cast the man" into prison, till he should pay the debt!" When the king heard this he was angry, and caused the man to be seized and punished till he should pay all that was owing. Jesus told this parable to teach what God would do to those who refuse to forgive such as offend them.

REVISION.-What question did Peter ask of the Lord? Why was it right to ask? What answer did Jesus make? Why should we forgive offences? What does the parable tell about? Why was the king angry with his servant? What did he do with him? What does the parable teach us?

May 12.-"Despised and Rejected of Men."

JOHN vii. 5: "For neither did His brethren believe in Him."

1. Jesus was rejected by the Jews.When He began to teach and to preach, the people did not know who He was, nor whence He had come. How were they to know this? By what He said, and by what He did. His words were so wise, so full of truth, and so full of beauty too, that all might have known whence He came. It was said of Him, that He spake as "never man spake.' Yet while all wondered at what He said, only few believed on Him. But His works were more wonderful still. Who ever cured sickness as He did? Who ever showed such power over the earth and sea, and all things in it, over evil spirits, and even death itself? Who ever showed such tender pity for those in sorrow? such care for the poor? such love for all? Yet the Jews hated Him, and sought to slay Him! Some, because He showed the sin of their ways; some, because they thought He should have worshipped God and kept the Sabbath in their way.

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2. His own received Him not.-Many who have been thought ill of by strangers, have been much loved by those who knew them at home. this so with the Lord Jesus? No, "For neither did His brethren believe in Him." How strange this was! They were with Him day by day, and must have known much of His good, and gentle, and wise ways. Yet they

believed Him not. When Jesus once kept away from Jerusalem, because the Jews sought to kill Him, His brethren spoke unkindly to Him; saying that

He ought to go up, and show Himself. But Jesus knew best what it was right and good to do. Was He afraid of these Jews? No. But His time was not yet fully come. Yet how sad to think that men would not receive their Saviour! sadder still that even His brethren rejected Him! Do you believe in Jesus? are you ready to receive Him, and to trust in Him as your Saviour? If not, there is none other, under heaven, who can help and save you.

REVISION.-Why did the Jews hate Jesus? How did they show their hatred? What did Jesus do to show men Who He was and whence He came? What is said about His brethren? Why was their folly and sin greater than others? What must happen to us if we reject Jesus?

May 19.-About Mistakes in

Judging.

JOHN vii. 24: "Judge not according to the appearance."

1. The cure of the feeble man.—On a certain Sabbath-day, the Lord Jesus saw a poor man lying weak and ill in a place were he hoped to get cured. He was so feeble that he could not walk, nor even rise up and stand upon his feet. He had been like that a long, long time, "thirty and eight years.' When Jesus saw him He was filled with pity at his sad and helpless state. He said to the man, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The poor man said it was the very thing he had been waiting and hoping for so long, but that he had no one to help him. He little thought Who He was that stood before him, or how great His power and kindness were. Jesus said to him, "Rise up, and walk!" But how could he do this? He had tried to do so many times, but was not able. Yet now he tried again, and in a moment "his feet and ankle-bones received strength," and he arose and walked! He was at once made whole.

2. How men judge.-What Jesus had done for this man was so wonderful in its power, and so good and kind, that we might suppose all who heard of it would be glad and thankful. But it was not so. Some of the Jews who pretended to keep God's laws with more care than others, were filled with anger, and even sought to slay Jesus, "because He had done these things on the

Sabbath-day." They said He had broken the Sabbath. They said He had done wrong by doing work of any kind on that day. They cared not and thought not what kind of work it was, or why it was done. Jesus said to them,

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Judge not according to the appearance. Yet this is too often the only thing men care for. God looketh to the heart. He sees and knows why things are done, what the thoughts and wishes are. We cannot always tell this, but we should try to judge or think of what is done or said, not only as it appears to us, but as it would be thought of by Him who knoweth the heart. These Jews did great wrong to Jesus, and great evil to themselves, through judging by the appearance only. Great evil is now often done in the same way. Let us not be too ready to praise, still less to blame, what appears to be right or wrong; but pray and strive that we may learn to "judge righteous judgment."

