:

ter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And he said also to the multitudes, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, immediately ye say, There cometh a shower: and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is just? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, use thine endeavour that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he drag thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exactor, and the exactor cast thee into prison: I tell thee, thou shalt not go out thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

There were present at that time some that told him of the Galileans,+ whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

*This is said by way of parable to signify that we ought, without delay, to avail ourselves of the opportunity now offered before it be too late; that we should "discern the time" of Christ's coming to us with the offer of salvation, and lose not the occasion of embracing it.

+ Whom Pilate had ordered to be slain whilst offering their sacrifices. They were the followers of Judas of Galilee, who persuaded many of the Jews that they ought not to pay tribute to Cæsar.

We learn hence that a violent death is no certain indication of God's displeasure, and that it is not right to conclude that people have been great sinners because they have been great sufferers. We should therefore check rash censures and uncharitable judgments respecting such instances of God's dealings with men.

Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were wicked* above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you, but except ye repent ye shall all likewiset perish. He spake also this parable: a certain man had a fig-treet planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none, cut it down; why encumbereth it the ground? And he answering said to him, Lord, leave it this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.§

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath: and, behold, there was a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could not at all lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, Woman, thou art delivered from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the

*Wicked.-The word literally signifies a debtor. + Likewise, no less certainly.

Meaning the Jewish church in possession of peculiar advantages; but the parable ought not to be confined to it alone. When God places persons in his church as in a vineyard, he expects them to bring forth fruits of faith and obedience; if they do not, why encumber they, or needlessly take up, the ground?

$ Christ intercedes for unfruitful sinners, and pleads for them, begging a longer time, that every means may be tried for their recovery.

The poor woman's body was contracted to such a degree that she could not raise herself upright, yet in spite of pain and affliction, she attended public worship on the sabbath-day. Go; and do thou likewise.

synagogue, being moved with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answering, said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath-day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite! doth not every one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Then said he, To what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it? It is like a graint of mustard-seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden: and it grew, and became a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.‡

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

† By this parable is represented the great extension of Christ's religion, notwithstanding its small appearance at first. By the next parable is represented its wonderful efficacy in reforming the hearts and characters of mankind.

truth.

Till the whole world shall become converted to the

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XVI.

WHAT are the contents of this Lesson ?

What answer did our Lord give when asked to divide an inheritance?

Against what sin did he warn the people immediately after? By what parable did he show the folly of too great a desire of worldly things?

What did God say to the man who promised himself a long enjoyment of his riches ?

How did our Lord apply the parable?

What did he say to his disciples about anxiety and distrust of God's providence?

What is to be sought after first of all?

What treasure ought to be provided by us?

Where is a man's heart?

By what comparison did our Lord exhort his disciples to watchfulness ?

What servants are pronounced happy?

What reward shall be given to the faithful steward by his lord?

What punishment to the unfaithful servant?

Who are to be beaten with many stripes, and who with few? What did Christ mean by sending fire on the earth?

What was the baptism with which Christ was to be baptized?

Explain how it came that Christ caused division on earth? What did he say about family divisions?

How did he contrast the Jews' sagacity in judging of the weather with their blindness in other matters ?

In what words does he recommend reconciliation with an adversary?

What cruelty had Pilate committed on some Galileans? What did our Lord say on that subject, and what did he mean to check by it?

Recite the parable of the barren fig-tree?

What is the meaning of that parable?

What miracle moved the indignation of the ruler of the synagogue, and why?

To what common practice did our Lord allude in his

answer?

What effect had his answer on his adversaries, and what on the people?

By what comparison is the great extent of God's kingdom from small beginnings, represented?

By what comparison is the success of the Gospel in effecting a change in the world, represented?

LESSON XVII.

Christ goes towards Jerusalem—exhorts to enter by the narrow gate—many shall come from all parts and sit in the kingdom of God-Christ is told that Herod sought to kill him-his reply-and lamentation over Jerusalem-he cures the dropsy on the sabbath day-and justifies himself-he recommends humility--and to invite the poorthe parable of the great supper, and the excuses of those that were bidden—the disposition requisite to be Christ's disciple-before building, necessary to count the cost.

FROM LUKE XIII. AND XIV.

AND he went through the cities and villages teaching, and making his journey toward Jerusalem. And one said to him, Lord, are those who' are saved few? And he said to them, Strive to enter by the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter, and will not be able. When once the master* of the house is risen, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he answering will say to you, I know you not whence ye are; then ye will begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets: but he will say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are ; depart from me, all workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see

*Our Lord represents himself as a master of a family, who having invited guests to his supper, waits till all those who have accepted the invitation, are come in; then rises and shuts the door, after which there is no further admittance.