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Captivating 
 
 Bible Stories 
 
 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 WRITTEN IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE 
 
 BEGINNING AT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD IT TAKES THE 
 
 READER THROUGH THE BIBLE IN FIFTY-TWO LESSONS, 
 
 EACH LESSON COMPRISING THREE READINGS FOR 
 
 EACH SABBATH OF THE YEAR, WHILE A SERIES 
 
 OF QUESTIONS WITH EACH READING HELP 
 
 TO IMPRESS UPON THE YOUNG MIND 
 
 THE TRUTHS OF THE HOLY BIBLE. 
 
 DESIGNED TO 
 
 PROMOTE GREATER INTEREST in the SACRED SCRIPTURES 
 
 AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR TEACHINGS 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 ALL THE IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS DE- 
 SCRIBED IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS 
 
 By CHARLOTTE M . YONGE 
 The Noted Author and Missionaries' Friend 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH MORE THAN 200 SUPERB ENGRAVINGS 
 
 BY JULIUS SCHNORR VON KAROLSFELD OF SCENES 
 
 DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE 
 
 NATIONAL PUBLISHING CO, 
 No, 241 American Street 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
 
21 
 
 ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1813, BY 
 
 GEO. W. BERTRON 
 
 THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D. C, U. 8. A. 
 
 The Illustrations In this work being from original drawings 
 and protected by copyright, their reproduction In any form is 
 unlawful, and notice is hereby given that persons guilty of infring- 
 ing the copyright thereof will be prosecuted. 
 
 M 
 
 'CI.A332794 
 
HE great number of Bible story books that have been 
 published show how many attempts have been made 
 to supply the want which has long been felt of a work 
 containing a carefully written story of the Scripture 
 narrative for young people. 
 
 In this great work which is written in simple 
 language, the captivating story of the Bible is told in a style 
 that will cause it to be read over and over again, and the thrilling 
 truths and beautiful lessons it contains will never be forgotten. 
 
 It takes the reader through the Bible in fifty-two lessons, 
 each lesson comprising three readings for each Sabbath of 
 the year, while a series of questions following each reading, help 
 to impress upon the young mind the truths of the Holy Scripture. 
 The work begins with the marvellous Story of the Creation, 
 describing the beauties of the Garden of Eden, and the awful 
 disaster of the flood; it relates the thrilling scenes in the life of 
 Abraham and the other Patriarchs, and furnishes a great 
 panorama of the w T onderf ul events in the dawn of history. 
 
 This is followed by the delightful story of Joseph, who was 
 sold by his envious brethren and hurried away to Egypt, where 
 he was adopted into the king's family, and finally made ruler 
 over that country. The lessons of his life should be read by every 
 boy and girl in the land. He was one of the noblest characters 
 spoken of in the Bible. 
 
 Next, we have a glimpse of Moses in his little life-boat, found 
 and cared for by a Royal Princess. We see him growing to the 
 fullness of manhood, becoming leader of his people, and finally 
 breaking their chains and bringing them out of captivity. He 
 
 in 
 
IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 stands at the burning bush; he opens a fountain in a rock; he 
 goes up among the clouds of Sinai and receives the tables of the 
 law. This part of the Bible story is full of instruction. 
 
 Then grand old Joshua comes forth 
 upon the scene, and the reader follows him 
 through his stormy conflicts and brilliant 
 triumphs. Here, too, is .a graphic descrip- 
 tion of the magnificent achievements of 
 Gideon, telling what wonders he wrought 
 and what valor he displayed. Who has 
 not been fascinated by the delightful story 
 of Ruth? This humble but charming 
 woman was an ancestor of our Lord Jesus 
 and all are interested in the story of her 
 life. 
 
 Every young person follows eagerly 
 the thrilling account of King Saul and 
 King David. We see the strong, misguided 
 yet mighty Saul, and also the ruddy shep- 
 herd boy whose swift sling slew a giant. 
 Then comes Solomon in all his glory, and 
 along in this part of the Old Testament 
 Story we see that grand man of the desert, 
 Elijah, and follow him through his 
 startling experiences until, in a chariot 
 of fire, he is borne away through the clouds 
 to heaven. We also read of that young 
 patriot Nehemiah, who left the splendors 
 of a palace to rebuild the shattered walls of 
 Jerusalem. He accomplished wonders, 
 teaching the great lessons of devotion and energy. 
 
 The Bible is a rich store-house of instruction and entertain- 
 
 ^ W 
 
PREFACE. v 
 
 ment. How captivating is the story of Queen Esther. She 
 
 presents a striking example of those great crises in which the 
 
 scale has been turned by the power and influence of woman. 
 
 Other narratives come in thick succession. 
 
 The young are always interested in the 
 
 story of Daniel. Why should they not be? 
 
 His strong and beautiful character has a 
 
 peculiar charm, and there are few names 
 
 in history that shine so resplendently. 
 
 Let his brilliant record be studied by all, 
 
 whether old or young. 
 
 How eagerly young people read the 
 charming story of Bethlehem — the story 
 of the angelic choir; of the wondering 
 shepherds who heard the heavenly anthem 
 of Peace and Good-Will; of the Holy Child 
 laid in the humble manger; of the burning 
 star that lighted the wise men of the East 
 to the feet of the infant Prophet, Priest 
 and King; and the thrilling incidents con- 
 nected with His life. It would not be 
 possible for human pen to depict more 
 vividly those majestic events, at once awful 
 and fascinating, which form the closing- 
 chapter of our Lord's life upon earth. 
 
 We venture, in conclusion, to hope 
 this volume will be the means, with God's 
 blessing, of endearing to many young hearts "the sweet story 
 of old," making them to love from childhood that book which in 
 after years will truly be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto 
 their path. 
 
PAGE 
 
 Adam and Eve Driven out of the Garden of Eden . . 23 
 
 After the Banishment from Eden ...... 24 
 
 Sacrifice of Cain and Abel, ' . . .25 
 
 Return of the Dove with the Olive Branch . . . 27 
 
 Noah and His Family Leaving the Ark 30 
 
 Noah's Sacrifice After the Flood . . . . 30 
 
 Abram Sees the Promised Land 32 
 
 Melchizedek Blessing Abram . . . . . . .33 
 
 Abraham Entertains Three Angels . . . . . 35 
 
 Lot and His Family Fleeing from Sodom . . . . .37 
 
 Abraham Offering Isaac as a Sacrifice . . . . 39 
 
 Abraham's Servant Meeting Rebekah at the Well . . .40 
 Rebekah Sees Isaac Coming to Meet Her . . . . 40 
 
 Isaac Blessing Jacob 44 
 
 Jacob's Vision of Angels 46 
 
 Jacob Meeting Rachel 48 
 
 Laban Hiring Jacob . . 48 
 
 Jacob's Departure for Canaan ....... 49 
 
 Jacob and the Angel 50 
 
 The Meeting of Jacob and Esau 50 
 
 Joseph Sold by His Brethren 52 
 
 Pouring Out a Drink Offering . 56 
 
 Joseph Interpreting Pharaoh's Dream 58 
 
 Joseph Proclaimed Ruler Over Egypt 60 
 
 Joseph Makes Himself Known to His Brethren . . . .61 
 Joseph Meeting His Father . . . . . . 62 
 
 Leather Bottles 63 
 
 Pharaoh's Daughter Finding Moses . . . . . . 65 
 
 The Israelites Made to Work Hard in Egypt . . . .67 
 
 Aaron's Rod Changed to a Serpent Q8 
 
 The Plague of Locusts . . 71 
 
 The Feast of the Passover 74 
 
 Death of the First-born of Egypt 76 
 
 Egyptian Judgment Scene 77 
 
 Pharaoh's Host Destroyed in the Red Sea 79 
 
 vi 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. vii 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Aaron and Hur Holding Up the Hands of Moses . . . 82 
 
 Korah and His Associates Swallowed Up 83 
 
 Aaron's Rod that Budded 85 
 
 The Holy Place 86 
 
 Moses Bringing Water From the Rock 88 
 
 The Brazen Serpent . . . . . . . . .89 
 
 Priest — High-Priest — Levite ....... 91 
 
 Balaam Met by the Angel of the Lord ..... 94 
 
 High-priest With Sin Offering 98 
 
 The Ten Commandments 100 
 
 Moses Receiving the Tables of the Law . . . . 101 
 
 Moses Destroys the Tables of the Law 103 
 
 Ancient Musical Instruments 105 
 
 Moses Bringing the New Tables of the Law . . . . 107 
 
 The Spies Returning From Canaan 109 
 
 Table of Shew Bread — Ark — Golden Candlestick . . . 110 
 Moses Giving His Charge to Joshua . . . . . .112 
 
 Moses Viewing the Promised Land 113 
 
 The Death of Moses 113 
 
 Carrying the Ark Over Jordan 117 
 
 The Walls of Jericho 118 
 
 The Angel Appearing to Joshua 119 
 
 Falling of the Walls of Jericho 120 
 
 Joshua Capturing the City of Ai . . . . . . .121 
 
 Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still . . . . 121 
 
 Dividing the Land Among the Tribes 122 
 
 South-east View of the Tabernacle . . . . . . 123 
 
 Sisera Slain by Jael 125 
 
 Gideoh's Offering Burnt by Fire From the Rock . . . 127 
 
 Gideon's Victory Over the Midianites 128 
 
 Jephthah Meeting His Daughter . . . . . . 129 
 
 Samson Slaying a Lion . .129 
 
 Young Samuel Brought to Eli 130 
 
 Hannah's Prayer 131 
 
 God Tells Samuel of Destruction of Eli's House . . . 134 
 
 The Death of Eli . ' 136 
 
 Samuel Anointing Saul , . . 138 
 
 Ancient Shoes 140 
 
 Ruth and Naomi .......... 141 
 
 Ruth Gleaning in the Field of Boaz 142 
 
viii ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Saul Teaeing the Robe of Samuel . . . . . . 144 
 
 David Anointed by Samuel 145 
 
 David Slaying Goliath . . 148 
 
 Saul Casting His Javelin at David 149 
 
 The Pabting of David and Jonathan 150 
 
 David and Abigail . . . . . . .. . . .150 
 
 The Death of Saul ......... 153 
 
 David Anointed King Oveb Isbael 153 
 
 David Moubns the Death of His Child 155 
 
 Shimei Casting Stones at David 156 
 
 The Death of Absalom 158 
 
 David's Thbee Mighty Men . . 160 
 
 Solomon Anointed King . . 163 
 
 Solomon in All His Globy . . . . . . . . 164 
 
 The Judgment of Solomon .166 
 
 The Building of Solomon's Temple 167 
 
 The Queen of Sheba Visiting Solomon . . . . . .170 
 
 Idolatry of Solomon . . . 171 
 
 Revolt of the Tbibes 172 
 
 Elijah Fed by the Ravens . . . . . . . 177 
 
 The Widow's Son Restobed to Life 178 
 
 Elijah Slaying the Pbophets of Baal . . . . . 181 
 
 The Death of King Ahab . . . . . . . 186 
 
 Elijah Taken Up Into Heaven 187 
 
 The Shunamite's Son Restobed . . . . . . .189 
 
 Jezebel Eaten by Dogs . 197 
 
 A City Captubed and the Inhabitants Led Away Captive . 200 
 
 Rabshakeh Befobe Sennachebib 202 
 
 The Angel Slaying the Assybians . . . . . . 204 
 
 The Book of the Law Found - . 206 
 
 An Assybian King . . . . '.'".. . . . 207 
 
 Jebusalem Besieged and People Taken Captive . . . 209 
 
 ashtobeth 210 
 
 The Lobd Commands Jebemiah . 212 
 
 Two Pages of an Ancient Scboll of Scbiptubes . . . .214 
 
 Jebemiah Moubning Oveb Jerusalem 224 
 
 The Bbeastplate . '.'"'. . 227 
 
 Ezekiel's Vision . 229 
 
 Daniel Inteepbeting the Wbiting on the Wall . . . .238 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Return of the Jews from Captivity . 
 
 Building of the New Temple 
 
 The Jewish Captives Conducted Before Darius 
 Daniel in the Lion's Den ..... 
 Babylonian Brick ....... 
 
 Queen Esther Crowned 
 
 Triumph of Mordhcai 
 
 Nehemiah Armeth the Laborers 
 
 A Solemn Fast and Repentance of the People . 
 
 The Angel Appears Unto Zacharias . 
 
 The Angel Appears Unto Mary .... 
 
 The Prophecy of Elizabeth and of Mary 
 
 The Birth of John 
 
 The Angel Announcing the Birth of Jesus 
 
 The Birth of Jesus 
 
 The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by the Shepherds 
 The Visit of the Wise Men ..... 
 
 Joseph Commanded to Flee into Egypt 
 
 The Flight into Egypt ....... 
 
 Killing the Male Children Under Two Years Old 
 Jesus Teaching in the Temple .... 
 
 John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness 
 The Baptism of Jesus ..... 
 
 The Temptation of Jesus 
 
 Behold the Lamb of God 
 
 Jesus Calling His Disciples 
 
 The Miracle in Cana .... 
 
 Jesus Teaches Nicodemus 
 Jesus and the Woman of Samaria . 
 Jesus Heals the Sick of the Palsy . 
 Jesus Raises the Daughter of Jairus 
 Jesus Gives Sight to the Two Blind Men 
 Sermon on the Mount .... 
 
 Jesus Raises the Widow's Son . 
 Jesus Sleeps During the Storm . 
 Sending Forth the Twelve Apostles 
 Death of John the Baptist . 
 Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand . 
 Jesus Supports the Sinking Peter 
 The Well or Fountain at Nazareth 
 
 ix 
 
 PAGE 
 
 241 
 
 243 
 
 245 
 
 246 
 
 247 
 
 250 
 
 251 
 
 252 
 
 254 
 
 256 
 
 256 
 
 257 
 
 258 
 
 259 
 
 260 
 
 261 
 
 264 
 
 265 
 
 266 
 
 267 
 
 268 
 
 271 
 
 272 
 
 273 
 
 276 
 
 277 
 
 278 
 
 279 
 
 280 
 
 280 
 
 283 
 
 283 
 
 284 
 
 285 
 
 285 
 
 286 
 
 287 
 
 288 
 
 289 
 
 290 
 
x ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Transfiguration . . '.' . . . . . 292 
 
 The Good Samaritan 293 
 
 Jesus and the Sisters of Bethany . . . . . . 293 
 
 The Return of the Prodigal . .294 
 
 The Rich Man and Lazarus the Beggar . . , . . 295 
 The Pharisee and the Publican . . . . . . .297 
 
 The Raising of Lazarus 297 
 
 Mary Anoints the Head of Jesus . . . .' . . .299 
 
 Christ Entering Jerusalem . . . ... . . 300 
 
 Jesus Drives Out the Money-changers . . . . . . 302 
 
 Jesus Washing His Disciples' Feet . . . . . . 304 
 
 The Last Supper . . . . . . . . . . 305 
 
 Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane . . . . . . 306 
 
 Judas Betrays Jesus . . . .'■'•. . . . . . 309 
 
 Christ Before Caiaphas . . . .. . . . 310 
 
 Peter Denying Jesus . . . . . . . . .311 
 
 Jesus Crowned with Thorns 313 
 
 Christ Before Pilate 314 
 
 The End of Judas Iscariot 315 
 
 Jesus Falls Under the Cross . . .. . . . .317 
 
 The Crucifixion . . . . 318 
 
 The Burial of Jesus . . . . . . . . 320 
 
 As it Began to Dawn 321 
 
 The Resurrection . . 322 
 
 The Women at the Tomb of Jesus 322 
 
 Mary Magdalene at the Sepulchre 323 
 
 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene . . . . . 324 
 
 Jesus Appears to Two of His Disciples 326 
 
 Then Said Jesus Unto Them, Be Not Afraid . . . . 327 
 Jesus Appears to His Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias . . 329 
 
 The Ascension . . . 331 
 
 Tongues of Fire Resting on the Disciples . . . . .334 
 
 The Child Christ, Mary His Mother and Joseph . . . 345 
 The Sermon on the Mount . . ... . . . 361 
 
 Finding the Lost Sheep . . . . . . . . 376 
 
 Return of the Prodigal Son . . . . . . . . 278 
 
 Christ Blessing Little Children 381 
 
 The Wise and Foolish Virgins . . . . . . .388 
 
 The Crucifixion . . . 396 
 
 The Miraculous Draught of Fishes . . . . .399 
 
 
FIRST SUNDAY. 
 
 Creation of the World. 
 
 17 
 
 SECOND SUNDAY. 
 How Sin Began and the Flood Came 
 
 22 
 
 THIRD SUNDAY. 
 
 The Rainbow 
 
 29 
 
 FOURTH SUNDAY. 
 
 Abraham and Lot 
 
 36 
 
 FIFTH SUNDAY. 
 Jacob's Journey and Dream 43 
 
 SIXTH SUNDAY. 
 Joseph in Egypt 51 
 
 SEVENTH SUNDAY. 
 Joseph's Brothers 57 
 
 EIGHTH SUNDAY. 
 
 The Call of Moses 
 
 64 
 
 NINTH SUNDAY. 
 
 The Plagues of Egypt 
 
 70 
 
 TENTH SUNDAY. 
 
 The Passover, 
 
 75 
 
 ELEVENTH SUNDAY. 
 The Gainsaying of Korah 
 
 81 
 
 TWELFTH SUNDAY. 
 Israel in the Wilderness „ 87 
 
 XI 
 
xii CONTENTS. 
 
 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY. 
 Balaam and Balak 93 
 
 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY. 
 The Giving of the Law 99 
 
 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY. 
 The Giving or the Law 106 
 
 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY. 
 The Death of Moses Ill 
 
 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY. 
 Israel in Battle 116 
 
 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY. 
 The Judges of Israel 124 
 
 NINETEENTH SUNDAY. 
 Samuel 130 
 
 TWENTIETH SUNDAY. 
 King Saul 137 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY. 
 The Reign of Saul 143 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY. 
 King David Reigning 152 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY. 
 Preparing for the Temple 159 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY. 
 Solomon in all His Glory 164 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY. 
 Solomon's Fall 169 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY. 
 The Kingdom of Israel .'./. .... . , v,~ IT4 
 
CONTENTS. xiii 
 
 TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY. 
 Elijah and Ah ab 180 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY. 
 Elijah and Elisha 185 
 
 TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY. 
 Elisha's Miracles 191 
 
 THIRTIETH SUNDAY. 
 The Ruin of Ahab's House 196 
 
 THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY. 
 Hezekiah and Josiah 201 
 
 THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY. 
 Jehoiakim's Cruelty 208 
 
 THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY. 
 Jeremiah's Prophecies 211 
 
 THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY. 
 The Taking of Jerusalem 217 
 
 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY. 
 The Fall of Jerusalem 222 
 
 THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY. 
 The Jews at Babylon 228 
 
 THIRTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY. 
 Daniel at Babylon 233 
 
 THIRTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY. 
 The Return From Babylon 240 
 
 THIRTY-NINTH SUNDAY. 
 Troubles of the Jews 248 
 
 FORTIETH SUNDAY. 
 The Coming of the Lord 255 
 
xiv CONTENTS. 
 
 FORTY-FIRST SUNDAY. 
 The Childhood of Our Lord : . 263 
 
 FORTY-SECOND SUNDAY. 
 The Preparation for the Ministry 270 
 
 FORTY-THIRD SUNDAY. 
 The Calling of the Disciples : 275 
 
 FORTY-FOURTH SUNDAY. 
 The Ministry 282 
 
 FORTY-FIFTH SUNDAY. 
 Wonders of Our Lord's Working 291 
 
 FORTY-SIXTH SUNDAY. 
 Going up to Jerusalem 298 
 
 FORTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY. 
 The Evening of the Betrayal 303 
 
 FORTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY. 
 The Trial and Condemnation 308 
 
 FORTY-NINTH SUNDAY. 
 The Crucifixion 316 
 
 FIFTIETH SUNDAY. 
 The Resurrection 321 
 
 FIFTY-FIRST SUNDAY. 
 The Ascension 327 
 
 FIFTY-SECOND SUNDAY. 
 The Waiting Time 333 
 
 THE NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE 337 
 
FIRST READING. 
 
 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." — Gen. 1: 1. 
 
 §^ N the Bible we are told God made the 
 earth we live on. Sunday is the earth's 
 birthday, for on the first day of the 
 week the Creation began. 
 
 The world was one mass — dark, 
 empty, and shapeless — till God made 
 the light by His Word, and saw the 
 light was good. Without light we could 
 not live : even the very trees and flowers 
 would die. When we have been in the 
 dark how glad we are to see light come 
 back, even if it be only one grey line 
 beginning in the sky ! This shows how 
 blessed is this gift. It was good, too, 
 
 that we should have quiet dark night for rest and stillness. 
 
 The second great change enclosed the earth in an outer ball 
 
 of air, which we call the sky or firmament. That is the deep blue 
 
 2-B.S. 17 
 
18 CREATION OF THE WORLD. 
 
 into which we look up and up. The mist and fog rise up from the 
 earth and make the clouds that take strange shapes, sometimes 
 dark and full of rain to water the earth, sometimes shining white, 
 or pink and golden with morning or evening light. 
 
 The third great change was, that water filled the deep hollows 
 of the earth, while the hills rose up dry above them, with rivers 
 and streams running down their slopes into the deep seas below. 
 God did not leave the land bare and stony: He clothed it with 
 green fresh plants and herbs, with leaves and flowers, and trees to 
 give us their fruit and wood, and filled even the sea with plants 
 that can live under water. 
 
 THE EARTH GLADDENED BY THE SUN. 
 
 Next, God caused the rays of the sun to gladden the earth, 
 and let it see the moon lighted up by the sun, as well as the stars 
 far beyond our firmament. We count the months by the changes 
 in the moon ; and our earth's journey around the sun marks our 
 years and seasons. We all rejoice in a bright sunny day, though 
 the sun is too bright and glorious for us to bear to gaze at him; 
 and how lovely the moon looks, either as a young crescent, or a 
 beautiful full moon ! 
 
 The waters began to be full of live things, that swam, or crept, 
 or flew: fishes, and birds, and insects. By that time this world 
 was nearly as we see it, and a beautiful home for us to live in. 
 Then God made the four-footed beasts — sheep and cows, horses, 
 dogs, cats, elephants, lions — all that we use or admire ; and, last 
 of all, when He had made this earth a happy, healthy place, He 
 planted the Garden of Eden, and put in it the first man and 
 woman, the best of all that He had made ; for though their bodies 
 were of dust, like those of the beasts, yet their souls came from the 
 Breath of God. They could think, speak, pray, and heed what is 
 unseen as well as what is seen. 
 
CREATION OF THE WORLD. 19 
 
 There are many many lessons to be learnt from this wonder- 
 ful story. Let us try to take home one of them. Let us ask our 
 Father that the ground below, the light above, the sky and sea, the 
 sun and moon, the trees and flowers, the birds and beasts, and His 
 holy day of rest, may remind us that they came from Him, and 
 that we may be very thankful to Him for having given us such 
 
 good things. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who made the world ? 2. Which Commandment tells you about God's 
 making the world? 3. What is there in the sky that God made? 4. What is 
 there on the earth ? 5. What do you see around you that He made ? 6. Can 
 we make birds, or beasts, or flowers ? 7. Or could we make them live ? 8. WTio 
 makes them and us live? 9. Where does all our food come from? 10. Who 
 gave us corn? 11. What must we ask God to do for us? 12. What must we 
 thank Him for? 13. Do not you think it would be pleasant to whisper to your- 
 self, when you see a pretty flower, or a beautiful sky, or when the sun shines 
 bright and warm, " Thank God for being so good to me " ? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed 
 into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man became a living soul." — Genesis 2 : 7. 
 
 N the Bible God tells us that He made the world, and 
 
 everything in it : land and water, and grass, flowers and 
 
 trees, insects, birds and beasts, and last of all He made 
 
 the first man and woman. The man was made by God 
 
 out of the dust of the ground, and then God breathed 
 
 into his nostrils the breath of life, and gave him a living 
 
 soul. And the woman was made by God out of the man's side. 
 
 They were called Adam and Eve, and they were to be the first 
 
 father and mother of everyone who was to be born into the world. 
 
 The good God gave them a beautiful home. It was a garden, 
 with a clear river of water flowing through it, and all kinds of 
 delicious fruit-trees and beautiful flowers growing in it. Nothing 
 could hurt or vex them there. They did not know what pain was, 
 
20 CREATION OF THE WORLD. 
 
 they were never tired, and all they had to do was to dress the 
 garden and to keep it. They had no faults, and never did wrong; 
 and God Himself came near to talk with them. 
 
 That was the way they lived, always good and always happy, 
 whilst they obeyed what God had told them. In the midst of the 
 garden grew two trees : one was the Tree of Life, and the other 
 was the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. God told them 
 that if they ate the fruit of this Tree of Knowledge they would die. 
 We do not know what those trees were like, but sometime or other 
 I hope we shall see the Tree of Life, for it is growing in heaven, 
 close by the river that flows by the Throne of God; and when we 
 see it, and taste of its fruit, we shall live for ever, and be happier 
 than Adam and Eve were. We shall never be as happy as they 
 were while we are living in this world ; but if we will try to obey 
 God, and live holy lives, He will take us to heaven, and that will be 
 still better than the Garden of Eden. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What did God make? 2. Whom did he make? 3. What was the man 
 made of? 4. What was the woman made of? 5. W T hat did God breathe into 
 them? 6. What did He give them? 7. Why were they better than the beasts? 
 8. What was the man's name? 9. What was the woman's name? 10. Of 
 whom were they the father and mother ? 11. WTiere did they live? 12. What 
 had they to do there? 13. What grew there? 14. What were the two chief 
 trees that grew there? 15. Which were they not to touch? 16. What is the 
 Tree of Life now ? 17. When do we hope to see it ? 18. What is a still happier 
 place than the Garden of Eden ? 
 
CREATION OF THE WORLD. 21 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further ; and here shall thy proud waves 
 be stayed."— Job 38 : 11. 
 
 HAT glorious and wonderful things God has made ! 
 Did you ever see the sea? There it is — a great vast 
 space, all water, looking green near us, but blue 
 further off — always heaving up and down. The 
 waves rise, and then ripple along, and burst with a 
 white edge of bubbles of foam. 
 A great space that had been left dry gets covered up with 
 water again, and where you were walking just now is quite deep 
 water. What is this called? The tide. Well, what will the 
 tide do in proper time? Will it come rolling in over the beach, 
 and cover up the land? No ; presently each will turn. Each wave 
 will be a little less high than the last, till it will have gone back 
 again and left the beach uncovered as before. Why does the tide 
 do this? It is because God so wonderfully contrived this earth 
 and sea, that the waters should rise and go back. He made the 
 sand the bound of the sea, and said, "Hitherto shalt thou come, 
 but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." So, 
 you know, we sing in the Psalm every Sunday — 
 
 " The sea is His, and He made it : 
 His hands prepared the dry land." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What curious thing does the sea do every day? 2. What do you call the 
 coming in and going back of the sea? 3. Why does the tide always stop in its 
 proper place ? 4. What did God make the bound of the sea ? 5. What did he 
 say to it? 6. What verse praises God for making the sea? 
 
Seconb Sunba\\ 
 
 HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD GAME. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." — Gen, 3 .- 13. 
 
 AST Sunday you heard how God made the 
 world, and put a man and woman to live 
 in it. The man was named Adam; the 
 woman was named Eve. God gave them a 
 beautiful garden to live in, full of trees and 
 flowers ; and they had no pain, no trouble, 
 nothing to vex them. Only one thing God 
 told them : there was one tree whose fruit 
 they must not eat. They might eat the 
 fruit of all the other trees, but not of that 
 one. As long as they obeyed, all was well 
 and happy with them; but if they ate it 
 they would die. But a bad spirit came and took the shape of the 
 serpent, and talked to Eve. He told her a wicked lie— he told her 
 that to eat the fruit would make her wise, and would not make her 
 die. And Eve listened, and did eat. And she gave Adam, and he 
 also ate ; and so they took the bad spirit for their master instead of 
 the good God. Then God was angry with them, and put them out 
 of the garden, and let them be weak and sickly, and die at last. 
 
 It was a sad thing for us. For if they had been good 
 and obeyed God, and not the bad spirit, it would have been 
 easy for us to be good, and we would not have the devil tempt- 
 ing us to do wrong: we would never have known pain or 
 
 sorrow. But God pitied Adam and Eve; and he promised them 
 22 
 
HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME. 23 
 
 that the Seed — that is, the Son — of the woman should bruise the 
 serpent's head, and set them and their children free. 
 
 Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, set us free 
 when He died on the cross and rose again ; and now we belong to 
 
 ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OP THE GARDEN OF EDEN.— Gen. 3 123, 24. 
 
 Him, and not to the bad spirit. Only we must try and ask Him 
 to help us not to do what is wrong, as Eve did, or we shall not keep 
 free from the power of the enemy. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the first man? 2. Who was the first woman? 3. Where did 
 God put them ? 4. What was the one thing they might not do ? 5. Wliat was 
 to happen if they ate of that fruit? 6. Who came and spoke to Eve? 7. What 
 shape did the bad spirit take ? 8. W r hat did he tell Eve ? 9. What did she do ? 
 10. Whom did she make her master? 11. What was done to punish her? 12. 
 What sad things did the bad spirit bring on her? 13. Who came to set us free 
 from the bad spirit ? 
 
24 
 
 HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth. " — 
 
 Gen. 6 : 17. 
 
 HE Lesson this morning told the sad history of how 
 Adam and Eve did the very thing that God forbade; 
 so that He drove them out of the Garden of Eden, and 
 sin and death came into the world. 
 
 After that they had children. Some were good, 
 but not so good as Adam and Eve had been at first; 
 and some were bad. And as time went on the bad ones grew worse, 
 and the good ones were tempted, and many of them grew wicked 
 
 AFTER THE BANISHMENT FROM EDEN.— Gen. 3 : 19. 
 
 too. And so all the world was getting wicked, and God saw noth- 
 ing but evil when He looked down on it. And He said that He 
 would destroy these wicked people, and wash away the evil from 
 the earth by a great flood. But there was one good man, whose 
 name was Noah; and God said He would save him. 
 
HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME. 25 
 
 He bade Noah build an Ark. It was to be a great ship, all 
 made of wood, and it took a great many years to build; and all 
 that time people laughed at Noah, for they would not believe that 
 anything was going to happen. Noah made the Ark, and stored 
 it with food. And God sent him a pair of all sorts of animals that 
 were in the world, and he put them into pens in the Ark. Then 
 Noah and his wife, and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet, 
 and their wives, went into the Ark, and God shut them in. 
 
 ^-arfWn'fL, 
 
 SACRIFICE OF CAIN AND ABEL.— Gen. 4 5 4, 5- 
 
 Then it began to rain. It rained for forty days and forty 
 nights without stopping, and the rivers came out of their banks, 
 and the sea came upon the land, and the ground was covered up. 
 Even the tops of the highest hills were hidden, and everybody and 
 every creature was drowned — all but Noah and those that were 
 with him. There was the Ark all the time floating quite safe on 
 the water. The storm could not upset it nor the sea get into it, 
 for God took care of it and all that was in it. 
 
 The reason Noah was saved was because, first, he tried to be 
 
26 HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME. 
 
 good, and not do like the bad people round him ; and next, because 
 he believed what God said to him, and went on making the Ark, 
 even when he saw no danger. If we wish God to save us, then we 
 must take care that we do just what we are told — not what seems 
 pleasant now, but what is really right. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Do you know why Adam and Eve were driven out of the happy garden ? 
 2. How did people go on after that? 3. How had sin come into the world ? 4. 
 What did God say He must do to the world? 5. Why? 6. Who was to be 
 saved? 7. What was Noah to make? 8. What was the Ark like? 9. What 
 were put in it? 10. Why were two of all creatures put into the Ark? 11. 
 What men and women were in it? 12. What were the names of Noah's sons? 
 13. What happened when Noah was in the Ark? 14. How long did it rain? 
 15. What was covered up? 16. What became of all the people? 17. Who 
 were safe? 18. Where was the Ark? 19. Who took care of the Ark? 20. 
 Why was Noah saved ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth." — Genesis 7 : 2. 
 
 T must have been a sad sight for Noah and his wife and 
 their sons, as the rain went on and on, and the water 
 grew deeper and deeper, and everybody and every- 
 thing was drowned. Then came a time when nothing 
 was to be seen but water. Wherever they looked all 
 was sky and water; but it had done raining, the sky 
 was blue again, the sun shone by day, the stars by night, and they 
 must have been very glad. 
 
 And still the water got lower, till the Ark did not float about, 
 but stopped, resting on a peak of a mountain, a very high moun- 
 tain, and a few bare tops of other hills began to peep out. By-and- 
 by, Noah opened the window of the Ark and let out a raven. He 
 never saw the raven again, for a raven eats dead things, and there 
 
HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME. 
 
 27 
 
 RETURN OF THE DOVE WITH THE OLIVE BRANCH.— Gen. 8 :n. 
 
28 HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME. 
 
 were so many dead bodies floating about that it got plenty of food, 
 and never came back to the Ark that had saved it. 
 
 He waited a week, and then he let out a dove. Now doves like 
 trees to sit and nestle in, and they eat grains and seeds ; so the poor 
 dove found no place to rest in, and flew back to the Ark; and Noah 
 took her back, and kept her a week, then let her fly again. She 
 flew away but still she came back to the Ark, and this time she 
 brought in her beak a sprig of olive branch. 
 
 It was the first green thing that Noah had seen for a year ! 
 Noah's children have loved the olive leaf everywhere, and called it 
 the sign of peace and good news ever since. 
 
 For now Noah knew that the waters had gone down, and that 
 trees must be able to put forth leaves again. Once more, after 
 another week, he let out the dove, and she did not come back, for 
 she had found a tree where she could make her home, and seeds to 
 eat; and then Noah knew the sad time of the flood — a whole year — 
 was over, and the earth had been washed from all her stains. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was the Flood? 2. What was the Ark? 3. Who was in it? 4. 
 What had Noah with him in the Ark? 5. What became of everyone else ? 6. 
 Why? 7. Why was Noah saved? 8. How long did the Flood last? 9. What 
 birds did Noah send out of the Ark ? 10. Which came back ? 11. Why did 
 not the raven come back? 12. What did the dove bring? 13. What was Noah 
 sure of then ? 14. What had the earth been washed from ? 
 
 ^s^> 
 
Zhivb 5unba\\ 
 
 THE RAINBOW. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " I do sot my Bow in the Cloud."— Genesis '■) : 13. 
 
 HE sin that came into the world when Eve 
 listened to the tempter had grown as 
 men multiplied and made each other 
 worse. The wicked people had been 
 drowned in the Flood, and Noah, his 
 sons and their wives, had alone been 
 saved in the Ark. After a whole year 
 of being shut up there, watching the 
 earth, first drowned and then coming 
 out of the water, they had just come 
 out on the fresh green earth, with all 
 the animals saved with them, when God spoke to 
 them. 
 
 Then God made a promise to Noah. It was 
 
 that no flood of water shall ever drown all the world 
 
 again, but spring, summer, autumn, and winter, 
 
 day and night, will go on to the end of the world, when it shall be 
 
 burnt up by fire, not drowned by water. 
 