REVISION.-What miracle does our Lesson tell us of? How long had the man been afflicted? What did Jesus say to him? What did the man say? How was he cured? What fault did the Jews find with Jesus? Why was this? What is the right way of judging? How does God judge?

May 26.-Striving against God. EXODUS ix. 4: "There shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel."

1. Fighting against God.-When Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of Egypt, he refused to do it. Moses showed him in many ways the great power of God Who had sent him. Still he would not let them go. So God sent many great plagues to punish him for his sin. He turned all the water of the great river Nile into blood, so that they had nothing to drink. We cannot tell how fearful a plague this was in that hot land, yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he

would not yield. Then a plague of frogs was sent, so many that the houses were filled with them. This greatly frightened Pharaoh, and he said to Moses that if God would take that plague away he would let the people go. God did take away the plague, and then Pharaoh again refused to do as God bade him. Then God turned the dust of the land into lice, and afterwards sent swarms of flies, which greatly troubled the people of Egypt. Still Pharaoh would not yield. How great was his folly and his sin. He was fighting against God! He promised to obey, but when God in mercy took away the swarms of flies, again he refused. What could be the end of

such a conflict?

2. The plague upon the cattle.-The Lord again sent Moses with a message to Pharaoh. He told him that if he still refused to obey, "the hand of the Lord" would be "upon the cattle, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep.' Here was a terrible punishment. But how would the Israelites get on in this plague; they lived amongst the Egyptians, and would they not suffer in the same way? No, for the Lord said, "There shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel." God cares for His people, and can keep them safe in the midst of danger. But the plague came upon the Egyptians, and " on the morrow, all the cattle of Egypt died." "And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead." Yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he refused to let the people go! How great is the power of sin! How much greater is the power of God!

REVISION.-What message had Moses to take to Pharaoh? Why were plagues sent upon Egypt? What plagues were they? What did this show Pharaoh? What was the plague upon the cattle? Whose cattle were spared? Why was this? What effect had it upon Pharaoh?

MARY ANNE ANDERSON. MARY ANNE ANDERSON was born in Hull, September 27th, 1848. She was favoured with a godly parentage, and from

infancy was the child of many prayers. When very young her parents removed to Manchester, and connected themselves with the Cheetham-Hill Society. At the age of four she became a scholar in the

Cheetham-Hill Sunday-school, and there she received her first religious impressions. Many days elapsed before the "bread" cast "upon the waters" was found, but in "due time" the reaping came. Sabbath

school instruction and home training were crowned with success, and resulted in her consecration to God in life's early morning. Previously to this happy event, her parents returned to Hull, and in the year 1861, she was appointed as the teacher of a class in the Great Thornton-street Sundayschool. At that time she frequently felt her need of Christ, and realized the great disadvantage under which she laboured as an unconverted teacher. Her religious convictions deepened as time advanced. In the year 1864 she became a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society; and on August the 21st, in the same year, she found peace with God. Her conversion was clear and genuine; and the light which then streamed into her soul shone "more and more unto the perfect day." From the age of nineteen she kept a diary, in which she carefully noted events in her religious history; some extracts from which will doubtless be read with profit.

Oct. 11th, 1867.-It is Hull fair-time, but I feel it has no charms for me: the things I once loved, now I hate. I want to run the race that is set before me; and I feel I cannot do this if I think of the allurements of the world. I feel an unworthy creature, but He remembers that I am but dust. "O Lord! make me fully Thine," is the prayer of my heart.

Nov. 6th.-If I were to tell all the happiness I enjoy, I should have enough to fill a book a great deal larger than this. I often enjoy sweet communion with my Heavenly Father, while reading His Word, and in His house.

Nov. 10th.-I feel I am hasty-tempered, and too lightsome, and very much given to wandering thoughts in God's house. I want to watch daily against these my faults, until I overcome them. O Lord, help me, for Christ's sake! Amen.

Nov. 15th.-I still feel it good to wait upon the Lord. I have been detained from the means of grace, but I have had

the grace of the means at home. God is not confined to time or place.

Nov. 28th.-We have had our bazaar, and I have had a little stall. I have been very happy in doing a little good, and in helping on the Mission work.

