T. Yes, more pure; then what is the affliction sent to do?

C. To purify them.

T. How does Christ sit?

C. As a refiner.

T. The afflictions which Jesus sends on his people do what? C. Purify them.

T. As what does he sit?

C. As a refiner.

T. Now we will write that down. (The Teacher wrote the words on the slate.) How does the refiner know when the silver is pure?

C. It reflects his image.

T. How are Christ's people, when purified, like the silver in this respect?

C. They reflect his image.

T. Yes, they become more and more like Jesus. Now you can understand how Jesus is like a refiner. Repeat together, "Jesus is the refiner of his people, and purifies their hearts from sin."(Extracted from the Quarterly Educational Magazine, a new and promising periodical.)

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Publications of the Religious Tract Society.

1. City Cousins. By the Author of "Annie Sherwood." Pp. 177. 2. A Garland of Flowers for the Young. Pp. 96.

3. Life of Martin Boos, a Roman Catholic Clergyman in Germany. (Monthly Series.) Pp. 192.

4. The Will Forgers; or, The Church of Rome. By the Rev. C. B. TAYLOR, M.A. Pp. 97.

5. The Goldsmith's Widow, and other Tales. Pp. 96. 6. The Anxious Inquirer. By JOHN ANGELL JAMES. 7. Great Truths in Simple Words, for Little Children.

Pp. 178.
Pp. 108.

The "City Cousins" is a reprint of an American work, intended to illustrate the contrast between a religious and a worldly life. The "Garland of Flowers" is a selection of poetry for young persons. Most of our readers have heard of Martin Boos: "dear Martin Boos," as M'Cheyne somewhere calls him. He was a bright and shining light, which all the mists of the Church of Rome could not extinguish. The history of his life, and the persecutions which he underwent for his testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus, is intensely in

teresting; and we are thankful that the Religious Tract Society have placed so instructive a volume within the reach of all readers. It only costs 6d. The "Will Forgers" is intended to shew the necessary connection between Tractarianism and Popery. No. 6 is a reprint of a very well-known and esteemed work.

1. The Sunday-school Teacher's Class Register and Diary for 1848. Sunday-school Union.

2. The Text Book; or Sanctuary Remembrancer for 1848. Partridge and Oakey.

Both useful works. No. 2 is intended to form a Sunday memorandum book of sermons preached during the year.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS.

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

JESUS TAKEN TO EGYPT.

MATT. ii. 13-23.

13. In a dream.-The wise men had been warned in the same way: this was one method which God frequently used of communicating his will to his people, before they had the whole Bible. (See Gen. xx. 6, 7. xxviii. 12. xxxi. 24. xxxvii. 5. Job xxxiii. 15, 17, &c.)

14. Departed into Egypt.-The offerings of the wise men would prove a very seasonable supply to them, both for the expenses of the journey, and for their maintenance in a foreign country.

15. By the prophet.-(Hosea xi. 1.) The words, without doubt, refer in the first place to the children of Israel, who were brought out of Egypt many years before; but, like many other prophecies, they had a further meaning; and, as we are here told, referred to our Lord himself.

16. According to the time.-See V. 7. This was to make sure of killing the unknown infant: an act of such atrocious cruelty was only in accordance with the other parts of his character. We are told that just before he died, he assembled all the chief men of the Jews, and ordered that they should be killed immediately he was

dead, in order that his death might be the cause of lamentation, rather than rejoicing, to his people.

17. Jeremy, i. e. Jeremiah.—(xxxi. 15.) Here again the words applied in their first sense to the Jews being carried captive to Babylon, as they were all previously assembled at Rama or Ramah, (Jer. xl. 1.) but St. Matthew speaks of them as thus receiving a second accomplishment. In either case Rachel is introduced, as she was buried between Rama and Bethlehem, (Gen. xxxv. 16-20.) and is represented as, even from her very grave, mourning over the calamities of her descendants.

22. Archelaus.-Herod left three sons behind him, among whom his kingdom was divided: Archelaus, who had Judea; Herod Antipas, or Herod the Tetrarch, who ruled over Galilee; and Philip, who ruled over a tract of country lying to the east of the river Jordan.

23. He shall be called a Nazarene.-There is no single prophecy, in exactly these words; but "Nazarene" was a term of contempt, (See John i. 46.) and several of the prophets spoke of the Messiah being despised. (Ps. lxix. 7—10. Is. liii. 1, 2.)

SUMMARY.

Joseph, by God's direction, takes the child into Egypt; in the meantime, Herod, being disappointed in his plan of finding out the child through the wise men, cruelly orders all the infants in Bethlehem to be put to death. On Herod's death, the angel appears again to Joseph, and tells him to return; he goes, however, not to Bethlehem, but to Nazareth.

