Christ the Head, we the members-Christ the only-begotten Son, we sons-how?

Several. By adoption.

Miss W. How does St. Paul speak of this to the Ephesians?

Agnes. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.' (Ephesians, iv. 4-6.)

Miss W. And what does St. John say about Christ coming to His own?

Mary. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born. . . . of God.' (St. John, i. 11-13.)

Miss W. And of whom may it be said that they are born of God?' Look at St. John iii. 5, and then you can tell me.

Mary. Those who are born of water and of the Spirit.'

Miss W. Yes; those who are baptized into Christ, and receive of His Spirit; and this leads us to see that, as members of Christ, and children of God, we receive a gift-what is it?

Anna. The Holy Spirit.

Miss W. Look at Galatians iv. 4-6.

Jane. God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.'

Miss W. Most wonderful is it to see God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, (that Holy Name into which we were baptized), thus working for us and in us. We have not 're

ceived the Spirit of bondage again to fear;' but, in Holy Baptism, what did we receive?

Ruth. The Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Rom. viii. 15, 16.)

Miss W. And now can you tell me whether this our adoption as children is mentioned in the Baptismal Service? Bessie, look at the end of the prayer before the child is named-the prayer of consecration.

She found the place, and read, 'Sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin, and grant that this child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of Thy grace, and ever remain in the num ber of Thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

Miss W. And after the child is baptized, is anything said about it?

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Hester. We yield Thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased Thee to regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for Thine own child by adoption, and to incorporate him into Thy holy Church.'

Miss W. And before that, what prayer do we say for the first time in the Baptismal Service?

Several. The Lord's Prayer.

Miss W. Yes, as soon as ever the child is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we kneel down and say with it, Our Father, for the little one has indeed become the child of God, and has a right with us to say, 'Our Father.' And now, girls, let us see how this should influence our daily life. Each one of us has once been called into fellowship in Christ, and made in Him the child of God. Who is the head of an earthly family?

Harriet. The father.

Miss W. How are his children bound to behave to him?

that child who neglects these duties?

'That he is very naughty,' said Agnes.

Miss W. Why can a father claim all this? Why should we obey our father?

'Because he is our father,' said Rose.

Miss W. Yes, Rose, he is our father: we owe our being to him. And what does he do for us? 'He provides for us,' said Bessie.

Miss W. Yes: food, and clothing, and a house to dwell in, he provides from infancy, and claims obedience in return. And why do we love him, and try to please him?

'Because he loves us,' said Margaret, 'and has done so much for us.'

Miss W. Just so; from our earliest days, before we were capable of love ourselves, we were loved of our father; and strange and unnatural would it be if we did not return that love. And why do we honour a father?

'Because he is above us,' said Rose.

Miss W. And in many cases he guides, rules, and trains us, and goes himself before us in the right way. And when the father sets a good and holy example, what are the children expected to do?

All. Follow his example.

Miss W. Now all this teaches each of you your duties towards God, your Father. What does St. Paul exhort us to do as God's children?

Mary. Be ye.... dren.' (Eph. v. 1.)

followers of God as dear chil

Miss W. And does not Christ Himself teach us the same lesson in His Sermon on the Mount? Jane. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' (St. Matt. v. 48.)

Miss W. And what particular duties does He press upon us that we may be God's children?

Bessie. Love your enemies, .bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for thein which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven? (Ver. 44, 45.)

Miss W. As children of God, then, we must seek to follow, and be made like unto our Father. What does St. John say of this in his Epistle?

Agnes. 'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. (1 St. John, iii. 2, 3.)

Miss W. We must strive to be made like our Father by purifying ourselves now day by day, striving to obey and to love, to please and honour Him. Shall we be perfect as He is perfect on earth? 'No, Ma'am; for we sin every day,' said Agnes. Miss W. And how alone can we be purified from daily defilement?

Ruth. By the blood of Christ, which cleanseth us from all sin.' (1 St. John, i. 7.)

Miss W. But though we continually fail in our endeavours to be perfect as our Father is perfect, we must strive after it, set it before us as our aim: then, one day, if not now, we shall be like Him— when will that be?

Rose. When He shall appear.

Miss W. Yes; if we strive to be followers of God now, we shall be made like Him hereafter. And how can we follow Him?

Anna. By obeying His commands.

Miss W. And if our earthly father may claim obedience, may not our heavenly Father, because He is our Father? He has made us His children by adoption and what has He done for us ever since our birth?

Several. Taken care of us; given us every thing we enjoy.

Miss W. Yes; He provides for us every good, and claims obedience in return. And why should we love Him?

'Because He has done so much for us,' said Sarah. 'Because He loves us,' said Mary. We love Him because He first loved us.' (1 St. John, iv. 19.)

Miss W. If it is unnatural, then, that we should not love our earthly father, when he has loved us and provided for us from childhood, is it not far more unnatural and strange that we should not love our Heavenly Father, who has made us, and deigns to call us children; who has done so much more for us than our earthly parents, and loved us with so much greater a love? Yet if we loved Him, should we not try to please Him?

All. Yes, Ma'am.

Miss W. And do we in every action think what He would have us do; try to please Him, not ourselves?

'We forget sometimes,' said little Agnes.

Miss W. We forget sometimes, and, what is worse, when we do remember we sometimes do not care to please Him. What does St. Peter say should be the ornament of a woman?

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Margaret. A meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price? (1 St. Peter, iii.

4.)

Miss W. Yet how often do you forget to try and please your Heavenly Father by showing this spirit! What loud angry words did I hear from some of you as I came up from church on Friday night! The