{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_62126/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_62126","id":"gutenberg_62126","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62126","summary":null,"tags":["Bible stories, English","Category: Children & Young Adult Reading","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"[Illustration: From Eden to Calvary]\n\n\n\n\n CAPTIVATING\n\n BIBLE STORIES\n\n FOR YOUNG PEOPLE\n\n WRITTEN IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE\n\n BEGINNING AT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD IT TAKES THE\n READER THROUGH THE BIBLE IN FIFTY-TWO LESSONS,\n EACH LESSON COMPRISING THREE READINGS FOR\n EACH SABBATH OF THE YEAR, WHILE A SERIES\n OF QUESTIONS WITH EACH READING HELP\n TO IMPRESS UPON THE YOUNG MIND\n THE TRUTHS OF THE HOLY BIBLE.\n\n DESIGNED TO\n\n PROMOTE GREATER INTEREST in the SACRED SCRIPTURES\n\n AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR TEACHINGS\n\n INCLUDING\n\n ALL THE IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS DESCRIBED\n IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS\n\n By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE\n\n The Noted Author and Missionaries' Friend\n\n EMBELLISHED WITH MORE THAN =200= SUPERB ENGRAVINGS\n BY JULIUS SCHNORR VON KAROLSFELD OF SCENES\n DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE\n\n\n\n\n ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1913, BY\n\n GEO. W. BERTRON\n\n THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.\n\nThe Illustrations in this work being from original drawings and\nprotected by copyright, their reproduction in any form is unlawful, and\nnotice is hereby given that persons guilty of infringing the copyright\nthereof will be prosecuted.\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\n\nTHE great number of Bible story books that have been published show how\nmany attempts have been made to supply the want which has long been\nfelt of a work containing a carefully written story of the Scripture\nnarrative for young people.\n\nIn this great work which is written in simple language, the captivating\nstory of the Bible is told in a style that will cause it to be read\nover and over again, and the thrilling truths and beautiful lessons it\ncontains will never be forgotten.\n\nIt takes the reader through the Bible in fifty-two lessons, each lesson\ncomprising three readings for each Sabbath of the year, while a series\nof questions following each reading, help to impress upon the young\nmind the truths of the Holy Scripture.\n\nThe work begins with the marvellous Story of the Creation, describing\nthe beauties of the Garden of Eden, and the awful disaster of the\nflood; it relates the thrilling scenes in the life of Abraham and the\nother Patriarchs, and furnishes a great panorama of the wonderful\nevents in the dawn of history.\n\nThis is followed by the delightful story of Joseph, who was sold by\nhis envious brethren and hurried away to Egypt, where he was adopted\ninto the king's family, and finally made ruler over that country. The\nlessons of his life should be read by every boy and girl in the land.\nHe was one of the noblest characters spoken of in the Bible.\n\nNext, we have a glimpse of Moses in his little life-boat, found and\ncared for by a Royal Princess. We see him growing to the fullness of\nmanhood, becoming leader of his people, and finally breaking their\nchains and bringing them out of captivity. He stands at the burning\nbush; he opens a fountain in a rock; he goes up among the clouds of\nSinai and receives the tables of the law. This part of the Bible story\nis full of instruction.\n\n[Illustration: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness]\n\nThen grand old Joshua comes forth upon the scene, and the reader\nfollows him through his stormy conflicts and brilliant triumphs. Here,\ntoo, is a graphic description of the magnificent achievements of\nGideon, telling what wonders he wrought and what valor he displayed.\nWho has not been fascinated by the delightful story of Ruth? This\nhumble but charming woman was an ancestor of our Lord Jesus and all are\ninterested in the story of her life.\n\nEvery young person follows eagerly the thrilling account of King Saul\nand King David. We see the strong, misguided yet mighty Saul, and also\nthe ruddy shepherd boy whose swift sling slew a giant. Then comes\nSolomon in all his glory, and along in this part of the Old Testament\nStory we see that grand man of the desert, Elijah, and follow him\nthrough his startling experiences until, in a chariot of fire, he is\nborne away through the clouds to heaven. We also read of that young\npatriot Nehemiah, who left the splendors of a palace to rebuild the\nshattered walls of Jerusalem. He accomplished wonders, teaching the\ngreat lessons of devotion and energy.\n\n[Illustration: Even so must the son of man be lifted up]\n\nThe Bible is a rich store-house of instruction and entertainment. How\ncaptivating is the story of Queen Esther. She presents a striking\nexample of those great crises in which the scale has been turned by\nthe power and influence of woman. Other narratives come in thick\nsuccession. The young are always interested in the story of Daniel. Why\nshould they not be? His strong and beautiful character has a peculiar\ncharm, and there are few names in history that shine so resplendently.\nLet his brilliant record be studied by all, whether old or young.\n\nHow eagerly young people read the charming story of Bethlehem--the\nstory of the angelic choir; of the wondering shepherds who heard the\nheavenly anthem of Peace and Good-Will; of the Holy Child laid in\nthe humble manger; of the burning star that lighted the wise men of\nthe East to the feet of the infant Prophet, Priest and King; and the\nthrilling incidents connected with His life. It would not be possible\nfor human pen to depict more vividly those majestic events, at once\nawful and fascinating, which form the closing chapter of our Lord's\nlife upon earth.\n\nWe venture, in conclusion, to hope this volume will be the means, with\nGod's blessing, of endearing to many young hearts \"the sweet story of\nold,\" making them to love from childhood that book which in after years\nwill truly be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path.\n\n\n\n\nILLUSTRATIONS\n\n\n PAGE\n\n ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN 23\n\n AFTER THE BANISHMENT FROM EDEN 24\n\n SACRIFICE OF CAIN AND ABEL 25\n\n RETURN OF THE DOVE WITH THE OLIVE BRANCH 27\n\n NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEAVING THE ARK 30\n\n NOAH'S SACRIFICE AFTER THE FLOOD 30\n\n ABRAM SEES THE PROMISED LAND 32\n\n MELCHIZEDEK BLESSING ABRAM 33\n\n ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE ANGELS 35\n\n LOT AND HIS FAMILY FLEEING FROM SODOM 37\n\n ABRAHAM OFFERING ISAAC AS A SACRIFICE 39\n\n ABRAHAM'S SERVANT MEETING REBEKAH AT THE WELL 40\n\n REBEKAH SEES ISAAC COMING TO MEET HER 40\n\n ISAAC BLESSING JACOB 44\n\n JACOB'S VISION OF ANGELS 46\n\n JACOB MEETING RACHEL 48\n\n LABAN HIRING JACOB 48\n\n JACOB'S DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN 49\n\n JACOB AND THE ANGEL 50\n\n THE MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU 50\n\n JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN 52\n\n POURING OUT A DRINK OFFERING 56\n\n JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM 58\n\n JOSEPH PROCLAIMED RULER OVER EGYPT 60\n\n JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN 61\n\n JOSEPH MEETING HIS FATHER 62\n\n LEATHER BOTTLES 63\n\n PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER FINDING MOSES 65\n\n THE ISRAELITES MADE TO WORK HARD IN EGYPT 67\n\n AARON'S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT 68\n\n THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS 71\n\n THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER 74\n\n DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN OF EGYPT 76\n\n EGYPTIAN JUDGMENT SCENE 77\n\n PHARAOH'S HOST DESTROYED IN THE RED SEA 79\n\n AARON AND HUR HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF MOSES 82\n\n KORAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES SWALLOWED UP 83\n\n AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED 85\n\n THE HOLY PLACE 86\n\n MOSES BRINGING WATER FROM THE ROCK 88\n\n THE BRAZEN SERPENT 89\n\n PRIEST--HIGH-PRIEST--LEVITE 91\n\n BALAAM MET BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD 94\n\n HIGH-PRIEST WITH SIN OFFERING 98\n\n THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 100\n\n MOSES RECEIVING THE TABLES OF THE LAW 101\n\n MOSES DESTROYS THE TABLES OF THE LAW 103\n\n ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 105\n\n MOSES BRINGING THE NEW TABLES OF THE LAW 107\n\n THE SPIES RETURNING FROM CANAAN 109\n\n TABLE OF SHEW BREAD--ARK--GOLDEN CANDLESTICK 110\n\n MOSES GIVING HIS CHARGE TO JOSHUA 112\n\n MOSES VIEWING THE PROMISED LAND 113\n\n THE DEATH OF MOSES 113\n\n CARRYING THE ARK OVER JORDAN 117\n\n THE WALLS OF JERICHO 118\n\n THE ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSHUA 119\n\n FALLING OF THE WALLS OF JERICHO 120\n\n JOSHUA CAPTURING THE CITY OF AI 121\n\n JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL 121\n\n DIVIDING THE LAND AMONG THE TRIBES 122\n\n SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF THE TABERNACLE 123\n\n SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL 125\n\n GIDEON'S OFFERING BURNT BY FIRE FROM THE ROCK 127\n\n GIDEON'S VICTORY OVER THE MIDIANITES 128\n\n JEPHTHAH MEETING HIS DAUGHTER 129\n\n SAMSON SLAYING A LION 129\n\n YOUNG SAMUEL BROUGHT TO ELI 130\n\n HANNAH'S PRAYER 131\n\n GOD TELLS SAMUEL OF DESTRUCTION OF ELI'S HOUSE 134\n\n THE DEATH OF ELI 136\n\n SAMUEL ANOINTING SAUL 138\n\n ANCIENT SHOES 140\n\n RUTH AND NAOMI 141\n\n RUTH GLEANING IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ 142\n\n SAUL TEARING THE ROBE OF SAMUEL 144\n\n DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL 145\n\n DAVID SLAYING GOLIATH 148\n\n SAUL CASTING HIS JAVELIN AT DAVID 149\n\n THE PARTING OF DAVID AND JONATHAN 150\n\n DAVID AND ABIGAIL 150\n\n THE DEATH OF SAUL 153\n\n DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL 153\n\n DAVID MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD 155\n\n SHIMEI CASTING STONES AT DAVID 156\n\n THE DEATH OF ABSALOM 158\n\n DAVID'S THREE MIGHTY MEN 160\n\n SOLOMON ANOINTED KING 163\n\n SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY 164\n\n THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON 166\n\n THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE 167\n\n THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON 170\n\n IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON 171\n\n REVOLT OF THE TRIBES 172\n\n ELIJAH FED BY THE RAVENS 177\n\n THE WIDOW'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE 178\n\n ELIJAH SLAYING THE PROPHETS OF BAAL 181\n\n THE DEATH OF KING AHAB 186\n\n ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN 187\n\n THE SHUNAMITE'S SON RESTORED 189\n\n JEZEBEL EATEN BY DOGS 197\n\n A CITY CAPTURED AND THE INHABITANTS LED AWAY CAPTIVE 200\n\n RABSHAKEH BEFORE SENNACHERIB 202\n\n THE ANGEL SLAYING THE ASSYRIANS 204\n\n THE BOOK OF THE LAW FOUND 206\n\n AN ASSYRIAN KING 207\n\n JERUSALEM BESIEGED AND PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE 209\n\n ASHTORETH 210\n\n THE LORD COMMANDS JEREMIAH 212\n\n TWO PAGES OF AN ANCIENT SCROLL OF SCRIPTURES 214\n\n JEREMIAH MOURNING OVER JERUSALEM 224\n\n THE BREASTPLATE 227\n\n EZEKIEL'S VISION 229\n\n DANIEL INTERPRETING THE WRITING ON THE WALL 238\n\n RETURN OF THE JEWS FROM CAPTIVITY 241\n\n BUILDING OF THE NEW TEMPLE 243\n\n THE JEWISH CAPTIVES CONDUCTED BEFORE DARIUS 245\n\n DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN 246\n\n BABYLONIAN BRICK 247\n\n QUEEN ESTHER CROWNED 250\n\n TRIUMPH OF MORDECAI 251\n\n NEHEMIAH ARMETH THE LABORERS 252\n\n A SOLEMN FAST AND REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE 254\n\n THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO ZACHARIAS 256\n\n THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO MARY 256\n\n THE PROPHECY OF ELIZABETH AND OF MARY 257\n\n THE BIRTH OF JOHN 258\n\n THE ANGEL ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF JESUS 259\n\n THE BIRTH OF JESUS 260\n\n THE BIRTH OF JESUS PROCLAIMED BY THE SHEPHERDS 261\n\n THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN 264\n\n JOSEPH COMMANDED TO FLEE INTO EGYPT 265\n\n THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT 266\n\n KILLING THE MALE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD 267\n\n JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE 268\n\n JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS 271\n\n THE BAPTISM OF JESUS 272\n\n THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS 273\n\n BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD 276\n\n JESUS CALLING HIS DISCIPLES 277\n\n THE MIRACLE IN CANA 278\n\n JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS 279\n\n JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 280\n\n JESUS HEALS THE SICK OF THE PALSY 280\n\n JESUS RAISES THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS 283\n\n JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE TWO BLIND MEN 283\n\n SERMON ON THE MOUNT 284\n\n JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON 285\n\n JESUS SLEEPS DURING THE STORM 285\n\n SENDING FORTH THE TWELVE APOSTLES 286\n\n DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 287\n\n JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND 288\n\n JESUS SUPPORTS THE SINKING PETER 289\n\n THE WELL OR FOUNTAIN AT NAZARETH 290\n\n THE TRANSFIGURATION 292\n\n THE GOOD SAMARITAN 293\n\n JESUS AND THE SISTERS OF BETHANY 293\n\n THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON 294\n\n THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR 295\n\n THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN 297\n\n THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 297\n\n MARY ANOINTS THE HEAD OF JESUS 299\n\n CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM 300\n\n JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS 302\n\n JESUS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES' FEET 304\n\n THE LAST SUPPER 305\n\n JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 306\n\n JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS 309\n\n CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS 310\n\n PETER DENYING JESUS 311\n\n JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS 313\n\n CHRIST BEFORE PILATE 314\n\n THE END OF JUDAS ISCARIOT 315\n\n JESUS FALLS UNDER THE CROSS 317\n\n THE CRUCIFIXION 318\n\n THE BURIAL OF JESUS 320\n\n AS IT BEGAN TO DAWN 321\n\n THE RESURRECTION 322\n\n THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS 322\n\n MARY MAGDALENE AT THE SEPULCHRE 323\n\n JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE 324\n\n JESUS APPEARS TO TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES 326\n\n THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM, BE NOT AFRAID 327\n\n JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES AT THE SEA OF TIBERIAS 329\n\n THE ASCENSION 331\n\n TONGUES OF FIRE RESTING ON THE DISCIPLES 334\n\n THE CHILD CHRIST, MARY HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH 345\n\n THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 361\n\n FINDING THE LOST SHEEP 376\n\n RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON 378\n\n CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN 381\n\n THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS 388\n\n THE CRUCIFIXION 396\n\n THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES 399\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS.\n\n\n FIRST SUNDAY.\n\n CREATION OF THE WORLD 17\n\n SECOND SUNDAY.\n\n HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME 22\n\n THIRD SUNDAY.\n\n THE RAINBOW 29\n\n FOURTH SUNDAY.\n\n ABRAHAM AND LOT 36\n\n FIFTH SUNDAY.\n\n JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM 43\n\n SIXTH SUNDAY.\n\n JOSEPH IN EGYPT 51\n\n SEVENTH SUNDAY.\n\n JOSEPH'S BROTHERS 57\n\n EIGHTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE CALL OF MOSES 64\n\n NINTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT 70\n\n TENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE PASSOVER 75\n\n ELEVENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH 81\n\n TWELFTH SUNDAY.\n\n ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS 87\n\n THIRTEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n BALAAM AND BALAK 93\n\n FOURTEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE GIVING OF THE LAW 99\n\n FIFTEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE GIVING OF THE LAW 106\n\n SIXTEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE DEATH OF MOSES 111\n\n SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n ISRAEL IN BATTLE 116\n\n EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL 124\n\n NINETEENTH SUNDAY.\n\n SAMUEL 130\n\n TWENTIETH SUNDAY.\n\n KING SAUL 137\n\n TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY.\n\n THE REIGN OF SAUL 143\n\n TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY.\n\n KING DAVID REIGNING 152\n\n TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY.\n\n PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE 159\n\n TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY.\n\n SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY 164\n\n TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY.\n\n SOLOMON'S FALL 169\n\n TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 174\n\n TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY.\n\n ELIJAH AND AHAB 180\n\n TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY.\n\n ELIJAH AND ELISHA 185\n\n TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY.\n\n ELISHA'S MIRACLES 191\n\n THIRTIETH SUNDAY.\n\n THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE 196\n\n THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY.\n\n HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH 201\n\n THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY.\n\n JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY 208\n\n THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY.\n\n JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES 211\n\n THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM 217\n\n THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE FALL OF JERUSALEM 222\n\n THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE JEWS AT BABYLON 228\n\n THIRTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY.\n\n DANIEL AT BABYLON 233\n\n THIRTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE RETURN FROM BABYLON 240\n\n THIRTY-NINTH SUNDAY.\n\n TROUBLES OF THE JEWS 248\n\n FORTIETH SUNDAY.\n\n THE COMING OF THE LORD 255\n\n FORTY-FIRST SUNDAY.\n\n THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD 263\n\n FORTY-SECOND SUNDAY.\n\n THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY 270\n\n FORTY-THIRD SUNDAY.\n\n THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES 275\n\n FORTY-FOURTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE MINISTRY 282\n\n FORTY-FIFTH SUNDAY.\n\n WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING 291\n\n FORTY-SIXTH SUNDAY.\n\n GOING UP TO JERUSALEM 298\n\n FORTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL 303\n\n FORTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION 308\n\n FORTY-NINTH SUNDAY.\n\n THE CRUCIFIXION 316\n\n FIFTIETH SUNDAY.\n\n THE RESURRECTION 321\n\n FIFTY-FIRST SUNDAY.\n\n THE ASCENSION 327\n\n FIFTY-SECOND SUNDAY.\n\n THE WAITING TIME 333\n\n THE NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE 337\n\n\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\nFirst Sunday.\n\n_CREATION OF THE WORLD._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.\"--_Gen. 1:1._\n\nIN the Bible we are told God made the earth we live on. Sunday is the\nearth's birthday, for on the first day of the week the Creation began.\n\nThe world was one mass--dark, empty, and shapeless--till God made the\nlight by His Word, and saw the light was good. Without light we could\nnot live: even the very trees and flowers would die. When we have been\nin the dark how glad we are to see light come back, even if it be only\none grey line beginning in the sky! This shows how blessed is this\ngift. It was good, too, that we should have quiet dark night for rest\nand stillness.\n\nThe second great change enclosed the earth in an outer ball of air,\nwhich we call the sky or firmament. That is the deep blue into which\nwe look up and up. The mist and fog rise up from the earth and make\nthe clouds that take strange shapes, sometimes dark and full of rain\nto water the earth, sometimes shining white, or pink and golden with\nmorning or evening light.\n\nThe third great change was, that water filled the deep hollows of the\nearth, while the hills rose up dry above them, with rivers and streams\nrunning down their slopes into the deep seas below. God did not leave\nthe land bare and stony: He clothed it with green fresh plants and\nherbs, with leaves and flowers, and trees to give us their fruit and\nwood, and filled even the sea with plants that can live under water.\n\n\nTHE EARTH GLADDENED BY THE SUN.\n\nNext, God caused the rays of the sun to gladden the earth, and let it\nsee the moon lighted up by the sun, as well as the stars far beyond\nour firmament. We count the months by the changes in the moon; and\nour earth's journey around the sun marks our years and seasons. We\nall rejoice in a bright sunny day, though the sun is too bright and\nglorious for us to bear to gaze at him; and how lovely the moon looks,\neither as a young crescent, or a beautiful full moon!\n\nThe waters began to be full of live things, that swam, or crept, or\nflew: fishes, and birds, and insects. By that time this world was\nnearly as we see it, and a beautiful home for us to live in. Then\nGod made the four-footed beasts--sheep and cows, horses, dogs, cats,\nelephants, lions--all that we use or admire; and, last of all, when\nHe had made this earth a happy, healthy place, He planted the Garden\nof Eden, and put in it the first man and woman, the best of all that\nHe had made; for though their bodies were of dust, like those of the\nbeasts, yet their souls came from the Breath of God. They could think,\nspeak, pray, and heed what is unseen as well as what is seen.\n\nThere are many many lessons to be learnt from this wonderful story. Let\nus try to take home one of them. Let us ask our Father that the ground\nbelow, the light above, the sky and sea, the sun and moon, the trees\nand flowers, the birds and beasts, and His holy day of rest, may remind\nus that they came from Him, and that we may be very thankful to Him for\nhaving given us such good things.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who made the world? 2. Which Commandment tells you about God's\n making the world? 3. What is there in the sky that God made? 4. What\n is there on the earth? 5. What do you see around you that He made? 6.\n Can we make birds, or beasts, or flowers? 7. Or could we make them\n live? 8. Who makes them and us live? 9. Where does all our food come\n from? 10. Who gave us corn? 11. What must we ask God to do for us? 12.\n What must we thank Him for? 13. Do not you think it would be pleasant\n to whisper to yourself, when you see a pretty flower, or a beautiful\n sky, or when the sun shines bright and warm, \"Thank God for being so\n good to me\"?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed\n into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living\n soul.\"--_Genesis 2:7._\n\nIN the Bible God tells us that He made the world, and everything in\nit: land and water, and grass, flowers and trees, insects, birds and\nbeasts, and last of all He made the first man and woman. The man was\nmade by God out of the dust of the ground, and then God breathed into\nhis nostrils the breath of life, and gave him a living soul. And the\nwoman was made by God out of the man's side. They were called Adam and\nEve, and they were to be the first father and mother of everyone who\nwas to be born into the world.\n\nThe good God gave them a beautiful home. It was a garden, with a\nclear river of water flowing through it, and all kinds of delicious\nfruit-trees and beautiful flowers growing in it. Nothing could hurt\nor vex them there. They did not know what pain was, they were never\ntired, and all they had to do was to dress the garden and to keep it.\nThey had no faults, and never did wrong; and God Himself came near to\ntalk with them.\n\nThat was the way they lived, always good and always happy, whilst they\nobeyed what God had told them. In the midst of the garden grew two\ntrees: one was the Tree of Life, and the other was the Tree of the\nKnowledge of good and evil. God told them that if they ate the fruit\nof this Tree of Knowledge they would die. We do not know what those\ntrees were like, but sometime or other I hope we shall see the Tree of\nLife, for it is growing in heaven, close by the river that flows by the\nThrone of God; and when we see it, and taste of its fruit, we shall\nlive for ever, and be happier than Adam and Eve were. We shall never be\nas happy as they were while we are living in this world; but if we will\ntry to obey God, and live holy lives, He will take us to heaven, and\nthat will be still better than the Garden of Eden.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did God make? 2. Whom did he make? 3. What was the man made\n of? 4. What was the woman made of? 5. What did God breathe into them?\n 6. What did He give them? 7. Why were they better than the beasts? 8.\n What was the man's name? 9. What was the woman's name? 10. Of whom\n were they the father and mother? 11. Where did they live? 12. What had\n they to do there? 13. What grew there? 14. What were the two chief\n trees that grew there? 15. Which were they not to touch? 16. Where is\n the Tree of Life now? 17. When do we hope to see it? 18. What is a\n still happier place than the Garden of Eden?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud\n waves be stayed.\"--_Job 38:11._\n\nWHAT glorious and wonderful things God has made! Did you ever see the\nsea? There it is--a great vast space, all water, looking green near us,\nbut blue further off--always heaving up and down. The waves rise, and\nthen ripple along, and burst with a white edge of bubbles of foam.\n\nA great space that had been left dry gets covered up with water again,\nand where you were walking just now is quite deep water. What is this\ncalled? The tide. Well, what will the tide do in proper time? Will it\ncome rolling in over the beach, and cover up the land? No; presently\neach will turn. Each wave will be a little less high than the last,\ntill it will have gone back again and left the beach uncovered as\nbefore. Why does the tide do this? It is because God so wonderfully\ncontrived this earth and sea, that the waters should rise and go back.\nHe made the sand the bound of the sea, and said, \"Hitherto shalt thou\ncome, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.\" So,\nyou know, we sing in the Psalm every Sunday--\n\n \"The sea is His, and He made it:\n His hands prepared the dry land.\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What curious thing does the sea do every day? 2. What do you call\n the coming in and going back of the sea? 3. Why does the tide always\n stop in its proper place? 4. What did God make the bound of the sea?\n 5. What did he say to it? 6. What verse praises God for making the sea?\n\n\n\n\nSecond Sunday.\n\n_HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.\"--_Gen. 3:13._\n\nLAST Sunday you heard how God made the world, and put a man and woman\nto live in it. The man was named Adam; the woman was named Eve. God\ngave them a beautiful garden to live in, full of trees and flowers; and\nthey had no pain, no trouble, nothing to vex them. Only one thing God\ntold them: there was one tree whose fruit they must not eat. They might\neat the fruit of all the other trees, but not of that one. As long as\nthey obeyed, all was well and happy with them; but if they ate it they\nwould die. But a bad spirit came and took the shape of the serpent,\nand talked to Eve. He told her a wicked lie--he told her that to eat\nthe fruit would make her wise, and would not make her die. And Eve\nlistened, and did eat. And she gave Adam, and he also ate; and so they\ntook the bad spirit for their master instead of the good God. Then God\nwas angry with them, and put them out of the garden, and let them be\nweak and sickly, and die at last.\n\nIt was a sad thing for us. For if they had been good and obeyed God,\nand not the bad spirit, it would have been easy for us to be good, and\nwe would not have the devil tempting us to do wrong: we would never\nhave known pain or sorrow. But God pitied Adam and Eve; and he promised\nthem that the Seed--that is, the Son--of the woman should bruise the\nserpent's head, and set them and their children free.\n\n[Illustration: ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN.--Gen.\n3:23, 24.]\n\nOur Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, set us free when He\ndied on the cross and rose again; and now we belong to Him, and not to\nthe bad spirit. Only we must try and ask Him to help us not to do what\nis wrong, as Eve did, or we shall not keep free from the power of the\nenemy.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the first man? 2. Who was the first woman? 3. Where did God\n put them? 4. What was the one thing they might not do? 5. What was to\n happen if they ate of that fruit? 6. Who came and spoke to Eve? 7.\n What shape did the bad spirit take? 8. What did he tell Eve? 9. What\n did she do? 10. Whom did she make her master? 11. What was done to\n punish her? 12. What sad things did the bad spirit bring on her? 13.\n Who came to set us free from the bad spirit?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the\n earth.\"--_Gen. 6:17._\n\nTHE Lesson this morning told the sad history of how Adam and Eve did\nthe very thing that God forbade; so that He drove them out of the\nGarden of Eden, and sin and death came into the world.\n\n[Illustration: AFTER THE BANISHMENT FROM EDEN.--Gen. 3:19.]\n\nAfter that they had children. Some were good, but not so good as Adam\nand Eve had been at first; and some were bad. And as time went on the\nbad ones grew worse, and the good ones were tempted, and many of them\ngrew wicked too. And so all the world was getting wicked, and God saw\nnothing but evil when He looked down on it. And He said that He would\ndestroy these wicked people, and wash away the evil from the earth by a\ngreat flood. But there was one good man, whose name was Noah; and God\nsaid He would save him.\n\nHe bade Noah build an Ark. It was to be a great ship, all made of wood,\nand it took a great many years to build; and all that time people\nlaughed at Noah, for they would not believe that anything was going to\nhappen. Noah made the Ark, and stored it with food. And God sent him a\npair of all sorts of animals that were in the world, and he put them\ninto pens in the Ark. Then Noah and his wife, and his three sons, Shem,\nHam, and Japhet, and their wives, went into the Ark, and God shut them\nin.\n\n[Illustration: SACRIFICE OF CAIN AND ABEL.--Gen. 4;4, 5.]\n\nThen it began to rain. It rained for forty days and forty nights\nwithout stopping, and the rivers came out of their banks, and the sea\ncame upon the land, and the ground was covered up. Even the tops of\nthe highest hills were hidden, and everybody and every creature was\ndrowned--all but Noah and those that were with him. There was the Ark\nall the time floating quite safe on the water. The storm could not\nupset it nor the sea get into it, for God took care of it and all that\nwas in it.\n\nThe reason Noah was saved was because, first, he tried to be good, and\nnot do like the bad people round him; and next, because he believed\nwhat God said to him, and went on making the Ark, even when he saw no\ndanger. If we wish God to save us, then we must take care that we do\njust what we are told--not what seems pleasant now, but what is really\nright.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Do you know why Adam and Eve were driven out of the happy garden?\n 2. How did people go on after that? 3. How had sin come into the\n world? 4. What did God say He must do to the world? 5. Why? 6. Who\n was to be saved? 7. What was Noah to make? 8. What was the Ark like?\n 9. What were put in it? 10. Why were two of all creatures put into\n the Ark? 11. What men and women were in it? 12. What were the names\n of Noah's sons? 13. What happened when Noah was in the Ark? 14. How\n long did it rain? 15. What was covered up? 16. What became of all the\n people? 17. Who were safe? 18. Where was the Ark? 19. Who took care of\n the Ark? 20. Why was Noah saved?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the\n earth.\"--_Genesis 7:2._\n\nIT must have been a sad sight for Noah and his wife and their sons,\nas the rain went on and on, and the water grew deeper and deeper, and\neverybody and everything was drowned. Then came a time when nothing was\nto be seen but water. Wherever they looked all was sky and water; but\nit had done raining, the sky was blue again, the sun shone by day, the\nstars by night, and they must have been very glad.\n\nAnd still the water got lower, till the Ark did not float about, but\nstopped, resting on a peak of a mountain, a very high mountain, and a\nfew bare tops of other hills began to peep out. By-and-by, Noah opened\nthe window of the Ark and let out a raven. He never saw the raven\nagain, for a raven eats dead things, and there were so many dead\nbodies floating about that it got plenty of food, and never came back\nto the Ark that had saved it.\n\n[Illustration: RETURN OF THE DOVE WITH THE OLIVE BRANCH.--Gen. 8:11.]\n\nHe waited a week, and then he let out a dove. Now doves like trees to\nsit and nestle in, and they eat grains and seeds; so the poor dove\nfound no place to rest in, and flew back to the Ark; and Noah took her\nback, and kept her a week, then let her fly again. She flew away but\nstill she came back to the Ark, and this time she brought in her beak a\nsprig of olive branch.\n\nIt was the first green thing that Noah had seen for a year! Noah's\nchildren have loved the olive leaf everywhere, and called it the sign\nof peace and good news ever since.\n\nFor now Noah knew that the waters had gone down, and that trees must\nbe able to put forth leaves again. Once more, after another week, he\nlet out the dove, and she did not come back, for she had found a tree\nwhere she could make her home, and seeds to eat; and then Noah knew the\nsad time of the flood--a whole year--was over, and the earth had been\nwashed from all her stains.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the Flood? 2. What was the Ark? 3. Who was in it? 4. What\n had Noah with him in the Ark? 5. What became of everyone else? 6. Why?\n 7. Why was Noah saved? 8. How long did the Flood last? 9. What birds\n did Noah send out of the Ark? 10. Which came back? 11. Why did not the\n raven come back? 12. What did the dove bring? 13. What was Noah sure\n of then? 14. What had the earth been washed from?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nThird Sunday.\n\n_THE RAINBOW._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"I do set my Bow in the Cloud.\"--_Genesis 9:13._\n\nTHE sin that came into the world when Eve listened to the tempter had\ngrown as men multiplied and made each other worse. The wicked people\nhad been drowned in the Flood, and Noah, his sons and their wives, had\nalone been saved in the Ark. After a whole year of being shut up there,\nwatching the earth, first drowned and then coming out of the water,\nthey had just come out on the fresh green earth, with all the animals\nsaved with them, when God spoke to them.\n\nThen God made a promise to Noah. It was that no flood of water shall\never drown all the world again, but spring, summer, autumn, and winter,\nday and night, will go on to the end of the world, when it shall be\nburnt up by fire, not drowned by water.\n\nThat Noah, and all of his after him, might feel sure that God in\nHis mercy will go on preserving us, and giving us days and nights,\nseed-time and harvest, He gave us something to look at as a sign of His\npromise. He so ordered the rays of light, that when they shine upon\ndrops of water in the air they cause beautiful colors, making part of\na circle, so as to form a bow. So when the sun shines on a cloud, as\nit rains, the fair bright rainbow is seen, as a pledge to us of God's\nmerciful care and love to us.\n\n[Illustration: NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEAVING THE ARK.--Gen. 8:18, 19.]\n\n[Illustration: NOAH'S SACRIFICE AFTER THE FLOOD.--Gen. 8:20.]\n\nThere is a rainbow round about the Throne of God in Heaven; and the\nlovely rainbows that we see when the sun shines out, and the showers\ndrift away, are to put us in mind that we are safe under His care, in\nright of His promise to Noah and his three sons, of whom the whole\nearth was peopled. We are the children of his son Japhet, and all that\nwas then said to him belongs to us also. We should recollect it, and\nput our trust in Him, and be thankful when we see the beautiful soft\narch that the Hands of the Almighty have bended, looking out of the\nmidst of the dark watery clouds.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What beautiful sight do we sometimes see after a shower? 2. What is\n a rainbow like? 3. Who put the rainbow in the cloud? 4. Who was the\n man to whom God showed the rainbow? 5. What promise did God make Noah?\n 6. What had God just done to the wicked people? 7. Whom had he saved?\n 8. What did he say should always go on? 9. What did God put in the sky\n to show that he will not send another Flood? 10. What are we to think\n of when we see a rainbow? 11. Who takes care of us? 12. Where is there\n a rainbow in Heaven above?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.\"--_Genesis 12:3._\n\nWHEN Noah's grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to be more and\nmore, and the world was being filled with people again, they still were\nnot all good, and the longer time went on the worse they grew.\n\nAt last God called to a very good man, whose name was Abram, and told\nhim that if he would come away from his home to a land God would show\nhim, then God would bless him and lead him, and by-and-by give the land\nto his children, and that their children after them should be more in\nnumber than the grains of sand on the sea-shore, or than the stars\nin the sky: and that in his seed--that was, in a Son of his--all the\nnations of the earth should be blessed.\n\nIt was strange to hear all this about Abram's children, for he was\ngrowing old, and he and his wife Sarai had no children at all. But he\nbelieved in God. He knew that God is Almighty, and can do whatever\nHe will; so he only did just as God told him, and went away from his\nhome, where God told him. He was obliged to take all his cattle with\nhim--quantities of cows, and goats, and sheep, and camels; and he had\nmany servants to drive them.\n\n[Illustration: ABRAM SEES THE PROMISED LAND.--Gen. 12:3-7.]\n\nWhen they came to a piece of grass and a fresh spring of water, there\nthey would stop. They had no houses--only tents, which were great\ncurtains woven of goat's hair and fastened up with poles, so that they\ncould be set up or taken down, and carried about. All his life Abram\nlived in a tent, instead of staying at home in a city, and being at his\nease.\n\nBy-and-by he came to a beautiful country. There were high hills rising\nup, and green valleys between, full of grass for the sheep and cattle;\nand the wide sea spread out far away towards the sunset, all blue and\nglorious. God told him to look at the land, for that was the place\nwhich his children should have for their own; but in the meantime Abram\nhad not one bit of it, and was a stranger there; and he had no child\neither.\n\n[Illustration: MELCHIZEDEK BLESSING ABRAM.--Gen. 14:18, 19, 20.]\n\nBut still he was quite sure that God spoke truth; and that somehow,\nthough he did not know how, it would come about that his children\nshould have the land, and that in One all the nations of the earth\nshould be blessed. That was faith.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What good man do you hear of to-day? 2. What did God tell Abram\n to do? 3. What did God promise? 4. Who were to have the land? 5. Why\n was it strange to hear of his children? 6. But did he believe it\n would come true? 7. Why did he believe it? 8. How did he show that he\n believed? 9. Where did he go? 10. What had he with him? 11. What did\n he live in? 12. What is a tent like? 13. What sort of place did he\n come to?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me.\"--_Gen.\n 13:8._\n\nTWO men were travelling together. They were an uncle and nephew. The\nuncle's name was Abram, the nephew's was Lot. They had come from home,\nbecause God had told Abram to come away from his own home to the land\nthat God would give his children. Abram believed, and did as God bade\nhim; and Lot, the son of his dead brother, went with him. They did not\ngo alone. Each of them had great flocks of cows, and sheep, and camels,\nand goats, and numbers of servants to take care of them. They would fix\ntheir tents, made of camels' hair, in any place where they saw a spring\nof water and good green grass for their cattle; and there they would\nstay till all the grass was eaten up, and then take up their tents and\nmove to another place.\n\n\nPARTING OF ABRAM AND LOT.\n\nJust now they had got to a bare stony place, where the sun shone hotly,\nand there was not much green; but Abram had built up an altar with the\ngreat stones, and prayed there. Abram and Lot loved one another, and\nwere at peace; but when their servants drove out their flocks to get\nfood and water there were apt to be quarrels. If Abram's men found a\ngreen grassy valley, they would not let Lot's cattle into it; and if\nLot's came to a well, they would not let Abram's flocks drink; and so\non. They were always quarrelling and making complaints to their masters.\n\nAt last Abram saw that they would make Lot quarrel with him. So he said\nit would be wiser to part; Lot should go one way and he another--any\nway there should be no strife. And he even told Lot to choose which\nway he would go. So Lot looked, and saw to the East a pleasant green\nvalley, with fields of corn and meadows, and a fine river running into\na clear lake, and five fine towns on the bank. He liked it better than\nthe bare stony hills where Abram was; and he never thought whether the\npeople were good or not, but he took the first choice, and went to live\nthere. So Abram gave up. He had the right to choose first, but he would\nnot use it. He let his nephew choose. For he hated quarrels, and knew\nthey were wicked; and he knew how to stop them, because he would yield\nup the best. That is the way to make peace and please God.\n\n[Illustration: ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE ANGELS.--Gen. 18:10.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who had called Abram? 2. Who went with him? 3. What was Lot to\n Abram? 4. Why did he go? 5. What had God promised? 6. What had they\n with them? 7. Who quarrelled? 8. About what did the servants quarrel?\n 9. Did Abram and Lot quarrel? 10. How did Abram prevent a quarrel?\n 11. Who was to choose first? 12. Who might have chosen first? 13. Why\n did not Abram choose first? 14. Ought you to be in haste to take the\n first choice? 15. What should you try to hinder? 16. And if you keep\n yourself back, and don't say \"It's mine,\" and \"I must,\" shall you not\n be likely to keep from quarrels?\n\n\n\n\nFourth Sunday.\n\n_ABRAHAM AND LOT._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Escape for thy life; look not behind thee.\"--_Genesis 19:17._\n\nTHERE was a beautiful valley, with steep hills shutting it in on all\nsides, and a clear swift river running through the midst and spreading\ninto a lake. There were fine fields and rich grass, where sheep, cows,\nand goats could feed, and the shepherds shelter themselves under the\npalm trees; and on the bank of the river were five cities, with strong\nwalls round them, and full of rich people, who bought and sold and made\nmerry with the good things they possessed. There was one man living\namong them who was good, and was grieved by the wicked ways of the men\nround him, who only laughed at him if he tried to tell them of better\nthings. One evening two strangers came into the city where he lived,\nand he was the only person who would take them in, and shelter them\nfrom the wicked people in the street.\n\nThose strangers told him the place was to be destroyed, with all that\nwere in it, because it was so wicked! Though the fields looked so\nquiet, the walls so strong, and the sun had gone down as usual, all\nwould be ruined in a few hours' time! Then the strangers took hold of\nhim, and his wife and daughters, and led them almost by force away from\ntheir home in the dawn of morning, bidding them escape for their lives\nto the mountain, and not look back. They were frightened, and begged\nnot to have to go so far as the wild mountain. Might they not go to the\nlittle city near at hand? And their wish was granted.\n\n[Illustration: LOT AND HIS FAMILY FLEEING FROM SODOM--Gen. 19:24-26.]\n\nJust as the sun had risen they entered the little city for which they\nhad begged; and as soon as they were safe the four towns, that had\nseemed so strong and firm, were all burning with fire and brimstone;\nand all the sinners who had mocked at warning were soon lying dead\nunder God's awful anger! Four alone had been led out of the city by\nthe strangers, but even of these only three came into the city of\nrefuge. The wife did not heed the warning not to linger nor look back,\nthe deadly storm overtook her, and she remained rooted to the spot--a\npillar of salt!\n\nThe names of those cities were Sodom and Gomorrah, and the one good\nman who was saved by the mercy of God was named Lot. And now a strange\ngloomy lake called the Dead Sea covers that valley with its heavy\nwaters, and the bare rocky hills, crusted with salt, show that the\ncurse of God is on the place.\n\nLet us try to carry home one thought from this terrible history. This\nworld will one day be burnt up like those cities, and its looking safe\nand prosperous now does not make it safe. But God sends messengers to\nlead us out of it. If we attend to them, and follow their advice, we\nshall through all our lives be getting out of danger, and going on to\na safe home in heaven; but if we care only for pleasant things here,\nit is like looking back, and our souls will perish with what they\nlove. That is why our Saviour bade us \"Remember Lot's wife.\" We should\nremember her when we are tempted to think it hard to give up anything\npleasant, because we are told that it is wrong, and may put us in\ndanger of God's anger.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the name of the place I told you of to-day? 2. What was\n the name of the man? 3. What kind of place was Sodom? 4. Who was the\n only good man there? 5. Who came to Lot? 6. What did he do for the\n strangers? 7. What did the strangers tell Lot? 8. Why was Lot to come\n out of Sodom? 9. Why was Sodom to be destroyed? 10. Where did Lot go?\n 11. Who looked back? 12. What became of her? 13. What did God do to\n Sodom? 14. What sort of a place is it now? 15. What will be burnt up\n some day? 16. If we are not good, what will become of us? 17. But what\n have we to teach us to be good? 18. And how must we try to come out,\n like Lot?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld\n thy son, thine only son from Me.\"--_Genesis 22:12._\n\nBY-AND-BY Abraham had a son--one only son, whose name was Isaac. All\nthe promises God had made were to be for Isaac's children after him:\nand Abraham loved God, and hoped all the more.\n\nBut then God called Abraham to do a strange and terrible thing. He was\nto go and take his dear son Isaac to the top of a hill, and there to\noffer him up to God as if he had been a calf or a lamb. Of course, in\ngeneral, to do such a thing would be shockingly wicked; but Abraham\nknew that when God commanded a thing, it must be right to do as he was\nbidden, however dreadful it was to him.\n\nSo they set out together. Abraham took the knife, and a vessel with\nfire in it and Isaac carried the wood with which the sacrifice was\nto be burnt. On the way Isaac said, \"My father, behold the fire and\nthe wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?\" And Abraham\nanswered, \"My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt\noffering.\"\n\n[Illustration: ABRAHAM OFFERING ISAAC AS A SACRIFICE.--Gen. 22:11, 12.]\n\nIsaac soon knew he was to be the lamb, for his father put the wood\nin order, and bound his limbs, and took the knife. And Isaac did not\ncomplain or struggle. He was ready, like his father, to do the will of\nGod. But just as Abraham had the knife ready to slay his son, an angel\ncalled to him out of Heaven: \"Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither\ndo thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God,\nseeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.\"\n\n[Illustration: ABRAHAM'S SERVANT MEETING REBEKAH AT THE WELL.--Gen.\n24:17.]\n\n[Illustration: REBEKAH SEES ISAAC COMING TO MEET HER.--Gen. 24:64, 65.]\n\nThen Abraham unbound his son, and was glad as if Isaac had really risen\nfrom the dead. And he saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns;\nso he took that, and offered it up instead of Isaac. Thus God really\nprovided a lamb for a burnt offering.\n\nAnd He blessed Abraham more and more, and promised again that his\nchildren should have the land, and that in his Seed should all the\nnations of the earth be blessed. That Seed was our blessed LORD JESUS\nCHRIST, who, you know, was really given by His Heavenly Father to die,\nand then came back from the dead, that all people might be saved by Him.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the name of Abraham's son? 2. What had God promised\n Abraham? 3. What had Abraham done at God's command? 4. What was he now\n to do? 5. Whom did he obey? 6. Where was he to go? 7. Who went with\n him? 8. What did Isaac ask? 9. What did Abraham answer? 10. Who seemed\n likely to be the Lamb? 11. What was Abraham just going to do? 12. Who\n called him? 13. What did the angel tell him? 14. Why was God pleased\n with him? 15. What blessing did God give him? 16. Who was to be saved?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"I am a stranger and a sojourner with you.\"--_Genesis 23:4._\n\nABRAHAM and his wife Sarah had lived together many years; but at last\nSarah died, and Abraham wanted to bury her. You know in all the country\nhe had not one morsel of ground of his own; he was a stranger there,\nbut he knew it would all belong to his children by-and-by. But he\nwanted to make sure of the one bit where his wife should lie. So he\nwent to the prince to whom Hebron belonged, and begged to buy a field\nwith trees in it, and a rock where there was a deep cave that was\ncalled Machpelah.\n\nThe prince said he would give it; but Abraham could not feel sure\nthat it would be always safe till he had bought it. So he weighed out\nthe price. It was not in little bits of money like ours, but lumps of\nsilver all the same weight, and each with a mark stamped on it--four\nhundred of them. Then the cave was given to Abraham, and he had his\ngood true wife Sarah buried there, rolled in linen with spices. He was\nburied there afterwards himself, and so was his son Isaac, and Isaac's\nson after him, in the cave of Machpelah.\n\nThat cave has been kept sacred ever since. There is a building over it\nnow, and no stranger is allowed to go into it; but deep down there is\na golden grating, and far within lie these holy men and women of old.\nTheir bodies are waiting to rise again at the Last Day, and then I hope\nwe shall see them and know them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Abraham's wife? 2. Where did Sarah die? 3. What did Abraham\n want to do? 4. Had he any ground? 5. So what was he obliged to do?\n 6. Of whom did he buy the place? 7. What was it called? 8. What is a\n cave? 9. What did he pay? 10. What was Abraham's money? 11. Who were\n buried there afterwards? 12. How is the place marked now? 13. When\n will Sarah's body leave the grave in the cave of Machpelah? 14. What\n do you say you believe in? (In the eleventh Article of the Creed.) 15.\n What is Resurrection?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nFifth Sunday.\n\n_JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Bless me, even me also, O my father.\"--_Genesis 27:34._\n\nGOD had called Abraham from his home, and promised to give his children\nthe land of Canaan, and that in his Seed all the nations of the earth\nshould be blessed. This was renewing to Abraham the great promise of\nthe Seed of the woman that had been made to Eve; and Abraham believed,\nand was glad. But though his children were to have the land, none of it\nwas his; and he went up and down in it a stranger, living in his tent,\nwithout house or home, only trusting in faith to God's promise to his\nchildren. His son Isaac lived like him, with no home, but looking on in\nfaith to what God promised.\n\nIsaac had two sons; and as Esau was the eldest, he had the first right\nto these promises. But Esau did not care enough about them; he did not\nseem to get anything by them, and he liked what he could get at once\nbetter than what was a long way off. He had no faith.\n\nOne day he came home half dead with hunger, and saw his brother Jacob\nmaking soup over the fire. He said he would give all these rights for\na meal of the soup; for if he died of hunger, what good would his\nbirth-right do him? So for a mess of pottage he sold his right to the\nland of Canaan, and to be the forefather of our Saviour.\n\nA time was to come when he would be sorry for what he had done. His\nfather was old and blind, and thought he was going to die; so he bade\nEsau, whom he loved the best, bring home some meat and make a solemn\nfeast--which was the way then of giving a blessing. Esau went, and in\ntime brought home the meat to his father; but when he came in, Isaac\ncried out, and trembled! His brother Jacob had come in his stead, and\nIsaac had taken him for Esau, and given to him the blessing that gave\nthe right to the promised land, and to all God's promises!\n\n[Illustration: ISAAC BLESSING JACOB.--Gen. 27:28, 29.]\n\nThen Esau cried out with an exceeding bitter cry, and asked if his\nfather had but one blessing! Isaac was grieved for him, and blest him\nwith all his heart; but there was no changing back, no taking away what\nJacob had won and Esau had lost.\n\nEsau did not know what he was doing when he took the pottage at once,\nrather than wait patiently for the glorious inheritance that was\nto come. This was the reason that he was allowed to be so cruelly\ndisappointed. This is a warning to us. We have the inheritance of the\nkingdom of heaven promised to us; but we are tempted not to care about\nit when we want something here in this world, whether play, or dress,\nor anything that seems a great deal to us now.\n\nBut if we trifle away our right to these great promises that God made\nus at our baptism, there will come a time of bitter grief, when it\nis too late. And when we are dead, it will be too late to change!\nTherefore, now while we are alive, we must have faith, and show it by\ntaking care that the things we like here on earth do not make us lose\nthe better things in heaven.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What were the names of Isaac's two sons? 2. What had God promised\n Isaac? 3. Which son had the first right to the promise? 4. But which\n cared about it most? 5. What did Esau want? 6. So what did he give up\n for the sake of the soup? 7. Could he get it back again? 8. What are\n you an heir of? 9. How could we lose the inheritance of the kingdom\n of heaven? 10. Shall we be able to change after we are dead? 11. Then\n what must we care about most? 12. Why could not Esau get his father's\n blessing? 13. What did he like better than waiting for what he could\n not see? 14. Can we see heaven? 15. But when we get there, will it not\n be better than anything we can see here?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of\n heaven.\"--_Genesis 28:17._\n\nYOU know that Isaac, Abraham's son, had two sons, whose names were Esau\nand Jacob. Now Jacob had grieved Esau by gaining God's great promise,\nfor which Esau was so angry with him, that he had to go out away from\nhis father's home, all alone. But Jacob knew he was not alone, for God\nwas with him. He went on till night came. Then he was in a dismal stony\nplace, with no house or shelter near--only big stones, and here and\nthere a thistle.\n\nHe said his prayers, and then he lay down, with a stone for his pillow\nand the sky over him. But in the night he saw a wonder. There was a\nladder reaching from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up\nand down, and the Lord Himself stood at the top of the ladder. And\nHe told Jacob that He was going to give his children all the land he\nsaw--North, South, East, and West; and that He would take care of him,\nand be with him wherever he went, and in time bring him safe home.\n\n[Illustration: JACOB'S VISION OF ANGELS.--Gen. 28:12, 13.]\n\nJacob woke, and found it was a dream, but he knew it was true, and that\nGod had really spoken to him; and though he was glad he was afraid, and\nhe said, \"How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house\nof God, and this is the gate of heaven.\" And that he might always know\nthe place, he put one of the great stones upright, and he took some of\nthe sweet olive oil he had brought to eat on his journey, and poured it\non the stone, as the only thing he could do to show honor to God.\n\nThen he made a solemn holy vow, that if God would take care of him on\nhis way, and give him food to eat and clothes to wear, he would make a\ngift to God all his life of the tenth part of all he had. Good people\nlike to do like Jacob, and give God their tenth. And if we only had our\neyes opened to see, like his, we should see God's angels coming up and\ndown with blessings for us, for we go to the house of God and gate of\nheaven whenever we go to church. Let us recollect how awful Jacob felt\nit to be so near to God.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Jacob? 2. Who was Isaac? 3. Who was Esau? 4. Why was Jacob\n obliged to go away? 5. What was the promise? 6. What kind of place had\n he to sleep in? 7. What was his pillow? 8. But what did he see? 9. Who\n went up and down? 10. Who stood at the top? 11. What did God promise\n him? 12. What did Jacob say of the place? 13. How did he mark it? 14.\n What did he pour on the stone? 15. What vow did he make? 16. What are\n the houses of God? 17. Who comes up and down to us? 18. What do the\n angels bring us? 19. How much did Jacob promise to give God? 20. What\n does God do for us?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"As a prince hast thou prevailed.\"--_Genesis 32:28._\n\nIT was a long journey that Jacob had had to take, but God took care of\nhim, and brought him safe to the home where his mother had come from.\nHe lived there, and took care of his uncle's sheep and cattle, till he\nhad earned a great many for his own; and he had married there, and had\na great many sons. But after a time God commanded him to go home to\nthe land of Canaan. He was afraid, because he thought his brother Esau\nmight still be angry with him; but, in spite of his fear, he did as God\nbade him.\n\n[Illustration: JACOB MEETING RACHEL.--Gen. 29:10-12.]\n\n[Illustration: LABAN HIRING JACOB.--Gen. 29:18, 19.]\n\nWhen he came near the river Jordan, which flows on the East side of the\nland of Canaan, he prayed to God to guard him, and once more God let\nhim see the angels who were going with him to protect him. He was glad,\nbut he was still very careful. He chose out a present of cows, and\ngoats, and camels, and sheep, for Esau, and sent it on to meet him; and\nthen he sent on the other cattle he wanted to keep for himself; then\nhis children; and last of all, in the safest place, his dear young son\nJoseph.\n\n[Illustration: JACOB'S DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN.--Gen. 31:17, 18.]\n\nEsau came to meet him, but not in anger. The two brothers met, and fell\non one another's neck and kissed one another, and were friends. So God\nhad kept His promise to take care of Jacob; and Jacob kept his promise,\nfor he set up an altar at Bethel, where he had seen the angels before,\nand praised and blessed God.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Jacob? 2. Why had he left home? 3. With whom did he go to\n live? 4. What did he earn there? 5. Why did he go back? 6. Why was he\n afraid? 7. What comforted him? 8. Of whom do God's angels take care?\n 9. What did he give Esau? 10. How did he put his family in order? 11.\n Who went last? 12. How did Esau meet him? 13. What was the quarrel\n between them? 14. But was Esau angry? 15. How did Jacob show he was\n thankful?\n\n[Illustration: JACOB AND THE ANGEL.--Genesis 32:24.]\n\n[Illustration: THE MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU.--Gen. 33:3, 4.]\n\n\n\n\nSixth Sunday.\n\n_JOSEPH IN EGYPT._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"His brethren envied him.\"--_Genesis 37:11._\n\nI TOLD you how Jacob went away from home, and how God promised to take\ncare of him. He did take care of him: He led him to his uncle, and with\nhim Jacob lived many years, and then came back with flocks of sheep and\ngoats, camels and cows. And he had twelve sons. The best one of them\nwas named Joseph. Jacob loved him very much, and gave him a striped\ndress of many colors, such as the son who is to be the heir wears in\nthose countries. But his brothers hated and envied him, and were all\nthe time finding fault with him.\n\nOne day, when Joseph was seventeen years old, ten of the brothers were\nout with their sheep, and Jacob desired Joseph to go and see what they\nwere about. He would not tell his father how unkind they were to him,\nbut he went; and as they saw him coming some of them were so wicked as\nto say that they would kill him, and never let him go home. Reuben, who\nwas the eldest brother, tried to hinder them; but when he saw he could\nnot stop them, he said the best way would be, not to kill him, but to\nlet him down into a dry well just by.\n\nThere they meant to let him starve to death; and they let him down\nwithout any pity for him. Reuben meant to come by-and-by and take\nJoseph out of the pit and save him; but there was another brother,\nnamed Judah, who did not want to have him killed, and who saw a great\nparty of men, with camels and asses laden with goods, going on a\njourney. He knew they were merchants, going to sell and buy in Egypt,\nand he advised the other brothers to persuade them to buy Joseph; for\nin those days men and women used to be bought and sold, and were called\nslaves.\n\n[Illustration: JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN.--Gen. 37:28.]\n\nSo Joseph was drawn up out of the pit; and when the merchants saw\nwhat a fine young man he was, they paid the price for him and carried\nhim off, away from his father and all he had ever known or cared for\nbefore. The cruel brothers kept his colored dress; and they killed a\nkid and stained it in the blood, and then carried it to their father,\ntelling him they had found it. Jacob thought some wild beast had met\nJoseph and killed and eaten him, and he mourned and wept. His sons\npretended to comfort him; but not one of them would tell him that\nJoseph was not dead.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Whose son was Jacob? 2. How many sons had Jacob? 3. What did he set\n them to do? 4. Which did he love best? 5. What did he give Joseph?\n 6. Where did he send Joseph? 7. What did the brothers want to do? 8.\n Who wished to save him? 9. So what did Reuben persuade them to do?\n 10. What did Reuben mean to do? 11. But who came by? 12. What did the\n brothers do with Joseph? 13. Who persuaded them to sell him? 14. What\n are people called who are bought and sold? 15. What was done with his\n coat? 16. What did Jacob think?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.\"--_Genesis 39:3._\n\nSO we see Joseph a slave. A slave is a servant who belongs to his\nmaster, as his cows and horses do; he gets no wages, and cannot go\naway, but is bought and sold like cattle.\n\nThink of poor Joseph. He was used to live as the son of a great rich\nprince, wearing a dress of many bright colors, with many servants, and\nno one to obey but his kind fond father; and living in a beautiful\nland, all hill and valley, where he used to feed his father's flocks.\nBut now he was a slave in a strange land, with people speaking a\nlanguage he did not know, and no one to care for him or say a good word\nto him, shut up in a house in a town, far away from his dear hills.\n\nStill he had one comfort, and the best of all--God was with him. He\ncould still pray to God, and do his duty. And he did his work well,\nfor God helped him, and everything he did was made to prosper in his\nhand. Then he was trusted. His master knew that he always took care of\neverything, as if it was his own, and left all to him, quite sure that\nit would be safe.\n\nBut his wicked mistress made up a story that he had behaved ill, and he\nwas put in prison for what he had not done. This sounds hard, but it\nwas God's own way of bringing good to pass, and making Joseph come at\nlast to honor. Very soon he was loved and trusted in his prison; and\nall he did the Lord made it to prosper.\n\nThink about this. Try when you have anything to do--a lesson or a bit\nof work--to ask God to make it prosper. Then if you try your best He\nwill help, and it will be sure to turn out well.\n\nThen try to deserve to be trusted. That is a great thing. If you always\nrecollect that God sees you, you will do the same when no one is with\nyou as if all the world were watching; and that is the way to be true\nand just in all your dealings. If you are only good when you are looked\nat, you are not like Joseph, but are only doing service outwardly. You\nmust try to live that your parents may\n\n \"Out of sight\n Know all is right,\n One law for darkness and for light.\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Whose son was Joseph? 2. How many sons had Joseph? 3. What had\n they done to him? 4. Why had Joseph's brothers sold him? 5. What is a\n slave? 6. How did Joseph behave as a slave? 7. Who comforted him? 8.