the head and body; it is in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians, and the nineteenth verse.'

MRS. M. Yes, and in the first chapter of the same book too you will find Christ called the Head of the Church.'

GEORGE. I have found it, mamma; but don't you think there are a greater number of members of the Church of Christ, such as you have described it, in the Church of England than in any other Church.'

MRS. M. That I cannot pronounce; but the members are daily increasing I think; and if every member of the Church of England held her doctrines, as laid down in her articles, and acted in conformity with that profession, they would all be members of the Church of Christ; for her doctrines come as near those preached by the apostles as any Church can do, but unhappily all her professing members do not hold her doctrines in their purity; therefore many of them cannot be called members of the Church of Christ. May we my dear children be enabled to feel

that we are in truth members of that Church; that we hold its great head as our Supreme Ruler; that we are convinced that as members of His body; we can derive nourishment from Him alone; in Him alone have eternal life; that He is the "chief corner-stone, elect, precious," by which all the members of his Church are joined together in one hope, one faith, one baptism; and that thus united with Him here, our chief end and aim, the chief object of our most anxious desire shall be, to live with him hereafter. This, my children, is my most earnest prayer for you, for myself, for all that are dear to me :-that being "Of the mind of Christ and one with Him," we may dwell with Him from " lasting to everlasting and world without end."

ever

CONVERSATION XII.

THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING'S SON.
Matt. xxii. 1--14.

this evening.' GEORGE.

'I am, mamma; I lost a great deal to-day, by making a foolish excuse for not going to papa when he called me; I said I was going to settle my books, and did not go.'

MRS. M. But I trust, George, it was

not a false excuse.'

GEORGE. 'Oh! no indeed mamma, far otherwise! I really was going to settle my books; but I might as well have done that at any other time, and not neglected going to papa, who would have given me explanations

on several matters I want much to understand.'

MRS. M. Well, we shall hear something about foolish excuses in our parable tonight.'

GEORGE.

'Come then, dear mother, and let us read it; for I don't like thinking about my own folly.'

MRS. M. 'But I should wish to lead you to think more of it, in the hope of preventing a repetition.'

GEORGE. Well, dear mamma, don't say any more of it now, and let us have our parable.'

MRS. M. • Read it then, my boy.'

GEORGE. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, "Behold I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage."

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise; and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof he was wrath, and he sent forth his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, "The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden are not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage." So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, "Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment?" And he was speechless. Then said the king, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnash