and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see; the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft c.othing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

II. RESPONSES.

S. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counse} of the ungodly,

T. Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

C. Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful;

S. But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

T. And in his law doth he meditate day and night. S. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

C. That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

T. His leaf also shall not wither;

All. And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
S. But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

III. PRAYER.

O, how great is thy love, Father in heaven, that thou shouldst regard us as objects of eternal favor! We are weak, but thou art mighty. O, let the mightiness of thy love be felt, that we may be strong in the love of man, and do thy will in our school, in our homes, and in our daily walk. We have sinned against thee-thee, our Father and our unfailing Benefactor. O, forgive our transgressions, and remember our iniquities no more! Make this hour the beginning of a new life-whẹn our hearts more warmly sought thy service, and strove to

conquer all evil. To this end, O Father, may thy truth penetrate our souls, may it warm and vivify all our pow ers, and may we be examples of humility, sincerity, and love. Bless our school - bless the interests of religion everywhere. May the good in all denominations of Christians be esteemed by us, and may we walk in charity with all mankind, as heirs of the same inheritance, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV. HYMN. S. M.-Freedom from Narrowness of Soul.
Assist us, Lord, to act, to be,

What nature and thy laws decree;
Worthy that intellectual flame,
Which from thy breathing Spirit came.
May our expanded souls disclaim
The narrow view, the selfish aim,
But with a Christian zeal embrace
Whate'er is friendly to our race.
O Father, grace and virtue grant;
No more we wish, no more we want;
To know, to serve thee, and to love,
Is peace below- is bliss above.

[C. M.]

FIFTEENTH SERVICE.

Our erring minds, O God, illume
With truth's celestial rays;
Inspire our hearts with sacred love,
And tune our lips to praise.

I. SCRIPTURE READING. Matt. xxv. 1-12.

Forethought and Imprudence.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh! go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and

you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

II. RESPONSES.

S. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?
T. Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
S. He that walketh uprightly,

C. And worketh righteousness,

S. And speaketh the truth in his heart;
C. He that backbiteth not with his tongue,

T. Nor doeth evil to his neighbor;

S. Nor taketh up a.reproach against his neighbor;
T. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned,
All. But he honoreth them that fear the Lord.

-

III. PRAYER.

Father of mercies! thou hast given us another day, and we know not what it may bring forth. O, may we guard the first springs of thought, and strive to make this day holy to our hearts. It is the day of days. The Saviour burst the bars of the grave, and made this day glorious to his disciples. O, let us feel that for us he rose that he rose to teach us of immortality and bliss, to live for something better than transient things, that we were made for heaven, and should seek celestial good. O, may our hearts be fixed on the objects proper for this day, and may we check our wandering thoughts, our hasty speech, our unholy passions, and so pass this day that the memory of its hours may be sweet in the future. Give us grace to carry from this Sabbath school some wise instruction, some holy thoughts, that shall enable us to live more worthily to thy praise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV. HYMN. C. M.- Prayer for Grace.
O Lord, another week is flown,
And here a youthful band

Are met once more before thy throne,
To bless thy fostering hand.

O, let thy grace perform its part,
And bid our passions cease;
And shed abroad in every heart
Thine everlasting peace.

Thus chastened, cleansed, entirely thine,
A flock by Jesus led,

The Sun of Holiness shall shine

In glory on our head.

[L. M.]

SIXTEENTH SERVICE.
Lord, we have wandered from thy way,
Like foolish sheep, have gone astray;
Our erring feet do thou restore,
And keep us that we stray no more.

1. SCRIPTURE READING. 1 Kings x. 1-9.
Queen of Sheba's Visit to Solomon.

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bear spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions; there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not.

And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his min isters, and their apparel, and his cup-bearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts, and of thy wisdom. Howbeit, I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and behold, the half was not told 'me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

II. RESPONSES.

S. Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness,
T. And princes shall rule in judgment.

S And a man shall be an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest;

C. As rivers of water in a dry place;

All. As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. S. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim; T. And the ears of them that hear shall hearken. S. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge,

C. And the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly,

T. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; All. And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.

III. PRAYER.

God of all hope! we praise thee for the light of thy Word, that beamed on the paths of prophets and kings. We rejoice that a greater than Solomon has come to our earth, and that we need take no long journey to visit his throne. We adore thee for the life and character of Jesus, for his labors of love, his miracles of mercy, his death and resurrection. Herein are wonders greater than eyes ever saw or hearts dreamed of before; and may we delight to meditate thereon. May we deeply feel that for us he lived, and died, and rose again—that the humblest child has an interest in hi., mission, and will be regarded of him. O, may our lives show our thanks, and we learn in our Sabbath school to reverently speak his name, to love his religion, to practise its commands, and by a good life give testimony to its power. Aid us, O God, and thine be the praise, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

IV. HYMN. C. M. Time spent to God's Praise.

Once more, my soul, the sacred day
Salutes thy wakeful eyes;

Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay
To God, who rules the skies.

This day that favoring hand be nigh,
So oft vouchsafed before;