 That Noah, and all of his after him, might feel sure that God 
 in His mercy will go on preserving us, and giving us days and 
 nights, seed-time and harvest, He gave us something to look at as 
 a sign of His promise. He so ordered the rays of light, that when 
 they shine upon drops of water in the air they cause beautiful 
 colors, making part of a circle, so as to form a bow. So when the 
 
 29 
 
30 
 
 THE RAINBOW. 
 
 NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEAVING THE ARK.-Gen. 8: 18, 19. 
 
 NOAH'S SACRIFICE AFTER THE FLOOD.— Gen. 8: 20. 
 
THE RAINBOW. 31 
 
 sun shines on a cloud, as it rains, the fair bright rinbow is seen, 
 as a pledge to us of God's merciful care and love to us. 
 
 There is a rainbow round about the Throne of God in Heaven ; 
 and the lovely rainbows that we see when the sun shines out, and 
 the showers drift away, are to put us in mind that we are safe 
 under His care, in right of His promise to Noah and his three sons, 
 of whom the whole earth was peopled. We are the children of 
 his son Japhet, and all that was then said to him belongs to us also. 
 We should recollect it, and put our trust in Him, and be thank- 
 ful when we see the beautiful soft arch that the Hands of the 
 Almighty have bended, looking out of the midst of the dark 
 
 watery clouds. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What beautiful sight do we sometimes see after a shower? 2. What is a 
 rainbow like ? 3. Who put the rainbow in the cloud ? 4. Who was the man to 
 whom God showed the rainbow? 5. What promise did God make Noah? 6. 
 What had God just done to the wicked people? 7. Whom had he saved? 
 8. What did he say should always goon? 9. What did God put in the sky 
 to show that he will not send another Flood? 10. What are we to think of 
 when we see a rainbow? 11. Who takes care of us? 12. Where is there a 
 rainbow in Heaven above ? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 C( In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." — Genesis 1® : 3. 
 
 HEN Noah's grandchildren and great-grandchildren 
 came to be more and more, and the world was being 
 filled with people again, they still were not all 
 good, and the longer time went on the worse they 
 grew. 
 
 At last God called to a very good man, whose 
 name was Abram, and told him that if he would come away from 
 his home to a land God would show him, then God would bless him 
 and lead him, and by-and-by give the land to his children, and that 
 their children after them should be more in number than the 
 
32 THE RAINBOW. 
 
 grains of sand on the sea-shore, or than the stars in the sky : and 
 that in his seed — that was, in a Son of his — all the nations of the 
 earth should be blessed. 
 
 It was strange to hear all this about Abram's children, for 
 he was growing old, and he and his wife Sarai had no chil- 
 dren at all. But he believed in God. He knew that God is 
 Almighty, and can do whatever He will; so he only did just as 
 God told him, and went away from his home, where God told him. 
 
 ABRAM SEES THE PROMISED LAND.— Gen. 12 : 3-7. 
 
 He was obliged to take all his cattle with him — quantities of cows, 
 and goats, and sheep, and camels ; and he had many servants 
 to drive them. 
 
 When they came to a piece of grass and a fresh spring of 
 water, there they would stop. They had no houses — only tents, 
 which were great curtains woven of goat's hair and fastened up 
 with poles, so that they could be set up or taken down, and carried 
 about. All his life Abram lived in a tent, instead of staying at 
 home in a city, and being at his ease. 
 
THE RAINBOW. 
 
 33 
 
 By-and-by he came to a beautiful country. There were high 
 hills rising up, and green valleys between, full of grass for 
 the sheep and cattle; and the wide sea spread out far away 
 towards the sunset, all blue and glorious. God told him to look 
 at the land, for that was the place which his children should have 
 for their own ; but in the meantime Abram had not one bit of it, 
 and was a stranger there ; and he had no child either. 
 
 MELCHIZEDEK BLESSING ABRAM.— Gen. 14 : 18, 19, 20. 
 
 But still he was quite sure that God spoke truth; and that 
 somehow, though he did not know how, it would come about that 
 his children should have the land, and that in One all the nations 
 of the earth should be blessed. That was faith. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What good man do you hear of to-day? 2. What did God tell Abram to 
 do? 3. What did God promise? 4. Who were to have the land? 5. Why 
 was it strange to hear of his children ? 6. But did he believe it would come true ? 
 7. Why did he believe it? 8. How did he show that he believed? 9. Where 
 did he go? 10. What had he with him? 11. What did he live in? 12. What 
 is a tent like? 13. What sort of place did he come to? 
 3-B.S. 
 
34 THE RAINBOW. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me." — Gen. IS : 8, 
 
 WO men were travelling together. They were an uncle 
 and nephew. The uncle's name was Abram, the 
 nephew's was Lot. They had come from home, because 
 God had told Abram to come away from his own home 
 to the land that God would give his children. Abram 
 believed, and did as God bade him ; and Lot, the son of 
 his dead brother, went with him. They did not go alone. Each of 
 them had great flocks of cows, and sheep, and camels, and 
 goats, and numbers of servants to take care of them. They 
 would fix their tents, made of camels' hair, in any place 
 where they saw a spring of water and good green grass for their 
 cattle ; and there they would stay till all the grass was eaten up, 
 and then take up their tents and move to another place. 
 
 PARTING OF ABRAM AND LOT. 
 
 Just now they had got to a bare stony place, where the sun 
 shone hotly, and there was not much green ; but Abram had built 
 up an altar with the great stones, and prayed there. Abram and 
 Lot loved one another, and were at peace ; but when their servants 
 drove out their flocks to get food and water there were apt to be 
 quarrels. If Abram's men found a green grassy valley, they 
 would not let Lot's cattle into it ; and if Lot's came to a well, they 
 would not let Abram's flocks drink ; and so on. They were always 
 quarrelling and making complaints to their masters. 
 
 At last Abram saw that they would make Lot quarrel with 
 him. So he said it would be wiser to part ; Lot should go one way 
 and he another — any way there should be no strife. And he even 
 told Lot to choose which way he would go. So Lot looked, and saw 
 to the East a pleasant green valley, with fields of corn and mea- 
 
 
THE RAINBOW. 35 
 
 dows, and a fine river running into a clear lake, and five fine towns 
 on the bank. He liked it better than the bare stony hills where 
 Abram was ; and he never thought whether the people were good 
 or not, but he took the first choice, and went to live there. So 
 Abram ^ave up. He had the right to choose first, but he would not 
 use it. He let his nephew choose. For he hated quarrels, and 
 knew they were wicked; and he knew how to stop them, because 
 he would yield up the best. That is the way to make peace and 
 please God. 
 
 ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE ANGELS.— Gen. 18: 10. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who had called Abram? 2. Who went with him? 3. What was Lot to 
 Abram ? 4. Why did he go ? 5. What had God promised ? 6. What had 
 they with them? 7. Who quarrelled ? 8. About what did the servants quarrel? 
 9. Did Abram and Lot quarrel? 10. How did Abram prevent a quarrel? 11. 
 Who was to choose first? 12. Who might have chosen first? 13. Why did not 
 Abram choose first? 14. Ought you to be in haste to take the first choice? 15. 
 What should you try to hinder? 16. And if you keep yourself back, and don't 
 say "It's mine/' and "I must/' shall you not be likely to keep from quarrels? 
 
fourth Sunba^ 
 
 ABRAHAM AND LOT. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee." — Genesis 19 : 17. 
 
 HERE was a beautiful valley, with steep hills 
 shutting it in on all sides, and a clear swift 
 river running through the midst and spread- 
 ing into a lake. There were fine fields and 
 rich grass, where sheep, cows, and goats 
 could feed, and the shepherds shelter them- 
 selves under the palm trees ; and on the bank of the 
 river were five cities, with strong walls round 
 them, and full of rich people, who bought and sold 
 and made merry with the good things they pos- 
 sessed. There was one man living among them 
 who was good, and was grieved by the wicked 
 ways of the men round him, who only laughed at 
 him if he tried to tell them of better things. One 
 evening two strangers came into the city where he 
 lived, and he was the only person who would take them in, and 
 shelter them from the wicked people in the street. 
 
 Those strangers told him the place was to be destroyed, with 
 all that were in it, because it was so wicked ! Though the fields 
 looked so quiet, the walls so strong, and the sun had gone down as 
 usual, all would be ruined in a few hours' time! Then the 
 strangers took hold of him, and his wife and daughters, and led 
 them almost by force away from their home in the dawn of morn- 
 ing, bidding them escape for their lives to the mountain, and not 
 
 36 
 
ABRAHAM AND LOT. 
 
 37 
 
 look back. They were frightened, and begged not to have to go so 
 far as the wild mountain. Might they not go to the little city near 
 at hand? And their wish was granted. 
 
 Just as the sun had risen they entered the little city for which 
 they had. begged; and as soon as they were safe the four towns, 
 that had seemed so strong and firm, were all burning with fire and 
 brimstone ; and all the sinners who had mocked at warning were 
 soon lying dead under God's awful anger ! Four alone had been 
 
 LOT AND HIS FAMILY FLEEING FROM SODOM— Gen. 19 : 24-26. 
 
 led out of the city by the strangers, but even of these only three 
 came into the city of refuge. The wife did not heed the warning 
 not to linger nor look back, the deadly storm overtook her, and she 
 remained rooted to the spot — a pillar of salt ! 
 
 The names of those cities were Sodom and Gomorrah, and 
 the one good man who was saved by the mercy of God was named 
 Lot. And now a strange gloomy lake called the Dead Sea covers 
 that valley with its heavy waters, and the bare rocky hills, crusted 
 with salt, show that the curse of God is on the place. 
 
38 ABRAHAM AND LOT. 
 
 Let us try to carry home one thought from this terrible his- 
 tory. This world will one day be burnt up like those cities, and 
 its looking safe and prosperous now does not make it safe. But 
 God sends messengers to lead us out of it. If we attend to them, 
 and follow their advice, we shall through all our lives bp getting 
 out of danger, and going on to a safe home in heaven ; but if we 
 care only for pleasant things here, it is like looking back, and our 
 souls will perish with what they love. That is why our Saviour 
 bade us "Remember Lot's wife." We should remember her when 
 we are tempted to think it hard to give up anything pleasant, 
 because we are told that it is wrong, and may put us in danger of 
 
 God's anger. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was the name of the place I told you of to clay ? 2. What was the 
 name of the man ? 3. What kind of place was Sodom ? 4. Who was the only 
 good man there? 5. Who came to Lot? 6. What did he do for the strangers? 
 7. What did the strangers tell Lot? 8. Why Was Lot to come out of Sodom? 
 9. Why was Sodom to be destroyed? 10. Where did Lot go? 11. Who looked 
 back? 12. What became of her? 13. What did God do to Sodom? 14. 
 What sort of a place is it now? 15. What will be burnt up some day? 16, If 
 we are not good, what will become of us? 17. But what have we to teach us to 
 be good? 18. And how must we try to come out, like Lot? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy 
 son, thine only son from Me." — Genesis 22 : 12. 
 
 Y-AND-BY Abraham had a son — one only son, whose 
 name was Isaac. All the promises God had made were 
 to be for Isaac's children after him: and Abraham 
 loved God, and hoped all the more. 
 
 But then God called Abraham to do a strange and 
 terrible thing. He was to go and take his dear son 
 Isaac to the top of a hill, and there to offer him up to God as if he 
 
ABRAHAM AND LOT. 
 
 39 
 
 had been a calf or a lamb. Of course, in general, to do such a thing- 
 would be shockingly wicked; but Abraham knew that when God 
 commanded a thing, it must be right to do as he was bidden, how- 
 ever dreadful it was to him. 
 
 So they set out together. Abraham took the knife, and a 
 vessel with fire in it? and Isaac carried the wood with which the 
 sacrifice was to be burnt. On the way Isaac said, "My father, 
 behold the fire and the wood : but where is the lamb for a burnt 
 
 ABRAHAM OFFERING ISAAC AS A SACRIFICE.— Gen. 22: 11, 12. 
 
 offering?" And Abraham answered, "My son, God will provide 
 Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." 
 
 Isaac soon knew he was to be the lamb, for his father put 
 the wood in order, and bound his limbs, and took the knife. And 
 Isaac did not complain or struggle. He was ready, like his father, 
 to do the will of God. But just as Abraham had the knife ready to 
 slay his son, an angel called to him out of Heaven : "Lay not thine 
 hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him : for now I 
 
40 
 
 ABRAHAM AND LOT. 
 
 ABRAHAM'S SERVANT MEETJNG REBEKAH AT THE WELL.— Gen. 24: 17. 
 
 REBEKAH SEES ISAAC COMING TO MEET HER.-Gen. 24 : 64, 65. 
 
ABRAHAM AND LOT. 41 
 
 know that thou f earest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, 
 thine only son from Me." 
 
 Then Abraham unbound his son, and was glad as if Isaac had 
 really risen from the dead. And he saw a ram caught in the 
 thicket by its horns ; so he took that, and offered it up instead of 
 Isaac. Thus God really provided a lamb for a burnt offering. 
 
 And He blessed Abraham more and more, and promised again 
 that his children should have the land, and that in his Seed should 
 all the nations of the earth be blessed. That Seed was our blessed 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who, you know, was really given by His 
 Heavenly Father to die, and then came back from the dead, that all 
 people might be saved by Him. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1 . What was the name of Abraham's son ? 2. What had God promised 
 Abraham ? 3. What had Abraham done at God's command? 4. What was he 
 now to do? 5. Whom did he obey? 6. Where was he to go? 7. Who went 
 with him? 8. What did Isaac ask? 9. What did Abraham answer? 10. 
 Who seemed likely to be the Lamb ? 11. What was Abraham just going to do ? 
 12. Who called him? 13. What did the angel tell him? 14. Why was God 
 pleased with him? 15. What blessing did God give him? 16. Who was to be 
 saved? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you." — Genesis 23 : 4- 
 
 BRAHAM and his wife Sarah had lived together many 
 
 years ; but at last Sarah died, and Abraham wanted to 
 
 bury her. You know in all the country he had not one 
 
 morsel of ground of his own ; he was a stranger there, 
 
 but he knew it would all belong to his children by-and- 
 
 by. But he wanted to make sure of the one bit where 
 
 his wife should lie. So he went to the prince to whom Hebron 
 
 belonged, and begged to buy a field with trees in it, and a rock 
 
 where there was a deep cave that was called Machpelah. 
 
42 
 
 ABRAHAM AND LOT. 
 
 The prince said he would give it; but Abraham could not feel 
 sure that it would be always safe till he had bought it. So he 
 weighed out the price. It was not in little bits of money like ours, 
 but lumps of silver all the same weight, and each with a mark 
 stamped on it — four hundred of them. Then the cave was given to 
 Abraham, and he had his good true wife Sarah buried there, rolled 
 in linen with spices. He was buried there afterwards himself, 
 and so was his son Isaac, and Isaac's son after him, in the cave of 
 Machpelah. 
 
 That cave has been kept sacred ever since. There is a build- 
 ing over it now, and no stranger is allowed to go into it; but deep 
 down there is a golden grating, and far within lie these holy men 
 and women of old. Their bodies are waiting to rise again at the 
 Last Day, and then I hope we shall see them and know them. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Abraham's wife? 2. Where did Sarah die? 3. What did 
 Abraham want to do? 4. Had he any ground? 5. So what was he obliged to 
 do? 6. Of whom did he buy the place? 7. What was it called? 8. What is a 
 cave? 9. What did he pay? 10. What was Abraham's money? 11. Who were 
 buried there afterwards ? 12. How is the place marked now? 13. When will 
 Sarah's body leave the grave in the cave of Machpelah? 14. What do you say 
 you believe in? (In the eleventh Article of the Creed.) 15. What is Kesur- 
 rection ? 
 
jfiftb Sunba^ 
 
 JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Bless me, even me also, O my father." — Genesis 27: 3$.. 
 
 OD had called Abraham from his home, and 
 promised to give his children the land of 
 Canaan, and that in his Seed all the nations 
 of the earth should be blessed. This was renew- 
 ing to Abraham the great promise of the Seed 
 of the woman that had been made to Eve ; and 
 Abraham believed, and was glad. But though 
 his children were to have the land, none of it was his ; and 
 he went up and down in it a stranger, living in his tent, 
 without house or home, only trusting in faith to God's 
 promise to his children. His son Isaac lived like him, with 
 no home, but looking on in faith to what God promised. 
 Isaac had two sons; and as Esau was the eldest, he had the 
 first right to these promises. But Esau did not care enough about 
 them ; he did not seem to get anything by them, and he liked what 
 he could get at once better than what was a long way off. He had 
 no faith. 
 
 One day he came home half dead with hunger, and saw his 
 brother Jacob making soup over the fire. He said he would give 
 all these rights for a meal of the soup ; for if he died of hunger, 
 what good would his birth-right do him? So for a mess of pottage 
 he sold his right to the land of Canaan, and to be the forefather of 
 our Saviour. 
 
 A time was to come when he would be sorry for what he had 
 
 43 
 
44 JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 
 
 done. His father was old and blind, and thought he was going to 
 die; so he bade Esau, whom he loved the best, bring home some 
 meat and make a solemn feast — which was the way then of giving 
 a blessing. Esau went, and in time brought home the meat to his 
 father; but when he came in, Isaac cried out, and trembled! His 
 brother Jacob had come in his stead, and Isaac had taken him for 
 Esau, and given to him the blessing that gave the right to the 
 promised land, and to all God's promises ! 
 
 ISAAC BLESSING JACOB.- -Gen. 27 : 28, 29. 
 
 Then Esau cried out with an exceeding bitter cry, and asked 
 if his father had but one blessing! Isaac was grieved for him, 
 and blest him with all his heart; but there was no changing back, 
 no taking away what Jacob had won and Esau had lost. 
 
 Esau did not know what he was doing when he took the 
 pottage at once, rather than wait patiently for the glorious inher- 
 itance that was to come. This was the reason that he was allowed 
 to be so cruelly disappointed. This is a warning to us. We have 
 the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven promised to us ; but we 
 
JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 45 
 
 are tempted not to care about it when we want something here in 
 this world, whether play, or dress, or anything that seems a great 
 deal to us now. 
 
 But if we trifle away our right to these great promises that 
 God made us at our baptism, there will come a time of bitter grief, 
 when it is too late. And when we are dead, it will be too late to 
 change ! Therefore, now while we are alive, we must have faith, 
 and show it by taking care that the things we like here on earth do 
 not make us lose the better things in heaven. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What were the names of Isaac's two sons? 2. What had God promised 
 Isaac ? 3. Which son had the first right to the promise ? 4. But which cared 
 about it most? 5. What did Esau want? 6. So what did he give up for the 
 sake of the soup ? 7. Could he get it back again ? 8. What are you an heir of? 
 9. How could we lose the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven? 10. Shall we 
 je able to change after we are dead? 11. Then what must we care about most? 
 12f. Why could not Esau get his father's blessing? 13. What did he like better 
 than waiting for what he could not see? 14. Can we see heaven? 15. But 
 when we get there, will it not be better than anything we can see here ? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 
 
 — Genesis 28 : 17. 
 
 OU know that Isaac, Abraham's son, had two sons, whose 
 names were Esau and Jacob. Now Jacob had grieved 
 Esau by gaining God's great promise, for which Esau 
 JK& was so angry with him, that he had to go out away from 
 his father's home, all alone. But Jacob knew he was 
 not alone, for God was with him. He went on till night came. 
 Then he was in a dismal stony place, with no house or shelter 
 near — only big stones, and here and there a thistle. 
 
 He said his prayers, and then he lay down, with a stone for 
 
46 
 
 JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 
 
 his pillow and the sky over him. But in the night he saw a won- 
 der. There was a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and 
 God's angels were going up and down, and the Lord Himself stood 
 at the top of the ladder. And He told Jacob that He was going to 
 give his children all the land he saw — North, South, East, and 
 West; and that He would take care of him, and be with him 
 wherever he went, and in time bring him safe home. 
 
 Jacob woke, and found it was a dream, but he knew it was 
 
 JACOB'S VISION OF ANGELS.— Gen. 28 : 12, 13. 
 
 true, and that God had really spoken to him ; and though he was 
 glad he was afraid, and he said, "How dreadful is this place ! this 
 is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 
 And that he might always know the place, he put one of the great 
 stones upright, and he took some of the sweet olive oil he had 
 brought to eat on his journey, and poured it on the stone, as the 
 only thing he could do to show honor to God. i 
 
 Then he made a solemn holy vow, that if God would take care 
 of him on his way, and give him food to eat and clothes to wear, 
 
JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 47 
 
 he would make a gift to God all his life of the tenth part of all he 
 
 had. Good people like to do like Jacob, and give God their tenth. 
 
 And if we only had our eyes opened to see, like his, we should see 
 
 God's angels coming up and down with blessings for us, for we 
 
 go to the house of God and gate of heaven whenever we go to 
 
 church. Let us recollect how awful Jacob felt it to be so near to 
 
 God. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Jacob? 2. Who was Isaac? 3. Who was Esau? 4. Why 
 was Jacob obliged to go away? 5. What was the promise? 6. What kind of 
 place had he to sleep in? 7. What was his pillow? 8. But what did he see? 
 9. Who went up and down? 10. Who stood at the top? 11. What did God 
 promise him? 12. What did Jacob say of the place? 13. How did he mark 
 it? 14. What did he pour on the stone ? 15. What vow did he make? 16. 
 What are the houses of God? 17. Who comes up and down to us ? 18. What 
 do the angels bring us? 19. How much did Jacob promise to give God? 20. 
 What does God do for us. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "Asa prince hast thou prevailed." — Genesis 32 : 28. 
 
 T was a long journey that Jacob had had to take, but 
 
 God took care of him, and brought him safe to the 
 
 home where his mother had come from. He lived 
 
 there, and took care of his uncle's sheep and cattle, till 
 
 he had earned a great many for his own ; and he had 
 
 married there, and had a great many sons. But after 
 
 a time God commanded him to go home to the land of Canaan. 
 
 He was afraid, because he thought his brother Esau might still be 
 
 angry with him; but, in spite of his fear, he did as God bade him. 
 
 When he came near the river Jordan, which flows on the East 
 side of the land of Canaan, he prayed to God to guard him, and 
 once more God let him see the angels who were going with him to 
 protect him. He was glad, but he was still very careful. He 
 
48 
 
 JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 
 
 JACOB MEETING RACHEL.— Gen. 29 : 10-12. 
 
 LABAN HIRING JACOB.— Gen. 29 : 18, 19. 
 
JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 49 
 
 chose out a present of cows, and goats, and camels, and sheep, 
 for Esau, and sent it on to meet him; and then he sent on 
 the other cattle he wanted to keep for himself; then his children; 
 and last of all, in the safest place, his dear young son Joseph. 
 
 JACOB'S DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN.-Gen. 31 : 17, 18. 
 
 Esau came to meet him, but not in anger. The two brothers 
 met, and fell on one another's neck and kissed one another, and 
 were friends. So God had kept His promise to take care of Jacob ; 
 and Jacob kept his promise, for he set up an altar at Bethel, where 
 he had seen the angels before, and praised and blessed God. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Jacob? 2. Why had he left home? 3. With whom did he go 
 to live? 4. What did he earn there? 5. Why did he go back? 6. Why was 
 he afraid? 7. What comforted him? 8. Of whom do God's angels take care? 
 9. What did he give Esau? 10. How did he put his family in order? 11. 
 Who went last? 12. How did Esau meet him? 13. What was the quarrel be- 
 tween them? 14. But was Esau angry? 15. How did Jacob show he was 
 thankful? 
 
 4-B.S. 
 
50 
 
 JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM. 
 
 JACOB AND THE ANGEL.— Genesis 32 : 24. 
 
 THE MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU.-Gen. 33 : 3, 4- 
 
Siitb Sunba^ 
 
 JOSEPH IN EGYPT. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 ,r@@^ . " His brethren envied him." — Genesis 87 : 11. 
 
 TOLD you how Jacob went away from 
 home, and how God promised to take 
 care of him. He did take care of him : 
 He led him to his uncle, and with him 
 Jacob lived many years, and then came 
 back with flocks of sheep and goats, 
 camels and cows. And he had twelve 
 sons. The best one of them was named 
 Joseph. Jacob loved him very much, 
 and gave him a striped dress of many 
 colors, such as the son who is to be the 
 heir wears in those countries. But his brothers 
 hated and envied him, and were all the time find- 
 ing fault with him. 
 
 One day, when Joseph was seventeen years old, 
 ten of the brothers were out with their sheep, and Jacob desired 
 Joseph to go and see what they were about. He would not tell his 
 father how unkind they were to him, but he went ; and as they saw 
 him coming some of them were so wicked as to say that they would 
 kill him, and never let him go home. Reuben, who was the eldest 
 brother, tried to hinder them ; but when he saw he could not stop 
 them, he said the best way would be, not to kill him, but to let him 
 down into a dry well just by. 
 
 There they meant to let him starve to death ; and they let him 
 
 51 
 
52 
 
 JOSEPH IN EGYPT. 
 
 down without any pity for him. Reuben meant to come by-and-by 
 and take Joseph out of the pit and save him ; but there was another 
 brother, named Judah, who did not want to have him killed, and 
 who saw a great party of men, with camels and asses laden with 
 goods, going on a journey. He knew they were merchants, going 
 to sell and buy in Egypt, and he advised the other brothers to per- 
 suade them to buy Joseph ; for in those days men and women used 
 to be bought and sold, and were called slaves. 
 
 JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN.— Gen. 37 : 28. 
 
 So Joseph was drawn up out of the pit; and when the mer- 
 chants saw what a fine young man he was, they paid the price for 
 him and carried him off, away from his father and all he had ever 
 known or cared for before. The cruel brothers kept his colored 
 dress; and they killed a kid and stained it in the blood, and then 
 carried it to their father, telling him they had found it. Jacob 
 thought some wild beast had met Joseph and killed and eaten 
 him, and he mourned and wept. His sons pretended to comfort 
 him ; but not one of them would tell him that Joseph was not dead. 
 
JOSEPH IN EGYPT. 53 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Whose son was Jacob? 2. How many sons had Jacob? 3. What did he 
 set them to do? ,4. Which did he love best? 5. What did he give Joseph? 
 6. Where did he send Joseph? 7. What did the brothers want to do? 8. Who 
 wished to save him? 9. So what did Reuben persuade them to do? 10. What 
 did Reuben mean to do ? 11. But who came by? 12. What did the brothers 
 do with Joseph? 13. Who persuaded them to sell him? 14. What are people 
 called who are bought and sold ? 15. What was done with his coat? 16. What 
 did Jacob think ? 
 
 SECOND READING 
 
 " The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand." — Genesis 39 : 3. 
 
 we see Joseph a slave. A slave is a servant who belongs 
 to his master, as his cows and horses do; he gets no 
 wages, and cannot go away, but is bought and sold like 
 cattle. 
 
 Think of poor Joseph. He was used to live as the 
 son of a great rich prince, wearing a dress of many 
 bright colors, with many servants, and no one to obey 
 but his kind fond father; and living in a beautiful land, all hill 
 and valley, where he used to feed his father's flocks. But now he 
 was a slave in a strange land, with people speaking a language he 
 did not know, and no one to care for him or say a good word to 
 him, shut up in a house in a town, far away from his dear hills. 
 
 Still he had one comfort, and the best of all — God was with 
 him. He could still pray to God, and do his duty. And he did his 
 work well, for God helped him, and everything he did was made 
 to prosper in his hand. Then he was trusted. His master knew 
 that he always took care of everything, as if it was his own, and 
 left all to him, quite sure that it would be safe. 
 
 But his wicked mistress made up a story that he had behaved 
 ill, and he was put in prison for what he had not done. This 
 sounds hard, but it was God's own way of bringing good to pass, 
 
54 JOSEPH IN EGYPT. 
 
 and making Joseph come at last to honor. Very soon he was loved 
 and trusted in his prison; and all he did the Lord made it to 
 prosper. 
 
 Think about this. Try when you have anything to do — a 
 lesson or a bit of work — to ask God to make it prosper. Then if 
 you try your best He will help, and it will be sure to turn out well. 
 
 Then try to deserve to be trusted. That is a great thing. If 
 you always recollect that God sees you, you will do the same when 
 no one is with you as if all the world were watching; and that is 
 the way to be true and just in all your dealings. If you are only 
 good when you are looked at, you are not like Joseph, but are only 
 doing service outwardly. You must try to live that your parents 
 may 
 
 " Out of sight 
 Know all is right, 
 One law for darkness and for light." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Whose son was Joseph? 2. How many sons had Joseph? 3. What had 
 they done to him ? 4. Why had Joseph's brothers sold him ? 5. What is a slave ? 
 6. How did Joseph behave as a slave? 7. Who comforted him? 8. How did 
 he take care of his master's things? 9. Who made up a story against him? 10. 
 What was done to him? 11. But who was with him still? 12. Did he always 
 stay in prison? 13. And what did people think of him, wherever he was? 14. 
 What is the way to be like Joseph? 15. If you are trusted to carry a message, 
 how should you do it? 16. Who always sees you? 17. Then, even if no one is 
 by, how should you behave ? 
 
JOSEPH IN EGYPT. 55 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Do not interpretations belong to God ? " — Gen. Ifi. 8. 
 
 HE young son of Jacob, Joseph, had, you know, been 
 sold by his cruel brothers, and made a slave of; and 
 then a wicked falsehood was told about him, and he 
 was put into prison. But wherever Joseph was he 
 tried to do his duty, and so God blessed him ; and the 
 keeper of the prison soon found out how different he 
 was from the others, and let him help. I suppose he helped to 
 carry them their food and wait upon them; and he often could 
 say a few kind good words to them. 
 
 One day two grand people came in as prisoners. One was 
 the chief of all the bakers, who made bread for king Pharaoh; 
 and the other was the chief of all his cup-bearers, who carried him 
 his wine. Some wrong thing had happened, and they were both 
 suspected of having had something to do with it, so they had been 
 sent to prison. 
 
 WANTED TO KNOW THE DREAMS' MEANING. 
 
 One morning Joseph saw them both looking more sad than 
 usual; and when he asked what was the matter, they said each 
 had a dream, and they wanted to know what it meant; for the 
 Egyptians used to think a great deal of dreams, and there were 
 men among them who pretended to explain them. Most dreams 
 have no meaning, but these had, and God put it into Joseph's heart 
 to understand them. 
 
 The cup-bearer had dreamt that he saw a vine, and that it 
 had three bunches of grapes, and that he was squeezing the juice 
 into the king's cup as he used to do. Joseph said this meant that 
 in three days the cup-bearer should really hand Pharaoh the cup 
 again; and Joseph begged that when he was free, he would tell 
 the king about himself, and get him set free. 
 
56 
 
 JOSEPH IN EGYPT. 
 
 Then the baker told his dream — that he had three baskets 
 full of pastry and bread ready for Pharaoh, but that the birds 
 came down and ate them up. Joseph was obliged to tell him that 
 this meant that he would be hanged, and that the vulture and 
 ravens would eat his flesh. So it happened. Pharaoh looked into 
 the matter in three days' time; he caused the baker to be hung, 
 and the cup-bearer to come back to his old place. But the cup- 
 bearer was ungrateful, and forgot all about Joseph in his prison, 
 trusting to him. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Joseph? 2. Where was he? 3. How came he to be in Egypt? 
 4. Where had he been put ? 5. Had he done anything wrong ? 6. Who trusted 
 him ? 7. What had he to do ? 8. Who came into the prison ? 9. What was 
 the cup-bearer's dream ? 10. W r hat was the baker's dream? 11. What did 
 Joseph say the cup-bearer's dream meant? 12. What did the baker's dream 
 mean? 13. What happened? 14. What had Josenh asked of the cup-bearer? 
 15. Did he remember ? 
 
 POURING OUT A DRINK OFFERING. 
 
Seventh £unba\>- 
 
 JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "We are verily guilty concerning our brother. " — Genesis 1$ : 21. 
 
 JOSEPH did not always stay in prison, for God gave him 
 wisdom to tell the king of Egypt that his dreams had 
 meant that there were going to be first seven years of 
 very fine harvests, and then seven years would come 
 of no harvests at all. So the king took him out of 
 prison, and made him a great lord ; and he set to work 
 to buy the corn that was over and above what people 
 wanted to eat in the years of plenty, that he might 
 store it up against the years when the corn would not 
 grow. 
 
 So when the bad harvest began, Joseph had plenty 
 of corn, and he sold it for the king to all who wanted 
 it. The famine was not only in Egypt, but in all the 
 > countries round; and by-and-by Joseph saw, among 
 
 the people that came to buy, ten of his own brothers — 
 the same who had sold him for a slave. 
 
 He knew them, for they still looked like shepherds ; but they 
 did not know him, for he had grown from a youth to a man, and 
 was dressed like an Egyptian lord; and he would not seem to 
 know them, though he wanted much to know what had become of 
 his old father and his little brother Benjamin. He made as if he 
 thought they were enemies, come to see if Egypt could be con- 
 quered when it was so bare of food. 
 
 Then they told him who they were; that they were all one 
 man's sons, and that one brother they had lost; the other was left 
 
 57 
 
58 JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 
 
 with his father, who could not bear to part with him. Joseph 
 would not seem to believe this, and said he must keep one of them 
 in prison, while he sent the rest back to fetch their youngest 
 brother, or else he could not believe them. 
 
 Then, when fear and trouble came on them, they began to 
 think how ill they had used their lost brother Joseph; and they 
 said to each other, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother." 
 Joseph heard them, and could hardly bear it; but still he kept to 
 
 JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM.— Gen. 41 : 29, 3<>. 
 
 his plan. He kept Simeon a prisoner, that he might be sure of the 
 others coming back, and sent them home to fetch Benjamin. But 
 he would not have any of the money they had brought for the corn, 
 and made his steward put it all back into the mouth of their sacks. 
 When they found this out as they went home, they were much 
 afraid; and when they came home, their father was more afraid 
 still. After the way they had used Joseph, he thought they had 
 killed Simeon, and wanted to kill Benjamin. They spoke truth 
 now, but he could not believe them ; and he said he could not send 
 
JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 59 
 
 Benjamin, for if mischief should befall the lad, "then shall ye 
 bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where was Joseph? 2. Why was he in prison? 3. What did God make 
 him able to tell the king ? 4. How many years was there to be much corn ? 5. 
 What was to be done with the corn? 6. Who managed the buying it? 7. When 
 was the corn wanted? 8. Who came to buy corn ? 9. Who did not come? 10. 
 Why did not Joseph's brothers know him? 11. What did he make believe to 
 think? 12. Whom did he tell them to fetch? 13. What did he give back to 
 them? 14. What did their father say about Benjamin's going? 15. Why was 
 he afraid to trust them with Benjamin? 16. What is the way to be believed? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "God Almighty give you mercy before the man. " — Genesis %.3 : H* 
 
 OSEPH'S brothers were soon obliged to go again and buy 
 
 more corn in Egypt. Joseph had said they must bring 
 
 the young brother they had told him of, or he should not 
 
 believe their story; and when they said Benjamin must 
 
 go, their father Jacob was greatly grieved, and showed 
 
 how little he could trust them now, after the way they 
 
 had behaved to Joseph. He would not have let Benjamin go at 
 
 all if Judah had not promised to take the greatest care of him; 
 
 and Judah could be trusted. 
 
