to show that the Gospel did not countenance the unrelenting hatred which kept Jews and Samaritans apart. V. 16. As yet He was fallen upon none of them,-i.e., in His extraordinary influences, such as prophecy, and the gift of tongues. These are evidently intended, for they were such as could be seen, v. 18. Simon, the sorcerer, or magician, v. 9, 13. Offered them money,-expecting, by means of this power, to make money. V. 20. Peter denounces both the man and his money with indignation and abhorrence; and shows Simon his great danger. V. 21. Thy heart is not right,-i.e., sincere. His proposal proved him a hypocrite. V. 22. If perhaps.-The thought that the Holy Spirit could be bought with money was so exceedingly wicked, as to make it questionable whether it could be forgiven. Peter's doubt seems to associate this sin with that blasphemy of the Holy Ghost which "hath never forgiveness." See Mark iii. 29. V. 23. Though Simon was baptized, and called a Christian, he was still the slave of his bad passions, fitly enough described as bitterness and bondage. The account of him closes abruptly. He was alarmed by Peter's awful words; but whether or not he was a true penitent we cannot say. Compare Exod. ix. 28-30. II. AT EPHESUS.-Ch. xix. 1-7. Came to Ephesus,-according to promise, ch. xviii. 21. V. 2. Since ye believed, or, rather, "" when believed?" We have not, &c., rather, we did not so much as hear," 66 ye or, &c., that is, "He was not mentioned at the time.' They had been imperfectly instructed. "They could not," however, "be followers of Moses, or of John the Baptist, without hearing of the Holy Ghost."-Bengel. V. 3. Unto what, &c.-What did your baptism refer to? John's baptism,-i.e., repentance and faith in the coming Saviour. John's baptism is put for what it pointed to. V. 4. That is, on Christ Jesus.-He it is of whom John spoke. V. 6. The Holy Ghost came on them,-here, as at Samaria, in His miraculous influences. REFLECTIONS.-1. "Unto what, then, were YE baptized?"-You were dedicated to Christ: do you live to Him? Your baptism typified the Holy Ghost: have you received Him? 2. Baptism is not the new birth.There is a baptism by water, and a baptism by the Spirit. Simon rested content with the former. born again." "Ye must be 3. Faith in Jesus brings the gift of the Spirit.-His ordinary influences remain in the Church. The Holy Spirit regenerates, comforts, strengthens, guides, and sanctifies believers; and all who have received Him, know it. QUESTIONS.-What did the Apostles hear! Who went to Samaria? why? Who had been there before them? How did they receive the Holy Ghost? Who was Simon? What did he propose? How did Peter answer him? How many disciples did Paul find at Ephesus! What did he ask? What did they answer? What did they mean? Unto what were they What does this mean? baptized? What were the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit! What are His ordinary gifts? Illustration.-SIMONY. See ch. viii. 18-20. The name of Simon Magus is branded with perpetual infamy. When worldly profit is given or offered, taken, or demanded, for spiritual things, such as Church rights, privileges, or benefits, the crime is called simony,—after Simon, who wished to procure a spiritual power with money. The remaining Lesson for May will be given in the next Number. J. ROCHE, PRINTER, 25, HOXTON-SQUARE, LONDON. THE WESLEYAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL MAGAZINE. PRACTICAL PAPERS. MORNING SUNSHINE; OR, WHENCE THE DIFFERENCE ? BY THE REV. DAVID J. WALLER. GOD makes us indebted to the sun, not only for light, but also for life in its manifold and beautiful forms. In spring, when the face of the earth is renewed, he causes the wonderful putting forth of hidden life; and in summer, he ripens vegetation for the scythe and sickle. He is the great artist who adorns the earth with its marvellous beauty. Without his light the caterpillar could never burst its cocoon and become a butterfly, nor could the tadpole become a frog; and all the busy insect-tribes wait for his call to come forth. Health is dependent in various ways upon the light. All other things being equal, houses are more or less healthy according to their aspect with regard to the sun. Epidemics are decidedly more prevalent on the shady side of the street. Many diseases are traceable to deprivation of light. Hence the traveller, while admiring the indescribable grandeur and beauty of Alpine scenery, is often shocked by the appearance of disease the most revolting, and deformity the most pitiable, among the inhabitants. In the deep, dark gorges of the Swiss Valois, where the direct sunshine never reaches, idiocy of a most melancholy character prevails. How expressive and important then is