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WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON VII.

Miracles,

Synagogue,
Demon,

Bark,

Launch,
Beckoned,

Leprosy, Testimony, Solitary.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON VII.

In what cities did Jesus teach on the Sabbath-days?
In what province was that city?

In what place in the city did he teach?

Whom did he meet with in the synagogue?
What did the man do?

What did the demon do to him?

What did Jesus do to the demon ?

What effect had this miracle upon the people?
When he left the synagogue, to what place did he go?
Whom did he find there?

In what condition was she?

What did Jesus do for her?

What took place when the sun was set?

Why did the people wait till sun-set?

What did Jesus do for them?

When it was day, whither did he go?

What did the people do?

What did he say to the people?

When he was near the lake of Gennesaret, what did the people do?

What means did he take for obtaining room to speak to the people?

Into whose bark did he go?

After preaching to the people, what directions did he give?

What was the effect of their following his directions? What effect had the miracle on their minds, and what did Peter say?

What did they do after bringing the barks to land ?

When he was in one of the neighbouring cities, whom did he meet with?

What did the leprous man say to him?
What did Jesus do for him, and how?
What directions did he give to him?

Whither then did Jesus retire, and for what purpose?

LESSON VIII.

Jesus cures a man sick of the palsy-calls Levi the publican.

FROM LUKE V.

AND it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees* and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was there to heal them.

And, behold, some men carrying in a bed a man who was paralytic, endeavoured to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the house-top, and let him down through the tiling, with his little bed, into the midst before Jesus. And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the Scribest and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But Jesus knowing their thoughts, answering, said unto them, What are ye reasoning

* Pharisees.-These were a sect who separated themselves from others, because, as they imagined, they were more holy. Their holiness, however, consisted chiefly in attention to outward ceremonies, some of these not commanded by God, while in their hearts and lives they were very wicked.

+ Scribes.-These were originally persons employed in writing out copies of the Scriptures, but becoming, through means of their occupation, well acquainted with the law, they became lawyers or teachers of the law. They are the same persons who are called doctors of the law. The word doctor signifying a teacher.

in your hearts? hearts? Whether is it easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said to the paralytic man,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And instantly rising up before them, he took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.

:

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican,* named Levi,† sitting at the receipt of custom and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others at the table with them. But the Scribes [of the place] and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners. And Jesus answering, said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came to call not the just, but sinners to repentance.

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Would ye make the companions of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away

* A Publican-A tax-gatherer for the Romans, who had conquered the country, and kept possession of it by force. Publicans were therefore very unpopular; and, as men of good character would not accept the office, they were generally men of bad character.

Levi.-Called also Matthew, who was afterward chosen to be an apostle, and who wrote the gospel that bears his

name.

from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

And he spoke also a similitude to them: No man putteth a piece from a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new cloth maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles:* * else the new wine will burst the bottles and be spilled, and the bottles are lost. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine presently desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON VIII.

Paralytic,

Blasphemies,

Bridegroom,

QUESTIONS ON LESSON VIII.

Similitude.

WHEN Jesus was teaching, whom did certain persons en

deavour to bring before him?

What contrivance did they fall upon for that

What did Jesus say to him?

What did the Scribes and Pharisees say?

Who were the Scribes ?

Who were the Pharisees?
What then did Jesus say
What followed ?

?

What did all the people do and say?

purpose?

*New wine, old bottles.-The bottles were made of skin, and the wine was bottled in a state of fermentation, like porter or ale in these islands. The consequence of putting new fermenting wine into bottles that had already lost their strength and elasticity, would be the bursting of the bottles, and the loss of the wine.

The object of these similies or comparisons is to shew, that, in ordinary affairs, men do not unite things that are unsuitable for one another, so the Pharisees should not have expected the disciples to fast while Jesus was with them.

Whom did Jesus see when he went out?
Who were the publicans?

What did Jesus say to Levi?

What did Levi do when Jesus said this?

What did he afterwards do?

What fault did the Scribes and Pharisees find with Jesus?

How did Jesus justify himself?

What question did they put to Jesus?

What answers did Jesus give?
What similitudes did he use?

LESSON IX.

Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees respecting the Sabbath-he chooses twelve to be his Apostles-cures many of diseases-and preaches to the people.

FROM LUKE VI.

AND it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first [day of unleavened bread], that as he went through the corn fields, his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And some of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them, said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was hungry, and they which were with him; how he went into the house of God, and did take and eat

the loaves of the presence,* * and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not law

*Loaves of the presence.-Called in the Authorized Version Shew-bread, and in the Rheims Loaves of the proposition. They were twelve loaves which were placed on the table in the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle, (afterwards of the Temple,) and were renewed every Sabbath. None were permitted to eat them but the priests. They derived their names from their being presented before God in his holy place. See Lev. xxiv. 5—9.

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