Thy ways known unto them, Thy saving health unto all nations."

S. M. Where else do we find those words?
Lucy. In the 2d verse of the 67th Psalm.

S. M. Which is sometimes used in the Morning Service. Next we pray more especially that is, more particularly-for the Catholic Church, for its good estate or condition. Why?

J. Because we are a part of it.

S. M. Yes; members of it. The Church of Christ is called His body. He is

E. The Head of it.

S. M. And we are

E. The limbs or members, as a body has hands and feet.

S. M. We are all joined together as the parts of a body. And our Lord is the chief part, the Head, without which the body would die. I will read to you some verses from the 1st epistle to the Corinthians (ch. xii. ver. 12-27). These verses shew how people belonging to the Church have different offices and gifts, and different duties to perform. High and low, rich and poor, have all their duties; they cannot do without each other, and should not wish it. And those who are least thought of by men may be high in God's sight. There should be no schism. What is that?

S. Rending. As if a body should be torn to pieces.

S. M. And when we say that there should be no schism in our Lord's body, the Church, what do we mean?

L. That there should be no divisions, and disputes, and differences.

S. M. All should care for one another, and for the good of the Church, and should be of one mind, believing the same things, using the same prayers. And if one member suffers

J. All the members suffer with it.

S. M. Just as if you had a pain in any limb or

part of your body, you would seem to feel the worse for it all over. So we here pray for the Catholic Church as one. Do you understand?

S. Yes, ma'am; all Christians, all baptised people, and we amongst them, make up one body, and Christ is our Head.

S. M. Yes. Do you remember parts of the Collects about the Church? You have been told on the Sundays when those collects were said what they

mean.

M. [looking at her Prayer-book.] "We beseech Thee, keep Thy Church and household continually in Thy true religion." (5th S. after Epiphany.)

H. "That Thy Church may joyfully serve Thee in all godly quietness." (5th S. after Trinity.)

S.Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy perpetual mercy." (15th S. after Trinity.) E. "Let thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church." (16th S. after Trinity.)

L. "Keep Thy household the Church in continual godliness." (22d S. after Trinity.)

J. "Be ready, we beseech Thee, to hear the devout prayers of Thy Church." (23d S. after Trinity.)

S. M. And the collect for St. Matthias,-" Grant that Thy Church, being always preserved from false apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors."

M. "Who hast instructed Thy holy Church." (St. Mark's day.)

S. "Grant unto Thy Church to love the word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same." (St. Bartholomew's day.)

H. "Who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone." (St. Simon and St. Jude's day.)

S. M. And St. John the Evangelist's day,-" We beseech Thee cast Thy bright beams of light upon Thy Church." So we go on in this prayer,

"that

the Church may be so guided and governed," that is, led and ruled by

L God's good Spirit.

S. M. "That all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth." All that I think you understand. And we are to hold the faith. Where do we find what faith we are to hold, that is, what we are to believe and keep fast? M. In the creeds.

S. M. Our faith is drawn out of the Bible, and summed up in the creeds. All that we say in the creeds may be proved true from the Bible, by those who have learning for it. We are to hold the faith in what?

J. "Unity of spirit."
S. M. What is unity?
M. Oneness, being one.

S. M. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." Our Lord prayed for His disciples, "That they all may be one" (John xvii.). We may think it difficult for many men to agree and be of one mind, so as to seem like one person. And it would be impossible, if the good Spirit of God did not fill the whole Church, and keep it alive, as the blood flows through every part of the body. That Holy Spirit which guides the Church is one every where, and makes the members of it to be of one mind. We must always pray that He will make us one,-give us "unity of spirit." Besides, we are to hold the faith in "the bond of peace." You can understand that a bond is any thing that ties together. Peace and agreement among Christians is the bond that ties and keeps them all together. And what else should we hold the faith in ?

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E. Righteousness of life."

S. M. You have all been told how little good it will do you to hold the right faith, unless you try all you can to live a righteous life. We must try to be holy as our Lord is holy. Without holiness no man can see the Lord. Without it the Church

would fall to pieces; for every unholy person will be cast out of it.-Can you tell me the meaning of the word "finally?"

M. Lastly, in the last place.

S. M. Lastly, we commend to God's goodnessthat is, pray for-all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate. Some of you have heard or known of people troubled in their mind, or out of their minds; they suffer very much, though perhaps they may not have led bad lives. It pleases God it should be so; but we should pray for them, and the more because they cannot pray for themselves. And persons are afflicted in mind when they are uneasy about their friends for any reason, or have lost their friends, and in many other ways. You all know what being afflicted in body is?

H. Oh, yes; being very ill,-being lame or blind. L. Or crippled with rheumatism, like poor grandmother. She can't get out at all, not even to church.

S. M. And those who are afflicted in estate are such people as are very poor, in great want—or people in prison, or in slavery under cruel masters. Now such people are all members of us, of our body. I mean, all such as are Christians; and for them we pray that God will comfort and relieve them; that He will give them patience, and a happy issue out of their afflictions. What does that mean, Sarah?

S. I believe, a happy ending of their troubles.
S. M. And what is a happy ending?

H. Oh, to make them well again, to make them less poor.

The

S. M. I should not call that a right answer. Church teaches us to pray for a happy issue of a dangerous illness. And that may be not to get well,

but

M. To die, and be happy in another world, if they were good people.

S. M. Yes; and would it always be a happy issue for poor people to grow rich?

S. No, ma'am, perhaps not; they might get to care too much for this world's goods, when they had every thing they wanted.

S. M. And Lucy's good old grandmother-I know she prays for patience in her sufferings; but she only prays to be made well, if it is best for her.

L. She often tells us, she toiled and worked till she neglected her prayers and her Bible, and that it was a blessing to her when she was laid up, and Mr. Stanley came to see her, and she had time to think of the good things he told her of. And you often say she is as cheerful as any of us.

S. M. So God seems to have given her already a happy issue out of her afflictions.

E. Ma'am, the last bell has begun to ring.

S. M. Then get ready for church; and think of these things when you have time.

March.

THE only immovable feast in this month is the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, or Lady-day, on March 25.

The fast of Lent commonly falls in this month, so that most of the Sundays of the month will be the Sundays in Lent.

The first day of Lent is Ash-Wednesday.

Ancient Hymn for Lent.

THE solemn season calls us now
A holy fast to keep:

And see within the temple how
Both priest and people weep.

But come not thou with tears alone,
Or outward form of prayer;

But let it in thy heart be known
That penitence is there.