100 Our Lord's Discourse on Fasting.

them, They that be whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast often, and make prayers; but thy disciples fast not, but eat and drink? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

And he spake a parable unto them. No man seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better".

"Matt. ix. 10-17. Mark ii. 15-22. Luke v. 29-39.

The Raising of Jairus' Daughter A Woman cured of an Issue of Blood. Two Blind Men receive their Sight.

WHILE he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was one of the rulers of the synagogue and when he saw him he fell down at Jesus' feet, and worshipped him, and besought him greatly that he would come into his house: for he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. And he besought him, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. But as he went much people followed him, and thronged him. And behold a certain woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind him, and touched the border of his garment. For she said within herself, If I may touch but his garment, I shall be whole. And straightway the foun

102 A Woman cured of an Issue of Blood.

tain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth, and declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. But Jesus said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. And the woman was made whole from that hour. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said to him, Thy daughter is dead why troublest thou the Master any further? But as soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he answered and said unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid,

The Raising of Jairus' Daughter.

103

only believe, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And when he saw the minstrels and the tumult, the people making a noise, and them that wept and wailed greatly, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway and walked; and he commanded that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that they should tell no man what was done. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. when he was come into the house, the blind

And

104

Christ revisits Nazareth,

men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake : and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils 7.

Christ revisits Nazareth, and is rejected there.

AND he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary?

7 Matt. ix. 18-34. Mark v. 22-43. Luke viii.