LESSONS.

I. The cunning, the power, and the cruelty of man, can do nothing against the purposes of God. V. 13–15. (Is. xliii. 13. Dan. iii. vi.)

II. If under God's direction, (though not, as here, his miracu lous direction,) we shall be willing to go where he pleases, and stay as long as he bids us. V. 13. (Ps. xxxi. 3. Heb. xi. 8-10.)

III. The heart may become so hardened by sin as to lose all feeling for others. V. 16. (Ex. i. 22.)

IV. Earthly blessings may be to us the cause of deepest sorrow. V. 18. (Gen. xlii. 36. 2 Kings iv. 14-20, 27, 28.)

V. The course of the wicked must be ended by death. V. 19. (Ps. lxxiii. 17-20.)

VI. By whatever means what God has spoken shall surely be accomplished. V. 23. (Num. xxiii. 19. Matt. v. 18.)

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.

LUKE ii. 40-52.

40. Waxed strong in spirit.-While he grew, like other children, he was remarkable for the holy dispositions of his mind-which gradually shewed themselves, as his natural powers increased, and proved that in a remarkable degree the grace of God was upon him.

41. Went to Jerusalem.-All the males were to go up to Jerusalem at the three feasts; viz., of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, (See Ex. xxiii. 14-17. Deut. xvi. 16.) of these the Passover was reckoned the chief, and seems to have been observed even at times when, from the general state of irreligion, the others had fallen into neglect. The pious wives often accompanied their husbands on these occasions. (Compare 1 Sam. i. 3, 7, 21.)

42. Twelve years old.-The age at which children were first required to attend to the observances of the law-answering very nearly to our time of confirmation.

43. Fulfilled the days.-The seven days of unleavened bread. (Lev. xxiii. 5, 6.)

44. In the company.-A good many would at this time be travelling together in the same direction.

46. After three days.-Or, as we should say, on the third day." The first day was spent on their journey; the second, in returning to Jerusalem; and the third day they found him in the temple. (See 1 Kings xii. 5-12. Matt. xxvii. 63, 64.)

Doctors, or teachers of the law.-According to the common mode in which they taught their disciples, he was both making enquiries, and listening to their instruction; not (as it is sometimes wrongly said) disputing with them, nor sitting among them, but rather, with other disciples, at their feet. (Luke x. 39. Acts xxii. 3.) This would be "in the midst" of them, as they sat on benches of a semicircular form.

49. Wist ye not.-"Did ye not know ?"

My Father's business.-About those things which belong to the service of my Father-i. e. God-not his earthly father, Joseph.

50. Understood not.-The mystery of his being God as well as man was so great, that, notwithstanding all they had seen and heard, they could not yet fully receive it.

51. Was subject.-Obeyed them in all things.

52. In wisdom.-As man, he grew wiser as he grew older. Stature.-Height, tallness.

SUMMARY.

Jesus is taken by his parents to Jerusalem when twelve years old to attend the feast of Pentecost. When the feast is over, his parents return, and leave him behind without knowing it; he is not missed till the end of their first day's journey, when they go back, and find him in the temple seeking instruction from the doctors. On being mildly reproved, he intimates that he has a work to do, appointed him by One higher than his earthly father. He returns however with them to Nazareth, and continues to obey them as his parents.

LESSONS.

Let children learn what kind of a child Jesus was, and pray and try to be like him.

I. He shewed more and more that he had the grace of God in his heart. V. 40.

II. He went readily with his parents to the house of God; and paid attention, as soon as he was old enough, to every religious ordinance. V. 42.

III. He so loved the house of God as to stay there when others left. V. 43.

IV. He was anxious to obtain instruction from those who were able to teach him. V. 46.

V. He felt the service of God to be more important than even that of his earthly father. V. 49.

VI. He was dutiful and obedient to his parents. V. 51.

VII. He grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and so conducted himself as to please God and gain the approbation of all who knew him. V. 52. (Matt. xi. 29. John xiii. 15. Phil. ii. 5.)

SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.

PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
MATT. iii. 1-12.

(Compare Mark i. 1-8. Luke iii. 1—8.)

1. In those days.-While Jesus was still living at Nazareththough many years after he first settled there; the time is more particularly fixed by St. Luke.

The Baptist, or the baptizer-so called from his admitting the Jews into the number of his disciples by the rite of baptism.

2. The kingdom of heaven.-The term is generally used to express the Gospel dispensation; when our Lord appeared upon earth he became, not only the Mediator, but the King of his people-and this his kingdom shall continue, and be enlarged, till all enemies