When Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, what happened remarkable ?

What did the Pharisee say within himself about Jesus suffering the woman to touch him?

What answer did Jesus give to the Pharisee?

What is meant by one debtor owing five hundred pence, and another fifty?

Which of the two debtors will love the most?

How did our Lord contrast Simon the Pharisee's conduct with that of the woman?

What did Jesus say to the woman?

What did those sitting at meat with Jesus say within themselves?

What second declaration did our Lord make to the woman?

LESSON XI.,

A hymn of praise to God for his compassion in forgiving our sins, and bearing with our infirmities.

PSALM CIII.*

BLESS the Lord, O my soul,

And all that is within me, [bless] his holy name;

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities,

Who healeth all thy diseases,

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction.

Who crowneth thee with kindness and mercies, Who satisfieth thy mouth with good,

[So that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle's,t

* Psa. cii, Douay version.

+ Like the eagle's.-The eagle lives and retains its strength to a great age, and moulting in old age, it renews its feathers, and appears as strong and beautiful as ever.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and of great kindness:
He will not always contend,

Nor will he keep [his anger] for ever.

He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; For according to the height of the heavens above the earth,

us:

So great is his mercy to them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,

So far hath he removed our transgressions from

As a father pitieth his children,

So the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame,

He remembereth that we are dust:
[As for] man, his days are as grass,

As the flower of the field so he flourisheth,
For a blast passeth upon him and he is not,
And his place knoweth him no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity,
And to eternity to them that fear him.
And his righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep his covenant,

And to those who remember his commandments to do them.*

The Lord hath prepared his throne in heaven, And his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels,

Great in strength fulfilling his word,

*The transitory life of man is in this passage beautifully contrasted with the eternity of God, and of his mercy to them that fear him. It reminds us of the words of the apostle Peter in his first Epistle, chap. i. 24, 25. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass-the grass withereth, the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever, and this is the word which by the Gospel hath been preached to you."

In obeying the voice of his commands.
Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts,

Ye ministers of his that do his pleasure:
Bless the Lord, all ye his works,
In every place of his dominion:
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

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

The parable of the sower-its interpretation— Christ's mother and brethren desire to see him -his reply-he goes into a ship and falls asleep— a storm arises-he rebukes the wind-casts out a legion of demons, and permits them to enter into swine-Jairus entreats him to cure his daughtera woman is healed by touching him-he cures Jairus' daughter.

FROM LUKE VIII.

AND it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene,*

* She was probably of Magdala, a city of Galilee, and not the same with Mary the sister of Lazarus, who lived in Bethany.

out of whom went seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered unto him of their substance.* And when a great multitude were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable.+ The 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 had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundred-fold. Saying these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What may this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given, to know the mysteries, of the kingdom of God: but to the others§ in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way-side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest believing they should be saved. Those on the rock are they, who when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, who having heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches

* Supplied him with necessaries at their own expense. + Similitude or comparison.

The design of this parable is to show the causes of men's improving or not improving, under the preaching of the word, and to inform us that there are three sorts of bad hearers, and one of good.

§ The others, i. e. those who had not as yet been induced, notwithstanding all his miracles, to become his disciples.

and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. No* man having lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they who enter in may see the light. For there is not any thing secret that shall not be made manifest neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear for whosoever hath,+ to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he thinketh he hath.

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd. And it was told him; Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these who hear the word of God, and do it.

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a bark with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto 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 danger. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish! But he, having risen up, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said

* Such as are enlightened with the knowledge of God's word, are not to conceal it, but communicate it for the benefit of others.

+ The gifts we have will either be increased or taken away, according as we do or do not use them properly.

The word in the original may mean "cousins."