 The story is so beautiful, and so easy to understand in the 
 Bible, that I hardly like to tell it in my own words. Only think of 
 Joseph's heart being so full when he saw his own dear youngest 
 brother, that he could not stay with him for his tears, and went 
 away to weep in his chamber ! And yet he still tried the brothers. 
 He wanted to see if they still were envious of the one their father 
 loved best; so he made his steward hide his cup in Benjamin's sack 
 of corn, and then go after them, and pretend to think they had 
 stolen it. 
 
60 JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 
 
 The sons of Jacob were no thieves, and they said the steward 
 might search their sacks. They took them down and looked, and 
 there was the cup in Benjamin's sack ! 
 
 They were all shocked; and the steward said that Benjamin 
 must go back and be punished. 
 
 How pleased they would have been long ago if such a mis- 
 
 JOSEPH PROCLAIMED RULER OVER EGYPT.— Gen. 41 : 4i> 43- 
 
 fortune had happened to Joseph! But now their hearts were 
 changed, and they were shocked and grieved. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What had Joseph's brothers done to him? 2. What trouble did you hear 
 last Sunday he was in ? 3. But how did he behave ? 4. And what had he come 
 to be? 5. What had he stored up? 6. Who came to buy corn? 7. How many 
 brothers came ? 8. Which did not come ? 9. Why did not Benjamin come ? 10. 
 Did the brothers know Joseph? 11. What did he tell them to do? 12. When 
 he saw Benjamin, where did he go? 13. What did Joseph tell his steward to do? 
 14. What did Joseph want to see? 15. How did the brothers behave this 
 time? 
 
JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 
 
 61 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 u God did send me before you to preserve life." — Genesis lf.5 : 5. 
 
 LL the eleven sons of Jacob turned back in grief, and fear, 
 and dismay, when Benjamin, the youngest brother, 
 whom Judah had promised to bring safely back to their 
 father, was found to have the silver cup of the lord of 
 the land in his sack. How it came there they could not 
 guess, but they knew that their father's heart would 
 break if they came home and left Benjamin to be a slave. 
 
 JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.— Gen. 45 : 2. 
 
 So they all came to the lord of the land ; and Judah stood up 
 before the strange, stern, princely man, and told him how much 
 their old father loved this youngest son, and he would be sure to 
 die if the lad did not come home safe. And then Judah begged to 
 stay and be a slave in Egypt, instead of his brother Benjamin, for 
 he said if mischief befell the lad his father would die, and that he 
 could not bear to see. 
 
62 JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 
 
 But when Judah so spake, the lord of the land sent all the 
 lookers-on away, and wept aloud, and said that he was their own 
 brother Joseph, whom they had sold so long ago. He would not 
 let them be afraid; he embraced them all and wept for joy, and 
 asked for his father. Then he told them not to grieve for what had 
 gone before; for God had turned it all to good, and made him be 
 the means of saving all their lives, by storing up the corn in Egypt. 
 
 And now they were to go home, and tell Jacob, their father, 
 
 JOSEPH MEETING HIS FATHER— Gen. 46: 29,30. 
 
 that Joseph was still alive, and was a great and powerful man; 
 and they were to fetch old Jacob, their father, and their wives and 
 their children, and all they had, and come to live with Joseph in 
 Egypt, where he would take care of them. 
 
 That was the way Joseph forgot all the ill his brothers had 
 done to him, and forgave them, and loved them with all his heart. 
 When the brothers came home, their father Jacob could scarcely 
 believe such good news ; but at last he said, "Joseph my son is yet 
 alive, I will go to see him before I die." 
 
JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. 63 
 
 And he came down to Egypt, and Joseph met him and fell 
 on his neck and kissed him ; and then there was joy indeed, joy as 
 if Joseph had come back from the dead. 
 
 So Jacob lived all the rest of his life in Egypt, and was happy 
 with his son Joseph. God had given him another name, Israel, 
 and his sons, and their sons after them, were always called the 
 children of Israel. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Benjamin? 2. What was found in Benjamin's sack? 3. Who 
 put it there ? 4. What was going to be done to Benjamin? 5. Who spoke for 
 him? 6. What did Judah ask? 7. Who did the lord of the land turn out to 
 be? 8. How came Joseph to be in Egypt ? 9. Why had his brothers not known 
 him sooner? 10. How did he treat them ? 11. Whom did he send for ? 12. 
 What did Jacob say? 13. Where did Jacob go to live? 14. Why was it very 
 kind in Joseph to help his brothers? 15. Did he give back to them the harm 
 they had done to him? 16. How could we do like Joseph? 
 
 LEATHER BOTTLES. 
 
Eighth iSunba^ 
 
 THE GALL OF MOSES. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " I have surely seen the affliction of My people. " — Exodus 3 : 7. 
 
 OU heard how Joseph brought his father and 
 
 brothers and their children to live in Egypt. 
 
 Their children's children went on living there 
 
 for many years, till they had come to be a 
 
 great people, and were called the children of 
 
 Israel ; but then the King of Egypt grew cruel 
 
 to them. He made them work very hard to 
 
 make bricks and build towns for him; and 
 
 what was still worse, he ordered that whenever a little boy was 
 
 born to the children of Israel, he should be thrown into the river 
 
 and drowned. 
 
 One mother hid her little baby for three months, and when 
 she could not hide him any longer, she put him into a little cradle 
 of bulrushes covered over with pitch, to keep the water out, and 
 let the cradle float on the river, leaving the little boy's sister to 
 watch him. Presently a lady, no other than the daughter of the 
 cruel king, came down to bathe in the river. She saw the little 
 cradle, and had it brought to her. The 'little baby was crying, and 
 the lady pitied him and took him home, to bring up for her own 
 child. She wanted a nurse for him, and his sister fetched his own 
 mother, and she became his nurse. 
 
 His name was Moses, and we hear about him in the Lesson 
 to-day. He was not living with the king's daughter now. The 
 king had grown angry with him because he cared for his own 
 people, and he had had to flee away and keep sheep in the wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 64 
 
mmmmtiAaii\\Ti\ r 
 MOSES AND THE TABLES OF THE LAW. 
 
THE CALL OF MOSES. 65 
 
 And there he saw a great wonder. He saw a flame of fire 
 in a bush, and yet the bush was not burnt. And God's voice spoke 
 to him out of the fire that did not burn, and told him that the 
 troubles of His people, the children of Israel, were to come to an 
 end. God would save them from the cruel Egyptians ; and Moses 
 himself was to go and lead them out, and bring them to the good 
 
 PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER FINDING MOSES.— Ex. 2 : 5, 6. 
 
 land that God had promised that Abraham's children should have 
 for their own. Moses was to go and tell the King of Egypt that it 
 was God's will that they should go. Moses was afraid at first, but 
 God promised to help him. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Moses? 2. Where was he put when he was a baby? 2. Why 
 was he put on the river ? 4. Who had said the little boys were to be drowned ? 
 5. Whose babies were they that were to be drowned? 6. What other cruel things 
 did the King of Egypt do to the children of Israel ? 7. Who were called the 
 children of Israel ? 8. What became of Moses in his bulrush cradle? 9. Who 
 brought him up? 10. Did he stay with the king's daughter? 11. Whom did 
 he care for? 12. What wonder did Moses see? 13. Who spoke to him? 14. 
 What was God going to do for His people ? 15. What land would he give them? 
 5-B.S. 
 
.vM/a 
 
 66 THE CALL OF MOSES. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord ? " — Exodus 5 : 2. 
 
 OSES and his brother Aaron went and told Pharaoh 
 |4^ God's message, that the people of Israel were to go 
 away and worship Him. But Pharaoh said, "Who 
 is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel 
 go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel 
 go." And he was more cruel to the children of 
 Israel ; he made them work harder and harder, and 
 had them beaten if they did not do all the work that was set them. 
 
 They had to make bricks of clay mixed with straw; and, to 
 punish them, Pharaoh said that they should have no straw given 
 to them for their work, but that they must find it for themselves ; 
 and yet he required of them just as many bricks as they had had 
 to make before. Then they cried out and were angry, and fancied 
 Moses had brought all this trouble on them, by asking for them 
 to go. They were very miserable, and said they wished they had 
 never listened to Moses, for he had only made them worse off 
 instead of better. 
 
 Aaron was a better speaker than Moses, and God had said 
 he should help him, and that, when God told Moses anything, 
 Aaron should speak it to the people. So the two brothers stood 
 telling the Israelites to bear it a little longer, and then it would 
 be all well and over, and they would get away from making the 
 bricks in Egypt to the beautiful country. 
 
 They could not remember it themselves, but some of their 
 fathers' grandfathers had been little boys when they came, and 
 could tell them that it was a country not all flat, with only one 
 river in it, like Egypt, but full of steep hills and green valleys, 
 with bright streams running along in them, and thick woods on 
 some of the slopes, and others laid out in gardens and vineyards. 
 There were so many cows in the pastures, and in the wild rocks 
 
THE CALL OF MOSES. 67 
 
 and hollow trees so many bees' nests, that it was called a land 
 flowing with milk and honey. 
 
 Should not the Israelites have liked to hear of such a place 
 as this? But no, they were too dull to care. They thought more 
 of whether they should get a leek or a melon to eat at supper, than 
 
 THE ISRAELITES MADE TO WORK HARD IN EGYPT. -Ex. i: 13, 14. 
 
 of all the lovely land far away. Do you know, people are very like 
 that when they care for now more than by-and-by. If we want 
 just what pleases us to-day, instead of caring for what will be 
 good for us as we grow older, we are just like the Israelites, who 
 would not attend to Moses or to God. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Pharaoh? 2. Who were the children of Israel? 3. Who had 
 been sent to call them? 4. What did Pharaoh say to Moses? 5. How did he 
 use the Israelites? 6. What would he not give them? 7. Who was Moses' 
 brother? 8. What was Aaron to do for Moses? 9. Who spoke to Moses? 10. 
 Who told the people what God said to Moses? 11. What kind of place did God 
 promise? 12. What did Moses say it flowed with? 13. Why? 14. Did the 
 Israelites care? 15. Why not? 16. When are we like them? 17. Which 
 should we care for most, now or by-and-by f 
 
68 
 
 THE CALL OF MOSES. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " I will redeem you with a stretched out arm. " — Exodus 6 : 6. 
 
 HE Israelites were very unhappy, for Pharaoh was very 
 cruel to them, and they thought it all Moses' fault. 
 But Moses told them that they would be saved, and 
 that God was going to show them His power, so that 
 they might always remember what He had done for 
 them, and how He punished Pharaoh, who would not 
 obey Him. 
 
 Then God made His power to be known ; so that Pharaoh and 
 
 AARON'S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT.— Ex. 7 : 10. 
 
 the children of Israel might both learn who is the great Lord of 
 heaven and earth, who must be obeyed. First, Moses stretched 
 out his rod, and all the water in the river turned into blood. For 
 seven days it was all one red dreadful stream of blood ; and when 
 Moses held out his rod again it turned back into pure water. But 
 hardened his heart again, and would not let the people go. 
 
THE CALL OF MOSES. 
 
 69 
 
 Then God sent a multitude of frogs, that came into all the 
 houses and bed-rooms, and on the tables and everywhere. Pharaoh 
 could not bear to have these creatures everywhere, and said if the 
 frogs would but go away he would let the children of Israel go. 
 Moses prayed to God, and all the frogs died; but Pharaoh only 
 hardened his heart again, and would not let the people go. 
 
 Next, God sent lice, disgusting unclean creatures, most hor- 
 rible to the Egyptians, who could not bear anything dirty; but 
 Pharaoh did not care. Then came swarms of flies, buzzing, sting- 
 ing, and tormenting; and Pharaoh said he would allow the Israel- 
 ites to go, so the flies were taken away; but no sooner were they 
 gone than he went back again to his obstinacy, and would not let 
 the people go. 
 
 He was trying to fight against God, and so came these terrible 
 miseries on him. If people will not do better after being pun- 
 ished, worse and worse is sure to come on them. 
 
 QUESTIONS 
 
 1. How did God punish Pharaoh? 2. What four plagues have I told you of 
 to-day"? 3. Why did these dreadful things happen? 4. Did Pharaoh care for 
 them ? 5. Why did he not mind them ? 6. What happens to those who do not 
 mind being punished ? 
 
 u ;-.-■-"-" 
 
 $p 
 
 ^^M^&^^'^^t ^^j K ^:^7 >^*v,„ 
 
 V Vft^Y^ _ 
 
IRintb Sunba^ 
 
 THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " There is none like Me in all the earth. " — Exodus 9 : 14.. 
 
 OU remember that when God spoke to 
 Moses out of the burning bush, it was to 
 tell him that he should lead the children 
 of Israel away from the people in Egypt, 
 who were so unkind to them. 
 
 But Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, 
 said that they should not go ; he could not 
 spare them, and he did not care for God's 
 message to him. Then God punished 
 Pharaoh that he might let them go. Ten 
 times God punished him, and you hear about three of the pun- 
 ishments to-day. 
 
 First, how the sheep and cows, that the Egyptians wor- 
 shipped like gods, fell sick and died, but still Pharaoh did not 
 care ; then how the people all had sores and boils that made them 
 very ill, but still Pharaoh did not care; and then how there was 
 a terrible storm, thunder and lightning, and rain and hail — such 
 big hailstones as killed the men and cattle that were out in the 
 fields, and lightning that struck them, and wind that broke every 
 tree in the field. 
 
 No wonder that Pharaoh was frightened, and begged that 
 the storm might cease, and said that then he would let the Israel- 
 ites go. So Moses prayed to God, and the thunder left off, there 
 
 was no more hail, and it was all still again. But when the thunder 
 70 
 
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. 71 
 
 was over Pharaoh grew wicked again, and left off caring, and 
 said the Israelites should not go. And thus God went on being 
 angry with him, till at last he came to a terrible end. 
 
 I am afraid some children are a little like Pharaoh when they 
 get sulky, and say "I won't," and if they are punished, still they 
 
 THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.— Ex. 10 : 12. 
 
 won't — they think nobody shall force them, and they make them- 
 selves hard that they may not do what they are told. It is very 
 sad, for this hardness is very wrong, and you see how angry God 
 was with this king for being obstinate. Pray to God to help you 
 not to harden your heart, but to teach you to obey. And do not 
 
72 THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. 
 
 forget and do the same thing again when the punishment is over, 
 or it will have done you no good, and you will have to be punished 
 worse next time. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What did God desire Pharaoh to do? 2. Who spoke God's words to 
 Pharaoh ? 3. But what did Pharaoh say ? 4. Who was Pharaoh ? 5. Who 
 was Moses? 6. What was done to Pharaoh? 7. Did he- mind ? 8. Tell me 
 the three plagues we hear of to-day. 9. How many plagues were there in all? 
 10. What happened in the thunder-storm? 11. What did Pharaoh say when he 
 was frightened? 12. So what left off? 13. But did he let the people go ? 14. 
 What fault in some children is the same as Pharaoh's ? 15. What~ought they do? 
 16. Who can help them to fight their obstinate temper? 17. But how must they 
 get God's help? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the child- 
 ren of Israel go. " — Exodus 10 : 20. 
 
 ORSE troubles are sure to come when people have 
 not taken warning by what was sent them before. 
 Pharaoh had not minded seven dreadful plagues, 
 so now God sent another. He sent locusts. These 
 were creatures like great grasshoppers. They 
 came in swarms and clouds, and ate up every green 
 leaf and blade of grass, and made all the earth brown and the 
 trees dry sticks, so that there was nothing left for man or beast 
 to eat. Then Pharaoh gave way a little, and said he would let the 
 men go, but that their wives and children must stay; and he 
 would not hear a word more, but had Moses and Aaron driven out 
 from before him. 
 
 Then God bade Moses to hold up his hand to Heaven. And 
 darkness came on. It was dark all day — and with "darkness 
 that might be felt;" not like night, but such black darkness that 
 no fire or candle could give light, and no one dared to move about; 
 but the Egyptians lay still in their places, full of horror and 
 
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. 73 
 
 terror, for three whole days. But all the time it was light among 
 the Israelites — the sun rose and set as usual; and thus God 
 showed that they were His people. 
 
 Then Pharaoh said that he would let them go — men, women 
 and children, only he must keep all their cattle ; and when Moses, 
 speaking God's words, said that the cattle must go too, and not a 
 hoof be left behind, Pharaoh made his heart hard again, and 
 drove out Moses, saying the people should not go, and that Moses 
 should never see his face again. 
 
 And Moses said, "Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face 
 again no more/' 
 
 So ended the last hope for Pharaoh. He was never to have 
 another chance of bending his will and doing as God told him. 
 Oh, let us take care not to be like him ! 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. How many plagues of Egypt were there? 2. Tell me which had happened* 
 3. What are the two plagues of this lesson? 4. What are locusts? 5. What 
 harm do locusts do? 6. Who did Pharaoh say might go? 7. Whom would he 
 not let go ? 8. What plague came then ? 9. What made the darkness so horrible? 
 10. How long did it last? 11. Who were not in the dark? 12. What did 
 Pharaoh say then? 13. What did he want to keep back? 14. And how did he 
 then change? 15. What did he say to Moses? 16. How did Moses answer? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 (t He smote all the first-born in Egypt. " — Psalm 78 : 51. 
 
 FTER the nine sad plagues that had come upon the 
 Egyptians — the blood for water, the frogs, the lice, the 
 flies, the cattle plague, the boils, the hail, the locusts, 
 the darkness — there was to be still one plague more, 
 the last and worst. That would make the Egyptians 
 let the people of Israel go, so they must be ready. 
 There should be a terrible night. God's holy angel would 
 pass over the whole land of Egypt that night, and in each house 
 
74 THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. 
 
 of the Egyptians he would slay the eldest son of the family. No 
 one would be spared : Pharaoh's eldest son, the young prince, and 
 the very poorest person's son. They had killed the little Israelite 
 babies, so God would punish them by killing their children. None 
 of the Israelites should lose their children; only there was one 
 thing for them to do. 
 
 THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.— Ex. 12 : 11-14. 
 
 They were that night to sup on a lamb, and, with some of the 
 blood of the lamb, they were to make a mark on the door-post. 
 Where that mark was the angel would pass over and do no one any 
 hurt; but the people would be blest and set free, because they 
 believed God, and did as He bade them. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. How many plagues of Egypt were there? 2. Say them over. 3. What 
 were they all for ? 4. Who would not let them go ? 5. What was the last plague ? 
 6. Who were to die? 7. Why did the Egyptians deserve to lose their children? 
 8. Who would slay them? 9. Whom would the angel spare? 10. How were 
 the Israelites to mark their houses? 11. With what blood? 12. What were 
 they to do with the lamb ? 
 
{Tenth £unba\>* 
 
 THE PASSOVER. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " There was not a house in whicl 
 
 ■ {3^ J^C?^, ,„|||, „„!i, „„||, %„€) 
 
 there was not one dead. " — Exodus 12 : 30. 
 
 1^ HIS is our own gladdest Sunday in all the 
 year, and we read of the Israelites 
 being glad too — glad upon the very 
 Sunday that answered to this, thou- 
 sands of years ago. On this Sunday, 
 of all those thousands of years, there 
 has been joy and gladness and thanking 
 God. And why? It was because all 
 the troubles in Egypt were over, and 
 God brought the Israelites out safe. 
 
 There was one thing they had to 
 do first, though; Moses bade them do 
 it, as God commanded him. Every 
 family was to take a lamb, and it was 
 to be killed and roasted whole in the 
 evening, and some of its blood was to be marked upon the door- 
 post of the house, and then all the family were to stand round the 
 table, all ready dressed for a journey, and eat it as fast as they 
 could, late at night. 
 
 And while all the families, fathers and mothers and children, 
 stood up eating the lamb in this strange way, there came a great 
 shout and cry. God had sent His angel to punish the cruel Egyp- 
 tians ; and every house where there was no mark of blood on the 
 
 75 
 
76 THE PASSOVER. 
 
 door-post had some one dead in it, and that dead person was the 
 eldest or first-born son. 
 
 There was a great cry, for there was death everywhere, from 
 the son of Pharaoh who sat on his throne down to the child of 
 the poorest slave ; and even the first-born cattle died too, because 
 
 DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT.- Ex. 12 : 29. 
 
 the Egyptians used to worship them ; but wherever there was the 
 blood on the door-post the angel passed over, and the eldest son 
 was safe. Then cruel King Pharaoh was sorry and afraid at 
 last, and said that the people who brought such trouble on him 
 should go where they liked. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Why are we glad to-day? 2. Why were the Israelites glad to-day? 3. 
 Where were the Israelites living? 4. What hard work had they to do? 5. 
 Who said they should come out? 6. Who would not let them go? 7. What 
 did God tell the Israelites to eat ? 8.- How were they to be dressed while they 
 ate it? 9. What were they to do with the blood? 10. Who was going to pass 
 over the land that night ? 11. What did the angel do where he did not see any 
 blood on the door-post? 12. Who were frightened then? 13. What did the 
 Egyptians wish then ? 
 
THE PASSOVER. 
 
 77 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover." — Exodus 12: 27. 
 
 HEN the King of Egypt said the Israelites might go 
 they were all up and dressed, quite ready and 
 only waiting, and off they set. No more making 
 of bricks, no more slaving for the Egyptians, no 
 more drowning of babies! They were free! and 
 God was going to lead them to the beautiful coun- 
 try that long ago He had said He would give them. 
 
 KtCti 
 
 -%■ rrr oj> ••>- s-i *«r i— 
 
 -a* -"=2i 2T ,-^i <=> ^ 
 
 EGYPTIAN JUDGMENT SCENE. 
 
 And so, to put them in mind how they were saved from the 
 Egyptians, God bade them on the same day in each year to kill 
 a lamb and roast it, and put the blood on the door-post, and eat 
 the lamb all standing round the table, dressed as if they were 
 going for a journey, that they might never forget how God had 
 made them free. This was called the Passover, because the angel 
 passed over the houses where the blood was marked over the 
 
78 THE PASSOVER. 
 
 door. And God came in a pillar of cloud to show them the way 
 
 they should go. 
 
 Our blessed Lord was crucified when He had come to the 
 
 Feast of the Passover many years after. You know He was like 
 
 a lamb, He was so pure and gentle; and His Blood saves us, as 
 
 that lamb's blood did the Israelites, and sets us free from the 
 
 power of the devil. So we still keep the feast of being set free, 
 
 on this happy Easter Sunday, when we recollect that Christ was 
 
 slain for our sins, but that He rose again from the dead, and 
 
 liveth for evermore. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What did Pharaoh say that the Israelites might do? 2. What made him 
 let them go at last? 3. Who were set free? 4. What were the Israelites to do 
 every year? 5. What was this eating the lamb called? 6. Why was it called 
 the Passover? 7. Why were the Israelites glad? 8. Who set us free ? 9. 
 What did our Lord do as on this day ? 10. In what is He like a lamb? 11. 
 So what did we say in the Easter Anthem to-day ? 12. How did God lead them? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " The children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of 
 the sea." — Exodus 1£ : 16. 
 
 LL the Egyptians were weeping over their dead first- 
 born sons, and the Israelites were set free, and going 
 gladly out and away from their hard masters. 
 
 But Pharaoh's hard heart turned again, and he 
 got all his chariots and horsemen together, and went 
 after the children of Israel to drive them back to Egypt. 
 And when he came in sight of them, there they were all upon the 
 shore of the sea called the Red Sea. They could not go on, for the 
 sea was straight before them; they could not go back, for the 
 Egyptians were behind. They were sore afraid. But God spoke 
 to Moses and told him not to fear. They had only to stand still 
 and see how God would save them. 
 
THE PASSOVER. 79 
 
 And God Himself showed that He was with them, for the 
 pillar of cloud went behind them, instead of before, and made it 
 dark to the Egyptians, but gave light by night to the Israelites : 
 so the Egyptians could not get near them all night. 
 
 Then God bade Moses stretch out his rod over the sea. And 
 then there was a great wonder. The waves of the sea parted, 
 and stood up on each side in a heap, and in between there was a 
 
 PHARAOH'S HOST DESTROYED IN THE RED SEA.— Ex. 14: 30, 31. 
 
 wide open space, where the children of Israel might walk safely 
 dry-shod, through the very midst of the sea. Through it they 
 went, men, women, and children, through the depths of the sea, 
 with the waves standing still on each side of them. 
 
 Pharaoh saw that they were all gone over. He chose to 
 follow after them. But when his host was in the midst, the 
 sea returned in its strength again and came down on the Egyp- 
 tians, and every one of them was drowned — "they sank like lead 
 in the mighty waters" — and the Israelites were freed from their 
 enemies, quite away from all their trouble and all their slavery; 
 
80 
 
 THE PASSOVER. 
 
 and they sang hymns of joy to God, who had been so good to them 
 
 and now had set them free. 
 
 And we read about them being set free because this is the 
 
 great Easter Day when we give thanks to our Blessed Lord for 
 
 having set us free. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What last plague had come on Egypt? 2. Who had set off to leave Egypt? 
 3. But what did Pharaoh do? 4. What was before the Israelites? 5. What was 
 behind? 6. Where did the pillar of cloud go? 7. How were the Egyptians cut 
 off from them? 8. What wonder did God work? 9. Where did the Israelites 
 go over? 10. Who came after them? 11. What became of the Egyptians? 12- 
 Who were free? 13. Who had made them free? 
 
"Eleventh Sunba^ 
 
 THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " The Lord will show who are His and who is holy. " — Numbers 16 : 5. 
 rrfP^ >*C .-ill. ..Mi. ...iii. SLq 
 
 SgHEN the Israelites came out of Egypt 
 they had a long journey to go, through 
 a dreary, lonely wilderness. Moses 
 and his brother Aaron led them; and 
 God took care of them, and fed them, 
 and kept them safe. 
 
 But there were some wicked men, 
 named Dathan and Abiram, who were 
 tired of the wilderness, and were angry 
 at having Moses for their leader and 
 master, though God had made him lead 
 them, and had done so much for them. 
 They said they were as good as Moses, 
 and that he should not be their prince. 
 They did not care for God having spoken by him. 
 
 Their end was so very dreadful that I can hardly tell it to 
 you. God would not let them rise up against His servant Moses ; 
 and when they would not listen nor repent He made the earth 
 open under their feet, and they went down alive, and were 
 swallowed up in the pit before the eyes of all the other Israelites ; 
 and so they died the most terrible death anyone ever died. It 
 was because they set themselves up against Moses, whom God 
 had placed over them, that He was so angry with them. 
 
 6-B.S. 
 
 81 
 
82 
 
 THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH. 
 
 Remember God has set people over us: there are our fathers 
 and mothers, and our clergymen and teachers ; and it is our duty 
 to obey them, as He tells us in the Fifth Commandment. If we 
 are proud and saucy it is very wrong of us. It is not likely that 
 we should be so dreadfully punished in this life as Dathan and 
 Abiram were ; but their horrible death should make us remember 
 that God is very angry with those that will not try to obey those 
 that have the rule over them, and set themselves up to be bold 
 and proud, and to say they do not care. 
 
 AARON AND HUR HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF MOSES.— Ex. 17 : n. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. What is the explanation of it in the 
 Duty to our Neighbor? 3. Who was set over the Israelites by God? 4. Where 
 had he brought them from? 5. Where was he leading them to? 6. How should 
 they have behaved to him? 7. What bad men were there among them? 8. 
 Whom did they not care for? 9. What did they say? 10. Why was it very 
 wicked of Dathan and Abiram not to obey Moses ? 11. What terrible end did they 
 come to? 12. Why was God angry with Dathan and Abiram? 13. What make? 
 Him angry? 14. Whom did you say He had set over you? 15. Then how 
 must you behave to your parents and clergymen and teachers ? 
 
THE GAINSAYING OF KORAII. 
 
 83 
 
 SECOND READING, 
 
 " And seek ye the priesthood also ?" — Numbers 16 : 10. 
 
 HEN God gave the Commandments upon Mount 
 Sinai, He chose that Aaron, Moses' brother, and 
 his sons should be His priests. A priest had to 
 offer up the sacrifices to God, and to burn incense 
 to Him. Incense is made of dried plants and gums 
 that have a sweet smell when they are burnt. 
 The priests had brazen urns with holes at the top, and chains 
 to hold them by, and when the smoke of the incense went up it 
 
 KORAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES SWALLOWED UP.-Num. 16 : 31-33. 
 
 was just as our prayers rise up to God in heaven. There were 
 other people called Levites, who had to take care of the holy things 
 that were used in God's service, but only the priests might offer 
 sacrifices or incense. 
 
 Now one of these Levites, named Korah, wanted to do more. 
 He was angry, and said everybody was holy, and that Aaron 
 
84 THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH. 
 
 took too much on himself. Now it was not Aaron who made him- 
 self priest, but God had made him so. Therefore it was wrong 
 in Korah; but there were two hundred and fifty men whom he 
 persuaded to come and get censers, and offer incense to the Lord 
 as if they had been priests. But because they did it in pride and 
 self-will God was angry with them, and His fire burst out and 
 scorched them all to death ! It was only the men themselves that 
 died, not their wives or children; and Korah's family after him 
 were better than he was, and used to sing God's praises in the 
 Psalms. 
 
 But they always recollected that no one who was not a priest 
 might offer sacrifice or burn incense before God. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What had a priest to do ? 2. What was a sacrifice ? 3. What was incense ? 
 4. What was it burnt in? 5. Who only might offer *sacrifice and incense? 6. 
 Who was the right priest? 7. How came Aaron to be priest? 8. Who wanted 
 to offer incense ? 9. What did Korah say? 10. How many came with him? 
 11. What did they try to do? 12. What happened to the two hundred and fifty? 
 13. Why were they punished? 14. What became of Koran's children? 15. 
 Who are our priests ? 16. How were they made priests? 17. What may they 
 alone do? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " The rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth 
 buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. " — Numbers 17 : 8. 
 
 HE high-priest, whom God chose, had to offer sacrifices 
 to Him. That was, the priest slew a lamb, or a goat, 
 or a bullock, by the altar, and gave it to God. It was 
 to show that the Son of God would come and die to 
 take away sin. Now He has come and died, we have 
 left off killing creatures in sacrifice, and only make 
 
 remembrance over again of His sacrifice in the sacrament of the 
 
 Lord's Supper. 
 
THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH. 
 
 85 
 
 The high-priest used to wear a beautiful dress. He had a 
 mitre on his head, with a gold plate on it, and the words, "Holiness 
 unto the Lord;" and he had a blue, red, and white robe, embroi- 
 dered with gold, and round the hem little gold bells and pome- 
 granates. He had a curious scarf called an ephod, and a beautiful 
 breast-plate made of twelve precious stones, each with the name of 
 one of the twelve tribes of Israel engraven on it. 
 
 AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED.— Num. 17 : 8, 9. 
 
 God said He would show who should be His priest. So He 
 bade Moses desire the chief man in each tribe to bring a dry rod 
 or staff, and lay them up all night in the Holy Place. The one 
 whose rod began to grow as if it was still on the tree should be 
 the high-priest. When the twelve men went to look in the morn- 
 ing, eleven rods were dry sticks still, but one had put out green 
 leaves and pink buds, and white blushing flowers, like almond 
 blossoms. It was Aaron's rod ; and this was the way God let the 
 children of Israel know that Aaron and his sons, and grandsons 
 after him, were always to be priests. 
 
86 
 
 THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was a priest? 2. What had he to do? 3. What was a sacrifice? 
 4. How was it offered? 5. What creatures were killed? 6. Where were they 
 put? 7. What was this to make the children of Israel think of? 8. Why don't 
 we kill sacrifices now? 9. Who has been sacrificed? 10. What did the high- 
 priest wear on his head ? 11. What color was his dress ? 12. How was it edged? 
 13. What was on his breast? 14. What did God say He would show? 15. 
 What were twelve men to bring? 16. Where were the rods put? 17. What 
 was to show who should be priest? 18. What were the eleven rods like in the 
 morning? 19. But how did one look? 20. Whose was it? 21. What, then, 
 was Aaron to be ? 
 
 THE HOLY PLACE. 
 
TTwelftb £unba£- 
 
 ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. " — Deut 6 : 16. 
 
 TOLD you what sort of place a desert is, and how 
 full it is of stones, and rocks, and sand, and with 
 no water in it. Do you remember how thirsty Ish- 
 mael was in the desert, and how God heard the 
 voice of the lad, and sent an angel to lead his mother 
 to a well of water? 
 
 When the Israelites had come out of the land 
 of Egypt, they were in a terrible wilderness. Mount 
 Sinai stood up in the midst, and all round were great 
 rocks of red and black marble, all dry and parched 
 with the hot sun shining on them. 
 
 The Israelites grew very hot and sadly thirsty, but they did 
 not pray as Ishmael had done. They grew angry, and said, "Is 
 the Lord among us or no?" Do you not think they deserved that 
 God should show whether He was among them by punishing them 
 for grumbling? That was the way they tempted God. But He 
 was so good and merciful that He pitied them ; and He bade Moses 
 to take his rod, and go to the bare, dry rock, and strike it. And 
 when Moses struck the rock, God made a beautiful, fresh, clear 
 spring of water come pouring out of it, so that all the people, 
 and all their cows, and sheep, and goats, and camels, could drink 
 and be refreshed. 
 
 Was not that a great wonder? and was not God very kind to 
 them, though they were not good? But you see God was near to 
 
88 
 
 ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 help them all the time, and it was very sad that they grumbled 
 instead of praying. Do not be like them. If a thing is hard to 
 bear, don't murmur and grumble about it, but pray, and then you 
 will get help. Either the vexing thing will go away, or you will 
 leave off minding it. 
 
 MOSES BRINGING WATER FROM THE ROCK.— Ex. 17 : 6. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. "Where had the Israelites come from? 2. Who was leading them? 3. What 
 kind of place did they get into? 4. What is a desert like? 5. What was the 
 mountain in the midst of the desert? 6. What cannot be found in the desert? 
 7. Who was the lad that was thirsty there before? 8. What did Ishmael do 
 when he was thirsty ? 9. Bat what did the Israelites do ? 10. What did they 
 say? 11. What would have served them right? 12. But did God punish them? 
 13. What did he tell Moses to take? 14. What did Moses strike? 15. What 
 came out of the rock? 16. What made the water come out of the rock? 17. 
 Was it not very good of God to give them water? 18. What ought they to have 
 done? 19. What should you do when a thing is hard? 20. Is it not very 
 naughty to grumble? 
 
ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 89 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of 
 man be lifted up/' — John 3: 1J.. 
 
 NE great fault of the Israelites was that they had no 
 patience. The moment they saw anything trouble- 
 some or difficult, they began to cry out, and say they 
 could not get on, and it was very hard on them. 
 Now it is very wrong ever to say God is very hard 
 upon us, for we may be sure He is doing what is best 
 for us. There was one stony, hot, steep part of the 
 journey still to come, and when the Israelites saw it they forgot 
 
 THE BRAZEN SERPENT.— Num. 21 : 31. 
 
 how often God had helped them, and cried out, and lamented, and 
 complained of Him and of Moses. 
 
 So again they were punished, for the little shining snakes 
 that live there came in numbers, darting at them and biting them, 
 so that the bite burnt like fire, and they died. Then they cried 
 
90 ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 out to God and were sorry, and He told Moses of a wonderful way 
 to cure them. Moses was to melt up some brass and make a great 
 serpent, like the little ones that bit them, and set it up on a pole. 
 Then if anyone who was bitten would come at once and look up at 
 the brazen serpent, his bite would get well, and he would not 
 die of it. 
 
