JULY 23.-JONAH'S FLIGHT.-Jonah i. 1-17.

NOTES.

Ver. 2. 'Nineveh,' the capital of Assyria: 'great city,' said to have been sixty miles in circumference, and encompassed with walls on which three chariots could drive abreast. Ver. 3. 'Tarshish,' in the New Testament called Tarsus: 'found a ship,' much commerce was carried on with Tarsus, Ezek. xxvii. 12. Ver. 5. 'Every man to his God,' the sailors appear to have been heathens; in trouble we instinctively call upon God. Ver. 7. 'Cast lots,' this ordeal was often used, and in this case was divinely directed. Ver. 12. Jonah wished to preserve the lives of the innocent men, and was harassed by a guilty conscience. Ver. 13. The men evidently were anxious to save Jonah. Ver. 16. 'Feared the Lord' were convinced of the power of Jonah's God in raising and in allaying the storm. Ver. 17. 'A great fish,' sharks and whales are believed to be able to hold a man in their cavities, Matt. xii. 40; this miracle would spread the knowledge of God, and teach all persons God's determination to enforce his commands.

QUESTIONS.

1. Why was Jonah to go to Nineveh ?-2. How did he treat God's commands ?-3. Can you trace his voyage on the Map?-4. By what means did God shew his displeasure against Jonah ?-5. Does God ever overlook our disobedience?-6. What did the mariners do when the storm arose ?-7. How can we be calm and safe in trouble?-8. By what means was the cause of the storm ascertained ?— 9. What other offender was discovered in the same way? Josh. vii. -10. Do such instances administer any warning to us? Num. xxxii. 23. Gen. xliv. 16.-11. Was Jonah's guilt increased or lessened by his being a Jew and not a heathen?-12. How did the sailors treat Jonah ?-13. What followed Jonah's being cast into the sea?— 14. When guilt raises a storm in our souls, how may we allay it?— 15. Can we ever be safe or happy in departing from God?-16. How was mercy mixed with judgment in this case?-17. Can you name other creatures which have been employed by God? 1 Kings xvii. 4. Ex. viii. 2, 16, 22; xvi. 13. Acts xii. 23.-18. If then God have all power in heaven and earth, how should we act toward him? -19. If God's commands seem difficult, as to Jonah, in what way should we proceed? Ps. cxix. 60; lxxi. 16.

JULY 30.-JONAH'S PRAYING AND PREACHING.-Jonah ii. & iii.

NOTES.

Ver. 1. 'Jonah prayed;' this prayer was conceived in the fish's belly, and written afterwards, and answered in his being cast on dry land. Ver. 2. 'Belly of hell,' or the grave as it seemed to Jonah. Ver. 4. 'Look again,' in his heart to the place where prayer was offered to God. Ver. 8. 'Lying vanities,' false pleasures, such as Jonah pursued in leaving God's work. Chap. iii. Ver.3. 'Three days,' twenty miles was a days' journey for a foot traveller. Ver. 4. 'Nineveh shall be overthrown,' unless it repent. Ver. 6. 'Put on sackcloth, &c.' Job ii. 8. Is. lviii. 5. Jer. vi. 26. · Taste anything,' the eastern mode of fasting was to abstain till the evening, 2 Sam. i. 12. Ver. 8. Man and beast be covered, this was done to impress the mind. Ver. 9. Who can tell, &c.,' he was between hope and fear; it is only revelation which teaches the certainty of pardon on repentance. Ver. 10. God repented,' that is, he changed his providence or outward conduct.

QUESTIONS.

1. What do you recollect of the last portion ?-2. With what feelings may we suppose Jonah prayed in the fish's belly ?-3. Where does God encourage us to call on him in the deepest distress? Ps. 1. 15; xci. 15; Zech. xiii. 9.--4. Have afflictions often led people back to God? 2 Chron. xxxiii. 13. Luke xv. 11-20.-5. How do you know that this affliction was sanctified to Jonah ?-6. What is our duty on being delivered from trouble?-7. When cast on dry land what was Jonah to do?-8, Was he ready now to perform the duty he had before declined?-9. By what means is it probable he might say the city would be overturned? Gen. xix. 24, 25. Num. xvi. 32.-10. How was his message received?--11. In what way do these Ninevites shame the impenitent hearers of the gospel? Matt. xii. 41.— 12. Why were the beasts to be kept without food?-13. Sorrow and reformation marked these people, what does that teach us? Ps. lxvi. 18. Joel ii. 13.-14. How did God regard the penitence of Nineveh ? -15. What is the Scripture doctrine as to our penitence and salvation? Prov. xxviii. 13. Acts iii. 19; xvi. 31.

AUGUST 6.-JONAH'S DISPLEASURE.-Jonah iv. 1-11.

NOTES.

Ver. 2. Was not this, &c.,' meaning that he knew God was merciful and would not destroy the city. Ver. 3. 'Better to die than live,' under the imputation of being a false prophet. Ver. 6. 'A gourd,' a shrub with a very broad leaf, and which grows rapidly: 'to deliver him from his grief,' from the burning sun. Ver. 7. 'Prepared a worm,' the rough caterpillar is often known to strip a tree in one night of all its leaves. Ver. 8. 'Vehement east wind,' in the margin it is, silent east wind; travellers say, when there is a lull of an easterly wind, the sun pours his rays down, and it seems as if life must depart. Ver. 11. 'That cannot discern,' meaning infants, Deut. i. 39. Is. vii. 15, 16; 'six score thousand' infants are usually supposed to be one-fifth of the inhabitants, consequently there would be six hundred thousand persons in Nineveh.

