people were required to offer at the circumcision of their children (which admitted them into a covenant with God Almighty, as Baptism does Christian children) and on other occasions, different kinds of birds and beasts, according to their station in life, and their circumstances. Questions. What Sunday is this called? The first Sunday in Advent. How many advent Sundays are there before Christmas day? Four. What is the meaning of Advent? Coming. And whose coming does it on this occasion mean? The coming of Jesus Christ. When the Jewish parents brought their children to be circumcised, or on other occasions, what were they to offer? Different kinds of birds and beasts. By their circumcision, with whom did they enter into covenant? With God Almighty. And when did all of you enter into covenant with God Almighty? At the time of our Baptism. Did the Jewish parents offer birds and beasts according to their station in life, and circumstances? Yes. Teacher. The station and circumstances of the reputed parents of our Saviour were such, that they could make only the cheapest offering. In the 2nd chapter of St. Luke and at the 24th verse, it is said, that when they brought our Saviour into the temple to be circumcised, his parents offered a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. These offerings led to a great abuse of the temple of God. Those who had them to sell, brought them into parts of it which ought to have been held sacred; and the money changers also defiled it by their trading therein. Questions. Were the station and circumstances of the reputed parents of our Saviour such as to enable them to make an expensive offering? No. Where is their offering mentioned, and what was it? 2nd chapter of St. Luke, 24th verse. Those persons who sold these doves, and also the money changers, how had they profaned the temple or house of God? By bringing them and their tables into those parts of it which ought to have been held sacred. Teacher. Our Saviour's anger at their doing so was very plainly shewn; He cast out those that sold and bought, and overthrew the tables of the money changers. From this you are to learn how wicked it is to profane the temple, or the church of God; and that is done by you, or any other person, as much as it was by the Jews, when you let your thoughts run on worldly objects; when, instead of saying your prayers and hearing the word of God, you are thinking of your amusements, or idle gossip; you are then as wicked, indeed more so, than the sellers of doves or the changers of money. Questions. How did our Saviour shew His anger at these profane doings? He drove out, &c. What are you to learn from this? That it is wicked to profane the temple or church of God. And how may you be guilty of doing so? By letting our minds run on worldly objects. Is it not wickedly profaning the temple of God to be thinking of amusements and idle gossip, when you ought to be saying your prayers, and learning your duty? Yes. Let me hope you will now go to church with a determination to learn your duty, and to ask God's blessing, and then endeavour to deserve it. The Second Sunday in Advent. ST. LUKE XXI. 25, 26, 27. "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Teacher. This very awful and striking description, relates to the end of the world in which we are at present living. From the time of its first creation to the deluge or flood, is supposed to have been a period of two thousand years: from the deluge to the time of our Saviour, it is well known were two thousand more : and many learned men have thought it likely, that at the end of another two thousand years, this world will be destroyed by fire. Questions. What does the awful description you have been repeating relate to? To the end of the world. How many thousand years from the time of its first creation, to the deluge or flood? Two thousand. And how many from the deluge to the time of our Saviour? Two thousand. What have many learned men supposed, or thought likely to happen at the end of another two thousand years? That this world will be destroyed. How many thousand years will that be from the first creation? Six. How will this world be destroyed? By fire Teacher. The portion of Scripture you have now been learning, is taken from a conversation held between our Saviour and his disciples, upon the destruction of the beautiful temple at Jerusalem ; and also of the coming of the Son of man, (by which is meant, himself) to judge mankind, the dead as well as the living, before the final and entire destruction of the world Questions. Upon what subject did our Saviour and his disciples converse? Upon the destruction of the beautiful temple at Jerusalem. Who is to come afterwards to judge the world? The Son of man. Who do you understand is meant by the Son of man? Our Saviour. But, is he not also the Son of God? Yes. Who is he to judge? The living and the dead. Teacher. This is a prophecy in which we are all concerned; you, and I, and all we know, or have ever heard of, are to take our parts in the events of that great day. The destruction of Jerusalem happened in about forty years after our Saviour's crucifixion, before the people had quite passed away, who were alive when he delivered that prophecy; which fulfilled his saying, that, that generation would not be gone before all those things relating to Jerusalem should be accomplished. Questions. Yes. Is this prophecy relating to the day of judgment, one in which we are all concerned? Who are then to be judged? You and I and all |