said should not be healed on the Sabbath, unless they were in danger of immediate death. This was a part of their religion, but Jesus showed them that a man was of far greater value than a sheep, and that it was lawful, because it was right, to do well on the Sabbath day. Then, without fearing the wicked Pharisees, he healed the withered hand. We should think, if they were not convinced by the words of Jesus that he was the Son of God, they must have been by the miracle which he wrought in their presence; yet it was not so; their hearts were too stubborn to believe, and we learn from the fourteenth verse that they "went out and held a council against him how they might destroy him." Ah, little did they think that he whose death they were seeking was not only listening to their words, but looking into their wicked hearts also!

Jesus had come into this world to die for sinners, and he knew that the Pharisees and many others would hate him, but this did not take away his pity and love. When he had finished his preaching, and performed all his miracles, he would be ready to die on the cross by the hands of wicked men-die for his worst enemies, even for the proud, self-righteous Pharisees-but the time had not yet come; many more sick people must first rejoice in his healing mercy, and many more sinners rejoice in believing, through listening to his gracious words; therefore, as we are told in the fifteenth verse, "He withdrew himself from them;" that is, he went away from that part of the country where the Pharisees were plotting to destroy him; but he did not hide himself from

those who were sick and distressed, for we are told in the same verse that great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. Not one was sent home filled with sorrow and disappointment, but all rejoicing in his mercy and power. In the sixteenth verse we learn that he charged those whom he healed that they should not make him known. As he was not yet ready to be offered up, he did not wish the Pharisees, or any other wicked people, to be enraged, by hearing of the wonders he wrought, therefore he charged those whom he cured not to talk much about it, and tell who had healed them, and then his enemies would not know where he was, and could not interrupt his good works.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MIRACLES OF WALKING ON THE WATER, AND STILLING THE TEMPEST.

MATT. xiv. 22-33.

22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary.

25. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28. And Peter answered him, and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?

32. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God.

WE read in the first of the verses above, that Jesus constrained his disciples, which means that he urged them, to go before to the other side of the Sea of Galilee; while he should send away the multitudes of people that followed him. His love and compassion were so great, and he found so many distressed beings in our sinful world, that he could scarcely find time for prayer and rest. Although our Saviour was the Son of God, he had a body like our own, and felt weariness and hunger just as we should. At this time he had been healing the sick, and feeding the multitude during the day, and now he wished to be alone; therefore, he dismissed the people to go to their homes, and sent his disciples across the lake without him. Jesus had no home on earth where he could go to find comfort and rest, for he says in the ninth chapter of Luke, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head;" but he loved to resort to the quiet mountain for rest and prayer, and we learn from the twenty-third verse that when

the evening was come he was in the mountain alone.

Perhaps you would think it a great misfortune to be left alone for one hour. Among all my little friends, I do not recollect one who is fond of being alone. I hope some of them pray in secret, but this occupies but a short time, and they soon come forth from their closet, and join again in the conversation of their friends. Our Saviour loved to be alone, and I think if all of us, even children, love to be alone sometimes, that we may think of God and of our own hearts, we shall become more like him. When we are called away by death, our dearest friends cannot go with us. We must die alone. Is it not well then sometimes to feel as if no other friend was near but Jesus? for in the hour of death no other friend can comfort us.

We have in the New Testament many accounts of our Saviour's prayers. In one place a long prayer is recorded, which he offered just before his death, and this shows that he did not go away from his disciples nor the multitude, because he wished to forget them; for he there prays for others more than for himself. Never did he forget the sinful beings whom he came to save. Never did that love grow cool which led him to leave heaven, and share the sorrows of earth.

At this time, though he sought to be alone for a season, he was still watching over his disciples. In the twenty-fourth verse, we learn that the ship in which they had embarked, was now "in the midst of the sea tossed with the waves." It is probable that they were alarmed, for it is a fearful

thing to be out in a frail vessel, reeling and tossing over the mighty waves; and to feel that the next moment we may be dashed against the rocks, and find ourselves struggling for life in the midst of the angry waters. Jesus knew the feelings of his disciples, and so he left his retirement on the mountain, and at the fourth watch of the night, which is nearly morning, he came to them "walking on the water." This, you know, was a miracle, for no one but he who made the waters could cause them to bear up a person as he walked over them. It does not appear that the disciples had one thought that their best friend was so near, but when they saw Jesus coming towards them they were still more alarmed, and even cried out with fear, as children do when they see some danger near. They supposed they saw a spirit, that is, a being from another world. Perhaps they thought it was a spirit from the wicked world, and certainly such a being would be a very unwelcome visitor; but they need not have feared, neither should you and I fear such beings if we are good, for God will not suffer them to injure us.

How mistaken they were to think they had cause for alarm when Jesus was coming so near! It is sometimes so with us when God comes very near to us to take away our friends by death, or when he causes us to endure severe sickness; we are alarmed, and do not at first realize that it is our Heavenly Father. Yet it is our best friend who is approaching so near us, and though we may not feel sure of it at the time, he is doing that which is best for us.

Notice in the twenty-seventh verse, how tenderly