\n How did he take care of his master's things? 9. Who made up a story\n against him? 10. What was done to him? 11. But who was with him still?\n 12. Did he always stay in prison? 13. And what did people think of\n him, wherever he was? 14. What is the way to be like Joseph? 15. If\n you are trusted to carry a message, how should you do it? 16. Who\n always sees you? 17. Then, even if no one is by, how should you behave?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Do not interpretations belong to God?\"--_Gen. 40:8._\n\nTHE young son of Jacob, Joseph, had, you know, been sold by his cruel\nbrothers, and made a slave of; and then a wicked falsehood was told\nabout him, and he was put into prison. But wherever Joseph was he tried\nto do his duty, and so God blessed him; and the keeper of the prison\nsoon found out how different he was from the others, and let him help.\nI suppose he helped to carry them their food and wait upon them; and he\noften could say a few kind good words to them.\n\nOne day two grand people came in as prisoners. One was the chief of\nall the bakers, who made bread for king Pharaoh; and the other was\nthe chief of all his cup-bearers, who carried him his wine. Some\nwrong thing had happened, and they were both suspected of having had\nsomething to do with it, so they had been sent to prison.\n\n\nWANTED TO KNOW THE DREAMS' MEANING.\n\nOne morning Joseph saw them both looking more sad than usual; and when\nhe asked what was the matter, they said each had a dream, and they\nwanted to know what it meant; for the Egyptians used to think a great\ndeal of dreams, and there were men among them who pretended to explain\nthem. Most dreams have no meaning, but these had, and God put it into\nJoseph's heart to understand them.\n\nThe cup-bearer had dreamt that he saw a vine, and that it had three\nbunches of grapes, and that he was squeezing the juice into the king's\ncup as he used to do. Joseph said this meant that in three days the\ncup-bearer should really hand Pharaoh the cup again; and Joseph begged\nthat when he was free, he would tell the king about himself, and get\nhim set free.\n\nThen the baker told his dream--that he had three baskets full of pastry\nand bread ready for Pharaoh, but that the birds came down and ate them\nup. Joseph was obliged to tell him that this meant that he would be\nhanged, and that the vulture and ravens would eat his flesh. So it\nhappened. Pharaoh looked into the matter in three days' time; he caused\nthe baker to be hung, and the cup-bearer to come back to his old place.\nBut the cup-bearer was ungrateful, and forgot all about Joseph in his\nprison, trusting to him.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Joseph? 2. Where was he? 3. How came he to be in Egypt? 4.\n Where had he been put? 5. Had he done anything wrong? 6. Who trusted\n him? 7. What had he to do? 8. Who came into the prison? 9. What was\n the cup-bearer's dream? 10. What was the baker's dream? 11. What did\n Joseph say the cup-bearer's dream meant? 12. What did the baker's\n dream mean? 13. What happened? 14. What had Joseph asked of the\n cup-bearer? 15. Did he remember?\n\n[Illustration: POURING OUT A DRINK OFFERING.]\n\n\n\n\nSeventh Sunday.\n\n_JOSEPH'S BROTHERS._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"We are verily guilty concerning our brother.\"--_Genesis 42:21._\n\nJOSEPH did not always stay in prison, for God gave him wisdom to tell\nthe king of Egypt that his dreams had meant that there were going to\nbe first seven years of very fine harvests, and then seven years would\ncome of no harvests at all. So the king took him out of prison, and\nmade him a great lord; and he set to work to buy the corn that was over\nand above what people wanted to eat in the years of plenty, that he\nmight store it up against the years when the corn would not grow.\n\nSo when the bad harvest began, Joseph had plenty of corn, and he sold\nit for the king to all who wanted it. The famine was not only in Egypt,\nbut in all the countries round; and by-and-by Joseph saw, among the\npeople that came to buy, ten of his own brothers--the same who had sold\nhim for a slave.\n\nHe knew them, for they still looked like shepherds; but they did not\nknow him, for he had grown from a youth to a man, and was dressed like\nan Egyptian lord; and he would not seem to know them, though he wanted\nmuch to know what had become of his old father and his little brother\nBenjamin. He made as if he thought they were enemies, come to see if\nEgypt could be conquered when it was so bare of food.\n\nThen they told him who they were; that they were all one man's sons,\nand that one brother they had lost; the other was left with his\nfather, who could not bear to part with him. Joseph would not seem to\nbelieve this, and said he must keep one of them in prison, while he\nsent the rest back to fetch their youngest brother, or else he could\nnot believe them.\n\nThen, when fear and trouble came on them, they began to think how ill\nthey had used their lost brother Joseph; and they said to each other,\n\"We are verily guilty concerning our brother.\" Joseph heard them, and\ncould hardly bear it; but still he kept to his plan. He kept Simeon a\nprisoner, that he might be sure of the others coming back, and sent\nthem home to fetch Benjamin. But he would not have any of the money\nthey had brought for the corn, and made his steward put it all back\ninto the mouth of their sacks.\n\n[Illustration: JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM.--Gen. 41:29, 30.]\n\nWhen they found this out as they went home, they were much afraid; and\nwhen they came home, their father was more afraid still. After the way\nthey had used Joseph, he thought they had killed Simeon, and wanted to\nkill Benjamin. They spoke truth now, but he could not believe them; and\nhe said he could not send Benjamin, for if mischief should befall the\nlad, \"then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where was Joseph? 2. Why was he in prison? 3. What did God make him\n able to tell the king? 4. How many years was there to be much corn?\n 5. What was to be done with the corn? 6. Who managed the buying it?\n 7. When was the corn wanted? 8. Who came to buy corn? 9. Who did not\n come? 10. Why did not Joseph's brothers know him? 11. What did he make\n believe to think? 12. Whom did he tell them to fetch? 13. What did\n he give back to them? 14. What did their father say about Benjamin's\n going? 15. Why was he afraid to trust them with Benjamin? 16. What is\n the way to be believed?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"God Almighty give you mercy before the man.\"--_Genesis 43:14._\n\nJOSEPH'S brothers were soon obliged to go again and buy more corn in\nEgypt. Joseph had said they must bring the young brother they had\ntold him of, or he should not believe their story; and when they said\nBenjamin must go, their father Jacob was greatly grieved, and showed\nhow little he could trust them now, after the way they had behaved\nto Joseph. He would not have let Benjamin go at all if Judah had not\npromised to take the greatest care of him; and Judah could be trusted.\n\nThe story is so beautiful, and so easy to understand in the Bible, that\nI hardly like to tell it in my own words. Only think of Joseph's heart\nbeing so full when he saw his own dear youngest brother, that he could\nnot stay with him for his tears, and went away to weep in his chamber!\nAnd yet he still tried the brothers. He wanted to see if they still\nwere envious of the one their father loved best; so he made his steward\nhide his cup in Benjamin's sack of corn, and then go after them, and\npretend to think they had stolen it.\n\nThe sons of Jacob were no thieves, and they said the steward might\nsearch their sacks. They took them down and looked, and there was the\ncup in Benjamin's sack!\n\nThey were all shocked; and the steward said that Benjamin must go back\nand be punished.\n\nHow pleased they would have been long ago if such a misfortune had\nhappened to Joseph! But now their hearts were changed, and they were\nshocked and grieved.\n\n[Illustration: JOSEPH PROCLAIMED RULER OVER EGYPT.--Gen. 41:41, 43.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What had Joseph's brothers done to him? 2. What trouble did you\n hear last Sunday he was in? 3. But how did he behave? 4. And what had\n he come to be? 5. What had he stored up? 6. Who came to buy corn? 7.\n How many brothers came? 8. Which did not come? 9. Why did not Benjamin\n come? 10. Did the brothers know Joseph? 11. What did he tell them to\n do? 12. When he saw Benjamin, where did he go? 13. What did Joseph\n tell his steward to do? 14. What did Joseph want to see? 15. How did\n the brothers behave this time?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"God did send me before you to preserve life.\"--_Genesis 45:5._\n\nALL the eleven sons of Jacob turned back in grief, and fear, and\ndismay, when Benjamin, the youngest brother, whom Judah had promised\nto bring safely back to their father, was found to have the silver cup\nof the lord of the land in his sack. How it came there they could not\nguess, but they knew that their father's heart would break if they came\nhome and left Benjamin to be a slave.\n\n[Illustration: JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.--Gen. 45:2.]\n\nSo they all came to the lord of the land; and Judah stood up before the\nstrange, stern, princely man, and told him how much their old father\nloved this youngest son, and he would be sure to die if the lad did not\ncome home safe. And then Judah begged to stay and be a slave in Egypt,\ninstead of his brother Benjamin, for he said if mischief befell the lad\nhis father would die, and that he could not bear to see.\n\nBut when Judah so spake, the lord of the land sent all the lookers-on\naway, and wept aloud, and said that he was their own brother Joseph,\nwhom they had sold so long ago. He would not let them be afraid; he\nembraced them all and wept for joy, and asked for his father. Then he\ntold them not to grieve for what had gone before; for God had turned it\nall to good, and made him be the means of saving all their lives, by\nstoring up the corn in Egypt.\n\n[Illustration: JOSEPH MEETING HIS FATHER.--Gen. 46:29, 30.]\n\nAnd now they were to go home, and tell Jacob, their father, that Joseph\nwas still alive, and was a great and powerful man; and they were to\nfetch old Jacob, their father, and their wives and their children, and\nall they had, and come to live with Joseph in Egypt, where he would\ntake care of them.\n\nThat was the way Joseph forgot all the ill his brothers had done to\nhim, and forgave them, and loved them with all his heart. When the\nbrothers came home, their father Jacob could scarcely believe such good\nnews; but at last he said, \"Joseph my son is yet alive, I will go to\nsee him before I die.\"\n\nAnd he came down to Egypt, and Joseph met him and fell on his neck and\nkissed him; and then there was joy indeed, joy as if Joseph had come\nback from the dead.\n\nSo Jacob lived all the rest of his life in Egypt, and was happy with\nhis son Joseph. God had given him another name, Israel, and his sons,\nand their sons after them, were always called the children of Israel.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Benjamin? 2. What was found in Benjamin's sack? 3. Who put\n it there? 4. What was going to be done to Benjamin? 5. Who spoke for\n him? 6. What did Judah ask? 7. Who did the lord of the land turn out\n to be? 8. How came Joseph to be in Egypt? 9. Why had his brothers not\n known him sooner? 10. How did he treat them? 11. Whom did he send for?\n 12. What did Jacob say? 13. Where did Jacob go to live? 14. Why was it\n very kind in Joseph to help his brothers? 15. Did he give back to them\n the harm they had done to him? 16. How could we do like Joseph?\n\n[Illustration: LEATHER BOTTLES.]\n\n\n\n\nEighth Sunday.\n\n_THE CALL OF MOSES._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"I have surely seen the affliction of My people.\"--_Exodus 3:7._\n\nYOU heard how Joseph brought his father and brothers and their children\nto live in Egypt. Their children's children went on living there for\nmany years, till they had come to be a great people, and were called\nthe children of Israel; but then the King of Egypt grew cruel to them.\nHe made them work very hard to make bricks and build towns for him; and\nwhat was still worse, he ordered that whenever a little boy was born to\nthe children of Israel, he should be thrown into the river and drowned.\n\nOne mother hid her little baby for three months, and when she could\nnot hide him any longer, she put him into a little cradle of bulrushes\ncovered over with pitch, to keep the water out, and let the cradle\nfloat on the river, leaving the little boy's sister to watch him.\nPresently a lady, no other than the daughter of the cruel king, came\ndown to bathe in the river. She saw the little cradle, and had it\nbrought to her. The little baby was crying, and the lady pitied him and\ntook him home, to bring up for her own child. She wanted a nurse for\nhim, and his sister fetched his own mother, and she became his nurse.\n\nHis name was Moses, and we hear about him in the Lesson to-day. He was\nnot living with the king's daughter now. The king had grown angry with\nhim because he cared for his own people, and he had had to flee away\nand keep sheep in the wilderness.\n\n[Illustration: MOSES AND THE TABLES OF THE LAW.]\n\nAnd there he saw a great wonder. He saw a flame of fire in a bush,\nand yet the bush was not burnt. And God's voice spoke to him out of\nthe fire that did not burn, and told him that the troubles of His\npeople, the children of Israel, were to come to an end. God would save\nthem from the cruel Egyptians; and Moses himself was to go and lead\nthem out, and bring them to the good land that God had promised that\nAbraham's children should have for their own. Moses was to go and tell\nthe King of Egypt that it was God's will that they should go. Moses was\nafraid at first, but God promised to help him.\n\n[Illustration: PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER FINDING MOSES.--Ex. 2:5, 6.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Moses? 2. Where was he put when he was a baby? 3. Why\n was he put on the river? 4. Who had said the little boys were to be\n drowned? 5. Whose babies were they that were to be drowned? 6. What\n other cruel things did the King of Egypt do to the children of Israel?\n 7. Who were called the children of Israel? 8. What became of Moses\n in his bulrush cradle? 9. Who brought him up? 10. Did he stay with\n the king's daughter? 11. Whom did he care for? 12. What wonder did\n Moses see? 13. Who spoke to him? 14. What was God going to do for His\n people? 15. What land would he give them?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord?\"--_Exodus 5:2._\n\nMOSES and his brother Aaron went and told Pharaoh God's message, that\nthe people of Israel were to go away and worship Him. But Pharaoh said,\n\"Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know\nnot the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.\" And he was more cruel to\nthe children of Israel; he made them work harder and harder, and had\nthem beaten if they did not do all the work that was set them.\n\nThey had to make bricks of clay mixed with straw; and, to punish them,\nPharaoh said that they should have no straw given to them for their\nwork, but that they must find it for themselves; and yet he required\nof them just as many bricks as they had had to make before. Then they\ncried out and were angry, and fancied Moses had brought all this\ntrouble on them, by asking for them to go. They were very miserable,\nand said they wished they had never listened to Moses, for he had only\nmade them worse off instead of better.\n\nAaron was a better speaker than Moses, and God had said he should help\nhim, and that, when God told Moses anything, Aaron should speak it to\nthe people. So the two brothers stood telling the Israelites to bear it\na little longer, and then it would be all well and over, and they would\nget away from making the bricks in Egypt to the beautiful country.\n\nThey could not remember it themselves, but some of their fathers'\ngrandfathers had been little boys when they came, and could tell them\nthat it was a country not all flat, with only one river in it, like\nEgypt, but full of steep hills and green valleys, with bright streams\nrunning along in them, and thick woods on some of the slopes, and\nothers laid out in gardens and vineyards. There were so many cows in\nthe pastures, and in the wild rocks and hollow trees so many bees'\nnests, that it was called a land flowing with milk and honey.\n\n[Illustration: THE ISRAELITES MADE TO WORK HARD IN EGYPT.--Ex. 1:13,\n14.]\n\nShould not the Israelites have liked to hear of such a place as this?\nBut no, they were too dull to care. They thought more of whether\nthey should get a leek or a melon to eat at supper, than of all the\nlovely land far away. Do you know, people are very like that when they\ncare for _now_ more than _by-and-by_. If we want just what pleases\nus to-day, instead of caring for what will be good for us as we grow\nolder, we are just like the Israelites, who would not attend to Moses\nor to God.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Pharaoh? 2. Who were the children of Israel? 3. Who had\n been sent to call them? 4. What did Pharaoh say to Moses? 5. How did\n he use the Israelites? 6. What would he not give them? 7. Who was\n Moses' brother? 8. What was Aaron to do for Moses? 9. Who spoke to\n Moses? 10. Who told the people what God said to Moses? 11. What kind\n of place did God promise? 12. What did Moses say it flowed with? 13.\n Why? 14. Did the Israelites care? 15. Why not? 16. When are we like\n them? 17. Which should we care for most, _now_ or _by-and-by_?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"I will redeem you with a stretched out arm.\"--_Exodus 6:6._\n\nTHE Israelites were very unhappy, for Pharaoh was very cruel to them,\nand they thought it all Moses' fault. But Moses told them that they\nwould be saved, and that God was going to show them His power, so\nthat they might always remember what He had done for them, and how He\npunished Pharaoh, who would not obey Him.\n\n[Illustration: AARON'S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT.--Ex. 7:10.]\n\nThen God made His power to be known; so that Pharaoh and the children\nof Israel might both learn who is the great Lord of heaven and earth,\nwho must be obeyed. First, Moses stretched out his rod, and all the\nwater in the river turned into blood. For seven days it was all one\nred dreadful stream of blood; and when Moses held out his rod again it\nturned back into pure water. But Pharaoh hardened his heart again, and\nwould not let the people go.\n\nThen God sent a multitude of frogs, that came into all the houses and\nbed-rooms, and on the tables and everywhere. Pharaoh could not bear\nto have these creatures everywhere, and said if the frogs would but\ngo away he would let the children of Israel go. Moses prayed to God,\nand all the frogs died; but Pharaoh only hardened his heart again, and\nwould not let the people go.\n\nNext, God sent lice, disgusting unclean creatures, most horrible to\nthe Egyptians, who could not bear anything dirty; but Pharaoh did not\ncare. Then came swarms of flies, buzzing, stinging, and tormenting; and\nPharaoh said he would allow the Israelites to go, so the flies were\ntaken away; but no sooner were they gone than he went back again to his\nobstinacy, and would not let the people go.\n\nHe was trying to fight against God, and so came these terrible miseries\non him. If people will not do better after being punished, worse and\nworse is sure to come on them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How did God punish Pharaoh? 2. What four plagues have I told you of\n to-day? 3. Why did these dreadful things happen? 4. Did Pharaoh care\n for them? 5. Why did he not mind them? 6. What happens to those who do\n not mind being punished?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nNinth Sunday.\n\n_THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"There is none like Me in all the earth.\"--_Exodus 9:14._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nYOU remember that when God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, it\nwas to tell him that he should lead the children of Israel away from\nthe people in Egypt, who were so unkind to them.\n\nBut Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, said that they should not go; he could\nnot spare them, and he did not care for God's message to him. Then God\npunished Pharaoh that he might let them go. Ten times God punished him,\nand you hear about three of the punishments to-day.\n\nFirst, how the sheep and cows, that the Egyptians worshipped like gods,\nfell sick and died, but still Pharaoh did not care; then how the people\nall had sores and boils that made them very ill, but still Pharaoh\ndid not care; and then how there was a terrible storm, thunder and\nlightning, and rain and hail--such big hailstones as killed the men and\ncattle that were out in the fields, and lightning that struck them, and\nwind that broke every tree in the field.\n\nNo wonder that Pharaoh was frightened, and begged that the storm might\ncease, and said that then he would let the Israelites go. So Moses\nprayed to God, and the thunder left off, there was no more hail, and\nit was all still again. But when the thunder was over Pharaoh grew\nwicked again, and left off caring, and said the Israelites should not\ngo. And thus God went on being angry with him, till at last he came to\na terrible end.\n\n[Illustration: THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.--Ex. 10:12.]\n\nI am afraid some children are a little like Pharaoh when they get\nsulky, and say \"I won't,\" and if they are punished, still they\nwon't--they think nobody shall force them, and they make themselves\nhard that they may not do what they are told. It is very sad, for this\nhardness is very wrong, and you see how angry God was with this king\nfor being obstinate. Pray to God to help you not to harden your heart,\nbut to teach you to obey. And do not forget and do the same thing\nagain when the punishment is over, or it will have done you no good,\nand you will have to be punished worse next time.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did God desire Pharaoh to do? 2. Who spoke God's words to\n Pharaoh? 3. But what did Pharaoh say? 4. Who was Pharaoh? 5. Who was\n Moses? 6. What was done to Pharaoh? 7. Did he mind? 8. Tell me the\n three plagues we hear of to-day. 9. How many plagues were there in\n all? 10. What happened in the thunder-storm? 11. What did Pharaoh say\n when he was frightened? 12. So what left off? 13. But did he let the\n people go? 14. What fault in some children is the same as Pharaoh's?\n 15. What ought they do? 16. Who can help them to fight their obstinate\n temper? 17. But how must they get God's help?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the\n children of Israel go.\"--_Exodus 10:20._\n\nWORSE troubles are sure to come when people have not taken warning\nby what was sent them before. Pharaoh had not minded seven dreadful\nplagues, so now God sent another. He sent locusts. These were creatures\nlike great grasshoppers. They came in swarms and clouds, and ate up\nevery green leaf and blade of grass, and made all the earth brown and\nthe trees dry sticks, so that there was nothing left for man or beast\nto eat. Then Pharaoh gave way a little, and said he would let the men\ngo, but that their wives and children must stay; and he would not hear\na word more, but had Moses and Aaron driven out from before him.\n\nThen God bade Moses to hold up his hand to Heaven. And darkness came\non. It was dark all day--and with \"darkness that might be felt;\" not\nlike night, but such black darkness that no fire or candle could give\nlight, and no one dared to move about; but the Egyptians lay still in\ntheir places, full of horror and terror, for three whole days. But all\nthe time it was light among the Israelites--the sun rose and set as\nusual; and thus God showed that they were His people.\n\nThen Pharaoh said that he would let them go--men, women and children,\nonly he must keep all their cattle; and when Moses, speaking God's\nwords, said that the cattle must go too, and not a hoof be left behind,\nPharaoh made his heart hard again, and drove out Moses, saying the\npeople should not go, and that Moses should never see his face again.\n\nAnd Moses said, \"Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no\nmore.\"\n\nSo ended the last hope for Pharaoh. He was never to have another chance\nof bending his will and doing as God told him. Oh, let us take care not\nto be like him!\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How many plagues of Egypt were there? 2. Tell me which had\n happened? 3. What are the two plagues of this lesson? 4. What are\n locusts? 5. What harm do locusts do? 6. Who did Pharaoh say might go?\n 7. Whom would he not let go? 8. What plague came then? 9. What made\n the darkness so horrible? 10. How long did it last? 11. Who were not\n in the dark? 12. What did Pharaoh say then? 13. What did he want to\n keep back? 14. And how did he then change? 15. What did he say to\n Moses? 16. How did Moses answer?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"He smote all the first-born in Egypt.\"--_Psalm 78:51._\n\nAFTER the nine sad plagues that had come upon the Egyptians--the blood\nfor water, the frogs, the lice, the flies, the cattle plague, the\nboils, the hail, the locusts, the darkness--there was to be still one\nplague more, the last and worst. That would make the Egyptians let the\npeople of Israel go, so they must be ready.\n\nThere should be a terrible night. God's holy angel would pass over the\nwhole land of Egypt that night, and in each house of the Egyptians\nhe would slay the eldest son of the family. No one would be spared:\nPharaoh's eldest son, the young prince, and the very poorest person's\nson. They had killed the little Israelite babies, so God would punish\nthem by killing their children. None of the Israelites should lose\ntheir children; only there was one thing for them to do.\n\n[Illustration: THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.--Ex. 12:11-14.]\n\nThey were that night to sup on a lamb, and, with some of the blood of\nthe lamb, they were to make a mark on the door-post. Where that mark\nwas the angel would pass over and do no one any hurt; but the people\nwould be blest and set free, because they believed God, and did as He\nbade them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How many plagues of Egypt were there? 2. Say them over. 3. What\n were they all for? 4. Who would not let them go? 5. What was the last\n plague? 6. Who were to die? 7. Why did the Egyptians deserve to lose\n their children? 8. Who would slay them? 9. Whom would the angel spare?\n 10. How were the Israelites to mark their houses? 11. With what blood?\n 12. What were they to do with the lamb?\n\n\n\n\nTenth Sunday.\n\n_THE PASSOVER._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"There was not a house in which there was not one dead.\"--_Exodus\n 12:30._\n\nTHIS is our own gladdest Sunday in all the year, and we read of the\nIsraelites being glad too--glad upon the very Sunday that answered to\nthis, thousands of years ago. On this Sunday, of all those thousands of\nyears, there has been joy and gladness and thanking God. And why? It\nwas because all the troubles in Egypt were over, and God brought the\nIsraelites out safe.\n\nThere was one thing they had to do first, though; Moses bade them do\nit, as God commanded him. Every family was to take a lamb, and it was\nto be killed and roasted whole in the evening, and some of its blood\nwas to be marked upon the door-post of the house, and then all the\nfamily were to stand round the table, all ready dressed for a journey,\nand eat it as fast as they could, late at night.\n\nAnd while all the families, fathers and mothers and children, stood up\neating the lamb in this strange way, there came a great shout and cry.\nGod had sent His angel to punish the cruel Egyptians; and every house\nwhere there was no mark of blood on the door-post had some one dead in\nit, and that dead person was the eldest or first-born son.\n\n[Illustration: DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT.--Ex. 12:29.]\n\nThere was a great cry, for there was death everywhere, from the son of\nPharaoh who sat on his throne down to the child of the poorest slave;\nand even the first-born cattle died too, because the Egyptians used to\nworship them; but wherever there was the blood on the door-post the\nangel passed over, and the eldest son was safe. Then cruel King Pharaoh\nwas sorry and afraid at last, and said that the people who brought such\ntrouble on him should go where they liked.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Why are we glad to-day? 2. Why were the Israelites glad to-day?\n 3. Where were the Israelites living? 4. What hard work had they to\n do? 5. Who said they should come out? 6. Who would not let them go?\n 7. What did God tell the Israelites to eat? 8. How were they to be\n dressed while they ate it? 9. What were they to do with the blood?\n 10. Who was going to pass over the land that night? 11. What did the\n angel do where he did not see any blood on the door-post? 12. Who were\n frightened then? 13. What did the Egyptians wish then?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover.\"--_Exodus 12:27._\n\nWHEN the King of Egypt said the Israelites might go they were all up\nand dressed, quite ready and only waiting, and off they set. No more\nmaking of bricks, no more slaving for the Egyptians, no more drowning\nof babies! They were free! and God was going to lead them to the\nbeautiful country that long ago He had said He would give them.\n\n[Illustration: EGYPTIAN JUDGMENT SCENE.]\n\nAnd so, to put them in mind how they were saved from the Egyptians, God\nbade them on the same day in each year to kill a lamb and roast it, and\nput the blood on the door-post, and eat the lamb all standing round the\ntable, dressed as if they were going for a journey, that they might\nnever forget how God had made them free. This was called the Passover,\nbecause the angel passed over the houses where the blood was marked\nover the door. And God came in a pillar of cloud to show them the way\nthey should go.\n\nOur blessed Lord was crucified when He had come to the Feast of the\nPassover many years after. You know He was like a lamb, He was so\npure and gentle; and His Blood saves us, as that lamb's blood did the\nIsraelites, and sets us free from the power of the devil. So we still\nkeep the feast of being set free, on this happy Easter Sunday, when we\nrecollect that Christ was slain for our sins, but that He rose again\nfrom the dead, and liveth for evermore.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did Pharaoh say that the Israelites might do? 2. What made him\n let them go at last? 3. Who were set free? 4. What were the Israelites\n to do every year? 5. What was this eating the lamb called? 6. Why was\n it called the Passover? 7. Why were the Israelites glad? 8. Who set us\n free? 9. What did our Lord do as on this day? 10. In what is He like a\n lamb? 11. So what did we say in the Easter Anthem to-day? 12. How did\n God lead them?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of\n the sea.\"--_Exodus 14:16._\n\nALL the Egyptians were weeping over their dead first-born sons, and the\nIsraelites were set free, and going gladly out and away from their hard\nmasters.\n\nBut Pharaoh's hard heart turned again, and he got all his chariots and\nhorsemen together, and went after the children of Israel to drive them\nback to Egypt. And when he came in sight of them, there they were all\nupon the shore of the sea called the Red Sea. They could not go on,\nfor the sea was straight before them; they could not go back, for the\nEgyptians were behind. They were sore afraid. But God spoke to Moses\nand told him not to fear. They had only to stand still and see how God\nwould save them.\n\nAnd God Himself showed that He was with them, for the pillar of cloud\nwent behind them, instead of before, and made it dark to the Egyptians,\nbut gave light by night to the Israelites: so the Egyptians could not\nget near them all night.\n\n[Illustration: PHARAOH'S HOST DESTROYED IN THE RED SEA.--Ex. 14:30, 31.]\n\nThen God bade Moses stretch out his rod over the sea. And then there\nwas a great wonder. The waves of the sea parted, and stood up on each\nside in a heap, and in between there was a wide open space, where the\nchildren of Israel might walk safely dry-shod, through the very midst\nof the sea. Through it they went, men, women, and children, through the\ndepths of the sea, with the waves standing still on each side of them.\n\nPharaoh saw that they were all gone over. He chose to follow after\nthem. But when his host was in the midst, the sea returned in its\nstrength again and came down on the Egyptians, and every one of them\nwas drowned--\"they sank like lead in the mighty waters\"--and the\nIsraelites were freed from their enemies, quite away from all their\ntrouble and all their slavery; and they sang hymns of joy to God, who\nhad been so good to them and now had set them free.\n\nAnd we read about them being set free because this is the great Easter\nDay when we give thanks to our Blessed Lord for having set us free.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What last plague had come on Egypt? 2. Who had set off to leave\n Egypt? 3. But what did Pharaoh do? 4. What was before the Israelites?\n 5. What was behind? 6. Where did the pillar of cloud go? 7. How were\n the Egyptians cut off from them? 8. What wonder did God work? 9. Where\n did the Israelites go over? 10. Who came after them? 11. What became\n of the Egyptians? 12. Who were free? 13. Who had made them free?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nEleventh Sunday.\n\n_THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"The Lord will show who are His and who is holy.\"--_Numbers 16:5._\n\nWHEN the Israelites came out of Egypt they had a long journey to go,\nthrough a dreary, lonely wilderness. Moses and his brother Aaron led\nthem; and God took care of them, and fed them, and kept them safe.\n\nBut there were some wicked men, named Dathan and Abiram, who were tired\nof the wilderness, and were angry at having Moses for their leader and\nmaster, though God had made him lead them, and had done so much for\nthem. They said they were as good as Moses, and that he should not be\ntheir prince. They did not care for God having spoken by him.\n\nTheir end was so very dreadful that I can hardly tell it to you. God\nwould not let them rise up against His servant Moses; and when they\nwould not listen nor repent He made the earth open under their feet,\nand they went down alive, and were swallowed up in the pit before the\neyes of all the other Israelites; and so they died the most terrible\ndeath anyone ever died. It was because they set themselves up against\nMoses, whom God had placed over them, that He was so angry with them.\n\nRemember God has set people over us: there are our fathers and mothers,\nand our clergymen and teachers; and it is our duty to obey them, as He\ntells us in the Fifth Commandment. If we are proud and saucy it is very\nwrong of us. It is not likely that we should be so dreadfully punished\nin this life as Dathan and Abiram were; but their horrible death should\nmake us remember that God is very angry with those that will not try to\nobey those that have the rule over them, and set themselves up to be\nbold and proud, and to say they do not care.\n\n[Illustration: AARON AND HUR HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF MOSES.--Ex. 17:11.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. What is the explanation of it in\n the Duty to our Neighbor? 3. Who was set over the Israelites by God?\n 4. Where had he brought them from? 5. Where was he leading them to? 6.\n How should they have behaved to him? 7. What bad men were there among\n them? 8. Whom did they not care for? 9. What did they say? 10. Why\n was it very wicked of Dathan and Abiram not to obey Moses? 11. What\n terrible end did they come to? 12. Why was God angry with Dathan and\n Abiram? 13. What makes Him angry? 14. Whom did you say He had set over\n you? 15. Then how must you behave to your parents and clergymen and\n teachers?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"And seek ye the priesthood also?\"--_Numbers 16:10._\n\nWHEN God gave the Commandments upon Mount Sinai, He chose that Aaron,\nMoses' brother, and his sons should be His priests. A priest had to\noffer up the sacrifices to God, and to burn incense to Him. Incense is\nmade of dried plants and gums that have a sweet smell when they are\nburnt.\n\nThe priests had brazen urns with holes at the top, and chains to hold\nthem by, and when the smoke of the incense went up it was just as\nour prayers rise up to God in heaven. There were other people called\nLevites, who had to take care of the holy things that were used in\nGod's service, but only the priests might offer sacrifices or incense.\n\n[Illustration: KORAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES SWALLOWED UP.--Num. 16:31-33.]\n\nNow one of these Levites, named Korah, wanted to do more. He was angry,\nand said everybody was holy, and that Aaron took too much on himself.\nNow it was not Aaron who made himself priest, but God had made him so.\nTherefore it was wrong in Korah; but there were two hundred and fifty\nmen whom he persuaded to come and get censers, and offer incense to the\nLord as if they had been priests. But because they did it in pride and\nself-will God was angry with them, and His fire burst out and scorched\nthem all to death! It was only the men themselves that died, not their\nwives or children; and Korah's family after him were better than he\nwas, and used to sing God's praises in the Psalms.\n\nBut they always recollected that no one who was not a priest might\noffer sacrifice or burn incense before God.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What had a priest to do? 2. What was a sacrifice? 3. What was\n incense? 4. What was it burnt in? 5. Who only might offer sacrifice\n and incense? 6. Who was the right priest? 7. How came Aaron to be\n priest? 8. Who wanted to offer incense? 9. What did Korah say? 10. How\n many came with him? 11. What did they try to do? 12. What happened to\n the two hundred and fifty? 13. Why were they punished? 14. What became\n of Korah's children? 15. Who are our priests? 16. How were they made\n priests? 17. What may they alone do?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth\n buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.\"--_Numbers 17:8._\n\nTHE high-priest, whom God chose, had to offer sacrifices to Him. That\nwas, the priest slew a lamb, or a goat, or a bullock, by the altar, and\ngave it to God. It was to show that the Son of God would come and die\nto take away sin. Now He has come and died, we have left off killing\ncreatures in sacrifice, and only make remembrance over again of His\nsacrifice in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.\n\nThe high-priest used to wear a beautiful dress. He had a mitre on\nhis head, with a gold plate on it, and the words, \"Holiness unto the\nLord;\" and he had a blue, red, and white robe, embroidered with gold,\nand round the hem little gold bells and pomegranates. He had a curious\nscarf called an ephod, and a beautiful breast-plate made of twelve\nprecious stones, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes of\nIsrael engraven on it.\n\n[Illustration: AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED.--Num. 17:8, 9.]\n\nGod said He would show who should be His priest. So He bade Moses\ndesire the chief man in each tribe to bring a dry rod or staff, and lay\nthem up all night in the Holy Place. The one whose rod began to grow as\nif it was still on the tree should be the high-priest. When the twelve\nmen went to look in the morning, eleven rods were dry sticks still, but\none had put out green leaves and pink buds, and white blushing flowers,\nlike almond blossoms. It was Aaron's rod; and this was the way God let\nthe children of Israel know that Aaron and his sons, and grandsons\nafter him, were always to be priests.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was a priest? 2. What had he to do? 3. What was a sacrifice?\n 4. How was it offered? 5. What creatures were killed? 6. Where were\n they put? 7. What was this to make the children of Israel think of? 8.\n Why don't we kill sacrifices now? 9. Who has been sacrificed? 10. What\n did the high-priest wear on his head? 11. What color was his dress?\n 12. How was it edged? 13. What was on his breast? 14. What did God say\n He would show? 15. What were twelve men to bring? 16. Where were the\n rods put? 17. What was to show who should be priest? 18. What were the\n eleven rods like in the morning? 19. But how did one look? 20. Whose\n was it? 21. What, then, was Aaron to be?\n\n[Illustration: THE HOLY PLACE.]\n\n\n\n\nTwelfth Sunday.\n\n_ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God.\"--_Deut. 6:16._\n\nI TOLD you what sort of place a desert is, and how full it is of\nstones, and rocks, and sand, and with no water in it. Do you remember\nhow thirsty Ishmael was in the desert, and how God heard the voice of\nthe lad, and sent an angel to lead his mother to a well of water?\n\nWhen the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, they were in a\nterrible wilderness. Mount Sinai stood up in the midst, and all round\nwere great rocks of red and black marble, all dry and parched with the\nhot sun shining on them.\n\nThe Israelites grew very hot and sadly thirsty, but they did not pray\nas Ishmael had done. They grew angry, and said, \"Is the Lord among us\nor no?\" Do you not think they deserved that God should show whether He\nwas among them by punishing them for grumbling? That was the way they\ntempted God. But He was so good and merciful that He pitied them; and\nHe bade Moses to take his rod, and go to the bare, dry rock, and strike\nit. And when Moses struck the rock, God made a beautiful, fresh, clear\nspring of water come pouring out of it, so that all the people, and\nall their cows, and sheep, and goats, and camels, could drink and be\nrefreshed.\n\nWas not that a great wonder? and was not God very kind to them, though\nthey were not good? But you see God was near to help them all the\ntime, and it was very sad that they grumbled instead of praying. Do\nnot be like them. If a thing is hard to bear, don't murmur and grumble\nabout it, but pray, and then you will get help. Either the vexing thing\nwill go away, or you will leave off minding it.\n\n[Illustration: MOSES BRINGING WATER FROM THE ROCK.--Ex. 17:6.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where had the Israelites come from? 2. Who was leading them? 3.\n What kind of place did they get into? 4. What is a desert like? 5.\n What was the mountain in the midst of the desert? 6. What cannot\n be found in the desert? 7. Who was the lad that was thirsty there\n before? 8. What did Ishmael do when he was thirsty? 9. But what did\n the Israelites do? 10. What did they say? 11. What would have served\n them right? 12. But did God punish them? 13. What did he tell Moses to\n take? 14. What did Moses strike? 15. What came out of the rock? 16.\n What made the water come out of the rock? 17. Was it not very good of\n God to give them water? 18. What ought they to have done? 19. What\n should you do when a thing is hard? 20. Is it not very naughty to\n grumble?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the\n Son of man be lifted up.\"--_John 3:14._\n\nONE great fault of the Israelites was that they had no patience. The\nmoment they saw anything troublesome or difficult, they began to cry\nout, and say they could not get on, and it was very hard on them. Now\nit is very wrong ever to say God is very hard upon us, for we may be\nsure He is doing what is best for us. There was one stony, hot, steep\npart of the journey still to come, and when the Israelites saw it they\nforgot how often God had helped them, and cried out, and lamented, and\ncomplained of Him and of Moses.\n\n[Illustration: THE BRAZEN SERPENT.--Num. 21:31.]\n\nSo again they were punished, for the little shining snakes that live\nthere came in numbers, darting at them and biting them, so that the\nbite burnt like fire, and they died. Then they cried out to God and\nwere sorry, and He told Moses of a wonderful way to cure them. Moses\nwas to melt up some brass and make a great serpent, like the little\nones that bit them, and set it up on a pole. Then if anyone who was\nbitten would come at once and look up at the brazen serpent, his bite\nwould get well, and he would not die of it.\n\nThis was a miracle--a wonder. And it was to teach the Israelites\nsomething, and us too. For you know our Blessed Lord hung on the cross,\nas the serpent hung on the pole; and when our souls are in danger of\ndying of sin, we must think of Him, and look to Him in faith, and He\nwill save us from being punished for our sin, and keep our souls from\ndying.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What sort of place had the Israelites to go over? 2. How did they\n like it? 3. What did they do? 4. Why ought they not to have cried out?\n 5. Who had been taking care of them? 6. So how did God punish them? 7.\n What happened when the serpents bit them? 8. What were they sorry for?\n 9. So what was Moses to make? 10. Where did he put the brazen serpent?\n 11. What were they to do if they were bit? 12. What cured them? 13.\n Who hung upon the cross? 14. What does He cure our souls of?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with\n manna, which thou knewest not.\"--_Deut. 8:3._\n\nTHIS morning you heard how God gave the children of Israel water to\ndrink in the wilderness. Now you shall hear what He gave them to eat.\nThe ground was all hard stones. There was grass which the cows and\nsheep could eat, and there were a few trees with long sharp thorns, but\nno fruit on them, and no corn to make bread; and soon the people were\nvery hungry, and began to cry out that they did not know what would\nbecome of them.\n\nBut God was not going to forget them. When they rose up in the morning,\nthe fresh dew lay on the grass, and all about in the dew were little\nwhite things that tasted like wafers made with honey. This was called\nmanna, and God had sent it from heaven for them to eat.\n\nEvery morning on week days there it was, and they had all to come out\nand pick it up. But they must get up early to gather it, for when the\nsun was hot it would melt away. And they could not keep it--it grew\nbad and was not fit to use the next day; but there was always just\nenough for everybody to have all they wanted. There was only one day\nin each week that more came down, and that was the day before the\nSabbath-day, which they had instead of Sunday. Then each one could get\ntwice as much as could be eaten in one day, and it did not spoil so\nfast. For on the Sabbath-day God would have them rest, and so no manna\nwas to be found anywhere, so that they might learn to keep the Fourth\nCommandment--Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.\n\n[Illustration: PRIEST]\n\n[Illustration: HIGH-PRIEST]\n\n[Illustration: LEVITE]\n\nAll the time they stayed in the wilderness, the sweet white manna lay\non the grass in the morning for them to pick it up--twice as much on\nthe sixth day of the week, and on the Sabbath-day none at all. Was not\nthat very good of God?\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the Israelites? 2. What had they to drink in the\n wilderness? 3. What else did they want? 4. Why could they not get\n bread? 5. What did God give them instead? 6. What was the manna like?\n 7. Where did it lie? 8. When was the manna on the grass? 9. Who were\n to eat it? 10. Who sent it? 11. What became of it in hot sunshine?\n 12. Would it keep? 13. What was the day when it could be kept? 14.\n How much came down the day before the Sabbath? 15. What might not be\n done on the Sabbath? 16. What is the Fourth Commandment? 17. So why\n did they get twice as much manna the day before? 18. When did no manna\n come? 19. What day have we instead of the Sabbath?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nThirteenth Sunday.\n\n_BALAAM AND BALAK._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.\"--_Numbers\n 22:12._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHERE was a prophet called Balaam. A prophet means a man to whom God\nmade His will known, and who was thus much wiser than other men. This\nprophet one day saw some rich great men come to his house. They brought\nhim a message, that a king named Balak wanted him to come with them,\nand would give him great rewards for coming. Balaam said he must wait\nfor one night, and God would make known to him what he was to do.\nAnd at night God told him he was not to go; for what Balak wanted of\nhim was to curse the children of Israel, and God would not have them\ncursed. So Balaam said he must not go, and the messengers went away.\n\nBut Balak sent more princes, still grander men, with larger presents,\nto fetch Balaam. He answered, \"If Balak would give me his house full\nof silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God,\nto do less or more.\" But he had not left off wishing. He begged the\nmessengers to stay, and see if God would give him leave to go. And this\ntime God did say he might go, but that he should not say anything about\nthe Israelites but what God put in his mouth. Balaam knew that God was\nnot pleased with him; but he wanted Balak's rewards, and he set off in\nthe morning, riding on his ass.\n\nPresently the ass was frightened, and turned out of the road into\nthe field. Balaam was angry at this, and beat the ass. But again the\nass turned aside in a narrow walled path, and squeezed Balaam's foot\nagainst the wall. He beat her again. Presently, in a very narrow road,\nthe poor ass fell quite down for fear; and Balaam was very angry, and\nbeat her harder.\n\n[Illustration: BALAAM MET BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.--Num. 22:31.]\n\nThen God worked a wonder. He made the dumb ass to speak, and ask why\nhe was so cruel to her. He answered that he only wished for a sword to\nkill her. The ass asked if she had ever been like this before. He said,\nNo. And then, full before him, he saw God's holy angel with a sword in\nhis hand. And he fell down on his face.\n\nThe poor ass had seen the angel all the time; but Balaam could not see\nhim till God made him able. And now he was afraid, and would have gone\nback; but the angel said he must go on now, though he would only be\nable to speak the words which God put in his mouth.\n\nThink if, sometimes when you have been told you must not do something,\nyou fret and teaze to do it--is not that like Balaam? And perhaps you\nteaze till some one gives you leave to do as you wish. Then you get\nquite cross with eagerness, and are unkind to all that hinders you;\nand, after all, you do not find that any good comes of getting your own\nway.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is a prophet? 2. Who sent for Balaam? 3. What did God tell\n Balaam? 4. But what did Balaam wish? 5. How did he get leave to go at\n last? 6. But who stood in his way? 7. Who saw the angel first? 8. What\n did Balaam do to the ass? 9. What wonder did God work? 10. What did\n the ass say? 11. Whom did Balaam see? 12. What did the angel tell him?\n 13. What had he been allowed to have? 14. Does good come of having our\n own way?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of\n Israel.\"--_Numbers 24:17._\n\nTHERE was a king named Balak, whose land the Israelites were to pass\nthrough. They promised not to do any harm to him or his people, if\nthey might go quietly through; but he was afraid and angry, and wanted\nto have them cursed, hoping to bring God's anger on them. That was a\nvery wicked and foolish notion of King Balak's; and God would not let\nit bring harm upon His people. They had not deserved to have His anger\ncalled down on them, and so He would not be angry with them.\n\nAnd when Balak's friend Balaam tried to speak curses, God turned them\nall to blessings; and, instead of saying they should come to a terrible\nend, he could only say how happy and well off they should be, with\nGod to take care of them, and be their King. He even went on to say\nthat a Star should come out of Jacob, and a Sceptre should rise out of\nIsrael--and that meant that our Saviour should be born among them. He\nis called a Star, because He came to give us light; and you know a star\nshowed the way to the place where He was born. And a sceptre is the rod\na king carries in his hand. So when He was called the Sceptre, it meant\nthat He should be a King.\n\nOnly think how angry Balak was, when Balaam could not curse, but only\nblessed. I wish he had been afraid, and seen it was not God's will that\nhe should hurt the Israelites; but instead of that, he went on in his\nwickedness, and was miserably killed at last; for God took care of His\npeople, and would let no one do them any harm.\n\nNow, recollect, bad words and bad wishes do harm to the person that\nspeaks them, not to those they are meant for. If a bad boy came and\nabused a steady one for going to church, or saying his prayers, it\nwould be very bad for himself; but if the good boy kept on quietly,\nnothing that the other could say would hurt him one bit. God would take\ncare of him as surely as He took care of the Israelites.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did Balak want? 2. Why did he want the Israelites to be\n cursed? 3. Whom did he set to curse the Israelites? 4. But what did\n Balaam do instead? 5. Why could he not curse them? 6. Who would not\n let him curse them? 7. Who was to be born among them? 8. What did\n Balaam call our Saviour? 9. Why was He like a star? 10. Why was He\n like a sceptre? 11. Could Balak hurt the Israelites? 12. Why not?\n 13. Whom do bad words hurt? 14. Ought we to mind them? 15. If anyone\n teazes you when you try to be good, must you leave off?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.\"--_Numbers 25:2._\n\nYOU heard how Balaam went to Balak; and how God made him bless the\nchildren of Israel when he wanted to curse them. But even this did not\nmake Balaam good. He wanted Balak to give him a reward; and so he told\nhim that though no harm could happen to the people of Israel while\nthey were good and worshipped their God, yet if he could make them do\nsomething wicked, and turn away from their God, then God would be sure\nto punish them.\n\n\nTHE ISRAELITES INVITED TO A GREAT FEAST.\n\nSo these two wicked men sent a number of women to invite the Israelites\nto hold a great feast with them, in honor of their idol Baal Peor. Many\nwere so foolish and wicked as to be led away; and they had a great\nfeasting and revelling, and all kinds of bad pleasures that these\nheathen women said were to do praise to this horrible false god. Then,\nthough Balak might have cursed for ever without hurting them, they had\ndone themselves the harm. God sent a deadly sickness, and in one day\ntwenty-four thousand people died.\n\nBut Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, did as Moses commanded him. He first\nput to death the wickedest of the people who had joined themselves to\nBaal Peor; and then he prayed--and all the people prayed and wept too.\nSo God forgave them, and the plague ceased.\n\nAfterwards Phinehas led the Israelite fighting men to punish the wicked\nBalak and his people; and Balaam was killed in fighting with them. All\nthe wicked women who had tempted the Israelites away from God were put\nto death too. So Balaam's evil counsel ended in all sorts of misery.\nIt is very sad to think of him, for he knew so well what was good,\nand yet did what was so very bad. But remember this, nobody could hurt\nGod's people till they did wrong, and then they hurt themselves, and\nGod punished them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did Balak want to do? 2. How had Balak tried to hurt the\n children of Israel? 3. Why could not Balaam curse them? 4. What did\n Balaam think would be the way to hurt them? 5. Whom did he send to\n them? 6. Whom did the women persuade them to worship? 7. What did God\n send to punish them? 8. How was the plague stopped? 9. How was Balaam\n punished? 10. Why was Balaam greatly to be blamed? 11. When could not\n Balaam hurt them? 12. When could he hurt them? 13. For who took care\n of them when they were good?\n\n[Illustration: HIGH PRIEST WITH SIN OFFERING.]\n\n\n\n\nFourteenth Sunday.\n\n_THE GIVING OF THE LAW._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Thou heardest His words out of the midst of the fire.\"--_Deut. 4:36._\n\nWHEN the children of Israel had come out of Egypt, God had told Moses\nto lead them to the foot of Mount Sinai. This was a high steep rocky\nmountain in the wilderness. And God told Moses to set bounds round the\nmountain, so that nobody should come and touch it; and the people were\nto pray, and wait round it for the holy and awful thing that was to\nhappen.\n\nThen there came on the hill-top a deep dark cloud, and the mountain\nwas altogether on a smoke, and it shook and quaked, and there were\nlightnings and thunders and voices, and the sound of a trumpet loud\nand louder, so that all the people trembled. Then out of that cloud\nthere came a voice speaking to them--a voice that they all could hear,\nand that made them afraid. For it was the voice of God. And God spoke\nout of the cloud, and gave the Ten Commandments. They were the very\nsame Ten Commandments you say in the Catechism, and see written up in\nchurch.\n\n[Illustration: The Ten Commandments.]\n\n Thou shalt have no more Gods but me.\n Before no idol bend the knee.\n Take not the name of God in vain,\n Nor dare the sabbath day profane.\n Give both thy parents honor due,\n Take heed that thou no murder do.\n Abstain from words and deeds unclean,\n Nor steal, though thou art poor and mean.\n Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it.\n What is thy neighbor's dare not covet.\n\nGod had come in this terrible and awful manner to speak to them, that\nall Israel might hear and fear, and take care not to break them.\nAfterwards God gave these Ten Commandments to Moses, written upon two\ntables--or pieces of stone--written by God Himself. That was the way\nthe Ten Commandments were given--by God's own voice speaking to men,\nout of the cloud, amid thunders and lightnings, and the sound of the\ntrumpet, dreadful to hear.\n\n[Illustration: MOSES RECEIVING THE TABLES OF THE LAW.--Ex. 31:18.]\n\nAnd God means us all to obey the Commandments, just as much as He meant\nthe Israelites to obey them. They are His words, and must be kept; and\nif we ask Him in our prayers He will give us help and strength to obey\nthem, so that we may fulfil the promise that was made at our baptism,\nthat we should keep God's Holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the\nsame unto our lives' end.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where had the children of Israel come from? 2. Who was leading\n them? 3. Where did God tell Moses to take them? 4. What wonderful\n sight did they see on Mount Sinai? 5. What did they hear? 6. Who spoke\n out of the cloud? 7. What did God speak? 8. How many Commandments? 9.\n Tell me the first of them. 10. On what did God write them? 11. To whom\n did He give them? 12. When do you say them? 13. When did you promise\n to keep them? 14. What is keeping the Commandments? 15. How can you be\n helped to do as they tell you? 16. How must you ask for God's help?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst\n of fire.\"--_Deuteronomy 5:4._\n\nWHEN the lightning and thunder and the loud voice of the trumpet\ncame forth from the cloud on Mount Sinai, and God had spoken the Ten\nCommandments, He called to Moses to come up and speak with Him in the\ncloud. How wonderful it must have been! Moses was the only man that\never spoke so near to God.\n\nGod gave him two blocks of stone written with the Ten Commandments,\nwritten with God's own Finger. Then God told him to make a chest to\nkeep them in. It was to be made of wood, with gold all over it; and two\nfigures of cherubims were to be one on each side. This chest was to\nbe called the Ark of the Covenant. And it was to be put into a square\nroom, inside a tent, that was to be made with curtains, and carried\nabout with the Israelites. It was to be called the Tabernacle. And this\nwas to be a very holy place.\n\nThe children of Israel would say their prayers in front of the\nTabernacle; but they were not to go into the place where the Ark was,\nbecause they were sinful, and God is holy. That place was to be called\nthe Holy of Holies, and no one might go near it but the Priests whom\nGod chose, and set apart to lead His worship.\n\nThe first High Priest was to be Moses' brother Aaron; and he was to\nwear a beautiful dress when he ministered before God--a high cap with\n\"Holiness to the Lord\" on it, a long embroidered robe, edged with gold\nbells and pomegranates, and a blue scarf crossed over her breast; and\nin the middle a breast-plate, made of twelve precious stones, each\ncarved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, so that he\nmight have them on his heart as he prayed to God. All this and much\nmore God told Moses while he was on the mount.\n\n[Illustration: MOSES DESTROYS THE TABLES OF THE LAW.--Ex. 32:19.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was given on Mount Sinai? 2. Who spoke the Commandments? 3.\n To whom did God give them? 4. What were they written on? 5. Who wrote\n them? 6. Where were they to be kept? 7. What was the chest like? 8.\n What was the chest called? 9. Where was Moses to put the chest? 10.\n What was the room called? 11. Who might go near the Holy of Holies?\n 12. Who was the first High Priest? 13. Who was Aaron? 14. What was\n Aaron to wear? 15. Why might not the people come near?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God.\"--_Deut. 7:9._\n\nWHEN Moses went up into the awful cloud upon Mount Sinai, he stayed\nthere forty days.\n\nBut all the Israelites below were impatient. They could not think what\nhad become of Moses; and though they had so lately heard God's own\nVoice speaking to them, they would not wait as they had been told to\ndo. They cried out that they wanted something instead of Moses, whom\nthey had lost.\n\nSo they took all their gold ear-rings and melted them, and made an\nimage of a golden calf. And then these foolish wicked people began to\nfeast and dance, and worship this golden idol.\n\nMoses was coming down Mount Sinai with the two Tables of the\nCommandments in his hands. And first he heard a shouting and singing;\nthen he saw the people leaping and dancing, and the great golden idol\nstanding in the midst. Then he was sure it was of no use to bring them\nthe Commandments if they minded them no better. So he took the two\ntables of stone, and threw them out of his hand, and broke them to\npieces.\n\nThen he went down, and severely punished the worst of the Israelites\nfor having disobeyed the commandment. And he broke the golden calf to\npieces, and ground it to powder.\n\nThen he went and prayed to God to forgive the people. God did forgive\nthem, and let Moses bring two fresh tables of stone to be written with\nthe Ten Commandments. But the first that they had lost were the tables\nGod had given, and they could never have them back again!\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where was Moses gone? 2. What was God going to give him? 3. Who\n were left below? 4. What did the Israelites want? 5. What did they\n take off? 6. What did they make of their ear-rings? 7. What is the\n Second Commandment? 8. How did they break the Second Commandment? 9.\n What did Moses do to the Tables of the Law? 10. Why did he throw them\n down? 11. What did he do with the golden calf? 12. Where did he go\n then? 13. What did he do for the Israelites?\n\n[Illustration: ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.]\n\n\n\n\nFifteenth Sunday.\n\n_THE GIVING OF THE LAW._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, destroy not\n Thy people and Thine inheritance.\"--_Deut. 9:26._\n\nLAST Sunday you heard how sadly the people of Israel sinned by making\nthe golden calf, while Moses was up in the mountain, and how he\npunished them.\n\nThen he said he would go and pray to God to forgive them, and try them\nagain. So up he went over the rough rocks of Mount Sinai, and into the\ncloud again, where he had spoken with God before. And he prayed with\nall his might that God would not cast off His people, though they had\nbeen so wicked, but would give them again the Commandments on their\ntables of stone. And God listened to Moses, and promised to give them\nthe Commandments again.\n\nThen Moses made a great request: he said to God, \"I pray Thee, show me\nThy glory.\" But God said, \"Thou canst not see My Face, for there shall\nno man see Me and live.\" But Moses was to come up the mountain the next\nday, and bring with him two blocks of stone, and then God would let him\nsee as much of His glory as he could bear.\n\nOn the next day Moses went up the mountain again, and took with him the\ntwo tables of stone. And the Lord came down in the cloud; and Moses was\nin the cleft of the rock, where he could see a small part of the glory,\nand hear the Lord's Voice proclaim before him, \"The Lord, The Lord\nGod, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness\nand truth.\" Then indeed Moses bowed his head and worshipped. No man\never came so close to God as Moses, with whom God spoke face to face,\nas a man speaketh to his friend.\n\n[Illustration: MOSES BRINGING THE NEW TABLES OF THE LAW.--Ex. 34:29-32.]\n\nMoses stayed forty days and forty nights up in the mountain. And God\nagain wrote the Commandments upon the two tables of stone, and granted\nthe Israelites to try again to keep them. When Moses came down from\nbeing in converse with God, the glory was still about his face. It was\nall shining like the sun, and was so bright that the Israelites could\nnot fix their eyes on it; and he was obliged to put a veil over his\nface, because they could not bear to look at it. Was ever living man so\nfavored, and brought into such glory?\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What wicked thing had the Israelites done? 2. Who prayed for their\n forgiveness? 3. Where did Moses go to pray for their forgiveness? 4.\n Who forgave them? 5. What did Moses venture to ask God to show him?