 This was a miracle— a wonder. And it was to teach the 
 Israelites something, and us too. For you know our Blessed Lord 
 hung on the cross, as the serpent hung on the pole ; and when our 
 souls are in danger of dying of sin, we must think of Him, and 
 look to Him in faith, and He will save us from being punished for 
 our sin, and keep our souls from dying. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What sort of place had the Israelites to go over? 2. How did they like it? 
 3. What did they do ? 4. Why ought they not to have cried out? 5. Who had 
 been taking care of thern ? 6. So how did God punish them ? 7. What happened 
 when the serpents bit them? 8. What were they sorry for? 9. So what was 
 Moses to make? 10. Where did he put the brazen serpent? 11. What were 
 they to do if they were bit? 12. What cured them? 13. Who hung upon the 
 cross? 14. What does He cure our souls of? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, 
 which thou knewest not. " — Deut. 8 : 3. 
 
 HIS morning you heard how God gave the children of 
 Israel water to drink in the wilderness. Now you 
 shall hear what He gave them to eat. The ground 
 was all hard stones. There was grass which the cows 
 and sheep could eat, and there were a few trees with 
 long sharp thorns, but no fruit on them, and no corn 
 to make bread ; and soon the people were very hungry, and began 
 to cry out that they did not know what would become of them. 
 
 But God was not going to forget them. When they rose up 
 in the morning, the fresh dew lay on the grass, and all about 
 
ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. 91 
 
 in the dew were little white things that tasted like wafers made 
 with honey. This was called manna, and God had sent it from 
 heaven for them to eat. 
 
 Every morning on week days there it was, and they had all 
 to come out and pick it up. But they must get up early to gather 
 it, for when the sun was hot it would melt away. And they could 
 not keep it — it grew bad and was not fit to use the next day; 
 but there was always just enough for everybody to have all they 
 wanted. There was only one day in each week that more came 
 
 PRIEST 
 
 HIGH-PRIEST 
 
 LEV1TE 
 
 down, and that was the day before the Sabbath-day, which they 
 had instead of Sunday. Then each one could get twice as much 
 as could be eaten in one day, and it did not spoil so fast. For on 
 the Sabbath-day God would have them rest, and so no manna was 
 to be found anywhere, so that they might learn to keep the Fourth 
 Commandment — Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. 
 
 All the time they stayed in the wilderness, the sweet white 
 manna lay on the grass in the morning for them to pick it up — 
 twice as much on the sixth day of the week, and on the Sabbath- 
 day none at all. Was not that very good of God? 
 
92 
 
 ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were the Israelites? 2. What had they to drink in the wilderness? 
 3. What else did they want? 4. Why could they not get bread? 5. What did 
 God give them instead? 6. What was the manna like? 7. Where did it lie? 
 8. When was the manna on the grass? 9. Who were to eat it? 10. Who sent 
 it? 11. What became of it in hot sunshine? 12. Would it keep? 13. What 
 was the day when it could be kept? 14. How much came down the day before 
 the Sabbath? 15. What might not be done on the Sabbath? 16. What is the 
 Fourth Commandmant? 17. So why did they get twice as much manna the day 
 before? 18. W r hen did no manna come? 19. What day have we instead of the 
 Sabbath? 
 
^Thirteenth 5unba\>, 
 
 BALAAM AND BALAK. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Thou shait not curse the people: for they are blessed. " — Numbers 22 : 12. 
 
 HERE was a prophet called Balaam. A 
 prophet means a man to whom God 
 made His will known, and who was thus 
 much wiser than other men. This prophet 
 one day saw some rich great men come to 
 his house. They brought him a message, 
 that a king named Balak wanted him to 
 come with them, and would give him great 
 rewards for coming. Balaam said he must 
 wait for one night, and God would make 
 known to him what he was to do. And at night God told him he 
 was not to go; for what Balak wanted of him was to curse the 
 children of Israel, and God would not have them cursed. So 
 Balaam said he must not go, and the messengers went away. 
 
 But Balak sent more princes, still grander men, with larger 
 presents, to fetch Balaam. He answered, "If Balak would give 
 me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word 
 of the Lord my God, to do less or more." But he had not left off 
 wishing. He begged the messengers to stay, and see if God would 
 give him leave to go. And this time God did say he might go, 
 but that he should not say anything about the Israelites but what 
 God put in his mouth. Balaam knew that God was not pleased 
 with him; but he wanted Balak's rewards, and he set off in the 
 morning, riding on his ass. 
 
 93 
 
94 
 
 BALAAM AND BALAK. 
 
 Presently the ass was frightened, and turned out of the road 
 into the field. Balaam was angry at this, and beat the ass. But 
 again the ass turned aside in a narrow walled path, and squeezed 
 Balaam's foot against the wall. He beat her again. Presently, 
 in a very narrow road, the poor ass fell quite down for fear; and 
 Balaam was very angry, and beat her harder. 
 
 Then God worked a wonder. He made the dumb ass to 
 speak, and ask why he was so cruel to her. He answered that he 
 
 BALAAM MET BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.— Num. 22 : 31. 
 
 only wished for a sword to kill her. The ass asked if she had ever 
 been like this before. He said, No. And then, full before him, 
 he saw God's holy angel with a sword in his hand. And he fell 
 down on his face: 
 
 The poor ass had seen the angel all the time; but Balaam 
 could not see him till God made him able. And now he was afraid, 
 and would have gone back ; but the angel said he must go on now, 
 though he would only be able to speak the words which God put 
 in his mouth. 
 
BALAAM AND BALAK. 95 
 
 Think if, sometimes when you have been told you must not do 
 something, you fret and teaze to do it — is not that like Balaam? 
 And perhaps you teaze till some one gives you leave to do as you 
 wish. Then you get quite cross with eagerness, and are unkind 
 to all that hinders you; and, after all, you do not find that any 
 good comes of getting your own way. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What is a prophet? 2. Who sent for Balaam? 3. What did God tell 
 Balaam? 4. But what did Balaam wish? 5. How did he get leave to go at last? 
 6. But who stood in his way? 7. Who saw the angel first? 8. What did 
 Balaam do to the ass? 9. What wonder did God work? 10. What did the ass 
 say? 11. Whom did Balaam see? 12. What did the angel tell him? 13. 
 What had he been allowed to have? 14. Does good come of having our own way? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of 
 Israel. " — Numbers ££: 17. 
 
 HERE was a king named Balak, whose land the Israel- 
 ites were to pass through. They promised not to do 
 any harm to him or his people, if they might go 
 quietly through; but he was afraid and angry, and 
 wanted to have them cursed, hoping to bring God's 
 anger on them. That was a very wicked and foolish 
 notion of King Balak's ; and God would not let it bring harm upon 
 His people. They had not deserved to have His anger called down 
 on them, and so He would not be angry with them. 
 
 And when Balak's friend Balaam tried to speak curses, God 
 turned them all to blessings; and, instead of saying they should 
 come to a terrible end, he could only say how happy and well off 
 they should be, with God to take care of them, and be their King. 
 He even went on to say that a Star should come out of Jacob, and 
 a Sceptre should rise out of Israel — and that meant that our 
 
96 BALAAM AND BALAK. 
 
 Saviour should be born among them. He is called a Star, because 
 He came to give us light ; and you know a star showed the way to 
 the place where He was born. And a sceptre is the rod a king 
 carries in his hand. So when He was called the Sceptre, it meant 
 that He should be a King. 
 
 Only think how angry Balak was, when Balaam could not 
 curse, but only blessed. I wish he had been afraid, and seen it 
 was not God's will that he should hurt the Israelites ; but instead 
 of that, he went on in his wickedness, and was miserably killed 
 at last ; for God took care of His people, and would let no one do 
 them any harm. 
 
 Now, recollect, bad words and bad wishes do harm to the 
 
 person that speaks them, not to those they are meant for. If a 
 
 bad boy came and abused a steady one for going to church, or 
 
 saying his prayers, it would be very bad for himself; but if the 
 
 good boy kept on quietly, nothing that the other could say would 
 
 hurt him one bit. God would take care of him as surely as He 
 
 took care of the Israelites. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. "What did Balak want? 2. Why did he want the Israelites to be cursed? 
 3. Whom did he set to curse the Israelites ? 4. But what did Balaam do instead? 
 5. Why could he not curse them? 6. Who would not ]et him curse them? 7. 
 Who was to be born among them? 8. What did Balaam call our Saviour? 9. 
 Why was He like a star? 10. Why was He like a sceptre? 11. Could Balak 
 hurt the Israelites? 12. Why not? 13. Whom do bad words hurt? 14. Ought 
 we to mind them? 15. If anyone teazes you when you try to be good, must you 
 leave off? 
 
BALAAM AND BALAK. 97 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "The people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. " — Numbers 25 : 2. 
 
 OU heard how Balaam went to Balak ; and how God made 
 
 him bless the children of Israel when he wanted to curse 
 
 them. But even this did not make Balaam good. He 
 
 wanted Balak to give him a reward ; and so he told him 
 
 that though no harm could happen to the people of 
 
 Israel while they were good and worshipped their God, yet if he 
 
 could make them do something wicked, and turn away from their 
 
 God, then God would be sure to punish them. 
 
 THE ISRAELITES INVITED TO A GREAT FEAST. 
 
 So these two wicked men sent a number of women to invite 
 the Israelites to hold a great feast with them, in honor of their 
 idol Baal Peor. Many were so foolish and wicked as to be led 
 away ; and they had a great feasting and revelling, and all kinds 
 of bad pleasures that these heathen women said were to do praise 
 to this horrible false god. Then, though Balak might have cursed 
 for ever without hurting them, they had done themselves the 
 harm. God sent a deadly sickness, and in one day twenty-four 
 thousand people died. 
 
 But Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, did as Moses commanded 
 him. He first put to death the wickedest of the people who had 
 joined themselves to Baal Peor; and then he prayed — and all the 
 people prayed and wept too. So God forgave them, and the plague 
 ceased. 
 
 Afterwards Phinehas led the Israelite fighting men to punish 
 the wicked Balak and his people ; and Balaam was killed in fight- 
 ing with them. All the wicked women who had tempted the 
 Israelites away from God were put to death too. So Balaam's evil 
 counsel ended in all sorts of misery. It is very sad to think of 
 
 7-B.S. 
 
98 
 
 BALAAM AND BALAK. 
 
 him, for he knew so well what was good, and yet did what was so 
 very bad. But remember this, nobody could hurt God's people 
 till they did wrong, and then they hurt themselves, and God pun- 
 ished them. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1 . What did Balak want to do ? 2. How had Balak tried to hurt the children of 
 Israel ? 3. Why could not Balaam curse them ? 4. Wh'at did Balaam think 
 would be the way to hurt them? 5. Whom did he send to them ? 6. Whom did 
 the women persuade them to worship ? 7. What did God send to punish them ? 
 8. How was the plague stopped? 9. How was Balaam punished? 10. Why 
 was Balaam greatly to be blamed? 11. When could not Balaam hurt them ? 12. 
 When could he hurt them ? 13. For who took care of them when they were good ? 
 
 HIGH PRIEST WITH SIN OFFERING. 
 
^Fourteenth £unba\\ 
 
 THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Thou heardest His words out of the midst of the fire. " — Dent. £ : 86. 
 
 HEN the children of Israel had come out 
 of Egypt, God had told Moses to lead 
 them to the foot of Mount Sinai. This 
 was a high steep rocky mountain in the 
 wilderness. And God told Moses to set 
 bounds round the mountain, so that 
 nobody should come and touch it; and 
 the people were to pray, and wait round 
 it for the holy and awful thing that 
 was to happen. 
 
 Then there came on the hill-top a 
 deep dark cloud, and the mountain was altogether 
 on a smoke, and it shook and quaked, and there 
 were lightnings and thunders and voices, and the 
 sound of a trumpet loud and louder, so that all the 
 people trembled. Then out of that cloud there came a voice 
 speaking to them — a voice that they all could hear, and that made 
 them afraid. For it was the voice of God. And God spoke out 
 of the cloud, and gave the Ten Commandments. They were the 
 very same Ten Commandments you say in the Catechism, and 
 see written up in church. 
 
100 
 
THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 101 
 
 God had come in this terrible and awful manner to speak to 
 them, that all Israel might hear and fear, and take care not to 
 break them. Afterwards God gave these Ten Commandments 
 to Moses, written upon two tables — or pieces of stone — written 
 by God Himself. That was the way the Ten Commandments 
 were given — by God's own voice speaking to men, out of the cloud, 
 
 MOSES RECEIVING THE TABLES OF THE LAW.-Ex. 31 : 18. 
 
 amid thunders and lightnings, and the sound of the trumpet, 
 dreadful to hear. 
 
 And God means us all to obey the Commandments, just as 
 much as He meant the Israelites to obey them. They are His 
 words, and must be kept; and if we ask Him in our prayers He 
 will give us help and strength to obey them, so that we may fulfil 
 the promise that was made at our baptism, that we should keep 
 God's Holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the same unto 
 our lives' end. 
 
102 THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where had the children of Israel come from? 2. Who was leading them? 
 3. Where did God tell Moses to take them ? 4. What wonderful sight did they 
 seeoD Mount Sinai ? 5. What did they hear? 6. Who spoke out of the cloud ? 
 7. What did God speak? 8. How many Commandments? 9. Tell me the first 
 of them. 10. On what did God write them? 11. To whom did He give them? 
 12. When do you say them? 13. When did you promise to keep them? 14. 
 What is keeping the Commandments ? 15. How can you be helped to do as they 
 fell you? 16. How must you ask for God's help? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst 
 of fire." — Deuteronomy 5 : 4- 
 
 HEN the lightning and thunder and the loud voice 
 of the trumpet came forth from the cloud on Mount 
 Sinai, and God had spoken the Ten Command- 
 ments,, He called to Moses to come up and speak 
 with Him in the cloud. How wonderful it must 
 have been! Moses was the only man that ever 
 spoke so near to God. 
 
 God gave him two blocks of stone written with the Ten 
 Commandments, written with God's own Finger. Then God told 
 him to make a chest to keep them in. It was to be made of wood, 
 with gold all over it ; and two figures of cherubims were to be one 
 on each side. This chest was to be called the Ark of the Covenant. 
 And it was to be put into a square room, inside a tent, that was to 
 be made with curtains, and carried about with the Israelites. It 
 was to be called the Tabernacle. And this was to be a very holy 
 place. 
 
 The children of Israel would say their prayers in front of 
 the Tabernacle ; but they were not to go into the place where the 
 Ark was, because they were sinful, and God is holy. That place 
 was to be called the Holy of Holies, and no one might go near it 
 
THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 103 
 
 but the Priests whom God chose, and set apart to lead His wor- 
 ship. 
 
 The first High Priest was to be Moses' brother Aaron; and 
 he was to wear a beautiful dress when he ministered before God — 
 a high cap with "Holiness to the Lord" on it, a long embroidered 
 robe, edged with gold bells and pomegranates, and a blue scarf 
 crossed over her breast ; and in the middle a breast-plate, made of 
 twelve precious stones, each carved with the name of one of the 
 
 MOSES DESTROYS THE TABLES OF THE LAW.— Ex. 32 : 19. 
 
 twelve tribes of Israel, so that he might have them on his heart 
 as he prayed to God. All this and much more God told Moses 
 while he was on the mount. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was given on Mount Sinai? 2. Who spoke the Commandments? 3. 
 To whom did God give them? 4. What were they written on? 5. Who wrote 
 them ? 6. Where were they to be kept? 7. What was the chest like? 8. What 
 was the chest called? 9. Where was Moses to put the chest? 10. What was the 
 
104 THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 room called? 11. Who might go near the Holy of Holies? 12. Who was the 
 first High Priest? 13. Who was Aaron? 14. What was Aaron to wear? 15* 
 Why might not the people come near ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God. " — Deut. 7 : 9. 
 
 HEN Moses went up into the awful cloud upon 
 Mount Sinai, he stayed there forty days. 
 
 But all the Israelites below were impatient. 
 They could not think what had become of Moses; 
 and though they had so lately heard God's own 
 Voice speaking to them, they would not wait as 
 they had been told to do. They cried out that they wanted some- 
 thing instead of Moses, whom they had lost. 
 
 So they took all their gold ear-rings and melted them, and 
 made an image of a golden calf. And then these foolish wicked 
 people began to feast and dance, and worship this golden idol. 
 
 Moses was coming down Mount Sinai with the two Tables 
 of the Commandments in his hands. And first he heard a shout- 
 ing and singing ; then he saw the people leaping and dancing, and 
 the great golden idol standing in the midst. Then he was sure 
 it was of no use to bring them the Commandments if they minded 
 them no better. So he took the two tables of stone, and threw 
 them out of his hand, and broke them to pieces. 
 
 Then he went down, and severely punished the worst of the 
 Israelites for having disobeyed the commandment. And he broke 
 the golden calf to pieces, and ground it to powder. 
 
 Then he went and prayed to God to forgive the people. God 
 did forgive them, and let Moses bring two fresh tables of stone 
 to be written with the Ten Commandments. But the first that 
 they had lost were the tables God had given, and they could never 
 have them back again ! 
 
THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 105 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where was Moses gone? 2. What was God going to give him? 3. Who 
 were left below? 4. What did the Israelites want? 5. What did they take off? 
 6. "What did they make of their ear-rings? 7. What is the Second Command- 
 ment? 8. How did they break the Second Commandment? 9. What did Moses 
 do to the Tables of the Law? 10. Why did he throw them down? 11. What 
 did he do with the golden calf? 12. Where did he go then? 13. What did he 
 do for the Israelites ? 
 
 ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 
 
^fifteenth £unba\\ 
 
 THE GIVING GF THE LAW. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, destroy not Thy 
 people and Thine inheritance. " — Deut. 9 : 26. 
 
 AST Sunday you heard how sadly the people of 
 Israel sinned by making the golden calf, while 
 Moses was up in the mountain, and how he 
 punished them. 
 
 Then he said he would go and pray to 
 God to forgive them, and try them again. So 
 up he went over the rough rocks of Mount 
 Sinai, and into the cloud again, where he had 
 spoken with God before. And he prayed with 
 all his might that God would not cast off His people, though they 
 had been so wicked, but would give them again the Command- 
 ments on their tables of stone. And God listened to Moses, and 
 promised to give them the Commandments again. 
 
 Then Moses made a great request: he said to God, "I pray 
 Thee, show me Thy glory." But God said, "Thou canst not see 
 My Face, for there shall no man see Me and live." But Moses 
 was to come up the mountain the next day, and bring with him 
 two blocks of stone, and then God would let him see as much of 
 His glory as he could bear. 
 
 On the next day Moses went up the mountain again, and 
 took with him the two tables of stone. And the Lord came down 
 in the cloud; and Moses was in the cleft of the rock, where he 
 could see a small part of the glory, and hear the Lord's Voice pro- 
 
 106 
 
THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 107 
 
 claim before him, "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and grac- 
 ious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." Then 
 indeed Moses bowed his head and worshipped. No man ever came 
 so close to God as Moses, with whom God spoke face to face, as 
 a man speaketh to his friend. 
 
 Moses stayed forty days and forty nights up in the mountain. 
 And God again wrote the Commandments upon the two tables of 
 
 MOSES BRINGING THE NEW TABLES OF THE LAW.— Ex. 34 : 29-32. 
 
 stone, and granted the Israelites to try again to keep them. When 
 
 Moses came down from being in converse with God, the glory was 
 
 still about his face. It was all shining like the sun, and was so 
 
 bright that the Israelites could not fix their eyes on it; and he 
 
 was obliged to put a veil over his face, because they could not bear 
 
 to look at it. Was ever living man so favored, and brought into 
 
 such glory? 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. "What wicked tiling had the Israelites done? 2. Who prayed for their for- 
 giveness? 3. Where did Moses go to pray for their forgiveness? 4. Who forgave 
 them? 5. What did Moses venture to ask God to show him? 6. But what can 
 
108 THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 no one do? 7. Where was Moses placed? 8. What passed by? 9* What voice 
 
 did he hear? 10. How was Moses more honored than any man? 11, How long 
 
 did he stay in the mountain? 12. What did God give him again? 13. How did 
 
 his face look when he came down? 14. What did he do to hide his face? 15. 
 How came his face to be so glorious? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him. " — Deut. 13 : ^. 
 
 HEN the Israelites came into the good land where 
 they were going, they were to be very careful not 
 to learn to worship idols. For idols were no gods 
 at all — only wood and stone — and could not hear 
 them pray, nor give them what they wanted. 
 Besides, the people round them had very frightful 
 ways of trying to please their false gods. They had one called 
 Moloch, made of brass, and they used to offer poor little children 
 up in sacrifice to him, and make a noise with drums and trumpets, 
 that no one might hear their cries. There was another god called 
 Baal, to whom they set up great images, and feasted in his honor ; 
 and a goddess, whom they called the queen of heaven, of Ash- 
 toreth. Women used to offer cakes to her, and dance in honor of 
 her, for they thought she sent the moon to shine on them. 
 
 Now, the Israelites were not to worship any of these false 
 gods. They were to remember how they heard the Only True God 
 speaking to them out of the cloud upon the mountain, and telling 
 them, "I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt have no other gods 
 but Me." And God told them that if they would worship Him and 
 serve Him, all should go well with them, and they should be happy 
 and blessed. But if they went after these false idols, all would 
 go ill with them, and there would be only sorrow and misery. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Say the First Commandment. 2. Say the Second. 3. What three idols did 
 the people of the country worship ? 4. What did they do in honor of Moloch ? 
 5. What did they do in honor of Baal ? 6. What did they call Ashtoreth ? 7. 
 
THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 109 
 
 ways. 
 
 What did they think she sent them? 8. Who made the moon ? 9. What would 
 happen if the children of Israel worshipped God? 10. What would happen if 
 they worshipped idols? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My 
 Psalm 95 : 10. 
 
 FTER the Commandments were given the Israelites went 
 on their journey. The Ark, or chest, where the Com- 
 mandments on their two tables of stone were kept, was 
 carried before them ; and God still showed that He was 
 with them, for He made a pillar of cloud by day and of 
 fire by night go along with them, and rest on it. 
 When they came near the land of Canaan, twelve men were 
 
 THE SPIES RETURNING FROM CANAAN.-Num. 13 : 24-26. 
 
 sent on to see it. They came back, bringing such a great bunch of 
 grapes that two had to carry it between them on a pole ! But they 
 said that the land was full of strong cities, and very strong men, 
 and they should never be able to win it, but would all be killed. 
 
110 THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 
 
 Only two men, Joshua and Caleb, recollected that there could be 
 no fear, for God had promised to save them and bring them in. 
 The others all cried, and said they would go back to Egypt, and 
 threw stones at Moses and Aaron when they wanted to quiet them. 
 Then God showed His glory, and would have cut them all 
 off in a moment if Moses had not prayed for them. But He said 
 none of those who had said they would not go into the good land 
 should go. They were to stay forty years longer in the dismal 
 wilderness, till all the grown-up men, except Joshua and Caleb, 
 should be dead, and their children be grown up in their stead. 
 Then their children, who had learned to trust God and do as He 
 bade, should be the ones to go in and live in the promised land. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. How did the Israelites know which way to go in the wilderness ? 2. What 
 was the ark? 3. What was in it? 4. How did God show them His Presence? 
 5. Whom did Moses send to look at the land ? 6. What did these men bring 
 back? 7. But what did they say of the country? 8. Who were afraid? 9. 
 Why was it wrong to be afraid? 10. Who only were afraid? 11. What were 
 the people ready to do? 12. How were they to be punished? 13. How long 
 were they to stay in the wilderness? 14. Who would die? 15. Who would 
 grow up to go in ? 16. Who were the two good brave men? 17. What was 
 promised to Joshua and Caleb ? 
 
 TABLE OF SHEW-BREAD ARK GOLDEN CANDLESTICK 
 
Sixteenth Sunba^- 
 
 THE DEATH OF MOSES. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " They angered Him also at the waters of strife. "- 
 
 ^ffc^O^n r-" ^■•■■■11. ^Q 
 
 -IW//1 ./tftf .- #& 
 
 ^ ., v>xvs/>sX> 
 
 ^TI^FTER all the forty years in the wilder- 
 
 ness, the children of Israel were quite 
 close to their home in the promised 
 land. There was only the river Jordan 
 between them and the hills and valleys 
 there. But Moses was not to go with 
 them. Once when the people were cry- 
 ing out for more water, and God told 
 him to command the stream to come 
 out of the rock, Moses was so hot with 
 anger that he did not attend. He said, 
 "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch 
 you water out of this rock?" And he 
 struck the rock with his rod, instead 
 of speaking to it. 
 
 The water came out as it had done before; but Moses had 
 been so hasty that he had not thought how to obey God exactly, 
 and so he was not to be allowed to lead the people in as a great 
 warrior, lest he should fail again. God was not angry with him, 
 but had forgiven him ; only he had his punishment because he had 
 done wrong. 
 
 Joshua was to lead the people, instead of Moses. So before 
 
 in 
 
112 THE DEATH OF MOSES. 
 
 Moses was taken away, he called Joshua and all the chief men of 
 each tribe, and put them in mind of all that God had done for 
 them, and warned them very solemnly, that if they broke their 
 promise and did not keep the Commandments, God would punish 
 them — first a little, and then more and more, and would even 
 
 MOSES GIVING HIS CHARGE TO JOSHUA.— Num. 27 : 22, 23. 
 
 cast them out of the good land at last. For, mind, God always 
 keeps His promises; and as surely as He gives the good all that 
 is best for them, so surely He will punish those who turn from 
 Him. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were the Israelites? 2. How long had their journey lasted? 3. 
 Where were they going? 4. What lay between them and the land of Canaan? 
 5. Who had led them? 6. But what one thing had Moses done? 7. What was 
 he not to do ? 8. Who was to lead them in? 9. What did Moses tell the Israel- 
 ites they must be careful to do? 10. What had they promised to keep? 11. 
 What would happen if they broke the promise? 12. What would happen if they 
 kept the promise? 13. What promises have we made? 
 
THE DEATH OF MOSES. 
 
 MOSES VIEWING THE PROMISED LAND.— Deut. 34 : 4- 
 
 THE DEATH OF MOSES.— Deut. 34 : 5, 6. 
 
 «-B S. 
 
 113 
 
114 
 
 THE DEATH OF MOSES. 
 
 SECOND READING 
 
 So Moses the servant of the Lord died." — Deuteronomy 34- : 5. 
 
 T was not God's will that Moses should lead the Israelites 
 
 into the promised land, but he was to die on the east 
 
 side of the river Jordan ; and so he would have his rest 
 
 above instead of in the land of promise. 
 
 But first God told him he might see the land. So 
 
 he went up into a very high hill : and there God made 
 
 him able to see all the home of his people — the snowy hill of Her- 
 
 mon, and Mount Lebanon where the cedar trees grow, and the 
 
 hills and valleys where Abraham had wandered and Isaac and 
 
 Jacob had lived, and which he had hoped for all his life ; and green 
 
 fields, and corn-fields, and vineyards, on to the great blue sea 
 
 stretching out to the westward. 
 
 That was where his people were to live; but there was a 
 
 better home for Moses. Nobody saw him any more after he went 
 
 up into the mountain. There he died, and the Lord buried him, 
 
 and no one knows of his grave — only the children of Israel wept 
 
 and mourned for him. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where had the Israelites come ? 2. Who had led them? 3. But where 
 was Moses not to go ? 4. But what did God allow him to see ? 5. Where was 
 he to go? 6. What did God show him there? 7. What kind of place was it? 
 8. Where had he brought the people from? 9. Who was to lead them in? 10. 
 What was to happen to Moses? 11. Did any one ever see him again? 12. 
 What does no one know? 13. Why do we think so much of Moses? 14. 
 Where did he speak with God? 15. Was he not the greatest man of all in the 
 Old Testament. 
 
THE DEATH OF MOSES. 
 
 115 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Be strong and of good courage." — Joshua 1 : 6 
 
 FTER Moses had gone out of sight on the mountain, God 
 Himself told Joshua that Moses was dead, and that he 
 must lead the children of Israel into the good land 
 God had promised them. Moses had laid his hands- on 
 Joshua's head, and God's Holy Spirit had come to help 
 him to see what was right, and to lead the people. He 
 must be strong and brave, and do all that God commanded, and 
 then he would be quite sure to be able to drive away all the strange 
 people out of the land, and to make a home for the people in the 
 land that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had loved so well. 
 
 All the people promised they would do as Joshua bade them. 
 So he was their captain instead of Moses. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the old leader of the children of Israel ? 2. Where had Moses led 
 them from? 3. Where were they going? 4. Where did Moses go? 5. What be- 
 came of Moses on the mountain ? 6. Whom did God make captain instead of 
 Moses? 7. What did God tell Joshua? 8. What did God promise him? 9. 
 What is the way to be helped by God? 10. What were the Israelites to be 
 helped to do? 11. Who were to be driven away ? 12. Why did the children 
 of Israel wish to live in the land of Canaan? 13. What had God promised 
 Abraham? 14. And does God always keep his promises? 
 
Seventeenth £unba\>. 
 
 you 
 
 ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth 
 "—Deut. 12: 10. 
 
 FTER the children of Israel had been 
 forty years living in the wilderness, 
 God led them into the beautiful land He 
 had promised them. But before they 
 could come in they had to get across a 
 river — a deep river, with rocks on each 
 side, and a stony bottom to it, and the 
 water running very fast indeed. The 
 name of the river was Jordan. There 
 was no bridges to go over, and no boat 
 to row them across ; and not only all the 
 strong men, but all the women and little 
 children, had to get over it ! 
 
 But nobody need be afraid when 
 God is helping him. God told them what to do. The priests, who 
 were like clergymen to them, were to take the ark — that is, the 
 chest where the two tables of the Ten Commandments were kept — 
 and were to walk down into the river, without being afraid. And 
 they were brave men; they believed what God told them, and 
 went down into the swift stream in no fear of being drowned. 
 And behold, as soon as their feet touched the water it stopped 
 flowing, and stood still. No more water came down, and all the 
 
 116 
 
ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 
 
 117 
 
 hosts of the children of Israel went straight over the bottom of 
 the river with dry feet. 
 
 The priests stood up in the middle all the time the others 
 were going over, and when everyone was safe on the other side 
 they came after them ; and by-and-by the river came rushing down 
 again in its own place, for it was God who had commanded it to 
 stop short, and make a dry place for His people to pass over. And 
 so they came into the land of Canaan that He had promised them 
 so long. 
 
 CARRYING THE ARK OVER JORDAN.— Josh. 3 : 17. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. How long did the children of Israel stay in the wilderness? 2. Where 
 were they going? 3. What had they to eat? 4. What had they to drink? 5- 
 What had God given them on Mount Sinai? 6. What were the Ten Command- 
 ments written on? 7. Where were the two stones put? 8. Who carried this 
 ark? 9. What had the Israelites to go over? 10. What was the name of the 
 river? 11. How do we cross rivers? 12. But had they a bridge or a boat? 
 13. Who was taking care of them? 14. What did God tell the priests to do? 
 15. Were the priests afraid to go into the river? 16. Why not? 17. What 
 happened when the priest's feet touched the water? 
 
118 
 
 ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 
 
 
 ~^^ 
 
 Jericho 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 ■" By faith the walls of Jericho fell down." — Hebrew* 11 : 80. 
 
 FTER the Israelites had come into the land of Canaan, 
 there was a strong walled city before them, and its 
 name was Jericho. They could not go any further till 
 they had taken the city. But God was going to show 
 that He fought for them. So He told them not to fight, 
 but that every day, for a whole week, the priests should take the 
 Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders and walk around the out- 
 side of the walls of the town. 
 
ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 119 
 
 Seven priests were to go in front, blowing on trumpets made 
 of rams' horns ; but nobody else was to make any noise. So they 
 did one day, and nothing happened. Joshua bade them do it the 
 next day. Perhaps some of the Israelites wondered and were 
 impatient, but they had to go on the next day still ; and after that 
 the Ark was carried round once every day for a whole week. 
 
 THE ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSHUA.- Josh. 5 : 13, 14. 
 
 On the seventh day, Joshua told the priests that God would 
 
 have them go round not once but seven times. And so they did ; 
 
 and then, at last, on the seventh day, Joshua said, "Shout." The 
 
 whole of the people shouted, and the priests blew their trumpets, 
 
 and then — oh, great wonders ! — the walls of Jericho fell down flat, 
 
 and the people went in and took the city. So the Lord fought 
 
 for Israel. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were the Israelites now? 2. Who was their leader? 3. What city 
 were they come to ? 4. What did they want to do ? 5. Were they to fight ? 6. 
 But what was to he carried round? 7. What was the Ark ? 8. What was in it? 
 9. Who carried the Ark ? 10. Who went in front of them ? 11 . How many days 
 
120 ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 
 
 did they go on? 12. How many times did they carry the Ark round first? 13. 
 How often on the seventh day? 14. What were the priests to do? 15. What 
 were the people to do? 16. What happened then? 17. Who had conquered 
 Jericho ? 18. What was God giving the Israelites? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " As for me and my house, we will serve the lord. " — Joshua 2£ •' 15. 
 
 r„ WcC\ HIS morning you heard how God gave the children of 
 Israel victory over Jericho. After that He gave 
 them more victories. None of the heathen people 
 could stand before them. They took their towns, and 
 drove the heathen out, and had the fields and gardens 
 and houses for their own. Then Joshua was to divide the land 
 
 FALLING OF THE WALLS OF JERICHO.-Josh. 6 : 20. 
 
 among them, and fix what cities each tribe should have for its own. 
 All the chief men of each tribe came to him, and the Lord 
 taught him how to fix the places for them to dwell in. The chil- 
 dren of the good Joseph had the very best lot of all, as his father 
 
ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 
 
 JOSHUA CAPTURING THE CITY OF AI.— Josh. 8 : 18, 19. 
 
 JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL.— Josh. 10 : 12, 13. 
 
 121 
 
122 ISRAEL IN BATTLE. 
 
 Jacob had wished. It was just in the middle of the country, and 
 was full of beautiful corn land. Two tribes and a-half lived on 
 the other side of the river Jordan, on the edge of the desert, but 
 where there was fine grass for their cattle. The tribe of Judah 
 had a very hilly, rocky part of the country; but they loved it, 
 because it was where Abraham had lived and now lay buried. 
 And up all the hills they planted vines, where fine large grapes 
 
 DIVIDING THE LAND AMONG THE TRIBES.-Josh. 13 : 6, 7. 
 
 grew; and in the valleys were plenty of corn-fields. All over the 
 country, people had each man his own house, with his vine and 
 his fig-tree to shelter it, and olive-trees in his garden, and a field 
 to grow corn in, and hill-sides near, where he might keep his 
 cows, goats, and sheep. The rocks and the hollow trees were 
 full of wild bees' nests; so that indeed they found it, as Moses 
 had told them, a land of corn and wine — a land that flowed with 
 milk and honey ; and they were very glad to be there, and to rest 
 after their long wandering in the wilderness. 
 
 After they had had a quiet rest, their first sorrow came. 
 
