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PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY.

I

called.

T was a part of the Jewish law, as we read in Exodus (chap. xxx. 13), that all strangers passing. among the Jews should pay to the priests of the

temple an offering, or tribute-money as it was

Soon after our Lord's Transfiguration He came to Capernaum, together with His disciples. When they had entered the city, there came to them the priests who usually collected this tribute-money, and they said unto Peter, "Doth not thy Master pay tribute?" And he answered, "Yes." But when they had come to the house, Jesus said to Peter, "What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do they take tribute; of their own people or of strangers?" And Peter answered Him, "Of strangers."

Jesus saith unto him, "Then their own people are free; but lest we should offend them by not paying, go thou down to the sea and cast in thy hook and line and take up the first fish that taketh the hook into his mouth. And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money there. Take it and give it unto the priests as tribute for Me and for thee."

And Peter went down to the sea and cast in his line, and took a big fish. And when he had opened its mouth he found the piece of silver, and took it to the men in payment of the tribute.

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THE PARABLE OF THE NET.

T

HESE fishermen have just returned to shore with their net full of fish. Now this is not a castingnet, which is thrown out from the boat and drawn in again, but a drag-net which is of great length, and which is drawn constantly through the water until it is well filled with fish. It is then hauled up to the shore, the fishermen sit around it and take out the fish. these, of course, are unfit for food, or not liked. these into the sea again, but the good fish which they can sell for food are carefully placed in vessels brought for the purpose.

Many of They cast

Christ said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind (of fish): which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

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LOT'S WIFE.

N the valley of the river Jordan were two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the people that dwelt in them were very wicked. Lot was a good man who feared God, yet he lived in Sodom. One evening, as he sat at the gate of the city, there came two angels, and Lot rose to meet them and bowed himself to the ground. He implored them to come into his house and stay till the morning, but they said they would stay in the street all night. But Lot pressed them greatly to stay, and they turned into his house, and he prepared a feast for them. Then the angels told him that they had been sent by God to destroy the city, and Gomorrah also, and counselled him to take his wife and daughters and the husbands of his married daughters out of the city. And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, saying, “Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city." But his sons-in-law would not believe what he had said.

And when the morning came, the angels hastened Lot, saying, “Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, that are here; lest thou be consumed with the city." And while he lingered they took hold of his hand and his wife's hand and the hands of his two daughters, and brought them out of the city. For the Lord was merciful unto him. Then were they urged to flee unto the mountain; not to stay in all the plain, neither to look behind them.

The sun had risen over the earth when Lot reached Zoar. Then brimstone and fire rained down from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah; and the cities of the plain and all living things that were there were overthrown and destroyed. But Lot and his family were saved in Zoar; all except Lot's wife, who looked back to the cities, and she became a pillar of salt.

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