\n 6. But what can no one do? 7. Where was Moses placed? 8. What passed\n by? 9. What voice did he hear? 10. How was Moses more honored than any\n man? 11. How long did he stay in the mountain? 12. What did God give\n him again? 13. How did his face look when he came down? 14. What did\n he do to hide his face? 15. How came his face to be so glorious?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him.\"--_Deut. 13:4._\n\nWHEN the Israelites came into the good land where they were going,\nthey were to be very careful not to learn to worship idols. For idols\nwere no gods at all--only wood and stone--and could not hear them\npray, nor give them what they wanted. Besides, the people round them\nhad very frightful ways of trying to please their false gods. They\nhad one called Moloch, made of brass, and they used to offer poor\nlittle children up in sacrifice to him, and make a noise with drums\nand trumpets, that no one might hear their cries. There was another\ngod called Baal, to whom they set up great images, and feasted in\nhis honor; and a goddess, whom they called the queen of heaven, of\nAshtoreth. Women used to offer cakes to her, and dance in honor of her,\nfor they thought she sent the moon to shine on them.\n\nNow, the Israelites were not to worship any of these false gods. They\nwere to remember how they heard the Only True God speaking to them out\nof the cloud upon the mountain, and telling them, \"I am the Lord thy\nGod: thou shalt have no other gods but Me.\" And God told them that if\nthey would worship Him and serve Him, all should go well with them, and\nthey should be happy and blessed. But if they went after these false\nidols, all would go ill with them, and there would be only sorrow and\nmisery.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Say the First Commandment. 2. Say the Second. 3. What three idols\n did the people of the country worship? 4. What did they do in honor of\n Moloch? 5. What did they do in honor of Baal? 6. What did they call\n Ashtoreth? 7. What did they think she sent them? 8. Who made the\n moon? 9. What would happen if the children of Israel worshipped God?\n 10. What would happen if they worshipped idols?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My\n ways.\"--_Psalm 95:10._\n\nAFTER the Commandments were given the Israelites went on their journey.\nThe Ark, or chest, where the Commandments on their two tables of stone\nwere kept, was carried before them; and God still showed that He was\nwith them, for He made a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night go\nalong with them, and rest on it.\n\n[Illustration: THE SPIES RETURNING FROM CANAAN.--Num. 13:24-26.]\n\nWhen they came near the land of Canaan, twelve men were sent on to see\nit. They came back, bringing such a great bunch of grapes that two\nhad to carry it between them on a pole! But they said that the land\nwas full of strong cities, and very strong men, and they should never\nbe able to win it, but would all be killed. Only two men, Joshua and\nCaleb, recollected that there could be no fear, for God had promised to\nsave them and bring them in. The others all cried, and said they would\ngo back to Egypt, and threw stones at Moses and Aaron when they wanted\nto quiet them.\n\nThen God showed His glory, and would have cut them all off in a moment\nif Moses had not prayed for them. But He said none of those who had\nsaid they would not go into the good land should go. They were to stay\nforty years longer in the dismal wilderness, till all the grown-up men,\nexcept Joshua and Caleb, should be dead, and their children be grown\nup in their stead. Then their children, who had learned to trust God\nand do as He bade, should be the ones to go in and live in the promised\nland.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How did the Israelites know which way to go in the wilderness? 2.\n What was the ark? 3. What was in it? 4. How did God show them His\n Presence? 5. Whom did Moses send to look at the land? 6. What did\n these men bring back? 7. But what did they say of the country? 8.\n Who were afraid? 9. Why was it wrong to be afraid? 10. Who only were\n afraid? 11. What were the people ready to do? 12. How were they to be\n punished? 13. How long were they to stay in the wilderness? 14. Who\n would die? 15. Who would grow up to go in? 16. Who were the two good\n brave men? 17. What was promised to Joshua and Caleb?\n\n[Illustration: TABLE OF SHEW-BREAD]\n\n[Illustration: ARK]\n\n[Illustration: GOLDEN CANDLESTICK]\n\n\n\n\nSixteenth Sunday.\n\n_THE DEATH OF MOSES._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"They angered Him also at the waters of strife.\"--_Psalm 106:32._\n\nAFTER all the forty years in the wilderness, the children of Israel\nwere quite close to their home in the promised land. There was only the\nriver Jordan between them and the hills and valleys there. But Moses\nwas not to go with them. Once when the people were crying out for more\nwater, and God told him to command the stream to come out of the rock,\nMoses was so hot with anger that he did not attend. He said, \"Hear now,\nye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?\" And he struck the\nrock with his rod, instead of speaking to it.\n\nThe water came out as it had done before; but Moses had been so hasty\nthat he had not thought how to obey God exactly, and so he was not to\nbe allowed to lead the people in as a great warrior, lest he should\nfail again. God was not angry with him, but had forgiven him; only he\nhad his punishment because he had done wrong.\n\nJoshua was to lead the people, instead of Moses. So before Moses was\ntaken away, he called Joshua and all the chief men of each tribe, and\nput them in mind of all that God had done for them, and warned them\nvery solemnly, that if they broke their promise and did not keep the\nCommandments, God would punish them--first a little, and then more and\nmore, and would even cast them out of the good land at last. For, mind,\nGod always keeps His promises; and as surely as He gives the good all\nthat is best for them, so surely He will punish those who turn from Him.\n\n[Illustration: MOSES GIVING HIS CHARGE TO JOSHUA.--Num. 27:22, 23.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the Israelites? 2. How long had their journey lasted?\n 3. Where were they going? 4. What lay between them and the land of\n Canaan? 5. Who had led them? 6. But what one thing had Moses done? 7.\n What was he not to do? 8. Who was to lead them in? 9. What did Moses\n tell the Israelites they must be careful to do? 10. What had they\n promised to keep? 11. What would happen if they broke the promise? 12.\n What would happen if they kept the promise? 13. What promises have we\n made?\n\n[Illustration: MOSES VIEWING THE PROMISED LAND.--Deut. 34:4.]\n\n[Illustration: THE DEATH OF MOSES.--Deut. 34:5, 6.]\n\n\nSECOND READING\n\n \"So Moses the servant of the Lord died.\"--_Deuteronomy 34:5._\n\nIT was not God's will that Moses should lead the Israelites into the\npromised land, but he was to die on the east side of the river Jordan;\nand so he would have his rest above instead of in the land of promise.\n\nBut first God told him he might see the land. So he went up into a\nvery high hill: and there God made him able to see all the home of his\npeople--the snowy hill of Hermon, and Mount Lebanon where the cedar\ntrees grow, and the hills and valleys where Abraham had wandered and\nIsaac and Jacob had lived, and which he had hoped for all his life; and\ngreen fields, and corn-fields, and vineyards, on to the great blue sea\nstretching out to the westward.\n\nThat was where his people were to live; but there was a better home\nfor Moses. Nobody saw him any more after he went up into the mountain.\nThere he died, and the Lord buried him, and no one knows of his\ngrave--only the children of Israel wept and mourned for him.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where had the Israelites come? 2. Who had led them? 3. But where\n was Moses not to go? 4. But what did God allow him to see? 5. Where\n was he to go? 6. What did God show him there? 7. What kind of place\n was it? 8. Where had he brought the people from? 9. Who was to lead\n them in? 10. What was to happen to Moses? 11. Did any one ever see\n him again? 12. What does no one know? 13. Why do we think so much of\n Moses? 14. Where did he speak with God? 15. Was he not the greatest\n man of all in the Old Testament?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Be strong and of good courage.\"--_Joshua 1:6_\n\nAFTER Moses had gone out of sight on the mountain, God Himself told\nJoshua that Moses was dead, and that he must lead the children of\nIsrael into the good land God had promised them. Moses had laid his\nhands on Joshua's head, and God's Holy Spirit had come to help him\nto see what was right, and to lead the people. He must be strong and\nbrave, and do all that God commanded, and then he would be quite sure\nto be able to drive away all the strange people out of the land, and to\nmake a home for the people in the land that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,\nhad loved so well.\n\nAll the people promised they would do as Joshua bade them. So he was\ntheir captain instead of Moses.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the old leader of the children of Israel? 2. Where had\n Moses led them from? 3. Where were they going? 4. Where did Moses\n go? 5. What became of Moses on the mountain? 6. Whom did God make\n captain instead of Moses? 7. What did God tell Joshua? 8. What did God\n promise him? 9. What is the way to be helped by God? 10. What were the\n Israelites to be helped to do? 11. Who were to be driven away? 12.\n Why did the children of Israel wish to live in the land of Canaan?\n 13. What had God promised Abraham? 14. And does God always keep his\n promises?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nSeventeenth Sunday.\n\n_ISRAEL IN BATTLE._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God\n giveth you.\"--_Deut. 12:10._\n\nAFTER the children of Israel had been forty years living in the\nwilderness, God led them into the beautiful land He had promised them.\nBut before they could come in they had to get across a river--a deep\nriver, with rocks on each side, and a stony bottom to it, and the water\nrunning very fast indeed. The name of the river was Jordan. There was\nno bridges to go over, and no boat to row them across; and not only all\nthe strong men, but all the women and little children, had to get over\nit!\n\nBut nobody need be afraid when God is helping him. God told them what\nto do. The priests, who were like clergymen to them, were to take the\nark--that is, the chest where the two tables of the Ten Commandments\nwere kept--and were to walk down into the river, without being afraid.\nAnd they were brave men; they believed what God told them, and went\ndown into the swift stream in no fear of being drowned. And behold,\nas soon as their feet touched the water it stopped flowing, and stood\nstill. No more water came down, and all the hosts of the children of\nIsrael went straight over the bottom of the river with dry feet.\n\nThe priests stood up in the middle all the time the others were going\nover, and when everyone was safe on the other side they came after\nthem; and by-and-by the river came rushing down again in its own place,\nfor it was God who had commanded it to stop short, and make a dry place\nfor His people to pass over. And so they came into the land of Canaan\nthat He had promised them so long.\n\n[Illustration: CARRYING THE ARK OVER JORDAN.--Josh. 3:17.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How long did the children of Israel stay in the wilderness? 2.\n Where were they going? 3. What had they to eat? 4. What had they to\n drink? 5. What had God given them on Mount Sinai? 6. What were the\n Ten Commandments written on? 7. Where were the two stones put? 8. Who\n carried this ark? 9. What had the Israelites to go over? 10. What was\n the name of the river? 11. How do we cross rivers? 12. But had they a\n bridge or a boat? 13. Who was taking care of them? 14. What did God\n tell the priests to do? 15. Were the priests afraid to go into the\n river? 16. Why not? 17. What happened when the priest's feet touched\n the water?\n\n\n[Illustration: Jericho]\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.\"--_Hebrews 11:30._\n\nAFTER the Israelites had come into the land of Canaan, there was a\nstrong walled city before them, and its name was Jericho. They could\nnot go any further till they had taken the city. But God was going to\nshow that He fought for them. So He told them not to fight, but that\nevery day, for a whole week, the priests should take the Ark of the\nCovenant on their shoulders and walk around the outside of the walls of\nthe town.\n\n[Illustration]\n\nSeven priests were to go in front, blowing on trumpets made of rams'\nhorns; but nobody else was to make any noise. So they did one day, and\nnothing happened. Joshua bade them do it the next day. Perhaps some of\nthe Israelites wondered and were impatient, but they had to go on the\nnext day still; and after that the Ark was carried round once every day\nfor a whole week.\n\n[Illustration: THE ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSHUA.--Josh. 5:13, 14.]\n\nOn the seventh day, Joshua told the priests that God would have them go\nround not once but seven times. And so they did; and then, at last, on\nthe seventh day, Joshua said, \"Shout.\" The whole of the people shouted,\nand the priests blew their trumpets, and then--oh, great wonders!--the\nwalls of Jericho fell down flat, and the people went in and took the\ncity. So the Lord fought for Israel.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the Israelites now? 2. Who was their leader? 3. What\n city were they come to? 4. What did they want to do? 5. Were they to\n fight? 6. But what was to be carried round? 7. What was the Ark? 8.\n What was in it? 9. Who carried the Ark? 10. Who went in front of them?\n 11. How many days did they go on? 12. How many times did they carry\n the Ark round first? 13. How often on the seventh day? 14. What were\n the priests to do? 15. What were the people to do? 16. What happened\n then? 17. Who had conquered Jericho? 18. What was God giving the\n Israelites?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"As for me and my house, we will serve the lord.\"--_Joshua 24:15._\n\nTHIS morning you heard how God gave the children of Israel victory over\nJericho. After that He gave them more victories. None of the heathen\npeople could stand before them. They took their towns, and drove the\nheathen out, and had the fields and gardens and houses for their own.\nThen Joshua was to divide the land among them, and fix what cities each\ntribe should have for its own.\n\n[Illustration: FALLING OF THE WALLS OF JERICHO.--Josh. 6:20.]\n\nAll the chief men of each tribe came to him, and the Lord taught him\nhow to fix the places for them to dwell in. The children of the good\nJoseph had the very best lot of all, as his father Jacob had wished.\nIt was just in the middle of the country, and was full of beautiful\ncorn land. Two tribes and a-half lived on the other side of the river\nJordan, on the edge of the desert, but where there was fine grass for\ntheir cattle. The tribe of Judah had a very hilly, rocky part of the\ncountry; but they loved it, because it was where Abraham had lived and\nnow lay buried.\n\n[Illustration: DIVIDING THE LAND AMONG THE TRIBES.--Josh. 13:6, 7.]\n\n[Illustration: JOSHUA CAPTURING THE CITY OF AI.--Josh. 8:18, 19.]\n\n[Illustration: JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL.--Josh. 10:12,\n13.]\n\nAnd up all the hills they planted vines, where fine large grapes grew;\nand in the valleys were plenty of corn-fields. All over the country,\npeople had each man his own house, with his vine and his fig-tree to\nshelter it, and olive-trees in his garden, and a field to grow corn\nin, and hill-sides near, where he might keep his cows, goats, and\nsheep. The rocks and the hollow trees were full of wild bees' nests; so\nthat indeed they found it, as Moses had told them, a land of corn and\nwine--a land that flowed with milk and honey; and they were very glad\nto be there, and to rest after their long wandering in the wilderness.\n\nAfter they had had a quiet rest, their first sorrow came. It was that\ntheir brave leader Joshua had grown old, and felt himself near his\ndeath. So he called all the chief men together, and told them over\nagain how much God had done for them; and that if they would serve Him\nand keep His Commandments, all would go well with them. \"As for me\nand my house,\" he said, \"we will serve the Lord.\" And all the people\npromised too. They said they would serve the Lord, and would not go\nafter other gods, but would keep His Commandments.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the children of Israel now? 2. Who had promised the land\n to them? 3. Who was leading them? 4. Whom did they drive out? 5. Who\n had the country then? 6. How was it settled where they were to live?\n 7. Who had the best part? 8. What had Joseph done that was good? 9.\n Who went beyond the Jordan? 10. What part did Judah have? 11. What\n grows there? 12. What choice plants grew in the land? 13. What sort of\n place had they been told it would be? 14. Who was grown old? 15. What\n did Joshua tell the Israelites? 16. What was the way for them to be\n happy?\n\n[Illustration: SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF THE TABERNACLE.]\n\n\n\n\nEighteenth Sunday.\n\n_THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"The journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor.\"--_Judges\n 4:9._\n\nWHEN the Israelites had come to live in the beautiful land that God had\npromised them, they ought to have loved and served Him, and thanked Him\nfor all His goodness. But no! They liked worshipping false gods; and\nthey made idols to pray to, cut out of wood and stone; and they learnt\nwicked ways.\n\nThen God was angry with them; and He punished them by sending cruel\nnations to conquer them, to burn their houses, to steal their children,\nand drive away their cattle. Then they would be sorry, and pray to God\nagain; and He had pity, and sent some brave man to defend them.\n\nTo-day we hear how sadly they were used by a fierce man named Sisera,\nwho had nine hundred war chariots of iron to go into battle with. His\npeople used to shoot at the Israelites at the wells when they came\nto draw water; and nobody dared to go along the high-roads, but only\nthrough the paths, for fear of being killed.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How ought the Israelites to have behaved? 2. What had God given\n them? 3. Whom should they have worshipped? 4. But what did they\n worship? 5. How did God punish them? 6. What was the name of the cruel\n man who ill-used them? 7. How many chariots had Sisera?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"The Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.\"--_Judges 4:9._\n\nAT last God spake to a good brave woman named Deborah, and told her to\nsend for a man named Barak, who should lead the Israelites to fight\nwith Sisera. She sent for Barak, and told him what God had said. But\nBarak was afraid to go alone. He said he must have Deborah with him. He\nought to have known that, if God sent him, he was sure to be safe and\nto succeed.\n\n[Illustration: SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL.--Judges 4:22.]\n\nDeborah told him that since he wished it she would go with him, but\nthat the journey should not be to his honor, for the Lord would sell\nSisera into the hand of a woman. And it turned out as Deborah said.\nBarak won a great battle, and drove the enemies away, so that they did\nnot hurt the children of Israel again for forty years. But he did not\nmeet with Sisera in the battle, nor get the honor of killing him.\n\nSisera fled out of the battle, and was killed after all by a woman,\nwhose name was Jael. Barak lost all the honor, because he would not do\njust as he was told, but was afraid without Deborah, just as if God\ncould not help him better than Deborah could.\n\nThis morning's lesson told how Deborah and Barak conquered the cruel\nSisera. This evening's lesson is the song that Deborah made to thank\nGod for having given her the victory, and saved His people.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the holy woman that God raised up? 2. For whom did Deborah\n call? 3. What was Barak to do? 4. Who did Barak say must come with\n him? 5. Why was this wrong of Barak? 6. What happened in the fight? 7.\n Did Barak kill Sisera? 8. Who did kill Sisera? 9. Why was not Barak\n allowed to kill Sisera? 10. Whom ought he to have trusted to? 11. Who\n will always help us if we are not afraid to do as we are told?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"They chose new gods; then was war in the gates.\"--_Judges 5:8._\n\nTHE Israelites never kept long from sinning and setting up idols; and,\nby-and-by, God let a set of robbers, called Midianites, come in and\nburn their crops and houses, drive away their cattle, and steal their\nchildren for slaves.\n\nThen the Israelites were sorry, and prayed to God to save them. And God\nhad pity on them, and sent His angel to a man named Gideon, to tell him\nthat he was to fight for the Israelites.\n\nA great many men came to Gideon; but the Israelites were to be shown\nthat it was as easy for God to save them with few men as with many.\nSo He bade Gideon send home all but three hundred men. And Gideon\nbelieved, and sent them home, and kept only the three hundred.\n\nThen at night he took these men, and gave them each a trumpet, and\nan earthen pitcher, with a lamp inside the pitcher, so that the light\ncould not be seen. He took a hundred with him, and sent the other two\nhundreds another way, creeping quietly along till they came to the\nplace where the Midianites had set up their tents, and were all lying\nasleep among the cattle they had stolen.\n\n[Illustration: GIDEON'S OFFERING BURNT BY FIRE FROM THE ROCK.--Judges\n6:21.]\n\nThere they lay, and never heard Gideon and his men coming till they\nwere close to the camp, the three parties on three sides. Then, all of\na sudden, everyone of the Israelites broke his pitcher and let his lamp\nshine, and blew his trumpet, and shouted, \"The sword of the Lord and of\nGideon!\"\n\nThe Midianites were awakened out of their sleep to see the lamps on\nthree sides of them in the dark, and hear the trumpets and the cries.\nThey were very much frightened, and quite wild with fear. They all\nbegan to beat down one another, for they did not know friends from\nenemies. A great many were killed, and the rest fled away, leaving all\nthat they had stolen behind them. And so God delivered the Israelites\nfrom the Midianites by the hand of Gideon, and gave them peace again as\nlong as they would serve the Lord.\n\n[Illustration: GIDEON'S VICTORY OVER THE MIDIANITES.--Judges 7:19-21.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What made the Israelites meet with troubles? 2. Whom ought they to\n have worshipped? 3. But whom did they worship? 4. What happened then?\n 5. Who were the next people that ill-used them? 6. What did they do\n when they were punished? 7. Whom did God send to save them? 8. How\n many men was Gideon to have with him? 9. What did all the men carry?\n 10. Where did they go? 11. Into how many parties were they divided?\n 12. What did the Midianites hear? 13. What did they see? 14. What did\n they begin to do? 15. What became of those that were not killed? 16.\n Who had made Gideon able to beat them with so few men?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n[Illustration: JEPHTHAH MEETING HIS DAUGHTER.--Judges 11:35.]\n\n[Illustration: SAMSON SLAYING A LION.--Judges 14:6.]\n\n\n\n\nNineteenth Sunday.\n\n_SAMUEL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child.\"--_1 Sam. 2:18._\n\n[Illustration: YOUNG SAMUEL BROUGHT TO ELI.]\n\nTHERE was a very good woman named Hannah, and she grieved because she\nhad no children. Whenever she came with her husband to God's holy\nplace, she used to kneel, and pray with all her heart to God that He\nwould let her have a son; and she promised that if she had one, she\nwould lend him to the Lord all the days of his life.\n\nAt last God granted her prayer, and gave her a little son, and she\nnamed him Samuel. She was very glad when he was born, and she thanked\nGod, and sang a hymn of praise for her dear little child. But she had\npromised to lend him to the Lord all his life; and she kept her promise.\n\nAs soon as little Samuel was old enough to be without her, she took him\nto the holy place, that was instead of a church, and gave him to wait\nupon the Lord. He lived with the High Priest, whose name was Eli, and\nwas taught by him.\n\nEli was a very old man, and his sons used to behave very badly; but\nSamuel was always good and obedient to him, and used to wait upon him,\nand help him when he served God in the holy place. Samuel wore a little\nwhite linen dress like the priests; and when his mother came to see\nhim, she used to bring him a little coat. She had five more children\nafterwards, three sons and two daughters.\n\n[Illustration: HANNAH'S PRAYER.--1 Sam. 1:11.]\n\nIf you listen in the afternoon, you will hear how God spoke to Samuel\nwhilst he was still a little boy; and I am sure you like to think of\nthe little child in his white dress, ministering before God in His\nbeautiful holy place. But only think. You can be like Samuel. Your\nfather and mother lent you to God for all your life, when they took you\nto the font, and made you God's child; and though you live at home,\nyou go to church, and can serve God there, if you kneel and stand and\nsit quietly at the proper times, mind the prayers, and repeat the\nAmens, and the verses you know, in their right places. And if you are\nobedient, and try to be good, God will love you as He loved Samuel.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the name of the woman we hear of to-day? 2. What did she\n wish for? 3. What did she do to obtain her wish? 4. What did God give\n her? 5. What was her son's name? 6. What did she promise? 7. Where did\n Hannah bring her little son? 8. Who took care of Samuel? 9. Who was\n Eli? 10. How did Samuel behave? 11. What did Samuel wear? 12. What had\n Samuel to do? 13. When were you lent to God? 14. Whose child are you?\n 15. How can you be like Samuel when you go to church? 16. How can you\n be like him at home? 17. Who will bless you if you try to be good? 18.\n What kind of children does God love?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.\"--_1 Sam. 3:9._\n\nHANNAH brought her little son Samuel, to be brought up in the holy\nplace by the High Priest Eli.\n\nSamuel was very good and holy, and God blessed him and loved him. One\nnight, when everyone was gone to bed, but the lamp in the holy place\nwas not yet gone out, Samuel heard a voice calling to him, \"Samuel!\" He\nsprang up at once, for he thought that Eli had called him, and he ran\nto Eli and said, \"Here I am, for thou didst call me.\" But Eli answered,\n\"I called not, my son; lie down again;\" and Samuel went back to his bed.\n\nThen again came the voice calling to him, \"Samuel!\" and again he\nthought it was Eli's call. He was not lazy, or fretful at being roused\nout of his sleep, but he ran at once to Eli, and again said, \"Here I\nam, for thou didst call me.\" But Eli sent him back to his bed again;\nand there again he heard the call, \"Samuel!\"\n\nPatiently he once more rose and came to the old man, but this time Eli\nknew that it must have been no other than God's own voice speaking to\nthe child. So he bade Samuel go back, and next time he heard the voice,\nto say, \"Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.\"\n\nAnd so Samuel did. Again his name was called, and he made answer,\n\"Speak; for Thy servant heareth.\"\n\nAnd God spoke to him in the still night, and told him to give Eli\na fresh warning of the sad things that were coming on him and on\nhis sons. Samuel was forced to tell Eli all in the morning, sad and\nmournful as it was. He was afraid and grieved to have such things to\nsay, but he told the truth, and Eli was too good a man to be angry with\nhim, and only said, \"It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.\"\n\n[Illustration]\n\n[Illustration: GOD TELLS SAMUEL OF DESTRUCTION OF ELI'S HOUSE.--1 Sam.\n3:11.]\n\nAnd, after that, God often made His will known to Samuel, and blessed\nhim, and all Israel knew that Samuel was God's own prophet. Think of\nthe great honor and blessing of having God so often speaking to him!\nBut we have that blessing too. God is nearer to a little Christian\nchild than He was to Samuel; for the Holy Spirit speaks in a Christian\nchild's heart, and tells him to be good and dutiful, and to think of\nGod, and say his prayers with all his heart. And that is better than\neven being a prophet like Samuel. Only we must take great care to\nattend to that voice; or it will leave off, and then we shall get worse\nand worse, like those bad sons of poor old Eli.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Samuel? 2. Where was he brought up? 3. What did his mother\n bring him every year? 4. Who was the High Priest? 5. What did Samuel\n hear? 6. Who did he think was calling? 7. What did he do? 8. What did\n Eli say? 9. How often did this happen? 10. Was Samuel cross at being\n called so often? 11. Who was honoring him? 12. What did Eli perceive\n at last? 13. What did he tell Samuel to answer? 14. What did he hear\n again? 15. How did he answer? 16. What did the voice tell him? 17.\n Whose voice speaks to us? 18. How does the Holy Spirit speak to us?\n 19. What must we take care to do?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The Ark of God is taken.--_Samuel 4:17._\n\nGOD helped the Israelites again and again, but they would not leave off\ntheir wickedness, and at last He punished them still more. There came\nup a nation to make war upon them, fiercer than any before, called the\nPhilistines. Then the Israelites fancied that if they took the Ark of\nthe Covenant out into the battle with them they would get the victory,\nas they had done when Joshua conquered the land.\n\nBut God had never bidden them take the Ark. He had commanded that it\nshould stay in its place at Shiloh. They did not heed this, but took\nit out into the camp, and all the people shouted for joy when it was\nbrought, with the two priests, Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons, to\ntake care of it. When the Philistines heard the shout, they said that\nthe gods of Israel were come, and that they must fight all the more\nbravely. And they did.\n\nGod would not help His people because of their self-will, so He let\nthem be beaten by the Philistines, and Hophni and Phinehas were killed,\nand the holy Ark of God was taken by these heathens. And when poor old\nEli, the High Priest, heard the sad news, he was so much shocked, that\nhe fell down backwards and broke his neck and died.\n\nGod still shewed His power, for when the Philistines put the Ark into\nthe temple of one of their false gods the idol fell down and was\nbroken; and wherever it was taken the people fell sick, till at last\nthey sent it back to the Israelites: but it never came back to Shiloh.\nIt was hidden in a lonely house in the woods; and the Philistines were\nstrong and the Israelites were very weak and miserable, because they\nhad been so very disobedient.\n\n[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ELI.--1 Sam. 4:17, 18.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What people came to fight with the Israelites? 2. Why did God let\n any one hurt the Israelites? 3. What did the Israelites think would\n help them to fight? 4. What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 5. Where\n was it kept? 6. Ought they to have taken it? 7. Why not? 8. Why did\n they take it? 9. Did it give them the victory? 10. Why not? 11. Who\n were killed? 12. Who was the father of Hophni and Phinehas? 13. What\n happened to Eli when he heard the Ark was taken? 14. Why did God\n allow it to be taken? 15. Did it come back again? 16. Why did not\n the Philistines keep it? 17. What happened to their idol? 18. What\n happened to themselves? 19. Where had it been before? 20. Did it ever\n come back to Shiloh? 21. Where was it kept?\n\n\n\n\nTwentieth Sunday.\n\n_KING SAUL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.\"--_1 Samuel 12:13._\n\nTHERE was a young man named Saul, who was very tall and strong. His\nfather kept a number of asses; for, in the land of Israel, people rode\non asses instead of horses. One day all the asses were lost, and Saul\nand one of the servants went out to look for them. They went a long,\nlong way, and never found the asses; and at night they came to a city,\nand there they found Samuel.\n\nSamuel was an old man now, and grey-headed; and he ruled over Israel,\nand everyone honored and loved him, because he was so good and just.\nSaul was very much surprised when the great and good Samuel met him,\nand led him into the house, and put him in the chief place, and gave\nhim a choice of meat that had been set apart for him. Saul could\nnot think how Samuel knew anything about him. And he was still more\nsurprised the next morning, for then Samuel came out of the city with\nhim, and sent the servant on before. Then Samuel took some oil, and\npoured it on Saul's head, which was what was called anointing, and told\nhim that God had chosen him to be king over all the people of Israel.\n\nWas not this wonderful news for him? And you see, God had led him to\nSamuel to be made king, though he so little guessed what was going\nto happen when he set out to look for the asses. And God still makes\neverything happen, even the least thing; it is all for our good, even\nthough we do not quite see why.\n\n[Illustration: SAMUEL ANOINTING SAUL.--1 Sam. 10:1.]\n\nSo Saul was the first King of Israel; but he was only to be prosperous\nas long as he would take care to obey God.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the first King of Israel? 2. Did Saul expect to be a king?\n 3. What did he set out from home to do? 4. Where did he come? 5. Who\n was in the city? 6. What did you hear about Samuel last Sunday? 7.\n What age was Samuel now? 8. What did he give Saul? 9. What surprised\n Saul? 10. What did Samuel do to him the next day? 11. What is\n anointing? 12. What was he to be? 13. But what must he do if he would\n get on well?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.\"--_1\n Sam. 14:6._\n\nSAUL was the first king of Israel. But just at first, when he was\nappointed king, the people were in great distress; for their enemies\nthe Philistines had overrun the whole land, and held all the strong\nplaces, and were very hard to the Israelites. They would not even let\na smith live among the Israelites, that they might not be able to have\nswords or spears made to use in fighting, and the Israelites had to go\ninto the Philistines' country to get their axes and ploughshares made,\nand to sharpen the goads, or long sticks tipped with iron that they\ndrove the oxen with.\n\n\nTHE PEOPLE MUCH FRIGHTENED.\n\nNobody had a sword or spear but Saul and his good son Jonathan; all\nthe rest of the people had nothing better to fight with than axes\nand mattocks and goads, and they were very much frightened, and came\ntrembling after their new king.\n\nBut Jonathan trusted in God, and he and one young man set out creeping\nalong a rugged steep path to see what the enemy were about, and\nby-and-by they came below the high rocky hill where the Philistines\nwere encamped.\n\nOne of the Philistines looked out and said, \"Behold, the Hebrews come\nforth out of the holes where they had hid themselves;\" and he called\nout to Jonathan, \"Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.\"\n\nNow, Jonathan knew, as he said to his friend, that the Lord can save\nas easily by few men as by many, so he was not afraid; and he and the\nother young man climbed up on their hands and knees till they came out\namong all the Philistine soldiers. Then they began to fight at once,\nand the Philistines were so surprised at these two men beginning to\nfight with them, that they most likely thought all the others were\nbehind, and they began to run away.\n\nThe people in Saul's camp heard all the noise, and went out to look,\nand saw the Philistines running away, so they went after them, and\nkilled many, and drove them out of the land, and got free of them once\nmore.\n\nSo God blessed and helped the good Jonathan, because he trusted in Him;\nand Saul became a great king.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the first king of Israel? 2. Who made Saul king? 3. Who was\n Saul's son? 4. Who were the enemies of the Israelites? 5. Why would\n not the Philistines let the Israelites have any smiths? 6. What is\n a smith? 7. What tools does a smith make? 8. How did the Israelites\n get their iron tools? 9. Who were the only ones that had swords and\n spears? 10. Why were the people afraid? 11. Who crept out to see\n the Philistines? 12. What did Jonathan know that God could do? 13.\n Where did he climb up? 14. What happened? 15. What became of the\n Philistines? 16. Who became king?\n\n[Illustration: ANCIENT SHOES.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Intreat me not to leave thee.\"--_Ruth 1:16._\n\nONE fine summer day, a good man named Boaz went out into his\ncorn-fields where his reapers were cutting down the wheat. \"The Lord be\nwith you,\" he said. \"The Lord bless thee,\" they answered. Then he saw a\nyoung woman gleaning, whom he had never seen before.\n\n[Illustration: RUTH AND NAOMI.--Ruth 1:16.]\n\nHe asked who she was. He heard that her name was Ruth, and she was a\nstranger and a widow. Then why had she come there? Because she could\nnot bear to leave her husband's mother, Naomi, alone in her old age.\nShe knew that if she kept with Naomi she must be poor and forlorn,\nand away from all her friends; but she loved her mother-in-law so\nmuch, that she said, \"Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from\nfollowing after thee: * * * where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy\npeople shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will\nI die, and there will I be buried.\"\n\nWhen Boaz knew that Ruth was poor and a stranger, he told his reapers\nto drop some handfuls of corn in her way; and he told Ruth to keep\namong his young maidens, so that nobody might be rude to her, and that\nshe might rest and eat among them when they rested in the heat of the\nday.\n\n[Illustration: RUTH GLEANING IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ.--Ruth 2:5.]\n\nRuth carried home plenty of corn to her mother-in-law. And soon it was\nfound out that Boaz was their nearest friend; and he married Ruth, and\nNaomi lived with them; and Ruth was no longer poor and a stranger, but\nwas happy as a wife and mother in her beautiful home.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the name of the mother of whom we hear to-day? 2. Whose\n mother was she? 3. But who was good to her? 4. What did Ruth do for\n Naomi? 5. Where did she go to glean? 6. Who saw her? 7. What did Boaz\n bid his men do? 8. How did Boaz speak to his men? 9. How did they\n answer? 10. How was he kind to Ruth? 11. What did she find out? 12.\n Whom did Ruth marry? 13. What became of Naomi? 14. Why was Ruth so\n happy?\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-first Sunday.\n\n_THE REIGN OF SAUL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also\n rejected thee from being king.--_1 Samuel 15:23._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nLAST Sunday you heard how God chose Saul to be king of Israel, and\npromised to help him if he would obey in all that God commanded him.\n\nNow, there were some cruel robbers that lived in the mountains, and\nused to fall upon peaceful people and kill them; and take their cows\nand sheep and camels and asses, and gold and silver, and all they had.\nSo God sent a message by Samuel to Saul and his brave men, to destroy\nthese cruel people; but God said that none of all their prey and\nriches, that had been gained by such wicked ways, was to be kept by His\npeople; it was all to be made away with; they were to have none of it\nfor themselves.\n\nThey won the battle, and killed the robbers, as they were sure to do\nwhen God helped them; but then when they saw such fine cattle and\nchoice things, they would not obey God, but went and took it all for\nthemselves. They left only the poor and mean that they did not care\nfor, and helped themselves to all they liked.\n\nAnd then, when Samuel came to meet them, Saul made as if he had done\njust what he was told, and said, \"I have obeyed the voice of the Lord.\"\nBut Samuel said, \"What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine\nears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear?\"\n\nSaul wanted to make excuses; but it was not the first time he had been\ndisobedient; and he was only frightened, he was not really sorry; so\nSamuel was obliged to tell him, \"Because thou hast rejected the word of\nthe Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.\"\n\n[Illustration: SAUL TEARING THE ROBE OF SAMUEL.--1 Sam. 15:27, 28.]\n\nSaul would not do as he was told, and so God punished him. Remember\nthat. Your parents and teachers, or nurses, give you orders; and you\nhave to mind them exactly--not only to do what you like, and miss out\nthe rest. Saul did what he liked when he fought the robbers, but he\nwould not obey when he took the spoil. Then God was angry with him. Do\nnot you be like him; but obey when you do not like, as well as when you\ndo like.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. What must we always do? 3. Who\n did we hear of to-day who did not do as he was told? 4. What was Saul\n told to do? 5. Who told him? 6. Who was Samuel? 7. Who was Saul? 8.\n What was Saul told not to do? 9. How far did he obey? 10. In what did\n he disobey? 11. Why was it wrong of Saul to keep the robbers' cattle\n and sheep? 12. What did he say when Samuel came? 13. Was this true?\n 14. What did Samuel hear that showed that this was false? 15. Whom had\n Saul disobeyed? 16. How was Saul to be punished? 17. Why was Saul not\n to keep the kingdom?\n\n[Illustration: DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL.--1 Sam. 16:11, 12.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed\n him.\"--_Psalm 89:20._\n\nTHE hills that lie above Bethlehem have green slopes where the sheep\nfeed. There, one day, a flock was feeding, and a boy with blue eyes and\nshining hair watched them, and perhaps sung as he watched. He was the\nyoungest of eight brothers, and all the rest had gone down to a great\nfeast; for Samuel, the great Prophet, was come to visit their father.\n\n[Illustration: Samuel goeth to BETHLEHEM]\n\n[Illustration: The Elders Alarmed]\n\n[Illustration: Are here all thy children?]\n\n[Illustration: HE KEEPETH THE SHEEP]\n\nBut the youngest must stay out with the sheep. No one would want him.\nBut see a messenger is coming up the hill. He calls--David is wanted.\nThe Prophet has called for him. So the boy is obedient, and rises up,\nto run down the hill at his father's call. Perhaps he stopped to wash\nhis face in the clear well of Bethlehem before he went up to the place\nof the feast, the same place where Boaz had brought his bride Ruth, for\nJesse, David's father was Ruth's grandson.\n\nThere stood the Prophet, with his long white hair flowing down; and\nas soon as young David came in, he stepped forward with a horn in his\nhand, and sweet-smelling oil of olives mixed with incense was flowing\nupon David's golden hair. He was the Anointed of the Lord. In time to\ncome he would be king, but he must wait long and patiently first.\n\nYes. Each of his seven brothers had passed before Samuel--tall goodly\nmen--but God had spoken to Samuel, and forbidden him to choose them;\nfor Samuel could only see their fine handsome faces and figures, but\nGod looked at their hearts, and knew they were proud men, who would\nsoon have been as fierce and headstrong as Saul himself. So he had sent\nSamuel to choose the youngest and least thought-of of all Jesse's sons,\nand anoint him to be king of Israel. Yes; and above all, to be the\nforefather of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was sent to Bethlehem? 2. Who used to live at Bethlehem? 3.\n What was Samuel to do? 4. Whose son was he to anoint? 5. What does\n anointing mean? 6. What was anointing to mark him for? 7. How many\n sons had Jesse? 8. How many came to the feast? 9. Which did not come?\n 10. Where was David? 11. Were his brothers anointed? 12. Why not? 13.\n Who saw their hearts? 14. Who was sent for? 15. What did Samuel do?\n 16. Why was Saul to be punished? 17. Why was David chosen? 18. Was he\n to begin to reign at once? 19. How was he to wait?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the\n armies of Israel.\"--_1 Samuel 17:45._\n\nTHOUGH King Saul had beaten the Philistines, still they used to come\nback again and try to conquer the Israelites.\n\nOnce they came with an army, and Saul had an army too. The Israelites\nwere on one hill and the Philistines on another hill, and there was a\nvalley between. Then out in front of the Philistines' camp came a giant\nnamed Goliath; for there really were giants then, and Goliath had three\nbrothers as tall as himself.\n\nGoliath was nearly twice as tall as any man we ever saw, and he had a\nhelmet on his head, and armour on his breast, and an enormous spear,\nand a shield, and a man carried a shield before him. He stood out, and\ncalled to know if any Israelite would fight with him. Then if Goliath\nconquered the Israelite, the Philistines should be the lords over the\nIsraelites; but if an Israelite conquered Goliath, then the Israelites\nshould be lords over the Philistines.\n\nBut nobody felt bold or strong enough to go out to fight with this\ngreat man; and day after day he came and walked up and down, and\nlaughed the Israelites to scorn for not daring to come out, they who\ncalled themselves the servants of God.\n\n[Illustration: DAVID SLAYING GOLIATH.--1 Sam. 17:50, 51.]\n\nAt last a young shepherd boy came to the camp. He had three brothers\namong Saul's soldiers, and his father had sent him to take them some\nloaves of bread, and see how they were. The shepherd boy's name was\nDavid. When he came he saw the proud Goliath walking up and down\nboasting against the Israelites; he asked the soldiers about him, and\nwas so eager that at last they brought him to the king; and Saul asked\nhim how it was that he, who was only a youth, could dare to think of\nfighting with a man of war like Goliath.\n\nDavid answered that when he was keeping his flocks a lion and a bear\nhad come and tried to take away a lamb. And God had made him strong to\nkill both the lion and the bear, and saved him from danger; and he\ntrusted that in like manner God would help him if he fought with the\ngiant.\n\nSo Saul wanted to dress David in his own armour, but it was too large\nfor him, and he would not use it. All he did was to choose five smooth\nstones out of the brook, and put them into his shepherd's bag. And he\ntook his sling, a long strip of leather, the ends of which he used to\nhold in his hand to throw stones farther with, when he wanted to drive\nbeasts away from his flock. And with only his sling and his stone he\nwent out to meet the giant.\n\n[Illustration: SAUL CASTING HIS JAVELIN AT DAVID.--1 Sam. 19:9, 10.]\n\nGoliath was fierce and angry when he saw such a boy, and he thought it\nwas only laughing at him to send no better warrior to fight with him.\nBut David said, \"Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and\nwith a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts,\n * * * whom thou hast defied.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE PARTING OF DAVID AND JONATHAN.--1 Sam. 20:42.]\n\n[Illustration: DAVID AND ABIGAIL.--1 Sam. 25:32, 33.]\n\nThen David took one of his stones and slung it out of his sling. It\nstruck the very middle of the giant's forehead, and went deep in, and\ndown fell Goliath. All his great strength was of no use to him, and\nDavid ran and stood upon him, and drew out his great sword from his\nside, and cut off his head.\n\nAll the other Philistines fled away, and David gave thanks to God for\nhis great victory.\n\nBy-and-by David came to be king instead of Saul; and he loved God, and\ntrusted in Him so faithfully that God Himself called him a man after\nHis own heart.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who were the enemies of the Israelites? 2. Who was the giant? 3.\n What is a giant? 4. What did Goliath wear? 5. What did he call the\n Israelites to do? 6. Who was the only one that would come out to\n fight? 7. What was David? 8. Why was not David afraid? 9. What had\n David killed before? 10. What did David take with him? 11. What was a\n sling? 12. What did David say? 13. Who helped David? 14. How did David\n attack Goliath? 15. What happened to Goliath? 16. What did David do to\n him then? 17. What became of the other Philistines? 18. What did David\n come to be? 19. What did God call David? 20. Why did God love David?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-second Sunday.\n\n_KING DAVID REIGNING._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"How are the mighty fallen!\"--_2 Samuel 1:19._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHE last thing that has to be told about Saul is very sad. You know he\nwould not do as God bade him, but chose to go his own way. Then God\nforsook him, and left him to grow worse and worse. Then his enemies,\nthe Philistines, came up against him, and his army came together on the\nhills to meet them.\n\nBut God was not with Saul, so his men could not fight, and he was\nbeaten back step by step up into his own hills, close to his home; and\nthere, when he found he could go no further, and that the Philistines\nwould soon be upon him, he did the saddest thing of all--he threw\nhimself on his own sword, that they might not take him alive.\n\nHe did not quite kill himself; and when a young robber came by, trying\nto get garments and weapons from the dead bodies, the unhappy king\nbegged for a death-blow as he lay. The robber gave him the last stroke,\nand then took the crown from his helmet, and his bracelets, and brought\nthem to David, to show that he was dead.\n\nThe robber thought he should have a reward, but David put him to death\nfor having dared to strike the king: and David grieved and mourned for\nSaul, who had been a great and noble king once. But he had come to this\nmiserable end because he would have his own way and will.\n\n[Illustration: THE DEATH OF SAUL.--1 Sam. 31:4.]\n\n[Illustration: DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL.--2 Sam. 2:4.]\n\nThen, when Saul was killed, David was anointed to be king; and he was a\nvery good man, and served God with all his heart. So God blessed him,\nand made him great and powerful.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Saul? 2. What was Saul's fault? 3. Who came out to fight\n against Saul? 4. Where was he driven? 5. Who came after him? 6. What\n dreadful thing did he do? 7. Who killed him entirely? 8. What did the\n robber take? 9. To whom did he carry Saul's crown? 10. What did David\n do to him? 11. Why? 12. Who was to be king now? 13. Why did Saul come\n to such an end? 14. Whose way should he have followed? 15. Can anyone\n go on well who is self-willed? 16. Who was king after Saul?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.\"--_2 Samuel 12:23._\n\nKING David had a little son, a baby, whom he loved very much; and this\nchild fell sick. While it was sick King David grieved for it, and\nprayed that it might be made well. But it was not God's will to make\nthe little boy well, and he died. And then David was patient, and knew\nit was God's will; and he said, \"I shall go to him, but he shall not\nreturn to me.\"\n\nFor David meant that one day he should die, and then his soul would\ngo to be with his little son's soul in the happy place of rest; and\nby-and-by their bodies will rise again out of their graves, and be\njoined to their souls again, and live for ever and ever.\n\nKing David used to sing the Psalms to praise God; indeed, he first made\nmost of them; and in one he says, \"My flesh also shall rest in hope.\"\nThat was, the hope that he should rise again from the dead, and always\nlive in God's holy home in heaven. Heaven is the happy place where we\nall hope to meet and live by-and-by, and that is the comfort that good\nChristians have when death takes away friends whom they love.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was David's sorrow? 2. What did he do when his little boy was\n ill? 3. Did the little boy get better? 4. What became of him? 5. How\n did David bear his death? 6. What did he say? 7. Where did he hope to\n go to his little son? 8. When would his soul go to his child's soul?\n 9. When will their bodies rise? 10. What does David say of his flesh?\n 11. What is his flesh? 12. What hope does he rest in? 13. When will\n our flesh rest? 14. What do we hope to do? 15. Where in the Belief do\n you say we hope to rise from the dead? 16. What people will be happy\n then? 17. What are David's songs called?\n\n[Illustration: DAVID MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD.--2 Sam. 12:18.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!\"--_2 Samuel 19:4._\n\nGOOD King David had more sons besides the little one who died. One was\nnamed Absalom. He was a very fine, handsome young man, and had most\nbeautiful hair; but he was fierce and proud, and wanted to be king.\n\nAnd when David was old, this wicked Absalom gathered men together,\nand drove his father away, that he might be king instead. Good King\nDavid had to go away, weeping and barefoot, down the steep rocky pass,\nfor fear of his wicked son; and cruel men called him names, and threw\nstones at him as he went, while Absalom was made to reign in his\nfather's palace, and did all he pleased there. But God will not let\nwicked men prosper; and all David's faithful old soldiers came together\nto help him. They had a great battle with Absalom and his men; and\nAbsalom was beaten, and fled away on a mule.\n\n[Illustration: SHIMEI CASTING STONES AT DAVID.--2 Sam. 16:5, 6.]\n\nBut when he came into a wood, his thick hair was caught in an oak tree,\nand he could not get it loose; and his mule went away, and left him\nstill with his hair caught in the tree.\n\nNow, though Absalom had been so wicked, his father loved him still, and\nhad begged all his men to take care not to hurt the young man Absalom.\nSo when one of the men saw Absalom caught by the hair in a tree he\nwould not hurt him, and only went and told Absalom's cousin, Joab, who\nwas the captain of David's army.\n\n[Illustration: ABSALOM]\n\nJoab had no pity; he thought Absalom richly deserved to die, and he was\nafraid the king would pardon him; so he went at once, with three darts\nin his hand, and killed Absalom as he hung in the tree.\n\nKing David was grieved to the heart. No words can say how sad he was to\nthink that his son had died in his sin, and never asked his pardon. He\nwept, and cried aloud, \"O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would\nGod I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!\" It was not like\nhis grief for the innocent little baby he had lost before; for Absalom\nhad been a bad man, and for that there is no comfort.\n\nAnd when all the people came joyfully to bring King David home to his\npalace, to be king again, still his heart mourned for his son Absalom.\n\n[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ABSALOM.--2 Sam. 18:9.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. Do you hear of any one to-day who\n broke the Fifth Commandment? 3. How did Absalom break it? 4. Who was\n Absalom's father? 5. How had David to go away? 6. What did cruel men\n do? 7. Who came to help David? 8. What did he charge them? 9. Who won\n the battle? 10. What happened to Absalom? 11. Who saw him there? 12.\n Whom did the man tell? 13. Why did Joab kill Absalom? 14. Did Absalom\n deserve it? 15. How did his father behave? 16. What did he cry out?\n 17. Why was he more sorry than for his baby son? 18. What is sadder\n than even dying? 19. How should you behave to your parents?\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-third Sunday.\n\n_PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price.\"--_2 Samuel 24:24._\n\nWHEN David was king his people did wrong again; and there came a plague\nupon them, so that a great number of them died all through the land of\nIsrael.\n\nDavid and his priests, and all the good men, fasted and prayed, and\nentreated that God would turn His anger away. And while they were\npraying, David saw the Destroying Angel standing with his drawn sword\nover Jerusalem; but the plague had not begun there. Then David prayed\nthe more; and God made known to him that he must offer up a sacrifice\non the threshing-floor of Ornan, just by Jerusalem, and then the plague\nshould be stopped.\n\nA threshing-floor was a flat rocky place on the top of a hill, where\nthe sheaves of corn were laid out, and oxen drew boards, with the under\nside covered with spikes, to knock the grain out of the ears. Oman's\nthreshing-floor was upon Mount Moriah, where Isaac had been so nearly\nsacrificed. He was threshing wheat on it when David came and desired to\nbuy it for the sacrifice.\n\nOrnan was a good man, and said he would give the whole place to the\nking. But David said, \"I will not offer unto my God of that which doth\ncost me nothing.\" So he bought the place of Ornan, the oxen, and the\nthreshing tools; and the sacrifice was made to show that death must\nbe for sin. Then God pardoned Israel, and the plague was stopped. We\nshould remember that our offerings to God are only worthy if they cost\nus something. He does not want the things themselves, but He does value\nthe love that gives them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is a threshing-floor? 2. Whose threshing-floor have we heard\n of? 3. Where was it? 4. What had happened on Mount Moriah? 5. Whose\n son was Isaac? 6. Was he sacrificed? 7. Why not? 8. What town was\n near? 9. Who bought the threshing-floor? 10. Why? 11. What is a\n plague? 12. Why was the plague sent? 13. What did David see? 14. What\n was he bidden to do? 15. What did Ornan want to do? 16. What did David\n say? 17. So what ought we to give to God?\n\n[Illustration: THE KING SAID I DWELL IN A HOUSE OF CEDAR _BUT THE ARK\nOF GOD DWELLETH WITHIN CURTAINS_.]\n\n[Illustration: THE BRINGING UP OF THE ARK]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"His seed also will I make to endure for ever.\"--_Psalm 89:29_\n\nYOU know the two Tables of the Commandments were kept in the Ark of the\nCovenant; and when the Israelites were going about in the wilderness,\nthey had a beautiful tent to keep it in. But now they had come into\nthe Land of Promise, and had no more journeys to make, David wished to\nbuild a house, or temple, where the Ark might be kept, and to make it\nbeautiful for the glory of God.\n\nBut the Lord had sent a prophet to tell David that he must not himself\nbuild a house for God, because he had been a man of war, and had\nfought, and shed much blood; but that his son Solomon should be a man\nof rest, and should build the Temple for the Lord.\n\nDavid did not repine. He thanked God for giving him the hope that his\nson should do this great work; and all the rest of his life he was\nbusy getting together gold and silver, brass and iron, and beautiful\ncedar wood, all for the Temple of his God. It was to be built on Mount\nMoriah, on the threshing-floor he had bought of Ornan, just by the city\nof Jerusalem, which David had conquered from the Jebusites, and made\nthe capital of his kingdom.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was kept in the Ark of the Covenant? 2. Where was the Ark\n kept at first? 3. What did David want to build? 4. Why was David\n not allowed to build a temple? 5. Did he fret and grieve at being\n forbidden? 6. Who was to build the Temple? 7. What did David get\n ready? 8. Where was the Temple to be? 9. When had he bought it of\n Ornan?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"All things come to Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.\"--_1\n Chronicles 29:14._\n\nDAVID had grown to be a very old man, near to his death; but, before he\ndied, he called all the princes of his people together at Jerusalem,\nand asked them all to bring offerings to help to build a beautiful\nhouse, to be a Temple to the Lord their God. So all the people brought\nwhat precious things they could, to add to what the king had prepared;\nand a great quantity was ready--all willingly offered.\n\n[Illustration: DAVID'S THREE MIGHTY MEN.--2 Sam. 23:16, 17.]\n\nThen good King David stood up and made his offering. \"All things come\nof Thee,\" he said, \"and of Thine own have we given Thee.\" And he\nthanked and blessed the Lord God, who had been with him all his life;\nand he blessed his people Israel, and showed them his son Solomon, who\nwas to reign after him; and he gave Solomon a charge to build the\nTemple of the Lord, and bade them all serve the Lord with all their\nmight. And the crown was set on Solomon's head, and he was king; and\nDavid died at a good old age. He was the shepherd boy who came to be a\nking, and who first sung so many of the beautiful Psalms that are still\nour best words for praising God.\n\n[Illustration: SOLOMON ANOINTED KING.--1 Kings 1:39.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was David? 2. Who was his son? 3. What was Solomon to do? 4.\n What had David got ready for Solomon? 5. What did he ask his princes\n to bring? 7. What for? 8. When did David meet all his people? 9. Who\n was to be king? 10. Why was David glad? 11. What did he say to God?\n 12. Whose are all things? 13. What charge did David give? 14. What had\n David been before he was king? 15. What did David write? 16. What are\n the Psalms?\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-fourth Sunday.\n\n_SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and\n the victory, and the majesty.\"--_1 Chron. 29:11._\n\n[Illustration: Solomon.]\n\nTHE last thing King David did was to have his son, young Solomon,\nanointed to reign, and then to show him to the people, and charge them\nto help him build the Temple for the Lord God. For he said Solomon was\nstill very young, and the work was very great; so he begged the people\nof the tribes to bring their offerings; and so they did.\n\nThey brought gold, silver, brass, iron, and beautiful stones, or the\nwood of oaks and cedars, according to what they had or could give; and\nwhen David saw it he was very happy and glad, and offered it up to God,\nand prayed that God would give unto his son Solomon a perfect heart,\nthat he might serve God and keep His laws.\n\nThen there was a great feast all round Mount Sion, all the people\neating, and drinking, and rejoicing, and praising God, who had\ndelivered them from all their enemies.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did David ask of his people? 2. What did they bring him? 3.\n What were all these things for? 4. Who was to build the Temple? 5.\n Why was not David himself allowed to build it? 6. Yet what did he get\n together for it? 7. Why was he happy? 8. What did he ask God? 9. What\n great rejoicing was there? 10. Why was everything happy now with the\n nation?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Give me now wisdom and knowledge.\"--_2 Chron. 1:10._\n\nWHEN King David died, Solomon was still almost a boy. But God spake to\nhim in a dream by night, and said, \"Ask what I shall give thee.\" Then\nSolomon said he was but young, and knew not how to rule over this great\npeople that God had given him; and therefore he prayed, above all, that\nGod would give him a wise and understanding heart.\n\nAnd God was pleased with Solomon's choice, and said that because he had\ncared for wisdom most, and had not asked for riches, or long life, or\nto put down his enemies, that therefore, besides wisdom, God would give\nhim all the rest--riches, and honor, and length of life--and he should\nbe wiser, and greater, and richer, than any king ever was before him,\nor should be after him.\n\nAll this was because he had cared so much to have a wise and\nunderstanding heart to know good and evil. That was first with him, and\nso God gave him all the rest. So it will be with all those who seek\nfirst of all to be good. God does not make us wise all at once like\nSolomon, but if we care about it, He will help us to get wise by little\nand little if we really try, and then He will bless all we do.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Solomon? 2. Whose son was he? 3. What was he king of? 4.\n How old was he when he began to be king? 5. What did God say to him\n at night? 6. What did Solomon wish for most? 7. What did God give him\n besides? 8. Why did God give him all these things when he did not\n ask for them? 9. What should we care about most? 10. What will God do\n for us if we care most about goodness? 11. How will He help us to get\n wise? 12. But what must we do ourselves?\n\n[Illustration: THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON.--1 Kings 3:26, 27.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.--_1 Kings 3:28._\n\nHERE is a story to show how wise and clever King Solomon was. One day\nwhen he was sitting on his throne two women came to him: one with a\nlive baby, the other with a dead one, both boys, and just of the same\nage. They said they had been living alone together in the same house,\neach with her little baby, till one night one of the women rolled over\nher child in her sleep and smothered it, so that she found it was dead.\n\nBut each woman said it was not her baby but the other's that was dead,\nand that the mother of the dead one had put the little corpse down by\nthe other sleeping woman, and taken her living child out of her bosom\nto herself. How was it to be known which was right?--for nobody out\nof the house knew the two little ones apart, and each of the women\ndeclared that she was the mother of the live child, not of the dead. So\nthey came to the king to judge between them.\n\n[Illustration: THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.--1 Kings 6:11-14.]\n\nAnd what plan could Solomon take to find out the truth? He sent for the\nexecutioner, with a sword, and said that as the women could not agree,\nboth the children should be cut in two, and each woman should have the\ntwo halves. One woman was content to have it so, but the other only\ncried out in grief and dread, \"O my lord, give her the living child,\nand in no wise slay it.\"\n\nThen Solomon saw in a moment which was full of mother's love, and which\nwas full of hatred and jealousy; so he said, \"Give _her_ the living\nchild, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.\" And so\nthe true loving mother had her child safe and well, and the other was\ndisappointed in her spite.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Solomon? 2. Who came before him? 8. What had happened to\n one baby? 4. What did both the women say? 5. What had Solomon to\n decide? 6. What did he command? 7. Did he really mean to kill the\n child? 8. But what did he want to find out? 9. What did one woman say?\n 10. What did the other woman say? 11. Which was the real mother? 12.\n What did Solomon command? 13. Would not the loving mother rather give\n the child away than have it killed?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-fifth Sunday.\n\n_SOLOMON'S FALL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"All the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had\n put in his heart.\"--_1 Kings 10:24._\n\nKING Solomon was the greatest king in wisdom and riches who ever lived.\nHe had an ivory throne with golden lions standing on the steps, and\na beautiful house lined with sweet cedar-wood. He sent ships which\nbrought home gold and silver, and apes and peacocks; and it was said\nthat gold was as common as silver generally is, and silver as common as\nstones!\n\nAll people honored him, and the Queen of Sheba came from her far-off\ncountry to see him, because of the fame of his greatness. And when she\nsaw him she was quite overcome, and said that all she heard was not\nhalf so grand and glorious as what she saw. Very happy, she said, were\nthe people who stood round him and heard the words of his wisdom.\n\nWe have the words of his wisdom in the Book of Proverbs in the Bible,\nfor his wisdom came from God. And though we shall never see his purple\nrobes or his gold and silver, do you know what our blessed Saviour\nsaid?--\"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil\nnot, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in\nall his glory was not arrayed like one of these.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON.--1 Kings 10:6-10.]\n\nThe least little flower, if you look well into it, is more beautiful\nthan anything King Solomon ever wore, for God made it; and he could\nonly put things together that were made already.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Why was Solomon so rich? 2. Whose son was he? 3. What had he built?\n 4. When he had built the House of God what did he build? 5. What sort\n of throne had he? 6. What were the steps? 7. Who came to see him? 8.\n What did she say of him? 9. Where have we got his wisdom? 10. What do\n we call it? 11. What did our blessed Saviour say about him? 12. What\n have we got which are more beautiful than Solomon's robes? 13. Why are\n flowers more beautiful than Solomon's robes?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their\n iniquity with stripes.\"--_Psalm 89:32._\n\nIT is very sad to say that as Solomon grew old he left off being good.\nHe married a great many wives, and brought them from the heathen\nnations round; and he did not teach them to worship the true God, but\nlet them worship each in her own way.\n\n[Illustration: IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON.--1 Kings 11:4.]\n\nSo, out in his gardens, one lady had her idol to the moon, and another\nhad hers to the dreadful idol Milcom, and so on; and though Solomon\nknew so much better, even he was persuaded to come and pay honor to\nthese idols, just to please these women--he, the son of David, whom God\nhad blessed so much.\n\nAnd what the king did the people were sure to do. So God spake to\nSolomon, and told him that since he had fallen away from the right\nway, he must be punished, and that ten out of the twelve tribes would\nbe taken away and not belong to his kingdom.\n\n[Illustration: REVOLT OF THE TRIBES.--1 Kings 12:16, 17.]\n\nIt was not to happen in his own time, but in his son's time, but it\nmust have been very sad to him to know that his beautiful kingdom and\ngreat power were to be so lessened, and that his son Rehoboam was a\nvery foolish young man, who would spoil everything. But he was not to\nlose all, only part, for the sake of the holy King David, to whom God\nhad promised that his throne should last for ever.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What wrong did Solomon do? 2. Where did his wives come from? 3.\n What did they want to worship? 4. Did Solomon let them? 5. What did he\n do himself? 6. Why was this wrong? 7. What is the First Commandment?\n 8. What did God tell Solomon? 9. How was he to be punished? 10. How\n many tribes were to be lost? 11. How many were to be kept? 12. Why\n were any to be left? 13. What had God promised David? 14. In whose\n time was the trouble to come? 15. What was the name of Solomon's son?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand.\"--_1 Kings 11:35._\n\nTHERE was a strong brave man of the tribe of Ephraim, named Jeroboam,\nand God sent his prophet to speak to him. Jeroboam had a new mantle\non, and the prophet took it and tore it into twelve pieces, and gave\nJeroboam ten of them.\n\nThen the prophet said this was to show how God was going to tear away\nten tribes from Rehoboam, the grandson of David, and give them to\nJeroboam, because Solomon was bringing idols in to be worshipped. And\nhe told Jeroboam that all should go well with him, and he would be a\ngreat king, and his sons after him, if he would go on serving the Lord,\nand the Lord only, and would keep from idols.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was to be taken from Solomon's son? 2. What was the name of\n Solomon's son? 3. Who was to have the tribes? 4. Who told Jeroboam so?\n 5. What sign did the prophet give? 6. What was torn? 7. Of how many\n tribes would Rehoboam be king? 8. Of how many would Jeroboam be king?\n 9. Why were any taken from Rehoboam? 10. Why were any left? 11. What\n does the Second Commandment say? 12. How long would Jeroboam go on\n well?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-sixth Sunday.\n\n_THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"This thing became a sin.\"--_1 Kings 12:30._\n\nSOLOMON'S son was named Rehoboam. He was foolish and hasty; and when\nhis father's wise old men gave him good advice he would not listen to\nthem, but only cared for his young friends, who were as foolish as\nhimself. So when the Israelites came to him to ask him not to be hard\nupon them, and make them bring him so much corn and so many sheep, the\nold men told him to answer them kindly and gently, but the young men\nsaid he had better be fierce and sharp. So he followed the young men's\nadvice, and made a very unkind answer.\n\nThis made them all so angry that they said they would not have him for\ntheir king any longer; but they took Jeroboam, a brave strong man of\nthe tribe of Ephraim, and made him their king. Only two tribes still\nheld steady to Rehoboam. These were the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.\nGod left him these, because of the promise that King David's sons\nshould go on sitting on his throne. But ten of the tribes had made\nJeroboam their king; so that now there were two kingdoms--a large one\ncalled Israel, and a small one called Judah.\n\nThis was because Solomon had let his heart turn away from God, and had\nnot taken pains to keep his people holy, but had cared more for riches,\nand power, and glory. But Jeroboam did not take pains to serve God. He\nset up two calves, made of gold, for the Israelites to worship, instead\nof going to the Temple.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Solomon? 2. Who was his son? 3. Whom did Rehoboam like\n best? 4. What did his people ask? 5. What did the old men advise? 6.\n What did the young men advise? 7. Whose advice did he take? 8. What\n answer did he give? 9. What did the Israelites do? 10. Whom did they\n make their king? 11. How many kingdoms were there? 13. How many tribes\n made up Israel? 14. Who was king of Judah? 15. Who was king of Israel?\n 16. Why did not Rehoboam lose all? 17. What had God promised David?\n 18. Why did Rehoboam lose any? 19. What foolish answer did he make?\n 20. What idols did he set up?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee.\"--_1 Kings 13:16._\n\nIT is a sad story that you hear to-day. There was a man who was called\na prophet, because God spoke to him, and used to send him to declare\nHis will to the people.\n\nOnce God called this prophet, and told him to go to a place called\nBethel, where the wicked king of Israel, Jeroboam, had set up a golden\nidol in the shape of a calf, and was teaching the people to pray to\nit, instead of going to the Temple at Jerusalem to worship. He was to\ntell the king of his sin, and how his idol should be overthrown and\ndestroyed; and when he had done this, he was to come home at once, by a\ndifferent way, and neither eat bread nor drink water, but come quickly\nback.\n\nThe prophet went to Bethel, and he spoke God's words to the king\nboldly; and when the king put out his hand to strike him God struck the\nhand, so that Jeroboam could not draw it back till the prophet prayed\nfor him. Then Jeroboam felt God's power, and wanted the prophet to come\nto his palace with him. But the prophet said no; for God had commanded\nhim to go home at once, without eating or drinking in that wicked\nplace. So he set off.\n\nHe had so far done well; but before he had gone all the way he grew\ntired, and he sat down under an oak. It was a great pity that he\ndelayed, for there was a bad man coming after him with a lie upon his\nlips. This man told the prophet that God had said he was to come back\nand eat and drink; and I am grieved to say the prophet listened, and\nturned back.\n\nHe ought to have known that God would have told him Himself if he was\nto go back; but he did not think--he did what pleased himself, not what\npleased God; and he went back to feast with this stranger. But God's\nanger came upon him. When he went back in the evening, a lion came out\nof the wood and killed him.\n\nThe lion did not kill the ass he rode upon, nor tear the body, and the\nass did not run away from the lion; but the lion and ass both stood by\nthe dead prophet till--who do you think found him? The very man who had\ntempted him to do wrong! Must not that have been a terrible sight?\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What had God told the prophet to do? 2. What had He told him not to\n do? 3. What was the first wrong thing the prophet did? 4. What harm\n came of his lingering? 5. How did he disobey? 6. What was his sad end?\n 7. Who found him lying dead? 8. What were standing by him? 9. Why\n did he come to this sad death? 10. How did he fall in the way of the\n wicked man? 11. What is the way to fall in with bad people? 12. Then\n how should you always go on messages, or to school? 13. Is it enough\n to mind only half what you are told?\n\n[Illustration: THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil\n fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.\"--_1\n Kings 17:14._\n\nIT is very sad to say, but the Israelites went on getting more fond of\nidols, and would not worship God. They grew so wicked that at last He\npunished them, to teach them who sent the rain and did them good.\n\nHe would not let it rain for three whole years. No rain by day, no dew\nby night! The corn would not grow, the grass dried up, and all the\nstreams were nothing but stones; so that there was nothing to eat or to\ndrink, and everyone was in sad distress.\n\n[Illustration: ELIJAH FED BY THE RAVENS.--1 Kings 17:5, 6.]\n\nThere was one good man, a prophet, called Elijah, and God took care of\nhim. He sent him to a lonely place, by the side of a little mountain\nstream, where there still was water to drink; and every morning and\nevening there came two ravens, who were sent by God, to bring him\nbread and flesh. That was a great miracle, or wonder, which God worked\nto feed His prophet.\n\nIn time the brook dried up, and then God sent Elijah to a town called\nZarephath. There Elijah saw a poor woman gathering sticks, and he asked\nher to give him a bit of something to eat. But the poor widow woman\nsaid she had nothing for herself and her son but a handful of meal and\na little oil, and she was going to make a cake of it, and bake it with\na fire of her sticks; and that was the last she could get, so they must\ndie of hunger after they had finished.\n\n[Illustration: THE WIDOW'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE.--1 Kings 17:21, 22.]\n\nBut Elijah still told her to make him a little cake first, for he\nsaid, \"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not\nwaste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord\nsendeth rain upon the earth.\"\n\nAnd the woman believed him, and gave him a bit of her last cake. And it\nwas as he said. There was always meal and oil enough to feed them day\nby day: the widow, and her son, and the prophet, went on living on the\nmeal every day, for God fed them.\n\nAt last the child fell sick and died; and his mother grieved for him.\nBut Elijah laid the child on his bed, and prayed to God to have mercy\non the widow: and God had mercy. The little child's soul came back, and\nhe was alive again; and Elijah gave him to his mother.\n\nAre not these three great wonders of God's goodness? God does not let\nus see miracles now, as He did in those times, because we are taught to\nbelieve in Him without them. But He still takes care of us. He takes\ncare that if we trust to Him, and pray to Him, we shall have our food\nevery day. And if we are ready to give what we want ourselves away to\none who needs it, He will make it up to us, and take care of us all\nthe more. And though no one is brought to life now who has died, yet\nGod often gives us back our friends when they have been very ill; and\nwe know that we shall all rise up from the dead and live with God for\never, at a greater call than Elijah's.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is a miracle? 2. How many miracles have you been hearing of?\n 3. For whom were they worked? 4. Who worked them? 5. What were the\n three miracles? 6. Why was it a miracle that the ravens fed Elijah?\n 7. Why did the ravens bring Elijah the food instead of eating it\n themselves? 8. What was the next miracle? 9. How came the widow always\n to have enough? 10. How did she show that she was worthy to have a\n wonder worked for her? 11. Why was God pleased with her? 12. What more\n did God do for her son? 13. Who prayed for him? 14. How could you try\n to be like the good widow? 15. What is the way to be helped? 16. What\n do you ask God to give you every day?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-seventh Sunday.\n\n_ELIJAH AND AHAB._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.\"--_1 Kings 18:39._\n\nYOU heard last Sunday how sadly the Israelites were behaving when they\nprayed to a golden calf. They had a still worse idol afterwards. His\nname was Baal; and they wanted to worship him instead of the true God.\nTo-day there is a beautiful chapter that I hardly like to put into my\nown poor words. Listen to it well in church, and you will hear how\nwonderful it is.\n\nThere were four hundred prophets, as they called themselves, who\nworshipped Baal, and only one real prophet who worshipped the Lord\nGod. This prophet was named Elijah. He called all the people to a high\nmountain, and said they should see who was the true God. He said he\nwould build one altar, and that the four hundred prophets should build\nanother; they should each offer a sacrifice, and each should pray to\nhis god, and the God that sent fire to burn the sacrifice would be the\ntrue God.\n\nThe prophets of Baal tried first. They built their altar and put wood\non it, and killed a bullock and cut it up, and they prayed to their god\nBaal to send fire down. But he was no god--he was nothing at all; and\nthough they cried and shouted, and leaped about, and even cut their own\nflesh in their rage, not a spark of fire came.\n\nThen Elijah made his sacrifice. And he did a strange thing; for he had\nwater poured all over it, till all the wood was streaming wet--and you\nknow water always put out fire--so how was it ever to be burnt? He even\nmade a trench round, and filled that with water too. Then he knelt\ndown, and prayed that the Lord God in heaven would show His power, and\nmake the people know that no one else was God.\n\n[Illustration: ELIJAH SLAYING THE PROPHETS OF BAAL.--1 Kings 18:39, 40.]\n\nAnd down from heaven came the fire! It was not stopped by the water!\nNo, it dried that up in a moment, and burnt the wood, and consumed the\nsacrifice! And all the Israelites fell on their faces, and cried out,\n\"The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God!\" For only the Lord\nGod is Almighty, and can do wonders.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who is the prophet we read of to-day? 2. What wicked thing were the\n Israelites doing? 3. What is the First Commandment? 4. What was the\n name of the false god? 5. How many prophets were there for Baal? 6.\n Who only spoke up for the true God? 7. What did Elijah say they would\n try? 8. How would they know which was the real God? 9. What happened\n when Baal's people prayed to him? 10. Why did not Baal send them any\n fire? 11. What did Elijah do to his sacrifice? 12. Whom did he pray\n to? 13. What came down from heaven? 14. What became of all the water\n that Elijah had poured out? 15. Why did not the water stop the fire?\n 16. What did all the people cry out? 17. What word in the Belief means\n that God can do everything?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"A still small voice.\"--_1 Kings 19:12._\n\nAFTER the Israelites had called out, \"The Lord, He is the God!\" and\nowned that Baal was nothing but an idol, God had mercy on them, and\nsent them rain again; and their famine was over.\n\nBut King Ahab's wife, whose name was Jezebel, was a heathen woman, and\nshe would worship Baal, and did not choose to believe in the true God.\nAnd she was very angry with Elijah, and sent men out everywhere to put\nhim to death. Elijah was obliged to flee far away for fear of her; and\nhe went out into the wilderness, and sat down under a juniper tree; and\nthere he was so sad, to think that all he had done was of no use, that\nhe requested for himself that he might die, for he could do no more\ngood with these wicked people.\n\nThen he went to sleep; and when he woke an angel was by him, with a\ncake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water; and the angel bade him\nrise and eat, for the journey was too great for him.\n\nIt was a great journey, for he was to go all the way to the Mount of\nGod, where God had spoken to Moses. And there he stood in a cave; and\na voice came and asked, \"What doest thou here, Elijah?\" Then he told\nhow the Israelites had forsaken their God, and killed the prophets, and\n\"I, even I only, am left,\" he said; \"and they seek my life to take it\naway.\" Then God showed him His wonders.\n\nFirst a great strong wind came rushing by--but the Lord was not in the\nwind. Then there was an earthquake, that broke the rocks in pieces--but\nthe Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a\nfire--but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, a still\nsmall Voice.\n\nThen Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, and stood in the entrance\nof the cave, to hear what God would say to him. And God told him he was\nnot all alone, as he thought; for there were many good men still left\nwho had never bowed the knee to Baal, nor deserted the God of their\nfathers. And God sent him back to return to his work among the people\nof Israel, and not to think that there was no hope because he could not\nsee it; nor to think he was left alone because he had no friends near\nhim that he could see.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How long was there no rain in the land of Israel? 2. Why was there\n no rain? 3. Who told the Israelites of their wickedness? 4. What\n wonder showed who was the real God? 5. What did the Israelites cry\n out? 6. Who was the Israelite king? 7. Who was Ahab's wicked wife? 8.\n What did she want to do to Elijah? 9. Where did Elijah flee to? 10.\n Who came to feed him? 11. Where did he go? 12. What had been given on\n the Mount of God? 13. What was said to Elijah? 14. Why was Elijah so\n sad?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"He laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would\n eat no bread.\"--_1 Kings 21:4._\n\nYOU learn in the Catechism to say, \"Thou shalt not covet.\" Coveting\nmeans wishing very much for what we ought not to have; and God tells\nus not to covet, because all faults begin in bad wishes. Now you shall\nhear what shocking sin one wish led to.\n\nKing Ahab had a grand garden, and he wanted to make it bigger; but the\nnext piece of ground belonged to a poor man named Naboth. Ahab asked\nNaboth to sell him his ground; but Naboth said it had come to him from\nhis father, and must go to his son, and he could not sell it. Then Ahab\ncoveted, and lay on his bed and would not eat--caring for nothing but\nthe bit of ground he could not get.\n\nNow Ahab had a cruel, wicked wife; and when she saw her husband\ngrieving about Naboth's ground she was determined to get it for him.\nSo she had two very bad men set on to say that poor Naboth had been\nwicked, and must be put to death.\n\nThey bore false witness against him, and broke the Ninth Commandment\nwhen they did so; and then, worst of all, this poor innocent man was\nreally put to death for the crime he had never done--and that was\nmurder, which breaks the Sixth Commandment. Then Jezebel called Ahab,\nand told him he might go and take possession of the ground that he\nwanted: there was nobody to hinder him. But he never had any pleasure\nin it.\n\nWhen he went to it, there stood God's great Prophet Elijah, ready to\nmeet him. And Elijah told him how very angry God was with him and\nwith Jezebel, and that they should be terribly punished for their\ncruel behavior to this innocent man. Then Ahab was sorry, and wept and\ngrieved for the cruel thing that had been done; but all his sorrow\ncould not bring Naboth back to life again. And oh! how grieved he must\nhave been that he had not kept his wishes in order!--for almost all our\nfaults begin in a wish.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who is the king we hear of to-day? 2. Who is the bad queen? 3. Who\n is the poor man? 4. What did Ahab want? 5. Why should not Naboth let\n Ahab have the ground? 6. How did Ahab behave when he could not get\n the ground? 7. Who said he should have it? 8. How did Jezebel get\n Naboth put to death? 9. Who met Ahab? 10. What did Elijah tell him?\n 11. What had Ahab done wrong? 12. What Commandment tells you not to\n covet? 13. What is coveting? 14. What Commandment tells us not to tell\n untrue things of other people? 15. Say the Ninth Commandment. 16.\n What Commandment was broken by putting Naboth to death? 17. How many\n Commandments were broken?\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-eighth Sunday.\n\n_ELIJAH AND ELISHA._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"A certain man drew a bow at a venture.\"--_1 Kings 22:34._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nWHEN Ahab had let Naboth be stoned that he might get his vineyard, the\nProphet Elijah said that Ahab would be greatly punished, and that where\nthe dogs licked up Naboth's blood there they would lick up Ahab's; and\nthat cruel Jezebel should be eaten up by dogs, so that no one could\nsay, This is Jezebel.\n\nSome time after, Ahab went out to fight a battle. He was afraid,\nbecause his conscience troubled him, and he thought he should be safer\nif he did not go out to fight dressed like a king, for he knew the\nenemies would all come and try to kill him if they saw him in his\nrobes. But he dressed only like a common captain, and thought they\nwould take no notice, and he would be safe. He forgot that if the enemy\ndid not know him God knew him, and that God could see it was Ahab just\nas well in his common dress as in his robes and crown.\n\nSo a man drew his bow, not shooting at anybody in particular; but God's\nwill guided the arrow, and it wounded Ahab so badly that he desired\nto be taken out of the battle, and he died before he could be carried\nhome. His chariot was full of his blood, and his servants washed it in\nthe place where Naboth had been stoned to death; and the wild hungry\ndogs came and licked up the blood, just as they had licked up Naboth's\nblood. So you see no hiding could get away from God.\n\n[Illustration: THE DEATH OF KING AHAB.--1 Kings 22:34.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did God say was to happen to Ahab? 2. What was to happen to\n Jezebel? 3. What did Ahab go out to do? 4. How did he dress himself?\n 5. Why did not Ahab dress like a king? 6. From whom did he want to\n hide? 7. But who knew him all the time? 8. How was he wounded? 9. Did\n the man mean to hit Ahab? 10. How came Ahab to be hit? 11. What was\n done with him? 12. Where was his chariot washed? 13. What licked up\n his blood? 14. Who had said the dogs should lick his blood? 15. Why?\n 16. Why did Ahab let Naboth be killed? 17. Who was angry with Ahab?\n 18. Can we hide from God's anger?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen\n thereof.\"--_2 Kings 2:12._\n\nTHE time had come when God was about to call away His great Prophet\nElijah. And it was not as other men are taken from this earth, by dying\nand being buried, while their souls go away to the God who gave them.\nNo; Elijah went out and visited all the schools, where young men and\nboys were being trained to sing God's praise; and Elisha, who was his\nscholar and his friend, went with him.\n\n[Illustration: ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN.--2 Kings 2:11.]\n\nWhen they came to the bank of the river Jordan, Elijah took his mantle\nand rolled it up, and struck the waters of the stream with it, and they\nparted, and left a way for Elijah and Elisha to go over dry-footed.\nThen Elijah said, \"Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away\nfrom thee.\" And Elisha said, \"I pray thee, let a double portion of thy\nSpirit be upon me.\"\n\nAnd while they were talking together, there came a great wonder from\nheaven: a chariot and horses, all bright and glowing like fire; and\nElijah was parted from his friend, and went up into heaven upon a\nwhirlwind. Elisha stood watching, crying out, \"My father, my father,\nthe chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof;\" as if he knew not\nwhat he said. And Elijah, as he went up, threw down his mantle; and\nElisha took it up and went his way, much wondering, and full of awe.\n\nAnd when he came to the river Jordan, he took the mantle, rolled up,\nand smote the waters, and they parted again, so that he went through\nwith dry feet. And when the young men in the school of the prophets met\nhim, they saw in his face and manner that the same Spirit which had\nbeen on Elijah was on him, and they bowed themselves before him.\n\nOnly one other man was ever taken up to heaven without dying, and he\nwas Enoch, who lived before the Flood. Our blessed Lord ascended into\nHeaven; but He went up, He was not taken, and it was after He had died\nand risen again.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Elijah? 2. Who was his friend? 3. Where did they go\n together? 4. How did they get across the river? 5. What did Elisha\n ask? 6. What appeared to them? 7. What happened to Elijah? 8. What\n did he let fall? 9. Who was to be prophet in his stead? 10. What did\n Elisha cry out? 11. What did he do with Elijah's mantle? 12. What\n other man was taken up like this? 13. When did Enoch live? 14. Who\n only ascended into heaven?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"It is well.\"--_2 Kings 4:26._\n\nELISHA was the prophet for Israel instead of Elijah. Now there was a\ngood woman who saw him go by, and she said she would make a little room\nfor him by the wall of her house, and put in a bed, and a table, and\na stool, and a lamp, so that he could go and rest there whenever he\npleased. When Elisha saw it he was pleased, and told her that if she\nwished for anything very much he would pray God to give it to her. She\nanswered that she dwelt among her own people, and wanted for nothing.\nBut she had no child; and Elisha prayed for her, and God blessed her\nfor her kindness to His servant, and by-and-by she had a son.\n\n[Illustration: THE SHUNAMITE'S SON RESTORED.--2 Kings 4:36, 37.]\n\nBut when he had grown into a boy, he went into the fields with his\nfather to see the harvest, and the heat of the sun struck on his head\nso that he cried out, \"My head, my head!\" And his father said, \"Carry\nhim to his mother.\" But she could do him no good; he sat on her knees\ntill noon, and then died.\n\nShe did not stop to weep; she had her ass saddled, and rode away to\nseek for the man of God. And by-and-by she met him on the way, and she\nknelt down before him and held him by his feet. Then he knew how it\nwas, and he bade his servant Gehazi take his staff, and hasten on, and\nnever rest till he had laid it on the child's face. Gehazi did so, but\nthere was no voice nor any answer. So he went back and met his master,\nand said, \"The child is not awaked.\"\n\nThen Elisha came in, and found the child lying dead on his own bed.\nThen he stretched himself on the boy, and prayed to God that the soul\nmight come back to the little one. And at last God granted the prayer,\nand the child's flesh grew warm; and Elisha prayed again, and the child\nsneezed seven times as his breath came back, and he opened his eyes!\nThen the mother was called, and the child was given back to her; and\nshe bowed herself to the ground, and gave thanks to God and His prophet.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was prophet instead of Elijah? 2. What had become of Elijah? 3.\n Who made a room for Elisha? 4. What did she put in it? 5. What joy did\n God give to her? 6. What great grief? 7. What caused the boy's death?\n 8. What did his mother do? 9. What order did Elisha give? 10. Could\n Gehazi do anything? 11. What did Elisha do? 12. How did God show His\n mercy? 13. How did the mother thank God?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nTwenty-ninth Sunday.\n\n_ELISHA'S MIRACLES._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Wash and be clean.\"--_2 Kings 5:13._\n\nTHERE was a poor little girl who was stolen away from her own home in\nIsrael by Syrian soldiers, and carried far from her mother and friends,\nto be a slave. It must have been very sad and lonely; but God lets\nnothing happen but for good, and so this poor little captive maid did\ngreat good. Her master was named Naaman. He was the captain of the\narmy--brave and strong; but he fell ill of a disease that no doctor\ncould cure, and which would go on getting worse till he would die of it.\n\nThe little maid was sorry for him; and though she was all alone in a\nheathen land, she had not forgotten about God and His prophets, and\nshe told her mistress that at home, in Israel, there was a prophet who\ncould cure her master by God's power.\n\nSo Naaman set out in his chariot, and came to the prophet's door. He\nthought the prophet would come out, and strike his hand over the place,\nand cure him directly--all the more because he was such a great man.\nBut, instead of that, the prophet sent out word to him that he was to\nwash seven times in the River Jordan, and he would be well.\n\nThis made Naaman very angry. He thought the bathing in Jordan would do\nno good, and that the prophet made light of him; and he turned and went\naway in a rage. Then his servants persuaded him. They said, \"My father,\nif the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have\ndone it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be\nclean?\"\n\nNaaman was wise enough to listen to them. He did go and wash in the\nRiver Jordan, as the prophet bade him; and God gave the water the\npower to make him quite well again. Then he came back and thanked the\nprophet, and said he would never pray to any god again but to the One\ntrue God, who had healed him.\n\nSo you see the little maid did great good to her master, both to his\nbody and his soul, because she was good, and remembered her God, even\nwhen she was far away from home.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who is the great captain we hear of to-day? 2. What was the matter\n with him? 3. Whom did Naaman go to to cure him? 4. From whom did he\n hear about the prophet? 5. How came the little maid into Naaman's\n house? 6. Who made the prophet able to cure people? 7. Had Naaman been\n brought up to worship God? 8. What did he expect the prophet to do to\n him? 9. What did the prophet tell him to do? 10. Why did he not like\n this? 11. Who persuaded him to try? 12. What did they say he would\n have been ready to do? 13. Don't we sometimes wish to do something\n grand, rather than just what we are told? 14. But what have we got\n to do? 15. What came of Naaman doing as he was told? 16. To whom did\n Naaman say he should always pray?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"They that be with us are more than they that be with them.\"--_2 Kings\n 6:16._\n\nTHE great enemies of the kings of Israel were the Syrians, who lived at\nDamascus; but whenever the Syrians made a plan to come and fight with\nthe Israelites, God made it known to the Prophet Elisha; and he told\nKing Joram, so that the Israelite soldiers were always ready before\nhand to fight with the Syrians. The king of Syria began to think one of\nhis own men must tell Joram; but they said it was the Prophet Elisha\nwho told the king of Israel what was said in the most secret chamber of\nthe king of Syria. Then the Syrians sent an army of men to take Elisha\nat Dothan, and kill him.\n\nThey came by night, and when Elisha's servant looked out in the\nmorning, he saw horses and chariots all round the place. He was afraid,\nand cried out \"Alas, my master! how shall we do?\" But Elisha said to\nhim, \"Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be\nwith them.\" And he prayed that the young man's eyes might be opened\nthat he might see: and so they were--to see the whole mountain round\nabout full of chariots of fire and horses of fire; many, many more than\nthe Syrians had, and all come to take care of Elisha.\n\nAnd God made the Syrians unable to see that Elisha was before them, and\nhe led them all the way to Samaria, and put them before King Joram as\nhis prisoners. Joram wanted to put them to death, but Elisha would not\nlet him, and they were all sent safe home, and did not come back as\nenemies for a long time. And we know that, though we cannot see them,\nGod's angels are still in great armies encamped all round about those\nwho fear Him, to deliver them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who were the enemies of the kings of Israel? 2. Who always told the\n plans of the Syrians? 3. How did Elisha know? 4. What did the king of\n Syria want to do? 5. When did his army come? 6. Who was frightened? 7.\n What did Elisha say? 8. Who were those who were with them? 9. Who are\n always round about those who fear God? 10. Why, then, need we never be\n afraid? 11. What happened to these Syrians? 12. But were they killed?\n 13. Why not?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"This day is a day of good tidings.--_2 Kings 7:9._\n\nIF King Joram had been good he would have had no troubles; but he would\nlet his mother Jezebel worship her false gods, so God sent the Syrians\nagainst him again. And they came all round Samaria, and shut it in so\nclose that nobody could get out; and all the food was eaten up, so that\neven such food as a donkey's head was so dear that hardly anybody could\nbuy it, and everyone was getting starved. Joram was so angry, that he\nsaid at last, in his wickedness, he would cut off Elisha's head the\nnext day.\n\nBut Elisha said quietly that to-morrow there would be quantities of\nfood in the city, so that it would cost almost nothing. One of the\nking's lords laughed, and said, \"If the Lord should make windows in\nheaven, might such a thing be?\" \"Thou shalt see it with thine eyes,\"\nsaid Elisha, \"but shalt not eat thereof.\"\n\nNow, that night the Lord made the Syrians hear a great noise, as if an\narmy was coming up to help the Israelites. And they were so frightened,\nthat they all fled away in the night, and left all their tents\nstanding, and their armor in them, and their stores of food.\n\nIn the early morning, three poor leprous men, who could not get any\nfood in Samaria, crept down to see if the Syrians would give them\nanything, or they thought if the Syrians should kill them, that would\nbe better than being starved. But when they came to the camp there was\nnobody there--no soldiers, no horses, only tents full of rich dresses,\nand fine armour, and, best of all, plenty of food. The hungry lepers\nwent and ate, and then they thought they ought to go and tell the\npeople in the town that all the Syrians were gone.\n\nSo the king sent out to see, two men upon lean, starved horses. They\nfound it was all true, and everybody went rushing out to get food. The\nking sent the lord who had laughed at Elisha, to stand in the gate to\nkeep order; but the people were so very hungry that they did not mind\nhim, and he was knocked down and trodden upon, and trampled to death:\nand so it came to pass that he saw the plenty, but did not eat of it,\nbecause he had mocked at the word of the Lord.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was king of Israel? 2. Who was prophet? 3. What was the chief\n town in Israel? 4. Who tried to take it? 5. What was the sad distress\n in Samaria? 6. What had they to eat? 7. Whose fault was it? 8. But\n whom did Joram want to punish? 9. What did Elisha promise? 10. Who\n laughed at him? 11. What did Elisha say? 12. What happened in the\n night? 13. What became of the Syrians? 14. Who found it out? 15. What\n did the lepers see? 16. Whom did they tell? 17. What did all the\n people do? 18. What became of the man who laughed at Elisha? 19. What\n is it that makes God angry?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nThirtieth Sunday.\n\n_THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"What hast thou to do with peace.\"--_2 Kings 9:18._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHE Sunday before last you heard how King Ahab was killed in battle,\nthough he had fancied that he could hide from God. His wife, Queen\nJezebel, was left; and she had always been worse than he was, and she\nhad brought up her son Joram to be very wicked too. When Joram had\nreigned as king for twelve years, God told His Prophet Elijah to send a\nyoung man to anoint a captain called Jehu to be king instead of Joram.\nSo the young man took some oil, and went to the town where Jehu was,\nand said, \"I have an errand to thee, O captain.\" Then he poured the oil\non Jehu's head, and told him that God made him king of Israel.\n\nThe other captains were glad to make Jehu king, and they made him sit\non the top of a flight of steps, and blew with their trumpets, and\nshouted, \"Jehu is king.\" Then they all set out to conquer King Joram.\n\nJoram had his chariot made ready, and went out in it to meet Jehu; but,\nas soon as they came in sight of one another Jehu shot an arrow, and\nit struck Joram, so that he sank down in his chariot and died.\n\nThen Jehu went on into the town; and Jezebel thought she would still\ntry to make friends with the people; so, instead of mourning for her\nson, she painted her face, and put on a headdress, and looked out at a\nwindow. Jehu said, \"Who is on my side? who?\" And some of the servants\nlooked out. He said, \"Throw her down.\" So the servants threw Jezebel\nout of the window, and her blood sprinkled on Jehu's horses. But he\nwent on, and went into the palace, and was made king, and had a feast.\n\n[Illustration: JEZEBEL EATEN BY DOGS.--2 Kings 9:32, 33.]\n\nThen he sent out, and said that he would have Jezebel buried, for she\nwas a king's daughter. However, when his men went out to look for her,\nthey found that the wild dogs that ran about the streets had eaten up\nevery bit of her, so that there was nothing left of her but her skull\nand her feet, and the palms of her hands.\n\nYou remember that God's prophet Elijah, had told Ahab that the dogs\nshould eat Jezebel, because she was so cruel. She worshipped idols,\nand killed God's prophets, and had poor Naboth put to death that Ahab\nmight have his vineyard. So God punished her. People need not hope that\nGod will not punish what they have done wrong, for He will be quite\nsure to punish unless they are very sorry, and pray to Him, to pardon\nthem for Jesus Christ's sake.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Ahab? 2. Who was Jezebel? 3. What wicked things had they\n done? 4. What had the prophet told them? 5. What had become of Ahab?\n 6. Who was king after Ahab? 7. How long was Joram king? 8. Whom did\n God choose to punish Jezebel and Joram? 9. Who was sent to tell\n Jehu? 10. What is anointing? 11. Who did you hear of before who was\n anointed? 12. What did the other captains do to Jehu? 13. Who came out\n to meet him? 14. What did Jehu do to Joram? 15. What did Jezebel do?\n 16. What became of Jezebel? 17. What was left of Jezebel? 18. Why did\n she come to such a shocking end? 19. What does God do to sinners? 20.\n Does He always punish them at once? 21. Does he forget? 22. What must\n be done if we would not be punished?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.\"--_2 Kings 10:28._\n\nWHEN that fierce soldier, Jehu, was made king, the men of Israel cut\noff the heads of all Ahab's sons and grandsons, and made them up into\ntwo heaps at the city gates; and all the people who worshipped Baal\nwere shut up in his temple, and every one of them killed. It is very\nsad and terrible; but God had commanded that people who prayed to\nidols should not live, because they taught the rest of the Israelites\nto be wicked too. When we hear about it, we must recollect that it is\na fearful thing to turn away from serving God, and that He is sure to\npunish those who will not worship Him.\n\nYou are not likely to pray to an idol; but I hope you do say your\nprayers night and morning, and mind them as you say them. Not saying\nour prayers, and not going to church, is turning away from God; and it\nwould be very sad and ungrateful to do that, for God has done much more\nfor us than He did for the Israelites, and we know more about Him than\nthey did.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who came to punish them? 2. What was done with the heads of the\n princes? 3. What was done to the worshippers of Baal? 4. Why were they\n put to death? 5. What Commandment did these worshippers of Baal break?\n 6. What is the First Commandment? 7. Whom must we worship? 8. When do\n we worship Him? 9. Must we go without saying our prayers?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The arrow of the Lord's deliverance.\"--_2 Kings 13:17._\n\nELISHA grew to be a very old man, and when at last he fell sick and was\nnear his death, the king of Israel, whose name was Joash, came and kept\nby his bed-side.\n\nElisha said, \"Open the window eastward;\" and he opened it. Then Elisha\nsaid, \"Shoot;\" and Joash took his bow and shot an arrow. And Elisha\nsaid, \"The arrow of the Lord's deliverance.\" Then he said, \"Take the\narrows; smite upon the ground.\"\n\nJoash struck three times on the ground, but he did not go on striking,\nfor he did not think enough of God and His prophet to understand that\nif he obeyed Elisha God would bless him. So Elisha told him if he had\nstruck many times, he would have had a great many victories over the\nSyrians, but as he had only struck three times, he would only have\nthree victories. For it is when people begin by obeying in little\nthings that God gives them a great deal.\n\nThen the great Prophet Elisha died, and was buried; and Joash beat\nthe Syrians three times, but no more, because he had not believed and\nobeyed.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was dying? 2. Who came to see Elisha? 3. What did Elisha tell\n Joash to do? 4. What did he call the arrow? 5. What did he bid Joash\n do then? 6. How many times did Joash strike the ground? 7. What ought\n he to have done? 8. Why did he not? 9. What did Elisha promise him?\n 10. Why did not he have more victories? 11. If we want to do great\n things, how must we do little things?\n\n[Illustration: A CITY CAPTURED AND THE INHABITANTS LED AWAY CAPTIVE.]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-first Sunday.\n\n_HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.\"--_2 Kings\n 18:3._\n\nYOU have heard of many bad kings. There is a good king to tell you\nof at last--good King Hezekiah. He cared for nothing so much as to\nplease God. He would not have any idols, but he cleared them all away,\nand had the holy Temple all set to rights, and made beautiful as God\nhad commanded; and he had all the services at the Temple at the right\ntimes, and used to go and pray there himself constantly. And he did all\nhe could to make his people good too.\n\nBut there came a great danger. There was a king of Assyria named\nSennacherib, who had quantities of soldiers and horses and chariots,\nand he used to conquer towns, and carry all the people in them away to\nlive far from home. He thought he would seize Hezekiah and his people\nin this way, and he did come and do much harm all over the country.\n\nHe did not come at once to Jerusalem; but he sent three boasting men,\nwith an army, to stand outside the walls, and call out to the people\ninside, that Sennacherib was coming to conquer them and carry them\naway, and that they need not believe their king Hezekiah when he said\nthat God would help them, for no god had ever yet saved a country from\nSennacherib.\n\nHezekiah's people were terribly afraid. Some wanted him to get help\nfrom the king of Egypt; but Hezekiah knew that God had forbidden him\nto have anything to do with the Egyptians. He knew that God could help\nhim, and that the way to be helped was to do just what God told him.\nSo, though Sennacherib had so many men, and he had so few, and the\nEgyptians had plenty of soldiers and horses, he made sure that God\ncould save him much better than any Egyptian of them all.\n\nNext Sunday morning you will hear what happened.\n\n[Illustration: RABSACES BEFORE SENNACHERIB.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who is the good king we hear of to-day? 2. What did he clear away?\n 3. What Commandment did he keep? 4. Where did he go and pray? 5. Who\n was his enemy? 6. What message did Sennacherib send to the people of\n Jerusalem? 7. Where did the people want Hezekiah to send for help? 8.\n Why would not Hezekiah send for help from Egypt? 9. To whom did he\n trust?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth:\n Thou hast made heaven and earth.\"--_Isaiah 37:16._\n\nHEZEKIAH was king of Jerusalem. He was very good, and always served God\nand prayed to Him. But a great fierce king named Sennacherib brought\nan army into his land, and ruined all his towns and villages except\nJerusalem, and shut up Hezekiah in his town, so that his people could\nnot dare to come out.\n\nAnd Sennacherib wrote a letter to tell Hezekiah that it was no use to\nhope to escape, he was coming to take away the Jews and ruin Jerusalem;\nand this wicked man even said that Hezekiah need not think that his God\nwould save him, for no nation had ever yet been saved by its gods, so\nthe God of Hezekiah could not help him.\n\n\nHEZEKIAH'S PRAYER.\n\nIn his great distress Hezekiah went up to the Temple, and told God all\nhis trouble. And he said, \"Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all\nthe kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth.\" He said he\nknew the gods of those nations could not save them, for they were no\ngods, only wood and stone; but he trusted that God would save him and\nhis people, though they were far too weak to defend themselves against\nthis terrible king and his people.\n\nGod heard the good king's prayer, and sent him a promise that his enemy\nshould not even come before Jerusalem, nor shoot one arrow at it. And\nGod kept His word. The fierce soldiers of Sennacherib all lay down to\nsleep one night, but they never woke up again. God sent His angel, with\na deadly blast, and all the army that wanted to destroy His people died\nin one single night.\n\nIt was because they and their king had fancied God could not save His\npeople, that they died. And it was because Hezekiah prayed to the Lord\nand tried to be good and holy, that no one could hurt him. Now try to\ndo like Hezekiah. If you are vexed, or if you are afraid, tell God all\nabout it, and ask Him to help you. And He will be quite sure to hear\nand help you, if you will only speak to Him and tell Him what is in\nyour heart.\n\n[Illustration: THE ANGEL SLAYING THE ASSYRIANS.--2 Kings 19:35.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Hezekiah? 2. What kind of king was he? 3. Who wanted to\n hurt him? 4. What did Sennacherib mean to do? 5. What had he done to\n other cities? 6. What very wicked thing did Sennacherib say? 7. Where\n did Hezekiah go in his distress? 8. To whom did he pray? 9. Why did\n he say the other cities had not been saved by their gods? 10. What\n commandment tells us not to have gods of wood and stone? 11. What\n did Hezekiah ask God to do? 12. What did God promise? 13. And what\n happened to the soldiers of Sennacherib? 14. Who slew them? 15. Why\n were these people slain? 16. Why was Hezekiah safe? 17. What did he do\n that he might be saved? 18. How can you do like Hezekiah? 19. What may\n you tell God about? 20. What will He be sure to hear? 21. And if you\n pray to Him, what will He do for you?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the\n Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his\n might.\"--_2 Kings 23:25._\n\nTHERE is one more good king to tell you about, whose name was Josiah.\nHe was great-grandson to good King Hezekiah. The two kings who had come\nbetween Josiah's grandfather and father, had both been very bad men.\nHis grandfather repented when he fell into trouble, and God forgave\nhim; but his father never repented, and died in his wickedness when\nJosiah was only eight years old. But Josiah was very different. He made\nhis people break down their idols, and clear out the Temple of the\nunholy things they had brought in, and worship God rightly once more.\n\n\nTHE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES.\n\nWhile they were cleaning out the Temple, they found a book that nobody\nknew--the Book of the Law of Moses--that is, the first five books in\nthe Bible. All the time of these two bad kings nobody had minded it, or\nread it; it had been lost, and everyone had forgotten all about it.\n\nWhen Josiah knew what it was, and that it was the Law that God had\nspoken to Moses, he made the priests read it to him and all his people.\nThey were very much frightened when they heard it; for they found they\nwere doing all the very things that God had said He would punish them\nfor, and turn them out of their good land.\n\nSo Josiah sent to a holy prophetess to ask her whether, if they\nleft off their sins, and were very sorry, and prayed with all their\nmight, God would still forgive them. But God told her to answer that\nthe people had done so wrong, and grown so wicked, that now their\npunishment must come; but that, as Josiah's heart was tender, and he\nloved God, it should not happen in his time, and that he should be\nquietly buried with his fathers. And, after years of goodness, Josiah\nwas killed in a battle, and all his people mourned over him.\n\nBut they had not been really good, they only pretended, just to please\nhim, and went back to their wicked ways, in spite of all the pains he\nhad taken with them; and his own sons were as bad as the rest. So the\npunishment was obliged to come.\n\n[Illustration: THE BOOK OF THE LAW FOUND.--2 Kings 22:10, 11.]\n\nWhat I wish you to mind to-day is how these people lost their Book of\nthe Law for want of attending to it. If you have not got a Bible of\nyour own, I dare say you soon will have one. And then, pray, do not do\nlike these people of Israel. Do not let it lie by till you forget to\nlook at it, and forget what is in it, and then forget even where it is.\nIf you do, you will grow as bad as these people were, and God will be\nforced to punish you as He was forced to punish them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Josiah? 2. How many kings were there between him and\n Hezekiah? 3. What sort of kings were they? 4. What kind of person was\n Josiah? 5. How old was he when he began to reign? 6. What did he have\n cleaned out? 7. What did they find there? 8. Who gave the Law? 9. What\n was to happen if it was not kept? 10. How had it been lost? 11. What\n did Josiah cause the priests to do? 12. Why was he frightened? 13.\n What did he ask? 15. But why did the people deserve to be punished?\n 16. What did they do as soon as Josiah was dead? 17. What came of\n forgetting their Bibles? 18. Ought we to forget our Bibles? 19. If we\n never read them, can we be good? 20. And if we are not good, what must\n be done to us?\n\n[Illustration: AN ASSYRIAN KING.]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-second Sunday.\n\n_JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"I speak unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not\n hear.\"--_Jer. 22:21._\n\nJOSIAH was the last good king. In his time God called Jeremiah, when he\nwas only a young boy about twelve years old, to be His prophet; and all\nthe time Josiah reigned Jeremiah was teaching the people God's will,\nwhile Josiah was doing all he could to help them to do right and serve\nthe Lord.\n\nBut the Jews did not heed either the king or the prophet--they only\nlonged after their idols. Even Josiah's own sons would not be good,\nafter they had been brought up by such a holy father; but no sooner was\nhe killed in battle, than they went back to all the bad ways that he\nhad put an end to.\n\nThe eldest son, Jehoahaz, only reigned three months. Then God let the\nking of Egypt take him away; and the Prophet Jeremiah says that it was\nfar sadder for him to go away a captive, and never see his home again,\nthan for good Josiah to be in his grave, loved and wept for by all. For\nthough God had let Josiah die so early, it was in mercy. The people had\ngrown so wicked that they must be punished, and so he was taken away\nfrom the evil to come. His next son was king after his brother Jehoahaz.\n\nThe next brother was king instead. His name was Jehoiakim. One would\nhave hoped he would have taken warning by his brother's troubles, and\nserved God better. But no! He did not care to attend to poor people. He\nthought he should be safe in a fine house. He sent for large stones,\nand had great beams of cedar tree for the roofs, and painted the walls\nof his great rooms with scarlet. But he paid no wages to his workmen,\nand was cruel to everybody, and had innocent people killed if they made\nhim angry with them.\n\n[Illustration: JERUSALEM BESIEGED AND PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE.--2 Kings\n25:11.]\n\nOnly there was one man who was not afraid of this King Jehoiakim. It\nwas God's prophet Jeremiah. He told the king how little good his fine\nhouse would do; and what was more, he said that when he died nobody\nwould be sorry for him. They had wept for his father with a great\nweeping and many tears; but when the cruel Jehoiakim died nobody would\nlament. Nobody would say, \"Ah, lord!\" or, \"Ah, his glory!\" but they\nwould care for him no more than if he was an ass who was being buried.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the good king you heard of last Sunday evening? 2. What\n kind of sons had he? 3. What became of the first? 4. What was he never\n to do? 5. What was the name of the second? 6. What did Jehoiakim want\n to build? 7. What were the walls of? 8. How was it roofed? 9. How was\n it painted? 10. But what did he not pay? 11. How did he treat the\n people? 12. Who could have made him quite safe? 13. But how must he\n have lived if he wanted God to take care of him? 14. If God did not\n take care of him, would his fine house do him any good? 15. Who told\n him it would do him no good? 16. What had everyone done when Josiah\n died? 17. Why did they weep for Josiah? 18. But would they care when\n Jehoiakim died? 19. Why would nobody care for Jehoiakim?\n\n NOTE--The two other Lectionary Lessons for this day are from Nehemiah.\n If it be desired to read the \"story\" on them, it is to be found on\n the 39th Sunday, but it was omitted here to prevent chronological\n confusion.\n\n[Illustration: ASHTORETH.]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-third Sunday.\n\n_JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"He reserveth to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.\"--_Jer. 5:24._\n\nTHE chapter to-day is one where God is putting us in mind, by His\nProphet Jeremiah, whom he sent to speak to the wicked kings, that we\nought to remember Him and be thankful to Him. Two of His great mercies\nare spoken of here.\n\nIf you go and stand on the sea-shore, you see the great wide sea of\nwaters heaving and moving all over. Then a long wave comes rising up;\nit runs on and on, and rises high, falls over in white foam, and breaks\non the sand with a rush. Then another rolling wave comes after it, and\nanother, and another, each a little higher than the last. They hide the\nground; and if you stood still at the edge of the first, they would\nsoon carry you off. Stone is hidden after stone, rock after rock, and\nyou would think all the land would get covered at last. No, there is no\nfear of that.\n\nIn six hours' time, the waves leave off coming farther and farther;\nbut each leaves a little bit more ground uncovered, till they have\ngone quite back to where they were before, and the beach lies fresh\nand shining in the wet. People call this the tide, and know it always\ndoes so; it comes up and goes back at its set times, because God fixed\na line for that fierce sea, and said to it, \"Hitherto shalt thou go,\nand no farther; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.\" And if the\nwaves dash and roar ever so loud, still they never can get beyond the\nbound God fixed for them.\n\nThere is the wonder of the sea! Now look at the wonder of the land. All\nover the country, the corn stands up tall and brown; or else it has\nbeen cut, and is piled up in shocks; or the wagons are carrying it safe\nhome! Perhaps you have been gleaning in the fields, and have brought\nhome your lap full of corn.\n\n[Illustration: THE LORD COMMANDS JEREMIAH.--Jer. 2:16, 17.]\n\nHow did we get the corn that is to make us bread? It was because, when\nthe farmer sowed his grain, God sent rain to make it grow, and caused\nthe sun to shine, so as to draw up the stalk, and swell the grain in\nthe ear; and now He hath \"reserved to us the appointed weeks of the\nharvest.\" He has given us the glad harvest-time to store up our wheat,\nto make bread for all the year. Let us thank Him, and never forget who\ngives us bread, nor to say our prayer for daily bread.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What do the waves of the sea do every day? 2. What do people call\n the coming up of the sea? 3. Need we fear its coming too far? 4. Why\n cannot the waves come too far? 5. What did God say to the sea? 6. Who\n made the sea? 7. Can you tell me a verse you say or sing at church\n about the sea being His? 8. What is it that God gives us every day to\n eat? 9. What is bread made of? 10. Where does corn grow? 11. Who makes\n the corn grow? 12. What does God send to make the corn grow? 13. What\n do we call the gathering in of our corn? 14. Who takes care we shall\n have a harvest? 15. How should we ask God for our food? 16. How should\n we thank Him for our food?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Yet they were not afraid.\"--_Jer. 36:24._\n\nYOU heard what a bad, cruel king Jehoiakim was. Still there was a hope\nthat he and his people would take warning, when he heard that God would\npunish his sin; so Jeremiah the Prophet had all his prophecies written\nout on a roll of parchment, and his friend Baruch went to the Temple,\nand read to the people that if they would not worship God and serve Him\nfaithfully, He would cause them all to be taken away prisoners to a\nstrange land.\n\nBaruch stood reading the parchment; and the people listened to him, and\nsome of them began to grow afraid. But then came some of the king's\ngreat people, and when they heard it they thought it would make the\nking angry. They forgot that God's anger signified much more than the\nking's anger. They did not want Jeremiah or Baruch to be punished, but\nthey were afraid to let the reading go on. So they told Baruch to go\naway and hide himself and Jeremiah carefully, and then they took the\nprophecies to shew them to the king.\n\nThe king was sitting by the fire warming himself, for it was in the\nwinter. He listened for a little while; but when he found that the\nparchment was about his sins and God's anger, he took out a knife and\ncut the whole into bits, and burnt it in the fire. Was he so foolish\nas to think that burning the prophecy would prevent it from coming to\npass? If so, he made a great mistake; for God desired Jeremiah to have\nit all written over again, and more too; for the punishment was to be\nworse now than it would have been before--much worse than if Jehoiakim\nhad listened, and left off his bad ways, and prayed to God.\n\n[Illustration: TWO PAGES OF AN ANCIENT SCROLL OF SCRIPTURES.]\n\nIn a very short time the enemy all came round Jerusalem, and everyone\nwas shut up in the city, and could not get out, and food was very\nscarce; and Jehoiakim was taken and put in chains; and thus he died,\nand nobody grieved for him. His young son, Jehoiachin, was called king\nfor a little while, but only for a very little while; for the king of\nBabylon broke into the city, and made him prisoner, and took him away\nto be shut up far from home. And as to the dead body of Jehoiakim\nhimself, nobody had time to give him a burial; so it was thrown out at\nthe gates as if he had been a dead ass instead of a king of Judah.\n\nSo you see God's words through Jeremiah all came true, though Jehoiakim\nwould not heed them. He only made it worse by not listening.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the king? 2. Who was the prophet? 3. What had Jeremiah said\n about Jehoiakim? 4. Where did God tell him to have it written? 5. Who\n was to read it? 6. To whom did Baruch read? 7. Where did the great\n people take the roll of parchment? 8. What did the king do to it? 9.\n Whose words did he throw away? 10. Why would not he listen? 11. Did he\n hinder the harm from coming? 12. What happened to him? 13. How was he\n buried? 14. How should he have tried to prevent the harm from coming?\n 15. How should you behave if you have fault found with you?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father\n in all that he hath charged us.\"--_Jer. 35:8._\n\nGOD is pleased with those who obey what their parents tell them. To-day\nwe hear about a family, whose father gave them an order that sounds\nstrange to us. They were never to live in stone or brick houses, but\nalways to have tents; they were not to have corn-fields or vineyards,\nbut only flocks of sheep, and herds of cows and goats; and they were\nnever to taste wine or strong drink, but only water and milk. It was\nquite a long time after the old father, who gave these orders, had\ndied, that the Prophet Jeremiah was told to try whether they still\nminded him. He was told to set pots of wine and cups before them, and\nto ask them to drink. But they all answered steadily, that their father\nhad bidden them never to touch wine, nor have fields, nor build houses;\nand they were resolved that they would obey him. Then God was pleased\nwith them, and gave a blessing to them by the mouth of His prophet.\nHe said that there should never be an end to their tribe, because they\nwere so obedient. And so it has been.\n\nThese Rechabites, as they are called, lived two thousand four hundred\nyears ago; and their children and descendants have gone on like them\never since--living in tents, keeping sheep, and drinking no wine, and\nobeying the voice of their father, who lived so long ago. They have\nlasted so long, because God blessed their obedience.\n\nNow, sometimes a little child goes out alone, and some friend offers\nit something nice that it knows its mother would not like it to have.\nOr some person asks a little boy to come into a beer-shop, and drink\na drop, when perhaps his father had told him not. Recollect, then,\nthat if you are steady in minding what you are told, as those good\nRechabites were, then God will be pleased with you, and own you for His\ngood child, and give you His blessing.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. Who are the people we hear of\n to-day who honored their father? 3. Who was their father? 4. What had\n he told them? 5. Where were they to live? 6. What were they not to\n drink? 7. Who tried if they would obey? 8. What did Jeremiah offer the\n Rechabites? 9. What did they answer? 10. What blessing did God give\n them? 11. How have they gone on ever since? 12. Why was God pleased\n with them? 13. What can you do to please God? 14. If you are out of\n sight of your father and mother, what must you still do? 15. If any\n of you are asked to do what your mother would not like, how must you\n behave? 16. Who is pleased if you are obedient?\n\n[Illustration: ASSYRIAN ARMLET.]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-fourth Sunday.\n\n_THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n \"Behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.\"--_Ezekiel 13:8._\n\nWHEN King Jehoiakim was dead, and his son Jehoiachin carried away\nto Babylon, another king began to reign, named Zedekiah. He was\nJehoiachin's uncle; he was Jehoiakim's brother; and he was son to good\nJosiah. The king of Babylon said that Zedekiah should reign as long as\nhe would be obedient to him, and pay some money every year, so as to\nshow that he owned the king of Babylon for his master. And God spake\nthrough His prophet Jeremiah, and said that if Zedekiah would obey the\nking of Babylon, the people should be left in peace, only they must be\npatient under their punishment.\n\nBut Zedekiah was more like his bad brother than his good father. He\nlistened to people who pretended to be prophets, though God had never\nspoken by them. They told him to set up for himself against the king of\nBabylon, and that all the beautiful things that had been taken out of\nthe Temple should come back again.