The good-natured Tortoise was so shocked to hear that anybody could be so malicious, and so fond of mischief, that she resolved to rid the world and herself of the torment of such a temper; so diving to the bottom, she left the venomous reptile to perish in the water.

And from this you may learn, that people who indulge in bad temper are as great a plague to themselves as they are to others, and make everybody their enemy. Such people are only fit to live alone, which, if the Scorpion had done, he would not have been drowned by the Tortoise.

BAPTISM OF AN

INDIAN CHIEF.

FROM THE BISHOP OF TORONTO'S JOURNAL.

The

On the 7th of September, Wednesday, the Indians assembled in great numbers: it was a great day. The great Chippawa chief Cunatuny was to be baptized and confirmed. In the two villages there are still several pagan Indians, and yet they, as well as the converted, attend the services of the Church. While they continue pagans, they paint their faces and refuse to kneel. conversion, however, of the great chief is expected to operate most favourably, and from their love of truth, stronger it is said among the Indians than among the Persians of old, it is anticipated that they will be readily impressed and permanently retained. When some doubts were expressed as to my coming, the Indians exclaimed, "What, is he not chief of the Church ?he never can have two words-he is sure to come." The schoolhouse, though large and commodious, could scarcely contain half the number assembled, and those that could not get in, stood in groups about the door and windows. The chief was baptized, and appeared well acquainted with the nature and importance of the holy sacrament. He was, after baptism, confirmed with four others. His admission into the Church, by the sacrament of baptism, and his public profession of the faith in coming forward for confirmation, had been with him, for years, matter of deep and solemn consideration. After the service, I shook hands with every individual present, according to the custom of the Indians at all their meetings.

QUESTIONS ON HOLY SCRIPTURE.

From the birth of Isaac to his death. B. C. 1896-1760.

Where did Abraham reside after leaving Mamre? (Gen. xx. l.) Of what act of deceit was he guilty while there? How did he excuse himself? (Gen. xx. 12.) Wherein consisted the sin of his conduct? Why did God withhold Abimelech from sinning? (Gen. xx. 6.) About what year was Isaac born?* How old was Abraham when this took place? How was Isaac admitted into the covenant of promise? At what age? What became of Hagar and Ishmael? What does St. Paul say of this? (Gal. iv. 30.) In what severe manner did God now try Abraham ? Shew how this command was a trial of his faith? How does St. Paul commend his faith? (Heb. xi. 17.-19.) Where was Isaac to be offered up? Where is Moriah? How was Abraham prevented from slaying his son? What name did he give to the place where this occurred? How was Isaac a type of Christ? Where did Sarah die? At what age? Where was she buried? To whom did Macpelah belong? Where was it situated? Another name for Mamre ? What command did Abraham now give concerning Isaac? How did the servant bind himself to obey ? Give an instance of a similar oath. (Gen. xlviii. 29.) From whom was the servant to take a wife for Isaac ? Where did they dwell? The meaning of Mesopotamia ?§ Between what rivers ?! How did he seek to secure success? (Gen. xxv. 12.) How was his prayer answered? What may we learn from God's gracious answer? Mention other instances of God's answer to special prayer. (1Saml. i. 28, 28; Isa. xxxviii. 5; Jas. v. xvii; Danl. ix. 21, 22; 2 Chron. xxiii. 12.) How old was Isaac when he married Rebekah ? Who were their two sons? Which was the elder? What was prophesied of him? (Gen. xxv. 23.) What is meant by Esau's birthright ?* How did Esau shew his contempt of it ? How does St. Paul allude to it? (Heb. xii. 16.) When did Esau's birthright which he had despised really become Isaac's? State the circumstances? After this, what was Esau's secret purpose towards Jacob? What drove Isaac into Gerar? (Gen. 26, 1.) What bad example of his father did he there follow ? Where did Ishmael die ? At what age? When did Isaac die?

*B. C. 1896. #Tigris and Euphrates.

+ Hebron.

? Between rivers.

All his priveleges as the eldest son.

HOLY DAYS IN APRIL.

ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST. The name "Evangelist," signifies a good messenger, and was at first given to all those that preached the Gospel, but in process of time became confined to the four who wrote the history of our Saviour's life and ministry. The blessings that have followed from the writings of those holy men, who can calculate ? The Church, therefore, wisely bids us glorify God for the inestimable blessing of his holy gospel by this day, thankfully calling to remembrance the faithful labours of the Evangelist St. Mark.

