these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the just one. And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments. He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But he that keepeth his word, truly in him the love of God is perfected, and by this we know that we are in him. He that saith that he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

From Ephesians ii.

REMEMBER that ye in time past being Gentiles in the flesh,* (who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hands)+ that ye were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the community of Israel, and strangers from the covenants,‡ having no hope of the promise, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye who formerly were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the cause of the enmity, the law of commandments consisting in ordinances, that he might make the two into one new man making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, destroying

* Gentiles in the flesh.-Not Jews by natural descent. + Called uncircumcision, &c.-Stigmatized as not members of the Church of God, by those who had been admitted members of it by the initiatory rite of circumcision.

Covenants or Testaments.

the enmity by means of it.* And when he came he proclaimed the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near; for by him we both have access by one spirit to the Father.

Now, therefore, ye are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the family of God: built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone :‡ in whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into a holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are built together into a habitation of God through the Spirit.

From Romans iii.

WHAT then, do we excel [the Gentiles?] No, in no wise, for we have before convicted both Jews and Greeks,§ that they are all under sin. As it is written, "There is not a just man, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none

* The general sense of this sentence is, that the Jews and Gentiles being separated in consequence of the peculiar ordinances of the Jewish worship, which created enmity between them, raising up as it were a wall of separation that prevented them from holding any communion in regard to religion, with one another, Jesus Christ, by his death, superseded the Jewish rites, thus took away the cause of the enmity, and laid the foundation, for Jews and Gentiles being united in one church, and in mutual affection. +We both, i. e. both Jews and Gentiles.

Paul compares the Jews and Gentiles, united together in the faith of Christ, to one holy temple, of which both were constituent parts, and both built on the same foundation.

§ Greeks, used as an appellation for all Gentiles.

There is no man just or righteous by virtue either of the law of nature, or the ceremonial law, but only by faith and grace.

that seeketh after God, all have declined from the way, they are together become worthless, there is none that doeth good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes."*

Now we know that whatsoever the law says, it says to those who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and that all the world may lie under the sentence of God. Because, by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now, without the law, the justice of God is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the justice of God by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe in him, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned, and are wanting of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to the manifestation of his justice for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God:-for the manifestation of his justice in this time, that he may be just, and the justifier of him who hath faith in Jesus.

Where then is boasting? It is shut out. By

*These are quotations from the Old Testament, viz. Psalms xiv. v. cxl. x. and xxxvi. which in the Douay are numbered Ps. xiii. v. cxxxix, ix. and xxxv. They are intended to show what is the general tendency of human nature without the grace of God to renew it. It produces sin as naturally as a poisonous tree produces poisonous fruit.

what law? Of works? No! but by the law of faith? For we assert a man to be justified by faith without the works of the law. Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not of the Gentiles also? Since it is one God who justifies the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision* through faith. Do we then destroy the law by faith? By no means! Yea, we establish the law.

WORDS, &c. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON XIX.

WHAT was the message which we have heard from the beginning?

If we walk in the light, with whom have we fellowship? What has the blood of Christ done for us?

If we say we have no sin, what is said of us?

What more if we confess our sins, what is God ready to do for us?

Why did John write these things?

If we sin what have we?

Who is our advocate? and what is he more?

How are we to know that we have known him?

If we say we know God and keep not his commandments what are we?

If we say that we abide in him, what ought we to do?

In what state were the Ephesians in time past?

But what had happened to those of them to whom Paul wrote ?

* Circumcision-uncircumcision, i. e. Jews and Gentiles.

What kept them separate?

What was done with that law consisting in ordinances?
What had the Ephesians then become?

What does Paul compare them to?

Did the Jews excel the Gentiles in the sight of God?

In what state were both ?

To whom does the law speak?

Can we be justified by the law before God?
Why not?

How must we be justified?

Whom has God set forth as a propitiation?
Why does he so justify men?

What becomes of boasting?

By what law?

Is God the God of the Jews only?
How does God justify the circumcision?
And how the uncircumcision?

Do we destroy the law by faith?
What then?

LESSON XX.

The ten lepers healed-the Pharisees ask when the kingdom of God should come-Christ's answer-the unjust judge-the Pharisee and the Publican-little children brought to Christthe rich ruler's question-Jesus foretells his sufferings, death, and resurrection-he heals a blind man near Jericho-Zaccheus the pub

lican.

FROM LUKE XVII. XVIII. AND XIX.

AND it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were