\n\nAnd when Jeremiah told them that it would not be so, and that if they\nrebelled against the Babylonians it would be worse for them, and the\nking would be put to death, they were so wicked as to let the holy\nprophet down into a pit, with mud and mire at the bottom; and there he\nlay sunk in the mire, and with no food to eat, nor water to drink.\n\nAt last a black man, one of the king's slaves, came and told the king\nthat the prophet would soon be dead if he stayed there. Then Zedekiah\nwas shocked, and he told the black to get Jeremiah safe out of the pit.\nSo they threw him down soft rags, and told him to put them under his\narms, that the ropes might not hurt him when they drew him up.\n\nSo Jeremiah came out of the horrible pit, and had some food; and the\nking sent to see him in secret. Then he told the king that it was God's\nwill that he should bear to be under the Babylonian power, and that he\nmust not make war; for that if he did, he would come to great misery,\nand die blind and a prisoner.\n\nZedekiah was not angry, as his brother had been, but all he had to say\nfor himself was that he was afraid of his people. He was more afraid\nof them than of God, and he would not do what he knew to be right. So\nhe told the black man to keep Jeremiah safe, and take care he had food\nevery day; but he begged Jeremiah not to say one word to these wicked\nmen about the conversation they had had together.\n\nWas it not a foolish thing to be so afraid of men, when God could have\ntaken care of him? He would have been quite safe if he had only been\nbold enough to do as God told him! Mind, that if ever idle children\nshould want you to be as naughty as they are, and tease you till you\nfeel afraid to stand out against them, the only way to be safe is to do\nas God tells you. Zedekiah, who was afraid to do right, was quite as\nmuch punished as Jehoiakim, who was bold to do wrong.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the king after Jehoiakim? 2. What did the king of Babylon\n promise? 3. What did God say? 4. By whom did God speak? 5. To whom\n did Zedekiah listen instead? 6. What did he do to Jeremiah? 7. What\n kind of place was the pit? 8. Who had pity on Jeremiah? 9. How was\n Jeremiah taken out of the pit? 10. What did he tell the king? 11. Why\n did not Zedekiah mind him? 12. Why was it very foolish of Zedekiah to\n be afraid of the people?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"There was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and\n woe.\"--_Ezekiel 2:10._\n\nTHIS is a sad text; but when people are wicked, sadness must always\nfollow.\n\nYou heard how kind God had been to the Israelites, and how much He had\ndone for them; how He gave them their beautiful land, and their city\nof Jerusalem, and blessed them whenever they were good. And if they\nsinned, He sent punishment, that they might learn to do better; and\nwhen they were sorry He forgave them, and made them happy again. But\nthey would not keep to what He told them; they would worship idols, and\ngrow worse and worse, till at last God said that there could be only\n\"lamentation, and mourning, and woe,\" for the trouble they had brought\non themselves.\n\nGod sent a great army under the king of Babylon, and Jerusalem was\ngiven up to them. The fierce soldiers came in, and burnt the houses,\nand robbed the Temple; and as to the young king, Jehoiachin, they took\nhim and his mother, and all his chief lords and priests, and carried\nthem away to Babylon, where he was a long time in prison.\n\nThe chapter to-day was written by a holy prophet, whose name was\nEzekiel, and who was taken away to Babylon at the same time as the\nyoung king. God came and spoke to Ezekiel, that he might go on warning\nthe people, that if they did not repent now that they were punished, He\nwould be obliged to go on punishing them still.\n\nThink about that. You know if you have done wrong and been punished,\nit is that you may mind another time, and not do the same over again.\nIf you are obstinate or careless, and go back to the old fault, then\nyou will have to suffer more and more; and there can be nothing but\n\"lamentation and mourning and woe.\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who is the prophet whose chapter is read to-day? 2. Where did\n Ezekiel live? 3. Who took him to Babylon? 4. Who was taken there at\n the same time? 5. How old was king Jehoiachin? 6. What was his home?\n 7. Why were he and his people taken away from Jerusalem? 8. What had\n been their sin? 9. How had God tried to make them better? 10. Had they\n attended? 11. What must come of sin? 12. What is the use of being\n punished? 13. What will happen if we do not leave off the fault when\n we are punished?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"And ye shall be comforted.\"--_Ezekiel 14:22._\n\nTHE prophet Ezekiel had many sad things to tell the Jews; but he had\nsome comfortable ones. They had been very wicked, and God took them\naway from their dear home at Jerusalem, and let it be burnt with fire;\nand put them to live far away in a strange land at Babylon. But He told\nthem that if they would leave off their sins, and turn back to Him, and\nnot worship idols any more, then He would forgive them, and bring them\nhome again.\n\nTo-day the Lesson says that they must really be sorry in earnest, not\nonly pretend to be sorry. If they said they would worship God, and were\ncaring for their idols in their hearts all the time, then He must go\non being angry, and punishing them; but if they were really sorry, and\nreally prayed to Him, then when they had been punished enough, they\nshould be comforted.\n\nThey should not always stay in Babylon, in the dull flat land, with the\nstreams of water flowing lazily through it; but they should see their\nown dear hills and fields again, and live in their homes once more.\nThat would be such gladness, that it would make up for all the sorrow.\nAll that was wanted was, that they should be really sorry, and leave\noff all the bad things they had done, and repent from the bottom of\ntheir hearts.\n\nNow when we have done wrong, and are punished, it is to make us sorry,\nthat we may do so no more. Little children are punished by their\nfriends; grown-up people are punished by God sending troubles. Then we\nmust be sorry, not only for the punishment, but the fault, and really\ntry with all our hearts not to do it again. If we only _say_ we are\nsorry, and then run back to our old ways, something worse will come of\nit. No, we must be sorry in earnest, and then God will forgive us, for\nHis dear Son Jesus Christ's sake.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was happening to Jerusalem? 2. What was done to the houses?\n 3. What was done to the people? 4. Where had they to live? 5. Where\n did they wish to be? 6. Why were they taken to Babylon? 7. What wicked\n thing had they done? 8. But what hope had they? 9. What must they\n do to be forgiven? 10. Where should they go back again to? 11. Why\n are people punished? 12. What is the way to be forgiven? 13. How are\n children punished? 14. How are grown-up people punished? 15. What\n should we do if we are punished? 16. Will it do to go back to the\n fault?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-fifth Sunday.\n\n_THE FALL OF JERUSALEM._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions.\"--_Ezekiel\n 18:30._\n\nVERY sad things were going on among the Jews. A great many of them were\ncarried away out of their beautiful hilly land of Canaan, to live among\nthe flat wet marshes round Babylon, and only a few were left with their\nking Zedekiah at Jerusalem.\n\nJeremiah was speaking God's words to the people of Jerusalem; Ezekiel\nwas speaking God's words to the people who were captives by the river\nside. They both said the same thing--that the only way to be peaceful,\nand not to suffer worse and worse, would be to repent and leave off\ntheir sins that had displeased God, and pray to Him to spare them, and\nthen to bear patiently the punishment that had begun. But this was just\nwhat Zedekiah and his people would not do.\n\nThey misused Jeremiah for giving them such advice, and they would not\nown the king of Babylon for their master; and instead of believing\nGod's true prophets, they listened to the false ones, who said, that in\na very little while the captives would come back again, and all would\nbe well.\n\nThen Ezekiel took a tile, a great flat piece of pottery, and he drew on\nit the walls and towers of the city of Jerusalem, and made little tents\nand banks round it, and he lay down by it on his side, and watched it.\nAnd he weighed out for himself a very little bad bread to eat.\n\nThen, when the people came to ask him why he did this, he said that it\nwas to show them how it would be with their own Jerusalem far away.\nThe Babylonians would come round it, and set up their tents, and make\nbanks of earth to keep the people in, and shoot stones and arrows, and\nclimb the walls. Inside there would be no better food than Ezekiel was\neating--no, nor so good--and everyone would be starving, and dying of\nthirst.\n\nThen the enemy would break in, and carry all the chief of them away\nto Babylon, and keep them prisoners there--till the whole people had\ncome to repent of their sins, and had turned to the Lord with all their\nhearts.\n\nFor God has no pleasure in man's being punished. He only punishes that\nwe may turn away from our sin and do right, and be saved at last.\nIf only these Jews would have listened to Ezekiel and Jeremiah, and\nrepented, they would have been spared; but instead of that, they went\non growing worse and worse, till they had to have seventy long years of\npunishment before they could be forgiven.\n\nWe must take care when we are punished that we are sorry, and not\nobstinate and hard, or we shall have to be punished more and more.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who were the two prophets? 2. Where did Jeremiah prophesy? 3. Where\n did Ezekiel prophesy? 4. What did they both tell the people? 5. Would\n the people mind them? 6. What did King Jehoiakim do to Jeremiah's\n prophecies? 7. What did King Zedekiah do to Jeremiah? 8. What did\n Ezekiel take? 9. What did he draw on the tile? 10. What did he put\n round the tile? 11. Where did he lie? 12. What did he eat? 13. What\n was the tile to stand for? 14. Who were coming round Jerusalem? 15.\n What would they set up?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Woe to the bloody city.\"--_Ezekiel 24:6._\n\nSO Jerusalem had been taken, and pulled down, and burnt; and King\nZedekiah was dead, and all his sons, and most of the great people had\nbeen carried away to Babylon. Only the poorer people were left, that\nthey might plough and sow, and gather the corn and the grapes, and keep\nthe land from getting waste and full of weeds. The Prophet Jeremiah\nwas left among them. There is one book in the Bible called the Book of\nLamentation, for it is the sad verses that he made to mourn over the\nbeautiful city and the glorious Temple, all burnt with fire because the\npeople had been so sinful.\n\n[Illustration: JEREMIAH MOURNING OVER JERUSALEM.--Lam. of Jer. 1:1, 2.]\n\nStill Jeremiah told the people that were left, that if they would be\npatient and obey the king of Babylon, that after the seventy years\nof punishment the troubles should be over, and their friends should\ncome back, and the Temple be built up again. But still, after all that\nhad happened, these wilful Jews would have their own way. They said\nthey were afraid of the king of Babylon there, and must go to Egypt to\nbe safe; just as if they were not safer where God told them to stay,\nthan they could be anywhere else. So off they went, and they carried\nJeremiah by force with them, whether he would or no.\n\nBut almost as soon as Jeremiah came there, God told him to take\nsome great stones and put them into the clay of the brick kiln near\nPharaoh's house, and say that upon those very stones the king of\nBabylon himself would set up his tent in a few years' time.\n\nAnd so it was. The Babylonians raised a great army, and came marching\ninto Egypt, and there they burnt and destroyed, and killed and made\nslaves of the people they found there. Then these foolish Jews saw that\nif they had only stayed quietly at home the king of Babylon would have\ndone them no harm. But now they had run away just where he was coming,\nand would hurt them most. That came of not trusting God's Word, but\ntrying to run away from Him; for truly nothing is so foolish as to try\nto hide from God.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What had been done to Jerusalem? 2. Where were all the chief people\n gone? 3. Who was left? 4. Where did Jeremiah stay? 5. What sad book\n did Jeremiah write? 6. Why was he sorry? 7. What did he tell the Jews\n that were left? 8. Where did they want to go? 9. Why was it wrong to\n go to Egypt? 10. Why did they choose to go to Egypt? 11. What did God\n tell Jeremiah? 12. Where was the king of Babylon to set his throne?\n 13. Where would they have been safest? 14. Why?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"I will cause you to pass under the rod.\"--_Ezekiel 20:37._\n\nGOD told His prophet Ezekiel to put the Israelites in mind of all\nthat He had done for them, and how ungrateful they had been--always\nworshipping idols, and turning away from Him, though He had brought\nthem out of the land of Egypt, and led them through the wilderness, and\ngiven them the beautiful land of Canaan. But they would not serve Him\nthere, so punishment had come.\n\n\nSOME ISRAELITES WERE CAPTIVES.\n\nSome of the Israelites were captives already in the land of the king of\nBabylon. Ezekiel was one of them; and just four years after he spoke\nthis prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came up against\nJerusalem, and took it once more, and made King Zedekiah prisoner as\nhe was trying to flee away. Zedekiah's sons were put to death before\nhis eyes; and after that his eyes were put out, and he was carried in\nchains to Babylon, and there slain.\n\nBeautiful Jerusalem was set on fire, the walls were thrown down, and\nall the gold and silver in the Temple was carried off to Babylon; and\nthe Jews themselves were made to go there too, and live as prisoners\nthere.\n\nThis was the way God punished them to make them sorry for their sins;\nand still He gave them hope that when seventy years were over, they\nshould come back, and build up their city; and after that they would\nalways remember their old fault, and never turn to worship false gods\nagain. So God was merciful even in His anger, and sent their sorrow to\nmake them know Him and serve Him better.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where had God led the Israelites from? 2. What beautiful place had\n He given them? 3. What were they to do for Him? 4. Did they serve Him?\n 5. What did they worship? 6. How did He punish them? 7. What young\n king had they lost already? 8. Who was the king that came up against\n Jerusalem? 9. What did Nebuchadnezzar do to Jerusalem? 10. Who was the\n king Nebuchadnezzar took? 11. What was done to king Zedekiah? 12. What\n was done to the city? 13. What was done to the people? 14. Were they\n ever to come back again? 15. How soon were they to come back? 16. What\n did they learn by their troubles?\n\n[Illustration: THE BREASTPLATE.]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-sixth Sunday.\n\n_THE JEWS AT BABYLON._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we\n remembered Zion.\"--_Psalm 137:1._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nWHEN the Jews came to Babylon, some were made to live in the city,\nwhere they worked at trades, and kept shops. Others lived in the\ncountry and worked in the fields. These were not like the fields at\nhome. The goodly land at home was full of hills and valleys, with\nsloping pastures for the flocks, and vineyards on the sides of the\nhills; but the land round Babylon was quite flat, with broad rivers\nflowing slowly and lazily through the meadows, with weeping willows\nupon their banks.\n\nWhile Jerusalem was being besieged, Ezekiel, at Babylon, drew the\npicture of the town on a tile, and shut it in with a wall, and lay\nwatching it, and weighing out a little bit of bad bread for himself to\neat every day, that the other Jews who were with him might know what\nwas going on among their brethren at Jerusalem, as God told him.\n\nAnd in a vision he saw the angels come and mark in their foreheads all\nthat were good, that they might not be hurt in the siege; while the bad\nwould die by sword, and hunger, and sickness. So it is still, God saves\nHis own good ones. The angels know and mark them, when all the rest are\ngiven up to God's terrible anger.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What sort of place was Babylon? 2. Was it like the land of Israel?\n 3. Who was the prophet there? 4. What did he do while the siege of\n Jerusalem was going on? 5. Where did he draw it? 6. What did he eat?\n 7. Who were eating bread like that? 8. Who saw him? 9. What did he see\n an angel doing? 10. Who were marked? 11. What became of those who were\n marked? 12. What became of those who had no mark? 13. Who will always\n be safe? 14. How are you marked?\n\n[Illustration: EZEKIEL'S VISION.--Ezekiel 1:28.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Son of man, can these bones live?\"--_Ezekiel 37:3._\n\nTHE great prophet Ezekiel was shewn by God how the Jews should be\nbrought back after all their troubles. The Lord made him have a sort of\ndream, when he saw a whole valley spread over with dry bones, and the\nLord said, \"Son of man, can these bones live?\" And Ezekiel said, \"Lord,\nThou knowest.\"\n\nThen the Lord bade Ezekiel sing; and as he sung there was a shaking,\nand the bones came together again and joined in their right places;\nand as he sung on, the flesh came back on them; and then the Lord bade\nhim call to the winds of heaven, and they came and filled them with\nbreath again, and they rose up and lived.\n\nJust so God said the kingdom of Judah was dead and scattered, but He\nwould breathe on it, and wake it, and join it together again, like the\ndead bones rising to life.\n\nAnd just so, we know, when all our bodies are dead, and our bones lie\nin the grave, the call of the Lord's voice will wake them up, and we\nshall rise on our feet, and His breath will come to us, and we shall\nstand before Him an exceeding great army. For that is the resurrection\nof the body which we look for.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was the prophet? 2. What had happened to the kingdom of Judah?\n 3. Who had conquered it? 4. Why had Nebuchadnezzar conquered it? 5. 5.\n What did God shew Ezekiel? 6. How did the bones look? 7. What did God\n bid Ezekiel do? 8. What happened? 9. What came back to the bones? 10.\n What was dry and dead like the bones? 11. But what did God promise to\n do? 12. When did the Jewish people come to life? 13. What will become\n of us by-and-by? 14. What will be done with our bodies? 15. When will\n they wake? 16. What will wake them? 17. What will be joined together?\n 18. Will they die any more? 19. For what do we believe in?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"God gave them knowledge and skill.\"--_Daniel 1:17._\n\nAMONG the Jews who were carried away to Babylon there were some little\nboys, young princes of the king's family, who had been brought up in\nthe palace of the house of David. They could not have been more than\ntwelve years old when they were thus taken from their homes.\n\nThe king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, thought he should like to have\nthem to wait on him. So he desired the steward of his place to have\nthem taken into his care, to be taught both to wait on the king, and to\nknow all the learning of Babylon.\n\nSlaves instead of princes. That was sad enough, but what grieved these\nboys most of all was that the dinners that were sent to them all came\nfrom the king's own table, and they knew that all the meat there came\nfrom creatures that had been offered up to idols.\n\nNow there was one boy, whose name was Daniel, who knew that it was very\nwrong for any Jew to eat meats that had been offered to idols. Some of\nthe boys said they did not care, and some said they were very sorry,\nbut they could not help it. Yes, Daniel said, they could help it if\nthey would leave off eating meat and drinking wine, and only have beans\nand water.\n\n\nLOYAL TO DANIEL.\n\nThen three more of the boys said they would stand by Daniel, and have\nonly the beans and water rather than break God's holy Law. Their proper\nnames were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, but the king had changed all\nthe boys' names, and he called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.\n\nSo Daniel asked their master, Melzar, to give them none of the rich\nwine and fine dainties, but only water and pulse--that is, beans.\n\nBut Melzar said they would grow thin and weak on such poor food, and\nthen the king would be angry with him.\n\n\"Only try us for just ten days,\" Daniel said.\n\nAnd God so blessed the food, that at the end of ten days, Daniel,\nHananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were fairer and fatter than all their\ncousins and friends who had been eating the king's dainties.\n\nAnd Melzar had found that none were so true and honest and obedient\nand painstaking, so he trusted them very much; and they grew wise and\nlearned, and still loved and feared their God, though they were slaves\nso far away from home.\n\nNow remember how they began. It was by giving up the things they liked\nwhen they found it was wrong to have them. When you are tempted to be\ngreedy, would it not be a good thing to recollect Daniel and the other\nboys eating beans and drinking water?\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who were the boys carried to Babylon? 2. What were their proper\n names? 3. What did the king call them? 4. What was the name of the\n king of Babylon? 5. How did he desire these boys to be brought up?\n 6. What had they been at home? 7. What were they to eat? 8. Why did\n they not like to eat these meats? 9. What did Daniel beg for? 10. Who\n joined with him? 11. Who was their master? 12. What did Melzar say?\n 13. How long was it to be tried? 14. How did Daniel and his friends\n look? 15. Why was this? 16. Why did God bless them? 17. How did they\n behave? 18. What was the beginning of all their holiness? 19. What\n ought we to keep in order?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-seventh Sunday.\n\n_DANIEL AT BABYLON._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery\n furnace.\"--_Daniel 3:17._\n\nYOU remember that the Jews had been so wicked, that God had let them be\nconquered by their enemies, and taken quite away from home to the great\ncity of Babylon.\n\nThe king of Babylon worshipped idols; and he set up a great golden\nidol, much higher than this room, and commanded that as soon as his\nmusic played, everyone should fall down and worship the image; or if\nanyone would not, that person should be thrown into a burning fiery\nfurnace.\n\nA furnace is like a very large oven, or like a brick-kiln--a sort of\nhouse quite full of fire--for burning and baking bricks, or melting\niron, or anything else that requires to be made very hot. Many people\nwere afraid of such a horrible punishment as being thrown into the\nfurnace; and when they heard the music, they made haste to bow down\nbefore the great golden image.\n\nBut the Jews knew that they must not worship idols; so what could they\ndo? I only know what three of them did. They were three young men,\nnamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were brought up before the\nking, because they would not bow down before his great image. The king\nasked them how it was; and told them fiercely that if they would not\nworship his golden image, they must be thrown into the fire.\n\n[Illustration: I am with Thee saith the Lord to deliver Thee. JER. 1-19\nWHEN THOU WALKEST THROUGH THE FIRE, THOU SHALT NOT BE BURNED; NEITHER\nSHALL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON THEE]\n\nBut they stood up boldly, and said, \"Our God whom we serve is able to\ndeliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out\nof thine hand, O King! But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that\nwe will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou\nhast set up.\"\n\nThe king was very angry at this brave answer. He had the furnace made\nseven times hotter than usual; and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego\nwere thrown into it, tied hand and foot; and the flame was so hot, that\nit burnt the men that threw them in.\n\nPresently, the king gave a loud cry. For in the midst of the fire were\nthe men, not tied, but free, and walking in the burning heat, as if\nthey were in cool spring air! And there was another with them, whose\nform was the Son of God. Then he called them, and the three came out.\nThere was no smell of fire about them, and not a hair of their heads\nwas singed; they had not felt the heat at all; but that Holy One had\ntaken care of them, and had kept them safe in the midst of the fire.\n\nThen the king of Babylon knew how wrong he had been; and he sent forth\na command, that no one should ever speak a word against the God of\nShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who had saved them in the burning\nfiery furnace.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the Jews living? 2. How came the Jews to be at Babylon?\n 3. What did the king of Babylon want everyone to worship? 4. Who would\n not worship the golden image? 5. Why would not Shadrach, Meshach,\n and Abed-nego worship the image? 6. What is the Second Commandment?\n 7. What was done to them for not worshipping the image? 8. What is\n a furnace? 9. How hot was it made? 10. What did the king see in the\n fire? 11. Who was with him? 12. Were they hurt? 13. Why did not the\n fire burn Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? 14. Who took care of them\n in the fire?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Those that walk in pride He is able to abase.\"--_Daniel 4:37._\n\nGREAT Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a strange dream. He\nthought he saw a great tree with spreading branches and fine leaves,\nmaking a sweet shelter, where all the creatures came and stood, and\nthe birds nestled in the boughs; but while he was admiring it there\ncame a holy one down from heaven, and said the tree was to be cut down,\nand only the stump left in the tender grass of the field, and that it\nshould be bound with iron, and wet with the dew of heaven till seven\nyears had passed over it.\n\nWhen Nebuchadnezzar woke he was troubled, and was sure the dream had a\nmeaning, and he sent for the prophet Daniel to tell him what it was.\nDaniel was so sorry, that at first he could hardly bear to speak; but\nat last he told the king that it was himself, Nebuchadnezzar, that the\ntree meant.\n\nHe was great and mighty, and countries and people were shadowed over\nby his power; but soon he would have a fall--he would lose his senses,\nand his man's heart would be like a beast's heart, and he would be\ndriven out of his palace, and he would eat grass like an ox, and his\nbody would be wet with the dew of heaven, and his hair would be long\nlike eagles' feathers, and his nails like eagles' claws, till seven\nyears had passed by; and then he would recover his senses, and know and\nunderstand again, and he would come back to his kingdom again. Then he\nwould know and own that the Lord of Heaven is the true God.\n\n\nTHOUGHT THAT NOTHING COULD HURT HIM.\n\nNebuchadnezzar was shocked at first, but soon he forgot all about the\ndream, and felt himself so wise and strong and brave, that nothing\ncould hurt him. He was walking one day in his palace, a most beautiful\none, and looking out on the grand city with the river running through\nit, with all the bridges and the hundred brazen gates; and his heart\nwas lifted up with pride, and he said, \"Is not this great Babylon that\nI have builded?\" That very moment there came a voice from heaven that\nsaid the time was come!\n\nAnd a strange madness came on the king, his brave clever spirit became\nas senseless as a beast's; and he only wanted to graze in the field\nlike the cattle. So they drove him out of the palace, and put a band\nof iron round him, and let him eat grass like an ox, and his hair grew\nlong and shaggy, and his nails like eagles' claws, just as Daniel had\nsaid.\n\nSo seven years passed away; and at the end of them he came to his\nsenses again, God gave back his man's heart and his reason, and he went\nback to his palace, and sat on his throne again. And one of the first\nthings he did was to have a letter written to his people, telling them\nall this story, and bidding them do honor to the God of Daniel, who\nputteth down and setteth up.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? 2. Who was Daniel? 3. How came Daniel to be\n at Babylon? 4. What did the king see in his dream? 5. What happened\n to the tree? 6. What did the king want to know? 7. Whom did he send\n for? 8. Whom did Daniel say the tree meant? 9. What was to happen to\n the king? 10. How long was he to be in this state? 11. What beautiful\n place had Nebuchadnezzar built? 12. What did he say about it? 13. What\n happened that moment? 14. What did this poor king want to be? 15. What\n did he eat? 16. What was his hair like? 17. What were his nails like?\n 18. How long did he go on like that? 19. What did God restore to him?\n 20. What was the first thing he did? 21. What did he tell the people?\n 22. Had not he lost all his pride? 23. What should we not boast of?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.\"--_Daniel 5:6._\n\nAFTER Nebuchadnezzar, some troublesome times began at Babylon; but\nat last his grandson Belshazzar was reigning. He was a foolish,\nself-pleasing young man; and his enemies, the great nation of Medes\nand Persians, came to make war on him, but still he did not care for\nanything but his amusement.\n\nHe thought Babylon so strong that they could never break in; and he\ngave a great feast to all his lords, with fine meats and wines, and\nhe had all the gold and silver bowls, and the golden candlestick that\nhad been brought out of the Temple of God at Jerusalem, on the tables,\nwhile he and his friends were drinking and singing and shouting.\n\nAll on a sudden a stillness came over them, and their eyes opened wide\nwith fright. For just over the candlestick there was seen a man's hand.\nThere was no body, only the hand; and the finger went along writing on\nthe wall, tracing out letters.\n\nThere were four words, but no one could read them or tell what they\nmeant.\n\nThe king was terribly frightened. His knees knocked together, and\nhe shook all over, and he called for some one to tell him what this\nwriting could be. Nobody could guess; but at last the queen, his\nmother, came and put him in mind how Daniel had been able to explain\nhis father's dreams. So Daniel was sent for, and he at once read the\nwriting. He told them Belshazzar was found wanting. His kingdom was\ngoing to be taken from him, and given to the Medes and Persians.\n\n[Illustration: DANIEL INTERPRETING THE WRITING ON THE WALL.--Dan.\n5:25-28.]\n\nAnd even then, all the time the Babylonians were feasting and not\nwatching the enemy, Cyrus, the clever king of the Persians, was making\nhis men dig ditches, into which he turned all the water of the great\nriver that ran through the city; and that very night all his army came\nin, walking up the dry bed of the stream. No one saw them till they\nwere in the city; and that very night Belshazzar was slain.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was king of Babylon? 2. Who made war on Belshazzar? 3. What\n was all he cared for? 4. What feast did he make? 5. What were brought\n out? 6. What frightened him? 7. What was the hand doing? 8. What could\n no one understand? 9. Who spoke up? 10. Who was sent for? 11. What\n did Daniel say it meant? 12. What happened that night? 13. How did\n the Persians get in? 14. Who was king of the Persians? 15. Why did\n Belshazzar come to such a sad end?\n\n[Illustration: CHART OF THE COUNTRY ROUND BABYLON, WITH LIMITS OF THE\nANCIENT CITY. (According to Oppert).]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-eighth Sunday.\n\n_THE RETURN FROM BABYLON._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"The Lord is in His holy Temple: let all the earth keep silence before\n Him.\"--_Hab. 2:20._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHE Jews had gone back to their old city of Jerusalem, but they found\nit looking very sad and ruinous. The walls were broken down, and the\npleasant houses were heaps of ruins, and grass and brambles had come up\nin the courts, and there were heaps of stone blackened with the fire\nand smoke that had burnt down the city.\n\nThe first thing they did was to clear the place where God's holy Temple\nused to stand, and to build it up again. But they were not rich and\npowerful like King Solomon, who built the first Temple; they had no\ngold and silver, and the new Temple they built was very small and poor\ncompared with the old one.\n\nThere were old men among them who remembered the first Temple as it\nused to be, and they wept aloud as they saw how different the new one\nwas; but there were young men who were very glad to have a Temple at\nall, and they shouted for joy; so there was a mixed sound of weeping\nfor sorrow and of crying out with joy.\n\nThen God sent His Prophet Haggai to tell the old men not to be afraid,\nfor the glory of this latter House should be greater than that of the\nformer. The way this should be was that our Blessed Lord Himself would\ncome to the new Temple, as a little Babe at first and afterwards as a\ngrown Man; and when He was there, the honor and glory of the Temple\nwould be greater than ever it was before. Now there is no one Temple:\nbut God's Houses are Churches, and we have them everywhere to pray to\nHim in, and meet Him there though we cannot see Him. Let us take care\nto worship Him there very humbly and reverently.\n\n[Illustration: RETURN OF THE JEWS FROM CAPTIVITY.--Ezra 1:5.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where did the Jews return to? 2. What state was their city in? 3.\n What had they to do to their city? 4. What did they first build up? 5.\n What sort of Temple did they build? 6. Why was the new Temple not so\n fine as the old one? 7. What did the old people do? 8. What did the\n young people do? 9. How did God comfort the old people? 10. Who would\n come to the new Temple? 11. Is there a Temple now? 12. What have we\n instead? 13. How should we behave in church?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and to love\n mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?\"--_Micah 6:8._\n\nTHE name of the leader of the Jews, when they came home from Babylon to\ntheir own country was Zerubabel.\n\nZerubabel was their prince. He was of David's family, and he would\nhave been king if the Jews had been allowed to have kings; but he was\ncontented to go back without the crown and throne and sceptre that his\nfathers had had before him, and to live humbly in obedience to the king\nof Babylon.\n\n\nZERUBABEL'S GREAT DESIRE.\n\nThat which Zerubabel cared to have was a little spot of ground among\nthe mountains. It was the village of Bethlehem, the place from which\nDavid had been called away long ago, from feeding his father's sheep,\nto come and be king of Israel. Why should Zerubabel care for that\nlittle piece of ground more than for Solomon's palace, that was so\nglorious? One reason was, that the Prophet Micah had said, \"But thou,\nBethlehem-Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,\nyet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in\nIsrael; whose goings have been from everlasting.\"\n\nAnd faithful men understood that this meant that the Saviour of\nthe world should be born at Bethlehem, and that He would be among\nZerubabel's children's children. That was why Zerubabel cared so much\nfor the poor little ruined village, and took care to make a home of it\nagain, though now there were only a hundred and twenty-three people to\ncome back to live in it. God was pleased with Zerubabel's faith, and\nblessed him because he had not despised the day of small things.\n\nGod said that to Zerubabel a mountain should become a plain--that is,\nthat what seemed most difficult should grow easy, and that Zerubabel\nshould be the man who should build up the Temple again--God's own\nHouse, that was lying in ruins. That was the great honor this good man\nhad, because he believed in God's promise with all his heart, and went\nso bravely and steadily to work upon a little, when he could not do a\ngreat deal. For to him that is faithful in a little shall much be given.\n\n[Illustration: BUILDING OF THE NEW TEMPLE.--Ezra 3:10.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Zerubabel? 2. Where were the Jews coming back from? 3. What\n had Zerubabel's fathers been? 4. Why was not Zerubabel a king? 5.\n Who was the father of the kings of the Jews? 6. What had David been\n before he was a king? 7. Where did he keep his sheep? 8. What was the\n place Zerubabel cared to have again? 9. Why did Zerubabel care for\n Bethlehem? 10. Who was to be born there? 11. Who had said so? 12. What\n did Zerubabel believe? 13. How many people went back to Bethlehem? 14.\n Did Zerubabel despise it for being small? 15. What did he think of?\n 16. Why did God bless him? 17. What did God say he should build up?\n 18. What did God say difficulties should be to him? 19. Do not things\n we have to do sometimes seem like great mountains to get over? 20.\n But who can make them easy to us? 21. Only what must we do ourselves?\n 22. And what is the way to do great things well? 23. What must we\n never despise?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.\"--_Dan.\n 6:16._\n\nTHERE was another king of Babylon, and his name was Darius. It was the\nstrange, foolish way of his people to treat him as if he was a sort of\na god, and more than man; and one day his people came to him and begged\nhim to make a law that for thirty whole days nobody should say their\nprayers to any god, or ask anything of any man, except of Darius the\nking; or if they did, they should be thrown to the lions, to be eaten\nup.\n\nDarius thought this was all to do him honor, so he made the law that\nthus it should be. Now when a law had once been made by the king of\nthat people, it could not be changed. So nobody was to say their\nprayers to anyone but the king for all that time.\n\nBut by-and-by the king's people came and told him that there was one\nold man who did not attend to his law, but that they had watched him in\nhis own room, and there he said his prayers three times a-day, just as\nif the king had made no law at all.\n\nThe king was very sorry when he heard who it was, for this man who\nwould not leave off saying his prayers was the man he trusted most in\nall the kingdom. It was Daniel, one of the captive Jews, son or brother\nto one of the last kings of Jerusalem. He had been taken to Babylon\nwhen he was a very little boy, and now he was quite an old man, but he\nhad never ceased praying to the great God of Heaven, and he was not\ngoing to leave off now. He was a prophet of the Lord, and very wise,\nand he was one of the king's very best advisers, so Darius was greatly\ngrieved when he was accused.\n\nBut Darius could not help himself; the law that had once been made\ncould not be broken, and these spiteful people declared that Daniel\nmust be thrown to the lions. All day long the king tried to get his\nwise good counsellor saved from this dreadful fate, but he could not\nsucceed; and at evening Daniel's enemies came to take him and throw him\nto the lions in their den.\n\n[Illustration: THE JEWISH CAPTIVES CONDUCTED BEFORE DARIUS.]\n\nStill, though Darius was a heathen himself, he had one hope; and\nwhen he saw his friend led away, he said, \"Thy God whom thou servest\ncontinually, He will deliver thee.\"\n\nSo they took Daniel, and put him into a pit among the lions, and they\nfastened up the door and left him there; and the king was so sorry,\nthat he could not sleep all night for grieving for the good, wise,\nbrave man who was thrown to the lions because he would not leave off\npraying to God, and feared God more than man.\n\nAnd when daylight came they all went to the den. The enemies hoped to\nfind that Daniel was eaten up, but the king cried out in a lamentable\nvoice, \"O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou\nservest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?\"\n\nAnd Daniel's own voice came cheerfully back, and told the king that his\nGod had sent His angel, who had shut the lions' mouths, so that they\ncould not hurt him, and had kept him safe all night.\n\n[Illustration: DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN.--Daniel 6:19, 22.]\n\nAnd the king was very glad, and commanded them to take Daniel out of\nthe pit, and to put the spiteful men in instead; and the lions were so\nhungry that they brake all their bones in pieces before ever they came\nto the bottom of the den.\n\nOnly think what Daniel was willing to bear rather than not say his\nprayers! And it was because he prayed that God saved him. God's power\nshut the lions' mouths, because Daniel had been more afraid to leave\noff praying than even to be torn to pieces. How glad we should be that\nwe can say our prayers safe and unhurt; and how careful we should be\nnever to miss them out of idleness, if Daniel would not miss them out\nof fear.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the Jews living? 2. Who was king of Babylon? 3. What\n law was Darius persuaded to make? 4. Who was to be prayed to? 5. What\n was to be done to anybody who said prayers to any but Darius? 6. Who\n did go on saying his prayers? 7. Who was Daniel? 8. What was done to\n Daniel? 9. Did the lions hurt Daniel? 10. Why was Daniel kept safe in\n the den? 11. Whom did Daniel fear most, God or men? 12. When should we\n say our prayers? 13. Can anyone hurt us if God takes care of us?\n\n[Illustration: BABYLONIAN BRICK.]\n\n\n\n\nThirty-ninth Sunday.\n\n_TROUBLES OF THE JEWS._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.\"--_Prov.\n 1:17._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHERE was a gentle Jewish girl, named Esther, who had been left an\norphan very young, and was brought up by her kind relation, Mordecai,\nwho was one of the Jews who had not gone back to Jerusalem, but still\nlived in Persia.\n\nOne day there came a messenger from the king, to carry away poor Esther\nfrom home. The king wanted all the maidens in his land to be brought\ntogether, that he might choose the most beautiful of them all for his\nqueen, and the others would be kept for slaves.\n\nAll the other maidens dressed themselves up, and painted themselves to\ntry to look beautiful; but Esther did not ask for any ornaments, she\nonly put on what she was ordered to wear. Yet she looked so much the\nmost lovely of all, in her modest quietness, that the king chose her\nand married her, and set the crown on her head, and made her his queen.\n\nBut she had a sad life, though she was queen. She was always shut up,\nand could not see her kind friend Mordecai, and she could not even go\nto her husband without his leave, or she would have been put to death.\n\n[Illustration: QUEEN ESTHER The Golden Scepter At the banquet]\n\nHer kinsman, Mordecai, used to sit in the palace gate every day, to\nhear news of her. Now, there was a very bad man named Haman, who used\nto pass by every day; and Mordecai never would bow to him, because\nhe was one of the people whom God had forbidden the Jews to have any\nconcern with.\n\nHaman grew so angry at last that he resolved not only to get Mordecai\nkilled, but all the Jews besides. So he went to the king, and told him\na false story about the Jews, and persuaded him to give orders that\ntheir enemies in all the lands round Jerusalem, and everywhere else,\nshould fall on them on a set day, and put them to death.\n\nAnd the king was so foolish and so cruel as to consent to seal the\nletters, saying that all the Jews were to be killed on one day. But\nMordecai heard about this cruel plot, and he sent secret word to Esther\nthat she must try to save her people, by telling the king that he had\nbeen deceived by Haman.\n\nPoor Esther was much afraid. She knew that if she went to the king\nwithout leave, she would be put to death; but she thought it was\nbetter for her to run the risk, than to let all the Jews perish. So she\ndressed herself beautifully, as the king liked best to see her; and she\nwent to his court almost fainting with fear.\n\nBut when he saw her, he touched her with his golden sceptre. Then she\nknew he would not put her to death; and when he asked why she had come,\nand what she wanted, she said she wished to ask him to a banquet of\nwine in her chamber.\n\n[Illustration: QUEEN ESTHER CROWNED.--Esther 2:17.]\n\nAnd when he came there, she was able to tell him of the cruel plan for\nkilling all her people, and how falsely Haman had spoken. The king was\nvery angry when he understood it all; and wicked Haman was hung upon\nthe very gallows he had meant for Mordecai. And so the Jews were saved\nby the good queen, who was not afraid to risk her life for her people.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were some of the Jews living? 2. What was the name of the Jew\n girl? 3. What was the name of her kinsman? 4. How did the king choose\n his wife? 5. Who was the most beautiful woman? 6. Where did Mordecai\n sit? 7. To whom would not Mordecai bow? 8. What did Haman want to do?\n 9. Who consented? 10. Why was it dangerous for Esther to go and speak\n to the king? 11. What did the king do when he saw her? 12. What did\n holding out the sceptre mean? 13. What did she ask him? 14. What did\n she tell him? 15. What was done to Haman? 16. How were the Jews saved?\n\n[Illustration: TRIUMPH OF MORDECAI.--Esther 6:11.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Thy servants think upon her stones, and it pitieth them to see her in\n the dust.\"--_Ps. 102:14._\n\nTHERE was a good Jew named Nehemiah, whom the King of Persia had made\nhis cup-bearer. One day one of the Jews came from Jerusalem, and told\nNehemiah how sad all was at their home, the city that once had been so\nbeautiful. There was a little bit of the Temple built up, but all the\nstreets were heaps of ruins, and only a house or two here and there\nbuilt up; and the robber tribes round were always breaking in and doing\nmischief.\n\nNehemiah wept, and prayed to God for his people; and when he went in\nto wait on the king and queen, he still looked so sad, that they asked\nhim what was the matter. Then he told them that he had just heard that\nhis dear home, where his fathers' tombs were, was lying waste, and that\nthe cruel enemies were always doing harm; and he begged the king to let\nhim go home and try to help them.\n\n[Illustration: NEHEMIAH ARMETH THE LABORERS--Neh. 4:16,17.]\n\nSo the king gave him leave, but set him a time to come back; and\nNehemiah went all the long way to Jerusalem. It was quite as bad as he\nhad heard. The houses were all down, only here and there one standing;\nand when he went out on his ass at night to view the ruins, there was a\nheap of stones where a gate should be, and a hole where a wall should\nbe.\n\nSo Nehemiah stirred up all the Jews, and they set to work to build the\nwall to keep out the robbers. Then the enemies laughed at them, and\nsaid a fox could break down all they built; and when they went on,\npeople used to come and attack them, so that they had to work with\nswords ready to fight, and always on the watch to come to help if they\nheard a trumpet blown. But they kept on, and the wall was built and the\ngates set up; and they were safe once more from enemies coming in among\nthem.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was Nehemiah? 2. What made him sad? 3. Who were living at\n Jerusalem? 4. What had happened to it? 5. What did Nehemiah do when he\n heard this sad news? 6. How did God begin to grant his prayer? 7. What\n did the king ask him? 8. What did he tell the king? 9. Where did he\n go? 10. What did he find there? 11. Why did they want a wall? 12. What\n did he set the Jews to do? 13. How did they build? 14. Who tormented\n them? 15. But what was finished at last?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"The joy of the Lord is your strength.\"--_Prov. 5:17._\n\nGOOD Nehemiah built up the wall of Jerusalem; and his friend Ezra did\nall he could to teach the Jews to keep the Law of God rightly. It was\nEzra who gathered together the five books of Moses, and collected the\nwritings of the prophets, and wrote out the history of the kings, and\nput nearly all the Old Testament in order as we have it now.\n\nAnd Ezra and Nehemiah took care to teach the people to keep the Sabbath\nagain, as the Fourth Commandment had taught them. Nehemiah used to have\nthe gates of the city shut up, that no stranger might bring any burthen\nin, and that no one might come in to sell or buy on God's holy day.\n\nAnd then they kept the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was a most\nbeautiful feast. All the people went and cut down great boughs of\nmyrtle, olive, pine, and citron, and willow trees, and built up arbors\nwith them, where they lived for seven whole days, to put them in mind\nof how their fathers had lived when they came out of Egypt.\n\nAnd on the great day of the feast, every Jew went up to the Temple\nwith a green bough in his arm, and stood in the court, and all the\npriests came out on the steps with palm-branches, and with silver\ntrumpets. Then the trumpets were sounded, and everybody waved their\nbranches for joy. And the priests began a beautiful rejoicing psalm,\nand at its most joyful verses the people waved their palms again.\n\n[Illustration: A SOLEMN FAST AND REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE.--Neh. 9:1,2.]\n\nAt night all the court of the Temple was lighted up with great lamps,\nto put the people in mind that the Lord is our light. How beautiful it\nmust have been, and how happy all the people were to have come back\nfrom worshipping idols, and being punished in a strange land, to praise\ntheir own true God once more, who blessed and made them happy.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who were the two good men who governed the Jews? 2. What did Ezra\n collect together? 3. Who taught good men how to write the Bible? 4.\n What parts of the Bible did Ezra put together? 5. What commandment\n were Ezra and Nehemiah careful about? 6. How did they keep people from\n breaking the Fourth Commandment? 7. What great feast did they keep?\n\n\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\nFortieth Sunday.\n\n_THE COMING OF THE LORD._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"The fulness of the time was come.\"--_Gal. 4:14._\n\n[Illustration: SHEPHERD]\n\nTHERE was a long time after the Jews came home during which we do not\nknow much about them. Only they had quite left off worshipping idols,\nand stood out bravely when a bad king wanted to make them do so.\n\nBut they were not good in other ways. They quarrelled among themselves\na great deal. One set, who were called Pharisees, were very proud and\nhard-hearted; and another set, who were called the Sadducees, would not\nbelieve or obey any of the Bible that was written after the time of\nMoses--none of the Prophets nor of the Psalms.\n\nThese two sets quarrelled so much that they allowed a fierce strange\nnation to come in and make themselves their masters. These were the\nRomans, whose city was Rome, in Italy. They were fierce soldiers, and\nwanted to make the world all their own.\n\n[Illustration: THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO ZACHARIAS.--Luke 1:12, 13.]\n\n[Illustration: THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO MARY.--Luke 1:35.]\n\nOne of their generals, whose name was Pompey, was so daring that he\nforced his way into the Holy of Holies, where no one was allowed to go\nbut the High Priest once a-year. He was disappointed to find nothing\nthere, only an empty chamber, without any image or likeness; and the\nJews were much grieved and distressed. It was always said that nothing\never went well with Pompey afterwards.\n\n[Illustration: THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM]\n\n[Illustration: THE PROPHECY OF ELIZABETH AND OF MARY.--Luke 1:39-45.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What sin had the Jews left off? 2. But were they grown good? 2. Who\n were the two parties? 4. What was amiss with the Pharisees? 5. What\n would not the Sadducees believe? 6. What came of their quarrels? 7.\n What sort of people were the Romans? 8. Where was their home? 9. What\n did they want to conquer? 10. Where did their general make his way?\n 11. What was the Holy of Holies? 12 What did he find there? 13. Why\n was there no image there? 14. What commandment forbids the worshipping\n any image? 15. Who alone was allowed to go into the holy place? 16.\n How often? 17. What was said of Pompey after he broke in?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest.--_Luke\n 1:32._\n\nTHE Romans set up a strange king over the Jews. His name was Herod,\nand he was an Edomite--that is, a descendant of Jacob's brother Esau.\nHe believed in the true God, and began to make the Temple much more\nbeautiful than it had been since it had been built up after the Jews\ncame back from Babylon. But he was a very wicked and cruel man, who\nkilled his own wife, and made everybody afraid of him; and the Jews\nwere very unhappy under him.\n\n[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JOHN.--Luke 1:62-64.]\n\nThey had one hope, and that was, that it was just about the time when\nGod had promised to send a Holy One into the world to save them and\nset them free; and they thought He would be a great, mighty king, like\nDavid, who would conquer Herod, and drive away the Romans, and have a\ncrown and throne brighter than Solomon's.\n\nAnd just then an angel was sent from God to the little town of\nNazareth, where there lived a young maiden, quite a poor woman, but\nmost good and holy, a descendant of the great King David. The angel\ntold her that she was highly favored, for she was to be the mother of\nthe Son of the Highest, for the Holy One who was to be born of her\nshould be the Son of God; and when He was born, she was to call His\nname JESUS, which means the Lord our Saviour, because He should save\nHis people from their sins; and Mary said, \"Behold the handmaid of the\nLord; be it unto me according to thy word.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE ANGEL ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF JESUS.--Luke 2:10, 11.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Whom did the Romans make king of the Jews? 2. What nation did Herod\n belong to? 3. Who was the forefather of the Edomites? 4. Whose son\n was Esau? 5. What sort of man was Herod? 6. What did he do to please\n the Jews? 7. But how did he treat them? 8. Whom did he put to death?\n 9. What were the Jews hoping for? 10. Who had promised that Holy One?\n 11. What did the Jews think He would be? 12. Who came to say He was\n coming at last? 13. To whom was the angel sent? 14. What was her\n name? 15. Where did he live? 16. What did the angel tell her? 17. Who\n would be born of her? 18. Whose Son would He be? 19. What was she to\n call Him? 20. What does Jesus mean? 21. What did she answer?\n\n[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JESUS.--Luke 2:10, 12.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward\n men.\" _Luke 2:14._\n\nTHE blessed Virgin Mary lived at Nazareth; but it was God's will that\nthe holy Son of God should be born at Bethlehem, the little town where\nDavid used to live and keep his sheep. The Romans sent out orders that\neveryone should go to their proper home to have their names set down,\nand pay a piece of money.\n\nSo the Virgin Mary had to go, with a good man named Joseph, a\ncarpenter, who was to be her husband. Such a number of people had come\nthere that there was no room for them in the inn, and they had to go\nto a stable--a cavern underground--where the oxen and asses were.\n\nAnd it was there that the Holy Child of Mary, the Son of God, was born,\nin the stable where the cattle were. The blessed mother wrapped Him in\nbaby-clothes, and laid Him in the manger, among the hay and straw.\n\n[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JESUS PROCLAIMED BY THE SHEPHERDS.--Luke\n2:17.]\n\nNone of the people in the inn knew or cared; but there were shepherds\non the hill, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels came\ndown to them, and told them that to them was born that day, in the city\nof David, a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD, and that He was a Babe\nlying in a manger.\n\nAs soon as the angel had said that, many other angels, who were very\nglad that poor men below should be saved, all began to sing, \"Glory to\nGod in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.\"\n\nSo the angels and the shepherds kept the Saviour's birthday, and we\nkeep it upon Christmas-day.\n\n[Illustration: PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.--Luke 2:27, 28.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was David's town? 2. But where did the blessed Virgin Mary\n live? 3. How came she to go to Bethlehem? 4. Where had she to rest?\n 5. Why could she not go to the inn? 6. Who was born in the stable? 7.\n Where was He laid? 8. Who were told of it? 9. Who told the shepherds?\n 10. What did the angels sing? 11. Why were they glad? 12. Why are we\n glad? 13. What is the birthday of our Lord?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nForty-first Sunday.\n\n_THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"We have seen His star in the east and are come to worship\n Him.\"--_Matt. 2:2._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHE shepherds were not the only people who came to see the blessed Lord\nJESUS when He was a little Infant. Far away in the East, God showed a\nbright, beautiful star to some wise men, and taught their hearts that\nit was the sign that the great King was born.\n\nThey set out on their journey to Judea, to see and honor Him; and when\nthey came, they asked, \"Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for\nwe have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him.\"\n\nThis made Herod afraid, for he thought this must be a king who would\ntake his kingdom from him. He made the learned men among the Jews look\nout in the prophecies where Christ should be born.\n\nThey found it was to be at Bethlehem, and he told the wise men so, and\ndesired them to let him know when they found the King, that he might\ncome and worship Him too; but he did not really mean to worship Him,\nbut to kill Him.\n\nHowever, God Himself showed these wise men where to find our blessed\nLord, for the same star that they had seen in the East came out again,\nand went before them, and came and stood over where the young Child\nwas. And though they saw a little Baby, and a poor mother holding Him\nin her arms, they knew He was the Lord and King; and they worshipped\nHim, and offered Him the gifts they had brought.\n\nThere was gold, and there was frankincense, which means the\nsweet-smelling, costly powder that was burnt in the Temple; and myrrh,\nwhich is a precious gum which comes out of trees, and is used to\npreserve and keep things good.\n\n[Illustration: THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN.--Matt. 2:10, 11.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who came to see our Lord? 2. Where did they come from? 3. What had\n they seen? 4. What did they ask? 5. Whom did they ask? 6. What did\n Herod say? 7. Did he want to worship? 8. What did he want to do? 9.\n How did the wise men find the way? 10. Whom did they see? 11. What did\n they offer Him? 12. What were the gifts? 13. What is frankincense? 14.\n What is myrrh? 15. Why did they worship Him?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Arise, and take the young child and His mother.\"--_Matt. 2:13._\n\nHEROD was afraid that the new-born King of the Jews would take away his\nkingdom. So he meant to kill Him as soon as he could find out from the\nwise men where He was. But the wise men never came back to tell him,\nfor God spoke to them in a dream, and warned them to go back to their\nown country another way.\n\n[Illustration: JOSEPH COMMANDED TO FLEE INTO EGYPT.--Matt. 2:13.]\n\nAnd God also spoke to Joseph the carpenter, the blessed Virgin Mary's\nhusband, and told him to take the young Child and His mother, and flee\ninto the land of Egypt, and stay there till they should be told to come\nback, for Herod was seeking the young Child to destroy Him. Joseph\nobeyed, and the whole family fled into Egypt, and lived there for some\nyears.\n\nWhen Herod found the wise men did not come, he was very angry; and to\nmake sure of killing Him who was to be King of the Jews, he was so\ncruel and wicked as to cause all the babies in Bethlehem, of two years\nold and under, to be put to death.\n\n[Illustration: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.--Matt. 2:14, 15.]\n\nWe call them the Holy Innocents, because they were the first who died\nfor Jesus Christ's sake. It seemed very sad then, but they have been\nhappy and glorious ever since in heaven, and always will be. But God\nhad taken care of Him, and He was safe in Egypt; and there they stayed\ntill our Lord was about three years old, and then the wicked King Herod\ndied.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did Herod want to do? 2. Why could he not find our blessed\n Lord? 3. Who warned the wise men? 4. Whom did Herod murder? 5. What do\n we call those Babes of Bethlehem? 6. But whom did he not find? 7. For\n where was our Lord? 8. Who had taken Him there? 9. Who was Joseph? 10.\n How did Joseph know He was to go to Egypt?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and\n man.\"--_Luke 2:52._\n\nWHEN Herod died, Joseph brought our blessed Lord and His mother back\nfrom Egypt, and went to live at Nazareth. We do not know any more about\nHim till He was twelve years old, and then He went up with Joseph\nand His mother to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of the Passover. That\ngreat feast the Jews always kept in remembrance of the night when God\ndelivered them out of their troubles in Egypt.\n\n[Illustration: KILLING THE MALE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD.--Matt.\n2:16.]\n\nWhen the time came for going home, the blessed Mary and Joseph could\nnot find the Child Jesus. They thought at first that He was among the\nother boys of the company who had come up from Nazareth, and they\nwent on a day's journey; but when He did not come back to them in the\nevening, they turned back to Jerusalem to seek Him. They looked for Him\nduring three days all round the city, and found Him at last in the\nTemple, among the boys who came to be taught by the learned men there.\n\nEverybody who listened was astonished at His understanding and His\nanswers; but when His mother came to call Him, He went home with her\ndirectly; and He obeyed her and Joseph in everything, and helped and\nworked for them, though He was really their God and King.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE.--Luke 2:46, 47.]\n\nThat was to teach us all how good children should behave at home to\ntheir fathers and mothers, for Joseph was like a father to Him, though\nHis real Father is God. And as He grew older He lived on with them, and\nworked as a carpenter with them till He was thirty years old. So, you\nsee, He knows just what it is to be one of us, and a poor hard-working\nman. For God from heaven came to be one of us men, and just like us.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. When did our blessed Lord come back from Egypt? 2. Where did He\n go and live? 3. How old was He when we hear about Him again? 4.\n Where did He go then? 5. What feast did they go to? 6. What was the\n Passover to put people in mind of? 7. What happened when it was time\n to go home? 8. How long was He lost? 9. Where was He found? 10. What\n was He doing there? 11. What was everyone surprised at? 12. What did\n He do when He was called? 13. How can you do like Him when you are\n called from what you like? 14. How did He always behave to His mother\n and Joseph? 15. How can you try to be like Him?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nForty-second Sunday.\n\n_THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\"--_Matt. 3:2._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTHE blessed Lord Jesus lived at Nazareth, and worked there as a\ncarpenter until He was thirty years old, so that He has felt how we\nlive here, and knows what our feelings and ways are by trying them.\n\nWhen it was nearly time for Him to begin to set up His kingdom, a holy\nman was sent to make ready for Him. This man's name was John, and he\nlived out in the rocky and bushy country on the bank of the river\nJordan, dressed in a coarse garment woven of camel's hair, and living\non the locusts and wild honey he found there.\n\nHe stood there telling everyone who came that the kingdom of God was\ngoing to begin, and that those who wished to belong to it must repent\nand give up their sins. All who would feel and own their sins he took\ndown to the river and bathed and washed them, to show how some day they\nwould have their souls washed, just as their bodies were washed now.\n\nThis washing was called baptising, and he is always called John the\nBaptist; but he always told the people that there was One coming who\nwas greater than he was, and that this Holy One would baptise them with\nthe Holy Ghost and with fire.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How long did our blessed Lord live at Nazareth? 2. What did He do\n there? 3. Who was sent to prepare His way? 4. Where did John live? 5.\n What did he wear? 6. What did he eat? 7. What are locusts? 8. What did\n he tell the people? 9. What were they to be sorry for? 10. What is\n repenting? 11. What did he do to those who repented? 12. In what river\n did he wash them? 13. What was this washing called? 14. What was he\n called? 15. Who did he say was coming? 16. How would that One baptize\n them?\n\n[Illustration: JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS.--Matt.\n3:2, 8.