QUESTIONS.

1. How were the Ninevites affected by God's pardoning mercy? -2. Why was Jonah displeased at their preservation ?-3. What did he ask God to do with him?-4. Why was death unsuitable for him then?-5. When are we most prepared to die?-6. What kindness did God again shew Jonah ?-7. Was Jonah selfish or grateful about the gourd ?-8. How was it destroyed?-9. If God can use every creature for us or against us, what should be our conduct toward him?-10. Jonah valued the gourd, how should we estimate the value of things?-11. Why did God regard the infants of the city?-12. Was he also concerned for the cattle?-10. How should children treat the brute creation ?-14. Can you name ways in which they forget God's example toward cattle?-15. Grace abounded to the Ninevites, should we rejoice in the punishment or in the salvation of men?-16. How have the best men felt toward impenitent sinners?-17. When are we best fitted to deal with the unconverted? -18. Can you name three or four important truths which Jonah's history illustrates?

Entelligence.

Manchester. The annual processions of Sunday schools during the Whit-week, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, have been prosecuted as usual, and have been attended with the most gratifying results.

The principal procession of the schools in connexion with the Establishment took place on Monday. The children assembled in St. Ann's Square shortly after nine o'clock, with their teachers and the clergy, churchwardens and their friends, having placed themselves at the head of their respective schools, the procession began to move forward about half-past nine. It took nearly forty minutes to evacuate the Square. The following, we believe, is an authorised statement of the entire number of scholars in the respective schools.

Besides these schools, there are several which did not join the procession:-St. Luke's, 324 scholars; St. Silas's, 100; St. Jude's, 865; St. Bartholomew's, 212; Birch Chapel, 170; Openshaw, 600; Newton Heath, 1,200; Christ Church, Harpurhey, 850; Blackley, 500; St. Luke's, Cheetham, 160; St. Mark's, Cheetham, 160; St. John's, Broughton, 206; Christ Church, Salford, 857; and St. Thomas's, Pendleton, 510;-total, 6,237. Total church school children, 20,892.

The procession passed through most of the principal streets of the town, and then went to the Collegiate Church, where the elder scholars were admitted, but the younger children proceeded from thence to their respective schools, where they were regaled with buns and milk. Mr. Harris presided at the organ; the Hon. and Very Reverend the Dean read the prayers, and a sermon was preached by the Rev. Edward Girdlestone, Vicar of Dean, from St. John, chap. ii. ver. 15. The collection amounted to £47.

DISSENTING SUNDAY SCHOOL PROCESSIONS.-The following is a list of the schools unconnected with the Church, which have nearly all made excursions into the country, had processions through the town, or otherwise partaken of the recreations usual at the Whitsuntide holidays; but as they do not all walk in a body, like the Church schools, we have not the same means of collecting details as to their movements.

Bank Meadow, Children of all Denominations

Union Chapel, Children of all Denominations.........

Gartside Street, Independent....

Bethesda, Pendleton, Methodist New Connexion
Mather Street, Independent

.....

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD SUNDAY SCHOOL UNIONS.-On the Wednesday. the Annual Sermons were preached to the scholars of these schools,-at Grosvenor Street, by the Rev. R. Fletcher, of Manchester.

Rusholme Road, by W. H. Watson, Esq., Secretary of the London Union.
Mosley Street, by the Rev. Wm. Roaf, of Wigan.

Chapel Street, by John Hewitt, Esq., Treasurer of the Manchester Union. The Annual Meetings were held in the evening: the one in Grosvenor Street Chapel, Manchester; and the other in Hope Chapel, Salford. In the former, the Mayor being unavoidably absent, the chair was taken by Mr. John Griffiths, the chairman of the Board of Management; in the latter by the Rev. I. L. Poore, the minister of the place. Addresses were delivered by the Revds. J. Gwyther, J. G. Hoyle, T. G. Lee, W. Roaf; also by J. Hewitt, W. H. Watson, J. Carlton, W. Morris, W. Webster, Esqrs. The strongest dissatisfaction was expressed at the Government Bill for Education, and the most resolute determination to oppose it and to extend the blessings of education by every means practicable. The Manchester and Salford Union has become two bodies. This has been effected in perfectly good feeling, and solely from the desire more efficiently to carry out the great purpose contemplated. We are happy in reporting that the numbers attending the meetings this year were greater than ever.

Preston.-A very handsome Bible and Prayer Book in one volume was presented on Friday, June 2nd, by the first class of female scholars in the St. Mary's Church Sunday School, to the Rev. J. W. Watson, as a mark of their devoted attachment.

And on Monday June 5th at the Annual Tea Party of Teachers and Scholars belonging to the Parish Church, a copy of the Bible elegantly bound was presented by the scholars to the Rev. J. Owen Parr; a handsome Prayer Book to the Rev. W. R. Betts, and a second to the Rev. C. Richson. These three excellent Clergymen were deeply affected by such spontaneous effusions of love in those whom they are anxiously training up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.