given.

And they that sat the mercy which giveth thee such a

at meat with him began to

Saviour.

say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

5

CHAPTER VIII.

FEB. 25, JUNE 25, Oct. 22.

5 When the word falls upon minds hardened by a course of sin, as a road by continual treading, it cannot sink into the understanding; consequently the first temptation removes it.

AND it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: * A sower went out to sow his seed : and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell

6

on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundred fold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let

• If a heart be stubborn in its own will, it is like a rock without depth of soil; without love to God and his Christ. No sooner do trials of faith

arise, than the seed, which sprang up quickly, as quickly perisheth; and giveth no fruit.

7 Should cares or pleasures get the mastery, those weeds choke the good seed: it pineth away.

8 We learn that, fallen though we

be, there is an honest and good heart. Infirmity, therefore, is no excuse for sluggishness; a vile nature no palliation of sin. Strength and holiness are ours in Christ.

him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might

this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed 12 Man is well taught, by his daily

10 So Jesus wills that his people hear the instruction of the ministers of his word now.

is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, that which he seemeth to have. and his brethren, and could not And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without,

labour, the true view of his state as a son of Adam *.

17 If we profess to be of the light, let our light shine to God's glory, by the good works of a holy life. neither any thing hid, that shall

18 Be always very attentive to the word, lest what you hear one day be forgotten the next, and you at last lose what you seem to have.

from him shall be taken even Then came to him his mother come at him for the press.

21 What an encouraging thought! Jesus loves his faithful servants, even as though they were his kindred.

desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto

* Man, when he looks upon the fields ripe for harvest, considers that the ground, which giveth forth that rich abundance, is by nature as surely under curse as the soul is by nature under sin. Whence then the good fruit? Even by God's blessing of sun and shower upon man's labour, care, and watchfulness; for man prepared the earth, and planted therein the good seed, which was God's gift. This reflection gives the mind a spring for new exertion. Even so we will strive diligently in plucking evil from our heart; we will break up the hard and proud selfwill natural to it; we will sow therein the good seed, which is the word of God; and we will watch that no enemy plant evil with it. We will do all this and our trust for success upon our labours shall be in the blessing from on High. Thus is the Christian encouraged. (See Matt. xiii. 30.)

the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

But

as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 21 And they

24 A twofold miracle! The wind obeyed his voice, and even the waves were still at his instant bidding*.

came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28 What a contrast! Jesus exercised his power to benefit mankind ; the devils theirs to injure them.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him

* The wind does sometimes lull suddenly; but never, save by miracle, did the wares suddenly cease their agitation.

to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. "And it came to pass, that, 40 Jesus returned to Capernaum.

38 Unless duly called to the ministry, men are not required to neglect their lawful worldly business. Whoso leadeth a holy life, he it is who liveth to God's glory.

when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: for he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 2 And

46 The same "virtue," or power, is ever vouchsafed to all who draw

46

and bewailed her:

nigh to him in faith. He will heal

all their infirmities also.

52 So Stephen "fell asleep" in death -a token of the calm and happy rest which the blessed find in heaven.

all wept, but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn,

knowing that she was dead.

And he put them all out, and

took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

56 And her parents were astonished but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

56 Art thou a mourning parent? The same voice which said to the daughter of Jairus, "Maid, arise!" shall one day call thy loved one from the grave, and present her to thee glorified to part again no more.

Cherish this faith; there is healing in it.

CHAPTER IX.

FEB. 26, JUNE 26, Oct. 23.

1 THEN he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of

1 The miraculous powers thus given to them over evil spirits, proved that they were sent from God. diseases. And he sent them to 3 Their whole strength, soul and body, was to be sustained miraculously.

7

7 Herod was perplexed and conscience-stricken. (See Mark vi. 16.)

all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; and of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.