Dec. 25th.-I can say that I am more like God this year, than I was last. I have tried to overcome my temper more; and my prayer is, that God would make me "perfect," even as He is perfect. I feel that I am growing in grace, but this is not of myself: it is God that worketh in me.

Jan. 25th, 1868. I was very much blessed while teaching my class to-day. I never forget them. I always spend some portion of the day in prayer for them. I hope the Lord will go on striving with those dear lambs. I want to see them all His. I do intend to be more earnest than ever.

March 18th.-I do feel very thankful for Class-meetings. They are helps by the way. My whole desire is to love God supremely. I think I do. If I do not, I would say with my whole heart,—

"Is there a thing beneath the sun

That strives with Thee my heart to share?

Ah, tear it thence, and reign alone,

The Lord of every motion there!"

July 31st.-I feel very happy in trying to do a little good to others. I know that it is God Who puts it into my heart to do so, and to Him I ascribe all the praise.

March 14th, 1869.-The doctor sounded me a few days ago, and said my lungs were very weak, and touched with disease. I have not been to class for five weeks. I should like to go to the "means;" but if God sees good to let me suffer, I must be submissive to His will. May He give me strength!

July 30th. Went to the Conference Lovefeast. I never saw Great Thorntonstreet Chapel so full, and was never at such a delightful Lovefeast. It was full of holy fire. I felt so full of love to my Heavenly Father, for permitting me to be present at such a blessed meeting. I felt heaven very near. I do hope and pray

that this Conference may be a blessing to all our souls.

Sept. 5th.-I felt so happy when I retired to rest. I could say with all my heart,

"Not a cloud doth arise to darken the skies, Or to hide for one moment my Lord from my eyes."

Sept. 27th.-My birthday. I thank God that He has spared me to see another year. I have now reached my twenty-first birthday. I do think if I know anything of myself, that I have grown in grace during the past year. I have tried to overcome my temper. The earnest desire of my heart is to keep close to my Saviour's bleeding side,

""Tis all my hope and all my plea,
For me the Saviour died."

Jan. 1, 1871.-I went to the CovenantService, and enjoyed it very much, the more so because I have been detained by sickness from the means of grace. I have been an unworthy creature in the past, with many imperfections and shortcomings, but I hope, by God strengthening me, I shall be more watchful in the future. I want to be more like Him, and to let my light shine brighter. May God help me!

These extracts are strikingly illustrative of growth in grace, delight in God's work, anxiety for the salvation of souls, distaste for worldly amusements, jealous care over the heart, and appreciation of the means of grace, patient resignation to the Divine will, and growing preparedness for the

"inheritance of the saints in light." Long intervals sometimes occur between the entries, during which time she was battling with the disease which ultimately terminated her earthly course. She was confined to her room for seventeen weeks previous to her death. No murmur escaped her lips. Her spirit held sweet communion with God. Peace "flowed like a river." The prospect of eternal life was unclouded. Bright testimonies to God's faithfulness cheered the hearts of those who watched with deep solicitude her increasing debility. At evening time it was 66 light." On the morning of October 7th, 1871, her spirit went to God.

Mary Anne Anderson only lived twentythree years on earth, but she did not live in vain. From the time of her conversion to God, she could say with the great apostle, "For me to live is Christ." She thoroughly enjoyed religion; and though possessing a gravity beyond her years, yet it was blended with a bright cheerfulness which made her presence like a sunbeam. She loved Christ intensely, and was successful in leading others to His feet. Several young people owe their conversion to her instrumentality, and will be jewels in her crown, in the day of the Lord's appearing. She "being dead, yet speaketh." Her brief but beautiful and useful life, stands out in bold relief as a "monument of grace' "to the praise of His glory. The same grace is free for all. May multitudes be led to follow her, as she followed Christ! G. S. W.

Catechumen Classes.
To the Editor.

DEAR SIR,-WILL you kindly allow a few remarks in reply to a Letter on this subject in your February Number? It was the opinion of the late Rev. Samuel Jackson, the originator of our catechumen classes, that in them our young people should be carefully instructed, first of all, in the history of the Incarnate God, (as was Theophilus, Luke i. 1-4,) and that " serious and business-like attempt" should be made to lodge this, in a connected form,

a