the teaching of the Psalmist, that "the Lord God is a Sun." He is the Author of light, life, and beauty to the soul; and in His absence there must of necessity be darkness, deformity, and death. In But, valuable as all sunshine undoubtedly is, all is not equally so that of the morning is more serviceable than that of the afternoon. The following circumstance drew my attention to this fact. my garden were two plots, one on either side, which I planted with strawberries. Knowing how much depended upon cultivation, I had the ground properly prepared, and then procured the best shoots. Although the soil, the culture, and the plants were the same, from the first there was a great difference in the progress of the two beds. When spring came round, plenty of blossom appeared on the one, but very little on the other. Summer came; and the one yielded a fair crop of good, ripe fruit; but, VOL. III. NEW SERIES.-May, 1868. F alas! the little blossom of the other had passed away, but left no fruit behind. I thought, "What can have made the difference? The soil, the cultivation, the plants, the shelter, and even the quantity of sunshine were the same on each side; for upon one bed the sun shone till noon, and then, leaving it, shone upon the other till evening. The reason of the difference was this,—on the side where the blossom and fruit appeared, there was the advantage of the morning's sun; and on the other side, there was only the afternoon's and evening's sun. Is there not a lesson in this? As in nature, so is it in grace; and those who manifest the greatest beauty of character, and bring forth "much fruit," so that our Heavenly Father is "glorified," are such as, in the morning of life, have the advantage of the rays of the "Sun of Righteousness." Joseph, Samuel, David, Timothy, and other illustrious Scripture characters were so blessed. Nearly all the Ministers of the Gospel, and also the members of the Church, who have been eminently distinguished for their piety and usefulness, have had the advantage of the morning's sun. If the midday of life be past before Christ shines upon us "with healing in His wings," it is little fruit we can then bear for Him; but, if the afternoon be far advanced, and the evening of life be at hand, then the opportunities of fruit-bearing, and of usefulness to others, will have gone by. I write this especially to encourage Sunday-school teachers in their Christian work. You are endeavouring so to plant the children in the garden of the Lord, that they may get the morning's sun; and in proportion to your success there is a fair prospect that their characters will become lovely and good, and that throughout life they will be blessed themselves, and a blessing to others. So far as service in the Church and the interests of society are concerned, the conversion of the young is of far greater importance than that of the old. Hence, while we earnestly strive to bring ALL who are dark and sinful to partake the enlightening and saving influences of the Lord Jesus, let us especially do this for the children; remembering that "the sweet singer of Israel" said, "He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, as a morning without clouds." Let us work and pray, that they may be converted early in life; for then "the Lord God" will be to them " a sun and shield;" He "will give grace and glory;" and "no good thing will He withhold from them" so long as they "walk uprightly." MAKE AN ARK FOR YOUR CHILD. THE story of Jochebed and her little ark of bulrushes seems to be one especially recorded for the comfort of mothers. Though in our peaceful land such perils as those which surrounded the cradle of Moses are unknown, yet every parent who watches by a baby-boy, may learn a lesson from the Israelite mother who, strong in faith, twined that green nest for her little darling. For every infant born into this world of danger and trouble, an ark should be woven of many prayers. In two points of view we may regard every such infant as in a position not unlike that of Jochebed's babe, when found by Pharaoh's daughter in his little floating cradle. The child has been born to danger, and under the doom of death: he is redeemed, adopted, and may be destined to great usefulness and exalted honour. Should a mother's eye rest on these pages, let her follow out with me a subject which can scarcely fail to be one of deep interest to her heart. Your child, my Christian sister, has, like Moses, been born to danger, and under the doom of death. You have transmitted to him a fallen nature; he has first opened his eyes to the light in a world of which Satan is the prince-that Pharaoh whose wages is death, that tyrant who seeks to destroy the babe whom you so tenderly