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\"--_Matt. 3:17._\n\nONE day, as John was baptising, Jesus came to him, and desired to be\nbaptised. His mother and John's mother were cousins, and John knew He\nhad never done one wrong thing in all His life, and had nothing to\nrepent of. So he said, \"I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest\nThou to me?\" Then JESUS answered, \"Suffer it to be so now, for thus it\nbecometh us to fulfil all righteousness.\n\nThen John baptised Him; and as they were coming up out of the water,\nthe heaven above was opened, and there came God the Holy Ghost, taking\na shape like a dove, and rested upon the Head of Jesus, and there was\nGod the Father's voice speaking out of heaven, and saying, \"This is My\nBeloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\"\n\nThen John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the Son of God, and the great\nKing whose way he had been sent to prepare.\n\n[Illustration: THE BAPTISM OF JESUS.--Mark 1:9.]\n\nAnd this was the beginning of baptism, or christening, as we call it.\nWe are all baptised into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy\nGhost, and made to belong to Jesus Christ.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who was John the Baptist? 2. Where did he baptize? 3. Who came to\n him to be baptized? 4. What relation was the blessed Virgin to his\n mother? 5. What did he say? 6. Why did he say so? 7. What was the\n answer? 8. What happened after the baptism? 9. Who came down from\n heaven? 10. Who spoke from heaven? 11. What did God the Father's voice\n say? 12. What did John know then? 13. Whose Son is Jesus? 14. How had\n John been preparing His way?\n\n[Illustration: CHRIST IN THE MANGER.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.\"--_Matt. 4:7._\n\nOUR Lord Jesus had come into the world to conquer the Devil, to whom\nEve had given power over it when she ate the fruit.\n\nSo He went up into a lonely place in the wilderness, that He might meet\nthe Devil, and stand up against all the temptations that had led Eve\nastray. He was there forty days, with nothing to eat; and the Devil\ncame and said, \"If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be\nmade bread.\" But He would not do it at Satan's word; and so as Eve fell\nby eating, He stood by resisting hunger.\n\n[Illustration: THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.--Matt. 4:10, 11.]\n\nThen the Devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory\nof them, in one moment of time, and said, \"All these things will I give\nThee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.\" But though Eve had been\ntempted by seeing the beauty of the fruit, our Lord was not led astray\nby all the glory and beauty of this world. So He conquered again.\n\nThen He stood with Satan on the top of a high wall, with a precipice\nbelow; and Satan tempted Him to cast Himself down, so that the angels\nshould come round and bear Him up, and all might see He was the Son of\nGod. It was just as Satan had told Eve, that she would be like a God if\nshe ate the fruit; and He said, \"It is written, thou shalt not tempt\nthe Lord thy God.\"\n\nSatan left Him then for a time, and the angels came and waited on Him.\nThat was the beginning of His victory over Satan and sin. And every\none of us must fight our battle too. Whenever we are inclined to be\nnaughty, Satan is tempting us, but we must try to be strong and drive\nhim away; and our Lord Jesus will help us if we only try, and will\ndrive him away.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What had our Lord come into the world for? 2. When had Satan become\n master of the world? 3. Where did our Lord go? 4. What was the first\n temptation? 5. Why would not He make the stones into bread? 6. What\n was the second temptation? 7. What did Satan want Him to do? 8. What\n was the third temptation? 9. Who would have come round Him? 10. Would\n He let them show that He was God? 11. What did He say to Satan? 12.\n What did Satan do? 13. Who came to wait on our Lord? 14. Who had been\n conquered?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nForty-third Sunday.\n\n_THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Behold the Lamb of God.\"--_John 1:36._\n\nNOW that John the Baptist knew that JESUS was, indeed, the Son of God,\nwhom he had been sent to proclaim, he began to point Him out, saying,\n\"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.\" There\nwere two poor fishermen, who had come out to listen to John, who heard,\nand who went to JESUS and asked, \"Master, where dwellest Thou?\" He\nsaid, \"Come and see.\"\n\nTheir names were Andrew and another John. They stayed all one night\nwith Him, and saw and felt that He was so great and holy that no one\nelse could be the Christ who had been promised to come and save the\nworld; and John was always the nearest and best loved of all to Him.\n\nAndrew went and told his own brother Simon, whom our Lord named Peter,\nwhich means a rock; and they brought two more of their friends to see\nHim, whose names were Philip and Nathanael. When JESUS saw Nathanael\ncoming, He said, \"Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!\"\n\nNathanael asked how He could know him. Our Lord answered, \"Before that\nPhilip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.\"\nThen Nathanael said, \"Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of\nIsrael.\" For he had been alone under the fig tree, and nobody who was\nnot God could have seen or known he was there; and our Lord said that\nbecause he believed, he should see greater things than these.\n\n[Illustration: BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD.--John 1:36.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who had been sent to proclaim our Lord? 2. What did John the\n Baptist say of Him? 3. Who were the two first who listened? 4. What\n was their trade? 5. Who was the best loved of all? 6. Whom did Andrew\n fetch? 7. What name was given to Simon? 8. What does Peter mean? 9.\n What friends did they tell of our Lord? 10. What did our Lord say of\n Nathanael? 11. What does \"without guile\" mean? 12. What did Nathanael\n ask? 13. Why was he surprised? 14. What did our Lord say? 15. What was\n his answer? 16. How did he know that Jesus was God? 17. Where can God\n see?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Thou hast kept the good wine until now.\"--_John 2:10._\n\nPERSONS who loved to learn of a Master were called His disciples. So\nJohn and his brother James, Andrew and Simon Peter, Philip and his\nfriend Nathanael, were all called our Lord's disciples.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS CALLING HIS DISCIPLES.--John 1:51.]\n\nThey were all invited to a wedding at Cana, the village in the hills\nwhere Nathanael lived; and the blessed Virgin Mary, our Lord's mother,\nwas there too. But the bride and bridegroom were poor people, and in\nthe midst of the feast it turned out that there was not wine enough.\nThe blessed Virgin said, in a low voice, to her Son, \"They have no\nwine.\"\n\nNow, there were six great jars standing by, and JESUS told the servants\nto fill them with water. So they filled them up to the brim; and then\nHe told the servants to draw out some of what they had poured in, and\ncarry it to the chief person there.\n\nAs soon as this man had tasted it, he found it was such good wine that\nhe said to the bridegroom that most people began their feasts with\ntheir best wine, but that here the best had been kept for the last.\nThis was the first wonderful thing our Lord did on earth, and it made\nHis disciples know that He was God, for no one else could have done\nsuch a wonder.\n\n[Illustration: THE MIRACLE IN CANA.--John 2:7, 8.]\n\nWe call these wonders miracles. Our Lord worked many more while He was\non earth, and most of them were cures to the blind, or the lame, or the\nsick. He made them well directly by His power and love.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What are disciples? 2. Who were the first disciples? 3. What feast\n did they go to? 4. Where was the feast? 5. What was wanting at the\n feast? 6. What did our Lord's mother say? 7. What did He tell the\n servants to do? 8. How many waterpots were there? 9. What did the\n water become? 10. To whom was it carried? 11. What was said of it?\n 12. How came it to be wine? 13. What is such a wonder called? 14. Why\n could our Lord do miracles? 15. What did they show?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"I will make you fishers of men.\"--_Matt. 4:19._\n\nI TOLD you Andrew and Peter and John were fishermen. They used to go\nfishing at night in boats, on the blue lake of Galilee, shut in between\nthe high mountains. One night, they had been out in two boats, trying\nhard to catch fish, but none would come to their nets.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS.--John 3:2, 3.]\n\nIn the morning, they saw JESUS standing on the bank, with a great crowd\nof people round Him, come to see and hear His teaching. He called to\nSimon Peter to come and take Him into his boat, so that He could teach\nthe people from thence without being crowded.\n\nWhen He had done speaking, He told Andrew and Peter to go out into the\ndeeper water, and let down their nets. They said, \"Master, we have\ntoiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word\nI will let down the net.\" And instantly the net was so full\nof fishes, that Andrew and Peter could not draw it up without the help\nof John and his brother James, who was with him in his boat; and both\nboats were quite full of fish, and ready to sink with the weight.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.--John 4:25, 26.]\n\n[Illustration: JESUS HEALS THE SICK OF THE PALSY.--Mark 2:4, 5.]\n\n[Illustration: Our Father who art in Heaven]\n\n [Illustration: He hath fulfilled his word\n ELIJAH'S SACRIFICE ON MOUNT CARMEL\n HALLOWED BE THY NAME]\n\n [Illustration: JOHN PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS\n CHRIST AND NICODEMUS\n ST. PAUL AND THE PHILIPPIAN JAILOR\n THY KINGDOM COME]\n\n [Illustration: CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE\n JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL\n THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN]\n\n [Illustration: CHRIST FEEDING THE MULTITUDE\n I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE\n GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD]\n\n [Illustration: RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON\n THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN\n STEPHEN FORGIVES HIS ENEMIES\n THE KING FORGIVES HIS BROTHER\n O LORD HAVE MERCY\n PAY ME WHAT THOU OWEST\n PUNISHMENT OF THE UNFORGIVING\n FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US]\n\n [Illustration: THE TEMPTER IN EDEN\n THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST\n DRIVEN FROM EDEN\n PETER DENYING CHRIST\n THE REMORSE OF JUDAS\n LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION]\n\n [Illustration: CHRIST STILLING THE STORM AT SEA\n THE ANGEL DELIVERING PETER FROM PRISON\n CHRIST PROCLAIMING DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES\n DELIVER US FROM EVIL]\n\nWhen the boats came to land, our Lord told the four disciples that they\nwere to come with Him, for He would make them fishers of men, for they\nwere to draw disciples to Him, instead of catching fish. They believed\nHim, and left all they had to follow Him, and they were always with\nHim--His dear friends who followed Him everywhere, and stored up His\nholy words in their hearts.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the trade of the disciples? 2. Where did they fish? 3. How\n did they fish? 4. Who came to them? 5. What did he bid them do? 6.\n What had they been doing all night? 7. But what did they now let down?\n 8. What did they find in their nets? 9. What were filled? 10. How came\n the fish there? 11. What did our Lord call them to do? 12. What were\n they to be? 13. What did they leave? 14. Who were these four?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nForty-fourth Sunday.\n\n_THE MINISTRY._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"He went about doing good.\"--_Acts 10:38_.\n\nSIMON PETER had a house at Capernaum, which is one of the towns that\nstand upon the shore of the Lake of Galilee. There our Lord cured\nthe mother of Peter's wife of a bad fever by His mighty power in one\nmoment, and there He generally lived when He was in those parts; but He\nnever stayed long there, for He went about doing good.\n\nIn every town or village that he came to, He used to go and teach in\nthe synagogue. A synagogue was a place where the Jews who lived too far\nfrom Jerusalem to go to the Temple every Sabbath-day used to meet, and\nhear the Old Testament read and explained to them, and pray together.\n\nOur Lord used to teach in the synagogues, and draw out all the meaning\nof the Law; and when He came out, all the sick people who were near,\nand all the blind and deaf and dumb people, were brought to Him, and\nHe cured them all by only just touching them, or even only by bidding\ntheir disease to go away. For He was God as well as man, and could do\nall things. Or He would sit on the mountain side, and all the people\nwould come round Him, and He would teach them.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS RAISES THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS.--Mark 5:41, 42.]\n\n[Illustration: JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE TWO BLIND MEN.--Matt. 9:27,\n28.]\n\nThere is one beautiful discourse of His, called the Sermon on the\nMount, which I hope you will soon know well. And in it He taught his\ndisciples the prayer we all say, and call the Lord's Prayer, and which\nwe love the best of all prayers.\n\n[Illustration: SERMON ON THE MOUNT.--Matt. 5:1-3.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. In whose house did our blessed Lord Jesus live? 2. Where was\n Capernaum? 3. What had He done for Simon Peter's wife's mother? 4.\n Where did He teach? 5. What is a synagogue? 6. When did the Jews go\n there? 7. What did they do in the synagogue? 8. What did our Lord\n explain? 9. Whom did He cure? 10. Where did He sometimes teach? 11.\n What is one great discourse of His called? 12. What prayer did He give\n His disciples? 13. How does it begin? 14. When do we say it?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n[Illustration: JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON.--Luke 7:14, 15.]\n\n[Illustration: JESUS SLEEPS DURING THE STORM.--Matt. 8:24, 25.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"I have compassion on the multitude.\"--_Matt. 15:32._\n\nOUR Lord Jesus chose out twelve of His disciples to be always with Him,\nand to teach and work with Him. All the six you have heard of before\nwere among them, and there was another called Matthew, who had been a\nrich man, but left all his riches to follow our Lord. These twelve were\ncalled apostles.\n\n[Illustration: SENDING FORTH THE TWELVE APOSTLES.--Matt. 10:5-7.]\n\nI told you that the Jews were in two parties, called Pharisees and\nSadducees, and they used to quarrel and have many bad ways. When they\nfound that Jesus blamed them, they were very angry; and when He was\ncalled the Holy One whom God promised, they said that the Christ would\nbe a great king, and that He was only pretending. But all the poor\nheard Him gladly; and when He was driven out of the towns, they came\nafter Him into the hills and open places, and went everywhere they\ncould to hear Him.\n\nOne day, evening was coming on, and all these people had been with Him\nall day, and had nothing to eat. He said to Philip, \"Whence shall we\nbuy bread, that these may eat?\" Philip came from a village just below,\nbut he did not know what to do.\n\n[Illustration: DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.--Mark 6:27, 28.]\n\nAndrew said there was a little boy there, who had brought five loaves\nand two small fishes; but what would they be among so many? Indeed, the\nloaves were not like ours--only thin barley cakes. But our Lord said,\n\"Make the men sit down.\"\n\nSo they all sat on the grass; and He gave thanks, and began to give out\nto the apostles the bread and the fish, and they never came to an end,\nbut there was enough for all the five thousand; and when they had all\ndone, He told the apostles to gather up the remains, that nothing might\nbe lost. And there was enough to fill twelve great baskets.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.--John 6:10, 11.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How many disciples did our Lord choose? 2. What were they to be\n called? 3. What were the names of the first six? 4. Who was the rich\n man? 5. Who hated our Lord? 6. Why? 7. Why did they think He could not\n be Christ? 8. Where was He driven from? 9. Where did he go? 10. Who\n came after Him? 11. What was all He had to feed them with? 12. Who\n brought the five loaves and two fishes? 13. Where did they sit? 14.\n What did our Lord do first? 15. Who gave out the food? 16. How much\n was left? 17. How many had eaten?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n[Illustration: The Lords Prayer\n\nOur Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.\nThy Will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our\ndaily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that\ntrespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us\nfrom evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory, For ever\nand ever. AMEN.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.\"--_Matt. 14:27._\n\nTHE people whom JESUS had fed wanted to make Him a king, but He would\nnot be an earthly king; so He told the apostles to row away across the\nlake, while He went up alone into the hills to pray to His Father,\nwhere the people could not find Him.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS SUPPORTS THE SINKING PETER.--Matt. 14:30, 31.]\n\nIt was a rough night. The wind came down from the hills, and tossed the\nlake up in great waves; and the apostles rowed with all their might,\nbut they made little way. But when the night was far on, they saw a\nFigure coming to them, walking on the waves. They were frightened, and\ncried out. Then the Figure said, \"It is I; be not afraid!\" and they\nknew it was their Master, and were glad.\n\nAnd Peter said, \"Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the\nwater.\" So he came out of the boat, and as long as he trusted in His\nMaster, he could walk; but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was\nafraid, and cried out, and then he began to sink.\n\nHe called out, and Jesus put forth His hand and held him up, saying, \"O\nthou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?\" Then they were both\ntaken into the boat, and the wind ceased, and the lake was calm and\nstill.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What did the people want to do? 2. Why did they want to make Jesus\n a king? 3. What did He do to get out of their way? 4. Where did He bid\n the disciples go? 5. What sort of night was it? 6. What happened to\n the apostles? 7. How did our Lord come to them? 8. What did they do\n when they saw Him first? 9. How did they know Him? 10. Who came out to\n Him on the water? 11. When was St. Peter safe? 12. When did he begin\n to sink? 13. What did our Lord say to him? 14. What happened as soon\n as they were in the boat?\n\n[Illustration: THE WELL OR FOUNTAIN AT NAZARETH.]\n\n\n\n\nForty-fifth Sunday.\n\n_WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Young man, I say unto thee arise.\"--_Luke 7:14._\n\nNO one can think how good and kind our blessed Lord Jesus was. Once,\nwhen He was going with His disciples into a village called Nain, He\nmet a funeral coming out. People are not carried to the grave in their\ncoffins in the East; but they are laid on a sort of bed called a bier,\nwith all their best clothes on, and a wreath of flowers round the head.\n\nThe person who was now to be buried was quite a young man, and he was\nthe only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And when the Lord saw\nit, He had pity on the poor woman, and He said to her, \"Weep not.\" Then\nHe came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. Then He\nsaid, \"Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.\" And he that was dead sat up\nand began to speak; and our Lord gave him back alive to his mother.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was our Lord always doing? 2. What village was He going into?\n 3. What did he meet? 4. Who was going to be buried? 5. Had his mother\n any more sons? 6. And what was she? 7. How are people carried to their\n graves in the East? 8. Who had pity on the mother? 9. What did He say\n to her? 10. What did He do? 11. What did he say to the dead man? 12.\n What did the dead man do at once? 13. To whom was he given back? 14.\n How came JESUS to be able to work such miracles? 15. Was not he most\n kind and loving so to do?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"His face did shine as the sun.\"--_Matt. 17:2._\n\nONLY once all the time He was in this world did our Lord Jesus let\nHis apostles see any of His glory, and then it was only the three who\nbelieved in Him best, and whom He kept the most with Him.\n\nOne night, He took Peter and James and John out to a mountain with\nHim, as He was wont to do when He was going apart to pray. They went\nto sleep; but when they woke, they saw Him in bright light and glory.\nHis face was shining like the sun, and His clothes were as white as the\nlight; and there were two talking with Him, Moses and Elias. And they\nwere talking of how He was come to die at Jerusalem.\n\n[Illustration: THE TRANSFIGURATION.--Luke 9:29-32.]\n\nThe three were afraid, but they were happy too; and Peter said,\n\"Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three\ntabernacles; one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias;\" for,\nindeed, he hardly knew what he was saying.\n\n[Illustration: THE GOOD SAMARITAN.--Luke 10:33, 34.]\n\n[Illustration: JESUS AND THE SISTERS OF BETHANY.--Luke 10:41, 42.]\n\nAnd even as He spoke, a bright cloud came and hid the wonderful sight\nfrom them, and then they found that no one was with them but their\nMaster, Jesus, looking as usual; and He bade them tell no one about\nwhat they had seen, until the Son of man should be risen again from the\ndead.\n\n[Illustration: THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON.--Luke 15:22.]\n\nThey knew that their Lord was the Son of man; but they could not think\nwhat He could mean by rising again from the dead.\n\nThis wonderful showing forth of His glory is called the Transfiguration.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the Transfiguration? 2. Who were allowed to see it? 3.\n Where did it happen? 4. What was our Lord's face like? 5. What were\n His clothes like? 6. Who came and talked to Him? 7. Who was Moses? 8.\n Who was Elias? 9. Do you remember what had become of Elias? 10. What\n were Moses and Elias talking about with Him? 11. What were the three\n apostles doing at first? 12. What did Peter say when he woke? 13.\n What happened then? 14. Who was left with them? 15. What did He forbid\n them to do? 16. When might they speak of it? 17. What could not they\n understand?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Suffer the little children to come unto me.\"--_Mark 10:14._\n\nAFTER His Transfiguration, our Lord Jesus often told His apostles that\nHe was going to be taken by the chief priests at Jerusalem, and that\nHe should be ill-used, and beaten, and spit upon, and put to death on\na cross; and that the third day He should rise again. But they never\ncould understand how this would be, for they had never heard of rising\nfrom the dead; and they were so sure that He was Christ, and that\nChrist would be a great King, that they never understood or believed\nthat He was to die.\n\n[Illustration: THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR.--Luke 16:19-21.]\n\nAnd sometimes they even disputed among themselves who would be first\nand greatest in His kingdom. When they did this our Lord called a\nlittle child, and took him, and set him in the midst, and said that the\ngreatest in His kingdom would be the most like that little child; for\nonly those who are ready to be last here can be high up there.\n\n[Illustration: \"SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME.\"--Mark 10:14.]\n\nThe Lord loved little children. Once, when the mothers were bringing\ntheir babies for Him to touch, the disciples wanted to keep them away;\nbut He said, \"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid\nthem not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.\"\n\nAnd then He took the little ones up in His arms, and put His hands on\nthem, and blessed them. And just so He embraces and blesses the little\nchildren we bring to Him in church, though we cannot see Him now; and\nHe is always glad to hear them pray.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was the Transfiguration? 2. What did our Lord say would happen\n to them? 3. Why would not the disciples believe it? 4. What did they\n dispute about? 5. Whom did our Lord call? 6. What did He tell them?\n 7. What is the way to be high in the kingdom of heaven? 8. Who were\n brought to Him?\n\n[Illustration: THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.--Luke 18:11-13.]\n\n[Illustration: THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.--John 11:43, 44.]\n\n\n\n\nForty-sixth Sunday.\n\n_GOING UP TO JERUSALEM._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.\"--_Matt. 20:30._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nFOR three years our blessed Lord went about doing good and teaching,\ngenerally in Galilee, in the towns or on the hills, where the people\ncame out to hear Him; and at the feasts, when people ought to worship\nat Jerusalem, He used to go up and speak to them in the outer court of\nthe Temple.\n\nBut there was a wicked high priest named Caiaphas, who had been set up\nby the Romans, and he and the Pharisees and Sadducees all hated JESUS,\nbecause He found fault with their evil ways, and they would not believe\nHe was the Christ, but wanted to put Him to death.\n\nSo whenever He came to Jerusalem it was more dangerous; and then they\nstirred up the chief men of Galilee, so that He could not be in the\ntown, but had to wander on the hills. Once, when a man wanted to follow\nHim, He said, \"Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests;\nbut the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.\"\n\nAnd at last, when His time was come, He set His face to go to Jerusalem\nto keep the Passover, though He knew that He would be taken and put to\ndeath there, and so be the real Passover. As He was going, two blind\nmen, who sat by the roadside begging, called out, \"Have mercy on us, O\nLord, thou son of David!\" And He stood still and cured them both.\n\n[Illustration: MARY ANOINTS THE HEAD OF JESUS.--Mark 14:1-11.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How long did our blessed Lord teach? 2. Where did He teach? 3.\n When did He go to Jerusalem? 4. What did He go to Jerusalem for? 5.\n Where did He teach? 6. Who hated him? 7. Who was Caiaphas? 8. Why did\n they hate Him? 9. Where did they drive Him? 10. What did He say about\n having no home? 11. When did He set His face to go to Jerusalem? 12.\n What feast was He going to keep? 13. What did He know would happen to\n Him? 14. Whom did He cure as He was going? 15. What did the blind men\n cry out?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Hosanna to the son of David.\"--_Matt. 21:9._\n\nIT was only the great rich wicked men that hated our Lord. The common\npeople heard Him gladly, and only wanted Him to begin to be king. And\nthey really thought the time was come when He came up to Jerusalem.\nJust before He came in, He sent two of His disciples to fetch a young\nass on which no one had ever sat, and on it He rode down Mount Olivet.\n\n[Illustration: CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.--Matt. 21:8, 9.]\n\nNow, there was an old prophecy which said to Jerusalem, \"Behold,\nthy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass.\" People\nremembered this, and began to receive Him like a king; they spread\ntheir mantles on the ground before Him, and others cut down branches\nfrom the trees and strewed them in the way; and the people before\nand behind, especially the children, cried out with all their might,\n\"Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of\nthe Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna means, \"save now.\"\n\nThe Pharisees were very angry, and bade Him stop them; but He answered\nwith the verse of a Psalm, \"Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouth\nof babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength?\"\n\nBut as He looked at beautiful Jerusalem, He wept over the city, for He\nknew that sad and dreadful punishments were coming on it; and yet the\npeople would not listen to Him, and be sorry, and so be saved.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who loved our Lord? 2. What did they want Him to do? 3. What made\n them think His reign was coming? 4. How did He come into Jerusalem?\n 5. What was the old prophecy? 6. What did the people do in His honor?\n 7. What did they cry? 8. What does \"Hosanna\" mean? 9. Who were angry?\n 10. What did He say? 11. But why was He grieving? 12. What made Him\n sorry for the city? 13. How were the people bringing sad punishment on\n themselves?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"My house shall be called the house of prayer.\"--_Matt. 21:13._\n\nTHE first thing our blessed Lord did at Jerusalem was to go into the\nTemple; and there, in the courts, He found people keeping shop, selling\nthe lambs that were wanted for the Passover, and doves for other\nservices, and changing the coin that strangers brought for Jewish money.\n\nThis was very disrespectful to God, and He was angry. He had driven\nthem all out once, and they had come back, and now they were doing it\nagain. So He drove them all out, and told them His Father's house was a\nhouse of prayer, but they had made it a den of thieves.\n\nNo one dared to answer Him, and all that day and the next He stood\nin the Temple, teaching the people, and showing the wickedness of\nthe chief priests and Pharisees. It seemed as if all the people of\nJerusalem were ready to follow Him, and as if He might begin His reign\ndirectly; but this was not what He came for, and, as He well knew, the\nPharisees were planning against Him.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS.--Matt. 21:13.]\n\nThey wanted to get Him to say something that they could say was against\nthe Law, so they asked Him many hard questions, but His great wisdom\nput them all to silence, and made them ashamed; but they were so hard\nand wicked that they only hated Him the more.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where did our Lord go? 2. What were the Jews doing there? 3.\n Why was this wrong? 4. What did He do to them? 5. Had He done this\n before? 6. What did He tell them? 7. Who was his Father? 8. What was\n His Father's house? 9. What are our houses of prayer? 10. How must\n we behave in them? 11. Who were planning against Him? 12. But who\n followed Him gladly? 13. What did they want Him to be?\n\n\n\n\nForty-seventh Sunday.\n\n_THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"JESUS knew that his hour was come.\"--_John 13:1._\n\nTHE chief priests grew more fierce and bitter when they saw how all\nmen listened to the Lord Jesus. They could do nothing to Him by day,\nbecause the people would have risen up to defend Him; so they tried how\nto find Him alone and at night, to take Him secretly.\n\nNow, one of the twelve apostles, named Judas Iscariot, was too fond\nof money, and used to take for himself what was trusted to him to\ntake care of. So he went on from bad to worse, till at last he did\nthe dreadful thing of promising the chief priests that he would show\nthem to some lonely place, where they could take his Lord and Master\nprisoner; and then they were to pay him for this wickedness with thirty\npieces of silver.\n\nJudas settled all this, and then he went back to our Lord and the other\neleven apostles just as usual, thinking they did not know; but our Lord\ndid know very well. But He bade the apostles get ready the supper that\nwas eaten the night before the Passover, in a large upper room that was\nlent to them for it, and there He sat down to eat with them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What feast was being kept at Jerusalem? 2. Why were the priests and\n Pharisees angry? 3. What did they want to do? 4. Why did they not take\n Him in the Temple? 5. Where did they want to take him? 6. Who said He\n would show them the way? 7. What did they promise to Judas Iscariot?\n 8. Who was he? 9. Then how came he to be so wicked? 10. Where did our\n Lord go to eat His Last Supper? 11. Who were eating with Him?\n\n[Illustration: JESUS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES FEET.--John 13:2-5.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"This do in remembrance of me.\"--_Luke 22:19._\n\nWHEN our Lord and His apostles were eating the Supper together, He was\nvery sorrowful, and said, \"One of you shall betray me.\" The apostles\nwere grieved, and each said, \"Lord, is it I?\" And He said, \"He that\ndippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.\"\n\nAnd then, as the custom was, He dipped His piece of bread in the\ndish in the middle of the table, and gave it to Judas. Then the wicked\nman presently got up and went away.\n\n[Illustration: CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.]\n\nAnd as they were still in the upper room, our Lord took bread and\nbroke it, and gave a piece to each of His apostles, and said, \"Take,\neat: this is My Body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance\nof me.\" And He took a Cup of wine, and said, \"This Cup is the new\ntestament in My Blood: This do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance\nof me.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE LAST SUPPER.--Matt. 26:26-28.]\n\nAnd that was the beginning of what we call the Holy Sacrament of the\nLord's Supper, \"For as often as ye do eat of this Bread, and drink this\nCup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who were eating together? 2. When was it? 3. Why was our Lord\n sorrowful? 4. What did He say one of them would do? 5. What did they\n all ask? 6. Who did He say it would be? 7. What did He dip then? 8. To\n whom did He give it? 9. Who went away? 10. What holy Sacrament did He\n appoint? 11. What did He take? 12. What did He say of the bread? 13.\n What did He then take? 14. What did He say of the wine? 15. What is\n the outward sign of the Lord's Supper? 16. What is the inward grace?\n 17. What does it show forth?\n\n[Illustration: JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.--Matt. 26:38, 39.]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.\"--_Matt. 26:39._\n\nSUPPER being over, and night coming on, our Lord went out with His\ndisciples to a garden, full of olive trees, called Gethsemane, where\nHe often used to pray. He told them again on the way that they would\nsoon all be afraid, and leave Him; but Peter could not think so, and\nsaid boldly that if everybody fell from Him, he never would. But JESUS\nanswered, \"Verily, I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock\ncrow, thou shalt deny me thrice.\"\n\nThen He went on to the garden, taking only Peter, James, and John into\nit with Him, and telling them to watch while He went apart to pray.\nThey were heavy and sorrowful, and could not keep awake; but while He\nwas praying, He was in the greatest trouble and grief that ever anyone\nfelt.\n\nHe knelt and prayed in an agony, till His sweat was as great drops of\nblood falling down to the ground. For He was feeling the sorrow for all\nthe sin of all the world--the sorrow that belongs to you and me.\n\nThe disciples heard Him say, \"O my Father, if it be possible, let this\ncup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.\" He\ncame to them more than once, and called them, as if He longed for them\nto comfort Him; but still they fell asleep again, though He said,\n\"What, could ye not watch with me one hour? The spirit indeed is\nwilling, but the flesh is weak.\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where did our Lord go then? 2. What was the garden full of? 3.\n What did He say the apostles would all do? 4. Who thought He never\n could leave Him? 5. What did our Lord tell Peter? 6. Whom did He take\n into the garden? 7. What were they to do? 8. What great grief did He\n suffer? 9. Why did He suffer such agony? 10. What did he pray? 11.\n What could not the disciples do? 12. What did He say at last? 13. What\n was their flesh? 14. Was He angry? 15. But was He not much grieved\n that they did not comfort Him?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nForty-eighth Sunday.\n\n_THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?\"--_Luke 22:48._\n\nJUST as our Lord had wakened His three apostles for the last time,\nthere came a tread of soldiers, and lanterns gleamed through the olive\ntrees. For Judas Iscariot, the traitor, knew that his Master was apt\nto go to the olive garden to pray at night, and he was leading them,\nand he said to them, \"Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold\nHim fast.\" And he came up first to JESUS, and said, \"Hail, master;\" and\nkissed Him. All our Lord said was, \"Judas, betrayest thou the Son of\nman with a kiss?\"\n\nPeter tried to defend Him, and drew a sword and cut off the ear of one\nof the servants; but our Lord bade him put the sword back into the\nsheath; and then, in His great love, our blessed Lord touched the ear,\nand cured it in an instant, and begged that all the disciples might be\nallowed to go their way. Indeed, they were so much afraid that they all\nforsook Him and fled away, except John and Peter, who both followed to\nsee what would be done with Him.\n\nThe soldiers dragged our blessed Lord to the house of the high priest,\nCaiaphas, where his enemies tried to make out some charge to bring\nagainst Him; but as He was good and holy, and had no sin at all, they\ncould accuse Him of nothing. And when they asked Him questions, He\nanswered them not a word, for He knew that it was only to accuse Him.\n\nWhile He stood at the upper end of the hall, John, who knew one of the\nservants, had come in to the lower end, and had brought in Peter with\nhim. The chill of the morning had come on, and the servants lighted a\nfire on the pavement, where Peter stood and warmed himself. One of the\nmaids there looked at him, and asked if he did not belong to Jesus of\nNazareth. Peter was afraid, and said, \"I know not what thou sayest.\"\n\n[Illustration: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS.--Matt. 26:48-50.]\n\nBut then another maid said, \"This fellow was also with Jesus of\nNazareth..\" Peter grew more afraid, and went on declaring he did not\nknow such a person; but presently another servant said, \"Did not I see\nthee in the garden with Him?\" Again Peter's fear of being punished for\nwounding the man in the garden led him further astray, for he began\nto curse and swear, and say, \"I know not the man.\" Just then the cock\ncrew, and the Lord turned round and looked upon Peter.\n\nThat look went to his heart. He went out and wept bitterly; and\nwhenever he thought of his sin, he wept.\n\n[Illustration: CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS.--Matt. 26:65, 66.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where was our Lord? 2. What time was it? 3. Whom had He taken with\n Him? 4. Who came up in the night? 5. Who was leading them? 6. How did\n Judas show which was our Lord? 7. What was he wicked enough to say? 8.\n How did our Lord answer? 9. How did Peter try to save Him? 10. What\n blow did He strike? 11. What command did our Lord give Peter? 12.\n What did he do for the wounded man? 13. What care did He take for His\n disciples? 14. Who only followed Him? 15. Where was our Lord taken?\n 16. What did the chief priests try to find? 17. Why could they find\n nothing to accuse Him of? 18. What had He said Peter would do? 19.\n What had Peter then said? 20. Yet what did he do? 21. What made Him\n deny? 22. What did he answer? 23. What brought his better mind back?\n 24. What sound? 25. What look? 26. What did he do when he thought of\n his sin?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.\"--_Isaiah 53:7._\n\nAS soon as it was light, all the chief men of the Jews met in the\ncouncil chamber in the Temple, and had our Lord brought before them.\nBut no one could prove that He had broken the law; and whenever a story\nwas brought against Him, it turned out not to be true.\n\n[Illustration: PETER DENYING JESUS.--Luke 22:60, 61.]\n\nAt last the high priest stood up and commanded Him to say whether He\nwere the Christ or not. He answered, \"Thou hast said: nevertheless,\nI say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the\nright hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.\"\n\nAt this answer, Caiaphas and all the other enemies made a great outcry,\nas if they were very much shocked, at His speaking of Himself as the\ngreat Judge of all--namely, as God.\n\nThey all cried, \"He is guilty of death;\" and they began to beat Him\nand strike Him; and they blindfolded Him, and struck Him on the face,\nand bade Him say whose blow it was. And all the time He stood gentle\nand patient, and said not one word of complaint or anger.\n\nSince the reign of the great wicked Herod, the Romans had not allowed\nthe Jews to put anybody to death without their leave; so the chief\npriests were obliged to take JESUS before the Roman governor, Pontius\nPilate. But it was not possible to find anything that a Roman would\nthink He deserved to be put to death for.\n\nWhen the chief priests said that \"by our law He ought to die, because\nHe made Himself the Son of God,\" Pilate only feared to do anything\nagainst Him; for he saw that there was no fault in JESUS, but that the\nchief priests were spiteful, and hated Him.\n\nThen the chief priests said that He called Himself King of the Jews.\nThis made Pilate more anxious, for to set up to be an earthly king\nwould have been rebelling against the Romans; but still he wanted to\nlet JESUS go, because he saw that He was innocent; yet he did not\nlike to offend the priests, who might have accused him to the Emperor\nof Rome. Pilate saw what was just; but he was afraid, and cared for\nhimself more than for his duty.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where did the chief priests meet? 2. Who was brought there before\n them? 3. What did they intend to do? 4. But could they find any fault\n in Him? 5. So what did the chief priest ask Him? 6. What did He say?\n 7. What did they all cry out? 8. How did they begin to treat Him? 9.\n How did He bear it all? 10. How can we try to be like Him? 11. What\n were not the Jews allowed to do? 12. Who had the power over them? 13.\n Before whom did the chief priests take our Lord? 14. Who was Pilate?\n 15. What did Pilate think of the charges against Him? 16. But why did\n not Pilate set Him free? 17. Why was he afraid of His being called\n King of the Jews?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be\n granted unto you.\"--_Acts 3:14._\n\nPILATE thought he had found a way of saving the Lord Jesus without\noffending the Romans. It was the custom that at the feast of the\nPassover he should set some prisoner free, whomsoever the Jews asked\nfor. And he thought, as the people loved our Lord, that they would ask\nfor Him.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS.--Mark 15:16-19.]\n\nBut there was a robber and murderer in prison named Barabbas, and the\nenemies of our Lord went about among the people, stirring them up to\nask for him to be set free; so that the poor, foolish people all broke\nout with a great shout to ask that this murderer Barabbas might be set\nfree.\n\nPilate asked them what he was to do with JESUS, and then there was a\ngreat roar from all the people, \"Crucify Him! crucify Him!\"\n\nNow, crucifying was a very horrible and painful punishment, that had\nnever been allowed among the Jews, but was chiefly used by the Romans\nthemselves for slaves and for robbers; so that their savage cry was for\nJESUS to have the punishment that belonged to Barabbas.\n\n[Illustration: CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.--John 19:14-16.]\n\nPilate's soldiers were very cruel, and they laughed at a poor man being\ncalled a king; so when they had beaten the blessed JESUS till He was\nbleeding all over, they took one of their old red soldiers' cloaks and\nthrew it over Him; and they platted a crown of sharp thorns, and forced\nit upon His head; and they put a reed in his right hand, instead of a\nsceptre; and they bowed their knees, mocking Him by pretending to do\nHim honor.\n\nHe never spoke one word of anger all this time; and when Pilate saw His\nmeek, brave, patient face, pale and faint with pain, and streaming with\nblood, he thought the people would pity Him; so he led Him out once\nmore to the top of the steps of the judgment hall, and said, \"Behold\nthe man!\" But the people were too mad to have any pity or feeling, and\nthey only cried louder and louder still, \"Crucify Him! crucify Him!\"\n\nPilate was not brave enough to go against them all, even to save an\ninnocent man; so all he did was to take water and wash his hands before\nthem all, to show that he was clear of wishing it, and he said, \"I am\ninnocent of the blood of this just person.\" But the chief priests made\nthe dreadful answer, \"His blood be on us, and on our children!\" meaning\nthat they would take the guilt and punishment.\n\n[Illustration: THE END OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.--Matt. 27:3-5.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What plan had Pilate for saving our Lord? 2. Whom did he always set\n free at the feast? 3. Whom did he wish to set free? 4. But whom did\n the chief priests make them ask for? 5. Who was Barabbas? 6. What did\n they all cry out? 7. What kind of punishment was crucifying? 8. To\n whom would it naturally have belonged? 9. But who was going to bear\n the worst of punishments? 10. How did the soldiers treat our Lord? 11.\n Why did they mock Him? 12. What did they put on His head? 13. What did\n they dress Him in? 14. What did they put in His hand? 15. What did\n Pilate hope to do? 16. What did he say? 17. What was the cry in answer?\n\n\n\n\nForty-ninth Sunday.\n\n_THE CRUCIFIXION._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"They pierced my hands and my feet.\"--_Ps. 22:16._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nWHEN the judgment was over, Pilate gave up our Lord to the four\nsoldiers who were to crucify Him. His cross, a heavy beam of wood, with\nanother fastened across it, was laid on His shoulders, that He might\ncarry it to the place where He was to suffer--a place named Calvary,\noutside the walls of Jerusalem.\n\nHe was so weak and worn out after the long sad night, the being taken\nfrom one judge to another, and the beating and tormenting, that He\ncould hardly walk under it; and the soldiers met a man coming out of\nthe country whom they forced to carry it after Jesus.\n\nWhen they came to Calvary, the soldiers made the blessed JESUS lie down\non the beam of wood, and they stretched His arms out on the cross-beam,\nand drove a large nail through each of the palms of His hands into the\nwood, and another nail through His feet; and then they lifted up the\ncross, with Him upon it, and planted it in the ground, that He might\nhang there till He should die.\n\nAnd all He said while they were thus nailing Him were the words,\n\"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!\" That was the\ngreat pain He bore to save us!\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where was our Lord to be crucified? 2. Who led Him there? 3. Where\n was it? 4. What had He to carry? 5. But who had to be called to help\n Him? 6. Why was He so worn out? 7. What had they done to Him? 8. What\n was the cross? 9. How was He fastened to it? 10. What was done to it\n then? 11. What prayer did He make? 12. For whom was He praying? 13.\n For whom was He dying?\n\n[Illustration: JESUS FALLS UNDER THE CROSS.--Luke 23:27, 28.]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.\"--_John 19:19._\n\nOVER the head of the blessed Lord on the cross was a tablet, with the\nwords, \"JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS;\" and on each side of\nHim was another cross, with a robber upon it.\n\nThere He hung patiently, while the chief priests and Pharisees passed\nby, mocking and laughing at His pain, and crying out, \"He saved others;\nHimself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come\ndown from the cross, and we will believe Him.\"\n\nEven the robbers at first joined in the cry; but by-and-by one of them\nbegan to feel that He who was so patient and so great in all that agony\nmust truly be the Son of God; and he rebuked his fellow, and said,\n\"Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!\" And the Lord\nanswered, \"To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise!\"\n\n[Illustration: THE CRUCIFIXION.--John 19:30.]\n\nHis holy mother had come to stand by the foot of His cross, and with\nher, her sister and some other women, and His beloved apostle John.\nThe Lord looked down at her, and said, \"Woman, behold thy son!\" and\nHe looked at St. John, and said, \"Behold thy mother!\" And John took\nthe blessed Virgin home with him, and was always like a son to her\nafterward.\n\nAt noon-day, a dreadful darkness came over all the earth, and it lasted\nfor three whole hours, as if the very sun mourned for Him who made it.\nJust at three o'clock, the blessed Lord said, \"I thirst;\" and as one\nof the soldiers was touching His lips with a sponge full of vinegar, He\ngave a great sad cry, \"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!\"\n\nThen presently he added, \"It is finished! Father, into Thy hands I\ncommend my spirit!\" And He cried with a loud cry; and so He, who was\nGod and man in one, died for us men, and for our salvation.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What was set up over our Lord's head? 2. Who were crucified on each\n side? 3. How did the robbers behave at first? 4. How did one change?\n 5. What did he say? 6. How did our Lord answer? 7. Who were standing\n by His cross? 8. What did He say to His mother? 9. What did He say to\n John? 10. What did John do for her? 11. What came over the earth? 12.\n How long did the darkness last? 13. What did our Lord cry out? 14. How\n did a soldier try to quench His thirst? 15. What was His sad cry?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"And rested the sabbath day.\"--_Luke 23:56._\n\nTHERE were some good people even among the chief of the Jews; and two\nof these, named Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pontius\nPilate, and asked him to let them bury the body of Jesus. People\ngenerally were much longer in dying on the cross, so Pilate sent to see\nif He was dead.\n\nTo make sure, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and\nout came blood and water together. The robbers were still alive, so\nthe soldiers broke their legs, that they might die sooner; and so the\nrepenting one soon went to our Lord in Paradise.\n\nThen Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took the holy body down from\nthe cross, quite dead. Now, close by, Joseph had a garden, and in it\nwas a cave which he meant to be buried in, but where no one had yet\nbeen laid. They carried our Lord's body there; and the good women who\nfollowed Him, Mary Magdalene and the rest, wrapped it up in linen\ncloths and sweet spices.\n\nThey wanted to do more for it; but it was getting late on Good Friday\nevening, and the Sabbath or seventh day was counted from sunset, and\nthen they could do no manner of work. So they had to wait till the\nSabbath should be over; and Joseph rolled a great rock to close up the\ndoor, and they went away in their grief.\n\n[Illustration: THE BURIAL OF JESUS.--John 19:41, 42.]\n\nAnd then came a guard of soldiers, whom the chief priests had sent to\nwatch the stone, for fear, as they told Pilate, that the disciples\nshould steal the body away in the night. So they put seals, to make\nsure that no one should move the stone; and the soldiers were set to\nwatch.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who asked for our Lord's body? 2. What did Pilate want to know? 3.\n How did they make sure that our Lord was dead? 4. What was done to the\n robbers? 5. Where did Nicodemus and Joseph take the body? 6. To whom\n did the cave belong? 7. Who were there too? 8. How did they wrap the\n body? 9. What did they put with it? 10. Why did they not do any more?\n 11. What day was it? 12. What was the next day? 13. What is the Fourth\n Commandment? 14. When did the Sabbath begin?\n\n\n\n\nFiftieth Sunday.\n\n_THE RESURRECTION._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Now is Christ risen from the dead.\"--_1 Cor. 16:20._\n\n[Illustration: As it began to dawn.]\n\nTHE holy women waited all the Sabbath day in sorrow; and our Lord Jesus\nlay in His grave. But, on the night after, He rose up from His grave,\nand came forth again, for He is alive for evermore. There was a great\nearthquake, and an angel came from heaven, and rolled away the stone\nfrom the door of the cave, and sat upon it; and for fear of him the\nkeepers did shake, and were as dead men.\n\n[Illustration: As it began to dawn.]\n\nVery early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women came with\nthe sweet spices they had prepared. They wondered who would roll away\nthe stone for them; but when they came nearer, they saw that it was\ntaken away; and when they went in, they saw that the body of the Lord\nwas gone.\n\nThey feared at first that some one had taken it away; but behold, two\nmen stood by them in shining garments, who said, \"Why seek ye the\nliving among the dead? He is not here, but is risen, as He said. Come,\nsee the place where the Lord lay.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE RESURRECTION.--Matt. 28:2-4.]\n\n[Illustration: THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS.--Mark 16:5, 6.]\n\nAnd as the women went in great wonder to tell the disciples, they saw\nJESUS Himself, the same whom they had seen and touched quite dead the\nday before yesterday, standing before them, speaking kindly to them. So\nthey held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. For never was there such\nwonderful joy and gladness in all the world.\n\n[Illustration: MARY MAGDALENE AT THE SEPULCHRE.--John 20:11-13.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What happened all the Sabbath? 2. What happened the night after?\n 3. Who rose again? 4. Who came down from heaven? 5. What happened to\n the soldiers? 6. Who were the first at the grave in the morning? 7.\n What did they bring? 8. What did they wonder about? 9. What did they\n find? 10. Who stood by them? 11. What did the angels say? 12. Who was\n living? 13. Whom did they go to tell? 14. Who met them? 15. How did\n they show their joy? 16. Why were they so very glad? 17. What day was\n it?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"The Lord is risen.\"--_Luke 24:34._\n\nIT was the first day of the week that our Lord rose from the dead, and\nwe call that day the Lord's day, and have kept it holy ever since,\ninstead of the seventh. But on that first day it seemed too wonderful.\nThe apostles had never understood when their Lord spoke of dying and\nrising again; and though the women said they had seen Him, they were\nafraid to trust their word, and thought it a mistake.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE.--John 20:16.]\n\nLater in the day, two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a little\nvillage near Jerusalem, when a stranger came and joined them. He asked\nwhy they were sad, and what they were talking of. They told Him it was\nof Jesus of Nazareth, who had been a great prophet, and they had hoped\nwould have redeemed Israel; but now He had been put to death the day\nbefore yesterday, yet that some of the women said that they had seen a\nvision of angels which said that He was alive.\n\nThen the stranger began to show them, as they had never seen before,\nthat all the Old Testament meant that when the Christ came, the Seed of\nthe woman, He was to suffer, and save the world before His kingdom and\nglory could begin; and their minds understood, for they were opened to\nsee and know the Scripture, so that they were sure that Jesus was the\nChrist.\n\nSo they came to Emmaus, and went into a house; and the stranger made as\nif He would have gone farther, but they pressed Him to come in.\n\nHe sat down with them, and took bread and blessed and broke it; and\nthen their eyes were opened, and they knew it was JESUS Himself! And\nas they knew Him, He vanished out of their sight. And they said to one\nanother, \"Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by\nthe way?\"\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What day did our Lord rise? 2. What is it called? 3. Which day\n do we keep holy? 4. Who could not believe yet? 5. Where were two\n disciples going? 6. Who came and walked with them? 7. Who was it\n really? 8. Did they know Him?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"Peace be unto you.\"--_Luke 24:36._\n\nIn the evening, the ten apostles were all together in the upper room,\nwith the doors close shut, for fear of the Jews. There were only ten,\nfor Thomas was not there; the wretched Judas had hung himself in his\ngrief and despair.\n\nThe two disciples came back from Emmaus, and told how they had seen\nJESUS; and while they were telling about it, though the door was not\nopened, they found JESUS Himself standing in the midst, and they heard\nHis voice say, \"Peace be unto you.\"\n\nThey were afraid at first; but again He said, \"Why are ye troubled?\nand why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet,\nthat it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh\nand bones, as ye see Me have.\" Then He showed them that there were the\nmarks of the nails in His hands and feet, and the spear-wound in His\nside; so that it was His own real body that had come again from the\ndead.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS APPEARS TO TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES.--Luke 24:15.]\n\nAnd while they could not believe for joy, and wondered, He said, \"Have\nye here any meat?\" And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and a\nhoneycomb; and He ate with them, to make them quite sure it was Himself.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where were the ten met? 2. Why were there only ten? 3. Who were\n away? 4. What had become of Judas? 5. Who had come home? 6. Who stood\n in the midst? 7. What did He say? 8. What did He show? 9. What did He\n eat before them?\n\n\n\n\nFifty-first Sunday.\n\n_THE ASCENSION._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.\"--_John\n 20:29._\n\n[Illustration: THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM BE NOT AFRAID]\n\nOUR blessed Lord Jesus did not stay with His apostles as He did before\nHis death and rising. They did not see Him after that first day for a\nwhole week; and they could not make Thomas, who had not been there when\nHe came, believe that it was true that any man could come again from\nthe grave.\n\nHe said He should never believe that it was the Lord Himself, unless he\ncould put his fingers into the prints of the nails, and his hand into\nthe wound in the side.\n\nThe next Sunday evening, Thomas and the other ten were all in the\nupper room together, when Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said\nto Thomas, \"Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach\nhither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but\nbelieving.\"\n\nThen Thomas knew Him indeed, and could only say, \"My Lord and my God.\"\n\nAnd the Lord answered, \"Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast\nbelieved: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.\"\nAnd that is the blessing for all of us, who have not lived when our\nblessed Lord was on earth. We have not seen Him, but we must believe in\nHim; and that faith is the beginning of all goodness.\n\n[Illustration: JESUS CONVINCING THOMAS OF HIS RESURRECTION.--John\n20:26-29.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. What had happened on Easter-day? 2. Who saw our Lord then? 3. Who\n had not seen Him? 4. What could not Thomas believe? 5. What did He\n say? 6. What prints did he mean? 7. When did our Lord come again? 8.\n Where were the apostles? 9. Who was there this time? 10. What did our\n Lord say to him? 11. What did Thomas answer? 12. What did our Lord\n then say? 13. Why had Thomas believed? 14. But who are blessed? 15.\n Have we seen our Lord? 16. But what must we do? 17. What is believing\n called? 18. What begins with faith?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Feed my lambs.\"--_John 2:15._\n\nOUR Lord told His apostles to go into Galilee; and there some of them\nwent out fishing on the lake, as they used to do; but they fished\nall night, and caught nothing. In the dawn of morning, they saw One\nstanding on the bank, and He said, \"Children, have ye any meat?\" They\nsaid, \"No.\" Then He said, \"Cast the net on the right side of the ship.\"\nAnd directly the net was full of a hundred and fifty-three fishes, all\nlarge and good, and it did not break!\n\n[Illustration: JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES AT THE SEA OF\nTIBERIAS.--John 21:1-7.]\n\nThen John knew who it was, and said to Peter, \"It is the Lord.\" And\nPeter was so glad, that he sprang out of the boat, and came hurrying\nthrough the water to His Master's feet.\n\nAnd JESUS said, \"Come and dine;\" and the disciples found a fire ready\nlighted on the bank, with the broiled fish and bread; and they ate\nwith Him again, and felt His care after their long, weary, hungry night.\n\nWhen they had eaten, the Lord said, \"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou\nme more than these?\"\n\n\"Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee,\" Peter answered.\n\n\"Feed my sheep,\" our Lord said. Then again He asked, \"Simon, son of\nJonas, lovest thou me?\" \"Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee,\"\nsaid Peter. \"Feed my lambs,\" He said; and again He asked, \"Simon, son\nof Jonas, lovest thou me?\" Then Peter was grieved, and said, \"Lord,\nThou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.\"\n\nAnd again Jesus said, \"Feed my sheep.\" Peter knew that our Lord is the\nGood Shepherd, and that His sheep and lambs are the people and the\nchildren of His flock, the Church; and that he was to show his love for\nHis Master by taking care of them.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Where did our Lord come to His disciples again? 2. What were they\n doing? 3. What time did He come? 4. How did they know Him? 5. Had He\n ever done anything like this before? 6. Who knew Him first? 7. Who\n sprang to Him first? 8. What did He give them to eat? 9. What question\n did He ask Peter three times? 10. What had Peter once done three\n times? 11. What did Peter answer now? 12. What did our Lord three\n times bid him do? 13. Who is the good Shepherd? 14. Who are His sheep?\n 15. Who are His lambs?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"This same JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so\n come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.\"--_Acts 1:11._\n\nFOR forty days our Lord came in ways like what I have told you to see\nand teach His disciples. Once, five hundred of them saw Him together;\nbut He never came to the wicked unbelieving Jews again.\n\nBut when the feast of weeks was near, the disciples went back to\nkeep it at Jerusalem. There our Lord came to them again, and He led\nthe eleven apostles out with Him to the Mount of Olives. He taught\nthem, and charged them much; and He gave them a great command, \"Go ye\ntherefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the\nFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe\nall things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you\nalway, even unto the end of the world.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE ASCENSION.--Luke 24:50, 51.]\n\nAnd then He bade them stay at Jerusalem until they should be endued\nwith power from on high. And while He talked with them, He was parted\nfrom them, and went rising up into heaven, going higher and higher,\ntill a cloud received Him out of their sight.\n\nWhile they still looked up after Him, two angels stood by them, and\nsaid, \"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same\nJESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like\nmanner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.\"\n\nAnd so it was that our blessed Lord Jesus ascended up to His throne in\nheaven again, after He had been born, and lived, and died to save us.\nAnd there He is in heaven, now watching over us, and laying all our\nprayers before His Father in heaven, and getting ready our home there\nfor each of us.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. How long did our Lord stay below? 2. Where did the disciples go? 3.\n Where did He take them with Him? 4. What was the great charge He gave\n them? 5. Whom were they to teach? 6. What were they to do to those\n whom they taught? 7. In whose name were they to baptize them? 8. What\n were they to teach them? 9. Who would always be with them? 10. What\n happened while He was speaking? 11. Where did He rise? 12. Who came\n to tell them where He was gone? 13. What do we call the day? 14. When\n will He come again?\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nFifty-second Sunday.\n\n_THE WAITING-TIME._\n\n\nFIRST READING.\n\n \"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that\n he may abide with you forever.\"--_John 14:16._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nOUR Lord had told the apostles that though He was going to heaven, He\nwould send them another Comforter, who would be with them for ever,\nand in whom He Himself should be present with them--even God the Holy\nGhost, who is One with God the Father and God the Son.\n\nTen days after He had ascended up to heaven, on the great day of the\nfeast of weeks (or, as we call it, Whitsunday), as the disciples were\ntogether in one place at Jerusalem, they heard a sound like the noise\nof a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house; and there came\nflames like tongues divided in the midst, and sat on the head of each\ndisciple--not burning, but shining.