ISRAEL IN BATTLE, 123 
 
 It was that their brave leader Joshua had grown old, and felt 
 himself near his death. So he called all the chief men together, 
 and told them over again how much God had done for them; 
 and that if they would serve Him and keep His Commandments, 
 all would go well with them. "As for me and my house," he said, 
 "we will serve the Lord." And all the people promised too. They 
 said they would serve the Lord, and would not go after other 
 gods, but would keep His Commandments. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were the children of Israel now? 2. Who had promised the land to 
 them? 3. Who was leading them? 4. Whom did they drive out? 5. Who 
 had the country then ? 6. How was it settled where they were to live? 7. Who 
 had the best part? 8. What had Joseph done that was good? 9. Who went 
 beyond the Jordan? 10. What part did Judah have ? 11. What grows there? 
 12. What choice plants grew in the land? 13. What sort of place had they been 
 told it would be? 14. Who was grown old? 15. What did Joshua tell the 
 Israelites? 16. What was the way for them to be happy? 
 
 M^*^?^k 
 
 SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF THE TABERNACLE. 
 
Bfobteentb £unba\>. 
 
 THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "The journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor. " — Judges £ : 9. 
 
 ^^■^iipF '" <fl^ HEN the Israelites had come to live in the 
 -^M^I^^K/^ beautiful land that God had promised 
 ^^H^^sP^^p- them, they ought to have loved and served 
 iifcali\ i^^^^^^^ Him, and thanked Him for all His good- 
 ~^^^^^^^^^^ ness. But no! They liked worshipping 
 *^^|jBJ llfsil^ false gods; and they made idols to pray 
 
 ^ --^^ ^^E^ a^^P^ to, cut out of wood and stone; and they 
 
 learnt wicked ways. 
 Then God was angry with them; and He punished them by 
 sending cruel nations to conquer them, to burn their houses, to 
 steal their children, and drive away their cattle. Then they 
 would be sorry, and pray to God again; and He had pity, and 
 sent some brave man to defend them. 
 
 To-day we hear how sadly they were used by a fierce man 
 named Sisera, who had nine hundred war chariots of iron to go 
 into battle with. His people used to shoot at the Israelites at the 
 wells when they came to draw water; and nobody dared to go 
 along the high-roads, but only through the paths, for fear of 
 
 being killed. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. How ought the Israelites to have behaved? 2. What had God given them? 
 3. Whom should they have worshipped ? 4. But what did they worship ? 5. 
 How did God punish them? 6. What was the name of the cruel man who ill- 
 used them? 7. How many chariots had Sisera? 
 
 124 
 
THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 
 
 125 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "The Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." — Judges £: 9. 
 
 T last God spake to a good brave woman named Deborah, 
 and told her to send for a man named Barak, who 
 should lead the Israelites to fight with Sisera. She 
 sent for Barak, and told him what God had said. But 
 Barak was afraid to go alone. He said he must have 
 
 Deborah with him. He ought to have known that, if God sent 
 
 him, he was sure to be safe and to succeed. 
 
 SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL.— Judges 4 : 22. 
 
 Deborah told him that since he wished it she would go with 
 him, but that the journey should not be to his honor, for the Lord 
 would sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And it turned out 
 as Deborah said. Barak won a great battle, and drove the 
 enemies away, so that they did not hurt the children of Israel 
 again for forty years. But he did not meet with Sisera in the 
 battle, nor get the honor of killing him. 
 
126 THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL 
 
 Sisera fled out of the battle, and was killed after all by a 
 woman, whose name was Jael. Barak lost all the honor, because 
 he would not do just as he was told, but was afraid without 
 Deborah, just as if God could not help him better than Deborah 
 could. 
 
 This morning's lesson told how Deborah and Barak con- 
 quered the cruel Sisera. This evening's lesson is the song that 
 Deborah made to thank God for having given her the victory, 
 
 and saved His people. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the holy woman that God raised up ? 2. For whom did Deborah 
 call? 3. What was Barak to do? 4. Who did Barak say must come with him? 
 5. Why was this wrong of Barak? 6. What happened in the fight? 7. Did 
 Barak kill Sisera? 8. Who did kill Sisera? 9. Why was not Barak allowed to 
 kill Sisera? 10. Whom ought he to have trusted to? 11. Who will always help 
 us if we are not afraid to do as we are told ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " They chose new gods ; then was war in the gates." — Judges 5 : 8. 
 
 HE Israelites never kept long from sinning and setting 
 up idols; and, by-and-by, God let a set of robbers, 
 called Midianites, come in and burn their crops and 
 houses, drive away their cattle, and steal their chil- 
 dren for slaves. 
 
 Then the Israelites were sorry, and prayed to 
 God to save them. And God had pity on them, and sent His angel 
 to a man named Gideon, to tell him that he was to fight for the 
 Israelites. 
 
 A great many men came to Gideon ; but the Israelites were 
 to be shown that it was as easy for God to save them with few 
 men as with many. So He bade Gideon send home all but three 
 hundred men. And Gideon believed, and sent them home, and 
 kept only the three hundred. 
 
 Then at night he took these men, and gave them each a 
 
THE JUDGES OF [SRAEL. 127 
 
 trumpet, and an earthen pitcher, with a lamp inside the pitcher, 
 so that the light could not be seen. He took a hundred with him, 
 and sent the other two hundreds another way, creeping quietly 
 along till they came to the place where the Midianites had set up 
 their tents, and were all lying asleep among the cattle they had 
 stolen. 
 
 There they lay, and never heard Gideon and his men coming 
 till they were close to the camp, the three parties on three sides. 
 
 GIDEON'S OFFERING BURNT BY FIRE FROM THE ROCK. -Judges 6 : 21. 
 
 Then, all of a sudden, everyone of the Israelites broke his pitcher 
 and let his lamp shine, and blew his trumpet, and shouted, "The 
 sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" 
 
 The Midianites were awakened out of their sleep to see the 
 lamps on three sides of them in the dark, and hear the trumpets 
 and the cries. They were very much frightened, and quite wild 
 with fear. They all began to beat down one another, for they did 
 not know friends from enemies. A great many were killed, and 
 the rest fled away, leaving all that they had stolen behind them. 
 
128 THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 
 
 And so God delivered the Israelites from the Midianites by the 
 hand of Gideon, and gave them peace again as long as they would 
 serve the Lord. 
 
 GIDEON'S VICTORY OVER THE MIDIANITES.— Judges 7 : 19-21. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What made the Israelites meet with troubles? 2. Whom ought they to have 
 worshipped ? 3. But whom did they worship ? 4. What happened then ? 5. 
 Who were the next people that ill-used them ? 6. W^hat did they do when they 
 were punished? 7. Whom did God send to save them? 8. How many men was 
 Gideon to have with him? 9. What did all the men carry? 10. Where did they 
 go ? 11. Into how many parties were they divided ? 12. What did the Midianites 
 hear? 13. What did they see? 14. What did they begin to do? 15. What 
 became of those that were not killed? 16. Who had made Gideon able to beat 
 them with so few men ? 
 
THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 
 
 JEPHTHAH MEETING HIS DAUGHTER.— Judges n : 35- 
 
 SAMSON SLAYING A LION —Judges 14 : 6. 
 
 y-B.s. 
 
 129 
 
Bineteentb Sunba^ 
 
 SAMUEL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child. — 1 Ham. 2 : 18. 
 
 HERE 
 
 THERE was a very good 
 woman named Hannah, 
 and she grieved because she 
 had no children. Whenever she 
 came with her husband to God's 
 holy place, she used to kneel, 
 and pray with all her heart to 
 God that He would let her have 
 a son ; and she promised that if 
 she had one, she would lend him 
 to the Lord all the days of his 
 life. 
 
 At last God granted her 
 prayer, and gave her a little 
 son, and she named him Samuel. 
 She was very glad when he was born, and she thanked God, and 
 sang a hymn of praise for her dear little child. But she had 
 promised to lend him to the Lord all his life; and she kept her 
 promise. 
 
 As soon as little Samuel was old enough to be without her, 
 she took him to the holy place, that was instead of a church, and 
 gave him to wait upon the Lord. He lived with the High Priest, 
 whose name was Eli, and was taught by him. 
 
 130 
 
 YOUNG SAMUEL BROUGHT TO ELJ. 
 
SAMUEL. 131 
 
 Eli was a very old man, and his sons used to behave very 
 badly; but Samuel was always good and obedient to him, and 
 used to wait upon him, and help him when he served God in the 
 holy place. Samuel wore a little white linen dress like the priests ; 
 and when his mother came to see him, she used to bring him a 
 little coat. She had five more children afterwards, three sons 
 and two daughters. 
 
 HANNAH'S PRAYER.— i Sam. i : n. 
 
 If you listen in the afternoon, you will hear how God spoke 
 to Samuel whilst he was still a little boy ; and I am sure you like 
 to think of the little child in his white dress, ministering before 
 God in His beautiful holy place. But only think. You can be 
 like Samuel. Your father and mother lent you to God for all 
 your life, when they took you to the font, and made you God's 
 child; and though you live at home, you go to church, and can 
 serve God there, if you kneel and stand and sit quietly at the 
 proper times, mind the prayers, and repeat the Amens, and the 
 
132 SAMUEL. 
 
 verses you know, in their right places. And if you are obedient, 
 and try to be good, God will love you as He loved Samuel. 
 
 QUESTIONS. . 
 1. What was the name of the woman we hear of to-day? 2. What did she 
 wish for? 3. What did she do to obtain her wish? 4. What did God give her? 
 5. What was her son's name ? 6. What did she promise ? 7. .Where did Hannah 
 bring her little son? 8. Who took care of Samuel? 9. Who was Eli? 10. 
 How did Samuel behave ? 11. What did Samuel wear ? 12. What had Samuel 
 to do? 13. When were you lent to God? 14. Whose child are you? 15. 
 How can you be like Samuel when you go to church? 16. How can you be like 
 him at home? 17. Who will bless you if you try to be good? 18. What kind 
 of children does God love ? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Speak, Lord ; for Thy servant heareth. " — 1 Sam. 3 : 9. 
 
 ANNAH brought her little son Samuel, to be brought 
 up in the holy place by the High Priest Eli. 
 
 Samuel was very good and holy, and God 
 blessed him and loved him. One night, when every- 
 one was gone to bed, but the lamp in the holy place 
 was not yet gone out, Samuel heard a voice calling to him, 
 "Samuel !" He sprang up at once, for he thought that Eli had 
 called him, and he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for thou didst 
 call me." But Eli answered, "I called not, my son; lie down 
 again;" and Samuel went back to his bed. 
 
 Then again came the voice calling to him, "Samuel!" and 
 again he thought it was Eli's call. He was not lazy, or fretful 
 at being roused out of his sleep, but he ran .at once to Eli, and 
 again said, "Here I am, for thou didst call me." But Eli sent 
 him back to his bed again; and there again he heard the call, 
 "Samuel!" 
 
 Patiently he once more rose and came to the old man, but 
 this time Eli knew that it must have been no other than God's 
 
 t 
 
own voice speaking to the child. So he 
 bade Samuel go back, and next time 
 he heard the voice, to say, "Speak, 
 Lord; for Thy servant heareth." 
 
 And so Samuel did. Again his 
 name was called, and he made 
 answer, "Speak; for Thy servant 
 heareth/ ' 
 
 And God spoke to him in the still 
 night, and told him to give Eli a fresh 
 warning of the sad things that were 
 coming on him and on his sons. Sam- 
 uel was forced to tell Eli all in the 
 morning, sad and mournful as it was. 
 He was afraid and grieved to have 
 such things to say, but he 
 told the truth, and Eli was 
 too good a man to be angry 
 with him, and only said, 
 "It is the Lord : let Him do 
 what s e e m e t h 
 Him good." 
 
 |;* 
 
 «/ 
 
134 SAMUEL. 
 
 And, after that, God often made His will known to Samuel, 
 and blessed him, and all Israel knew that S.amuel was God's own 
 prophet. Think of the great honor and blessing of having God 
 so often speaking to him ! But we have that blessing too. God 
 is nearer to a little Christian child than He was to Samuel ; for 
 the Holy Spirit speaks in a Christian child's heart, and tells him 
 to be good and dutiful, and to think of God, and say his prayers 
 with all his heart. And that is better than even being a prophet 
 
 GOD TELLS SAMUEL OF DESTRUCTION OF ELI'S HOUSE.— i Sam. 3: 11. 
 
 like Samuel. Only we must take great care to attend to that 
 voice ; or it will leave off, and then we shall get worse and worse, 
 like those bad sons of poor old Eli. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Samuel ? 2. Where was he brought up ? 3. What did his mother 
 bring him every year? 4. Who was the High Priest? 5. What did Samuel 
 hear? 6. Who did he think was calling? 7. What did he do? 8. What did 
 Eli say? 9. How often did this happen? 10. Was Samuel cross at being called 
 so often? 11. Who was honoring him? 12. What did Eli perceive at last? 13. 
 
SAMUEL. 135 
 
 What did he tell Samuel to answer? 14. What did he hear again? 15. How 
 did he answer? 16. What did the voice tell him? 17. Whose voice speaks to 
 us? 18. How does the Holy Spirit speak to us? 19. What must we take care 
 to do? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " The Ark of God is taken. — Samuel 4- • 17. 
 
 OD helped the Israelites again and again, but they 
 would not leave off their wickedness, and at last He 
 punished them still more. There came up a nation 
 to make war upon them, fiercer than any before, 
 called the Philistines. Then the Israelites fancied 
 that if they took the Ark of the Covenant out into 
 the battle with them they would get the victory, as they had done 
 when Joshua conquered the land. 
 
 But God had never bidden them take the Ark. He had 
 commanded that it should stay in its place at Shiloh. They did 
 not heed this, but took it out into the camp, and all the people 
 shouted for joy when it was brought, with the two priests, Hophni 
 and Phinehas, Eli's sons, to take care of it. When the Philistines 
 heard the shout, they said that the gods of Israel were come, and 
 that they must fight all the more bravely. And they did. 
 
 God would not help His people because of their self-will, so 
 He let them be beaten by the Philistines, : and Hophni and Phine- 
 has were killed, and the holy Ark of God was taken by these 
 heathens. And when poor old Eli, the High Priest, heard the 
 sad news, he was so much shocked, that he fell down backwards 
 and broke his neck and died. 
 
 God still shewed His power, for when the Philistines put 
 the Ark into the temple of one of their false gods the idol fell 
 down and was broken; and wherever it was taken the people 
 fell sick, till at last they sent it back to the Israelites: but it 
 
136 SAMUEL. 
 
 never came back to Shiloh. It was hidden in a lonely house in 
 the woods; and the Philistines were strong and the Israelites 
 were very weak and miserable, because they had been so very 
 disobedient. 
 
 THE DEATH OF ELL— i Sam. 4 : 17, 18. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What people came to fight with the Israelites ? 2. Why did God let any one 
 hurt the Israelites? 3. What did the Israelites think would help them to fight? 
 4. What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 5. Where was it kept? 6. Ought 
 they to have taken it ? 7. Why not ? 8. Why did they take it ? 9. Did it give 
 them the victory? 10. Why not? 11. Who were killed? 12. Who was the 
 father of Hophni and Phinehas? 13. What happened to Eli when he heard the 
 Ark was taken? 14. Why did God allow it to be taken? 15. Did it come back 
 again? 16. Why did not the Philistines keep it ? 17. What happened to their 
 idol? 18. What happened to themselves? 19. Where had it been before ? 20. 
 Did it ever come back to Shiloh? 21. Where was it kept? 
 
twentieth 5unba& 
 
 J^P 
 
 KING SAUL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Behold, the Lord hath set a king over you." — 1 Samuel 12: 13. 
 
 HERE was a young man named Saul, who 
 was very tall and strong. His father kept 
 a number of asses; for, in the land of 
 Israel, people rode on asses instead 
 of horses. One day all the asses were 
 lost, and Saul and one of the serv- 
 ants went out to look for them. They 
 went a long, long way, and never 
 found the asses; and at night they 
 came to a city, and there they found 
 Samuel. 
 Samuel was an old man now, and grey-headed ; and he ruled 
 over Israel, and everyone honored and loved him, because he was 
 so good and just. S-aul was very much surprised when the great 
 and good Samuel met him, and led him into the house, and put 
 him in the chief place, and gave him a choice of meat that had 
 been set apart for him. Saul could not think how Samuel knew 
 anything about him. And he was still more surprised the next 
 morning, for then Stemuel came out of the city with him, and 
 sent the servant on before. Then Samuel took some oil, and 
 poured it on SauPs head, which was what was called anointing, 
 and told him that God had chosen him to be king over all the 
 people of Israel. 
 
 137 
 
138 KING SAUL. 
 
 Was not this wonderful news for him? And you see, God 
 had led him to Samuel to be made king, though he so little guessed 
 what was going to happen when he set out to look for the asses. 
 And God still makes everything happen, even the least thing; 
 it is all for our good, even though we do not quite see why. 
 
 So Saul was the first King of Israel ; but he was only to be 
 prosperous as long as he would take care to obey God. 
 
 SAMUEL ANOINTING SAUL.-i Sam. 10: I. 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the first KiDg of Israel? 2. Did Saul expect to be a king? 3. 
 What did he set out from home to do ? 4. Where did he come ? 5. Who was in 
 the city? 6. What did you hear about Samuel last Sunday? 7. What age was 
 Samuel now ? 8. What did he give Saul ? 9. What surprised Saul ? 10. What 
 did Samuel do to him the next day? 11. What is anointing? • 12. What was he 
 to be? 13. But what must he do if he would get on well ? 
 
KING SAUL. 139 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. " — 1 Sam. H. : 6. 
 
 AUL was the first king of Israel. But just at first, when 
 he was appointed king, the people were in great dis- 
 tress; for their enemies the Philistines had overrun 
 the whole land, and held all the strong places, and 
 .c*r*^ were very hard to the Israelites. They would not even 
 ^~ let a smith live among the Israelites, that they might 
 not be able to have swords or spears made to use in fighting, and 
 the Israelites had to go into the Philistines' country to get their 
 axes and ploughshares made, and to sharpen the goads, or long 
 sticks tipped with iron that they drove the oxen with. 
 THE PEOPLE MUCH FRIGHTENED. 
 Nobody had a sword or spear but Saul and his good son 
 Jonathan; all the rest of the people had nothing better to fight 
 with than axes and mattocks and goads, and they were very 
 much frightened, and came trembling after their new king. 
 
 But Jonathan trusted in God, and he and one young man 
 set out creeping along a rugged steep path to see what the enemy 
 were about, and by-and-by they came below the high rocky hill 
 where the Philistines were encamped. 
 
 One of the Philistines looked out and said, "Behold, the 
 Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid them- 
 selves ;" and he called out to Jonathan, "Come up to us, and we 
 will show you a thing." 
 
 Now, Jonathan knew, as he said to his friend, that the 
 Lord can save as easily by few men as by many, so he was not 
 afraid; and he and the other young man climbed up on their 
 hands and knees till they came out among all the Philistine 
 soldiers. Then they began to fight at once, and the Philistines 
 were so surprised at these two men beginning to fight with them, 
 
140 KING SAUL. 
 
 that they most likely thought all the others were behind, and they 
 began to run away. 
 
 The people in Saul's camp heard all the noise, and went out 
 to look, and saw the Philistines running away, so they went after 
 them, and killed many, and drove them out of the land, and got 
 free of them once more. 
 
 So God blessed and helped the good Jonathan, because he 
 trusted in Him ; and Saul became a great king. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the first king of Israel? 2. Who made Saul king? 3. Who was 
 SauFs son ? 4. Who were the enemies of the Israelites ? 5. Why would not the 
 Philistines let the Israelites have any smiths ? 6. What is a smith ? 7. What 
 tools does a smith make? 8. How did the Israelites get their iron tools ? 9. 
 Who were the only ones that had swords and spears ? 10. Why were the people 
 afraid? 11. Who crept out to see the Philistines ? 12. What did Jonathan know 
 that God could do ? 13. Where did he climb up? 14. What happened ? 15. 
 What became of the Philistines ? 16. W^ho became king ? 
 
 ANCIENT SHOES. 
 
KING SAUL. 
 
 141 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Intreat me not to leave thee/' — Ruth 1 : 16. 
 
 NE fine summer day, a good man named Boaz went 
 out into his corn-fields where his reapers were cutting- 
 down the wheat. "The Lord be with you," he said. 
 "The Lord bless thee," they answered. Then he saw 
 a young woman gleaning, whom he had never seen 
 before. 
 He asked who she was. He heard that her name was Ruth, 
 
 RUTH AND NAOMI.— Ruth i : 16. 
 
 and she was a stranger and a widow. Then why had she come 
 there? Because she could not bear to leave her husband's mother, 
 Naomi, alone in her old age. She knew that if she kept with 
 Naomi she must be poor and forlorn, and away from all her 
 friends; but she loved her mother-in-law so much, that she said, 
 "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after 
 thee: * * * where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people 
 
142 KING SAUL. 
 
 shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will 
 I die, and there will I be buried." 
 
 When Boaz knew that Ruth was poor and a stranger, he 
 told his reapers to drop some handfuls of corn in her way; and 
 he told Ruth to keep among his young maidens, so that nobody 
 might be rude to her, and that she might rest and eat among 
 them when they rested in the heat of the day. 
 
 Ruth carried home plenty of corn to her mother-in-law. And 
 
 RUTH GLEANING IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ.— Ruth 2 : 5. 
 
 soon it was found out that Boaz was their nearest friend ; and he 
 
 married Ruth, and Naomi lived with them; and Ruth was no 
 
 longer poor and a stranger, but was happy as a wife and mother 
 
 in her beautiful home. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was the name of the mother of whom we hear to-day ? 2. Whose 
 mother was she? 3. But who was good to her? 4. What did Ruth do for 
 Naomi? 5. Where did she go to glean? 6. Wlio saw her? 7. What did Boaz 
 bid his men do ? 8. How did Boaz speak to his men ? 9. How did they answer? 
 10. How was he kind to Ruth? 11. What did she find out? 12. Whom did 
 Ruth marry? 13. What became of Naomi? 14. Why was Ruth so happy? 
 
Uwent£=first 5un5a\>. 
 
 L A 
 
 THE REIGN OF SAUL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee 
 from being king. — 1 Sentinel 15: 23. 
 
 AST Sunday you heard how God 
 chose Saul to be king of Israel, and 
 promised to help him if he would obey 
 in all that God commanded him. 
 
 Now, there were some cruel rob- 
 bers that lived in the mountains, and 
 used to fall upon peaceful people and 
 kill them; and take their cows and 
 sheep and camels and asses, and 
 gold and silver, and all they had. 
 So God sent a message by Samuel 
 to Saul and his brave men, to 
 destroy these cruel people; but God said that none of all their 
 prey and riches, that had been gained by such wicked ways, was 
 to be kept by His people ; it was all to be made away with ; they 
 were to have none of it for themselves. 
 
 They won the battle, and killed the robbers, as they were 
 sure to do when God helped them; but then when they saw such 
 fine cattle and choice things, they would not obey God, but went 
 and took it all for themselves. They left only the poor and mean 
 that they did not care for, and helped themselves to all they liked. 
 And then, when Samuel came to meet them, Saul made as if 
 
 143 
 
144 
 
 THE REIGN OF SAUL. 
 
 he had done just what he was told, and said, "I have obeyed the 
 voice of the Lord." But Samuel said, "What meaneth then this 
 bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of oxen which 
 I hear?" 
 
 Saul wanted to make excuses; but it was not the first time 
 he had been disobedient; and he was only frightened, he was 
 not really sorry; so Samuel was obliged to tell him, "Because 
 
 SAUL TEARING THE ROBE OF SAMUEL.— i Sam. 15 : 27, 28. 
 
 thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected 
 thee from being king." 
 
 Saul would not do as he was told, and so God punished him. 
 Remember that. Your parents and teachers, or nurses, give 
 you orders; and you have to mind them exactly — not only to do 
 what you like, and miss out the rest. Saul did what he liked 
 when he fought the robbers, but he would not obey when he took 
 the spoil. Then God was angry with him. Do not you be like 
 him ; but obey when you do not like, as well as when you do like. 
 
THE REIGN OF SAUL. 
 
 145 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. What must we always do? 3. Who 
 did we hear of to-day who did not do as he was told ? 4. What was Saul told to 
 do? 5. Who told him? 6. Who was Samuel? 7. Who was Saul ? 8. What 
 was Saul told not to do ? 9. How far did he obey ? 10. In what did he disobey ? 
 11. Why was it wrong of Saul to keep the robbers' cattle and sheep? 12. What 
 did he say when Samuel came? 13. Was this true? 14. What did Samuel hear 
 that showed that this was false? 15. Whom had Saul disobeyed? 16. How was 
 Saul to be punished? 17. Why was Saul not to keep the kingdom? 
 
 DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL.— i Sam. 16 : n, 12. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " I have found David my servant ; with my holy oil have I anointed 
 him."— Psalm SO : 20. 
 
 HE hills that lie above Bethlehem have green slopes 
 where the sheep feed. There, one day, a flock was 
 feeding, and a boy with blue eyes and shining hair 
 watched them, and perhaps sung as he watched. 
 He was the youngest of eight brothers, and all the 
 rest had gone down to a great feast ; for Samuel, the 
 great Prophet, was come to visit their father. 
 
 10-B S. 
 
A KG here 
 all Ihy 
 
 children p 
 
 est must stay out 
 with the sheep. 
 No one would 
 want him. But see a mes- 
 senger is coming up the hill. 
 He calls — David is wanted. 
 The Prophet has called for him. 
 So the boy is obedient, and rises up, to run down 
 the hill at his father's call. Perhaps he stopped 
 to wash his face in the clear well of Bethlehem 
 before he went up to the place of the feast, the 
 same place where Boaz had brought his bride 
 Ruth, for Jesse, David's father was Ruth's 
 grandson. 
 
 There stood the Prophet, with his long white 
 hair flowing down ; and as soon as young David 
 came in, he stepped forward with a horn in his 
 hand, and sweet-smelling oil of olives mixed 
 with incense was flowing upon David's golden 
 hair. He was the Anointed of the Lord. In 
 time to come he would be king, but he must wait 
 long and patiently first. 
 
 Yes. Each of his seven brothers had passed 
 before Samuel — tall goodly men — but God had 
 spoken to Samuel, and forbidden him to choose 
 them ; for Samuel could only see their fine hand- 
 some faces and figures, but God looked at their 
 hearts, and knew they were proud men, who 
 
 146 
 
THE REIGN OF SAUL. 147 
 
 would soon have been as fierce and headstrong as Saul himself. 
 So he had sent Samuel to choose the youngest and least thought-of 
 of all Jesse's sons, and anoint him to be king of Israel. Yes ; and 
 above all, to be the forefather of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was sent to Bethlehem? 2. Who used to live at Bethlehem? 3. What 
 was Samuel to do? 4. Whose son was he to anoint? 5. What does anointing 
 mean ? 6. What was anointing to mark him for? 7. How many sons had Jesse ? 
 8. How many came to the feast? 9. Which did not come? 10. Where was 
 David? 11. Were his brothers anointed? 12. Why not? 13. Who saw their 
 hearts? 14. Who was sent for? 15. What did Samuel do? 16. Why was 
 Saul to be punished? 17. Why was David chosen? 18. Was he to begin to 
 reign at once? 19. How was he to wait? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel." 
 — 1 Samuel 17 : ^5. 
 
 J\ HOUGH King Saul had beaten the Philistines, still 
 they used to come back again and try to conquer the 
 Israelites. 
 
 Once they came with an army, and Saul had an 
 army too. The Israelites were on one hill and the 
 Philistines on another hill, and there was a valley 
 between. Then out in front of the Philistines' camp came a 
 giant named Goliath; for there really were giants then, and 
 Goliath had three brothers as tall as himself. 
 
 Goliath was nearly twice as tall as any man we ever saw, 
 and he had a helmet on his head, and armour on his breast, and 
 an enormous spear, and a shield, and a man carried a shield before 
 him. He stood out, and called to know if any Israelite would 
 fight with him. Then if Goliath conquered the Israelite, the 
 Philistines should be the lords over the Israelites; but if an 
 Israelite conquered Goliath, then the Israelites should be lords 
 over the Philistines. 
 
148 
 
 THE REIGN OF SAUL. 
 
 But nobody felt bold or strong enough to go out to fight 
 with this great man; and day after day he came and walked up 
 and down, and laughed the Israelites to scorn for not daring 
 to come out, they who called themselves the servants of God. 
 
 At last a young shepherd boy came to the camp. He had 
 three brothers among Saul's soldiers, and his father had sent 
 him to take them some loaves of bread, and see how they were. 
 The shepherd boy's name was David. When he came he saw the 
 
 DAVID SLAYING GOLIATH.— i Sam. 17 : 50, 51. 
 
 proud Goliath walking up and down boasting against the Israel- 
 ites; he asked the soldiers about him, and was so eager that at 
 last they brought him to the king; and Saul asked him how it 
 was that he, who was only a youth, could dare to think of fighting 
 with a man of war like Goliath. 
 
 David answered that when he was keeping his flocks a lion 
 and a bear had come and tried to take away a lamb. And God 
 had made him strong to kill both the lion and the bear, and saved 
 
THE REIGN OF SAUL. 149 
 
 him from danger; and he trusted that in like manner God would 
 help him if he fought with the giant. 
 
 So Saul wanted to dress David in his own armour, but it 
 was too large for him, and he would not use it. All he did was to 
 choose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them into his 
 shepherd's bag. And he took his sling, a long strip of leather, 
 the ends of which he used to hold in his hand to throw stones 
 farther with, when he wanted to drive beasts away from his flock. 
 
 SAUL CASTING HIS JAVELIN AT DAVID.-i Sam. 19: 9, 10. 
 
 And with only his sling and his stone he went out to meet the 
 giant. 
 
 Goliath was fierce and angry when he saw such a boy, and 
 he thought it was only laughing at him to send no better warrior 
 to fight with him. But David said, "Thou comest to me with a 
 sword and with a spear and with a shield : but I come to thee 
 in the name of the Lord of hosts, * * * whom thou hast 
 defied." 
 
 Then David took one of his stones and slung it out of his 
 
THE REIGN OF SAUL. 
 
 THE PARTING OF DAVID AND JONATHAN.— i Sam, 20 : 42. 
 
 DAVID AND ABIGAIL.— 1 Sam. 25 : 32, 33. 
 
 150 
 
THE REIGN OF SAUL. 151 
 
 sling. It struck the very middle of the giant's forehead, and 
 went deep in, and down fell Goliath. All his great strength 
 was of no use to him, and David ran and stood upon him, and 
 drew out his great sword from his side, and cut off his head. 
 
 All the other Philistines fled away, and David gave thanks 
 to God for his great victory. 
 
 By-and-by David came to be king instead of Saul; and he 
 loved God, and trusted in Him so faithfully that God Himself 
 called him a man after His own heart. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who were the enemies of the Israelites? 2. Who was the giant? 3. What 
 is a giant? 4. What did Goliath wear? 5. What did he call the Israelites to 
 do? 6. Who was the only one that would come out to fight? 7. What was 
 David ? 8. Why was not David afraid ? 9. What had David killed before ? 1 0. 
 What did David take with him? 11. What was a sling? 12. What did David 
 say? 13. Who helped David? 14. How did David attack Goliath? 15. What 
 happened to Goliath ? 16. What did David do to him then ? 17. What became 
 of the other Philistines ? 18. What did David come to be ? 19. What did God 
 call David? 20. Why did God love David? 
 
^went^seconb Sunba^ 
 
 KING DAVID REIGNING. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " How are the mighty fallen !" — 2 Samuel 1 : 19. 
 
 HE last thing that has to be told about Saul 
 is very sad. You know he would not do as 
 God bade him, but chose to go his own way. 
 Then God forsook him, and left him to grow 
 worse and worse. Then his enemies, the 
 Philistines, came up against him, and his 
 army came together on the hills to meet 
 them. 
 
 But God was not with Saul, so his men 
 could not fight, and he was beaten back 
 step by step up into his own hills, close to his home; and there, 
 when he found he could go no further, and that the Philistines 
 would soon be upon him, he did the saddest thing of all — he threw 
 himself on his own sword, that they might not take him alive. 
 
 He did not quite kill himself; and when a young robber came 
 by, trying to get garments and weapons from the dead bodies, 
 the unhappy king begged for a death-blow as he lay. The robber 
 gave him the last stroke, and then took the crown from his helmet, 
 and his bracelets, and brought them to David, to show that he 
 was dead. 
 
 The robber thought he should have a reward, but David 
 put him to death for having dared to strike the king : and David 
 grieved and mourned for Saul, who had been a great and noble 
 king once. But he had come to this miserable end because he 
 would have his own way and will. 
 
 152 
 
KING DAVID REIGNING. 
 
 THE DEATH OF SAUL.— i Sam. 31: 4. 
 
 DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL.-2 Sam. 2 : 4. 
 
 153 
 
154 KING DAVID REIGNING. 
 
 Then, when Saul was killed, David was anointed to be king; 
 and he was a very good man, and served God with all his heart. 
 So God blessed him, and made him great and powerful. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Saul? 2. What was Saul's fault? 3. Who came out to fight 
 against Saul? 4. Where was he driven ? 5. Who came after him? 6. What 
 dreadful thing did he do? 7. Who killed him entirely? 8. What did the robber 
 take? 9. To whom did he carry Saul's crown? 10. What did David do to 
 him? 11. Why? 12. Who was to be king now ? 13. Why did Saul come to 
 such an end ? 14. Whose way should he have followed ? 15. Can anyone go 
 on well who is self-willed? 16. Who was king after Saul? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." — 2 Samuel 12 : 23. 
 
 ING David had a little son, a baby, whom he loved very 
 much ; and this child fell sick. While it was sick King 
 David grieved for it, and prayed that it might be made 
 well. But it was not God's will to make the little boy 
 well, and he died. And then David was patient, and 
 knew it was God's will; and he said, "I shall go to him, but he 
 shall not return to me." 
 
 For David meant that one day he should die, and then his 
 soul would go to be with his little son's soul in the happy place 
 of rest; and by-and-by their bodies will rise again out of their 
 graves, and be joined to their souls again, and live for ever and 
 ever. 
 
 King David used to sing the Psalms to praise God; indeed, 
 he first made most of them; and in one he says, "My flesh also 
 shall rest in hope." That was, the hope that he should rise again 
 from the dead, and always live in God's holy home in heaven. 
 Heaven is the happy place where we all hope to meet and live 
 by-and-by, and that is the comfort that good Christians have when 
 death takes away friends whom they love. 
 
KING DAVID REIGNING. 
 
 155 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was David's sorrow? 2. What did he do when his little boy was ill? 
 3. Did the little boy get better? 4. What became of him? 5. How did David 
 bear his death? 6. What did he say? 7. Where did he hope to go to his little 
 son? 8. When would his soul go to his child's soul? 9. When will their bodies 
 rise ? 10. What does David say of his flesh ? 11. What is his flesh ? 12. What 
 hope does he rest in ? 13. When will our flesh rest ? 14. What do we hope to 
 do? 15. Where in the Belief do you say we hope to rise from the dead? 16. 
 What people will be happy then? 17. What are David's songs called? 
 
