it undone all the time. Or we may take great pains to think over what we have said and done, and try to remember why we said and did it. We may compare our conduct at one time with what we did some time before. We may try to see whether we really do come up to what God requires or not. This is real self-examination, doing it in earnest," so that we may come holy and clean to such a Heavenly Feast," as the Prayer-book says. The Catechism teaches us that there are four points about which persons are to examine themselves, before coming to Holy Communion. 1. "Whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life." 2. "Have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ." 3. "With a thankful remembrance of His death." 4. "And be in charity with all men." This is to be done every time, as well

as the first; but the first time it requires particular attention, and will, probably, take a longer time. Let us consider each of these four points separately.

1. REPENTANCE.-You are to enquire whether you repent truly of your past sins, and are resolutely determined to live better for the time to come. You must, therefore, look back over the years you have spent already, and try to call to mind the wrong things you have done. Look at the time when you were at school, or when you left school for service; see what happened when you first went to place, and why you left it. Think of any faults you have done since, any things you would be ashamed to tell another person of, anything you would not like to be known that you had done. They may have been done some years ago, or quite 'ately; you may have been punished

for them, or, perhaps, no one ever suspects you of doing them. Do not try to hide them, or forget them, or make excuses for them; but enquire of yourself, "Am I really sorry for having done this? I do not like to think of it; is that because of the punishment or disgrace which it brought on me, or because I really cannot bear the wicked thing? Should I be glad to do it again? Do I wish that I could feel obliged to do it? or that the temptation might be so strong that I might give way to it? Do I wish that it were right to do it? Or do I try to hate it because it is wrong? Do I wish to keep out of its way? Am I afraid of doing it again? Do I mean, whatever it may cost me, to do my very best not to fall into it again?" Then enquire further, "Is there any wrong thing that I am likely to be tempted to do?" You may see how many young men before you have

gone on steadily for a time, and bye and bye have taken to drinking or swearing; and how many young women like you have done well at service for a year or two, and then taken to gossiping with idle lads, or to thieving, or to carelessness. You may reasonably fear for yourself, that you shall be tempted to do the same. Ask yourself, "Am I determined, if God will help me, not to go into these wicked ways? Do I feel that this would be much worse for me than losing a good place, or being very ill?"

2. FAITH.-You are to enquire whether you have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ. Do I believe that I deserve that God should be angry with me because of my sins? Do I believe that instead of being angry with me, He poured out His anger upon Jesus Christ, and so feels kindly and tenderly towards me for

His sake? Do I believe that though I have been so very wicked, yet God is quite ready to forgive me every thing, and still to love me and take me to heaven? Do I believe that all this mercy comes to me only because of what Jesus Christ willingly suffered for me on the cross? Do I ever think that I must get good enough for God to forgive me, or do I believe that He will forgive me for being wicked, and make me better? Do I feel how unspeakable is God's love to me, when I am so utterly unworthy of it? Do I love Him for His love to me? Do I try to please Him in return for His kindness?

3. A THANKFUL REMEMBRANCE OF HIS DEATH.-You are here to enquire whether you do often remember and think of His dying for you. Probably you will feel that though you do sometimes think of Him, yet it is generally only when you read the Bible, or say your