\n\nAnd wonderful knowledge came to all of them--they understood all\nthey could not understand before; and they could speak all sorts of\ndifferent languages, without ever having learnt them. These wonders\nwere to show them that God the Holy Ghost had come down from heaven to\nbe with them, and to dwell in them, and help them, and make them strong\nfor ever and ever.\n\n[Illustration: TONGUES OF FIRE RESTING ON THE DISCIPLES.--Acts 2:2-4.]\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Whom had our Lord promised to send His disciples? 2. Who is that\n Comforter? 3. Who is with us when God the Holy Ghost is with us? 4.\n How long after our Lord's Ascension did He come? 5. What feast was it?\n 6. What do we call the day? 7. Where were the disciples? 8. How did\n they know when God the Holy Ghost came down? 9. What did they hear?\n\n\nSECOND READING.\n\n \"Abide in me.\"--_John 15:4._\n\nTHE Lord God the Holy Ghost goes on coming and being with us still.\nHe does not show us when He comes now, because it is more blessed to\nbelieve than to see; but we know He does come to each of us when we are\nbaptised, to help us and make us good.\n\nThe reason He made the apostles able to speak all those languages, was\nthat they were to go and teach all the nations round the Gospel--that\nis to say, the good news that Christ was come, and had died for the\nsins of everyone, and risen again. They did go and teach; and all who\nchose to believe and belong to Christ's kingdom were baptised.\n\nThen each of us receives the Presence of the Holy Ghost, to help us to\nbe good, and to keep God's holy law, the Ten Commandments, that He gave\non Mount Sinai.\n\nMore and more of that good help of the Holy Spirit is given to everyone\nwho comes, as our Lord bade, to take and eat and drink of the bread and\nwine, by which we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ; and He gives\nall that we ask to us if we pray to Him. For we belong to those nations\nthat the apostles were commanded to teach and baptise, and bring into\nthe fold; and we belong to Jesus Christ just as much as His own first\ndisciples did.\n\nWe are called Christians, after His name; and all the time we live\nhere, He takes care of us; and if we serve Him, He takes our souls to\nbe with Him in Paradise, when death parts them from our bodies.\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. Who stays with us still? 2. When does He come to us? 3. What\n does He come to us for? 4. Why did He teach the apostles to speak\n languages? 5. Where were they to teach the nations? 6. What does\n Gospel mean? 7. What is the good news? 8. Who belong to His kingdom?\n 9. What have we to do? 10. What are His laws? 11. Who will help us to\n keep them?\n\n\nTHIRD READING.\n\n \"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new\n earth.\"--_2 Pet. 3:13._\n\nTHE Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. We do not know when it will be;\nbut, sometime or other, He will send His angel to blow a trumpet; and\nall that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and their souls will\ncome back to their bodies; and we shall all be alive again; and if we\nhave been good and holy, we shall be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus\nin the air.\n\nFor then He will come, with all His holy angels, and will sit on a\ngreat white throne; and all that have ever lived will be called before\nHim, and judged for all the things they have done, and the words they\nhave said.\n\nAnd then those that have gone on doing wrong, and never being sorry,\nand never caring for the Lord Jesus, but have made Satan their master,\nwill be given to Satan, to be in misery in hell-fire for ever.\n\nBut those who have tried to do their best, and held fast to our Lord\nJesus, and prayed Him to wash them clean in His blood, will be taken\nhome for His sake. And they will have the happiest and most blessed\nhome that ever can be in heaven. There will be all brightness, and no\nmore pain, nor grief, nor sorrow; and the Lord shall wipe off all tears\nfrom all eyes; and there shall be gladness and joy for ever and ever.\n\nThe old earth will be burnt up; but there will be new heavens, and a\nnew earth, all beautiful, with nothing that will hurt or spoil or fade,\nbut all lovely and peaceful.\n\nAnd then there will be the great joy of singing the praise of God, who\nmade us, and saved us, and helps us to be good, for ever and ever.\n\nHoly, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come!\nAlleluia!\n\n\nQUESTIONS.\n\n 1. When will our Lord come again? 2. What will He come for? 3. How\n will the dead be waked? 4. Who will be caught up to meet Him? 5. What\n will He sit on? 6. Who will come before Him? 7. What will everybody\n be tried for? 8. Who will be punished? 9. Who will be saved? 10. What\n will become of the old world? 11. What will the new home be? 12. What\n sort of place will it be? 13. Why will it be so happy?\n\n\n\n\n New Testament Story in Verse\n\n BY ANNE FLETCHER.\n\n\nThe Archangel's First Visit.\n\n TWAS in the days of Herod--\n First king of that proud name--\n Who reigned over Judea,\n The land of Scripture fame.\n\n A certain Zacharias,\n Of the large, priestly force,\n The temple of Jerusalem\n Was serving in his course.\n\n His wife, Elizabeth, belonged\n To Aaron's favored line;\n And they were righteous before God,\n And kept the law Divine.\n\n But this couple had no children,\n And they were very old;\n And lived alone, nor ever hoped\n A son they should behold.\n\n And it came to pass one morning--\n As Scripture doth record--\n That Zacharias burned incense\n On the altar of the Lord;\n\n And outside the people waited,\n And stood in silent prayer;--\n For in this way they worshiped\n In that holy temple fair.\n\n And, in that solemn season\n To Zacharias' sight--\n Standing beside the altar--\n Appeared an angel bright.\n\n And the good priest was troubled,\n When he saw the spirit form,\n And fear fell on him, and he shook\n Like willow in a storm.\n\n But the angel said to him: \"Fear not,\n Thy prayer is heard in heaven,\n And to thy wife, Elizabeth,\n A son shall now be given.\n\n \"And thou shalt call the baby John,\n And thou shalt have great joy;\n And many shall rejoice with thee\n Over this precious boy.\n\n \"And he shall, in the holy sight\n Of God, be great and high;\n And wine, or ardent spirit,\n His lips shall ne'er come nigh.\n\n \"The Holy Ghost shall early\n Spread through his heart abroad,\n And many of your ancient race\n Shall he turn to their God.\n\n \"And in the power and spirit\n Of Elias, he shall go\n Before Him who is coming\n To save the world from woe.\"\n\n Then Zacharias, in surprise\n And overwhelming bliss,\n Demanded of the angel:\n \"Whereby shall I know this?\"\n\n And the angel, answering, said:\n \"I am that Gabriel,\n Who stand in God's high presence,\n And am sent glad news to tell.\n\n \"And, now, because thou doubtest,\n Behold thou shalt be dumb,\n And shalt not speak, until the child\n I have foretold has come.\"\n\n Meanwhile the people waited till\n The priest should come outside,\n And marvelled at his long delay--\n What could to him betide?\n\n And, when to them he did appear,\n And could not speak a word,\n They knew that he had seen, within,\n A vision from the Lord.\n\n And so he served the temple\n Until the day had come\n When, his ministration over,\n He departed to his home.\n\n\nThe Archangel's Second Visit.\n\n SIX months, and, sent again from God,\n The angel Gabriel came\n To a city of fair Galilee,\n And Nazareth by name,\n\n To a virgin, spouse to Joseph\n Of David's royal race;\n And the virgin's name was Mary,\n Whose life was truth and grace.\n\n The angel entered softly,\n Where Mary sat alone,\n Saying: \"Hail! the Lord is with thee,\n Thou highly favored one.\"\n\n But, when she saw the stranger,\n Mary was troubled sore;\n For such a salutation\n She ne'er had heard before..\n\n But: \"Fear not,\" said the angel,\n \"For, Mary, thou hast found\n Favor with God, whose goodness\n And mercy doth abound.\n\n \"And thou art greatly honored,\n For God hath chosen thee\n To nurse the high, anointed One\n Whose name shall Jesus be.\n\n \"He shall be great, and shall be called\n The high Jehovah's Son\n And the Lord God shall give to Him\n His father David's throne.\n\n \"And he shall reign o'er Jacob's house\n For ever, evermore;\n His Kingdom still shall flourish\n When earthly reigns are o'er.\n\n \"Behold,\" he said, \"Elizabeth,\n Thy cousin, good and kind,\n I've also promised her a son,\n And the promise true she'll find.\n\n \"For God is the omnipotent,\n All power is in His hand,\n And nothing is impossible\n To His Divine command.\"\n\n Then Mary meekly said: \"Behold\n The handmaid of the Lord;\n And let the honor be to me\n According to thy word.\"\n\n The angel then departed--\n Ascending up above--\n And left the gentle virgin bowed\n In humble trust and love.\n\n\nMary's Visit to Elizabeth.\n\n NOW Mary felt a longing\n To see her cousin dear,\n And with Elizabeth to spend\n A season of good cheer.\n\n And so in haste, and early,\n She started forth one day,\n And journeyed to a city\n In Judea's hills away.\n\n For there dwelt Zacharias,\n And Elizabeth so pure,\n And, entering in, the virgin found\n A welcome, warm and sure.\n\n For the Holy Ghost gave token\n To Elizabeth's glad heart,\n That her visitor, in God's wise plan,\n Should have a happy part.\n\n Then out she spake, exultant,\n \"O, why to me accord\n The honor of a visit\n From the mother of my Lord?\n\n \"And blessed is she for evermore,\n Who humbly hath believed,\n For every word shall come to pass\n Which she from God received.\"\n\n And Mary said: \"O, how my soul\n Jehovah magnifies!\n And how my spirit joys in God,\n My Saviour, 'bove the skies!\n\n \"For He hath had regard unto\n His handmaid's low estate,\n And henceforth all shall call me blest--\n The humble and the great.\n\n \"For He, the high and mighty One\n Hath done to me great things,\n And holy is His honored name;\n His praise my spirit sings.\n\n \"His mercy they that fear His name\n Enjoy from day to day;\n From age to age it is the same,\n And shall be so alway.\n\n \"And He hath shown abroad the strength\n Of His almighty arm;\n For He hath chased the proud, who sought\n To do the humble harm.\n\n \"He hath put down the mighty\n From their haughty seats on high;\n And lifted up the lowly to\n The region of the sky.\n\n \"His hand hath filled the hungry poor\n With daintiest of food,\n And the rich he hath sent empty\n Away from hope of good.\n\n \"He hath come to the assistance\n Of His servant Israel's race;\n In remembrance of His mercy,\n His promise and His grace,\n\n \"As He spake, in the beginning,\n To Abraham, our head,\n And to Jewish tribes for ever--\n Naught hath failed of all He said.\"\n\n After this the virgin Mary\n With Elizabeth, so true,\n Made a pleasant three months' visit,\n Then to her home withdrew.\n\n Now that great thing did come to pass,\n Which Gabriel had foretold,\n In the sacred temple service,\n To Zacharias old.\n\n And soon Elizabeth received\n The promised baby boy;\n And gazing on the heavenly gift,\n Her heart was filled with joy.\n\n And all her friends and cousins,\n To whom the tidings went,\n Came with their gratulations,\n Upon the glad event.\n\n Then on the day of naming,\n The parents both agreed\n That John the infant should be called,\n As Gabriel had decreed.\n\n And the speech of Zacharias\n Immediately returned;\n He praised and glorified the Lord,\n His heart with fervor burned.\n\n And fear came on the neighbors all,\n As these things were noised abroad;\n And they said: \"What kind of child is this\n Who comes, foretold of God?\n\n But the hand of God rich blessings\n On the babe, each day, bestowed;\n And the heart of Zacharias\n With the Holy Ghost o'erflowed.\n\n And he burst forth in thankfulness,\n And praised, and prophesied\n Of all the wondrous goodness\n That should to men betide.\n\n For the light of inspiration\n Had shown to him, indeed,\n That his son was the Elias,\n Who should the Lord precede.\n\n\nThe Holy Child.\n\n ROME was the world's proud mistress,\n And would tax her subjects all:\n Thus every man, to his own town,\n Received Imperial call.\n\n And Joseph, wed to Mary,\n Must go to Judah's land,\n And, with the sons of David,\n Must take his lineal stand.\n\n Then, from Nazareth, he journeyed,\n With his fair and gentle spouse\n To Bethlehem of Judea,\n The place of David's house.\n\n But when--their journey ended--\n They sought repose to win,\n Their lodging was a stable,\n So crowded was the inn.\n\n And to that stable, lowly,\n In humble, human guise,\n There came a babe most holy,\n Descended from the skies.\n\n 'Tis written that the angel\n Had to the virgin come,\n And told her that this Holy Child\n With her should make his home.\n\n And now a rosy light from heaven\n On Bethlehem's city shone;\n And this was the first Christmas\n The world had ever known.\n\n For Jesus was the promised Christ,\n So long ago foretold--\n The King that all the Jewish race\n Were longing to behold.\n\n\nThe Shepherds.\n\n THE men, who watched the sheep that night,\n Were seated on the ground,\n When a glorious light from heaven\n Shone brightly all around.\n\n And, lo! an angel of the Lord\n Appeared before their eyes,\n And they were filled with sore affright,\n With wonder and surprise.\n\n The angel said to them: \"Fear not,\n For I have come to tell\n News of the joyfullest event\n The world has e'er befell.\n\n \"For, this day, unto you is born,\n In David's' city fair,\n A Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord,\n And David's lineal heir.\n\n \"And this shall be a sign to you\n That true is what I've said:\n You'll find the babe in swaddling clothes,\n And in a manger laid.\"\n\n Then suddenly a crowd appeared\n Of spirits, bright and fair,\n And their glad voices, praising God,\n Resounded through the air.\n\n \"Glory to God,\" they sweetly chant,\n Who reigns in highest heaven,\n And peace on earth for evermore,\n And love to men be given.\n\n Thus singing, shining, up they went\n Away to heaven again;\n And night and silence were restored\n To ancient Bethlehem's plain.\n\n \"Come,\" said the shepherds, \"let us go\n Into the city old,\n And see the strange, mysterious child,\n Of whom we have been told.\"\n\n And, leaving there their flocks, they went\n Into the town near by;\n And found the babe, as they had heard,\n His gentle mother nigh.\n\n And, having seen him, they made known,\n To people all abroad,\n The things that had been told to them\n About the Son of God.\n\n The people listened to the news\n With very great surprise,\n The wondrous things the shepherds heard,\n And witnessed with their eyes.\n\n But these strange things within her heart\n The mother kept concealed,\n And pondered o'er them, nor her thoughts\n To any she revealed.\n\n The shepherds, thrilled with gladness, praised\n The God of heaven above,\n For all things they had heard and seen\n Of His unbounded love.\n\n\nGood Old Simeon.\n\n NOW, when a week had passed, the babe\n Received the sacred sign\n Which God to Abraham had given,\n As covenant divine.\n\n They gave him Jesus for his name,\n According to the word\n Of the archangel Gabriel,\n Who stands before the Lord.\n\n And, then, a few weeks later,\n To Jerusalem they went,\n Before the great Jehovah\n The young child to present;\n\n And to offer, on the altar,\n In thankful sacrifice,\n A pair of doves, or pigeons,\n Of small and humble price.\n\n At that time, in the temple gate,\n There was an aged saint,\n Who waited for the promised Christ\n Nor did his firm faith faint.\n\n A just and righteous man was he,\n And Simeon was his name,\n And the Holy Ghost, with power,\n Upon his spirit came.\n\n And it was thus revealed to him\n That he should never die,\n Until his mortal eyes had seen\n The Lord's Christ, from on high.\n\n And he came, by the spirit,\n The temple court within\n Just as his earthly parents\n Their infant child brought in.\n\n Then Simeon took the Holy Child\n Into his arms, and said:\n \"Bless Thee, my God, for all the way\n Thou hast Thy servant led.\n\n \"And now let me depart in peace\n According to Thy word,\n Since my old eyes have haply seen\n My Saviour and my Lord;\n\n \"Whom Thou hast sent into the world,\n To lighten all mankind,\n And that Thy people, Israel,\n Their precious Prince may find.\"\n\n Then Joseph and the virgin\n Were filled with great surprise\n At the words that Simeon uttered--\n So grave, devout and wise.\n\n And Simeon blessed both parents,\n And said to Mary then,\n \"This child is set that Israel\n May fall and rise again;\n\n \"And for a sign, which wicked tongues\n Shall slander and indict,\n And that the thoughts of evil hearts\n May be exposed to sight.\"\n\n\nThe Prophetess.\n\n THEN, also, lived one Anna,\n A prophetess of God,\n Who, in His faith and service,\n Her way, through life, had trod.\n\n She was an aged widow, too,\n Daughter of Israel's race;\n And, coming in that instant,\n She joined in thanks and praise;\n\n And then throughout the city went,\n And told the glorious news\n From house to house, wherever dwelt\n The pious, hopeful Jews;\n\n Told that the great Messiah,\n Long looked for, now had come,\n An infant in a virgin's arms,\n And in a lowly home.\n\n\nThe Wise Men.\n\n NOW, when this wondrous babe was born\n Into his low estate,\n Another strange event occurred,\n Which Scripture doth relate.\n\n There dwelt, far off, in eastern land,\n Wise men devout and good\n Who nature's grandest mysteries\n Revered and understood.\n\n One night as eagerly they scanned\n The splendors of the sky,\n They saw a new, strange star appear\n Among the worlds on high;\n\n And said it came thus suddenly\n Important news to bring--\n The sign that Balaam had foretold--\n Of Israel's glorious King.\n\n And when they reached Jerusalem,\n \"Where is your King?\" they said,\n \"For we have come to worship Him,\n And by his star were led.\"\n\n This question greatly troubled\n Proud Herod, on the throne,\n For, in the land of Judah,\n He would be King alone.\n\n At once he called the priests and scribes,\n Demanding they should tell\n In what place had it been foretold\n That Christ should come to dwell.\n\n And readily they answered--\n Nor waited to take note--\n \"In Bethlehem of Judea,\"\n For thus the prophet wrote:\n\n \"Thou Bethlehem, in Judah's land,\n Art not 'mongst princes small;\n For out of thee shall come a Prince\n And rule my people all.\"\n\n Then Herod for the wise men called,\n And, with foreboding fear,\n He bade them tell him just what time\n The star did first appear;\n\n And said: \"Go search in Bethlehem,\n And when the babe you find,\n I, too, will come and worship Him,\n For thus I am inclined.\"\n\n The wise men were rejoiced to see\n The radiant star once more,\n And gladly followed, as it led\n The way to Joseph's door.\n\n They opened, then, their treasures,\n Gold, frankincense and myrrh--\n Fit offering to a Prince Divine,\n From reverent worshipper--\n\n And joyfully bestowed their gifts\n Upon the Son of Man--\n And thus the custom, since observed,\n Of Christmas gifts began.\n\n The wise men to their lodging went,\n For rest and sleep, that night;\n But God came to them in a dream,\n Before the morning light;\n\n And said, \"To Herod ye shall not return,\n Nor tell my Son's abode.\"\n And so returning to their home,\n They took a different road.\n\n\nAway to Egypt.\n\n AND when they had departed thence,\n To Joseph came a dream,\n In which an angel of the Lord\n Appeared and spoke to him:\n\n \"Rise, take the babe and mother,\n And into Egypt flee.\n For Herod seeks to kill the child--\n Go, till I call for thee.\"\n\n Then Joseph rose, obedient,\n And while it still was night,\n With the young child and mother,\n To Egypt took his flight.\n\n Then cruel, wicked Herod,\n When the wise men told him naught,\n Or let him know what house contained\n The babe whose life he sought,\n\n Sent forth his brutal servants\n To kill each little boy,\n In and around old Bethlehem--\n Each mother's hope and joy;\n\n All--every tender nursling,\n From two years old and less;\n Nor heeded Rachael's weeping,\n Her mourning and distress.\n\n But wicked, wicked Herod,\n Who would be king alone,\n Was soon thereafter called to die,\n And leave Judea's throne.\n\n And now the wrathful tyrant\n Has no more power to harm;\n And his fierce and jealous hatred\n No more can cause alarm.\n\n To Joseph, down in Egypt,\n Now comes another dream,\n Wherein an angel of the Lord\n Appears again to him;\n\n And says: \"Now, back to Israel's land\n With child and mother go;\n For he, the murderer, is dead,\n Who was the infant's foe.\"\n\n Then Joseph rose and willingly\n Obeyed this new command,\n And, taking child and mother,\n Returned to Israel's land.\n\n But hearing Archela\u00fcs\n Was king in Herod's room,\n He turned aside to Galilee,\n Which was his former home;\n\n And dwelt in Nazareth city,\n Thus plainly may be seen\n The truth of Scripture words: \"He shall\n Be called a Nazarene.\"\n\n And there the blessed Jesus\n Spent childhood's simple days,\n And, as he grew, waxed strong and wise\n By God's unholding grace.\n\n[Illustration: THE CHILD CHRIST, MARY HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH JESUS\nRENDERED OBEDIENCE, NOT ONLY TO MARY, BUT TO JOSEPH--LUKE 2:51.]\n\nThe Child in the Temple.\n\n NOW, every year, these parents\n Jerusalem did seek;\n To keep the feast of passover,\n And spend the holy week.\n\n And when the child was twelve years old,\n They did as heretofore;\n And went up to Jerusalem,\n The road oft traveled o'er.\n\n They kept the feast as usual,\n And, then, with cheerful mind,\n Returned the way that they had come--\n But Jesus stayed behind.\n\n The parents traveled all day long,\n Believing that their Son,\n Somewhere, among the company,\n Was coming safely on.\n\n But when, at evening, they encamped,\n And sought for Him around,\n To their surprise and sore distress,\n He was not to be found.\n\n Still seeking Him they turned their face,\n And traveled back again,\n The old road to Jerusalem;\n But seeking was in vain.\n\n For three days long they went about,\n Within the city lines,\n Then, in the temple, found the lad,\n Among the great divines.\n\n He sat and heard the doctors talk,\n And asked them questions wise;\n And all who listened were amazed\n At his profound replies.\n\n And His parents were astonished\n When they beheld Him thus,\n And Mary said: \"O why, my son,\n Hast thou so dealt with us?\n\n \"Thy father, Joseph, and myself\n Have three days sought for thee,\n And sorrowed greatly, fearing we\n Thy face no more would see.\"\n\n Then Jesus, gravely, said to them:\n \"Wherefore my absence mourn?\n My Father's work I have to do,\n Till I to Him return.\"\n\n And Mary, in her inmost heart,\n Did secretely confine\n The things He did, the words he spoke,\n This wondrous Child Divine.\n\n And Jesus rich in wisdom grew,\n As passed the years of youth,\n And gained the favor of all men,\n By virtue and by truth.\n\n\nJohn the Baptist.\n\n NOW, in the fifteenth year, when reigned\n Tiberias C\u00e6sar grand,\n And Pontius Pilate, under him,\n Ruled over Judah's land,\n\n And three of Herod's sons controlled\n The regions North and East,\n And Annas and Caiaphas were\n Appointed, each, high priest,\n\n The word of God came unto John--\n Old Zacharias' son--\n Who, in Judea's wilderness,\n Had dwelt and prayed alone.\n\n His raiment was of camel's hair,\n There in his strange retreat,\n While locusts and wild-honey\n Comprised his only meat.\n\n He preached where flowed the Jordan\n Down through Judea's land;\n Saying: \"Repent ye, for the kingdom\n Of heaven is at hand.\"\n\n Now, the people all expecting\n Their Messiah at that time,\n Mused in their hearts if John were not\n That prophet most sublime.\n\n So the Jews sent priests and Levites,\n Down from Jerusalem,\n To see this new, strange preacher,\n And closely question him.\n\n And, \"Who art thou?\" they asked of him,\n And humbly he confessed\n \"I'm not the Christ, looked for by you,\n Nor with such honor dressed.\"\n\n \"What then? Art thou Elias?\"\n He said: \"Not that I know.\"\n Art thou a risen prophet?\"\n He firmly answered, \"No.\"\n\n Then said they: \"Tell us who thou art,\n That we may answer give\n To them that sent us thither\n Some knowledge to receive.\"\n\n He said: \"I am the voice of one\n Who through the land doth cry,\n 'Make straight, as said Esaias,\n The way of the Most High.'\"\n\n The messengers were Pharisees,\n Who said: \"Why then baptize,\n If thou be not the promised Christ,\n Or he that should arise?\"\n\n John answered: \"I, indeed, baptize\n With water from the stream;\n But there is one among you now\n Of whom you do not dream.\n\n \"'Tis He who cometh after me,\n The latchet of whose shoes,\n Because He is so mighty,\n I'm not worthy to unloose.\n\n \"And He shall, with the Holy Ghost,\n Baptize you and inspire,\n And fill your souls with power divine,\n And with celestial fire.\n\n \"Whose fan is in His hand, and He\n Will thoroughly purge His floor;\n And gather up His wheat, but then,\n With fire the chaff devour.\"\n\n And many other things said he,\n Exhorting all who heard;\n And preaching unto them, with zeal,\n The Gospel's precious Word.\n\n\nEmmanuel.\n\n AND in those days it came to pass\n That Jesus--Holy One--\n From Nazareth came to Jordan,\n To be baptized of John.\n\n For He had reached just thirty years,\n The age the law declared\n Those called into the priesthood,\n For service were prepared.\n\n But John forbade Him, saying,\n \"'Tis I have need to be\n A subject of Thy baptism,\n And comest Thou to me?\"\n\n And Jesus, answering, said, to him,\n \"Suffer it now, for thus\n To keep the law of righteousness,\n It well becometh us.\"\n\n Then, meekly, and with solemn awe,\n Did John the Lord baptize,\n And when the heavens were parted wide,\n He saw, with great surprise,\n\n As Jesus felt the water, and\n With humble reverence prayed--\n The Holy Ghost descending, like\n A dove, upon His head.\n\n And a voice, in tones majestic,\n Came from the heavens, so bright,\n Exclaiming, \"This is my beloved Son,\n In whom I take delight.\"\n\n\nThe Temptation.\n\n THEN Jesus, with the Spirit filled,\n And soul exalted high,\n Was led from Jordan's bank into\n The wilderness near by,\n\n To be tempted of the devil--\n Who in evil most delights.\n There He, with wild beasts, made his home\n For forty days and nights.\n\n After this the Lord was hungry,\n When the devil came, and said,\n \"If thou'rt the Son of God, command\n These stones to be made bread.\"\n\n But He answered, \"It is written,\n Man doth not live by bread alone,\n But by each word, proceeding\n From God, upon the throne.\"\n\n The devil then conducts Him through\n The holy city, fair,\n And sets Him on the temple roof,\n High in the ambient air;\n\n And says to Him, \"If so Thou be\n The Son of God, indeed,\n Cast thyself down from hence, and for\n Thy safety take no heed;\n\n \"Since it is written, 'Unto God\n In danger thou shalt flee,\n For to His angel band He gives\n A charge concerning thee.'\"\n\n Then Jesus unto him replied,\n \"Again the written word\n Rebukes presumption and declares,\n Thou shalt not tempt the Lord.\"\n\n Again the devil takes Him up\n Into a mountain--high,\n And shows Him all the kingdoms of\n The world, both far and nigh.\n\n And saith unto Him, \"All these things\n Will I give unto thee\n If Thou wilt own my princely power,\n Fall down and worship me.\"\n\n Then Jesus called him by his name,\n \"Satan,\" He said, \"be gone,\n For it is written, 'Worship pay\n To Israel's God alone.'\"\n\n Then, thus repulsed, the devil fled,\n Pursued his wicked way,\n And angels came and ministered\n Unto their Lord that day.\n\n\nThe Meeting with John.\n\n THE next day Jesus, calm and pure,\n Was walking all alone,\n Down, near the banks of Jordan,\n When He was seen by John;\n\n Who said, while pointing unto Him,\n \"Behold the Lamb of God,\n Who takes the world's dark sin away,\n And bears the awful load.\"\n\n Again did Jesus walk, when John\n With two disciples stood,\n Who, looking on Him, said to them,\n \"Behold the Lamb of God!\"\n\n And the disciples, at this word,\n Followed where Jesus went;\n Who, turning, gently asked of them,\n Their purpose and intent.\n\n \"Master,\" they said, \"Where dwellest thou?\"\n He answer, \"Come and see.\"\n They went, and stayed with Him that day,\n In holy converse free.\n\n Now, one of these men was Andrew,\n Who, filled with thoughts profound,\n And, meeting his brother, Simon,\n Said, \"We the Christ have found.\"\n\n And brought him straight to Jesus, who\n Said to him, as he came,\n \"Thou'rt Simon, son of Jonah, now\n \"Cephas shall be thy name.\"\n\n\nThe Meeting with Nathanael.\n\n THE following day would Jesus\n Return to Galilee;\n And, finding Philip, saith to him,\n \"Come thou and follow me.\"\n\n Then Philip found Nathanael,\n And, unto him, he saith,\n \"We've seen the Christ of prophecy\n Jesus of Nazareth.\"\n\n Nathanael answered shortly,\n \"Thinkest thou can it be\n That good come out of Nazareth?\"\n Saith Philip, \"Come and see.\"\n\n When Jesus saw Nathanael come,\n Him did He kindly greet;\n \"Behold an Israelite,\" He said,\n \"In whom is no deceit.\"\n\n Nathanael asked, \"Whence know'st thou me?\"\n \"Beneath the fig tree's shade,\n Before that Philip called to thee,\n \"I saw thee,\" Jesus said.\n\n Nathanael said to Him, \"Rabbi\"--\n With wonder overawed--\n \"Thou art the King of Israel,\n Thou art the Son of God.\"\n\n \"Because I told thee,\" Jesus said,\n \"I saw thee 'neath the tree,\n Believest thou? Yet shall thine eyes\n Much greater wonders see.\n\n \"For thou shalt see bright angels,\n Through heaven's open span,\n Ascending and descending\n Upon the Son of man.\"\n\n\nThe Marriage at Cana.\n\n THE third day spent in Galilee\n There was a marriage feast;\n In Cana was the wedding held,\n And Mary was a guest.\n\n And Jesus, to this marriage feast\n Received a formal call--\n The wondrous Gospel Teacher,\n With His disciples all.\n\n And when more wine was wanted,\n The mother of the Lord\n Requested Him to show His power,\n And wine to them afford.\n\n But Jesus answered, \"Woman,\n My youthful days are o'er,\n And to direct my actions\n Should be your part no more.\n\n \"To show to men, by miracles\n My power, the wondrous sum,\n 'Tis mine to choose the proper time\n Which has not fully come.\"\n\n Then, Mary to the servants said,\n \"Hark what He saith to you;\n And, whatsoever it may be,\n That thou shalt surely do.\"\n\n And there were set six waterpots,\n That cleanly Jews might reach\n To wash their hands, and they contained\n Two or three firkins each.\n\n Jesus unto the servants said--\n Who paid respect to Him--\n \"These vessels all with water fill;\"\n They filled them to the brim.\n\n Then He commanded, \"Draw out now,\n And bear a cup well filled\n Unto the ruler of the feast;\"\n And they did as He willed.\n\n And the ruler, when he tasted\n The wine from water made,\n Not knowing how it was produced,\n Unto the bridegroom said:\n\n \"Each man who spreads a feast, sets forth\n Good wine at first, of course,\n And, when the guests have drunk it all\n Produces what is worse.\n\n \"But never at a marriage feast\n Has bridegroom done as thou\n Who gave poor wine at first and kept\n The good wine until now.\"\n\n Thus, by this first of miracles,\n Did Jesus show His power,\n And His disciples knew Him Christ,\n From that important hour.\n\n\nDriving Out the Money-Changers.\n\n THEN the Jews' passover drew nigh,\n And to Jerusalem\n Went Jesus, and His followers\n The journey made with Him.\n\n But when they reached the temple court\n A market there they found;\n Creatures on sale, for sacrifice,\n And merchants sitting round.\n\n Then Jesus made a scourge of cords,\n And drove them all outside,\n And, angered by their wickedness,\n The money scattered wide.\n\n And the disciples then recalled\n The Psalmist's ancient word,\n \"I have been eaten up with zeal\n Unto thy house, my Lord.\"\n\n Then said the Jews, \"We want to see\n What evidence you show\n That you possess authority\n Such things as these to do?\"\n\n \"Cast down this temple,\" Jesus said,\n Let its proud walls decay,\n And I will raise it up again,\n Ere three days pass away.\"\n\n They answer, \"Forty years and six\n This temple took to build,\n And wilt thou rear it in three days?\n Art thou so strangely skilled?\"\n\n But of his body thus he spoke,\n A temple strong to view,\n And the disciples, when He rose,\n Recalled that word most true.\n\n Now, while in old Jerusalem,\n At the passover feast,\n Jesus performed great miracles,\n By which His fame increased.\n\n Yet He gave not His confidence\n To any, great or small,\n Because He read the human mind\n And knew the hearts of all.\n\n And needed not to be informed\n That man is weak and vain,\n Who will applaud and honor now,\n And persecute again.\n\n\nA Ruler of the Jews.\n\n THERE was a man, a Pharisee,\n One of the chosen race,\n Who, in the council of the Jews,\n Maintained an honored place.\n\n The same to Jesus came by night,\n Saying, \"Rabbi, well we know\n Thou art from God, for no mere man\n Such miracles can do.\"\n\n Jesus replied, \"Thou dost believe,\n Yet such a faith as thine\n Is naught, unless thou undergo\n An inward change divine.\n\n \"Except a man be born again,\n I truly say to thee,\n The holy kingdom of his God\n His eyes shall never see.\"\n\n Then Nicodemus said, surprised,\n \"How can a man, when old\n Become a little babe again,\n Such wonders to behold?\"\n\n And Jesus answered, \"Verily,\n The birth of which I speak\n Is by the Spirit's gracious power,\n Which every one must seek.\n\n \"That which is born a little babe\n Is but a fleshly frame,\n But inward birth to all imparts\n The Spirit's living flame.\n\n \"And, as the way the wind doth blow\n Is not known by the sound,\n So shalt thou feel, but not discern,\n The inward change profound.\"\n\n Then Nicodemus asked again,\n \"How can these things be so?\"\n Christ answered, \"Dost thou rule thy race\n And yet these things not know?\n\n \"I verily declare to you\n The truths that are divine,\n And ye receive not in your heart\n These precious words of mine.\n\n \"If I have told you earthly things\n And you do not believe,\n How shall you of these heavenly things,\n My truthful words receive?\n\n \"And no man hath ascended up\n To heaven's throne, above,\n But the eternal Son of man,\n Who hath come down in love.\n\n \"And as a serpent Moses raised,\n Upon on upright pole,\n That those who felt a poisonous bite\n Might look and be made whole,\n\n \"So must the Son of man be raised--\n In hate, and wrath and strife--\n That whoso shall believe on Him\n May have eternal life.\n\n \"For God so loved this sinful world\n He gave His only Son,\n That those who should believe on Him\n Might find their heaven begun.\n\n \"For God sent not His Son below\n The wicked to condemn:\n But that, through Him, salvation might\n In mercy reach to them.\n\n \"He that believes is saved from death,\n But he that doubts must die;\n Because he has rejected, thus,\n The Son of God, most high.\n\n \"And this is what condemns their lives,\n That light is shining clear,\n And men love darkness lest their deeds\n Of evil should appear.\"\n\n\nJohn the Baptist.\n\n AFTER these things did Jesus go\n Forth into Judah's land,\n Attended by his followers,\n A faithful holy band.\n\n John in his holy zeal baptized\n The people all around,\n In Aenon, near to Salim,\n Where water did abound.\n\n And John's disciples told him all--\n How Jesus, too, baptized,\n And crowds of people went to Him;\n But John was not surprised.\n\n He answered, \"Man can nothing take,\n Except to him 'tis given,\n And to baptize with water\n Was my command from Heaven.\n\n \"And ye, yourselves, can witness true\n I said, I am not He--\n The Christ, the long expected one--\n He cometh after me.\n\n \"Full happy is the bridegroom, but\n His friend, which standeth near,\n Rejoiceth in his happiness,\n So I am filled with cheer.\n\n \"He will go on, in power and might,\n His glory must increase;\n While I, His humble forerunner,\n Must dwindle and decrease.\n\n \"He that descendeth from above\n Is Lord and King of all;\n While he that is mere earthly man\n Is tainted by the fall.\n\n \"He that from heaven comes to earth--\n The mighty Prince and Lord--\n Tells men what He has seen and heard,\n And none receive His word.\n\n \"Yet he that hath received His word\n Hath set his loyal seal,\n That God's eternal righteousness\n He doth to man reveal.\"\n\n But John's bold, fearless preaching\n Now, suddenly, must cease--\n How truly he had prophesied\n Unto himself decrease!\n\n\nWicked Herod.\n\n HEROD, tetrarch of Galilee,\n John's teaching oft did seek,\n Thought him a just and holy man,\n And gladly heard him speak.\n\n Yet Herod had a wicked heart,\n And crime had stained his name,\n For he lived with his brother's wife,\n And none had dared to blame.\n\n But John, with holy courage, had\n Condemned his sinful life,\n And said, \"It is not right for thee\n To have thy brother's wife.\"\n\n Therefore, the woman hated him--\n Herodias was her name--\n And would have killed him if she could,\n With neither fear nor shame.\n\n But Herod she persuaded,\n To seize the preacher bold,\n And in a dungeon's gloomy cell\n His prisoner to hold.\n\n Now, when the news of this event\n To Jesus had been brought,\n While in the land of Judah,\n Where He baptized and taught,\n\n And He well knew that word unto\n The Pharisees had gone,\n How, in His mission here and there,\n He plainly favored John,\n\n He left Judea's flowerey land,\n And turned His face again\n To Galilee, His early home,\n In Herod's proud domain.\n\n Yet neither horse nor chariot had\n This royal Son of God;\n But traveled humbly and afoot\n The hot and dusty road.\n\n\nThe Woman at the Well.\n\n HIS way lay through Samaria,\n And, as the noon was high,\n He came to Jacob's ancient well,\n The town of Sychar nigh.\n\n And, wearied with His journey,\n He by the well sat down,\n While His disciples went to buy\n Some food within the town.\n\n Then, presently, a woman came--\n A daughter of the land,\n To draw some water from the well--\n Her pitcher in her hand.\n\n And Jesus, full of pitying grace,\n Beyond what we can think,\n Looked gently in the woman's eyes,\n And said, \"Give me to drink?\"\n\n And thus, this poor Samaritan,\n Who knew but sin and shame,\n Was led to seek the living draught,\n Found in Messiah's name.\n\n And she, that single pupil, heard,\n By the old patriarch's well,\n The greatest, grandest lesson\n That e'er from Jesus fell.\n\n And she believed. O, woman fair,\n Though fallen thou hadst been,\n The Searcher of all hearts in thee\n The seed of faith had seen;\n\n And traveled through Samaria,\n To meet you, and to tell\n The new and wondrous doctrine\n That you received so well.\n\n And now came the disciples back,\n Who wondered that He taught\n One humble woman there alone,\n Yet wherefore no man sought.\n\n But the woman left her pitcher,\n And to the city went,\n And told to every one she met\n The wonderful event;\n\n How she had seen a traveler,\n Sitting by Jacob's well,\n Who all her secret history\n Did accurately tell.\n\n And, \"Come and see him!\" she exclaimed,\n \"For he the Christ must be;\n Such wisdom, dignity and grace\n None e'er possessed as He.\"\n\n Meanwhile the Lord's disciples\n Before Him set some meat,\n And urging Him with gentle words,\n Said, \"Master, come and eat.\"\n\n But, in that hour, no mortal food\n His craving want could fill,\n His heart and mind were wholly set\n To work His gracious will.\n\n 'Twas now the harvest day of souls,\n In old Samaria's fields,\n And He would gather all the fruit\n That faithful labor yields.\n\n So He, in answer to the call\n That He partake of food,\n Taught the great lesson to all men\n Of always doing good.\n\n And, now, came the Samaritans\n And begged the Lord to stay\n And lodge within their city's walls,\n And teach them every day.\n\n And He who hearkens when we ask,\n Complied with their request;\n And in their city He abode\n Two days, an honored guest.\n\n And many of those men believed\n He was the Christ--the Lord,\n When they beheld His holy life,\n And heard His gracious word.\n\n\nThe Nobleman's Son.\n\n AND, now, upon His journey bent,\n He turned His eager face\n To tread the road to Galilee,\n Urged on by love and grace.\n\n And on before Him went His fame.\n 'Mongst Jews both great and small,\n And teaching in their synagogues,\n Was glorified of all.\n\n And He was well received by them--\n The men of Galilee--\n Who, at the feast of passover,\n His miracles did see.\n\n There was a certain nobleman,\n Who in Capernaum dwelt;\n Whose son was sick, and nigh to death,\n And great concern he felt.\n\n But hearing Jesus had returned\n To Galilee, was glad,\n And hastened to Him, to entreat\n That He would heal the lad.\n\n Then Jesus said, to try his faith,\n \"Unless ye wonders see\n Ye will not yield your hearts to God,\n Nor yet believe on me.\"\n\n To this remark the nobleman\n Made no direct reply;\n But said: \"Oh, Sir, come down with me\n Before my child shall die.\"\n\n Jesus responded: \"Go thy way,\n Thy son doth surely live;\"\n And the man went, nor did he doubt\n The word the Lord did give.\n\n And as he traveled to his home,\n His servants came to meet,\n And tell him that his son was well;\n His joy was now complete.\n\n He asked them when the child improved,\n And they, in answer, said\n \"The seventh hour of yesterday\n The burning fever fled.\"\n\n That very hour, the father knew\n Had Jesus said he lived;\n And he, himself, and all his house,\n On Christ, the Lord, believed.\n\n\nIn the Synagogue.\n\n THEN Jesus came to Nazareth,\n His childhood's quiet home;\n And, as to teach on Sabbath days\n His custom had become,\n\n He, in the synagogue, stood up,\n To read the holy Book;\n And the writings of Isaias,\n When handed Him, He took;\n\n And opened it, and found the place\n Wherein the prophet spake\n Of Israel's Messiah,\n Who should their bondage break.\n\n He read the text, distinct and clear,\n Then closed the Book again,\n And took His seat, while on Him gazed\n The eyes of all the men.\n\n And He began to say to them:\n \"This day, in all your ears,\n This holy Scripture is fulfilled,\n After so many years.\"\n\n And they, in awe and wonder, heard\n His words of grace and truth,\n And said: \"Is not this Joseph's son,\n Whom we have known from youth?\"\n\n But soon their kind and gentle mood\n Began to disappear,\n Because He told them homely truths\n They did not wish to hear.\n\n At last, the fickle people rose\n In wild and wicked wrath,\n Seized Him, and roughly led Him up\n The sloping, hillside path;\n\n That, in their raging anger, they\n Might cast Him headlong down\n The precipice, one side the hill,\n On which was built their town.\n\n But He passed through their very midst,\n An unfelt, spirit shape;\n And left them, standing wonder-struck\n At this most strange escape.\n\n And so He went from Nazareth;\n His home was there no more;\n But in Capernaum He dwelt,\n And showed His grace and power.\n\n\nThe Draught of Fishes.\n\n ONE day the Lord stood by the shore\n Of lake Gennesaret;\n And watched the fishermen, as there\n They pulled the outspread net.\n\n And, as He stood, the people came,\n And pressed upon Him round,\n To hear Him preach the Gospel news,\n Which they so precious found.\n\n Then Jesus, seeing Simon's ship\n Was anchored close at hand,\n Stepped quick aboard, and gave command\n To push a space from land.\n\n And, sitting down, He taught the throng\n Who crowded on the shore,\n And heard, with joy, such heavenly truth\n As ne'er was preached before.\n\n The sermon ended, then He bade\n Simon launch out for fish;\n And Simon answered that he would,\n If 'twere the Master's wish.\n\n But added: \"We have toiled all night,\n Nor sleep nor rest have sought,\n But through the water dragged out nets,\n And yet no fish have caught.\"\n\n Still, while he spoke, he launched the ship\n Out on the waters wide,\n And let the net down in the sea,\n The vessel's' rail beside.\n\n And lo! at once, with fish 'twas filled,\n A multitude so great\n That the strong net came wide apart,\n So heavy was their weight.\n\n The fishermen their partners called\n To bring another ship;\n And soon both vessels were quite full,\n And sinking in the deep.\n\n Then Simon Peter, in amaze,\n At Jesus' knees fell down;\n And said: \"O Lord, depart from me,\n My sins to Thee are known.\"\n\n But Jesus gently said to him:\n \"Thou need'st not be afraid;\n From henceforth thou shalt sinners catch,\n By my Almighty aid.\"\n\n And when they brought their ships to land,\n They--Peter, James and John--\n Forsook their vessels and their friends\n And followed Christ alone.\n\n\nThe Unclean Spirit.\n\n NEXT Sabbath, in the synagogue,\n When He stood forth to teach,\n The people wondered at His force,\n And mighty power to preach.\n\n And one was there within whose breast\n A devil foul had sway;\n Who, held in bondage most unclean,\n Yet sought to praise and pray;\n\n But, by the devil moved, cried out,\n And called the Lord by name;\n Declaring that he knew Him well,\n And also whence He came.\n\n Then Jesus to the devil said:\n \"Silence and come thou forth;\"\n Who came forth, hurting not the man,\n But casting him to earth.\n\n And all the people were amazed\n At what they saw that day,\n And said, \"With power doth He speak,\n And spirits vile obey.\"\n\n And the news spread round the country,\n And was told from place to place,\n Of the wonder-working prophet,\n And this miracle of grace.\n\n\nSimon's Wife's Mother.\n\n WHEN Jesus left the synagogue\n He did not go alone,\n But with Simon and with Andrew,\n Followed by James and John,\n\n And entered into Simon's house,\n Where they besought His aid,\n For the kind mother of Simon's wife\n Was in a fever laid.\n\n The raging fever quickly fled\n At His divine behest,\n And she arose and ministered\n To every waiting guest.\n\n\nCasting Out Devils.\n\n NOW, when the sun was setting low\n They brought all the diseased;\n He laid His hands on every one;\n To heal them He was pleased.\n\n And many devils He cast out\n By His command and power;\n And all the people quickly came\n Together at the door.\n\n The devils He forbad to speak,\n As they around Him trod--\n For one and all acknowledged Him\n The Christ--the Son of God.\n\n And so the word Esaias spoke,\n Foretelling Him, came true:\n \"Himself bare our infirmities,\n And all our sickness knew.\"\n\n The next morn, rising early,\n Before the break of day,\n He went out to a desert place,\n To meditate and pray.\n\n And Simon and his company\n Went after Him, and said:\n \"All seek for Thee and are amazed,\n Supposing Thou hast fled.\"\n\n He said to them: \"I go to preach\n In other cities too;\n For therefore came I down from heaven,\n To teach the Gospel true.\"\n\n And He preached in their synagogues\n Throughout all Galilee;\n While, from before Him, as He went,\n He made the demons flee.\n\n\nHealing a Leper.\n\n AND now it came to pass, one day,\n When in a certain town,\n A leper, seeing Jesus, came,\n And on his face fell down.\n\n And worshipped, and beseeching Him,\n Said: \"Lord, if but Thou please,\n Thou hast the power to make me clean,\n From this most foul disease.\"\n\n At once the Lord put forth His hand,\n And, with a gracious touch,\n Said: \"It doth please me--be thou clean;\"\n Thus prayer availeth much.\n\n But Jesus charged him not to tell\n The miracle abroad;\n But go straightway unto the priest,\n And offer gifts to God.\n\n Yet so much more His fame went forth,\n And multitudes came near,\n That He might heal their sicknesses,\n And they His words might hear.\n\n But He stayed in the desert drear\n While blazed abroad the news,\n Fearing they would proclaim Him King,\n And thus provoke the Jews.\n\n After some days He came again\n Into Capernaum;\n And it was quickly noised abroad\n The Master was at home.\n\n\nThe Man Sick of the Palsy.\n\n AND many people gathered, till\n The house could hold no more;\n Grave doctors and proud Pharisees\n Thronged in and round the door.\n\n And Jesus preached, and taught them all\n The precious, Gospel Word;\n And healed the sick who recognized\n The power of the Lord.\n\n And now behold a kindly act:\n A bed is borne by four--\n On which one sick of palsy lies--\n Near to the crowded door.\n\n And when they cannot enter in,\n They to the roof ascend;\n And, breaking it, let down the bed\n On which is laid their friend.\n\n Thus to the sick man Jesus spake:\n \"Thy sins are all forgiven.\"\n And then the scribes said in their hearts,\n \"Who thus blasphemeth Heaven?\"\n\n Immediately the Lord perceived\n Their thoughts, and answer gave,\n \"Which is the easier, from sin\n Or from disease to save?\n\n \"But that ye now may learn the fact,\n And know it from this hour,\n That to forgive all sin on earth\n The Son of man hath power;\"\n\n He said unto the sick man: \"Rise,\n Take up thy bed and bear\n It on thy shoulders hence away,\n And to thy house repair.\"\n\n Immediately the man arose,\n To perfect health restored;\n And taking up his bed, went home,\n And glorified the Lord.\n\n\nThe Calling of Matthew.\n\n NOW, after this, as Jesus passed\n Where customs were received,\n He saw a man named Matthew sit\n And, knowing he believed,\n\n Said to him only: \"Follow me,\"\n And Matthew, leaving all,\n Rose up and the disciples joined,\n At this most simple call.\n\n Then Matthew--sometimes Levi called--\n Prepared a splendid feast,\n Inviting a great company,\n With Jesus, honored guest!\n\n But Matthew was a publican,\n On whom the Jews did frown,\n And so were many of his friends,\n Who at the feast sat down.\n\n And thus the scribes and Pharisees\n To the disciples said:\n \"With publicans and sinners vile\n Why doth your Lord eat bread?\"\n\n Then Jesus said: \"Not to the well,\n But sick, are doctors sent;\n And I came, not to call the good,\n But sinners to repent.\n\n\nThe Pool of Bethesda.\n\n SOON after this, again the feast\n Of passover came round,\n And Jesus, at Jerusalem,\n All worshipful was found.\n\n For, to fulfill all righteousness\n He taught the people all,\n And joined the service in God's house\n At every stated call.\n\n Now, in Jerusalem, there is\n At the sheep-gate a pool,\n Bethesda called in Hebrew phrase,\n Five-porched, of water full.\n\n And in these porches lay a throng,\n Diseased and racked with pain;\n Blind, halt and withered, hoping from\n The water help to gain.\n\n For, sometimes, down an angel went\n And tossed the quiet pool;\n And who could, after, step in first,\n Was sure to be made whole.\n\n And one poor sufferer lay there,\n On that unhappy ground,\n Who eight and thirty tedious years\n Infirmity had bound.\n\n When Jesus, passing, saw him lie,\n He knew his wretched case;\n And He who shares His peoples' woes,\n Looked down with pitying grace;\n\n And kindly asked the man: \"Wilt thou\n Be healed of thy disease?\"\n Well knowing that no earthly boon\n Could more the cripple please;\n\n Who answered, in dejected tone,\n \"Sir, I have no kind friend--\n Whene'er the water is stirred up--\n His kindly help to lend.\n\n \"But while with slow and painful steps,\n I try to move alone,\n Another suff'rer gets down first,\n Whose limbs are good and strong;\"\n\n Then Jesus said: \"Rise, lift thy bed,\n And walk with it away.\"\n Immediately the man obeyed;\n And 'twas the Sabbath day.\n\n The Jews who met him, therefore, said:\n \"Thou'rt doing very wrong,\n Upon this holy, Sabbath day,\n To bear thy bed along.\"\n\n He answered them: \"The man who did\n The wondrous work on me,\n Of healing by His own command\n My long infirmity--\n\n \"He said: 'Take up thy bed and walk,'\n And, instantly, there came\n A healthful glow through all my limbs,\n With power to do the same.\"\n\n Then asked they him: \"What man is he,\n Who thus irreverent spake,\n Commanding thee thus wickedly\n The Sabbath law to break?\"\n\n But the healed man knew not the friend\n Who did him so much good;\n For Jesus bore Himself away\n To escape the multitude.\n\n But afterward, as Jesus taught\n Within the temple gate,\n He found this man and said to him,\n \"Behold thy healthy state;\n\n \"Now sin no more, lest worse should come\n Upon the guilty soul.\"\n Then went the man and told the Jews\n 'Twas Jesus made him whole.\n\n Therefore the Jews did persecute\n The Lord and seek to slay,\n Because He did these wondrous things\n Upon the Sabbath day.\n\n But Jesus preached to them the truth,\n In language strong and clear;\n And happy were they who believed,\n And lent a willing ear.\n\n\nThe Man With a Withered Hand.\n\n AGAIN, as in the synagogue,\n The Lord on Sabbath taught,\n A man who had a withered hand\n His kind attention sought.\n\n And scribes and Pharisees around\n Watched if the Lord would use\n His power to heal upon this day,\n That they might Him accuse.\n\n But He, who knew their evil thoughts,\n Unto the sufferer said:\n \"Arise, and stand forth in the midst;\"\n And the poor man obeyed.\n\n Then He, to those who watched Him, said:\n \"I one thing ask of you;\n Is it on Sabbath days correct\n Evil or good to do?\"\n\n But they replied not, then He said:\n \"What man among you all\n Shall have one sheep which on this day\n Into a pit shall fall;\n\n \"And he will not lay hold on it,\n And quickly lift it out?\n That man is better than a sheep,\n You surely cannot doubt.\n\n \"Wherefore 'tis lawful thus to do\n Good on the Sabbath days;\"\n And He looked on them with surprise,\n Grieved by their wicked ways.\n\n Then to the man who meekly stood,\n Waiting the Lord's command,\n In centre of the synagogue,\n He said: \"Stretch forth thine hand.\"\n\n And though the hand hung helpless down,\n The heart with faith was strong;\n And instantly ran vital force\n The arm's whole length along.\n\n Then went the haughty Pharisees\n And the Herodians rude,\n And held a council to destroy\n Him who did only good,\n\n But Jesus, knowing it, withdrew,\n Still followed by the crowd;\n He healed them all, but charged that they\n Speak not His name aloud.\n\n\nThe Twelve are Chosen.\n\n AND then up to a mountain's side,\n One day, the path He trod,\n And there alone He bowed Himself\n All night in prayer to God;\n\n And in the morning called all those\n Who Him their Master claimed,\n And, from amongst them, chose out twelve,\n Whom He apostles named.\n\n And He ordained this favored few,\n With privilege to each\n To be with Him when He so willed,\n Or be sent forth to preach;\n\n And to have power to heal the sick\n The dumb, the halt, the blind,\n And cast all evil spirits out,\n That vex and curse mankind.\n\n And these were the twelve chosen men:\n Simon, to whom the Lord\n Had given the name of Peter--\n A stone, both strong and hard;\n\n And Andrew, Simon's brother, and\n The sons of Zebadee,\n Bold James and John, whom Jesus said\n Should Boanerges be,\n\n Which means the sons of thunder, and\n Philip, Bartholomew,\n Matthew and Thomas, James and Jude,\n Both sons of Alpheus true;\n\n Simon, who was a Canaanite--\n By Luke Zelotes named--\n And Judas called Iscariot;\n Traitor, for evil famed.\n\n\nHealing the Sick.\n\n HE then descended to the plain,\n To seek for food and rest,\n When all the people of the land\n In crowds around Him pressed.\n\n The weary sick and those who felt\n The pangs of racking pain,\n And others vexed with devils hoped\n From Him relief to gain;\n\n And, following, sought to touch Him,\n As power from Him had flown;\n But in compassion He beheld\n And healed them, every one.\n\n[Illustration: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT St. Matthew 5:5-7. St. Luke\n6:20-49.]\n\nThe Sermon on The Mount.\n\n AGAIN, up to the mountain side\n He went, and took His seat;\n And His disciples followed Him,\n And gathered round His feet.\n\n And lifting up His eyes on them,\n He raised His voice to teach,\n Declaring those exalted truths\n He came on earth to preach.\n\n He told them, first, the blessedness\n Of purity and grace;\n And that the souls most like to God\n Should see the Father's face.\n\n Then told them of their high estate,\n Their privilege sublime,\n To upright stand, and shed forth light\n Upon the realms of time.\n\n And taught them of the moral law,\n And of the law of love,\n For heart and spirit to be kept,\n All human laws above.\n\n In simple words He framed for them\n A solemn, fervent prayer,\n By which they could approach to God,\n And on Him cast their care.\n\n He taught that, if their neighbors' faults\n Were lovingly forgiven,\n They all might claim in humble faith\n The Fatherhood of Heaven.\n\n Then charged them 'gainst the error made\n From that time until now,\n That men to different masters\n Allegiance can avow.\n\n \"For God,\" He said, \"ye cannot serve,\n And mammon serve beside;\n In love to one and not to both,\n Your spirit must abide.\"\n\n He then the precious lesson taught\n Of God's vast providence,\n Which is our faithful guardian,\n And our secure defence.\n\n The little songsters of the air,\n The lilies of the field,\n Are fed, and clothed, from day to day,\n While they no forethought yield.\n\n And man, much better in His sight--\n How little faith has he,\n To doubt the providential care\n That all his needs can see!\n\n \"Seek first the kingdom of your God,\n His righteousness divine,\n And all the stores of earthly good\n Shall graciously be thine.\"\n\n The Preacher then went on to charge\n 'Gainst judging others' sin--\n Those fond of spying evil deeds,\n Should with their own begin.\n\n And they who ask, or seek, or knock,\n God never will deny;\n And men to other men should do\n As they would be done by.\n\n And it is wise to enter in\n The narrow way and straight;\n And shun the way where many go--\n The wide and open gate.\n\n Though men may openly appear\n What they are not within;\n Yet you shall know, if in their lives\n You see the fruit of sin.\n\n For every good and perfect tree\n Doth faultless fruit bring forth;\n But when you see an evil tree,\n Its fruit is nothing worth.\n\n And each tree bearing not good fruit\n Into the fire is cast;\n Wherefore, 'tis by their deeds ye know\n The doom of all, at last.\n\n \"Not every one who says to Me;\n \"Lord, Lord,' shall enter heaven;\n But he that does my Father's will;\n And knows his sins forgiven.\n\n \"Many will say to me that day:\n 'I've done good in Thy Name;'\n I never knew you, I will say,\n I disregard your claim.\n\n \"Therefore, who hears these words of mine\n And doth not doubt or mock,\n Is like a man who wisely built\n His house upon a rock.\n\n \"And the rain fell and floods came on,\n And winds blew fierce and long;\n But that house stood, securely firm,\n On its foundation strong.\n\n \"And every one that hears my words\n And disobeys, shall stand\n Like to a foolish man, who built\n His house upon the sand;\n\n \"And the rain fell and floods came on,\n And winds blew round and round\n Upon that house, and soon it fell\n In ruins on the ground.\"\n\n\nThe Centurion's Servant.\n\n AND, now, when Jesus entered\n Into Capernaum;\n A Centurion besought Him for\n A servant, sick at home.\n\n \"I will come,\" He said, \"and heal him.\"\n The Centurion answered: \"Lord,\n I am not worthy Thou should'st come,\n But only speak the word.\n\n \"For I, myself, am in command,\n And whatsoe'er I say\n To one, or to another man,\n They instantly obey.\"\n\n When Jesus heard him, in surprise\n He said to those around:\n \"I verily, in Israel,\n Such great faith have not found.\"\n\n Then said to the Centurion: \"Go,\n Thy faith the work has sealed;\"\n And in the self-same hour he found\n His servant had been healed.\n\n\nRaising the Widow's Son.\n\n IT came to pass upon the day\n Succeeding this event,\n That as He journeyed on His way,\n Much people with Him went.\n\n Along the road He traveled on,\n Until He came to Nain;\n When, just outside the city gate,\n He met a funeral train.\n\n In sorrow they were bearing forth\n A weeping widow's son;\n And many sympathized with her--\n He was her only one.\n\n And when the Lord saw her He had\n Compassion on her grief;\n And said unto her: \"Weep no more,\n I bring you sure relief.\"\n\n He touched the bier, and all the friends\n Stood still in mute surprise,\n When to the dead He spoke: \"Young man,\n I say to thee arise.\"\n\n And the dead youth sat up, alive,\n And to her speechless joy,\n The mother from the Lord received\n Her resurrected boy.\n\n\nThe Pharisee and the Woman.\n\n IT happened that a Pharisee\n Invited Christ to eat,\n When a poor, sinful woman came\n And worshipped at His feet;\n\n And washed them with her copious tears,\n And wiped them with her hair,\n And kissed them, and anointed them\n With ointment rich and rare.\n\n The Pharisee, within himself,\n Said: \"If this man were wise,\n And were a prophet, he would know\n This sinner to despise.\"\n\n And Jesus, answering his thought,\n Explained the woman's love:\n She was a sinner who, now saved,\n Her gratitude would prove.\n\n And while the guests in wonder gazed,\n He to the woman spoke:\n \"Thy sins are all forgiven--thy faith\n Hath broken Satan's yoke.\"\n\n\nThe Blind and Dumb Man.\n\n AGAIN a man they bring to Him,\n Of Satan sore possessed,\n Both blind and dumb, in wretched plight,\n But Jesus gave him rest.\n\n The sufferer both spake and saw,\n When people, every one,\n Who saw this miracle, exclaimed:\n \"Is not this David's Son?\"\n\n But the proud Pharisees, in heart\n Ignored this title true;\n And said the wondrous healing gift\n To Satan's power was due.\n\n Then Jesus knew their thoughts and said:\n \"What logic ye command!\n If Satan cast out Satan, then\n His kingdom cannot stand.\"\n\n\nThe Storm on Galilee.\n\n AND as the multitudes increased,\n And thronged about the Lord,\n He said: \"I other towns must seek,\n And in them preach the word.\"\n\n So He commandment forthwith gave\n That His disciples go,\n And get a ship in readiness,\n Across the lake to row.\n\n Then a certain scribe said: \"Master,\n I'll follow Thee to-day,\n By land or water, wheresoe'er\n Thou goest or shalt stay.\"\n\n And Jesus answered: \"Foxes can\n Run into holes for rest,\n And every bird of air can fly\n Into a pleasant nest;\n\n \"But no place hath the Son of Man\n Whereof it can be said:\n 'That is His home, where He may lay\n In peace His weary head.'\"\n\n The scribe had nothing more to say;\n He, doubtless, did not care\n The fortunes of so poor a man\n To follow and to share.\n\n Another said: \"Lord, let me go\n My father's grave to make.\"\n Said Jesus: \"Let the world do that,\n Come thou, my portion take.\"\n\n And now the followers of Christ\n Were all aboard the ship,\n And He, o'ercome with weariness,\n Lay down and fell asleep.\n\n And the disciples, in alarm,\n Their Master woke from sleep;\n \"Lord, we must have thine instant help\n Or perish in the deep;\"\n\n When He, in calm and gentle voice,\n Said: \"Wherefore do ye fear,\n O ye of little faith and trust.\n While I, your Lord, am here?\"\n\n Then He arose in dignity,\n And spoke His sovereign will,\n Commanding both the winds and sea\n To hearken and be still.\n\n And instantly all nature's face\n A tranquil aspect wears,\n Hushed is the tempest, and the sky\n Again serene appears.\n\n The men each to the others, said,\n In awe and great amaze:\n \"What kind of man is this, whose word\n The fearful storm obeys?\"\n\n\nThe Legion of Devils.\n\n NOW when they reached the other side,\n All fright and danger o'er,\n The country of the Gadarenes\n Received them to its shore.\n\n But many steps they have not gone\n To reach the city near,\n When suddenly two unclad men\n From 'mongst the tombs appear.\n\n By unclean spirits sorely vexed,\n No firm restraints could hold\n Their demon-strengthened limbs, or keep\n Their frantic souls controlled.\n\n And in the mountains and the tombs,\n With cries, both night and day,\n They cut themselves, and caused such fear,\n None dared to pass that way.\n\n But when the Lord approached, a change\n Came o'er these men possessed;\n One fled--the other, falling down\n In worship, sore distressed,\n\n Cried: \"What have I to do with Thee,\n Jesus, Thou Son of God?\n Torment me not, nor banish me\n To my most drear abode.\"\n\n Then Jesus said: \"Come out of him,\n Thou unclean spirit, vile,\n And let thy presence ne'er again\n His tortured soul defile.\"\n\n And then He asked: \"What is thy name?\"\n \"Legion,\" the man did say,\n For many, many devils bold\n Within him had held sway.\n\n The devils, knowing they no more\n In this poor man could dwell,\n Imploringly besought the Lord\n To drive them not to hell;\n\n And seeing a great herd of swine\n Upon the mountain side,\n Begged His consent to enter them,\n With which the Lord complied.\n\n But though there were two thousand swine\n They could not fight nor flee,\n The legion entered them, and all\n Rushed headlong in the sea.\n\n And they that fed the swine, alarmed,\n Ran hastily away,\n And told in town and country round\n The wonders of that day.\n\n Then every one went out to see\n What wondrous things were done,\n And still and calm the country lay,\n And all the swine were gone.\n\n And he who long had raged around,\n A terror to mankind,\n Sat peacefully at Jesus' feet,\n Clothed, and of rightful mind.\n\n And they who saw the miracle,\n With eager tongues revealed\n How he of legion once possessed\n So suddenly was healed.\n\n Then the whole multitude from all\n The country round appear,\n And beg the Lord to leave their coasts\n For they were filled with fear.\n\n Now, as the Lord took ship again,\n The man thus saved from woe,\n Prayed that he might be with the Christ,\n Wherever He should go.\n\n But Jesus answered: \"Nay, return\n To thine own house, and tell\n What God hath done for thee, and hence\n With thine own kindred dwell.\"\n\n And the man did as Jesus said,\n And told to great and small\n Of his most glad deliverance\n From Satan's dreadful thrall.\n\n\nThe Daughter of Jarius.\n\n IT came to pass as Jesus thence\n Returned, across the sea,\n Many He found awaiting Him--\n The men of Galilee.\n\n And behold, Jarius, ruler of\n The synagogue, drew near,\n And knelt at Jesus' feet, and prayed,\n In great distress and fear,\n\n That Jesus to his house would go\n And heal his dying child--\n A little daughter, twelve years old,\n In manners sweet and mild.\n\n Then Jesus, whose glad work it was\n To cheer each broken heart,\n Went with him, followed by the crowd,\n Who would not from Him part.\n\n And a poor woman, suffering\n From a severe disease,\n Who, for twelve years, her money all\n Had spent in doctors' fees;\n\n When told that He was passing by\n Came in the crowd, behind,\n And said: \"If I may touch His clothes,\n I sure relief shall find.\"\n\n And, stooping down, she gently touched\n His garment's hem: when, lo!