 DAVID MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD.— 2 Sam. 12 : 18. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son !" — 2 Samuel 19 : £• 
 
 OOD King David had more sons besides the little one 
 who died. One was named Absalom. He was a 
 very fine, handsome young man, and had most beau- 
 tiful hair ; but he was fierce and proud, and wanted 
 to be king. 
 
 And when David was old, this wicked Absalom 
 gathered men together, and drove his father away, that he might 
 
156 
 
 KING DAVID REIGNING. 
 
 be king instead. Good King David had to go away, weeping and 
 barefoot, down the steep rocky pass, for fear of his wicked son; 
 and cruel men called him names, and threw stones at him as he 
 went, while Absalom was made to reign in his father's palace, 
 and did all he pleased there. But God will not let wicked men 
 prosper; and all David's faithful old soldiers came together to 
 help him. They had a great battle with Absalom and his men; 
 and Absalom was beaten, and fled away on a mule. 
 
 But when he came into a wood, his thick hair was caught 
 
 SHIMEI CASTING STONES AT DAVID.— 2 Sam. 16 : 5, 6. 
 
 in an oak tree, and he could not get it loose; and his mule went 
 away, and left him still with his hair caught in the tree. 
 
 Now, though Absalom had been so wicked, his father loved 
 him still, and had begged all his men to take care not to hurt the 
 young man Absalom. So when one of the men saw Absalom 
 caught by the hair in a tree he would not hurt him, and only 
 went and told Absalom's cousin, Joab, who was the captain of 
 David's army. 
 
Joab had no pity; he thought Absalom richly 
 
 deserved to die, and he was afraid the king would 
 
 pardon him; so he went at once, with three darts 
 
 in his hand, and killed Absalom as he hung in the 
 
 tree. 
 
 King David was grieved to the heart. No 
 words can say how sad he was to think that his 
 son had died in his sin, and never asked his par- 
 don. He wept, and cried aloud, "0 my son 
 Absalom, my son, my son Absalom ! would God I 
 
 
 L 
 @ 
 
 15( 
 
158 . RING DAVID REIGNING. 
 
 had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son !" It was not like 
 his grief for the innocent little baby he had lost before; for 
 Absalom had been a bad man, and for that there is no comfort. 
 
 And when all the people came joyfully to bring King David 
 home to his palace, to be king again, still his heart mourned for 
 his son Absalom. 
 
 THE DEATH OF ABSALOM.— 2 Sam. 18 : 9. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. Do you hear of any one to-day who 
 broke the Fifth Commandment? 3. How did Absalom break it? 4. Who was 
 Absalom's father? 5. How had David to go away? 6. What did cruel men 
 do? 7. Who came to help David? 8. What did he charge them? 9. Who 
 won the battle? 10. What happened to Absalom? 11. Who saw him there? 
 12. Whom did the man tell? 13. Why did Joab kill Absalom? 14. Did 
 Absalom deserve it? 15. How did his father behave? 16. What did he cry 
 out? 17. Why was he more sorry than for his baby son? 18. What is sadder 
 than even dying? 19. How should you behave to your parents? 
 
TUwent^tbiub 5unba\>- 
 
 PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Nay ; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price." — 2 Samuel %£ : 2£. 
 
 HEN David was king his people did wrong 
 again; and there came a plague upon 
 them, so that a great number of them died 
 all through the land of Israel. 
 
 David and his priests, and all the good 
 men, fasted and prayed, and entreated that 
 God would turn His anger away. And while 
 they were praying, David saw the Destroying 
 Angel standing with his drawn sword over Jeru- 
 salem; but the plague had not begun there. Then 
 David prayed the more ; and God made known to him 
 that he must offer up a sacrifice on the threshing- 
 floor of Oman, just by Jerusalem, and then the plague should be 
 stopped. 
 
 A threshing-floor was a flat rocky place on the top of a hill, 
 where the sheaves of corn were laid out, and oxen drew boards, 
 with the under side covered with spikes, to knock the grain out 
 of the ears. Oman's threshing-floor was upon Mount Moriah, 
 where Isaac had been so nearly sacrificed. He was threshing 
 wheat on it when David came and desired to buy it for the 
 sacrifice. 
 
 Oman was a good man, and said he would give the whole 
 place to the king. But David said, "I will not offer unto my God 
 of that which doth cost me nothing." So he bought the place of 
 Oman, the oxen, and the threshing tools; and the sacrifice was 
 
 159 
 
J/ / 
 
 The King _ 
 
 SAID- 
 
 made to show that death must be for sin. 
 Then God pardoned Israel, and the 
 plague was stopped. We should remem- 
 ber that our offerings to God are only 
 worthy if they cost us something. He 
 does not want the things themselves, but 
 He does value the love that gives them. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1 . What is a threshing-floor? 2. Whose thresh- 
 ing-floor have we heard of? 3. Where was it? 4. 
 What had happened on Mount Moriah ? 5. Whose 
 son was Isaac? 6. Was he sacrificed? 7. Why 
 not? 8. What town was near? 9. Who bought 
 the threshing-floor? 10. Why? 11. What is a 
 plague? 12. Why was the plague sent? 13. What 
 did David see? 14. What was he bidden to do? 
 15. What did Oman want to do? 16. What did 
 David say ? 17. So what ought we to give to God ? 
 
 . I DWELL. IN A 
 H0U5E OF CEDAR 
 
 ^T"\\\^K^Yv^ Oto\*\M^\\JLTW ^\TV\U CVECTNN&. 
 
 160 
 
THE BRINGING UP OF THE ARK 
 
PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE. 161 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "His seed also will I make to endure for ever." — Psalm 89 : <29 
 
 OU know the two Tables of the Commandments were 
 kept in the Ark of the Covenant ; and when the Israel- 
 ites were going about in the wilderness, they had a 
 beautiful tent to keep it in. But now they had come 
 into the Land of Promise, and had no more journeys 
 to make, David wished to build a house, or temple, where the 
 Ark might be kept, and to make it beautiful for the glory of God. 
 But the Lord had sent a prophet to tell David that he must 
 not himself build a house for God, because he had been a man of 
 war, and had fought, and shed much blood; but that his son 
 Solomon should be a man of rest, and should build the Temple 
 for the Lord. 
 
 David did not repine. He thanked God for giving him the 
 hope that his son should do this great work; and all the rest of 
 his life he was busy getting together gold and silver, brass and 
 iron, and beautiful cedar wood, all for the Temple of his God. It 
 was to be built on Mount Moriah, on the threshing-floor he had 
 bought of Oman, just by the city of Jerusalem, which David 
 had conquered from the Jebusites, and made the capital of his 
 kingdom. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was kept in the Ark of the Covenant? 2. Where was the Ark kept 
 at first? 3. What did David want to build? 4. Why was David not allowed 
 to build a temple? 5. Did he fret and grieve at being forbidden? 6. Who was 
 to build the Temple? 7. What did David get ready? 8. Where was the 
 Temple to be? 9. When had he bought it of Oman? 
 
 11-B.S. 
 
162 
 
 PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "All things come to Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee." — > 
 1 Chronicles 29: 1£. 
 
 AVID had grown to be a very old man, near to his 
 death; but, before he died, he called all the princes 
 of his people together at Jerusalem, and asked them 
 all to bring offerings to help to build a beautiful 
 house, to be a Temple to the Lord their God. So all 
 the people brought what precious things they could, 
 
 DAVIDS THREE MIGHTY MEN.— 2 Sam. 23 : 16, 17. 
 
 to add to what the king had prepared ; and a great quantity was 
 ready — all willingly offered. 
 
 Then good King David stood up and made his offering. "All 
 things come of Thee," he said, "and of Thine own have we given 
 Thee." And he thanked and blessed the Lord God, who had been 
 with him all his life ; and he blessed his people Israel, and showed 
 them his son Solomon, who was to reign after him; and he gave 
 
PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE. 163 
 
 Solomon a charge to build the Temple of the Lord, and bade them 
 all serve the Lord with all their might. And the crown was set 
 on Solomon's head, and he was king; and David died at a good 
 old age. He was the shepherd boy who came to be a king, and 
 who first sung so many of the beautiful Psalms that are still our 
 best words for praising God. 
 
 SOLOMON ANOINTED KING.— i Kings i : 39. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was David? 2. Who was his son? 3. What was Solomon to do? 
 4. What had David got ready for Solomon? 5. What did he ask his princes to 
 bring? 7. What for? 8. When did David meet all his people? 9. Who was 
 to be king? 10. Why was David glad? 11. What did he say to God? 12. 
 Whose are all things? 13. What charge did David give? 14. What had David 
 been before he was king? 15. What did David write? 16. What are the 
 Psalms ? 
 
ftwent£*fourtb Sunba^. 
 
 SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY.- 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the vic- 
 tory, and the majesty." — 1 Chron. 29: 11. 
 
 HE last thing King David did was 
 to have his son, young Solomon, 
 anointed to reign, and then to show 
 him to the people, and charge them to 
 help him build the Temple for the 
 Lord God. For he said Solomon was 
 still very young, and the work was 
 very great; so he begged the people 
 of the tribes to bring their offerings ; 
 and so they did. 
 
 They brought gold, silver, brass, 
 iron, and beautiful stones, or the 
 wood of oaks and cedars, according 
 to what they had or could give; and 
 when David saw it he was very 
 happy and glad, and offered it up to 
 God, and prayed that God would give 
 unto his son Solomon a perfect heart, 
 
 that he might serve God and keep His laws. 
 
 Then there was a great feast all round Mount Sion 5 all the 
 
 people eating, and drinking, and rejoicing, and praising God, 
 
 who had delivered them from all their enemies. 
 
 164 
 
 0LI©[JuD©Kl 
 
SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY. 165 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What did David ask of his people? 2. What did they bring him? 3. 
 What were all these things for? 4. Who was to build the Temple? 5. Why 
 was not David himself allowed to build it? 6. Yet what did he get together for 
 it ? 7. Why was he happy ? 8. What did he ask God ? 9. What great rejoic- 
 ing was there? 10. Why was everything happy now with the nation? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Give me now wisdom and knowledge." — 2 Chron. 1 : 10. 
 
 HEN King David died, Solomon was still almost a 
 
 boy. But God spake to him in a dream by night, 
 
 and said, "Ask what I shall give thee." Then 
 
 Solomon said he was but young, and knew not 
 
 how to rule over this great people that God had 
 
 given him ; and therefore he prayed, above all, that 
 
 God would give him a wise and understanding heart. 
 
 And God was pleased with Solomon's choice, and said that 
 
 because he had cared for wisdom most, and had not asked for 
 
 riches, or long life, or to put down his enemies, that therefore, 
 
 besides wisdom, God would give him all the rest — riches, and 
 
 honor, and length of life — and he should be wiser, and greater, 
 
 and richer, than any king ever was before him, or should be 
 
 after him. 
 
 All this was because he had cared so much to have a wise 
 
 and understanding heart to know good and evil. That was first 
 
 with him, and so God gave him all the rest. So it will be with 
 
 all those who seek first of all to be good. God does not make us 
 
 wise all at once like Solomon, but if we care about it, He will help 
 
 us to get wise by little and little if we really try, and then He 
 
 will bless all we do. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Solomon? 2. Whose son was he? 3, What was he king of ? 
 4. How old was he when he began to be king? 5. What did God say to him at 
 night? 6. What did Solomon wish for most? 7. What did God give him be- 
 
166 SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY. 
 
 sides? 8. Why did God give him all these things when he did not ask for 
 them? 9. What should we care about most? 10. What will God do for us if 
 we care most about goodness? 11. How will He help us to get wise? 12. But 
 what must we do ourselves ? 
 
 THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON.-i Kings 3 : 26, 27. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " The wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. — 1 Kings 3 : 28. 
 
 ERE is a story to show how wise and clever King 
 12 Solomon was. One day when he was sitting on his 
 throne two women came to him: one with a live 
 baby, the other with a dead one, both boys, and just 
 of the same age. They said they had been living 
 alone together in the same house, each with her little baby, till 
 one night one of the women rolled over her child in her sleep and 
 smothered it, so that she found it was dead. 
 
 But each woman said it was not her baby but the other's 
 that was dead, and that the mother of the dead one had put the 
 
SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY. 
 
 167 
 
 little corpse down by the other sleeping woman, and taken her 
 living child out of her bosom to herself. How was it to be known 
 which was right? — for nobody out of the house knew the two 
 little ones apart, and each of the women declared that she was 
 the mother of the live child, not of the dead. So they came to 
 the king to judge between them. 
 
 And what plan could Solomon take to find out the truth? 
 
 THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.— i Kines 6 
 
 : 11-14. 
 
 He sent for the executioner, with a sword, and said that as the 
 women could not agree, both the children should be cut in two, 
 and each woman should have the two halves. One woman was 
 content to have it so, but the other only cried out in grief and 
 dread, "0 my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise 
 slay it." 
 
 Then Solomon saw in a moment which was full of mother's 
 love, and which was full of hatred and jealousy; so he said, "Give 
 her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother 
 
168 SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY. 
 
 thereof." And so the true loving mother had her child safe and 
 well, and the other was disappointed in her spite. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Solomon? 2. Who came before him? 3. What had happened 
 to one baby? 4. What did both the women say ? 5. What had Solomon to de- 
 cide? 6. What did he command? 7. Did he really mean to kill the child? 8. 
 But what did he want to find out? 9. What did one woman say? 10. What 
 did the other woman say? 11, Which was the real mother? 12. What did 
 Solomon command? 13. Would not the loving mother rather give the child 
 away than have it killed ? 
 
XTwent^ftftb Sunba^- 
 
 SOLOMON'S FALL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " All the earth souglit to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in 
 his heart/' — 1 Kings 10 : ££• 
 
 ING Solomon was the greatest king in 
 
 wisdom and riches who ever lived. He 
 
 had an ivory throne with golden lions 
 
 standing on the steps, and a beautiful 
 
 house lined with sweet cedar-wood. He sent 
 
 ships which brought home gold and silver, and 
 
 apes and peacocks; and it was said that gold 
 
 was as common as silver generally is, and silver 
 
 as common as stones! 
 
 All people honored him, and the Queen of 
 Sheba came from her far-off country to see 
 him, because of the fame of his greatness. And when she saw 
 him she was quite overcome, and said that all she heard was not 
 half so grand and glorious as what she saw. Very happy, she 
 said, were the people who stood round him and heard the words of 
 his wisdom. 
 
 We have the words of his wisdom in the Book of Proverbs 
 in the Bible, for his wisdom came from God. And though we 
 shall never see his purple robes or his gold and silver, do you 
 know what our blessed Saviour said? — "Consider the lilies of the 
 
 169 
 
170 SOLOMON'S FALL. 
 
 field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet 
 I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 
 like one of these." 
 
 The least little flower, if you look well into it, is more beau- 
 
 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON— i Kings 10 : 6-10, 
 
 tiful than anything King Solomon ever wore, for God made it; 
 and he could only put things together that were made already. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Why was Solomon so rich? 2. Whose son was he? 3. What had he 
 built? 4. When he had built the House of God what did he build? 5. What 
 sort of throne had he? 6. What were the steps? 7. Who came to see him? 
 8. What did she say of him? 9. Where have we got his wisdom? 10. What 
 do we call it? 11. What did our blessed Saviour say about him? 12. What 
 have we got which are more beautiful than Solomon's robes? 13. Why are 
 flowers more beautiful than Solomon's robes? 
 
SOLOMON'S FALL. 
 
 171 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with 
 stripes." — Psalm 89: 3°2. 
 
 T is very sad to say that as Solomon grew old he left off 
 
 being good. He married a great many wives, and 
 
 brought them from the heathen nations round ; and he 
 
 did not teach them to worship the true God, but let 
 
 ^V them worship each in her own way. 
 
 So, out in his gardens, one lady had her idol to 
 the moon, and another had hers to the dreadful idol Milcom, and 
 
 IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON. - 1 Kings 11:4. 
 
 so on; and though Solomon knew so much better, even he was 
 persuaded to come and pay honor to these idols, just to please 
 these women — he, the son of David, whom God had blessed so 
 much. 
 
 And what the king did the people were sure to do. So God 
 spake to Solomon, and told him that since he had fallen away 
 
172 SOLOMON'S FALL. 
 
 from the right way, he must be punished, and that ten out of 
 the twelve tribes would be taken away and not belong to his 
 kingdom. 
 
 It was not to happen in his own time, but in his son's time, 
 but it must have been very sad to him to know that his beautiful 
 kingdom and great power were to be so lessened, and that his 
 son Rehoboam was a very foolish young man, who would spoil 
 
 REVOLT OF THE TRIBES.— i Kings 12 : 16, 17. 
 
 everything. But he was not to lose all, only part, for the sake 
 of the holy King David, to whom God had promised that his 
 throne should last for ever. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 What wrong did Solomon do ? 2. Where did his wives come from ? 3. What 
 did they want to worship? 4. Did Solomon let them? 5. What did he do him- 
 self? 6. Why was this wrong ? 7. What is the First Commandment? 8. What 
 did God tell Solomon ? 9. How was he to be punished ? 10. How many tribes 
 were to be lost? 11. How many were to be kept? 12. Why were any to be 
 left? 13. What had God promised David ? 14. In whose time was the trouble 
 to come ? 15. What was the name of Solomon's son ? 
 
SOLOMON'S FALL. 
 
 173 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand." — 1 Kings 11: 35. 
 
 HERE was a strong brave man of the tribe of Ephraim, 
 named Jeroboam, and God sent his prophet to speak 
 to him. Jeroboam had a new mantle on, and the 
 prophet took it and tore it into twelve pieces, and 
 gave Jeroboam ten of them. 
 
 Then the prophet said this was to show how 
 God was going to tear away ten tribes from Rehoboam, the grand- 
 son of David, and give them to Jeroboam, because Solomon was 
 bringing idols in to be worshipped. And he told Jeroboam that 
 all should go well with him, and he would be a great king, and 
 his sons after him, if he would go on serving the Lord, and the 
 Lord only, and would keep from idols. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What was to be taken from Solomon's son? 2. What was the name of Sol- 
 omon's son? 3. Who was to have the tribes? 4. Who told Jeroboam so? 5. 
 What sign did the prophet give? 6. What was torn? 7. Of how many tribes 
 would Rehoboam be king? 8. Of how many would Jeroboam be king? 9. Why 
 were any taken from Rehoboam? 10. Why were any left? 11. What does the 
 Second Commandment say ? 12. How long would Jeroboam go on well ? 
 
1Xwent\vsutb &urtba\\ 
 
 THE KINGDOM GF ISRAEL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " This thing became a sin." — 1 Kings 12 : 30. 
 
 OLOMON'S son was named Rehoboam. He 
 
 was foolish and hasty ; and when his father's 
 
 wise old men gave him good advice he would 
 
 not listen to them, but only cared for his 
 
 young friends, who were as foolish as himself. 
 
 So when the Israelites came to him to ask 
 
 him not to be hard upon them, and make 
 
 them bring him so much corn and so many sheep, the 
 
 old men told him to answer them kindly and gently, 
 
 but the young men said he had better be fierce and 
 
 sharp. So he followed the young men's advice, and made a very 
 
 unkind answer. 
 
 This made them all so angry that they said they would not 
 have him for their king any longer; but they took Jeroboam, a 
 brave strong man of the tribe of Ephraim, and made him their 
 king. Only two tribes still held steady to Rehoboam. These were 
 the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. God left him these, because 
 of the promise that King David's sons should go on sitting on his 
 throne. But ten of the tribes had made Jeroboam their king; 
 so that now there were two kingdoms — a large one called Israel, 
 and a small one called Judah. 
 
 This was because Solomon had let his heart turn away from 
 
 174 
 
THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 175 
 
 God, and had not taken pains to keep his people holy, but had 
 cared more for riches, and power, and glory. But Jeroboam did 
 not take pains to serve God. He set up two calves, made of gold, 
 for the Israelites to worship, instead of going to the Temple. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who was Solomon ? 2. Who was his son? 3. Whom did Rehoboam like 
 best ? 4. What did his people ask ? 5. What did the old men advise ? 6. What 
 did the young men advise? 7. Whose advice did he take? 8. What answer did 
 he give? 9. What did the Israelites do ? 10. Whom did they make their king? 
 11. How many kingdoms were there? 13. How many tribes made up Israel? 
 14. Who was king of Judah? 15. Who was king of Israel? 16. Why did not 
 Rehoboam lose all ? 17. What had God promised David ? 18. Why did Eeho- 
 boam lose any ? 19. What foolish answer did he make? 20. What idols did he 
 set up? 
 
 SECOND READING 
 
 "I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee." — 1 Kings IS: 16. 
 
 T is a sad story that you hear to-day. There was a man 
 who was called a prophet, because God spoke to him, 
 and used to send him to declare His will to the people. 
 Once God called this prophet, and told him to go 
 ^y to a place called Bethel, where the wicked king of 
 Israel, Jeroboam, had set up a golden idol in the shape 
 of a calf, and was teaching the people to pray to it, instead of 
 going to the Temple at Jerusalem to worship. He was to tell the 
 king of his sin, and how his idol should be overthrown and 
 destroyed; and when he had done this, he was to come home at 
 once, by a different way, and neither eat bread nor drink water, 
 but come quickly back. 
 
 The prophet went to Bethel, and he spoke God's words to 
 the king boldly; and when the king put out his hand to strike 
 him God struck the hand, so that Jeroboam could not draw it 
 back till the prophet prayed for him. Then Jeroboam felt God's 
 power, and wanted the prophet to come to his palace with him. 
 
176 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 
 
 But the prophet said no; for God had commanded him to go 
 home at once, without eating or drinking in that wicked place. 
 So he set off. 
 
 He had so far done well ; but before he had gone all the way 
 he grew tired, and he sat down under an oak. It was a great 
 pity that he delayed, for there was a bad man coming after him 
 with a lie upon his lips. This man told the prophet that God 
 had said he was to come back and eat and drink ; and I am grieved 
 to say the prophet listened, and turned back. 
 
 He ought to have known that God would have told him Him- 
 self if he was to go back; but he did not think — he did what 
 pleased himself, not what pleased God ; and he went back to feast 
 with this stranger. But God's anger came upon him. When he 
 went back in the evening, a lion came out of the wood and killed 
 him. 
 
 The lion did not kill the ass he rode upon, nor tear the body, 
 and the ass did not run away from the lion ; but the lion and ass 
 both stood by the dead prophet till — who do you think found him? 
 The very man who had tempted him to do wrong! Must not 
 that have been a terrible sight? 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What had God told the prophet to do? 2. What had He told him not to 
 do ? 3. What was the first wrong thing the prophet did ? 4. What harm came 
 of his lingering ? 5. How did he disobey? 6. What was his sad end ? 7. Who 
 found him lying dead? 8. What were standing by him? 9. Why did he come 
 to this sad death ? 10. How did he fall in the way of the wicked man? 11. 
 What is the way to fall in with bad people ? 12. Then how should you always 
 go on messages, or to school? 13. Is it enough to mind only half what you are 
 told? 
 
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON 
 
THE K INC IH)M OF LSRAEL. 
 
 177 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until 
 the clay that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth." — 1 Kings 17 : lip. 
 
 T is very sad to say, but the Israelites went on getting 
 more fond of idols, and would not worship God. They 
 grew so wicked that at last He punished them, to 
 teach them who sent the rain and did them good. 
 
 He would not let it rain for three whole years. 
 No rain by day, no dew by night! The corn would 
 not grow, the grass dried up, and all the streams were nothing 
 
 ELIJAH FED BY THE RAVENS.— i Kings 17 : 5, 6. 
 
 but stones; so that there was nothing to eat or to drink, and 
 everyone was in sad distress. 
 
 There was one good man, a prophet, called Elijah, and God 
 took care of him. He sent him to a lonely place, by the side of 
 a little mountain stream, where there still was water to drink; 
 and every morning and evening there came two ravens, who 
 
 12-B.S. 
 
178 
 
 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 
 
 were sent by God, to bring him bread and flesh. That was a 
 great miracle, or wonder, which God worked to feed His prophet. 
 In time the brook dried up, and then God sent Elijah to 
 a town called Zarephath. There Elijah saw a poor woman 
 gathering sticks, and he asked her to give him a bit of something 
 to eat. But the poor widow woman said she had nothing for 
 herself and her son but a handful of meal and a little oil, and she 
 was going to make a cake of it, and bake it with a fire of her 
 
 THE WIDOW'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE.-i Kings 17 : 21, 22. 
 
 sticks; and that was the last she could get, so they must die of 
 hunger after they had finished. 
 
 But Elijah still told her to make him a little cake first, for 
 he said, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal 
 shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day 
 that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth." 
 
 And the woman believed him, and gave him a bit of her last 
 cake. And it was as he said. There was always meal and oil 
 enough to feed them day by day : the widow, and her son, and the 
 
THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 179 
 
 prophet, went on living on the meal every day, for God fed them. 
 
 At last the child fell sick and died; and his mother grieved 
 for him. But Elijah laid the child on his bed, and prayed to God 
 to have mercy on the widow: and God had mercy. The little 
 child's soul came back, and he was alive again; and Elijah gave 
 him to his mother. 
 
 Are not these three great wonders of God's goodness? God 
 does not let us see miracles now, as He did in those times, because 
 we are taught to believe in Him without them. But He still 
 takes care of us. He takes care that if we trust to Him, and 
 pray to Him, we shall have our food every day. And if we are 
 ready to give what we want ourselves away to one who needs it, 
 He will make it up to us, and take care of us all the more. And 
 though no one is brought to life now who has died, yet God often 
 gives us back our friends when they have been very ill; and we 
 know that we shall all rise up from the dead and live with God 
 for ever, at a greater call than Elijah's. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What is a miracle ? 2. How many miracles have you been hearing of? 3 
 For whom were they worked ? 4. Who worked them? 5. What were the three 
 miracles? 6. Why was it a miracle that the ravens fed Elijah? 7. Why did 
 the ravens bring Elijah the food instead of eating it themselves? 8. What was 
 the next miracle ? 9. How came the widow always to have enough? 10. How 
 did she show that she was worthy to have a wonder worked for her ? 11. Why 
 was God pleased with her ? 12. What more did God do for her son ? 13. Who 
 prayed for him ? 14. How could you try to be like the good widow? 15. What 
 is the way to be helped? 16. What do you ask God to give you every day? 
 
^went\>-se\>entb £unba\>- 
 
 ELIJAH AND AHAB. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "The Lord, He is the God ; the Lord, He is the God."— 1 Kings 18: 39. 
 
 OU heard last Sunday how sadly the Israelites 
 were behaving when they prayed to a 
 golden calf. They had a still worse idol 
 afterwards. His name was Baal; and they 
 wanted to worship him instead of the true 
 God. To-day there is a beautiful chapter 
 that I hardly like to put into my own poor 
 words. Listen to it well in church, and you will hear how won- 
 derful it is. 
 
 There were four hundred prophets, as they called themselves, 
 who worshipped Baal, and only one real prophet who worshipped 
 the Lord God. This prophet was named Elijah. He called all 
 the people to a high mountain, and said they should see who was 
 the true God. He said he would build one altar, and that the 
 four hundred prophets should build another; they should each 
 offer a sacrifice, and each should pray to his god, and the God 
 that sent fire to burn the sacrifice would be the true God. 
 
 The prophets of Baal tried first. They built their altar and 
 put wood on it, and killed a bullock and cut it up, and they prayed 
 to their god Baal to send fire down. But he was no god — he was 
 nothing at all; and though they cried and shouted, and leaped 
 about, and even cut their own flesh in their rage, not a spark 
 of fire came. 
 
 180 
 
ELIJAH AND AHAB. 181 
 
 Then Elijah made his sacrifice. And he did a strange thing; 
 for he had water poured all over it, till all the wood was streaming 
 wet — and you know water always put out fire — so how was it 
 ever to be burnt? He even made a trench round, and filled that 
 with water too. Then he knelt down, and prayed that the Lord 
 
 ELIJAH SLAYING THE PROPHETS OF BAAL.— i Kings iS: 39,40. 
 
 God in heaven would show His power, and make the people know 
 that no one else was God. 
 
 And down from heaven came the fire! It was not stopped 
 by the water ! No, it dried that up in a moment, and burnt the 
 wood, and consumed the sacrifice ! And all the Israelites fell on 
 their faces, and cried out, "The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, 
 He is the God!" For only the Lord God is Almighty, and can do 
 wonders. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who is the prophet we read of to-day? 2. What wicked thing were the 
 Israelites doing? 3. What is the First Commandment? 4. What was the name 
 of the false god? 5. How many prophets were there for Baal? ft. Who only 
 
182 ELIJAH AND AHAB. 
 
 spoke up for the true God? 7. What did Elijah say they would try? 8. How 
 would they know which was the real God? 9. What happened when Baal's peo- 
 ple prayed to him? 10. Why did not Baal send them any fire? 11. What did 
 Elijah do to his sacrifice? 12. Whom did he pray to? 13. What came down 
 from heaven? 14. What became of all the water that Elijah had poured out? 
 15. Why did not the water stop the fire? 16. What did all the people cry out? 
 17. What word in the Belief means that God can do everything? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "A still small voice.' ' — 1 Kings 19: 12. 
 
 FTER the Israelites had called out, "The Lord, He is 
 the God!" and owned that Baal was nothing but an 
 idol, God had mercy on them, and sent them rain 
 again; and their famine was over. 
 
 But King Ahab's wife, whose name was Jezebel, 
 was a heathen woman, and she would worship Baal, and did not 
 choose to believe in the true God. And she was very angry with 
 Elijah, and sent men out everywhere to put him to death. Elijah 
 was obliged to flee far away for fear of her; and he went out into 
 the wilderness, and sat down under a juniper tree; and there 
 he was so sad, to think that all he had done was of no use, that 
 he requested for himself that he might die, for he could do no 
 more good with these wicked people. 
 
 Then he went to sleep; and when he woke an angel was 
 by him, with a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water; 
 and the angel bade him rise and eat, for the journey was too 
 great for him. 
 
 It was a great journey, for he was to go all the way to the 
 Mount of God, where God had spoken to Moses. And there he 
 stood in a cave; and a voice came and asked, "What doest thou 
 here, Elijah ?" Then he told how the Israelites had forsaken 
 their God, and killed the prophets, and "I, even I only, am left," 
 he said; "and they seek my life to take it away." Then God 
 showed him His wonders. 
 
ELIJAH AND AHAB. 183 
 
 First a great strong wind came rushing by — but the Lord 
 was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, that broke 
 the rocks in pieces — but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 
 And after the earthquake a fire — but the Lord was not in the 
 fire. And after the fire, a still small Voice. 
 
 Then Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, and stood in 
 
 the entrance of the cave, to hear what God would say to him. 
 
 And God told him he was not all alone, as he thought; for there 
 
 were many good men still lefi who had never bowed the knee 
 
 to Baal, nor deserted the God of their fathers. And God sent 
 
 him back to return to his work among the people of Israel, and 
 
 not to think that there was no hope because he could not see it; 
 
 nor to think he was left alone because he had no friends near 
 
 him that he could see. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. How long was there no rain in the land of Israel? 2. Why was there no 
 rain ? 3. Who told the Israelites of their wickedness ? 4. What wonder showed 
 who was the real God? 5. What did the Israelites cry out? 6. Who was the 
 Israelite king? 7. Who was Allah's wicked wife? 8. What did she want to do 
 to Elijah? 9. Where did Elijah flee to? 10. Who came to feed him? 11. 
 Where did he go? 12. What had been given on the Mount of God? 13. What 
 was said to Elijah? 14, Why was Elijah so sad? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " He laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat 
 no bread. " — 1 Kings 21 : 4- 
 
 OU learn in the Catechism to say, "Thou shalt not 
 
 covet." Coveting means wishing very much for what 
 
 we ought not to have; and God tells us not to covet, 
 
 because all faults begin in bad wishes. Now you shall 
 
 hear what shocking sin one wish led to. 
 
 King Ahab had a grand garden, and he wanted to make it 
 
 bigger; but the next piece of ground belonged to a poor man 
 
 named Naboth. Ahab asked Naboth to sell him his ground; but 
 
184 ELIJAH AND AHAB. 
 
 Naboth said it had come to him from his father, and must go to 
 his son, and he could not sell it. Then Ahab coveted, and lay on 
 his bed and would not eat — caring for nothing but the bit of 
 ground he could not get. 
 
 Now Ahab had a cruel, wicked wife; and when she saw 
 her husband grieving about Naboth's ground she ,was determined 
 to get it for him. So she had two very bad men set on to say that 
 poor Naboth had been wicked, and must be put to death. 
 
 They bore false witness against him, and broke the Ninth 
 Commandment when they did so; and then, worst of all, this 
 poor innocent man was really put to death for the crime he had 
 never done — and that was murder, which breaks the Sixth Com- 
 mandment. Then Jezebel called Ahab, and told him he might 
 go and take possession of the ground that he wanted : there was 
 nobody to hinder him. But he never had any pleasure in it. 
 
 When he went to it, there stood God's great Prophet Elijah, 
 
 ready to meet him. And Elijah told him how very angry God 
 
 was with him and with Jezebel, and that they should be terribly 
 
 punished for their cruel behavior to this innocent man. Then 
 
 Ahab was sorry, and wept and grieved for the cruel thing that 
 
 had been done ; but all his sorrow could not bring Naboth back to 
 
 life again. And oh ! how grieved he must have been that he had 
 
 not kept his wishes in order! — for almost all our faults begin 
 
 in a wish. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. "Who is the king we hear of to-day ? 2. Who is the bad queen? 3. Who 
 is the poor man ? 4. What did Ahab want ? 5. Why should not Naboth let 
 Ahab have the grouud? 6. How did Ahab behave when he could not get the 
 ground? 7. Who said he should have it? 8. How did Jezebel get Naboth 
 put to death? 9. Who met Ahab ? 10. What did Elijah tell him ? 11. What 
 had Ahab done wrong? 12. What Commandment tells you not to covet? 13. 
 What is coveting? 14. What Commandment tells us not to tell untrue things of 
 other people? 15. Say the Ninth Commandment. 16. What Commandment was 
 broken by putting Naboth to death ? 17. How many Commandments were broken ? 
 
{Tvvent^-eiobtb Simba^- 
 
 ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 A certain man drew a bow at a venture." — 1 Kings 22 : 34- 
 
 HEN Ahab had let Naboth be 
 stoned that he might get his 
 vineyard, the Prophet Elijah said 
 that Ahab would be greatly pun- 
 ished, and that where the dogs 
 licked up Naboth's blood there they 
 would lick up Ahab's ; and that cruel 
 Jezebel should be eaten up by dogs, 
 so that no one could say, This is 
 Jezebel. 
 
 Some time after, Ahab went 
 out to fight a battle. He was afraid, 
 because his conscience troubled him, and he thought he should be 
 safer if he did not go out to fight dressed like a king, for he knew 
 the enemies would all come and try to kill him if they saw him in 
 his robes. But he dressed only like a common captain, and thought 
 they would take no notice, and he would be safe. He forgot that 
 if the enemy did not know him God knew him, and that God could 
 see it was Ahab just as well in his common dress as in his robes 
 and crown. 
 
 So a man drew his bow, not shooting at anybody in partic- 
 ular; but God's will guided the arrow, and it wounded Ahab so 
 
 185 
 
186 
 
 ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 
 
 badly that he desired to be taken out of the battle, and he died 
 before he could be carried home. His chariot was full of his blood, 
 and his servants washed it in the place where Naboth had been 
 stoned to death ; and the wild hungry dogs came and licked up the 
 blood, just as they had licked up Naboth's blood. So you see 
 no hiding could get away from God. 
 
