Pure christianity found an asylum, during the long dark night which began to set in during the fourth century, and was not fully broken up till the sixteenth, among the Albigenses and Waldenses of southern Europe. But the truth was retained by these true descendants of the primitive believers, in connection with the essential principles of independency. Thus while Popery lost, congregationalism retained, the truth. And what has been the result of this system since its revival during the great Reformation? It has uniformly been found in alliance with evangelical doctrine. The doctrinal sentiments of the Independents of the sixteenth century were essentially the same as those of the nineteenth. In the present day, our views on the essential doctrines of the gospel are one. Enter whatever congregational place of worship in this country you please -leave your native shores, and go and listen in distant lands to the preaching of those ministers who received their appointment, and are still recognised by the spiritual fraternity, called the church-you will hear no harangues upon the comparative claims of the black and the white robe-the sanctity of edifices - the merits of altar decorations-sacramental efficacy-or priestly absolution; but you will hear one and all proclaim Christ and him crucified as the only foundation of a sinner's hope the regeneration of the heart by the Spirit of God-salvation by grace—a holy life, the true evidence of inward sanctification. Yes, congregationalism has proved itself, by its own results, to be invariably and fully the defence of the truth.— Congregationalism the Defence of the Truth. MORNING AND AFTERNOON LESSONS FOR EVERY SUNDAY IN THE MONTH. FEBRUARY 11. Morning Reading, 1 Kings ii. 28-46. Morning Lesson, Matt. xvi. 13-16. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 13. Where was Cesarea Philippi? In Galilee of the Gentiles, at the north of the sea of Galilee and near Mount Lebanon. Why did Christ ask this question? Not for information, but to draw their attention to the fact that he was the Messiah. What is Mark's account? Mark viii. 27. How had Christ been engaged did Peter " say the living God'? To distinguish God from idols, which are dead things. The term living is often used in the Old Testament. Josh iii. 17; Jer. x. 9, 10. IMPROVEMENT. Show that Christ is not only the Son of Man, but also the Son of God; and dwell upon the necessity of forming right views of his character as the Mediator between God and man. Afternoon Reading, Gen. xxxix. Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xvi. 17-20. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 17. What does Bar-Jona mean? Son of Jona. John i. 42. What did Christ mean by 'flesh and blood'? The natural man. Gal. i. 16; Eph. vi. 12. How had not flesh and blood revealed the truth to Peter? His own understanding and heart alone had not discovered it. In what way had God the Father revealed it to him? By his Spirit operating on Peter's mind, so that the miracles and words of Christ were not in vain.-VERSE 18. What does the word Peter mean? A rock. The word Cephas has the same meaning. Who gave Peter his name? John i. 42. How was Peter like a rock? In the firmness of his character. How did Christ build his church upon him? By his being the first to make known the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Acts ii. 14, 36, &c.; x. 19, &c., 34, &c., 44, &c.-VERSE 19. What did Christ mean by the keys of the kingdom? A key opens a door. The keys of the kingdom, therefore, mean the power to open the door of grace, so that men might be admitted to the blessings of Christ's kingdom. Had the other apostles this power? Yes. Matt. xviii. 18. What was the power which Christ in these words gave to Peter? make known first the will of Christ, to publish his The power to gospel, and to Pure christianity found an asylum, during the long dark night which began to set in during the fourth century, and was not fully broken up till the sixteenth, among the Albigenses and Waldenses of southern Europe. But the truth was retained by these true descendants of the primitive believers, in connection with the essential principles of independency. Thus while Popery lost, congregationalism retained, the truth. And what has been the result of this system since its revival during the great Reformation? It has uniformly been found in alliance with evangelical doctrine. The doctrinal sentiments of the Independents of the sixteenth century were essentially the same as those of the nineteenth. In the present day, our views on the essential doctrines of the gospel are one. Enter whatever congregational place of worship in this country you please -leave your native shores, and go and listen in distant lands to the preaching of those ministers who received their appointment, and are still recognised by the spiritual fraternity, called the church-you will hear no harangues upon the comparative claims of the black and the white robe-the sanctity of edifices the merits of altar decorations—sacramental efficacy—or priestly absolution; but you will hear one and all proclaim Christ and him crucified as the only foundation of a sinner's hope the regeneration of the heart by the Spirit of God-salvation by grace-a holy life, the true evidence of inward sanctification. Yes, congregationalism has proved itself, by its own results, to be invariably and fully the defence of the truth. Congregationalism the Defence of the Truth. MORNING AND AFTERNOON LESSONS FOR EVERY SUNDAY IN THE MONTH. FEBRUARY 11. Morning Reading, 1 Kings ii. 28-46. Morning Lesson, Matt. xvi. 13-16. