maimed, and the lame,- for then they should be blessed, and have their recompense at the resurrection of the just.

Last of all, he told them the parable of the man who made a large supper, and invited many of his friends to partake of it; and when they sent excuses, and would not come, he directed his servants to go into the highways and hedges, and bring in the poor, the halt and the blind, and compel them to come in. So plainly, so fearlessly, our Lord taught these haughty and unbelieving Jews the lessons their pride and blindness resolutely rejected, conveying to them, in the form of parables, truths so simple and so deep, they could not fail to discern their meaning.

He did not oppose their keeping the Sabbath holy, but he would teach them that God was better pleased with acts of mercy than the strict observance of the law.

As he walked, Jesus was constantly followed by large multitudes, who gladly listened to him when he preached, or brought to him their sick to be healed.

To these he taught many things in parables. It was at this time, when surrounded by a concourse of publicans and sinners, he related the beautiful and affecting story of the Prodigal Son, who left his father's house, and, wandering far from home and kindred, wasted his substance, and disgraced his character. And when at last he was reduced to beggary, he determined to go back, confess his faults, and seek forgiveness. He described to them his return, the welcome he received, and the joy of his father at his repentance and restoration. He told them the parable of the rich man and Lazarus,-so full of power,- furnishing a lesson of the contrast that often exists in this life, and the dreadful difference between the righteous and the wicked in the world to come.

During this journey, Jesus also related the parable of the Unjust Steward; and that of the two men who went up to the Temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, in all the pride of his ceremonial observances, the other a publican, deeply humble for his sins,- showing them whose worship was most acceptable to God.

One day, some little children were brought by their mothers, that the great Teacher might lay his hands upon them and bless them.

The disciples, annoyed at what they considered an intrusion, bade them go away. But Jesus, when he heard this, was much displeased, and said unto them, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Taking the little ones in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed them; and he said, "Verily, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Then he gave them again to their mothers, who would not fail to remind them, in after years, of the blessing they had so unconsciously received.

When Jesus had departed thence, and was on his way to another place, a young ruler came running to him, and, kneeling at his feet, said, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

He was a young man, had been carefully educated in the Jewish law, and brought up in the midst of great wealth, with a prospect of distinction.

Yet, with all this, he was still restless and dissatisfied; and, having heard of Jesus, he longed to know more of his doctrines, hoping that in them he might find a happiness the world did not give. Jesus said, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one;" and then told him, if

he would enter into life, he must keep the commandments. He asked which; and when they were enumerated, he replied he had kept them all, from his youth up. Attracted by his frankness, and the amiability that stamped itself upon his countenance, Jesus loved him, and said, with tenderness, "One thing thou lackest." Immediately the young man asked what that one thing was; and, as our Lord proceeded to tell him that he must sell all his possessions and give to the poor, and then he should have treasures in heaven, he was grieved, and went away silent and sorrowful. He would gladly have both riches and heaven, but he could not part with what seemed so necessary. He had hoped the Master would have asked some easy duty at his hands,some sacrifice only in name,- but to give up all his wealth, he could not, for one moment, think of such a loss. Looking after him, as he departed, and seeing that he was very sorrowful, Jesus said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven!"

CHAPTER XII.

The request of the wife of Zebedee. — Two blind men healed.—The visit to Zaccheus. Jesus arrived at Bethany. - The public entry of our Lord into Jerusalem. The barren fig-tree. — Christ's authority questioned. Parable of the wicked husbandman. - Parable of the marriage of the king's son. - Jesus questioned by the scribes and Pharisees. -A scribe questions Jesus. - Lamentation over Jerusalem.-Supper at the house of Simon the leper.

THE Passover was approaching, the last one that our Lord would ever celebrate with his disciples. Three years since, these humble fishermen and their companions had been called to enjoy the society and friendship of Jesus, and to work in his service; and these three years had been the happiest of their lives. The lovely character of their Master, the tender interest he had felt in them, his sympathy and gentle words, his solicitude for their happiness, temporal and eternal, and his high and holy purposes, had bound them to him with an affection stronger than any earthly tie. As yet, they knew not the terrible trials that awaited them, nor the severe test their love for him must undergo.

The winter was ended; April, the month of the Passover, had commenced; and once more they turned their faces towards the holy city, making slow journeys, and lingering in the towns and villages, to preach and heal the sick.

It was at this time that Salome, the mother of James and John, came to Jesus, entreating an honorable place for

her sons in the new kingdom which she also supposed he was about to establish.

Zebedee, their father, was probably dead; and, as the head of the family, she wished to provide well for her children.

Our Lord told her she knew not what she desired for them; and then, turning to the brothers, he asked them if they were able to drink of the cup which he must drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with. Unhesitatingly they answered that they were able, little dreaming of the anguish their Lord must encounter. Then he told them that to sit on his right hand and on his left was not his to give, but would be given to those for whom it was prepared by his Father.

The other disciples were very indignant at the ambitious request of the two brothers, but Jesus excused them on the ground that they were influenced by those in high places,— intimating that they were connected with some family of wealth and power, and enjoined upon them all fresh precepts of humility and love.

Late on Friday afternoon, as they drew near Jericho,— a city remarkable for its springs and palm-trees, for its splendid palaces and the wealth of its inhabitants,—they saw two blind men, who sat by the way-side begging. Poor and friendless, they formed a striking contrast to the glittering towers and magnificent structures that rose in proud beauty among the hills beside them. One of these, named Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, perceiving that a crowd was moving near him, asked the cause of it, and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. As soon as they heard this, they both cried out, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on us!" When the bystanders endeavored to silence