\n She felt the fountain of her plague\n Had ceased at once to flow.\n\n When He, perceiving in Himself\n Some loss of power Divine,\n Turned and demanded of the crowd:\n \"Who touched this robe of mine?\"\n\n Then His disciples said to Him:\n \"The people throng round Thee,\n They closely press on every side,\n And sayest Thou: \"Who touched me?'\"\n\n But He still looked around, when she,\n Knowing she was not hid,\n Came, trembling, fell down at His feet,\n And told Him what she did.\n\n But He said, kindly: \"Daughter, thou\n This act must not deplore,\n Thy faith hath healed thee, go in peace;\n No plague shall vex thee more!\"\n\n And while He spoke, from Jairus' house\n Came messengers, who said:\n \"Trouble the Master now no more;\n The little maid is dead.\"\n\n But Jesus to the ruler turned,\n And said: \"You need not grieve;\n All shall be well with thee and thine,\n If only thou believe.\"\n\n Before He reached the ruler's house,\n He told the rest to wait,\n And none but Peter, James and John,\n Went with Him through the gate.\n\n And when He entered in the house,\n He found it full of grief,\n Nor did the mourning company\n Expect from Him relief.\n\n Then He said gently to the friends:\n \"Why make this noise, and weep?\n The damsel is not truly dead,\n But taketh rest in sleep.\"\n\n And they all laughed--a laugh of scorn--\n Well knowing she was dead,\n When He turned out the sneering crowd,\n And calmly onward led.\n\n The father and the mother, who\n No doubting did betray,\n And His believing followers,\n To where the maiden lay;\n\n Then took her gently by the hand,\n And said, with pitying eyes:\n \"Talitha Cumi; damsel, I\n Now say to thee arise.\"\n\n Then instantly the maid arose,\n And walked upon her feet,\n When He in kindness ordered that\n They give her food to eat.\n\n\nTwo Blind Men Healed.\n\n NOW when the Lord departed thence,\n Two blind men followed close,\n And, \"Oh! Thou Son of David,\" cried,\n \"Have mercy upon us.\"\n\n And when He reached His lodging house,\n The blind men entered too;\n Then Jesus asked: \"Do ye believe\n That I this thing can do?\"\n\n They said: \"Yea, Lord;\" then did he touch\n Their eyes, with fingers kind,\n And said: \"According to your faith,\n Be ye no longer blind.\"\n\n Forthwith they saw, and Jesus charged\n That they let no man know;\n But they went out and spread His fame\n Wherever they did go.\n\n\nThe Disciples Sent Forth.\n\n STRAIGHTWAY the Lord departed thence,\n And came to His own home,\n And in the synagogue He taught\n When Sabbath-day had come.\n\n The people wondered at His words,\n And asked: \"How can it be\n That this man has such power gained\n As we both hear and see?\n\n \"For is not this the carpenter?\n We know his mother well;\n His brethren and his sisters, too,\n All here among us dwell.\"\n\n And so they took offence at Him,\n And Jesus said: \"In vain\n A prophet much esteemed abroad\n At home would honor gain.\"\n\n And He could do no mighty works--\n Save healing a few sick,\n And teaching in the villages--\n Because their faith was weak.\n\n But looking on the people with\n Compassion in His heart,\n As scattered sheep, and ignorant--\n He called the twelve apart,\n\n And sent them forth, through all the land,\n To preach, by two and two,\n To the lost sheep of Israel,\n The Gospel, pure and true.\n\n\nDeath of John the Baptist.\n\n HEROD, the king, his birthday kept,\n And festive supper spread,\n For lords, high captains and chief men,\n Of Galilee the head.\n\n And with the flowing of rich wines,\n And strains of music sweet,\n The daughter of Herodias danced\n On light and airy feet;\n\n Which dancing so much pleased the king\n He promised, with an oath,\n That whatsoever she would ask\n He'd give her--nothing loth.\n\n The daughter of her mother asked:\n \"What gift shall I desire?\"\n The wicked woman answered her:\n \"John Baptist's head require.\"\n\n Straightway the brazen damsel came,\n And, with petition bold,\n Demanded John the Baptist's head,\n Just as she had been told.\n\n Although the king was sorely grieved,\n He would not break his word,\n In honor of the company\n By whom the oath was heard.\n\n Now, soon as John's disciples knew\n Of his most cruel doom,\n They took his body, tenderly,\n And laid it in a tomb;\n\n And to the Master straightly told\n What had befallen John--\n The deed which at the king's command\n His servile guard had done.\n\n But fear's dread torment soon drew near,\n When Herod heard the news\n Of the wonder working Jesus,\n Now preaching to the Jews.\n\n And he, with pale and trembling lips,\n Unto his servants said:\n \"This is the Baptist whom I slew,\n Arisen from the dead.\n\n \"Therefore do wondrous works in him\n Show forth themselves, to prove\n That he a mighty prophet was,\n Appointed from above.\"\n\n\nFeeding the Multitude.\n\n THE twelve apostles, when the time\n For their return had come,\n Betook themselves with one accord\n To Jesus, at His home;\n\n And told Him all things that befell\n While they had been away;\n What they had done, what they had taught,\n And how they fared each day.\n\n Then Jesus at Bethsaida\n Was with compassion moved,\n To see the people crowd around--\n The sheep He so much loved.\n\n He talked to them of God and heaven--\n The land above all lands--\n And healed as many as had need\n Of healing at His hands.\n\n Then said the twelve: \"Lord do Thou send\n The multitude away,\n That they some victuals may procure\n Before the close of day.\"\n\n But Jesus knew that poverty\n Oppressed the multitude,\n And kindly to His followers said:\n \"Can ye not give them food?\"\n\n \"Two hundred pennyworth of bread,\"\n Philip at once replied,\n \"Would not a little food for each\n Of this great crowd provide.\"\n\n Then Andrew, Peter's brother, spoke:\n \"Here is a lad,\" he said,\n \"Who two small fishes has, beside\n Five loaves of barley bread.\n\n \"But, what are they to such a crowd?\"\n The Lord said: \"Bring them here.\n Then seat the people on the grass,\n By fifties, far and near.\"\n\n And taking in His hands the bread\n And fish, He looked toward heaven\n And blest it in the name of Him\n From whom all bread is given;\n\n Then brake, and the disciples passed\n The broken food around\n To all the multitude, who sat\n Expectant on the ground.\n\n Then Jesus said: \"Go, gather up\n The fragments careless tossed\n Upon the ground, in wanton waste,\n That nothing may be lost.\"\n\n And the disciples--patient men,\n Went, stooping, o'er the field,\n And fragment of the late repast\n Twelve baskets full did yield.\n\n And when the Lord perceived that they\n Did meditate to bring\n United force with the intent\n That they might crown Him king,\n\n He urged that His disciples should\n Take ship and cross the sea,\n While He dispersed the multitudes,\n And followed secretly.\n\n\nJesus Walks Upon the Sea.\n\n WHEN Jesus, up the mountain side\n Ascended all alone,\n To spend some hours in peaceful prayer\n Before His Father's throne.\n\n Meanwhile the twelve were toiling hard\n In rowing o'er the lake,\n But 'gainst the stormy winds they could\n But little progress make.\n\n And Jesus, on the mountain high,\n Engaged in fervent prayer,\n Looks on the lake and sees his friends,\n And feels their toil and care.\n\n Now comes the fourth watch of the night;\n The tired men still row\n Against a rising, boisterous sea,\n While angry tempests blow.\n\n But now, amid the wild uproar,\n And darkness of the storm,\n They saw approaching, o'er the waves,\n Their Master's much loved form.\n\n They failed to recognize their Lord,\n With storm and darkness near,\n Supposed He was a spirit form,\n And cried aloud for fear.\n\n Then straightway Jesus hushed their cries;\n \"Be of good cheer,\" He said;\n They knew the kind, assuring voice:\n \"'Tis I, be not afraid.\"\n\n Then Peter, warm, impulsive, bold,\n Said: \"Lord, if it be Thou,\n Bid me and let me come to Thee\n Upon the waters now.\"\n\n Jesus said: \"Come.\" Then Peter stepped\n Over the vessel's side,\n And walked securely and alone\n Upon the stormy tide.\n\n His eyes were on the Master fixed,\n But, looking on the wave,\n At once he did begin to sink,\n And cried out: \"Lord! Oh, save!\"\n\n Then Jesus quickly stretched His hand\n And raised the sinking man,\n Said: \"Wherefore did'st thou doubt?\" and placed\n Him on his feet again.\n\n And when they step aboard the ship,\n There is a sudden peace,\n The wind is still, the stars are bright,\n The waves their motion cease.\n\n And the disciples, bending low,\n Their spirits deeply awed,\n Said: \"Of a truth we now are sure\n Thou art the Son of God.\"\n\n Then comes to pass another thing,\n They cannot understand;\n The ship, so lately out at sea,\n Is now quite close to land.\n\n And, resting from their hours of toil,\n And filled with wonder deep,\n The twelve around their Master's feet\n Lie down in peaceful sleep.\n\n\nThe Bread from Heaven.\n\n THE next day, for the absent Lord,\n The people searched around,\n Near to the place where He had fed\n Five thousand on the ground.\n\n Then Jesus said: \"Ye seek me not\n In honor of my power,\n But for the bread I brake to you\n In hunger's helpless hour.\n\n \"Labor not so for earthly meat,\n Which perisheth away,\n But for that meat which shall endure\n Through everlasting day.\"\n\n And then He preached to them the words\n Of saving, Gospel truth,\n Of Bread that keeps the soul in strength\n And in immortal youth.\n\n He told them that He was the Bread\n Which had been sent from heaven,\n That Bread of everlasting life,\n To all believers given.\n\n And some went back, and walked no more\n With Him--the Truth, the Way;\n Then to the chosen twelve He said:\n \"Will ye, too, go away?\"\n\n Then Simon Peter answered Him:\n \"Lord, to whom shall we go?\n Thou hast the words of endless life;\n From Thee doth wisdom flow.\n\n \"And we believe, and we are sure\n That Thou are Jesse's Rod;\n The promised Christ of Israel--\n Son of the living God.\"\n\n Jesus said: \"Have I not chosen\n Twelve of you to believe,\n And witness to a sinful world\n The truth which ye receive;\n\n \"And one of you a devil is?\"\n He spoke of Judas vile,\n Who should, by wicked treachery,\n The bishopric defile.\n\n Now, when around Capernaum\n The Lord had done much good,\n He rose and traveled forth, to where\n Old Tyre and Sidon stood;\n\n And entered in a house, that He\n Might of the crowd be rid,\n And rest in peace there for a day;\n But He could not be hid.\n\n For a woman, whose young daughter\n Had an unclean spirit, heard\n That He was that great prophet who\n Could heal her with a word.\n\n And, hast'ning to Him, she knelt down,\n And bowed her weeping face,\n Relating in His willing ear\n Her daughter's grievous case.\n\n But Jesus answered not a word;\n The apostles wondered why,\n And said to Him: \"Send her away,\n We're weary of her cry.\"\n\n And then He said: \"I am not sent\n Save to the sheep astray\n From Israel's fold--beloved of God--\n To guide them in the way.\"\n\n Now this poor woman was a Greek,\n And of Ph\u0153nician birth;\n But she believed great David's Son\n Was Prince of all the earth;\n\n And that He loved all human kind,\n Of every degree;\n So, drawing near, she worshipped Him\n Exclaiming: \"Lord, help me!\"\n\n Then He replied: \"It is not meet\n To take the children's bread\n And cast it out to dogs, while they--\n The children--are not fed.\"\n\n But she said: \"Yea, Lord, very true,\n Yet dogs, Thou know'st, do eat\n The crumbs that from the table fall,\n Beneath the children's feet.\"\n\n \"O, woman,\" Jesus answered then,\n \"Great is thy trusting faith;\n And be it unto thee, and thine,\n Whatever thy heart saith.\"\n\n And she went joyful to her house,\n And found the devil fled,\n And her fair daughter calm and well,\n And laid upon her bed.\n\n\nFeeding the Hungry.\n\n AND now, this gracious work performed\n The Lord returned again\n Unto the sea of Galilee,\n And through Decapolis plain.\n\n Unto a mountain He repaired,\n And sought a quiet seat;\n But many sufferers followed Him,\n And crowded round His feet.\n\n The eager multitudes brought forth\n The blind, and dumb, and lame,\n And Jesus healed them, every one,\n Who to His presence came.\n\n And all the people glorified\n The God of Israel;\n And, much astonished, they exclaimed,\n \"He hath done all things well!\"\n\n Then the Lord sent the people home,\n And, taking ship again,\n Sailed with the twelve along the sea,\n Unto Magdala's plain.\n\n There Pharisees and Sadducees\n Came, tempting Him, and sought\n A sign from heaven that they might know\n The doctrines that He taught.\n\n But He refused to give a sign\n To hypocrites so base,\n And leaving them, and taking ship,\n Sailed to another place.\n\n\nCuring the Blind.\n\n NOW, coming to Bethsaida,\n They bring a blind man down,\n Beseeching Him to touch him,\n But He leads him out of town.\n\n Then, spitting, moistens the blind eyes,\n And asks him if he sees;\n And the man looks up and answers:\n \"I see men walk, as trees.\"\n\n Then Jesus put His gentle hands\n On the man's eyes again,\n Made him look up--his eyes were healed,\n And he saw all things plain.\n\n\nThe Apostle Peter.\n\n THEN, after that, as Jesus with\n His twelve disciples walked\n To C\u00e6sarea Philippi,\n And gravely with them talked,\n\n He asked them who the people said\n That He, Himself, might be;\n They answered John, Elias, and\n The prophet Jeremy.\n\n He saith: \"But whom say ye am I,\n Who long with you have trod?\"\n Peter exclaimed: \"Thou art the Christ,\n Son of the living God!\"\n\n Then Jesus answered him: \"How blest\n Simon Bar-jona, thou,\n For flesh and blood hath not revealed\n What thou, from heaven, dost know.\n\n \"And I say also unto thee,\n That thou art Peter sure,\n And on this rock I'll build my church\n From gates of hell secure.\n\n \"Keys of authority and truth\n Shall unto thee be given;\n What thou dost bind or loose on earth\n Is bound and loosed in heaven.\"\n\n From that time forth the Lord began\n To tell, and to explain\n To His disciples, how He should\n Be killed, and rise again.\n\n But Peter said: \"Nay, nay, my Lord\n This, surely, shall not be;\n Such treatment of the Prince of Life--\n Were great indignity.\"\n\n But Jesus turned and said to him:\n \"Satan, get thee behind,\n Thou savorest not the things of God,\n But pride of carnal mind.\"\n\n And then said Jesus to them all:\n \"Who will my servant be,\n Must deny self, take up his cross,\n And humbly follow me.\n\n \"For whosoe'er will save his life,\n Shall lose it in the end;\n But he who yields it for my sake,\n To life in heaven shall tend.\n\n \"For what is a man profited\n If he shall gain the whole\n Of this world's pompous wealth and power,\n Yet lose his own poor soul?\"\n\n\nJesus is Transfigured.\n\n NOW Jesus tarried round these coasts\n Till six days passed away;\n Then He took Peter, James and John\n Up in a mount to pray.\n\n And, as He prayed, His face was changed,\n And shining as the Sun;\n His raiment became white as snow,\n When glistening at noon.\n\n And while He thus transfigured stood,\n In His apostles' sight,\n They suddenly beheld two men\n Appear, with Him, in light.\n\n 'Twas Moses and Elias, who\n Talked feelingly with Him\n About the death He must endure\n Soon at Jerusalem.\n\n Then Peter spoke--his heart was full\n Of holy love and fear:\n \"Lord, it is good,\" he said, \"for us\n To dwell forever here.\n\n \"Let us three tabernacles build;\n The first shall be for Thee,\n One be for Moses, man of God,\n One for Elias be.\"\n\n He spoke his heart's sincere desire,\n But ere the words were said,\n A bright cloud overshadowed them,\n And covered every head.\n\n And from the cloud a voice was heard,\n \"This is my Son beloved,\n In whom I am well pleased--hear Him,\n If ye would be approved!\"\n\n When the disciples heard the voice,\n They fell upon their face,\n O'ercome by fear and sore dismay,\n In that most awful place.\n\n And Jesus, touching each one, said:\n \"Arise and do not fear;\"\n And when they looked around they saw\n No one but Jesus near.\n\n And as they came down from the mount,\n He bade them not disclose\n What they had seen and heard that day,\n Till from the dead He rose.\n\n And they obeyed, and of that scene\n No word to others said;\n But 'mongst themselves enquired what meant\n The rising from the dead.\n\n\nAn Only Child Healed.\n\n THE next day, coming to the place\n Where they had left the nine,\n They found a crowd, glad to behold\n The Master's face, Divine.\n\n He asked the scribes: \"What question ye\n With my disciples here?\"\n When one in haste approaching Him,\n And kneeling down in fear,\n\n Said: \"Lord, have mercy on my son--\n He is my only child;\n And a dumb spirit tortures him,\n And makes him fierce and wild.\n\n \"And often in the fire he falls,\n And in the water too;\n And I spoke to Thy disciples,\n But they could nothing do.\"\n\n Then Jesus said: \"O, men perverse,\n Why can ye not believe?\n How long shall I be with you ere\n The faith ye will receive?\"\n\n Then to the father: \"Bring to me\n Your son.\" The child was brought,\n When he fell, foaming, on the ground,\n By the foul spirit wrought.\n\n Then Jesus asked the man: \"How long\n Has he been troubled thus?\"\n He answered: \"From a little child;\n But, Lord, canst Thou help us?\"\n\n Jesus replied: \"If thou hast faith,\n Then thou shalt have relief.\"\n The man cried out: \"Lord, I believe;\n Help Thou mine unbelief.\"\n\n Then Jesus to the demon spoke:\n \"Deaf and dumb spirit sore,\n I charge thee to come out of him,\n And enter him no more.\"\n\n The spirit cried and troubled him,\n Till, like one dead, he fell;\n But Jesus took him by the hand,\n And, lo! the child was well.\n\n And now the Master and the twelve\n Into a house retired;\n And the nine came to Him and asked\n That which they most desired:\n\n The twelve then asked: \"Why could we not\n Cast out that spirit, pray?\"\n He said: \"Because your unbelief\n Stood boldly in the way.\n\n \"For, verily, if ye have faith\n As a small, mustard grain,\n Then shall unto this mountain say,\n 'Remove to yonder plain.'\n\n \"It shall remove. Nothing shall be\n Impossible to you;\n Yet these foul spirits go not, save\n By prayer and fasting, too.\"\n\n\nJesus Teaches Humility.\n\n ONE day while Jesus sat at rest\n He asked the twelve to say\n What was it they disputed, as\n They walked along the way.\n\n But they replied not, for they had\n Disputed which should gain\n The greatest rank and power, when\n Their Lord should come to reign.\n\n Then Jesus said: \"If any man\n Desire the highest place,\n He shall be last, and servant, too,\n Within the realm of grace.\"\n\n He set a child in midst of them,\n Then took him in His arm,\n And said: \"Whoso receiveth such,\n And shieldeth him from harm,\n\n \"Receiveth me, if, with true love,\n He does it in my name,\n And not only receiveth me,\n But Him from whom I came.\"\n\n\nThe Young Lawyer.\n\n AND now behold a lawyer rose\n With tempting question vain,\n And said: \"Master, what must I do\n Eternal life to gain?\"\n\n Jesus addressed His questioner\n With manner frank and kind,\n And by a parable He taught\n His keen and doubting mind;\n\n Told of the good Samaritan\n Who succored a poor Jew;\n Then, in conclusion, counseled him:\n \"Go thou and like wise do.\"\n\n\nAt Bethany.\n\n AND as they went, He and the twelve,\n Along the public road,\n They entered into Bethany,\n Where Martha, kind, abode;\n\n Who hospitably welcomed Him\n Into her house to rest,\n Then hastened to provide for Him\n Refreshments of the best.\n\n Meanwhile her sister Mary,\n Who long had wished to meet\n The gracious Lord and hear His voice\n Sat meekly at His feet.\n\n But Martha, cumbered and perplexed\n With anxious, household care,\n And wishing for her welcome Guest\n A banquet to prepare,\n\n Entered the room where Jesus sat,\n And said: \"Lord, dost Thou know\n My sister lets me serve alone?\n Bid her some help bestow.\"\n\n And Jesus answered in a tone\n Of grace yet kind concern,\n \"O, Martha, Martha, good and true,\n Thou something hast to learn.\n\n \"Thou careful art, and troubled much\n All good things to enjoy,\n And that thy friends may feast full well\n Thy time and means employ;\n\n \"And yet there's but one needful thing,\n Worthy thine utmost thought,\n And that good part is Mary's choice,\n Which from her take thou not.\"\n\n\nThe Lord's Prayer.\n\n AGAIN, did Jesus journey on,\n When, in a certain place,\n He lifted up His voice in prayer\n With unction, power and grace.\n\n When He had ceased one of the twelve\n Said: \"Lord, teach us to pray,\n As John taught those who followed him,\n \"We wish to do as they.\"\n\n He taught them then that form of prayer\n Which pure devotion is;\n Known as THE LORD'S PRAYER ever since,\n Because the words are His.\n\n Then on He went, and preached the truth,\n Along each country road,\n And taught the people, high and low,\n The love and fear of God;\n\n And told them how God answers prayer,\n If prayer be warm and true--\n With far more loving, swift response\n Than earthly parents do.\n\n\nThe Woman with an Infirmity.\n\n NOW, in a synagogue, as He\n One Sabbath day did preach,\n Behold a woman, quite bowed down\n And listening to His speech,\n\n A poor, afflicted sufferer,\n Who bore with groans and tears,\n A spirit of infirmity\n For fully eighteen years.\n\n Upon her Jesus laid His hand,\n And, suddenly made straight,\n She rose and glorified her God,\n Whose mercies are so great.\n\n The ruler of the synagogue,\n Indignant that the Lord\n Upon the Sabbath day had wrought\n This healing by His word,\n\n Unto the people said: \"There are\n Six days in which you may\n Do all your works;--in them be healed--\n Not on the Sabbath day.\"\n\n Then Jesus answered: \"Hypocrite,\n Doth not each of you think\n It right, on Sabbath day, to lead\n His beast away to drink?\n\n \"And ought not this poor woman, who\n Is Abraham's daughter, be\n Made loose from pain she bore so long\n Through Satan's tyranny?\"\n\n And all His adversaries were\n Ashamed when thus He chid,\n While others wondered and rejoiced\n For all the works He did.\n\n[Illustration: FINDING OF THE LOST SHEEP. St. Matthew 18.12-14; St.\nLuke 15.3-7]\n\nThe Man Born Blind.\n\n WHEN, coming near His journey's end,\n Jerusalem was nigh,\n He, one day, saw a man, born blind,\n As He was passing by.\n\n And His disciples questioned Him:\n \"Master, whose sin hath done\n Such evil as is this man's lot--\n His parents' or his own?\"\n\n And Jesus answered: \"Neither hath\n His parents sinned nor he,\n But that the works of God, in him,\n Might be made plain to see.\n\n \"I must perform my Father's works\n While it is day; the night\n Is coming, when no man can work;\n But I am the world's light,\n\n \"As long as I am in the world.\"\n And when He thus did say\n He spat upon the ground, and made\n The spittle into clay;\n\n And with it He anointed thick\n The eyes that ne'er had seen,\n Then said unto the man: \"Go wash\n In water pure and clean.\"\n\n Then went the man obediently,\n And washed his sightless eyes,\n And instantly he saw all round,\n With grateful, glad surprise.\n\n The neighbors said: \"Is this the man\n Who begged, and could not see?\"\n Said others: \"He is like to him.\"\n But he said: \"I am he.\"\n\n They asked him how he gained his sight,\n And he, with thankful voice,\n Told all about the wondrous work\n That made his heart rejoice.\n\n And now unto the Pharisees\n The happy man they brought;\n And it was on the Sabbath day\n This miracle was wrought.\n\n Questioned by doubting Pharisees,\n He did to them relate\n The way by which he was relieved\n From his unhappy state.\n\n They said the man who gave him sight\n A sinner, sure must be\n Or He would not, on such a day,\n Make a blind man to see.\n\n Yet others said: \"How can a man\n Who is a sinner do\n Such miracles?\" The healed man said:\n \"He is a prophet true.\"\n\n The Jews would not believe the man\n Was ever blind at all;\n And, to find out if it were so,\n They did his parents call,\n\n And asked them: \"Is this man your son,\n Who without sight was born?\n How, then, doth he now see so well,\n Yet blind until this morn?\"\n\n The parents said: \"He is our son,\n And was born blind, we know;\n But know not how he gained his sight;\n Himself the truth must show.\"\n\n The Jews straightway recalled the man,\n And said: \"Give God the praise,\n We know this man's a sinner, by\n His Sabbath-breaking ways.\"\n\n He answered them: \"I know not if\n This man a sinner be;\n One thing I know, that whereas I\n Was blind, yet now I see.\n\n \"We know that God regardeth not\n A sinful man's appeal;\n But to obedient worshippers\n He will Himself reveal.\n\n \"Since first the world began can ye\n Such wondrous power find\n As that a mortal man could heal\n The eyes of one born blind?\n\n \"And if this man were not of God,\n Nor down from heaven came,\n He could do nothing in my case--\n All glory to His name!\"\n\n And then they answered, wrathfully:\n \"Thou, who believest thus,\n Wast altogether born in sin,\n And art thou teaching us?\"\n\n They cast him out; which Jesus heard,\n And found him, when alone:\n \"Believ'st thou on the Son of God?\"\n He asked in gentle tone.\n\n The man said: \"Lord who is He, that\n My faith to Him might bow?\"\n Said Jesus: \"Thou beholdest Him,\n He talketh with thee now.\"\n\n Then he said: \"Lord, I do believe,\"\n With fervent voice, and loud,\n And bending forward to the earth,\n In reverent worship bowed.\n\n[Illustration: RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON. St. Luke 15.15-32]\n\nThe Raising of Lazarus.\n\n OF Martha you've already heard,\n Who entertained the Lord\n When once He passed through Bethany,\n And Mary heard His word.\n\n They had a brother, Lazarus,\n And Jesus loved the three,\n And now the young man was brought low,\n And very ill was he.\n\n And his sisters sent a message\n Unto the Lord, in haste:\n \"Behold, he whom Thou lovest well\n Is sick and failing fast.\"\n\n But Jesus said: \"This sickness\n Comes not that he must die,\n But for God's glory, that His Son\n Be glorified thereby.\n\n \"Our friend, Lazarus, sleepeth,\"\n Were the next words He spake:\n \"And I go hence that I may him\n Out of his sleep awake.\"\n\n Then said they: \"Lord, if Laz'rus sleep\n He surely shall do well\"--\n Thinking that it was natural rest\n That o'er his eyelids fell.\n\n Then He said, plainly: \"Lazarus\n Is cold and still in death.\n But well, for your sakes, 'tis that I\n Went not while he had breath.\n\n \"For so your faith shall be made bright,\n That may be somewhat dim;\n But now arise and leave this place,\n That we may go to him.\"\n\n Then Thomas said--called Didymus--\n To the disciples all,\n \"Let's go, that we may die with Him,\n If death should Him befall.\"\n\n And now all hearts are sad and still,\n And many throb with fear,\n As Jesus and His followers\n To Bethany draw near.\n\n And those who meet Him tell the news\n Of sorrow and of gloom,\n That Lazarus has already lain\n Three days within his tomb.\n\n Now Bethany was very near\n Unto Jerusalem;\n And many to the sisters came,\n To see, and comfort them.\n\n And as they sat in silence,\n Their hearts with grief bowed down,\n The word was brought that Jesus\n Was coming into town.\n\n Then Martha went to meet the Christ,\n And said unto Him: \"Lord,\n If Thou hadst been here, my brother\n Had recovered by Thy word.\"\n\n \"Thy brother,\" thus the answer came,\n \"Shall rise again, I say.\"\n \"Yea, in the resurrection morn,\"\n She said, \"at the last day.\"\n\n \"I am the resurrection, and\n The Life,\" the Lord replied.\n \"He that upon my name believes\n Shall live, though he had died.\"\n\n \"Oh, Lord,\" she answered fervently,\n \"I truly do believe\n Thou art the Christ, the Son of God,\n Whom this world should receive.\"\n\n When Jesus saw the sisters' tears,\n And tears of those around,\n He groaned in spirit and was sad,\n With troubled thoughts profound.\n\n He said to them: \"Where have ye laid\n Your friend and mine to sleep?\"\n They say to Him: \"Lord, come and see,\"\n Then all beheld Him weep.\n\n And then they took away the stone\n From where the dead was laid,\n And Jesus lifted up His eyes,\n And solemnly He said:\n\n \"Father I thank Thee that Thou hast\n Heard my heart's secret prayer,\n And I know that Thou dost always\n Bow down to me Thine ear.\"\n\n And when He thus had spoken,\n He cried in accents loud:\n \"Lazarus, come forth,\" and the dead\n Came forth, bound in his shroud,\n\n And his face bound with a napkin;\n His movements thus were slow;\n But Jesus called out, with command:\n \"Loose him and let him go.\"\n\n Then O, what deep and solemn joy\n The sisters' hearts conceived!\n While many of the Jews around\n On Jesus Christ believed.\n\n\nThey Brought Little Children to Him.\n\n ONE day the mothers, who believed,\n Their little children brought,\n And from the Master's gentle hand\n A gracious blessing sought.\n\n But the disciples, in their zeal,\n Said: \"Take these children home,\n They're in the way of older ones,\n Who for some good have come.\"\n\n But Jesus loved the little lambs,\n And much displeased was He,\n Saying: \"Suffer little children,\n That they may come to me.\n\n \"For 'tis such innocents as these\n That God's high kingdom win;\n And all must have as simple hearts\n Who gain a place therein.\"\n\n Then gently lifting in His arms,\n And folding to His breast,\n He put His hands upon their heads,\n And every infant blest.\n\n\nThe Young Ruler.\n\n NOW, as He went forth in the way,\n A certain ruler came;\n \"What shall I do,\" he frankly asked,\n \"That I may heaven claim?\"\n\n \"Why callest thou me good?\" the Lord\n Enquired in gentle tone.\n \"There is none good in earth or heaven\n But God, and God alone.\n\n \"Thou knowest the Commandments;\n Keep them in deed and truth,\n He answered and said: \"Master, I've\n Observed them from my youth.\"\n\n Then Jesus looked at the young man,\n And loved him in His heart,\n And said: \"One thing thou lackest yet,\n Thou with thy wealth must part.\n\n \"Go sell, and give all to the poor,\n And stored in heaven 'twill be,\n Then come and cheerfully take up\n The cross and follow me.\"\n\n But the young man was sad at heart,\n Unwilling to obey;\n His riches he would not give up,\n So, grieved, he went away.\n\n And then to His disciples\n The Lord said, grave but kind:\n \"How hardly shall the rich their way\n Into God's kingdom find?\n\n \"It is easier for a camel\n Through a needle's eye to go\n Than he who loves his worldly goods\n The bliss of heaven should know.\"\n\n[Illustration: CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN ST. MATTHEW 19:13-15;\nST. MARK 10:13-16; ST. LUKE 18.15, 16.]\n\n\nPeter Questions Him.\n\n AND Peter then began to say:\n \"Lo! we have given up all,\n And followed and believed on Thee;\n What shall to us befall?\"\n\n And Jesus answered, \"Verily,\n I say, no man hath left\n Parents or brethren, wife or child,\n Of home or lands bereft,\n\n \"To suffer for the Gospel's sake,\n Who shall not find much more,\n Both in this world and that to come,\n Laid up for him in store.\n\n \"But they who will be first on earth\n Shall be the last in heaven;\n And they who here take lowest seats\n Shall then have highest given.\"\n\n\nParable of the Laborers.\n\n AND Jesus taught them as they walked,\n By pointed parable,\n That all shall have an equal right\n Who serve the Master well.\n\n He told them of a man who hired\n Some laborers to work,\n And promised each a penny, for\n The day, from morn to dark.\n\n Again at noon, and later still,\n He others idle found,\n And sent them into his vineyard\n To work upon the ground.\n\n And then again, and just before\n The closing of the day,\n He hired others who should get\n A penny for their pay.\n\n But when the eventide had come,\n And the day's work was done,\n The men were called, that each might get\n Whatever was his own.\n\n The last come were paid first, and each\n A pleased expression wore.\n But when the first were paid they thought\n That they should get still more.\n\n And when a penny each received,\n They murmured at the pay,\n Which was the same for one hour's work\n As for the long, warm day.\n\n The good man answered one of them:\n \"Friend, I do thee no wrong;\n A penny I agreed to give--\n That doth to thee belong.\n\n \"Take that thine is and go thy way,\n I will to this last one\n Give just the same as unto thee--\n Is it not all my own?\n\n \"So shall the last be as the first,\n And first as last to view;\n For many be the called of God,\n And yet, the chosen, few.\"\n\n\nForetells His Death.\n\n THEN Jesus took the twelve apart,\n And gravely said to them:\n \"Behold, we now are on our way\n Up to Jerusalem,\n\n \"And all things that the prophets wrote\n About the Son of Man,\n Shall be accomplished in that place,\n True to the ancient plan.\n\n \"And He shall be betrayed unto\n The chief priests and the scribes,\n Delivered up to the Gentiles,\n And mocked with taunts and jibes;\n\n \"And they shall scourge and spit upon,\n And crucify your Lord;\n The third day He shall rise again,\n According to His Word.\"\n\n The apostles listened, yet these things\n They could not realize;\n The meaning of the truths they heard\n Was hidden from their eyes.\n\n\nThe Request of James and John.\n\n THEN came, as they were walking on,\n The wife of Zebedee,\n Who said: \"Lord, what I most desire\n Wilt Thou grant unto me?\"\n\n He said unto her: \"What wilt thou?\"\n She answered: \"That my sons\n May at Thy right and left sit down,\n Thy kingdom's greatest ones.\"\n\n Then Jesus to the young men said:\n \"Ye know not what ye ask.\n To drink my cup, my baptism bear,\n Would be too hard a task.\"\n\n They answered: \"We are strong enough.'\n Then He said: \"Ye shall try\n To drink my cup, my baptism bear,\n While grace shall strength supply.\n\n \"But to sit at my right and left\n I cannot give to you;\n My Father doth reserve those seats\n For whom He deems them due.\n\n \"Be not such lords as Gentiles are,\n And who would highest be\n Let him be servant to the rest,\n And take a low degree.\n\n \"E'en as the Son of Man came not\n To take a lofty place,\n But to be minister, and give\n His life to save the race.\"\n\n\nBlind Bartimeus.\n\n AND now the Lord His way must take\n Through ancient Jericho.\n The people crowd around Him there,\n And make His progress slow.\n\n And Bartimeus, blind and poor,\n Was sitting by the way;\n Another beggar, sad and blind,\n Sat by his side that day.\n\n And when they heard the tramping crowd,\n And asked the reason why,\n They learned that Christ of Nazareth\n Was just then passing by.\n\n Then each man cried aloud at once,\n In tones of earnest plea:\n \"Jesus, Thou Son of David,\n Have mercy upon me.\"\n\n And Jesus had compassion on\n Their dark and helpless plight,\n And gently touched their eyes and said:\n \"Your faith doth give you sight.\"\n\n Immediately their eyes were healed,\n And both with joyful mind,\n Followed the Master, praising God,\n And all the people joined.\n\n\nZaccheus.\n\n AND now, as Jesus passed along,\n A rich man hasting came--\n A chief among the publicans,\n And Zaccheus by name.\n\n Jesus he sought to see, as did\n The people, one and all,\n But could not overlook the crowd,\n His stature was so small.\n\n So he ran on before, and climbed\n Into a sycamore tree;\n That, perched above the surging throng,\n He might the better see.\n\n And when the Lord came near, He raised\n His eyes, saw him, and said:\n \"Zaccheus, in thy house, to-day,\n I will take rest and bread.\"\n\n And then in haste the man came down,\n And joyfully received\n Into his house, which stood near by,\n The Lord, whom He believed.\n\n And when the crowd saw what was done,\n To murmur they began,\n That Jesus was content to be\n Guest with a sinful man.\n\n Yet Zaccheus heeded not, but stood,\n And said unto the Lord:\n \"Behold, Lord, half of all my goods\n I to the poor afford.\n\n \"And if I aught have taken,\n Through falsehood to me told,\n More than is right from any man,\n I give it back fourfold.\"\n\n And Jesus said: \"Salvation is\n To this house come to-day;\n For this man is of Abraham's line,\n Though having gone astray.\n\n \"For I, the Son of Man have come\n Into this world below,\n To seek the straying and the lost,\n And save from guilt and woe.\"\n\n\nParable of the Pounds.\n\n AND as the people all around\n Attentively did hear,\n Believing that God's kingdom would\n Without delay appear;\n\n He taught the listening company,\n By parable profound,\n How God expects His faithful ones\n To occupy His ground.\n\n And as He does commit to them\n Ten pounds, or five, or one,\n He will reward them, at the last,\n By what they each have done.\n\n And having finished His discourse,\n Wisely instructing them,\n He went before them, in the way,\n Up to Jerusalem.\n\n\nThe Anointing at Bethany.\n\n SIX days before the Passover\n The Lord appeared again\n In Bethany, where Lazarus dwelt,\n And his good sisters twain.\n\n There, by a supper in the house,\n Their welcome was expressed,\n And Martha served, but Lazarus sat\n At table with the guest.\n\n Then Mary came and took her place\n Down at the Master's feet,\n And broke an alabaster box,\n Of odor very sweet.\n\n And tenderly she did anoint\n The feet of Jesus there;\n And wiped them with the flowing locks\n Of her luxuriant hair.\n\n Then Judas, called Iscariot,\n His sullen silence broke,\n And of the woman's costly gift\n Thus, with a sneer, he spoke:\n\n \"For three hundred pence, in money,\n This ointment would have sold,\n And that would feed and clothe the poor,\n Who hungry are, and cold.\"\n\n He said this, though he had no care\n Or pity for the poor;\n But was a thief, and had the bag,\n And coveted the store.\n\n Then Jesus said: \"Let her alone;\n Against my burial day\n She poured this ointment on my feet,\n Her last regards to pay.\n\n \"The humble poor ye always have\n With you, to help their needs;\n But me ye cannot always have\n To show me loving deeds.\"\n\n Now many people of the Jews\n Soon knew that He was there,\n And crowded in, that they might see,\n And His discourse might hear.\n\n Yet not for Jesus' sake alone\n Had they the visit made,\n But to see Lazarus, whom He\n Had raised up from the dead.\n\n\nEntry into Jerusalem.\n\n THE morning rose with peaceful skies,\n The first day of the week,\n And Jesus forthwith went His way,\n Jerusalem to seek.\n\n He knew what waited Him--the thought\n His lofty spirit thrilled--\n That all His Father's' work be done,\n And Scripture be fulfilled.\n\n Along the road towards Olive's mount--\n That oft-trod road--He went,\n Then two of His disciples\n Into Bethphage He sent;\n\n And said: \"Into the village go,\n Where straightway ye shall see\n An ass tied, and a colt with her;\n Loose them and bring to me.\n\n \"If any may say aught to you,\n This shall be your reply:\n 'The Lord hath need of them,' then he\n Will cheerfully comply.\"\n\n Then the disciples went their way,\n And found, as they were bidden,\n An ass tied, and a colt, whereon\n No man had ever ridden.\n\n And their owners, as they loosed them,\n Enquired: \"Why do ye so?\"\n They said: \"The Lord hath need of them.\"\n And then they let them go.\n\n And they brought them unto Jesus,\n And put on them their clothes;\n And Jesus rode upon the colt,\n While loud Hosannahs rose.\n\n And multitudes of people spread\n Their garments in the way,\n While others strewed palm branches where\n The Master rode that day.\n\n And \"Hosannah, Son of David!\"\n They cried with one accord,\n \"Blessed is He that cometh thus\n In the name of the Lord!\"\n\n But the Pharisees said: \"Master,\n Rebuke this noisy shout.\"\n Said Jesus: \"Should they hold their peace,\n The stones would then cry out.\"\n\n Now they descend fair Olive's Mount,\n Jerusalem appears,\n And Jesus beholds the city,\n And over it sheds tears,\n\n Saying: \"Hadst thou but known the things\n Which belong to thy peace:\n But now from thine eyes they are hid;\n Thy day of hope shall cease.\"\n\n The city's gate they enter now;\n Much moved, the people say:\n \"Who is this?\" Some answer: \"Jesus,\n Prophet of Galilee.\"\n\n Then to the temple went the Lord,\n To clear its spacious courts\n Of those who bought and sold within\n Its sanctified resorts.\n\n And when the chief priests and scribes saw\n His wondrous works and ways,\n And children in the temple courts\n Shouting these words of praise:\n\n \"Hosannah to great David's Son!\"\n They very angry were,\n And said to Him: \"These babbling cries\n Around, dost thou not hear?\"\n\n And Jesus saith unto them: \"Yea,\n Have ye not read the Word:\n 'The mouths of babes and sucklings doth\n Thy perfect praise accord?'\"\n\n The Pharisees, among themselves,\n Said: \"Do ye not perceive\n That ye prevail naught while the world\n Doth on this man believe?\"\n\n\nThe Barren Fig-Tree.\n\n BUT now the eventide was come,\n And Jesus turned away,\n And with His twelve disciples went\n And lodged in Bethany.\n\n Next morning, as the Lord returned,\n Quite early in the day,\n He wanted bread, and looking, saw\n A fig-tree in the way.\n\n Without delay He went to it,\n To get some figs to eat;\n But He found only leaves thereon,\n Which are not good for meat.\n\n And then the Master spoke to it--\n Spoke to the useless tree--\n And said: \"Henceforth, forevermore\n Let no fruit grow on thee.\"\n\n Into the city then He went,\n And in the temple taught,\n And preached to all who thronged around\n And His instructions sought.\n\n But the chief priests and elders came,\n And asked Him: \"Who gave thee\n Authority to do these things\n That we both hear and see?\"\n\n And Jesus answered: \"I, also,\n Will ask one thing of you,\n Which, if you tell me, I will tell\n Who prompts the things I do.\n\n \"The baptism of John, whence was it,\n From heaven, or of men?\"\n This question, which He asked of them,\n They could not answer then.\n\n For thus they reasoned with themselves:\n \"If we shall say from heaven,\n He will say: 'Why not, then, to him\n Was your attention given?'\n\n \"But yet, if we shall say of men,\n The people's wrath we fear;\n For all hold John a prophet true,\n And his name they revere.\"\n\n And so they said: \"We cannot tell.\"\n He answered: \"Nor to thee\n Tell I by what authority\n I do the things you see.\"\n\n And then, as evening fell, the Lord\n With His disciples went\n Unto the mount of Olives, where\n The night they often spent.\n\n And in the morning they returned,\n And lo! as they passed by,\n They saw the fig-tree in the way,\n All withered up and dry.\n\n And Peter then remembered well:\n \"Master, behold,\" he said,\n \"The fruitless tree which Thou didst curse\n Is withered all and dead.\"\n\n And Jesus, answering, said to them:\n \"Verily, I say to you,\n Have faith in God and doubt Him not,\n And ye shall such things do.\n\n \"And who shall to this mountain say,\n In firm, believing faith,\n 'Be thou cast forth into the sea,'\n It shall be as he saith.\n\n \"And whatsoever ye desire\n And ask for when ye pray,\n Believe that ye receive the gift;\n It shall be yours straightway.\n\n \"And when you pray forgive all those\n Who have offended you,\n That so your Heavenly Father may\n Forgive the wrongs you do.\"\n\n\nThe Law of Love.\n\n NOW, \"Master,\" said a Pharisee,\n Thus tempting Him again:\n \"Which commandment is the greatest\n That the law doth contain?\"\n\n Jesus said: \"Thou shalt love the Lord\n Thy God with all thy heart,\n And all thy soul and all thy mind--\n This is the first great part.\n\n \"And the second is like to it:\n Thou shalt thy neighbor love\n In the same way thou lov'st thyself;\n By deeds this new law prove.\n\n \"Upon these two commandments--\n Within the spirit wrought--\n Hang all the law that Moses wrote,\n And all the prophets taught.\"\n\n\nThe Widow's Mites.\n\n AND now the Lord was sitting where\n He could the people see\n As they cast their gifts of money\n Into the treasury.\n\n And many rich cast in large sums;\n Then came a widow, poor,\n And she threw in two mites, which make\n One farthing, and no more.\n\n Then the Lord called His disciples\n And said to them: \"Verily,\n This poor widow has cast the most\n Into the treasury.\n\n \"For all they, of their abundance,\n Offered, some less, some more,\n But she, of want and penury,\n Did cast in all her store.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS. St. Matthew 25:1-13]\n\n\nThe Hypocrites.\n\n JESUS spoke to the multitude,\n That gathered at His feet:\n \"The scribes and Pharisees do sit\n In Moses' sacred seat.\n\n \"Do, therefore, what they bid you do,\n But follow not their way;\n For they, themselves, keep not the law,\n Nor do they what they say.\n\n \"For they bind heavy burdens\n For other men to bear;\n But will not give a helping hand\n To ease another's care.\n\n \"And all they do is to be seen\n Of men they daily meet;\n Their outward garments they adorn,\n Down to their very feet;\n\n \"And love the upper rooms at feasts,\n And greetings in the crowd;\n And the chief seats in synagogues\n And titles make them proud.\n\n \"But be not ye called 'Rabbi,' for\n To Christ that name is given;\n And call no man father on earth;\n Your Father is in heaven.\n\n \"Nor be ye masters called, for One,\n Even Christ, your Master is,\n And he that would be greatest, let\n The servant's place be his.\n\n \"And whoso shall exalt himself\n Shall be low and abased,\n And he that humbles himself shall\n To lofty seat be raised.\"\n\n\nHe Weeps Over Jerusalem.\n\n AND then, His gentle spirit grieved\n For Israel's sin and pride,\n With tender pity in His voice,\n He sorrowfully cried:\n\n \"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!\n Which doth the prophets kill,\n And stonest them sent unto thee,\n The promise to fulfil;\n\n \"How oft would I have gathered\n Thy children to my breast,\n As a hen her brood doth gather\n Beneath her wings to rest.\n\n \"And ye would not. And now, alas!\n Behold your sad estate,\n Your doom is nigh, your house is left\n Unto you desolate.\n\n \"Moreover, ye shall not see me\n Until ye say the word:\n 'Blessed is He that cometh in\n The name of Israel's Lord.'\"\n\n And His disciples then He warned\n To watch, and faithful be,\n Not knowing at what hour they\n The Son of Man should see.\n\n\nParables of the Virgins and Talents.\n\n AND then He pictured to their minds,\n In parables most clear,\n What should take place before the throne\n When the Lord should appear.\n\n The fate of the ten virgins,\n Of whom but five were wise,\n And five were foolish, without grace,\n He placed before their eyes.\n\n And of the nobleman who went\n To travel far away,\n And to his servants talents gave,\n Their wisdom to display.\n\n And two their talents used in trade,\n And brought their master gain,\n Which pleased him so he raised them up\n O'er cities fair to reign;\n\n While one was slothful, loving ease,\n His talent hid away,\n And brought with it a vain excuse\n Upon the reck'ning day.\n\n But his lord answered wrathfully,\n He no excuse would take,\n But told him what he should have done,\n A lawful gain to make.\n\n Then ordered that they take and cast\n Nor pity him, nor spare--\n The unprofitable servant\n Out into dark despair.\n\n\nThe Corn of Wheat.\n\n AND while He taught the people all,\n From highest to the least,\n Some Greeks appeared, who had come up\n To worship at the feast.\n\n The same approached to Philip, who\n Was of Bethsaida,\n Saying: \"Sir, we would the Master see,\n And from Him knowledge draw.\"\n\n Philip and Andrew went apart,\n And they informed the Lord\n That polished strangers, standing near,\n Desired to hear His word.\n\n \"The hour--the long-approaching hour--\n Is come,\" the Lord replied,\n \"When I should close my earthly work,\n And should be glorified.\n\n \"Verily, I say unto you,\n Except a corn of wheat\n Sink in the ground and die, it will\n Alone produce no meat.\n\n \"But if it die, it brings forth fruit;\n And he that life doth love\n Shall lose it: he that hates it gains\n Eternal life above.\n\n \"If any man will serve me, then\n Let him come after me;\n And where I am, there, also, shall\n My faithful servant be.\n\n \"Now is my soul in agony,\n And what more shall I say?\n Father, save me from this sad hour,\n My human heart would pray,\n\n \"But for this cause--that I might die--\n Unto this hour I came,\n So in my heart I cry: \"Father,\n Glorify thine own name!\"\n\n Then came there a voice from heaven,\n Saying, in clearest strain:\n \"I have glorified it, and I\n Will glorify it again.\"\n\n The people standing by were sure\n That thunder shook the air;\n But others said: \"Not so, it is\n An angel's voice we hear.\"\n\n Jesus answered, and said: \"This voice\n Came not because of me,\n But that ye all might understand\n The power of Deity.\n\n \"Now is the judgment of this world;\n Its prince cast out shall be;\n And I, if I be lifted up,\n Will draw all men to me.\"\n\n\nThe Traitor Judas.\n\n NOW Satan to the carnal heart\n Of Judas entered in--\n He that was called Iscariot,\n Who money loved to win.\n\n And he went unto the chief priests,\n And bargained to betray\n His Master to their evil power\n If they would give him pay.\n\n And his base scheme these men were glad\n To hear and understand,\n And thirty shining silver coins\n They weighed into his hand.\n\n And from that time he sought a way\n He could, by sign or word,\n In absence of the multitude,\n Deliver up his Lord.\n\n\nThe Upper Room.\n\n NOW came the first day of the feast--\n Day of unleavened bread--\n When the Passover must be killed;\n And the disciples said:\n\n \"Where wilt Thou, Lord, that we shall go\n And preparation make\n For Thee to eat the Passover,\n And we, with Thee, partake?\"\n\n Peter and John He then sent forth,\n Saying: \"As ye walk the street,\n A man, bearing a pitcher\n Of water, ye shall meet.\n\n \"Then follow him into the house,\n And to the good man say:\n The Master needs the guest-chamber\n To keep the feast to-day.\n\n \"And a large, furnished, upper room\n He unto you will show.\"\n Then the disciples went and found,\n As the Lord said, 'twas so.\n\n Now, at the evening hour, the Lord\n With His disciples came,\n And sat down round the table where\n Was served the paschal lamb.\n\n And He said unto them: \"I have\n Desired with every breath\n To eat this Passover with you,\n Before I suffer death.\"\n\n\nWashing the Disciples' Feet.\n\n THIS being over, Jesus rose,\n And laid His robe aside,\n And a towel girded round Him,\n So free was He from pride;\n\n And with water in a basin\n Washed the disciples' feet.\n O, lowly Master! loving Lord!\n Thy meekness is complete!\n\n But Simon Peter would refuse,\n With love and high esteem,\n This humble office should be done\n By Jesus unto him;\n\n Till Jesus, checking his proud will,\n Answered decidedly,\n By saying: \"If I wash thee not,\n Thou hast no part with me.\"\n\n Then Peter cried: \"Lord, not my feet\n Only from stain be free;\n But also let my hands and head\n Be purified by Thee.\"\n\n Jesus said: \"He whose feet are washed\n Is every whit made clean;\n And ye are clean, but not you all--\n He Judas, false, did mean.\n\n So, when the Lord had washed their feet,\n And had His robe put on,\n And took His seat, He said: \"Know ye\n What I to you have done?\"\n\n Then taught them that if He, their Lord,\n Had washed their feet, then so\n Should they to one another\n Such act of grace bestow;\n\n That they to His example\n Should prompt respect accord,\n Well knowing that the servant is\n Not greater than his Lord.\n\n\nJesus is Betrayed.\n\n NOW, after this, was Jesus sad,\n And trouble did display;\n For one of them who sat with Him\n He said should Him betray.\n\n And then, all being sorrowful,\n Said: \"Is it I?\" in turn.\n But He said: \"'Twere good for that man\n If he had ne'er been born.\"\n\n Now the disciple Jesus loved,\n Who next His bosom lay,\n At sign from Peter asked: \"Who, Lord,\n Would vilely Thee betray?\"\n\n Jesus said: \"When I dip the sop\n It shall be that man's lot.\"\n And when He dipped He gave it to\n Judas Iscariot.\n\n Yet upon Judas' callous heart\n No softening touch it gave:\n But Satan entered into him,\n To harden and enslave.\n\n Jesus said: \"What thou do'st, do now.\"\n None knew what this did mean;\n But Judas rose and left the room,\n And sought a different scene.\n\n\nThe Last Supper.\n\n AND now the evening shades had closed,\n And night was o'er the sky;\n Supper was ended and lamps lit\n Within that chamber high.\n\n The Lord took bread, and, blessing it,\n He brake in pieces small;\n Saying: \"Take, eat, this is my body,\n Once broken for you all.\"\n\n Then took the cup, and, giving thanks,\n He gave it to them, too;\n Saying: \"Drink ye, for this is my blood,\n Which is poured out for you.\n\n \"And eat this bread, and drink this cup,\n For memory of me.\n But I'll not taste the wine till I\n My Father's kingdom see.\"\n\n\nPeter's Warning.\n\n THEN Peter cried out in alarm:\n \"Lord, whither goest Thou?\n I will go with Thee unto death,\n Or unto prison now.\"\n\n Jesus said to him: \"Verily,\n Before the cock shall crow,\n This day thou wilt deny full thrice\n That thou the Lord dost know.\"\n\n\nPromise of the Comforter.\n\n AGAIN the Master's voice arose\n In precious converse sweet,\n The last and richest lessons,\n With wisdom most replete:\n\n \"Let not your heart be troubled,\n Believe in me, most true,\n For in my Father's house I shall\n Prepare a place for you.\"\n\n And on, in soothing accents, flowed\n Upon their listening ears\n Words which, while they increased their love,\n Excited still their fears.\n\n For He talked of going from them,\n Yet being with them still,\n And giving them what they should ask,\n If they would do His will;\n\n And said He would pray the Father\n The Comforter to send--\n The Holy Ghost--who, teaching them,\n Would lead them to the end.\n\n And again He said unto them,\n As He, at first, had said:\n \"Let not your heart be troubled,\n Nor let it be afraid.\"\n\n\nThe Parable of the Vine.\n\n WHEN it was time to go, He said:\n \"Arise, let us go hence,\"\n And they all stood and sung a hymn\n Ere they departed thence.\n\n Then out into the shadowed street,\n After the close of day,\n The Lord and His eleven friends\n Walked slowly on their way;\n\n On towards the mount of Olives, where\n His custom was to go,\n Along the well-known path which crossed\n Where Kedron's waters flow.\n\n And still the Master, as His wont\n When walking with His friends,\n Continued teaching golden truth\n The which to glory tends.\n\n He likened Himself to a vine,\n While they the branches were;\n His Father was the husbandman,\n Who of the plant had care;\n\n And charged them that they must bear fruit,\n And never barren prove;\n His Father should be glorified\n Through faith that works by love.\n\n And charged them to abide in Him,\n And thus much fruit return;\n And warned them 'gainst the dreadful fire,\n Where barren branches burn.\n\n He then unfolded to their view\n The things that should be done,\n When He, their Head, should go away,\n And they be left alone;\n\n And told them if they asked of God,\n In His name, any thing,\n Such prayer would quickly rise to heaven,\n And joyful answer bring.\n\n Again He spoke to them of love,\n And of His blessed peace,\n And said, as He had overcome,\n So should their warfare cease.\n\n\nHis Prayer for His Disciples.\n\n AND then He stood and raised His eyes\n To heaven's transparent dome;\n And in the same clear voice He said:\n \"Father, the hour is come.\"\n\n Then followed such a solemn prayer,\n With holy nearness filled,\n As human lips ne'er breathed before,\n By faith however thrilled.\n\n The prayer ended, then Jesus crossed\n Over the Kedron brook,\n And the last walk, in silence calm,\n With His disciples took.\n\n\nChrist in Gethsemane.\n\n ON Olivet a garden grew--\n Gethsemane its name--\n And here, in that portentous hour,\n The \"Man of Sorrows\" came.\n\n The shadows of the midnight fell,\n And silence reigned around,\n As He and His eleven friends\n Trod the familiar ground.\n\n Then, Oh! such heavy agony\n Descended on His soul,\n That even His strong spirit was\n Unable to control.\n\n He said to them: \"Exceeding woe,\n Beyond all mortal grief,\n O'erwhelms my soul; watch here while I\n In prayer shall seek relief.\"\n\n Then went a little farther off,\n And on His face He fell,\n And offered up this earnest prayer:\n \"If it be possible,\n\n \"My Father--Oh! My Father!--\n Let this cup pass from me.\n Nevertheless, Thy holy will,\n And not my will shall be.\"\n\n Then, coming back to those He left,\n A mournful watch to keep,\n He found them prone upon the ground,\n And wrapped in heavy sleep.\n\n But Jesus said: \"Sleep now and rest,\n The hour is close at hand.\n Behold the Son of Man betrayed\n To an ungodly band.\"\n\n\nAt the Palace of the High Priest.\n\n AND as He spake, behold a crowd\n With lanterns and with swords;\n And Judas, traitor, came before,\n With kiss and guileful words.\n\n But He who reads all hearts, and points\n To what He finds amiss,\n Said: \"Judas, dost thou thus betray\n Thy Master with a kiss?\"\n\n Then gently turning to the crowd,\n He asked them: \"Whom seek ye?\"\n They said: \"Jesus of Nazareth.\"\n He answered: \"I am he.\"\n\n And the armed band led Jesus\n Along the city road,\n Up to the high priest's palace--\n Caiaphas' abode.\n\n Meanwhile sat Peter by the fire,\n Wondering how this would end,\n And feeling wholly powerless\n His Master to defend.\n\n A servant, passing, said to him:\n \"Thou with this man hast been.\"\n But Peter in great fear replied:\n \"I know not what you mean.\"\n\n And soon another said he had\n Of Jesus' friends been one,\n But Peter cursed and swore that he\n Had never Jesus known.\n\n Just then the cock crew, shrill and clear,\n And Jesus turned His face,\n And full on Peter cast a look\n Of love, reproach and grace.\n\n Then over Peter's aching heart\n Repentant anguish swept,\n And he rushed out into the dawn,\n And bitterly he wept.\n\n\nChrist before Pilate.\n\n AND now the morning beams appeared\n The council of the Jews\n Led Jesus to the judgment hall,\n That they might Him accuse.\n\n And Pilate gathered to his aid\n Chief priests and rulers all,\n And Jesus stood before him in\n The royal judgment hall.\n\n And Pilate said unto them: \"Ye\n Have brought this man to me,\n Saying, 'He perverts the people,'\n But no fault in Him I see.\n\n \"Nor yet Herod; for I sent you\n With your prisoner to the king;\n But no offence to Roman law\n Could you against Him bring.\n\n \"I, therefore, will chastise Him\n And order Him released;\"\n For 'twas custom he should free to them\n A prisoner at the feast.\n\n But they exclaimed: \"Away with Him,\"\n And cried, with one accord,\n That he release Barabbas,\n And crucify the Lord.\n\n Now Barabbas was a robber,\n And they knew his record well;\n He for murder and sedition\n Lay in a prison cell.\n\n \"Why, what great evil hath He done?\"\n Pilate, the third time saith;\n For he knew it was for envy\n That they desired His death.\n\n\nPilate's Wife's Dream.\n\n AGAIN upon the judgment seat,\n To end this cruel strife,\n Sat Pilate, when a servant came\n With message from his wife.\n\n \"Beware\"--the word the lady sent--\n \"That thou no evil do\n To Him who stands before thee now--\n That man so just and true.\n\n \"For I while sleeping on my bed,\n Have suffered, in a dream,\n Much anguish and distress of mind,\n This day, because of Him.\"\n\n Then Pilate saith to Jesus:\n \"Art thou the very king\n The Jews expected should appear,\n And their salvation bring?\"\n\n \"My kingdom,\" Jesus answered,\n \"Is not beneath the skies,\n Else to protect me from the Jews\n My servants would arise.\"\n\n \"Art thou a king, then?\" Pilate asked.\n \"Thou sayest it,\" the reply;\n \"For I was born, and hither came,\n The truth to testify.\"\n\n Pilate said to Him: \"What is truth?\"\n Then left the judgment hall,\n And said unto the Jews: \"I find\n In Him no fault at all.\"\n\n Then Pilate, taking water, washed\n His hands before them all;\n And said: \"This just man's blood on me\n Shall not in judgment fall.\"\n\n Then answered all the people:\n \"Let this man's blood be shed;\n And let it fall on each of us,\n And on our children's head.\"\n\n[Illustration: THE CRUCIFIXION St. Matthew 27:35-38; St. Mark 15:24-28;\nSt. Luke 23:33, 34; St. John 19:18-24]\n\nThe Crucifixion.\n\n IT was outside the city wall\n Of proud Jerusalem,\n That Roman soldiers crucified\n Whom Pilate dared condemn.\n\n But from the suffering Nazarene\n No word of murmur came;\n Patience appeared through keenest wrong,\n And dignity through shame.\n\n Only this kind and earnest plea\n Their malice from Him drew:\n \"Father, I pray, forgive them now,\n They know not what they do.\"\n\n\nThe Mother of Jesus.\n\n NOW there stood by that dreadful cross\n The mother of the Lord,\n Whose soul with sharpest agony\n Was pierced, as with a sword.\n\n When Jesus therefore saw her near,\n And His disciple, John,\n The man whom He loved best, He said:\n \"Woman, behold thy son.\"\n\n Then said to the disciple:\n \"Thy mother here behold!\"\n And John thenceforth his loving care\n Around her did enfold.\n\n\nThe Darkened Sun.\n\n NOW 'tis high noon and, solemn sight,\n The sun withdraws his face,\n And shadows, over all the land,\n The beams of day replace.\n\n All nature, wrapped in solemn awe,\n Stood shuddering in dismay,\n As hours of stern, Almighty wrath,\n Passed tediously away.\n\n Once, from the cross, an anguished voice\n Came languidly: \"I thirst,\"\n And then a cry, as though the heart,\n So full of love, had burst.\n\n \"Eli, Eli,\" these were the words,\n \"Lama Sabachthani?\"\n Oh! what acutest agony\n Wrung forth that mournful cry!\n\n Meanwhile a sponge, in vinegar,\n One standing near Him dips;\n And, putting it upon a reed,\n He lifts it to His lips.\n\n He then, with exclamation loud,\n His voice aloft doth send,\n Saying: \"Father, now into Thy hands\n \"My spirit I commend!\"\n\n And, then, behold! the temple vail\n From top to bottom rent;\n An earthquake shook the city's walls,\n The rocks to pieces went.\n\n And the centurian, with his guard,\n Seeing these signs abroad,\n Exclaimed in fear: \"Now, of a truth,\n \"This was the Son of God.\"\n\n\nThe Burial.\n\n NOW a good man, Joseph by name,\n Of wealth and high renown,\n In secret a disciple true,\n Of Rama's ancient town,\n\n Besought that Pilate grant to him\n Permission to remove\n The body of the Crucified,\n Whom he had learned to love.\n\n And then came Nicodemus,\n With aloes and with myrrh--\n Another who had been of Christ\n A secret worshipper.\n\n And these two men, who ne'er had made\n Profession, great or small,\n Prepared the sacred body for\n An honored burial.\n\n They wrapped it, with the spices,\n In clean, white linen clothes;\n According to the way in which\n The Jews their dead dispose.\n\n Then reverently laid it down\n In Joseph's tomb--quite new,\n Which he had hewn from out the rock,\n His own last sleep in view.\n\n\nThe Resurrection.\n\n THE Sabbath passed in sullen calm\n The Lord of all things slept,\n And some exulted in their crime,\n While others mourned and wept.\n\n It passed, it ended, and, behold!\n While darkness veiled the sky,\n Midst shock of earthquake, there came down\n An angel from on high.\n\n He sought the silent sepulchre,\n And rolled away the stone--\n The heavy stone that filled the door--\n And took his seat thereon.\n\n His features shone with lightning glow,\n His robes were snowy white;\n With solemn awe the keepers shook,\n And fell, as dead, with fright.\n\n\nWomen at the Tomb.\n\n MEANWHILE the day began to dawn--\n The first day of the week--\n And sorrowing women early came,\n The sacred tomb to seek;\n\n With spices and with ointments sweet,\n To preserve the precious clay;\n And saying: \"Who shall roll for us\n That heavy stone away?\"\n\n But when they reached the sepulchre,\n They saw the stone removed,\n And, entering in, they also missed\n The form of Him they loved.\n\n Instead, they saw a strange young man,\n Sitting up on the right,\n Clothed in a long, white flowing robe,\n And they were filled with fright.\n\n And he said unto them: \"Fear not,\n Ye seek Him who was slain.\n He is not here. He's risen indeed,\n Come, see where He has lain.\"\n\n[Illustration: \"THEY CAST THE NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHIP AND\nWERE NOT ABLE TO DRAW IT FOR THE MULTITUDE OF FISHES.\" St. John 21. 6]\n\n\nThe Ascension.\n\n ON sacred Olivet, once more,\n The apostles met their Lord,\n And looked with rapture on His face,\n And heard with joy His word.\n\n He spake with old-time gentleness,\n And dignity, and love,\n Commanding that they should not from\n Jerusalem remove.\n\n \"But wait there till the promise of\n My Father come,\" He said,\n \"Of which you heard me plainly speak\n The night I was betrayed.\n\n \"For John baptised with water,\n But ye shall feel the glow\n Of baptism with the Holy Ghost,\n Not many days from now.\"\n\n And as He talked He led them on\n As far as Bethany,\n When they, together, forward came\n And asked Him earnestly,\n\n Saying: \"Lord, wilt thou at this time\n To Israel restore\n The kingdom in such splendor\n As it enjoyed of yore?\"\n\n But Jesus said unto them all:\n \"'Tis not for you to know\n That which the Father doth intend\n Respecting things below.\n\n \"But ye shall be endued with power,\n And strength, and majesty,\n After the Holy Ghost has come\n Upon you from on high.\n\n \"And ye shall witness unto Me\n Both in Jerusalem,\n Judea and Samaria,\n And lands ye now condemn.\"\n\n And then He lifted up His hands,\n And blessed them as they stood,\n While He ascended from their sight,\n Their Master, great and good.\n\n And they beheld Him rise aloft\n Into the ether bright,\n Until a cloud enveloped Him,\n And bore Him from their sight.\n\n And while they looked up after Him\n Toward heaven, amazed and sad,\n Behold two angels stood by them,\n In white apparel clad;\n\n Which said: \"Ye men of Galilee,\n Why stand ye, gazing up,\n As though the Lord had gone away,\n And left you without hope?\n\n \"As ye have seen Him rise to heaven\n In majesty sublime,\n So, in like manner, shall He come,\n In the allotted time.\"\n\n\n\n\n Transcriber's Notes:\n\n Bold type is shown as =strong=.\n\n Italics are shown thus: _sloping_.\n\n Small capitals have been capitalised.\n\n Illustrations have been moved out of mid-paragraph.\n\n Variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained.\n\n Punctuation has been retained as published.\n\n In the list of illustrations Return of the Prodigal Son 278 has been\n corrected to 378","title":"Captivating Bible Stories for Young People, Written in Simple Language","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":96186}