Vol. II. No. 40. LESSONS TO BE RECITED, (Without explanation.) 1. THE CHURCH CATECHISM. From "What dost thou chiefly learn" to "please God to call me." (Younger Scholars are expected only to read this to the Teacher.) S. MATT. XXVIII. 18.-Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. S. LUKE XXII. 19.-And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. 20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you. 4. THE HYMN.-7s. SON of God, Incarnate Word, Faith, O LORD, Thee present sees There the heart, the virtue feels, CATECHETICAL LESSON. What are baptism and the Lord's supper called? Sacraments. After His How did He declare His authority to ordain it? By saying, power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." "All Who, then, ordained this sacrament? Christ as the King of glory. What did He then charge His apostles to teach all nations to observe? "All things whatsoever He had commanded them." What was herein included? The sacrament of the Lord's supper. When did our Lord first ordain this sacrament? On the night before He suffered. How are these sacraments further described? As being "generally necessary to salvation." What is meant by "generally necessary?" Necessary for all, as distinguished from what is not necessary for all. What holy ordinance is not necessary to be received by all men? Ordination, as a clergyman, by laying on of hands. Is the Lord's supper less necessary than holy baptism? No. "Do this Why not? Because it sustains the spiritual life given in baptism. What special reason did our Lord give for its observance? in remembrance of Me," or " for My memorial." 2 KINGS XIX. 1-19. "I will defend this city for Mine own sake.” The invasion of Sennacherib. Who was Hezekiah? He was one of the best of the kings of Judah. What did he destroy, and why? "He brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made, for the children of Israel did burn incense to it." What took place in his reign? "Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded Judah." Whom did he send to intimidate Hezekiah? Rabshakeh, one of his generals. What did the king do when he heard it? "He rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.” Whom did he send for? Isaiah the prophet. What command did the king give Isaiah? To pray to God on behalf of His people. What message did Isaiah send to the king? Thus saith the LORD, "Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard." What course did the king of Assyria take, after the return of Rabshakeh? He sent messengers again unto Hezekiah. What wicked message did he send by them? Whom thou trustest deceive thee." "Let not thy God in How did he try to alarm Hezekiah? He reminded him how the kings of Assyria had destroyed all lands. When Hezekiah had read the letter, what did he do with it? He "went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD." Why? He wished to put his cause into the hands of God. How did he address God? He prayed and said, "O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth." What was his prayer? "O LORD our God, I beseech Thee, save Thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the LORD God, even Thou only." Did God hear his prayer? Yes; and God sent him a wonderful promise by the prophet Isaiah. How was the prayer answered? The angel of the LORD went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred four score and five thousand. What was the result? God thus saved His people out of the hand of the king of Assyria. What is one very important lesson from this history? The great power of prayer to God. What is another? How pleasing in God's sight are humility and penitence. How did Hezekiah prove his humility? He was not ashamed to show his sorrow for his own sins and those of his people. How was his penitence shown? "He rent his clothes and covered. himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD." And his faith? He went to God's house and spread the letter beforeGod, and left himself entirely in God's hands. What promise have we, if we do the same? "Commit thy way unto the LORD, and He shall bring it to pass.' (Ps. xxxvii. 5.) Vol. II. No. 40. LESSONS TO BE RECITED, (Without explanation.) 1.-THE CHURCH CATECHISM. From "What dost thou chiefly learn" to "please God to call me." (Younger Scholars are expected only to read this to the Teacher.) 3.-SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE CATECHETICAL LESSON. (One verse or more, as the Teacher may direct, to be learned by each Scholar.) S. MATT. XXVIII. 18.-Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. S. LUKE XXII. 19.-And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. 20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you. 4. THE HYMN.-7s. SON of God, Incarnate Word, Faith, O LORD, Thee present sees There the heart, the virtue feels, CATECHETICAL LESSON. What are baptism and the Lord's supper called? Sacraments. By Whom were they ordained? By our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. What is the meaning of " ordained ?" Appointed or established. When did our Lord ordain the sacrament of holy baptism? After His Resurrection from the dead. How did He declare His authority to ordain it? By saying, power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." "All Who, then, ordained this sacrament? Christ as the King of glory. What did He then charge His apostles to teach all nations to observe? "All things whatsoever He had commanded them." What was herein included? The sacrament of the Lord's supper. When did our Lord first ordain this sacrament? On the night before He suffered. How are these sacraments further described? As being "generally necessary to salvation." What is meant by "generally necessary?" Necessary for all, as distinguished from what is not necessary for all. What holy ordinance is not necessary to be received by all men? Ordination, as a clergyman, by laying on of hands. Is the Lord's supper less necessary than holy baptism? No. "Do this Why not? Because it sustains the spiritual life given in baptism. What special reason did our Lord give for its observance? in remembrance of Me," or "for My memorial." 2 KINGS XXII. 1-13. "Like unto him was there no king before him.” How old was Josiah when he began to reign? Eight years old. "He reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem." "He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." Was that ever said of any other king? No; it is said of Josiah only. When did he begin to seek the LORD? In the eighth year of his reign, when he was sixteen years old. (2 Chron. xxxiv. 3.) What shows that he was sincere in God's service? In the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from idolatry, What then was his reign remarkable for? For the great reformation he brought about. What did Josiah do in his eighteenth year? He sent Shaphan the scribe with a message to Hilkiah the high priest. What was the message? That the high priest should count all the silver which the people brought as an offering to the LORD. How did Josiah order the money to be used? For the repairs of the house of the LORD. What were bought for these repairs? Timber and hewn stone. Who were paid to do the work? Carpenters, builders, and masons. Were they careful to count the money that was paid out? No; "there was no reckoning made, because they dealt faithfully." What did Hilkiah find, while they were repairing the house of the LORD? He found the book of the law. To whom did he give it? To Shaphan the scribe, and he took it to the king, and read it before the king. And what happened? "When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes." Why? Because he saw that God's wrath was kindled against the people for their disobedience. Of whom did they inquire? Of Huidah the prophetess. What answer did the LORD give by her? That He would bring evil on Judah, but that Josiah should die in peace. What did Josiah then do? "He read the book of the law to all the people, and the people made a covenant with God." And after this? Josiah rooted out idolatrous worship. How did Josiah finish the reformation? He held a solemn passover unto the LORD. How long did God spare Judah? All the days of Josian. Has not every one some influence? Yes; we can all help others to do good or to do wrong. What do we learn from the history of Josiah's reign? That no one is too young to do good to others. What else? That by God's help we may do good, while all around us are evil. How may we do this? We should ask of God strength and wisdom to confess His holy name before men. What gracious word does God address to the young? "I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early shall find Me." |