love. You cannot keep your little one from all the perils and temptations which, if he live to manhood, will certainly surround him. You cannot prevent his being exposed to trials as perilous to his soul as the waters of the Nile were to the body of the infant Moses. What can you do to guard your child from dangers in which so many have perished? Like Jochebed, strong in faith, make him a little ark of your prayers. And, to turn to the brighter side of the subject, if you have to share Jochebed's fears, may you not inherit her hopes also? It is no earthly princess, but the gracious Saviour Himself who has raised your child from his low estate, reversed his doom, adopted him as His own, and placed him as a little Christian in your arms, with the words, "Take this child away, and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages." The destiny which may await your babe is one which is greater and more glorious than your imagination can conceive. Can the human mind grasp all that is contained in the titles, "member of Christ, child of God, inheritor of the kingdom of heaven ?" You are tending an immortal being; a future seraph may be cradled in your arms! Those soft lips, pressed so closely to your own, may hereafter utter words that shall influence the destiny of souls through the countless ages of eternity; to that mind, which can scarcely yet hold even the sweet assurance of a parent's love, may be unfolded mysteries into which the angels desire to look. If care and anxiety press on your soul when you think of what your child is,-feeble, helpless, "born to trouble as the sparks fly upward,"there is deep rapture in the thought of what that child may be. O! dedicate him now to his God; ask for him not fame, power, or wealth, nor the riches of Egypt; but ask for him grace to follow the Lord fully, to choose " the reproach of Christ; " ask for him the spirit of humility, faith, and love which was given to Jochebed's favourite son. In view of the glorious destiny to which he is called, as well as of the perils which beset him, make him a little ark of your prayers. An honoured woman was Joch ebed, mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, all peculiarly favoured by God; and thrice blessed is every Christian parent, whether her offspring live for usefulness below, or be early taken to bliss above, who at the last day shall appear with an unbroken family before the Heavenly King. "Thou whose blood hath redeemed me and mine, and whose grace has preserved us, -lo! here am I, and the children whom Thou hast given me ! ”— House Beautiful. By A. L. O. E. SCHOOL SKETCHES. ANN AND ELLEN: THEIR QUARREL AND RECONCILIATION. ANN H and Ellen J- were great friends; they always came to school together, and sat next each other; when either of them wanted help, the other was always ready to afford it. Ann was a very clever girl, proud and high-spirited; but she was so upright and conscientious, that I could always trust her. I placed implicit confidence in her word, knowing that she was incapable of deceit or meanness. I was very proud of her; for the superintendent never gave the school a question which she could not answer: indeed, her knowledge of Scripture was wonderful, and she has often puzzled me with her strange ideas and almost unanswerable inquiries. Ellen J- was a quiet, rather dull, child; one whom I could neither trust nor like; for she was not open and sincere, but always seemed anxious, when she was in fault, to lay the blame on some one else. Ellen would be sure to tell me if any of the girls did anything wrong. She was obstinate, too; if I punished her in any way, she would never own that her punishment was just, but would persist in saying that she did not do wrong. But every character, however unamiable it may be, has some redeeming trait in it; nor was Ellen's without one, for she was very affectionate and anxious to please, and had a very tender, susceptible heart. I often wondered how two girls so very dissimilar in character and disposition came to be so closely bound together by ties of friendship; but so it was. One Sunday, about ten months ago, I found, on entering my class, that Ann and Ellen were not, as usual, seated together, but were as far apart as they could conveniently get. I watched them during the afternoon; and, from Ann's scornful glances at Ellen, and from Ellen's sulky looks and pouting lips, when she caught those glances, I gathered that they were estranged. When I see anything of this kind in my class, I always notice it; for I want my children to believe that I am interested in everything that affects them; so I turned to Ann, and said, "Why are you not sitting in your usual place, dear?" A whole chorus of voices began to |