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 13. Where was Cesarea Philippi? In Galilee of the Gentiles, at the north of the sea of Galilee and near Mount Lebanon. Why did Christ ask this question? Not for information, but to draw their attention to the fact that he was the Messiah. What is Mark's account? Mark viii. 27. How had Christ been engaged previously to his putting this question? Luke ix. 18.-VERSE 14. Who said that Christ was John the Baptist? Matt. xiv. 2; Luke ix. 7-9. Why did others think him Elias? Probably because of his zeal and fervour. Why did others think him like Jeremias? Probably because of his tenderness. Jeremias, or Jeremiah, wrote the book of Lamentations, which is full of tenderness.-VERSE 15. Why did Christ put this question? That he might have a confession of their faith, and confirm it by his words.-VERSE 16. Why did Peter answer? Because his natural disposition was to be more forward than the other disciples, and his attachment to Christ was very great. What does the Christ' mean? The anointed of God. The Messiah is a Hebrew word having the same meaning. Why did Peter say 'the living God'? To distinguish God from idols, which are dead things. The term living is often used in the Old Testament. Josh iii. 17; Jer. x. 9, 10. IMPROVEMENT. Show that Christ is not only the Son of Man, but also the Son of God; and dwell upon the necessity of forming right views of his character as the Mediator between God and man. Afternoon Reading, Gen. xxxix. Afternoon Lesson, Matt. xvi. 17-20. NOTES ON THE LESSON. How was Peter like a How did Christ build his VERSE 17. What does Bar-Jona mean? Son of Jona. John i. 42. What did Christ mean by 'flesh and blood'? The natural man. Gal. i. 16; Eph. vi. 12. How had not flesh and blood revealed the truth to Peter? His own understanding and heart alone had not discovered it. In what way had God the Father revealed it to him? By his Spirit operating on Peter's mind, so that the miracles and words of Christ were not in vain.-VERSE 18. What does the word Peter mean? A rock. The word Cephas has the same meaning. Who gave Peter his name? John i. 42. rock? In the firmness of his character. church upon him? By his being the first to make known the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Acts ii. 14, 36, &c.; x. 19, &c., 34, &c., 44, &c.-VERSE 19. What did Christ mean by the keys of the kingdom? A key opens a door. The keys of the kingdom, therefore, mean the power to open the door of grace, so that men might be admitted to the blessings of Christ's kingdom. Had the other apostles this power? Yes. Matt. xviii. 18. What was the power which Christ in these words gave to Peter? make known first the will of Christ, to publish his The power to gospel, and to guide his church.—VERSE 20. Why did he thus charge his disciples ? Because the time was not yet come, when he should be publicly declared as the Messiah. IMPROVEMENT. Show the natural ignorance of man, and the necessity of a revelation, before he can know the things of God. FEBRUARY 18. Morning Reading, 1 Kings iii. Morning Lesson, Matt. xvi. 21-23. NOTES ON THE LESSON. VERSE 21. What meaning is conveyed by the expression 'from that time forth?' That this was the first intimation he gave of his sufferings and death. Was it publicly or privately that he said this? Mark viii. 32. Did he often dwell on this topic? Yes. Matt. xvii. 22, 23; xx. 18, 19. Was this prophecy made use of ever afterwards? Luke xxiv. 6, 7. Did the pharisees ever make mention of it? Matt. xxvii. 63.—VERSE 22. Why did Peter rebuke him and address him thus? Because he thought that it was very improbable that he whom he had just confessed as 'the Son of the living God,' and whom he expected would reign upon the earth, should suffer such ignominy.-VERSE 23. What does the word 'Satan' mean? An adversary. Why did Christ call Peter by this name? Because by giving him such an advice as this, he stood in the way of the accomplishment of his designs. What is it to savour the things that be of men? To be acquainted with, or to discern earthly things. How did Peter by this advice savour not the things of God? He showed his ignorance of God's plan to save the world, and the earthly, carnal views which he cherished of the mission of Christ. IMPROVEMENT. Dwell upon the perfect knowledge which Christ had of all that would befal him, and upon the willingness with which he suffered and died on our behalf. Afternoon Reading, Gen. xl. Afternoon Subject, Difference of Opinion respecting what the Bible teaches. CONVERSATION ON THE SUBJECT. Do you remember what were mentioned in our last conversation as causes of the different opinions respecting what the Bible teaches? Yes. Ignorance, idleness, prejudice, self-interest, priestcraft, &c. How is idleness a cause? When people read scripture in an idle manner they cannot understand it rightly; and when they are too indolent to inquire whether what they have been taught agrees with the Bible, they are likely to remain as they were. Thus |