Doubts have been entertained both in ancient and modern times, whether Mark the Evangelist is the same as John, whose surname was Mark, mentioned in the Acts and some of St. Paul's Epistles. The question is by no means one of great consequence, but it may be well to observe that the weight of authority is in favour of their being the same. We may therefore consider St. Mark as the son of Mary (an early convert) and nephew of Barnabas, being his sister's son. The first historical fact mentioned of him in the New Testament, is that he went from Jerusalem to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Not long after he set out from Antioch with those Apostles to join in their Missionary labours, but deserted them at Perga in Pamphylia, and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts xiii.) This caused great grief to Paul, and when on a future occasion Barnabas proposed taking Mark with them, Paul objected, because Mark had left them in their former journey. We may suppose that St. Paul was afterwards reconciled to St. Mark from the manner in which he mentions him in his Epistles, and particularly from the direction given to Timothy. "Take Mark and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the ministry." (2 Tim. iv. ii.) It is believed on the authority of ancient writers that soon after Mark's journey with Barnabas, he met Peter in Asia, and continued with him as "his disciple and interpreter" for some time, perhaps till Peter suffered martyrdom. After this he is said to have preached the Gospel and founded many Churches in Egypt. There is no reason to think that St. Mark suffered martyrdom, but rather that be died a natural death in the 8th year of Nero and was buried at Alexandria, of which city he is supposed to have been the first bishop.

ON THE DUTY OF GOING TO CHURCH,

"Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."-2 Chron. vii. 15, 16.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."-Matt. xviii. 20.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."-Heb. x. 25.

"O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name."-Ps. c. 3.

READER, you know very well, that Christ, and his Apostles, and his holy Church, in all ages, have taught us, by precept and example, to assemble ourselves together. You will not deny, or pretend to doubt, the usefulness, or the necessity of public wor ship. Do you-you who are reading this book-attend public worship constantly? Do you attend it generally? If not-Why don't you go to Church? Answer this faithfully. Remember, you will have to answer, when it will be too late to remedy what is wrong. You will have to answer before the judgment seat of God, and you know not how soon.

Remember, too, that we, the Ministers of the Church, who even now put the question, speak in Christ's name and deliver God's message. With that high authority we ask, Why don't you go to Church? Alas! we have often been compelled to ask this question. Do you deny that you ought to worship God in his temple? No. Why, then, do you neglect it ? I must attend to my family, says one; I have no shoes, says another; My dress is not good enough, says a third; I have not been able to get ready, says a fourth; It is cold, it is wet-I have an engagement; I have letters to write; I always sleep late on Sunday;

I have not got a good pew. In short, there are hundreds of excuses of the same sort made, and, we lament to say, by hundreds who have the means and opportunities of going to Church, but do not go.

But we have another question to ask you, if you, Reader, are in the habit of making some such excuse to your conscience; and we pray you, deal with your self faithfully-put it home to your heart. Suppose that the minister, instead of leading you to join in praise to your heavenly Father, or in prayer to your offended God-instead of teaching you what to do to be saved, and warning you to flee from the wrath to come-were, after detaining you the usual time in Church doing nothing, to stand every Sunday at the door, and present to every poor member of the congregation half-a-crown, and each member in moderate circumstances two guineas, and to each rich one, five; how many Sundays do you honestly think you should miss Church? Most probably not one in the whole year. Instead of having to ask, Why don't you go to Church? he would not have room for his congregation. We should hear nothing about your dress; nothing about cooking for your family; nothing about the cold or the wet; nothing about your getting up late; nothing about your engagements; nothing about your pew. You would be thinking only how to be in time. and would gladly take your post in the aisle, or anywhere that you could get a place. Every corner would be crammed; old and young, rich and poor, healthy and sick, would be there.

Is not this the truth? Can you deny it? You may, perhaps, smile at it. But, beware-it is no subject for mirth. For what is the true inference from this? That you would find no difficulty at all in going to Church for a miserable piece of money, when you will not go for the love of Christ, for the honour of God, or for the salvation of your own soul ! Halfa-crown, a guinea, or five guineas, as the case may