me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." When He had read this, He shut the book, and sat down. All the people fixed their eyes on Him. And He said, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Think what these words of the prophet mean. They tell us how much we owe to Jesus Christ, who can and will do all that He has there promised. It is Jesus whom the prophet means; for none but Jesus can pardon our sins and deliver us from them. The people listened to all Jesus said. They wondered to hear such wisdom and goodness; and they said to each other, "Is not this Joseph's son?" Jesus still continued to teach them. At last they became so angry that they pushed Him out of the city. got up and They then led Him to the edge of a high rock, on which the city stood, and tried to throw Him off; but Jesus passed through them all and went away. Thus the wicked people of Nazareth rejected their Saviour. 18. THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES. ONE day Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesareth; and a great number of people came to see and hear Him. There were two ships close by the shore; one belonged to Peter and his brother Andrew, and the other to James and John; they were busy mending their nets. When Jesus saw the people crowd about Him so much, He got into Simon's boat, and asked him to push it away from the land. Simon obeyed joyfully; and Jesus then preached to the people. When He had finished, He told Peter to go further from 66 the land and let down his nets. Peter said, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at Thy word I will let down the net." They then put the net into the sea, and caught so many fish that the net began to break. As soon as they saw this, they made signs to the other ship to come and help them. The net was pulled up so full of fish, that both ships were laden until they began to sink. When Peter saw this he was afraid; he threw himself at the feet of Jesus and said, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." James and John were as much astonished as Peter when they saw so many fishes. Jesus said to Peter, "Fear not from henceforth thou shalt catch men." The men now rowed their boats to the land; and village to preach and heal the sick. He told the people to "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 19. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. WHEN the people saw the miracles which the Saviour wrought, they followed Him in crowds. Jesus went up into a mountain and began to teach them. The disciples stood close to Him; but the people were round the mountain. All eyes were fixed on Jesus, and there was a deep silence. He then taught them in these words: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for |