Capernaum; of Capernaum itself, and with deep solemnity assured them that, after all the mighty works that had been done in them, if they still continued in unbelief, continued to reject his love and mercy towards them, their punishment would be greater in the day of judgment than that of Tyre and Sidon, -than even of Sodom, so memorable for its wickedness.

At this time he closed his discourse with these words, so full of love,- so well suited to the sorrowing and the care-worn, the sick and the aged, of every clime and every period. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto

As he finished these invitations to his hearers, a Pharisee present, whose name was Simon, invited Jesus to eat supper with him, and, accepting the invitation, he went into his house, and reclined at his table. The Jews did not sit at their meals upon chairs, as we do. Their tables were made

like three sides of a square, hollow in the centre, so that the servants might enter and wait upon the guests. Around them, on the outside, were placed couches or cushions, upon which they reclined. They rested upon one side, with their heads towards the table, so that their feet might be easily approached from behind. When the supper had commenced, a woman entered, bearing in her hand an alabaster box, filled with spikenard, a very precious and costly perfume, brought from India, which she had with great expense obtained. She had led a sinful life; but, having heard the preaching of Jesus, she had repented, and now, learning that he was to be at the Pharisee's house, she followed him there, to make an offering that would prove to him her devotion. Coming silently and unobserved into the room, she knelt beside his feet.

With streaming tears she bent over them, and covered them with her kisses; and then, in token of her humility, wiped them with her long, flowing hair. After this, she broke the box, and poured upon them its fragrant contents. Until then, none but Jesus had perceived her presence; but the odor of the spikenard soon filled the room, and attracted the attention of the host. Looking around for the cause, he saw the woman and her employment, but said nothing.

In his own mind the thought came, if Jesus had been a prophet, he would have known this woman was a sinner.

The Saviour saw the frown upon his brow. He read his inmost thought, and said to him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." He replied, "Master, say on."

Then our Lord told him of a man who had two debtors: the one owed him much, and the other little; yet both were freely forgiven. "Which of these," he asked, "think you, loved him most?"

Simon answered, "The one who had the most forgiven him."

Then Jesus told him this poor woman had been a great sinner; yet, since he entered, she had not ceased to bathe his feet with her tears, to kiss them, and anoint them with ointment; while he, the master of the house, had forgotten or neglected to give him water to bathe them.

It was a mark of hospitality among the Jews, on entering a house, for a servant to remove the sandals of the guests, and to wash the dust from their feet, a service that was particularly needful in that hot and sandy climate, where the shoes worn only protected the soles.

But this attention had been omitted by the Pharisee, who prided himself upon his goodness, and the performance of every duty; while the poor woman had gladly taken upon herself the office of the humblest servant.

With looks of tender compassion, Jesus turned to her, and before all the company said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee;" then, perceiving that those around him doubted his authority to forgive sin, he added, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

As with trembling steps she left the room, how must that benediction have filled her soul with joy! She had been a great sinner, but, until she had listened to the preaching of the Nazarene, she had never known the depth of her guilt. She had heard the melting tones that said "Come unto me;" and with all her sins, all her wretchedness, she had gone to him, and had not been rejected. In her ear had sounded those blessed words, "go in peace," and henceforth her life should be consecrated to Christ's service.

All that she had was his; all that she could do was too

little to offer him, in return for the precious gift bestowed, the peace that passeth understanding.

Soon after this, our Lord went again through Galilee into all its cities and villages, preaching the gospel to the people.

Besides being accompanied by his disciples, many women who had been healed of their diseases by him at various times, and some from whom he had cast out evil spirits, joined him in the way. Among these were Johanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, Susanna, and Mary Magdalene, who had been a great sufferer from the influence of evil spirits, and whose gratitude was as boundless as her attachment. She was from Magdala, and is by some supposed to be the same who anointed the Saviour's feet at Simon's table; but for this we have no sufficient authority.

These women ministered to the wants of our Lord, bringing him, it may be, food and clothing. With what delight they must have wrought, with their own hands, garments for Jesus to wear! How gladly would they gather for him their choicest fruits, or deny themselves to share with him the little of worldly goods they enjoyed! He would not refuse their gifts; he had taught them it was more blessed to give than to receive, and the humblest offering he would never despise.

Entering a house with his disciples in one of the villages through which they passed, they had hoped to find rest; but the people crowded about the door in such numbers, so anxious to be healed, that they found no time even to eat.

Some of our Lord's relatives, hearing of his unwearied labors, and of the multitudes that constantly followed his

*Acts 20: 35.

steps came to take him away, for they said he was beside himself. It may be they were instigated by his enemies to silence his preaching, under the pretence of his being deranged; but, whatever was the cause of their visit, they were probably convinced of their mistake, as their coming made no change in his plans.

Among the sufferers brought at this time to Jesus, was a person both blind and dumb, who was possessed with an evil spirit.

Some of the scribes from Jerusalem who were present, when they saw this cure performed, asserted that Jesus was leagued with Satan or Beelzebub, and with his aid had cast out the evil spirit.

But our Lord replied, "If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand; and if Satan cast out Satan, and be divided against himself, he cannot stand, but hath an end."

Then they asked him to show them a sign from heaven, wishing to ensnare him; but he told them theirs was an evil generation, and no sign should be given them but that of the prophet Jonah.

For the Son of Man should be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale.

He told them also that the men of Nineveh, who repented at the preaching of that prophet, would at the last day rise up in judgment against them; and the Queen of the South would also condemn them, who came from a distant country to hear the wisdom of Solomon; for a greater than Solomon was with them.

As he said this, a woman in the crowd lifted up her voice and blessed the mother of Jesus; but he turned to her and