 THE DEATH OF KING AHAB.- i Kings 22 : 34. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What did God say was to happen to Ahab ? 2. What was to happen to 
 Jezebel? 3. What did Ahab go out to do? 4. How did he dress himself? 5. 
 Why did not Ahab dress like a king? 6. From whom did he want to hide? 
 7. But who knew him all the time? 8. How was he wounded? 9. Did the man 
 mean to hit Ahab? 10. How came Ahab to be hit? 11. What was done with 
 him? 12. Where was his chariot washed? 13. What licked up his blood? 
 14. Who had said the dogs should lick his blood? 15. Why? 16. Why did 
 Ahab let Naboth be killed? 17. Who was angry with Ahab? 18. Can we hide 
 from God's anger? 
 
ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 
 
 187 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." — 
 Kings 2: 12. 
 
 HE time had come when God was about to call away 
 His great Prophet Elijah. And it was not as other 
 men are taken from this earth, by dying and being 
 buried, while their souls go away to the God who 
 gave them. No; Elijah went out and visited all the 
 schools, where young men and boys were being 
 
 ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN.— 2 Kings 2 : 11. 
 
 trained to sing God's praise ; and Elisha, who was his scholar and 
 his friend, went with him. 
 
 When they came to the bank of the river Jordan, Elijah took 
 his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the waters of the stream 
 with it, and they parted, and left a way for Elijah and Elisha 
 to go over dry-footed. Then Elijah said, "Ask what I shall do 
 for thee, before I be taken away from thee." And Elisha said, 
 "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me." 
 
188 ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 
 
 And while they were talking together, there came a great 
 wonder from heaven : a chariot and horses, all bright and glowing 
 like fire; and Elijah was parted from his friend, and went up 
 into heaven upon a whirlwind. Elisha stood watching, crying 
 out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horse- 
 men thereof;" as if he knew not what he said. . And Elijah, as 
 he went up, threw down his mantle; and Elisha took it up and 
 went his way, much wondering, and full of awe. 
 
 And when he came to the river Jordan, he took the mantle, 
 rolled up, and smote the waters, and they parted again, so that 
 he went through with dry feet. And when the young men in 
 the school of the prophets met him, they saw in his face and 
 manner that the same Spirit which had been on Elijah was on 
 him, and they bowed themselves before him. 
 
 Only one other man was ever taken up to heaven without 
 dying, and he was Enoch, who lived before the Flood. Our 
 blessed Lord ascended into Heaven ; but He went up, He was not 
 taken, and it was after He had died and risen again. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Elijah? 2. Who was his friend? 3. Where did they go to- 
 gether? 4. How did they get across the river? 5. What did Elisha ask? 6. 
 What appeared to them? 7. What happened to Elijah? 8. What did he let 
 fall? 9. Who was to be prophet in his stead? 10. What did Elisha cry out ? 
 11. What did he do with Elijah's mantle? 12. What other man was taken up 
 like this. 13. When did Enoch live ? 14. Who only ascended into heaven ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "It is well." — 2 lungs 4: 26. 
 
 LISHA was the prophet for Israel instead of Elijah. 
 Now there was a good woman who saw him go by, and 
 she said she would make a little room for him by the 
 wall of her house, and put in a bed, and a table, and 
 a stool, and a lamp, so that he could go and rest there 
 
ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 189 
 
 whenever he pleased. When Elisha saw it he was pleased, and 
 told her that if she wished for anything very much he would pray 
 God to give it to her. She answered that she dwelt among her 
 own people, and wanted ior nothing. But she had no child; and 
 Elisha prayed for her, and God blessed her for her kindness to 
 His servant, and by-and-by she had a son. 
 
 But when he had grown in.o a boy, he went into the fields 
 with his father to see the harvest, and the heat of the sun struck 
 
 THE SHUNAMITE'S SON RESTORED.— 2 Kings 4 : 36, 37- 
 
 on his head so that he cried out, "My head, my head!" And his 
 father said, "Carry him to his mother." But she could do him 
 no good ; he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 
 
 She did not stop to weep ; she had her ass saddled, and rode 
 away to seek for the man of God. And by-and-by she met him 
 on the way, and she knelt down before him and held him by his 
 feet. Then he knew how it was, and he bade his servant Gehazi 
 take his staff, and hasten on, and never rest till he had laid it 
 on the child's face. Gehazi did so, but there was no voice nor 
 
190 
 
 ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 
 
 any answer. So he went back and met his master, and said, 
 "The child is not awaked." 
 
 Then Elisha came in, and found the child lying dead on his 
 own bed. Then he stretched himself on the boy, and prayed to 
 God that the soul might come back to the little one. And at last 
 God granted the prayer, and the child's flesh grew warm; and 
 Elisha prayed again, and the child sneezed seven times as 
 his breath came back, and he opened his eyes ! Then the mother 
 was called, and the child was given back to her; and she bowed 
 herself to the ground, and gave thanks to God and His prophet. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was prophet instead of Elijah? 2. What had become of Elijah? 3, 
 Who made a room for Elisha? 4. What did she put in it? 5. What joy did 
 God give to her ? 6. What great grief? 7. What caused the boy's death ? 8. 
 What did his mother do ? 9. What order did Elisha give ? 10. Could Gehazi 
 do anything. 11. What did Elisha do? 12. How did God show His mercy? 
 13. How did the mother thank God ? 
 
TLvQcnt^ninth £unba\\ 
 
 ELISHA'S MIRACLES. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Wash and be clean."— 2 Kings 5 : 13. 
 
 HERE was a poor little girl who was 
 
 stolen away from her own home in 
 
 Israel by Syrian soldiers, and carried 
 
 far from her mother and friends, to be 
 
 a slave. It must have been very sad 
 
 and lonely ; but God lets nothing happen 
 
 but for good, and so this poor little 
 
 captive maid did great good. Her 
 
 master was named Naaman. He was 
 
 the captain of the army — brave and 
 
 strong; but he fell ill of a disease that no doctor 
 
 could cure, and which would go on getting worse 
 
 till he would die of it. 
 
 The little maid was sorry for him ; and though 
 she was all alone in a heathen land, she had not forgotten about 
 God and His prophets, and she told her mistress that at home, in 
 Israel, there was a prophet who could cure her master by God's 
 power. 
 
 So Naaman set out in his chariot, and came to the prophet's 
 door. He thought the prophet would come out, and strike his 
 hand over the place, and cure him directly — all the more because 
 he was such a great man. But, instead of that, the prophet sent 
 out word to him that he was to wash seven times in the River 
 Jordan, and he would be well. 
 
 191 
 
192 ELISITA'S MIRACLES. 
 
 This made Naaman very angry. He thought the bathing 
 in Jordan would do no good, and that the prophet made light of 
 him ; and he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants 
 persuaded him. They said, "My father, if the prophet had bid 
 thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how 
 much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" 
 
 Naaman was wise enough to listen to them. He did go and 
 wash in the River Jordan, as the prophet bade him; and God 
 gave the water the power to make him quite well again. Then 
 he came back and thanked the prophet, and said he would never 
 pray to any god again but to the One true God, who had healed 
 him. 
 
 So you see the little maid did great good to her master, both 
 to his body and his soul, because she was good, and remembered 
 her God, even when she was far away from home. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who is the great captain we hear of to-day? 2. What was the matter with 
 him? 3. Whom did Naaman go to to cure him? 4. From whom did he hear 
 about the prophet ? 5. How came the little maid into Naaman's house ? 6. 
 Who made the prophet able to cure people ? 7. Had Naaman been brought up 
 to worship God? 8. What did he expect the prophet to do to him? 9. What 
 did the prophet tell him to do? 10. Why did he not like this? 11. Who per- 
 suaded him to try? 12. What did they say he would have been ready to do? 
 13. Don't we sometimes wish to do something graud,, rather than just what we 
 are told? 14. But what have we got to do? 15. What came of Naaman doing 
 as he was told? 1G. To whom did Naaman say he should always pray? 
 
ELISHA'S MIRACLES. 193 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "They that be with us are more than they that be with them." — 2 Kings 6: 16. 
 
 HE great enemies of the kings of Israel were the 
 Syrians, who lived at Damascus; but whenever the 
 Syrians made a plan to come and fight with the 
 Israelites, God made it known to the Prophet Elisha ; 
 and he told King Joram, so that the Israelite soldiers 
 were always ready before hand to fight with the 
 Syrians. The king of Syria began to think one of his own men 
 must tell Joram; but they said it was the Prophet Elisha who 
 told the king of Israel what was said in the most secret 
 chamber of the king of Syria. Then the Syrians sent an army of 
 men to take Elisha at Dothan, and kill him. 
 
 They came by night, and when Elisha's servant looked out 
 in the morning, he saw horses and chariots all round the place. 
 He was afraid, and cried out "Alas, my master! how shall we 
 do?" But Elisha said to him, "Fear not: for they that be with 
 us are more than they that be with them." And he prayed that the 
 young man's eyes might be opened that he might see : and so they 
 were — to see the whole mountain round about full of chariots of 
 fire and horses of fire ; many, many more than the Syrians had, 
 and all come to take care of Elisha. 
 
 And God made the Syrians unable to see that Elisha was 
 before them, and he led them all the way to Samaria, and put 
 them before King Joram as his prisoners. Joram wanted to put 
 them to death, but Elisha would not let him, and they were all 
 sent safe home, and did not come back as enemies for a long time. 
 And we know that, though we cannot see them, God's angels are 
 still in great armies encamped all round about those who fear 
 Him, to deliver them. 
 
 13-B.S. 
 
194 ELISHA'S MIRACLES. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who were the enemies of the kings of Israel? 2. Who always told the 
 plans of the Syrians? 3. How did Elisha know? 4. What did the king of 
 Syria want to do? 5. When did his army come? 6. Who was frightened? 7. 
 What did Elisha say? 8. Who were those who were with them? 9. Who are 
 always round about those who fear God? 10. Why, then, need we never be 
 afraid? 11. What happened to these Syrians ? 12. But were they killed? 13. 
 Why not. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "This day is a day of good tidings. — 2 Kings 7: 9. 
 
 F King Joram had been good he would have had no trou- 
 bles ; but he would let his mother Jezebel worship her 
 false gods, so God sent the Syrians against him again. 
 And they came all round Samaria, and shut it in so 
 3jjfc close that nobody could get out; and all the food was 
 eaten up, so that even such food as a donkey's head 
 was so dear that hardly anybody could buy it, and everyone was 
 getting starved. Joram was so angry, that he said at last, in his 
 wickedness, he would cut off Elisha's head the next day. 
 
 But Elisha said quietly that to-morrow there would be 
 quantities of food in the city, so that it would cost almost nothing. 
 One of the king's lords laughed, and said, "If the Lord should 
 make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?" "Thou shalt 
 see it with thine eyes," said Elisha, "but shalt not eat thereof." 
 
 Now, that night the Lord made the Syrians hear a great 
 noise, as if an army was coming up to help the Israelites. And 
 they were so frightened, that they all fled away in the night, and 
 left all their tents standing, and their armor in them, and their 
 stores of food. 
 
 In the early morning, three poor leprous men, who could not 
 get any food in Samaria, crept down to see if the Syrians would 
 give them anything, or they thought if the Syrians should kill 
 them, that would be better than being starved. But when they 
 
ELISHA'S MIRACLES. 
 
 195 
 
 came to the camp there was nobody there — no soldiers, no horses, 
 only tents full of rich dresses, and fine armour, and, best of all, 
 plenty of food. The hungry lepers went and ate, and then they 
 thought they ought to go and tell the people in the town that all 
 the Syrians were gone. 
 
 So the king sent out to see, two men upon lean, starved horses. 
 They found it was all true, and everybody went rushing out to 
 get food. The king sent the lord who had laughed at Elisha, to 
 stand in the gate to keep order; but the people were so very 
 hungry that they did not mind him, and he was knocked down and 
 trodden upon, and trampled to death : and so it came to pass that 
 he saw the plenty, but did not eat of it, because he had mocked at 
 the word of the Lord. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was king of Israel? 2. Who was prophet? 3. What was the chief 
 town in Israel? 4. Who tried to take it? 5. What was the sad distress in 
 Samaria? 6. What had they to eat? 7. Whose fault was it? 8. But whom 
 did Joram want to punish ? 9. What did Elisha promise ? 10. Who laughed at 
 him? 11. What did Elisha say? 12. What happened in the night? 13. 
 What became of the Syrians? 14. Who found it out? 15. What did the lepers 
 see? 16. Whom did they tell? 17. What did all the people do? 18. What 
 became of the man who laughed at Elisha? 19. What is it that makes God 
 angry ? 
 
Thirtieth Sunba^ 
 
 THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE, 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "What hast thou to do with peace." — 2 Kings 9: 18. 
 
 HE Sunday before last you 
 heard how King Ahab was 
 killed in battle, though he had 
 fancied that he could hide 
 from God. His wife, Queen 
 Jezebel, was left; and she had 
 always been worse than he 
 was, and she had brought up 
 her son Joram to be very 
 wicked too. When Joram had 
 reigned as king for twelve 
 years, God told His Prophet 
 Elijah to send a young man to anoint a captain called Jehu to be 
 king instead of Joram. So the young man took some oil, and went 
 to the town where Jehu was, and said, "I have an errand to thee, 
 captain." Then he poured the oil on Jehu's head, and told him 
 that God made him king of Israel. 
 
 The other captains were glad to make Jehu king, and they 
 made him sit on the top of a flight of steps, and blew with their 
 trumpets, and shouted, "Jehu is king." Then they all set out to 
 conquer King Joram. 
 
 Joram had his chariot made ready, and went out in it to 
 meet Jehu; but, as soon as they came in sight of one another 
 
 196 
 
THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE. 
 
 197 
 
 Jehu shot an arrow, and it struck Joram, so that he sank down 
 in his chariot and died. 
 
 Then Jehu went on into the town; and Jezebel thought she 
 would still try to make friends with the people; so, instead of 
 mourning for her son, she painted her face, and put on a head- 
 dress, and looked out at a window. Jehu said, "Who is on my 
 side? who?" And some of the servants looked out. He said, 
 
 JEZEBEL EATEN BY DOGS.— 2 Kings 9: 32, 33. 
 
 "Throw her down." So the servants threw Jezebel out of the 
 window, and her blood sprinkled on Jehu's horses. But he went 
 on, and went into the palace, and was made king, and had a feast. 
 
 Then he sent out, and said that he would have Jezebel buried, 
 for she was a king's daughter. However, when his men went out 
 to look for her, they found that the wild dogs that ran about the 
 streets had eaten up every bit of her, so that there was nothing 
 left of her but her skull and her feet, and the palms of her hands. 
 
 You remember that God's prophet Elijah, had told Ahab 
 that the dogs should eat Jezebel, because she was so cruel. She 
 
198 THE RUIN OF ARAB'S HOUSE. 
 
 worshipped idols, and killed God's prophets, and had poor Naboth 
 put to death that Ahab might have his vineyard. So God pun- 
 ished her. People need not hope that God will not punish what 
 they have done wrong, for He will be quite sure to punish unless 
 they are very sorry, and pray to Him, to pardon them for Jesus 
 Christ's sake. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Ahab? 2. Who was Jezebel ? 3. What wicked things had they 
 done? 4. What had the prophet told them? 5. What had become of Ahab ? 
 6. Who was king after Ahab ? 7. How long was Joram king? 8. Whom did 
 God choose to punish Jezebel and Joram ? 9. Who was sent to tell Jehu ? 10 
 What is anointing? 11. Who did you hear of before who was anointed? 12 
 What did the other captains do to Jehu? 13. Who came out to meet him? 14. 
 What did Jehu do to Joram? 15. What did Jezebel do? 16. What became of 
 Jezebel? 17. What was left of Jezebel? 18. Why did she come to such a 
 shocking end ? 19. What does God do to sinners? 20. Does He always punish 
 them at once? 21. Does he forget? 22. What must be done if we would not 
 be punished ? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." — 2 Kings 10: 28. 
 
 HEN that fierce soldier, Jehu, was made king, the 
 men of Israel cut off the heads of all Ahab's sons 
 and grandsons, and made them up into two heaps at 
 the city gates; and all the people who worshipped 
 Baal were shut up in his temple, and every one of 
 them killed. It is very sad and terrible; but God 
 had commanded that people who prayed to idols should not live, 
 because they taught the rest of the Israelites to be wicked too. 
 When we hear about it, we must recollect that it is a fearful 
 thing to turn away from serving God, and that He is sure to 
 punish those who will not worship Him. 
 
 You are not likely to pray to an idol ; but I hope you do say 
 your prayers night and morning, and mind them as you say them. 
 
THE RUIN OF ARAB'S HOUSE. 199 
 
 Not saying our prayers, and not going to church, is turning 
 away from God; and it would be very sad and ungrateful to do 
 that, for God has done much more for us than He did for the 
 Israelites, and we know more about Him than they did. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who came to punish them? 2. What was done with the heads of the 
 princes? 3. What was done to the worshippers of Baal? 4. Why were they 
 put to death ? 5. What Commandment did these worshippers of Baal break ? 
 6. What is the First Commandment? 7. Whom must we worship? 8. When 
 do we worship Him ? 9. Must we go without saying our prayers? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " The arrow of the Lord's deliverance." — 2 Kings 13: 17. 
 
 LISHA grew to be a very old man, and when at last 
 he fell sick and was near his death, the king of Israel, 
 whose name was Joash, came and kept by his bed-side. 
 Elisha said, "Open the window eastward ;" and 
 he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot ;" and Joash 
 took his bow and shot an arrow. And Elisha said, "The arrow 
 of the Lord's deliverance." Then he said, "Take the arrows; 
 smite upon the ground." 
 
 Joash struck three times on the ground, but he did not go 
 on striking, for he did not think enough of God and His prophet 
 to understand that if he obeyed Elisha God would bless him. 
 So Elisha told him if he had struck many times, he would have 
 had a great many victories over the Syrians, but as he had only 
 struck three times, he would only have three victories. For it is 
 when people begin by obeying in little things that God gives them 
 a great deal. 
 
 Then the great Prophet Elisha died, and was buried; and 
 Joash beat the Syrians three times, but no more, because he had 
 not believed and obeyed. 
 
200 
 
 THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE, 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was dying? 2. Who came to see Elisha? 3. What did Elisha tell 
 Joash to do ? 4. What did he call the arrow ? 5. What did he bid Joash do 
 then? 6. How many times did Joash strike the ground? 7. What ought he to 
 have done? 8. Why did he not? 9. What did Elisha promise him ? 10. Why 
 did not he have more victories? 11. If we want to do great things, how must 
 we do little things ? 
 
 A CITY CAPTURED AND THE INHABITANTS LED AWAY CAPTIVE. 
 
ftbirt^first Sunba^ 
 
 HEZEKIAH AND JOS/AH. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord." — 2 Kings 18 : 3. 
 
 OU have heard of many bad kings. There is a 
 good king to tell you of at last — good King 
 Hezekiah. He cared for nothing so much as 
 to please God. He would not have any idols, 
 but he cleared them all away, and had the 
 holy Temple all set to rights, and made beau- 
 tiful as God had commanded ; and he had all 
 the services at the Temple at the right times, 
 and used to go and pray there himself constantly. And he did all 
 he could to make his people good too. 
 
 But there came a great danger. There was a king of Assyria 
 named Sennacherib, who had quantities of soldiers and horses 
 and chariots, and he used to conquer towns, and carry all the 
 people in them away to live far from home. He thought he would 
 seize Hezekiah and his people in this way, and he did come and 
 do much harm all over the country. 
 
 He did not come at once to Jerusalem; but he sent three 
 boasting men, with an army, to stand outside the walls, and call 
 out to the people inside, that Sennacherib was coming to conquer 
 them and carry them away, and that they need not believe their 
 king Hezekiah when he said that God would help them, for no 
 god had ever yet saved a country from Sennacherib. 
 
 Hezekiah's people were terribly afraid. Some wanted him 
 to get help from the king of Egypt ; but Hezekiah knew that God 
 
 201 
 
202 
 
 HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH. 
 
 had forbidden him to have anything to do with the Egyptians. 
 He knew that God could help him, and that the way to be helped 
 was to do just what God told him. So, though Sennacherib had 
 so many men, and he had so few, and the Egyptians had plenty 
 of soldiers and horses, he made sure that God could save him 
 much better than any Egyptian of them all. 
 
 Next Sunday morning you will hear what happened. 
 
 Y >i>T4«i£ ft «<rig rr 44 tf 44 * 
 
 * f Vv ^^rV^ £HT-- 
 
 RABSACES BEFORE SENNACHERIB. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who is the good king we hear of to-day? 2. What did he clear away ? 3. 
 What Commandment did he keep ? 4. Where did he go and pray ? 5. Who 
 was his enemy? 6. What message did Sennacherib send to the people of Jerusa- 
 lem? 7. Where did the people want Hezekiah to send for help? 8. Why would 
 not Hezekiah send for help from Egypt? 9. To whom did he trust? 
 
t 
 
 HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH. 203 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth : 
 Thou hast made heaven and earth. 7 ' — Isaiah 37 : 16. 
 
 EZEKIAH was king of Jerusalem. He was very good, 
 and always served God and prayed to Him. But a 
 great fierce king named Sennacherib brought an 
 army into his land, and ruined all his towns and 
 villages except Jerusalem, and shut up Hezekiah in 
 his town, so that his people could not dare to come out. 
 
 And Sennacherib wrote a letter to tell Hezekiah that it was 
 no use to hope to escape, he was coming to take away the Jews and 
 ruin Jerusalem; and this wicked man even said that Hezekiah 
 need not think that his God would save him, for no nation had 
 ever yet been saved by its gods, so the God of Hezekiah could 
 not help him. 
 
 HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER. 
 
 In his great distress Hezekiah went up to the Temple, and 
 told God all his trouble. And he said, "Thou art the God, even 
 Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made 
 heaven and earth." He said he knew the gods of those nations 
 could not save them, for they were no gods, only wood and stone ; 
 but he trusted that God would save him and his people, though 
 they were far too weak to defend themselves against this terrible 
 king and his people. 
 
 God heard the good king's prayer, and sent him a promise 
 that his enemy should not even come before Jerusalem, nor shoot 
 one arrow at it. And God kept His word. The fierce soldiers of 
 Sennacherib all lay down to sleep one night, but they never woke 
 up again. God sent His angel, with a deadly blast, and all the 
 army that wanted to destroy His people died in one single night. 
 
 It was because they and their king had fancied God could 
 
204 HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH. 
 
 not save His people, that they died. And it was because Hezekiah 
 prayed to the Lord and tried to be good and holy, that no one 
 could hurt him. Now try to do like Hezekiah. If you are vexed, 
 or if you are afraid, tell God all about it, and ask Him to help 
 you. And He will be quite sure to hear and help you, if you will 
 only speak to Him and tell Him what is in your heart. 
 
 THE ANGEL SLAYING THE ASSYRIANS.— 2 Kings 19: 35- 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Hezekiah? 2. What kind of king was he? 3. Who wanted to 
 hurt him ? 4. What did Sennacherib mean to do ? 5. What had he done to 
 other cities ? 6. What very wicked thing did Sennacherib say ? 7. Where did 
 Hezekiah go in his distress? 8. To whom did he pray? 9. Why did he say 
 the other cities had not been saved by their gods ? 10. What commandment tells 
 us not to have gods of wood and stone? 11. What did Hezekiah ask God to 
 do? 12. What did God promise? 13. And what happened to the soldiers of 
 Sennacherib? 14. Who slew them ? 15. Why were these people slain ? 16. 
 Why was Hezekiah safe? 17. What did he do that he might be saved? 18. 
 How can you do like Hezekiah? 19. What may you tell God about? 20. 
 What will He be sure to hear ? 21. Wnd if you pray to Him, what will He do 
 for you ? 
 
HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH. 205 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 a Like unto him wits there do king before him, that turned to the Lord with 
 all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might." — 2 K'ukj* 23 : 25. 
 
 HERE is one more good king to tell you about, whose 
 name was Josiah. He was great-grandson to good 
 King Hezekiah. The two kings who had come 
 between Josiah's grandfather and father, had both 
 been very bad men. His grandfather repented when 
 he fell into trouble, and God forgave him; but his 
 father never repented, and died in his wickedness when Josiah 
 was only eight years old. But Josiah was very different. He 
 made his people break down their idols, and clear out the Temple 
 of the unholy things they had brought in, and worship God rightly 
 once more. 
 
 THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES. 
 
 While they were cleaning out the Temple, they found a book 
 that nobody knew — the Book of the Law of Moses — that is, the 
 first five books in the Bible. All the time of these two bad kings 
 nobody had minded it, or read it; it had been lost, and everyone 
 had forgotten all about it. 
 
 When Josiah knew what it was, and that it was the Law 
 that God had spoken to Moses, he made the priests read it to 
 him and all his people. They were very much frightened when 
 they heard it ; for they found they were doing all the very things 
 that God had said He would punish them for, and turn them out 
 of their good land. 
 
 So Josiah sent to a holy prophetess to ask her whether, if 
 they left off their sins, and were very sorry, and prayed with 
 all their might, God would still forgive them. But God told 
 her to answer that the people had done so wrong, and grown so 
 wicked, that now their punishment must come; but that, as 
 
206 
 
 HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH. 
 
 Josiah's heart was tender, and he loved God, it should not happen 
 in his time, and that he should be quietly buried with his fathers. 
 And, after years of goodness, Josiah was killed in a battle, and 
 all his people mourned over him. 
 
 But they had not been really good, they only pretended, just 
 to please him, and went back to their wicked ways, in spite of all 
 
 THE BOOK OF THE LAW FOUND.— 2 Kings 22 : io, 11. 
 
 the pains he had taken with them ; and his own sons were as bad 
 as the rest. So the punishment was obliged to come. 
 
 What I wish you to mind to-day is how these people lost 
 their Book of the Law for want of attending to it. If you have 
 not got a Bible of your own, I dare say you soon will have one. 
 And then, pray, do not do like these people of Israel. Do not 
 let it lie by till you forget to look at it, and forget what is in it, 
 and then forget even where it is. If you do, you will grow as 
 bad as these people were, and God will be forced to punish you 
 as He was forced to punish them. 
 
HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH. 
 
 207 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Josiah ? 2. How many kings were there between him and Heze- 
 kiah ? 3. What sort of kings were they? 4. What kind of person was Josiah? 
 5. How old was he when he began to reign? 6. What did he have cleaned out? 
 7. What did they find there? 8. Who gave the Law? 9. What was to hap- 
 pen if it was not kept? 10. How had it been lost? 11. What did Josiah cause 
 the priests to do? 12. Why was he frightened? 13. What did he ask? 15. 
 But why did the people deserve to be punished? 16. What did they do as soon 
 as Josiah was dead ? 17. What came of forgetting their Bibles ? 18. Ought we 
 to forget our Bibles? 19. If we never read them, can we be good? 20. And 
 if we are not good, what must be done to us ? 
 
 AN ASSYRIAN KING. 
 
ftbirt^-seconb Sunba^ 
 
 JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY, 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " I speak unto thee in thy prosperity ; but thou saidst, I will not hear."- 
 Jer. 22: 21. 
 
 OSIAIi was the last good king. In his 
 time God called Jeremiah, when he was 
 only a young boy about twelve years old, 
 to be His prophet ; and all the time Josiah 
 reigned Jeremiah was teaching the 
 people God's will, while Josiah was 
 doing all he could to help them to do right and serve the Lord. 
 But the Jews did not heed either the king or the prophet — 
 they only longed after their idols. Even Josiah's own sons would 
 not be good, after they had been brought up by such a holy father; 
 but no sooner was he killed in battle, than they went back to all 
 the bad ways that he had put an end to. 
 
 The eldest son, Jehoahaz, only reigned three months. Then 
 God let the king of Egypt take him away ; and the Prophet Jere- 
 miah says that it was far sadder for him to go away a captive, 
 and never see his home again, than for good Josiah to be in his 
 grave, loved and wept for by all. For though God had let Josiah 
 die so early, it was in mercy. The people had grown so wicked 
 that they must be punished, and so he was taken away from the 
 evil to come. His next son was king after his brother Jehoahaz. 
 The next brother was king instead. His name was Jehoia- 
 kim. One would have hoped he would have taken warning by his 
 
 208 
 
JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY. 209 
 
 brother's troubles, and served God better. But no! He did not 
 care to attend to poor people. He thought he should be safe in a 
 fine house. He sent for large stones, and had great beams of 
 cedar tree for the roofs, and painted the walls of his great rooms 
 with scarlet. But he paid no wages to his workmen, and was 
 cruel to everybody, and had innocent people killed if they made 
 him angry with them. 
 
 JERUSALEM BESIEGED AND PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE.— 2 Kings 25 : 11. 
 
 Only there was one man who was not afraid of this King 
 Jehoiakim. It was God's prophet Jeremiah. He told the king 
 how little good his fine house would do ; and what was more, he said 
 that when he died nobody would be sorry for him. They had 
 wept for his father with a great weeping and many tears; but 
 when the cruel Jehoiakim died nobody would lament. Nobody 
 would say, "Ah, lord!" or, "Ah, his glory !" but they would care 
 for him no more than if he was an ass who was being buried. 
 
 14-B.S. 
 
210 
 
 JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the good king you heard of last Sunday evening? 2. What kind 
 of sons had he? 3. What became of the first? 4. What was he never to do? 
 5. What was the name of the second? 6. What did Jehoiakim want to build? 
 7. What were the walls of? 8. How was it roofed? 9. How was it painted? 
 10. But what did he not pay ? 11. How did he treat the people? 12. Who 
 could have made him quite safe? 13. But how must he have lived if he wanted 
 God to take care of him? 14. If God did not take care of him, would his fine 
 house do him any good? 15. Who told him it would do him no good? 16. 
 What had everyone done when Josiah died? 17. Why did they weep for Josiah? 
 18. But would they care when Jehoiakim died? 19. Why would nobody care 
 for Jehoiakim? 
 
 Note— The two other Lectlonary Lessons for this day are from Nehemlah. If It be desired to 
 read the "story" on them, it is to be found on the 89th Sunday, but It was omitted here to preveut 
 chronological confusion. 
 
 ASHTORETH. 
 
Ubirt^-tbtrb 5unba\\ 
 
 JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " He reserveth to us the appointed weeks of the harvest." — Jer. 5 : 
 
 HE chapter to-day is one where God is 
 putting us in mind, by His Prophet 
 Jeremiah, whom he sent to speak to the 
 wicked kings, that we ought to remem- 
 ber Him and be thankful to Him. Two 
 of His great mercies are spoken of here. 
 If you go and stand on the sea- 
 shore, you see the great wide sea of 
 waters heaving and moving all over. 
 Then a long wave comes rising up; it 
 runs on and on, and rises high, falls over in white 
 foam, and breaks on the sand with a rush. Then 
 another rolling wave comes after it, and another, 
 and another, each a little higher than the last. They 
 hide the ground ; and if you stood still at the edge of the first, they 
 would soon carry you off. Stone is hidden after stone, rock after 
 rock, and you would think all the land would get covered at last. 
 No, there is no fear of that. 
 
 In six hours' time, the waves leave off coming farther and 
 farther; but each leaves a little bit more ground uncovered, till 
 they have gone quite back to where they were before, and the 
 beach lies fresh and shining in the wet. People call this the tide, 
 and know it always does so ; it comes up and goes back at its set 
 times, because God fixed a line for that fierce sea, and said to it, 
 "Hitherto shalt thou go, and no farther; and here shall thy proud 
 
 211 
 
212 JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES. 
 
 waves be stayed." And if the waves dash and roar ever so loud, 
 still they never can get beyond the bound God fixed for them. 
 
 There is the wonder of the sea ! Now look at the wonder of 
 the land. All over the country, the corn stands up tall and brown ; 
 or else it has been cut, and is piled up in shocks; or the wagons 
 are carrying it safe home! Perhaps you have been gleaning in 
 the fields, and have brought home your lap full of corn. 
 
 THE LORD COMMANDS JEREMIAH.— Jer. 2: 16, 17. 
 
 How did we get the corn that is to make us bread? It was 
 because, when the farmer sowed his grain, God sent rain to make 
 it grow, and caused the sun to shine, so as to draw up the stalk, 
 and swell the grain in the ear; and now He hath "reserved to us 
 the appointed weeks of the harvest." He has given us the glad 
 harvest-time to store up our wheat, to make bread for all the 
 year. Let us thank Him, and never forget who gives us bread, 
 nor to say our prayer for daily bread. 
 
JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES. 213 
 
 QUESTIONS 
 1. What do the waves of the sea do every day? 2. What do people call the 
 coming up of the sea? 3. Need we fear its coming too far? 4. Why cannot 
 the waves come too far? 5. What did God say to the sea? 6. Who made the 
 sea ? 7. Can you tell me a verse you say or sing at church about the sea being 
 His? 8. What is it that God gives us every day to eat? 9. What is bread 
 made of ? 10. Where does corn grow? 11. Who makes the corn grow? 12. 
 What does God send to make the corn grow ? 13. What do we call the gather- 
 ing in of our corn? 14. Who takes care we shall have a harvest? 15. How 
 should we ask God for our food ? 16. How should we thank Him for our food? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "Yet they were not afraid." — Jer. 36: &£. 
 
 OU heard what a bad, cruel king Jehoiakim was. Still 
 
 there was a hope that he and his people would take 
 
 warning, when he heard that God would punish his 
 
 sin; so Jeremiah the Prophet had all his prophecies 
 
 written out on a roll of parchment, and his friend 
 
 Baruch went to the Temple, and read to the people that if they 
 
 would not worship God and serve Him faithfully, He would 
 
 cause them all to be taken away prisoners to a strange land. 
 
 Baruch stood reading the parchment; and the people listened 
 to him, and some of them began to grow afraid. But then came 
 some of the king's great people, and when they heard it they 
 thought it would make the king angry. They forgot that God's 
 anger signified much more than the king's anger. They did 
 not want Jeremiah or Baruch to be punished, but they were afraid 
 to let the reading go on. So they told Baruch to go away and 
 hide himself and Jeremiah carefully, and then they took the 
 prophecies to shew them to the king. 
 
 The king was sitting by the fire warming himself, for it 
 was in the winter. He listened for a little while; but when he 
 found that the parchment was about his sins and God's anger, 
 
214 JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES. 
 
 he took out a knife and cut the whole into bits, and burnt it in 
 the fire. Was he so foolish as to think that burning the prophecy 
 would prevent it from coming to pass? If so, he made a great 
 mistake; for God desired Jeremiah to have it all written over 
 again, and more too; for the punishment was to be worse now 
 than it would have been before — much worse than if Jehoiakim 
 had listened, and left off his bad ways, and prayed to God. 
 
 TWO PAGES OF AN ANCIENT SCROLL OF SCRIPTURES. 
 
