had given the money to be called to him, that he might know how much every one had gained by trading.

What did the first say?

"Thy pound hath gained ten pounds."
What did the second say?

"Thy pound hath gained five pounds." What did the nobleman say to them? He praised them, and said, that as they had been faithful in a very little, they should be entrusted with more.

What did he say, who had only received one pound?

That as his lord was an austere man, he had wrapped his pound up in a napkin, instead of trading with it.

What did his lord say to this?

He said he was a wicked, slothful servant, and that his pound should be given to one who would make a better use of it.

Who is meant by the nobleman ?
The Lord Jesus Christ.

Who are meant by the servants?
Christians.

What is meant by the pounds? Those gifts which God has bestowed on us, to use in His service.

What should the parable of the pounds lead us to consider?

What abilities we have, and how to employ them.

When must we give an account of these?

When our Lord comes again to judge the world.

Who is the kind master that will reward us for doing our duty?

God.

What must we strive to do?

To love God, and to be obedient to His word.

Our Saviour is gone into heaven, but He will return again at the end of the world, when He will judge us according to what we have done. This should lead us to

employ our abilities for the honour of God and the good of others. Our Lord's reproof to the slothful servant, shows that it is not enough to lead what may be called a harmless life, but we must be usefully employed, and try to do good, which all are able to do in some way or other. Remember, you all have gifts which you must use to God's service health, time, money, abilities, for which you will have to give an account. To some God has given little, and to others much, but to all something; and for these things He will bring you to judgment, for all your talents are given you to use in God's service, and for His glory.

G

LESSON FOURTEENTH.

LUKE XX. 19-26, and MATT. XXII. 35-40.

AND the chief priests, and Phar-isees watch-ed him, and sent forth spies which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words, that so they might de-liv-er Him to the pow-er and au-thor-i-ty of the gov-er-nor. And they ask-ed Him, say-ing, "Mas-ter, we know that thou say-est and teach-est right-ly, nei-ther ac-cept-est thou the person of an-y, but teach-est the way of God tru-ly, Is it law-ful for us to give trib-ute un-to Ce-sar, or no?"

He per-ceiv-ed their craft-i