after spending a whole night in prayer to God, Jesus called to Him His disciples, and out of them He chose the following persons, whose names are given us in the tenth chapter of the Gospel by St. Matthew. There was Simon whom Christ had called Peter; and James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James; and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James, the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite. And then there was Judas Iscariot, who afterwards betrayed Christ.

E. But, Mamma, why did our Lord spend a whole night in prayer, before He chose His Apostles? Was it of great importance whom He chose?

M. It was indeed of vast importance what persons should be chosen to be Christ's witnesses to the world, and the first preachers of His holy religion, not only during His life, but still more after His departure. Most arduous and difficult would their duties be; and most distinguished their reward. Yet for this great and glorious office the persons chosen were not the wise and great men of the world. Four of them, Peter and Andrew, James and John, were fishermen; Matthew had indeed once been a rich publican, but at the command of Christ he had left all his gains to follow Jesus. James the son of Alpheus, and perhaps others besides him, as Simon and Jude, were taken from among the relations of our blessed Lord's mother; who, you know, was poor in this world, and of a humble station. Most unfit were such men by their worldly power, or by their outward advantages of education, to gain success in the world for the religion of Jesus. But it was not by worldly power that the Gospel was

to be spread; it was not by their own talents, and knowledge, and wisdom, that they were to succeed as Apostles of the Lord. No; they were plain, humble men; totally unable of themselves to contend against the wisdom and power, and prejudices of the world. But Christ Himself would be with them, to give them both power and wisdom, such as their adversaries should not be able to withstand. Yes; He would be with them, and with all the faithful ministers of His Gospel who should follow them in their labours, from generation to generation, even unto the end of the world. His Spirit should enable His Apostles to work miracles, and give them the knowledge of heavenly truth and the more humble the instruments that were used, the more clearly would it appear to all, that their success was not from themselves, but from God.

We cannot wonder, however, that, before He chose the persons who were to go forth and proclaim His everlasting Gospel to "all the world,” our Lord should spend so long a season in prayer. He, who prayed always was still more earnest in prayer when something peculiarly important was to be done. And though we cannot understand all the reasons for what our Lord did, yet we may clearly see that He has here left us an example that we should follow His steps, and never enter upon any serious duty or business of life, without earnestly imploring God's guidance and blessing.

See Matt. xii. 9-21; x. 2-4. Mark iii. 1–19.
Luke vi. 6-49.

229

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY EVENING.

THE BELIEVING CENTURION.

M. After choosing His Apostles, and performing many miracles among the people, our Lord delivered a sermon to His disciples very like that of which I have already given you some account, and which I told you was called the sermon on the mount. Christ was not above repeating often the same truths, and that sometimes in almost the same words, so as to fix them more deeply in the minds of His hearers, and to make His teaching more thoroughly understood.

Having finished His discourse to His disciples in the hearing of the people, He returned to Capernaum, but still without any rest from His works of mercy. Neither by sea, nor by land, neither in the field, nor in the city, did our blessed Lord cease from doing good. He was every where employed in acts of the greatest kindness. Nor was His compassion confined to the Jews only. In the city of Capernaum there was a Roman officer called a centurion, that is a captain of a hundred men, who had a servant at the point of death. Now this servant was dear to the centurion; he valued him very much and was grieved at his sufferings, which appear to have been unusually great. When therefore he heard of Jesus he thought at once of imploring His help. He would not venture however to go himself to Jesus; for he had a deep sense of his own unworthiness.

E. But, Mamma, he seems to have been a good man; at any rate he was very kind to his servant.

M. He was indeed most compassionate to his sick servant; not neglecting him in his distress; not content even with procuring for him such relief as might be easily obtained, but seeking help for him at once from Christ the chief of all physicians. This, then, was no common kindness; but this was not all that might be said of the Centurion. He was not only good to his own household, but also to all the people about him so much so that the Jews considered him, though a Roman, to be a lover of their nation. He had even gone so far as to build a synagogue for them; and, in the way of good works, he seems to have had more to pride himself upon, than most men have. By those around him he was indeed highly valued; they spoke of him as one who was in every way worthy of kindness. But true goodness is always humble. So far was this centurion from thinking well of himself, so lowly was he in his own eyes, that he could not bring himself to approach so great and holy a person as Jesus; no, not even with a humble request for a fellow creature. Perhaps he thought that, being a Roman, and therefore a Gentile, he might not come near our Lord. Such humility in such a person, was quite wonderful; but it was fully equalled by his faith. With this deep sense of his own unworthiness, he had the most unbounded confidence in our Lord's power and mercy. Though he would not approach His holy presence himself, he persuaded some of his friends, who were among the chief people of the Jews, to go to Jesus for him, and entreat His help in behalf of his sick servant. Our blessed Lord most graciously re

ceived the message. "I will come and heal him," was His immediate reply. Yes, He would condescend Himself to visit the sick bed of a poor servant! Then, as if to show His readiness to receive all, and most of all those who in their own eyes were the least worthy, He proceeds at once to his house. But when He drew near to the house, the centurion sent again some of his private friends to Jesus, saying, "Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.”

E. Mamma, what astonishing faith he must have had to think that a word from Jesus was enough! Did he know who Jesus was?

M. He had heard, no doubt, of His fame and His miracles, which were known throughout all the land of Palestine, especially in and about Capernaum. But his faith was very remarkable: he seems to have had no doubt at all, but that the commands of Christ must be immediately obeyed. The remainder of his message to Christ gives us a beautiful proof of this. After entreating Jesus just to speak a word, and his servant should be healed, he says, "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers ; and I say to this man, go, and he goeth; and to another, come, and he cometh; and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it." As a military officer, he was accustomed to render the most prompt obedience to those in authority over him, and to receive it also himself from the soldiers under his own command. Just like this, he thought, was the authority of Christ: "He too no doubt," thought this humble and believ