— VERSE 31. What is meant by the twain'? The two. Was their answer to our Saviour's question correct? Yes; but they did not

perceive that it condemned themselves. What is meant by the expression 'go into the kingdom of God'? Become christians, or follow Christ. His kingdom is spiritual, and he rules over the hearts of men. Romans xiv. 17.-VERSE 32. How did John come in the way of righteousness' ? He taught them the way to become righteous. Matt. iii. 1, 2, 8, 15.

IMPROVEMENT. Enlarge upon the nature of repentance, and the necessity of a thorough change of heart, before we can be admitted in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew v. 20.

MAY 26.

Morning Reading, 1 Kings xiv.

Morning Lesson, Matt. xxi. 33-41.

NOTES ON THE LESSON.

VERSE 33. Which of the other evangelists record this parable? Mark xii. 1-12; Luke xx. 9-19. What was this vineyard intended to represent? The church of God. This figure is frequently used by the sacred writers. See Matt. xx. 1; Isaiah lxiii. 3. What is a wine-press? A place into which the grapes are thrown, and then trodden by men to press out the juice. What was the tower used for? For the keepers of the vineyard who defended it from thieves and animals. See Isaiah v. 2. Why was it let out? For profit. What is signified by the care which this householder took of the vineyard? The care which God has for his church.-VERSE 34. Who are meant by these servants? The prophets sent to the Jewish people.-VERSE 35. What does the beating and killing and stoning of these servants signify? The bad conduct of the Jews towards the prophets. See Jer. xliv. 4, 5; 2 Chron. xxiv. 20, 21; Neh. ix. 26.-VERSE 37. Who was beautifully and tenderly signified by this only Son? Jesus Christ. John iii. 16.-VERSE 38. What is an heir? One who succeeds to an estate-commonly a son-and an inheritance is what he receives.VERSE 39. Did the Jews act thus towards our Saviour? Matt. xxvii. 20-25; Acts ii. 23; Luke xxiii. 33.-VERSE 40. Why did Jesus ask them this question? That they might condemn themselves, and admit that they deserved the punishment that was coming upon them.

IMPROVEMENT. Dwell upon the love of God in sending his Sou to save such a rebel world, and show that if we refuse to love him, we deserve eternal death. 1 John iv. 9, 14; Rom. viii. 3. 32.

Afternoon Reading, Ex. iii.

Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xxi. 42-46.

NOTES ON THE LESSON.

VERSE 12. From what part of scripture is this verse taken? Ps. exviii. 22, 23. Who is meant by the stone? Christ. Acts iv. 10, 11; Eph. ii. 20. How was Christ rejected? Isa. liii. 3; Matt. xxvii. 67; xxvii. 20. How did Christ become the head of the corner?' On him depended the prosperity and the glory of his people, who are compared to a building. Eph. ii. 20, 21, 22. How was this the Lord's doing? God sent and fitted Christ to be a Saviour. Isaiah xxviii. 16; 1 Peter ii. 6.-VERSE 43. What is meant by the expression' kingdom of God' in this verse? The means of grace-the great privileges which the Jews enjoyed above others in the rites and ceremonies of the former dispensation. Rom. ix. 4,5; Ex. xix. 6. To whom was the kingdom of God sent? Acts x. 44, 45; xi. 18.-VERSE 44. What great truth is here expressed? That all who reject Christ or his doctrine shall perish. 1 Pet. ii. 78.-VERSES 45, 46. What did the multitude think of Christ? Matt. xxi. 11; Luke vii. 16; John vii. 40, 41. know that this was spoken of them? their consciences reproved them. after this?

Mark. xii. 12.

How did the Pharisees

They had rejected Christ and
What became of the Pharisees

IMPROVEMENT. Show that Christ is the Saviour chosen of God, and that the end of those who reject him must be awful.

Morning Reading, 1 Kings xv.

JUNE 2.

Morning Lesson, Matt. xxii. 1—10.

NOTES ON THE LESSON.

