ful to eat but for the priests alone? And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath-day; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts: and said to the man who had the withered hand, Arise, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose, and stood forth. Then Jesus said to them: I would ask you what is lawful on the Sabbath days? to do good or to do evil? to save life or to destroy? And looking round about on them all, he said to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored as the other. And they were filled with madness, and they talked one with another, what they might do with Jesus.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in a house of prayer.* And when it was day, he called to him his disciples: and he chose twelve of them, (whom also he named Apostles :) Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and

* House of prayer.-Auth. Trans. In prayer to God.' But the construction of the words scarcely admits of this translation. The Rheims Version renders them, In the prayer of God. This, though more literal, is not very clear. It is generally agreed upon by critics that the Lord spent the night in an oratory or chapel dedicated to the worship of God, similar to that at which Paul met with Lydia, as mentioned Acts xvi. 13. Doubtless, however, our Lord was engaged in prayer while spending the night in this house of prayer.

+ Peter. From a Greek word signifying a rock; called also Cephas, having the same import in Hebrew.

John,* Philip, Philip, and Bartholomew, Matthew + and Thomas, James§ the son of Alpheus, and Simon, who is called Zelotes. And Jude¶ the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor. And coming down with them he stood in a plain, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon, who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were troubled with unclean spirits; and were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power went out from him, and healed all. And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said, Blessed are ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude you from their society, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil for the son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day and triumph, for behold your reward in heaven is great, for according to these things did their fathers treat the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are filled, for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you when men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers treat the false prophets.

*John.-The Evangelist.

+ Matthew. He had been a publican, or tax-gatherer to the Romans.

Thomas.-Called also Didymus, which signifies a twin.
James.-Called the Lord's brother, supposed to be his

cousin.

Simon.-Called also the Canaanite.

Jude. Another son of Alpheus, called also Thadeus and Lebbeus, the author of the Epistle of Jude.

But I say unto you that hear, love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that arraign you. And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And from him that taketh away thy cloak, withhold not thy coat also. Give to every one that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner. And if you love them that love you, what thanks have you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks have you? for sinners also do this. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much in return. But love ye your enemies; do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your father also is merciful. Judge not and you shall not be judged; condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, and pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall they give into your bosom.* For with the same measure that you shall measure, it shall be measured to you again. He used also this comparison: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his teacher; but every perfected [disciple] shall be as his teacher. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the

* Or, "into your lap." The fore part of the long Eastern dress might be so raised, as to be capable of receiving grain, &c.

beam that is in thine own eye? Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. For there is no good tree* which bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor a corrupt tree which bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say ? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, and who digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house without a foundation upon the earth; against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

WORDS, &c. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON IX.

Loaves of the presence,

Arraign,

Apostles.

Traitor,

* Our Saviour frequently compares persons to trees; the heart is as the root. A good heart will be accompanied by a good life and conversation.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON IX.

WHAT are the contents of this Lesson?

With what did the Pharisees charge the disciples? What reason had they for accusing the disciples of breaking the Sabbath?

What were our Lord's observations on that point?

To what fact in Jewish history did he refer?

For what purpose did the Scribes and Pharisees watch him on another Sabbath?

What question did Jesus ask them in consequence of knowing their thoughts?

What did he say to the man with the withered hand?
What were the names of the apostles?

For what purpose did the people flock to him?
Mention the blessings he pronounced?

What directions did he give about our conduct to those that speak ill of us?

What is the most general rule of conduct towards others? What directions did he give about lending?

What about our enemies?

What about mercy?

What about judging?

What about men's blindness to their own faults?

How did he explain good or bad actions arising from a good or bad heart?

What did he say about outward professions and actual obedience?

To what does he compare a man who both hears the word and performs it?

To what does he liken a man who hears, but does not perform?

LESSON X.

Christ heals the centurion's servant-raises the widow's son to life-answers the messengers sent by John the Baptist-testifies in favour of the Baptist-the Jews compared to children singing in the market place-He is anointed by a woman that was a sinner—and absolves her from her sins.

FROM LUKE VII.

Now, when he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum,