How did people use to feel, when they smote upon their breasts? Lu. 23: 48. What made the publican smite upon his breast? ▼ 13, 1. c. What did the publican say? How can God be merciful to sinners? Ac. 5: 31. Will he be merciful to those that try to justify them selves? Pr. 28: 13, f. c. Ro. 10: 3. What must we do, in order to find mercy before God! Pr. 28: 13, 1. c. Ps. 32: 5. Will any one be willing to confess his sins, before he is convinced of them? How may we become convinced of our sins? Ro. 3: 20, 1. c. 1 Jn. 3: 4. How did Paul feel, before he compared his heart and life with God's holy law? Ro. 7: 9, f. c. How did he feel afterwards? Ro. 7: 9, 1. c. How did David feel, when he saw his sins? Ps. 38: 4. Did he try to justify himself? Ps. 51: 4, f. c. Did he complain of God? Ps. 51: 4, 1. c. Who can show us our sins? Jn. 16: 7, 8. What is the great sin, of which the Holy Spirit convinces sinners? Jn. 16: 9. Is there any other sin so great as refusing to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? He. 2: 2, 3. Can there be any hope for those who will not believe in Jesus Christ? He. 10: 26-29. LESSON XV. Repentance. Lu. xv. 11-24. 11 And he said, A certain man | And he divided unto them his livhad two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. ing. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty fainine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he wou fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave anto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Hea ven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hithe the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us cat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. WHEN the younger son had received his portion from his father, where did he go? v. 13. What have we done, like this, towards our Heavenly Father? Is. 53: 6. What did he do with what his father gave him? What happened to him, after he had spent all? How is the condition of sinners like his? Re. 3: 17, l. c: What did he do, when he began to be in want? v. 15. What did the citizen send him to do? What kind of business is feeding swine? What do you think of those who spend all their time in feeding their bodies, while their souls are starving? What would he have been glad to do, to satisfy his hunger? v. 16. Do the things of this world satisfy the longings of the immortal mind? Ire they any better for our souls than husks would be for our bodies? Would you not think a man beside hiraself to do as thi young man did? Are not sinners beside themselves, when they go astray from their kind Heavenly Father? When alone in the field, feeding swine, and thinking of his good father, whom he had treated so unkindly, how do you suppose he felt? vs. 17—19. Do you not suppose he shed many a bitter tear by him self, alone? When you think of your sins against your kind Heavenly Father, how ought you to feel? Mar. 14: 72. Lu. 22: 61, 62. What resolution did the young man make, while thinking of his miserable condition, and of the abundance of his father's house? vs. 18, 19. What resolution ought you to make, when you think of your sin and misery, and the grace of God in Christ? La. 3: 40, 41. Ho. 14: 2. Did the young man do as he had resolved? v. 20. Will being sorry for our sins do us any good, if we de not forsake them and return to God? 2 Co. 7: 10. Who repented, without turning from his sins? Mat. 27 3, 4. What did his repentance lead him to do? Mat. 27: 5. When we return to our Heavenly Father, how must we feel? v. 19, f. c. What must we confess to him? vs. 18, 19. What did the young man's father do, when he saw him coming? v. 20. How will the Lord treat sinners when they feel sorry for their sins, forsake them, and return unto him? Is. 55: 7. What did the father do, when his son came back to him? vs. 22, 23. What do the angels in heaven do, when sinners repent and turn to God? v. 10. In whose name must we come to God, when we repent and turn to him? Ac. 2: 38. Will any poor sinner be turned away, who comes to God in the name of Christ? Jn. 6: 37. LESSON XVI. Ask, and it shall be given. MAT. VII. 7-11. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; week, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him 7 WHAT promise does Christ make to those that ask? What to those that seek? What to those that knock? Who receiveth? Who findeth? To whom shall it be opened? Of whom must you ask? Ja. 1: 5, f. c. What is the best thing we can ask of God? Lu. 11: 13. Will God be angry with you, if you ask him for the things you need? Ja. 1: 5. What must you believe, when you come to God? He. 11: 6, l. c. If you do not believe that he is willing to hear and answer prayer, will he give you what you ask for? Ja. 1: 6, 7. If you ask God for any thing chiefly for the purpose of gratifying yourself, will he give it to you? Ja. 4: 3. What ought to be our main object, when we ask God to give us good things? 1 Co. 10: 31. Do you deserve any good thing from God? Lu. 17: 10. How must you feel, when you come before God, to ask any thing of him? Ge. 32: 10, f. c. If you are so unworthy, can you come before him in your own name? In whose name must you come? Jn. 14: 13, 14. What reason have we to expect Jesus will be interested in us, when we come humbly before God, in his name 1 He. 4: 15. How does God feel for those who come to him in fear and love? Ps. 103: 13, 14. How does he allow us to come to him, in the name of Jesus? He. 4: 16. If you were to come hungry and starving to your mo ther, and ask for a piece of bread, would she mock you by giving you a stone? If you ask for a fish, would your father give you a ser pent? Is God as willing to give you his grace, as your parents are to give you good gifts? v. 11. Is he not more willing to give you his Holy Spirit, than your parents are to give you good gifts? Lu. 11: 13. If a child were to ask his mother for a piece of bread, when she knew he was not hungry, would she give it to him? Will God give you his grace, when you do not feel your need of it? When you want any thing of your parents, do you know how to ask for it? Do you want any one to teach you a form of words, to say to them? If God is more willing than your parents to give you good things, ought you to be less free in asking him for favors than you are in asking your parents for them ? As he knows what you desire, is it any more difficult for you to make known your wants to him than to your parents? If he pities you, as a father pities his children, will he be less willing to make allowance for your want of ability? If you earnestly desire any thing of God, will you be troubled to find words to ask him for it? If God is so willing to hear our prayers, what shall we think of those who never pray to him? What would you think of a child, who should go about |