S. "To sanctify to the purifying of the flesh." S." Purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God." T. St. Paul calls the Christian covenant a testament: what do we understand by this word? Heb. ix. 16, 17. S. The will or agreement left by a person who is dead. "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator; for a testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." T. How was the first testament ratified by death? Heb. ix. 18-20. S. By the blood of the sacrifices. "Neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves, and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you." T. How is the New Testament likewise sealed? S. "With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. i. 19. T. Could the first covenant suffice for man? S. No. "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect." Heb. x. 1. T. Was Christ's death a satisfaction for the sins that were under the first testament? S. Yes. It was 66 for the remission of sins that are past." Rom. iii. 25. The Gospel. St. John, viii. 46. JESUS Said, Which of you convinceth me of sin ? and if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil: Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say, that he is your God yet ye have not known him; but I know him and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast : at him but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. T. Was it possible to convince Jesus of sin ? S. "He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." 1 Pet. ii. 22; Is. liii. 9. T. How may we know God's people? S. He that is of God heareth God's words. "Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God." 1John,iii. 10. T. What was the contemptuous reply of the Jews? S. "Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" T. What do we learn of the Samaritans in the Scriptures? S. We read of their origin (2 Kings, xvii. 24); and that they had no dealings with the Jews, and were hated and despised by them (John, iv. 9; Luke, ix. 52, 53). T. How did our Saviour prove He had not a devil? S. He said, "I honour my Father;" this the wicked spirits would not have done. T. What did Christ seek on earth? S. Not His own glory, but His Father's will, and the salvation of men. T. What is the meaning of His words, "There is One that seeketh and judgeth?" S. That God, even the Father, sought His (Christ's) glory, and would severely judge those who dishonoured Him. T. What promise did He make to those who kept His saying? S. That they should never taste of death. T. What death did He mean? S. Eternal death. T. Could the Jews discern Christ's spiritual meaning? S. They would not; but received His words literally, as of temporal death. T. Did this offend them? S. Yes; because Abraham and the prophets had died. They asked Him, therefore, "whom makest thou thyself?" T. What did He reply? S. "If I honour myself, my honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me." T. When did our Saviour receive honour of His Father before men? S. When He was baptized: "Lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. iii. 16, 17. When He was transfigured: 66 Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.” Matt. xvii. 5. And when He prayed, "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” John, xii. 28. T. How could Abraham be said to have seen the day of Christ? S. Prophetically. "Not having received the pro mises, but having seen them afar off." Heb. xi. 13. have been before T. Our Saviour declared Himself to Abraham. Was He not likewise before all things? S. Yes. "He is before all things, and in him all things consist." Col. i. 17. T. Of what do the words "I am " remind us? S. God thus declared His great name unto Moses: "I AM THAT I AM: thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Ex. iii. 14. THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. The Collect. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. T. What is this Sunday also called? S. Palm-Sunday, from the branches of palms which the Jews cut down and strawed in the way, when our Lord made His entry into Jerusalem. Matt. xxi. 8. T. What do we plead with the Almighty? S. His tender love towards mankind. T. How is the exceeding tenderness of God's love described in Is. xlix. 15, and Ps. ciii. 13? S. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee;" and, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." T. What perfect instances of love do we now recall? S. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John, iv. 10. "Having made peace through the blood of his cross." Col. i. 20. T. How did Christ thereby humble Himself? |