VERSE 1. Why did Jesus often speak to his disciples in parables? Because it fixed their attention more firmly on the moral truth which he presented. What does this parable refer to? To the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles. This is the general truth.-VERSE 2. What may the marriage feast signify? The provision which God has made for the salvation of the world. -VERSE 3. Who are his servants? His ministers, whom he sends forth with the glad tidings of salvation. Why would they not come? Because they did not chose.-VERSE 4. What is meant by his sending other servants? Repeating his message again and again. What are 'fatlings?' Fat animals used in eastern countries at the marriage feasts. 2 Sam. vi. 13.-VERSE 5. How did they make light of it? By treating it with contempt as a thing of no consequence. Men are so much engaged in their worldly employments that they pretend they have no time to attend to

religion.-VERSE 6. Who acts in this way? Those sinners who revile and abuse and persecute ministers of religion.-VERSE 7. Were these Jews destroyed? Yes, and their city soon after burnt by the Romans.-VERSE 8. To whom was the gospel message afterwards sent? To the Gentiles, or the whole world.

IMPROVEMENT. Enlarge upon our great privilege in having the message of salvation so clearly and constantly proclaimed to us, and our corresponding responsibility.

Afternoon Reading, Ex. iv.

Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xxii. 11-14.

NOTES ON THE LESSON.

VERSE 11. What was a wedding garment? A long white robe prepared by the person who gave the feast, and always worn by the guests on festive occasions. Esther vi. 8; viii. 15. Not wearing this garment was expressive of the highest disrepect to the king.-VERSE 12. Does the word 'friend' imply friendship? Not here; it should rather be translated companion. Why was he speechless? Because he had no excuse to make.-VERSE 13. What is meant by outer darkness?' An exceeding gloomy place. The wicked who are lost will be shut out from the light of heaven, from peace and joy and hope for ever. Who is intended by this poor lost man? The hypocrite, who appears to be one of Christ's disciples, but rejects the garments of salvation for his own selfrighteousness, which is but as filthy rags. His future punishment is certain and awful.-VERSE 14. What is meant by this expression? That all have been invited to be saved, but few have accepted the offer of mercy.

IMPROVEMENT. Show the necessity of all appearing before Christ clothed in his garments of salvation. Dwell upon the anxiety which we should feel in ascertaining whether we belong to the few who are chosen.

THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN.

FOURTH PERIOD-OR HIS IMPRISONMENT.

Bunyan, as we have already seen, plied his pen well when in prison. It is not easy to ascertain how many of his writings, now extant, were written during this period; and less so, to say how much of what he wrote went altogether unpublished. There is every reason to believe that he had the pen of a ready

writer. One fact seems decisive on this point. A Dr. Fowler published a work, entitled, “The design of Christianity," about the time of Bunyan's ordination (which, by the bye, took place while Bunyan was legally a prisoner!) To this Bunyan wrote a reply, consisting of 118 pages, small quarto. This reply, which is "one of his best pieces," was concluded on the “27th of the twelfth month, 1671," and could not have occupied him more than five or six weeks at most; for he says in his address to Dr. Fowler, “I could not obtain your work till this 13th of the eleventh month."

We mention this fact, because it seems to us to throw strong light upon Bunyan's character as a writer. There may have been some unusual pressure of mind in writing the reply to Dr. Fowler, arising out of his zeal to present an antidote as speedily as possible to the doctor's errors; but still, with this allowance, we think the fact an indication of the general fervour with which Bunyan composed. Besides it is in keeping with the character of the man and his writings. All that Bunyan ever wrote came forth from a full mind: the spring was abundant, and whenever the channel was opened there was necessarily a plenteous and rapid flow. It was so with Shakespeare—it was so with Scott-it was so with Bunyan—we have no manuscripts of our author to examine; but we doubt not there was little or no correction in them. Indeed the verses prefixed to the Pilgrim's Progress seem to indicate that Bunyan was accustomed to write on, leaving it to his own full and strong mind both to supply and to direct the current of thought. Do we not gather thus much from the following lines?

"When at the first I took my pen in hand
Thus for to write, I did not understand
That I at all should make a little book,
In such a mode: nay, I had undertook
To make another; which when almost done,
Before I was aware, I this begun.

"When I set pen to paper with delight,

And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.

For having now my method by the end,

Still as I pulled it came; and so I penned