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SEC. VII. UPRIGHTNESS OF JESUS, LOVE OF TRUTH,

ETC.

Jesus always lived and acted as he thought-His intercourse with the Pharisees-The consequences of these traits-Very few much like Jesus now-Hymn a

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SEC. VIII.-COMPASSION OF JESUS FOR MANKIND.

Came to suffer for them-Aided all who needed-Prayer .

SEC. IX.-HUMILITY OF JEsus.

In childhood-In life-With his disciples-In death b

b John xiii. 1-17. Isa. liii. 7.

SEC. X.-JESUS A TRUE FRIEND.

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· 203

His friends in Bethany-His disciples-The cases of John, Peter,
and Judas-His friendship, how evinced-A friend to all who
love him-Seek virtuous friends c
c John xi.; vi. 70, 71; xiii. 10, 11. 18. 21, &c.
Mark iii. 31-35. Luke viii. 19-21.

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204

Matt. xii. 46-50.

SEC. XI.-THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR ENEMIES.

Mankind whom he came to save, all his enemies-Lived and laboured among them-Wept over Jerusalem d

d Luke xix. 41-44.

SEC. XII.-JESUS IN HIS SUFFERINGS AND DEATH.

I. To the last, full of holy love-Confidence and resignationHis last words-II. His conduct to his enemies-To JudasBefore his accusers-III. To his mother-Differently often do youths treat their aged parents-A widowed mother often disobeyed-The language of gratitude-Tobias-Hymn

e Matt. xxvi. 50. Luke xxii. 48. John xix. 25-27. 2-4.

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II. THE CONCLUSION OF JESUS' LIFE UPON EARTH 214

SEC. XIII.-THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

Had Jesus not risen from the dead our faith would be in vain-
That he has, no believer in the Bible can doubt-This proves

AND REFERENCES.

him the Son of God-We may now rely upon his teachings, prophecies, promises, and a final resurrection a

a 1 Cor. xv. 14. John xx. 1. 19. 26.

SEC. XIV. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS TO HEAVEN.

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Confirms all our hopes-Gone to prepare for us-Should have
strong faith in him—The day of judgment one of justice b
b Matt. xxviii. 16-20. Mark xvi. 14-20.
i. 1-14.

John xiv. 3. 29.

xxiii

214

Matt. vii, 24-27.

. 216 Luke xxiv. 50-53. Acts Luke vi. 47-49.

SEC. XV.-CONCLUDING REMARKS.

A full portrait of Jesus to be found only in heaven-He was evidently a most glorious personage, and in every respect, just such a Saviour as we need - All should fall in love with him as soon as they become acquainted with him-The majority treat him with neglect or contempt-But why?-I. Not because he is cruel-II. Not because he is not long-sufferingIII. Not that he is not ready to forgive-IV. Nor that he has ever sought to injure-He never sought to injure in personHis doctrines not injurious-Testimony of infidels-Compared with heathenism-They would bless the dying man and the world-The opposer must be crushed -The water of life

с (P. 234.) Compare Job xli. 10, 11, with the preceding and following See also Ps. xxxiii. 9.

verses.

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PART I.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

SECTION I.

FROM THE BIRTH OF JESUS TO HIS THIRTIETH YEAR.

LONG before Jesus was born, God caused his birth to be announced by pious men, who, because God made them capable of foreknowing and foretelling many future events, are called prophets. All the descriptions which God caused to be given by them of this future personage prove that he was destined to be the greatest of benefactors to mankind, to save them from sin and its punishment, to bring them to good, to render them pleasing to God, and to prepare them to go to heaven after this life.

About four thousand years after the creation of the world, Jesus was born at Bethlehem. This was the very time that had been announced by the prophets as the time of the birth of Jesus, and the very place that had been named by them as his birthplace. God in his wisdom had so ordered all this, that every one could certainly know that Jesus was the real Messiah or king that had been promised by God; for everything happened to him exactly according to the word of God. The parents of

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Jesus were called Mary and Joseph. They were poor and humble in life, but very pious.

At his birth, the following remarkable event took place. It was in the night, and there were shepherds in the fields with their flocks. All of a sudden, there shone a great clear light round about them, at which they were very much afraid; but in a moment, they heard the voice of an angel, who called to them not to be afraid, for he brought them the joyful news that the promised Saviour was born; and he told them that if they would only go to Bethlehem, they should there find the child in a stable and lying in a manger. Soon after, they heard many voices singing a song of praise to God, and celebrating the happiness which men should derive from this birth. On this, they hasted away immediately to Bethlehem, and there they found the child Jesus, just as it had been told them, in a stable and in a manger; and also Joseph and Mary, whom they informed of what they had heard, sitting near by, taking care of him. With joy and gratitude to God, that he had permitted them to find the promised Saviour, they then hastened back to their flocks.

This event, my young friends, teaches you, that this child Jesus must have been one destined by God to great and blessed purposes; for we have never heard of any other child whose birth was announced in such a way, and celebrated by songs of praise sung in the air.

Immediately after the birth of Jesus, there came learned men from a distant country in the East, to Jerusalem, and asked where the new-born prince and future king was to be found. They said, that in this eastern country they had seen a wonderful light; which they knew to be his star, and therefore had come to show him their regards. Herod, who was then, under the Romans, the reigning

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