world make you amends for the loss of your soul through all eternity. No. Teacher. The ruler here mentioned was a ruler of the synagogue, a man of considerable consequence ;— yet you may read that he approached our Saviour with the greatest reverence and respect; from a firm belief that He was God as well as man, and that by His divine power He could raise his daughter again to life. The name of the ruler was Jairus. Questions. What do you understand by the ruler here mentioned, who was he? A man of considerable consequence. In what manner did he approach our Saviour? With the greatest reverence and respect. Did he not believe our Saviour to be God as well as man? Yes. And what then did he believe our Saviour was able to do? To restore his daughter to life. Teacher. He raised the daughter again to life, as He also did Lazarus, and the son of the widow of Nain; after doing which, He also raised himself to life, thereby proving that He is Lord of life and death, and will raise from the graves at the last day, you and I, and every human being, to T stand before Him at His judgment seat; there to give an account of all we have done, whether it be good or evil. Questions. And did He raise the daughter again to life? Yes. What other persons did He restore to life, and to their anxious friends? Lazarus, and the son of the widow of Nain. What power did He shew in His own case, when He had been crucified, dead, and buried? He raised himself to life. What did He thereby prove Himself to be Lord of? Of life and death. Who will He raise up from their graves at the last day? You, and I, and all other human beings. What shall we then do? Stand before His judgment seat. And of what are we then to give an account? Of all we have done, whether good or evil. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity. ST. JOHN, vi. 12, 13, 14. At the End of the Gospel. "When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world." Teacher. In the beginning of this chapter, it is related that our Saviour had passed over the sea of Galilee, (which is about seven miles across ;) and had been followed by a great number of people, who had seen the many extraordinary cures He had performed, and the miracles He had shewed. Among others, the raising of Jairus's daughter from the dead; the manner of which was explained to you, last Sunday. Questions. What sea is it said in the beginning of this chapter that our Saviour passed over? The sea of Galilee. How many miles is it across? Seven. By whom was He followed? By a great number of persons. What had they seen Him perform? Many extraordinary cures. What miracle is it likely He had also performed, and which had been seen by some of these people? The raising of Jairus's daughter. Teacher. When our Saviour saw this multitude, He asked Philip, how these poor people were to be fed, and refreshed? Not that He had any doubt how He should act towards them, but to prove Philip's faith and trust in His power. Philip's answer shewed that without a miracle it would be impossible that they could have any relief. Two hundred pennyworth of bread will not be sufficient, was his reply ;-and he well knew that such a sum was more than he or our Saviour could at that moment command. Questions. When our Saviour saw the multitude, what question did He ask Philip? How the poor people were to be fed and refreshed. Had He any doubt what He meant to do; or did He only ask this question to prove Philip's faith and trust in His (our Saviour's) power? To prove Philip. Did Philip think the multitude could be fed without a miracle? No. How much bread did Philip would not be enough that every one might have a little? Two hundred pennyworth. say Teacher. The Jewish passover being now near, occasioned the number of the multitude to be much increased. Many of those persons therefore must have come from great distances; and by thus thinking of, and providing for their hunger and refreshment, our Saviour shewed His great kindness and compassion. A lad in the company had five barley loaves, and two small fishes. Questions. What occasioned the number of the multitude to be much increased? The Jewish passover being near. Is it not likely that many of them came from a great distance? Yes. In thinking of, and providing for their hunger and refreshment, what did our Saviour shew? Great kindness and compassion. What provision had a lad in the company? Five barley loaves, and two small fishes. Teacher. In St. Matthew's Gospel wherein this same miracle, with nearly the same particulars are told, it is mentioned that after our Saviour had shewn His thoughtfulness for the multitude by desiring they might sit down, He took this small portion of food (the five barley loaves, and two small fishes) in His hands, and before it was divided among the people He gave thanks to God Almighty.-A lesson to us, that we never ought to sit down to our meals without thanking our Heavenly Father for the blessing of food. Questions. Which of other Evangelists relates this miracle as well as St. John? St. Matthew. And what does he mention which is not told here? That He gave thanks to God Almighty before He di |