 In a very short time the enemy all came round Jerusalem, 
 and everyone was shut up in the city, and could not get out, and 
 food was very scarce; and Jehoiakim was taken and put in chains; 
 and thus he died, and nobody grieved for him. His young son, 
 Jehoiachin, was called king for a little while, but only for a very 
 little while; for the king of Babylon broke into the city, and 
 made him prisoner, and took him away to be shut up far from 
 
JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES. 215 
 
 home. And as to the dead body of Jehoiakim himself, nobody had 
 
 time to give him a burial ; so it was thrown out at the gates as 
 
 if he had been a dead ass instead of a king of Judah. 
 
 So you see God's words through Jeremiah all came true, 
 
 though Jehoiakim would not heed them. He only made it worse 
 
 by not listening. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the king? 2. Who was the prophet? 3. What had Jeremiah 
 said about Jehoiakim ? 4. Where did God tell him to have it written? 5. Who 
 was to read it? 6. To whom did Baruch read? 7. Where did the great people 
 take the roll of parchment? 8. What did the king do to it? 9. Whose words 
 did he throw away? 10. Why would not he listen? 11. Did he hinder the 
 harm from coming? 12. What happened to him? 13. How was he buried ? 
 14. How should he have tried to prevent the harm from coming? 15. How 
 should you behave if you have fault found with you ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father 
 in all that he hath charged us." — Jer. 35 : 8. 
 
 OD is pleased with those who obey what their parents 
 tell them. To-day we hear about a family, whose 
 father gave them an order that sounds strange to 
 us. They were never to live in stone or brick houses, 
 but always to have tents ; they were not to have corn- 
 fields or vineyards, but only flocks of sheep, and 
 herds of cows and goats; and they were never to taste wine or 
 strong drink, but only water and milk. It was quite a long time 
 after the old father, who gave these orders, had died, that the 
 Prophet Jeremiah was told to try whether they still minded him. 
 He was told to set pots of wine and cups before them, and to ask 
 them to drink. But they all answered steadily, that their father 
 had bidden them never to touch wine, nor have fields, nor build 
 houses ; and they were resolved that they would obey him. Then 
 God was pleased with them, and gave a blessing to them by the 
 
216 JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES. 
 
 mouth of His prophet. He said that there should never be an end 
 to their tribe, because they were so obedient. And so it has been. 
 
 These Rechabites, as they are called, lived two thousand four 
 hundred years ago ; and their children and descendants have gone 
 on like them ever since — living in tents, keeping sheep, and drink- 
 ing no wine, and obeying the voice of their father, who lived so 
 long ago. They have lasted so long, because God blessed their 
 obedience. 
 
 Now, sometimes a little child goes out alone, and some friend 
 offers it something nice that it knows its mother would not like 
 it to have. Or some person asks a little boy to come into a beer- 
 shop, and drink a drop, when perhaps his father had told him not. 
 Recollect, then, that if you are steady in minding what you are 
 told, as those good Rechabites were, then God will be pleased 
 with you, and own you for His good child, and give you His 
 
 blessing. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. Who are the people we hear of to- 
 day who honored their father? 3. Who was their father ? 4. What had he told 
 them? 5. Where were they to live? 6. What were they not to drink? 7. 
 Who tried if they would obey? 8. What did Jeremiah offer the Rechabites? 
 9. What did they answer ? 10. What blessing did God give them? 11. How 
 have they gone on ever since? 12. Why was God pleased with them? 13. 
 What can you do to please God ? 1 4. If you are out of sight of your father and 
 mother, what must you still do? 15. If any of you are asked to do what your 
 mother would not like, how must you behave? 16. Who is pleased if you are 
 obedient? 
 
 ASSYRIAN ARMLET. 
 
JLbixt^fomth 5unba& 
 
 THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 w 
 
 — ^--^gg 
 
 " Behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God." — Ezehiel 13 : 8. 
 
 HEN King Jehoiakim was dead, and 
 his son Jehoiachin carried away to 
 Babylon, another king began to reign, 
 named Zedekiah. He was Jehoiachin's 
 uncle ; he was Jehoiakim's brother ; and he 
 was son to good Josiah. The king of 
 Babylon said that Zedekiah should reign 
 as long as he would be obedient to him, and 
 pay some money every year, so as to show 
 that he owned the king of Babylon for his 
 master. And God spake through His prophet Jeremiah, and said 
 that if Zedekiah would obey the king of Babylon, the people should 
 be left in peace, only they must be patient under their punishment. 
 But Zedekiah was more like his bad brother than his good 
 father. He listened to people who pretended to be prophets, 
 though God had never spoken by them. They told him to set 
 up for himself against the king of Babylon, and that all the 
 beautiful things that had been taken out of the Temple should 
 come back again. 
 
 And when Jeremiah told them that it would not be so, and 
 that if they rebelled against the Babylonians it would be worse 
 for them, and the king would be put to death, they were so 
 wicked as to let the holy prophet down into a pit, with mud and 
 
 217 
 
218 THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 mire at the bottom ; and there he lay sunk in the mire, and with 
 no food to eat, nor water to drink. 
 
 At last a black man, one of the king's slaves, came and told 
 the king that the prophet would soon be dead if he stayed there. 
 Then Zedekiah was shocked, and he told the black to get Jeremiah 
 safe out of the pit. So they threw him down soft rags, and told 
 him to put them under his arms, that the ropes might not hurt 
 him when they drew him up. 
 
 So Jeremiah came out of the horrible pit, and had some 
 food; and the king sent to see him in secret. Then he told the 
 king that it was God's will that he should bear to be under the 
 Babylonian power, and that he must not make war; for that if 
 he did, he would come to great misery, and die blind and a 
 prisoner. 
 
 Zedekiah was not angry, as his brother had been, but all he 
 had to say for himself was that he was afraid of his people. 
 He was more afraid of them than of God, and he would not do 
 what he knew to be right. So he told the black man to keep 
 Jeremiah safe, and take care he had food every day; but he 
 begged Jeremiah not to say one word to these wicked men about 
 the conversation they had had together. 
 
 Was it not a foolish thing to be so afraid of men, when God 
 could have taken care of him? He would have been quite safe 
 if he had only been bold enough to do as God told him ! Mind, 
 that if ever idle children should want you to be as naughty as 
 they are, and tease you till you feel afraid to stand out against 
 them, the only way to be safe is to do as God tells you. Zedekiah, 
 who was afraid to do right, was quite as much punished as 
 Jehoiakim, who was bold to do wrong. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who was the king after Jehoiakim? 2. What did the king of Babylon 
 promise ? 3. What did God say ? 4. By whom did God speak ? 5. To whom 
 
THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM. 219 
 
 did Zedekiah listen instead ? 6. What did he do to Jeremiah ? 7. What kind 
 of place was the pit? 8. Who had pity on Jeremiah ? 9. How was Jeremiah 
 taken out of the pit? 10. What did he tell the king? 11. Why did not Zedekiah 
 mind him? 12. Why was it very foolish of Zedekiah to be afraid of the people? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " There was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe." — Ezekiel 2\ 10. 
 
 HIS is a sad text ; but when people are wicked, sadness 
 must always follow. 
 
 You heard how kind God had been to the Israel- 
 ites, and how much He had done for them; how He 
 gave them their beautiful land, and their city of Jeru- 
 salem, and blessed them whenever they were good. 
 And if they sinned, He sent punishment, that they might learn 
 to do better; and when they were sorry He forgave them, and 
 made them happy again. But they would not keep to what He 
 told them ; they would worship idols, and grow worse and worse, 
 till at last God said that there could be only "lamentation, and 
 mourning, and woe," for the trouble they had brought on 
 themselves. 
 
 God sent a great army under the king of Babylon, and 
 Jerusalem was given up to them. The fierce soldiers came in, 
 and burnt the houses, and robbed the Temple ; and as to the young 
 king, Jehoiachin, they took him and his mother, and all his chief 
 lords and priests, and carried them away to Babylon, where he 
 was a long time in prison. 
 
 The chapter to-day was written by a holy prophet, whose 
 name was Ezekiel, and who was taken away to Babylon at the 
 same time as the young king. God came and spoke to Ezekiel, 
 that he might go on warning the people, that if they did not 
 repent now that they were punished, He would be obliged to go 
 on punishing them still. 
 
 Think about that. You know if you have done wrong and 
 
220 THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 been punished, it is that you may mind another time, and not 
 
 do the same over again. If you are obstinate or careless, and 
 
 go back to the old fault, then you will have to suffer more and 
 
 more; and there can be nothing but "lamentation and mourning 
 
 and woe." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who is the prophet whose chapter is read to-day? 2. Where did Ezekiel 
 live ? 3. Who took him to Babylon ? 4. Who was taken there at the same 
 time? 5. How old was king Jehoiachin? 6. What was his home? 7. Why 
 were he and his people taken away from Jerusalem ? 8. What had been their 
 sin? 9. How had God tried to make them better? 10. Had they attended? 
 11. What must come of sin? 12. What is the use of being punished? 13. 
 What will happen if we do not leave off the fault when we are punished ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "And ye shall be comforted." — Ezekiel 14,: 22. 
 
 HE prophet Ezekiel had many sad things to tell the 
 Jews; but he had some comfortable ones. They had 
 been very wicked, and God took them away from 
 their dear home at Jerusalem, and let it be burnt 
 with fire ; and put them to live far away in a strange 
 land at Babylon. But He told them that if they 
 would leave off their sins, and turn back to Him, and not worship 
 idols any more, then He would forgive them, and bring them 
 home again. 
 
 To-day the Lesson says that they must really be sorry in 
 earnest, not only pretend to be sorry. If they said they would 
 worship God, and were caring for their idols in their hearts 
 all the time, then He must go on being angry, and punishing 
 them; but if they were really sorry, and really prayed to Him, 
 then when they had been punished enough, they should be 
 comforted. 
 
 They should not always stay in Babylon, in the dull flat 
 land, with the streams of water flowing lazily through it; but 
 
 fcL 
 
THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 521 
 
 they should see their own dear hills and fields again, and live 
 
 in their homes once more. That would be such gladness, that 
 
 it would make up for all the sorrow. All that was wanted was, 
 
 that they should be really sorry, and leave off all the bad things 
 
 they had done, and repent from the bottom of their hearts. 
 
 Now when we have done wrong, and are punished, it is to 
 
 make us sorry, that we may do so no more. Little children are 
 
 punished by their friends ; grown-up people are punished by God 
 
 sending troubles. Then we must be sorry, not only for the 
 
 punishment, but the fault, and really try with all our hearts not 
 
 to do it again. If we only say we are sorry, and then run back 
 
 to our old ways, something worse will come of it. No, we must 
 
 be sorry in earnest, and then God will forgive us, for His dear 
 
 Son Jesus Christ's sake. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was happening to Jerusalem ? 2. What was done to the houses? 3. 
 What was done to the people? 4. Where had they to live? 5. Where did they 
 wish to be? 6. Why were they taken to Babylon ? 7. What wicked thing had 
 they done ? 8. But what hope had they ? 9. What must they do to be forgiven ? 
 10. Where should they go back again to? 11. Why are people punished? 12. 
 What is the way to be forgiven? 13. How are children punished? 14. How 
 are grown-up people punished? 15. What should we do if we are punished? 
 16. Will it do to go back to the fault? 
 
Zhivtv-fifth Sunba^ 
 
 THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. , 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions." — Ezelciel 18 : 30. 
 
 ERY sad things were going on among 
 the Jews. A great many of them were 
 carried away out of their beautiful 
 hilly land of Canaan, to live among the 
 flat wet marshes round Babylon, and 
 only a few were left with their king 
 Zedekiah at Jerusalem. 
 
 Jeremiah was speaking God's 
 
 words to the people of Jerusalem; 
 
 Ezekiel was speaking God's words to 
 
 the people who were captives by the 
 
 river side. They both said the same thing — that 
 
 the only way to be peaceful, and not to suffer worse 
 
 and worse, would be to repent and leave off their 
 
 sins that had displeased God, and pray to Him to 
 
 spare them, and then to bear patiently the punishment that had 
 
 begun. But this was just what Zedekiah and his people would 
 
 not do. 
 
 They misused Jeremiah for giving them such advice, and 
 they would not own the king of Babylon for their master; and 
 instead of believing God's true prophets, they listened to the false 
 ones, who said, that in a very little while the captives would come 
 back again, and all would be well. 
 
 222 
 
 U* 
 
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. 223 
 
 Then Ezekiel took a tile, a great flat piece of pottery, and 
 he drew on it the walls and towers of the city of Jerusalem, and 
 made little tents and banks round it, and he lay down by it on 
 his side, and watched it. And he weighed out for himself a very 
 little bad bread to eat. 
 
 Then, when the people came to ask him why he did this, 
 he said that it was to show them how it would be with their own 
 Jerusalem far away. The Babylonians would come round it, and 
 set up their tents, and make banks of earth to keep the people 
 in, and shoot stones and arrows, and climb the walls. Inside 
 there would be no better food than Ezekiel was eating — no, nor 
 so good — and everyone would be starving, and dying of thirst. 
 
 Then the enemy would break in, and carry all the chief of 
 them away to Babylon, and keep them prisoners there — till the 
 whole people had come to repent of their sins, and had turned 
 to the Lord with all their hearts. 
 
 For God has no pleasure in man's being punished. He only 
 punishes that we may turn away from our sin and do right, and 
 be saved at last. If only these Jews would have listened to Ezekiel 
 and Jeremiah, and repented, they would have been spared; but 
 instead of that, they went on growing worse and worse, till they 
 had to have seventy long years of punishment before they could 
 be forgiven. 
 
 We must take care when we are punished that we are sorry, 
 and not obstinate and hard, or we shall have to be punished more 
 and more. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who were the two prophets? 2. Where did Jeremiah prophesy? 3. Where 
 did Ezekiel prophesy ? 4. What did they both tell the people ? 5. Would the 
 people mind them? 6. What did King Jehoiakim do to Jeremiah's prophecies? 
 7. What did King Zedekiah do to Jeremiah? 8. What did Ezekiel take? 9. 
 What did he draw on the tile? 10. What did he put round the tile? 11. 
 Where did he lie? 12. What did he eat? 13. What was the tile to stand for? 
 14. Who were coming round Jerusalem? 15. What would they set up? 
 
224 
 
 THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 of weeds 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Woe to the bloody city." — Ezehiel 2£ : 6. 
 
 Jerusalem had been taken, and pulled down, and burnt ; 
 ^ and King Zedekiah was dead, and all his sons, and 
 most of the great people had been carried away to 
 Babylon. Only the poorer people were left, that they 
 might plough and sow, and gather the corn and the 
 grapes, and keep the land from getting waste and full 
 The Prophet Jeremiah was left among them. There 1 
 
 JEREMIAH MOURNING OVER JERUSALEM.-Lam. ofjer. i : 1,2. 
 
 is one book in the Bible called the Book of Lamentation, for it is 
 the sad verses that he made to mourn over the beautiful city and 
 the glorious Temple, all burnt with fire because the people had 
 been so sinful. 
 
 Still Jeremiah told the people that were left, that if they 
 would be patient and obey the king of Babylon, that after the 
 seventy years of punishment the troubles should be over, and 
 
 , 
 
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. 225 
 
 their friends should come back, and the Temple be built up again. 
 But still, after all that had happened, these wilful Jews would 
 have their own way. They said they were afraid of the king of 
 Babylon there, and must go to Egypt to be safe; just as if they 
 were not safer where God told them to stay, than they could be 
 anywhere else. So off they went, and they carried Jeremiah by 
 force with them, whether he would or no. 
 
 But almost as soon as Jeremiah came there, God told him 
 to take some great stones ancT put them into the clay of the brick 
 kiln near Pharaoh's house, and say that upon those very stones 
 the king of Babylon himself would set up his tent in a few 
 years' time. 
 
 And so it was. The Babylonians raised a great army, and 
 came marching into Egypt, and there they burnt and destroyed, 
 and killed and made slaves of the people they found there. Then 
 these foolish Jews saw that if they had only stayed quietly at 
 home the king of Babylon would have done them no harm. But 
 now they had run away just where he was coming, and would 
 hurt them most. That came of not trusting God's Word, but 
 trying to run away from Him ; for truly nothing is so foolish as 
 to try to hide from God. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What had been done to Jerusalem? 2. Where were all the chief people 
 gone? 3. Who was left? 4. Where did Jeremiah stay? 5. What sad book did 
 Jeremiah write? 6. Why was he sorry? 7. What did he tell the Jews that 
 were left? 8. Where did they want to go? 9. Why was it wrong to go to 
 Egypt? 10. Why did they choose to go to Egypt? 11. What did God tell 
 Jeremiah? 12. Where was the king of Babylon to set his throne? 13. Where 
 would they have been safest? 14. Why. 
 
 15-B.S. 
 
226 THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "I will cause you to pass under the rod." — Ezekiel 20 : 37, 
 
 QD told His prophet Ezekiel to put the Israelites in 
 mind of all that He had done for them, and how 
 ungrateful they had been — always worshipping 
 idols, and turning away from Him, though He had 
 brought them out of the land of Egypt, and led them 
 through the wilderness, and given them the beautiful 
 land of Canaan. But they would not serve Him there, so punish- 
 ment had come. 
 
 SOME ISRAELITES WERE CAPTIVES. 
 
 Some of the Israelites were captives already in the land of 
 the king of Babylon. Ezekiel was one of them; and just four 
 years after he spoke this prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of 
 Babylon, came up against Jerusalem, and took it once more, and 
 made King Zedekiah prisoner as he was trying to flee away. 
 Zedekiah's sons were put to death before his eyes; and after 
 that his eyes were put out, and he was carried in chains to 
 Babylon, and there slain. 
 
 Beautiful Jerusalem was set on fire, the walls were thrown 
 down, and all the gold and silver in the Temple was carried off 
 to Babylon; and the Jews themselves were made to go there too, 
 and live as prisoners there. 
 
 This was the way God punished them to make them sorry 
 for their sins; and still He gave them hope that when seventy 
 years were over, they should come back, and build up their city ; 
 and after that they would always remember their old fault, and 
 never turn to worship false gods again. So God was merciful 
 even in His anger, and sent their sorrow to make them know Him 
 and serve Him better. 
 
 . 
 
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. 227 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where had God led the Israelites from. 2. What beautiful place had He 
 given them? 3. What were they to do for Him? 4. Did they serve Him? 5. 
 What did they worship? 6. How did He punish them? 7. What young king 
 had they lost "already ? 8. Who was the king that came up against Jerusalem ? 
 9. What did Nebuchadnezzar do to Jerusalem? 10. Who was the king Nebu- 
 chadnezzar took ? 11. What was done to king Zedekiah? 12. What was done 
 to the city? 13. What was done to the people? 14. Were they ever to come back 
 again? 15. How soon were they to come back? 16. What did they learn by 
 their troubles ? 
 
 THE BREASTPLATE. 
 
Zhivt^Qixth Sunba^ 
 
 THE JEWS AT BABYLON. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we re- 
 membered Zion." — Psalm 137 : 1. 
 
 W 
 
 HEN the Jews came to Babylon, 
 some were made to live in the city, 
 where they worked at trades, and kept 
 shops. Others lived in the country and 
 worked in the fields. These were not 
 like the fields at home. The goodly land 
 at home was full of hills and valleys, 
 with sloping pastures for the flocks, and 
 vineyards on the sides of the hills ; but the 
 land round Babylon was quite flat, with 
 broad rivers flowing slowly and lazily 
 through the meadows, with weeping 
 willows upon their banks. 
 
 While Jerusalem was being besieged, 
 Ezekiel, at Babylon, drew the picture of the town on a tile, and 
 shut it in with a wall, and lay watching it, and weighing out a 
 little bit of bad bread for himself to eat every day, that the other 
 Jews who were with him might know what was going on among 
 their brethren at Jerusalem, as God' told him. 
 
 And in a vision he saw the angels come and mark in their 
 foreheads all that were good, that they might not be hurt in the 
 siege ; while the bad would die by sword, and hunger, and sickness. 
 So it is still, God saves His own good ones. The angels know and 
 mark them, when all the rest are given up to God's terrible anger. 
 
 228 
 
THE JEWS AT BABYLON. 
 
 229 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What sort of place was Babylon? 2. Was it like the land of Israel? 3. 
 Who was the prophet there? 4. What did he do while the siege of Jerusalem 
 was going on? 5. Where did he draw it? 6. What did he eat? 7. Who were 
 eating bread like that? 8. Who saw him? 9. What did he see an angel doing? 
 10. Who were marked? 11. What became of those who were marked? 12. 
 What became of those who had no mark? 13. Who will always be safe? 14. 
 How are you marked ? 
 
 EZEKIEL'S VISION.— Ezekiel i : 28. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Son of man, can these bones live ? " — Ezekiel 37 : 3. 
 
 HE great prophet Ezekiel was shewn by God how the 
 Jews should be brought back after all their troubles. 
 The Lord made him have a sort of dream, when he 
 saw a whole valley spread over with dry bones, and 
 the Lord said, "Son of man, can these bones live?" 
 And Ezekiel said, "Lord, Thou knowest." 
 Then the Lord bade Ezekiel sing; and as he sung there was 
 a shaking, and the bones came together again and joined in their 
 
230 THE JEWS AT BABYLON. 
 
 right places; and as he sung on, the flesh came back on them; 
 and then the Lord bade him call to the winds of heaven, and 
 they came and filled them with breath again, and they rose up 
 and lived. 
 
 Just so God said the kingdom of Judah was dead and 
 scattered, but He would breathe on it, and wake it, and join it 
 together again, like the dead bones rising to life. 
 
 And just so, we know, when all our bodies are dead, and our 
 bones lie in the grave, the call of the Lord's voice will wake them 
 up, and we shall rise on our feet, and His breath will come to 
 us, and we shall stand before Him an exceeding great army. 
 For that is the resurrection of the body which we look for. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was the prophet? 2. What had happened to the kingdom of Judah ? 
 3. Who had conquered it? 4. Why had Nebuchadnezzar conquered it? 5. 
 5. What did God shew Ezekiel? 6. How did the bones look? 7. Wliat did 
 God bid Ezekiel do ? 8. What happened? 9. What came back to the bones? 
 10. What was dry and dead like the bones? 11. But what did God promise to 
 do? 12. When did the Jewish people come to life? 13. What will become of 
 us by-and-by? 14. What will be done with our bodies? 15. When will they 
 wake? 16. What will wake them? 17. What will be joined together? 18. 
 Will they die any more? 19. For what do we believe in ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " God gave them knowledge and skill." — Daniel 1 : 17. 
 
 MONG the Jews who were carried away to Babylon 
 there were some little boys, young princes of the king's 
 family, who had been brought up in the palace of the 
 house of David. They could not have been more than 
 twelve years old when they were thus taken from 
 their homes. 
 
 The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, thought he should 
 like to have them to wait on him. So he desired the steward 
 
THE JEWS AT BABYLON. 231 
 
 of his place to have them taken into his care, to be taught both 
 to wait on the king, and to know all the learning of Babylon. 
 
 Slaves instead of princes. That was sad enough, but what 
 grieved these boys most of all was that the dinners that were 
 sent to them all came from the king's own table, and they knew 
 that all the meat there came from creatures that had been offered 
 up to idols. 
 
 Now there was one boy, whose name was Daniel, who knew 
 that it was very wrong for any Jew to eat meats that had been 
 offered to idols. Some of the boys said they did not care, and 
 some said they were very sorry, but they could not help it. Yes, 
 Daniel said, they could help it if they would leave off eating meat 
 and drinking wine, and only have beans and water. 
 
 LOYAL TO DANIEL. 
 
 Then three more of the boys said they would stand by 
 Daniel, and have only the beans and water rather than break 
 God's holy Law. Their proper names were Hananiah, Azariah, 
 and Mishael, but the king had changed all the boys' names, and 
 he called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 
 
 So Daniel asked their master, Melzar, to give them none of 
 the rich wine and fine dainties, but only water and pulse — that 
 is, beans. 
 
 But Melzar said they would grow thin and weak on such 
 poor food, and then the king would be angry with him. 
 
 "Only try us for just ten days," Daniel said. 
 
 And God so blessed the food, that at the end of ten days, 
 Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were fairer and fatter 
 than all their cousins and friends who had been eating the 
 king's dainties. 
 
 And Melzar had found that none were so true and honest 
 and obedient and painstaking, so he trusted them very much; 
 
232 
 
 THE JEWS AT BABYLON. 
 
 and they grew wise and learned, and still loved and feared their 
 
 God, though they were slaves so far away from home. 
 
 Now remember how they began. It was by giving up the 
 
 things they liked when they found it was wrong to have them. 
 
 When you are tempted to be greedy, would it not be a good thing 
 
 to recollect Daniel and the other boys eating beans and drinking 
 
 water? 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who were the boys carried to Babylon? 2. What were their proper names? 
 3. What did the king call them. ? 4. What was the name of the king of Baby- 
 lon? 5. How did he desire these boys to be brought up? 6. What had they 
 been at home? 7. What were they to eat? 8. Why did they not like to eat 
 these meats? 9. What did Daniel beg for? 10. Who joined with him? 11. 
 Who was their master? 12. What did Melzar say? 13. How long was it to be 
 tried? 14. How did Daniel and his friends look? 15. Why was this? 16. 
 Why did God bless them? 17. How did they behave? 18. What was the 
 beginning of all their holiness? 19. What ought we to keep in order? 
 
Ubirt£=seventb Sunba^. 
 
 DANIEL AT BABYLON. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Our God whom wc serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery fur- 
 nace/' — Daniel 3: 17. 
 
 OU remember that the Jews had been so wicked, 
 that God had let them be conquered by their 
 enemies, and taken quite away from home 
 to the great city of Babylon. 
 
 The king of Babylon worshipped idols; 
 
 and he set up a great golden idol, much higher 
 
 than this room, and commanded that as soon 
 
 as his music played, everyone should fall 
 
 down and worship the image ; or if anyone would not, that person 
 
 should be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. 
 
 A furnace is like a very large oven, or like a brick-kiln — a 
 sort of house quite full of fire — for burning and baking bricks, 
 or melting iron, or anything else that requires to be made very 
 hot. Many people were afraid of such a horrible punishment as 
 being thrown into the furnace; and when they heard the music, 
 they made haste to bow down before the great golden image. 
 
 But the Jews knew that they must not worship idols; so 
 what could they do? I only know what three of them did. They 
 were three young men, named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
 nego, who were brought up before the king, because they would 
 not bow down before his great image. The king asked them how 
 it was; and told them fiercely that if they would not worship 
 his golden image, they must be thrown into the fire. 
 
 233 
 
W/tLKEST 
 
 F ll 
 
 But they stood up boldly, and said, 
 "Our God whom we serve is able to 
 deliver us from the burning fiery fur- 
 nace, and He will deliver us out of 
 thine hand, King ! But if not, be it 
 known unto thee, King, that we will 
 not serve thy gods, nor worship the 
 golden image which thouhast setup." 
 The king was very angry at this 
 brave answer. He had the furnace 
 
 made seven times hotter than usual; and Shadrach, 
 
 Meshach, and Abed-nego were thrown into it, tied 
 
 hand and foot ; and the flame was so hot, that it burnt 
 
 the men that threw them in. 
 
 Presently, the king gave a loud cry. For in the midst 
 
 of the fire were the men, not tied, but free, and walking 
 
 in the burning heat, as if they were in cool spring air ! 
 
 And there was another with 
 
 them, whose form was the 
 
 Son of God. Then he called 
 
 them, and the three came out. f 
 
 There was no smell 
 
 about them, and 
 
 not a hair of 
 
 their heads was 
 
 singed; they 
 
 had not felt the 
 
 heat at all; but 
 
 that Holy One 
 
 had taken care 
 
 234 
 
DANIEL AT BABYLON. 235 
 
 of them, and had kept them safe in the midst of the 
 fire. 
 
 Then the king of Babylon knew how wrong he had been; 
 and he sent forth a command, that no one should ever speak a 
 word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who 
 had saved them in the burning fiery furnace. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Where were the Jews living? 2. How came the Jews to be at Babylon? 
 3. What did the king of Babylon want everyone to worship? 4. Who would not 
 worship the golden image? 5. Why would not Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
 nego worship the image. 6. What is the Second Commandment? 7. What was 
 done to them for not worshipping the image ? 8. What is a furnace ? 9. How 
 hot was it made? 10. What did the king see in the fire? 11. Who was with 
 him? 12. Were they hurt? 13. Why did not the fire burn Shadrach, Mesh- 
 ach, and Abed-nego? 14. Who took care of them in the fire? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Those that walk in pride He is able to abase." — Daniel If. : 87. 
 
 REAT Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a 
 strange dream. He thought he saw a great tree with 
 spreading branches and fine leaves, making a sweet 
 shelter, where all the creatures came and stood, 
 and the birds nestled in the boughs; but while he 
 was admiring it there came a holy one down from 
 heaven, and said the tree was to be cut down, and only the stump 
 left in the tender grass of the field, and that it should be bound 
 with iron, and wet with the dew of heaven till seven years had 
 passed over it. 
 
 When Nebuchadnezzar woke he was troubled, and was sure 
 the dream had a meaning, and he sent for the prophet Daniel 
 to tell him what it was. Daniel was so sorry, that at first he 
 could hardly bear to speak; but at last he told the king that it 
 was himself, Nebuchadnezzar, that the tree meant. 
 
236 DANIEL AT BABYLON. 
 
 He was great and mighty, and countries and people were 
 shadowed over by his power; but soon he would have a fall — 
 he would lose his senses, and his man's heart would be like a 
 beast's heart, and he would be driven out of his palace, and he 
 would eat grass like an ox, and his body would be wet with the 
 dew of heaven, and his hair would be long like eagles' feathers, 
 and his nails like eagles' claws, till seven years had passed by; 
 and then he would recover his senses, and know and understand 
 again, and he would come back to his kingdom again. Then he 
 would know and own that the Lord of Heaven is the true God. 
 
 THOUGHT THAT NOTHING COULD HURT HIM. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar was shocked at first, but soon he forgot all 
 about the dream, and felt himself so wise and strong and brave, 
 that nothing could hurt him. He was walking one day in his 
 palace, a most beautiful one, and looking out on the grand city 
 with the river running through it, with all the bridges and the 
 hundred brazen gates; and his heart was lifted up with pride, 
 and he said, "Is not this great Babylon that I have builded?" 
 That very moment there came a voice from heaven that said the 
 time was come! 
 
 And a strange madness came on the king, his brave clever 
 spirit became as senseless as a beast's; and he only wanted to 
 graze in the field like the cattle. So they drove him out of the 
 palace, and put a band of iron round him, and let him eat grass 
 like an ox, and his hair grew long and shaggy, and his nails like 
 eagles' claws, just as Daniel had said. 
 
 So seven years passed away; and at the end of them he 
 came to his senses again, God gave back his man's heart and his 
 reason, and he went back to his palace, and sat on his throne 
 again. And one of the first things he did was to have a letter 
 written to his people, telling them all this story, and bidding 
 
DANIEL AT BABYLON. 237 
 
 them do honor to the God of Daniel, who putteth down and 
 
 setteth up. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? 2. Who was Daniel ? 3. How came Daniel 
 to be at Babylon ? 4. What did the king see in his dream ? 5. What happened 
 to the tree? 6. What did the king want to know? 7. Whom did he send for? 
 8. Whom did Daniel say the tree meant? 9. What was to happen to the king? 
 10. How long was he to be in this state? 11. What beautiful place had Nebu- 
 chadnezzar built? 12. What did he say about it? 13. What happened that 
 moment? 14. What did this poor king want to be? 15. What did he eat? 
 1G. What was his hair like? 17. What were his nails like ? 18. How long did 
 he go on like that? 18. What did God restore to him? 20. What was the first 
 thing he did? 21. What did he tell the people? 22. Had not he lost all his 
 pride? 23. What should we not boast of? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." — Daniel 5 : 6. 
 
 FTER Nebuchadnezzar, some troublesome times began 
 at Babylon; but at last his grandson Belshazzar was 
 reigning. He was a foolish, self-pleasing young man ; 
 and his enemies, the great nation of Medes and 
 Persians, came to make war on him, but still he did 
 not care for anything but his amusement. 
 
 He thought Babylon so strong that they could never break 
 in ; and he gave a great feast to all his lords, with fine meats and 
 wines, and he had all the gold and silver bowls, and the golden 
 candlestick that had been brought out of the Temple of God at 
 Jerusalem, on the tables, while he and his friends were drinking 
 and singing and shouting. 
 
 All on a sudden a stillness came over them, and their eyes 
 opened wide with fright. For just over the candlestick there was 
 seen a man's hand. There was no body, only the hand ; and the 
 finger went along writing on the wall, tracing out letters. 
 
 There were four words, but no one could read them or tell 
 what they meant. 
 
238 DANIEL AT BABYLON. 
 
 The king was terribly frightened. His knees knocked 
 together, and he shook all over, and he called for some one to 
 tell him what this writing could be. Nobody could guess; but 
 at last the queen, his mother, came and put him in mind how 
 Daniel had been able to explain his father's dreams. So Daniel 
 was sent for, and he at once read the writing. He told them 
 
 DANIEL INTERPRETING THE WRITING ON THE WALL.— Dan. 5: 25-28. 
 
 Belshazzar was found wanting. His kingdom was going to be 
 taken from him, and given to the Medes and Persians. 
 
 And even then, all the time the Babylonians were feasting 
 and not watching the enemy, Cyrus, the clever king of the 
 Persians, was making his men dig ditches, into which he turned 
 all the water of the great river that ran through the city; and that 
 very night all his army came in, walking up the dry bed of the 
 stream. No one saw them till they were in the city.; and that 
 very night Belshazzar was slain. 
 
DANIEL AT BABYLON. 
 
 239 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who was king of Babylon ? 2. Who made war on Belshazzar? 3. What 
 
 was all he cared for? 4. What feast did he make? 5. What were brought out? 
 G. What frightened him? 7. What was the hand doing? 8. What could no 
 one understand ? 9. Who spoke up? 10. Who was sent for? 11. What did 
 Daniel say it meant? 12. What happened that night? 13. How did the Per- 
 sians get in ? 14. Who was king of the Persians ? 15. Why did Belshazzar 
 come to such a sad end ? 
 
 CHART OF THE COUNTRY ROUND BABYLON, WITH LIMITS OF THE 
 
 ancient city. (According to Oppert). 
 
ftbtrt^-eiobtb Sunba^ 
 
 THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "The Lord is in His holy Temple : let all the earth keep silence before 
 Him."— Hab. 2: 20? 
 
 HE Jews had gone back to their 
 old city of Jerusalem, but they 
 found it looking very sad and 
 ruinous. The walls were broken 
 down, and the pleasant houses 
 were heaps of ruins, and grass 
 and brambles had come up in 
 the courts, and there were 
 heaps of stone blackened with 
 the fire and smoke that had 
 burnt down the city. 
 
 The first thing they did 
 was to clear the place where God's holy Temple used to stand, 
 and to build it up again. But they were not rich and powerful 
 like King Solomon, who built the first Temple; they had no gold 
 and silver, and the new Temple they built was very small and 
 poor compared with the old one. 
 
 There were old men among them who remembered the first 
 Temple as it used to be, and they wept aloud as they saw how 
 different the new one was; but there were young men who were 
 very glad to have a Temple at all, and they shouted for joy; so 
 there was a mixed sound of weeping for sorrow and of crying 
 out with joy. 
 
 240 
 
THE RETURN" FROM BABYLON. 
 
 241 
 
 Then God sent His Prophet Haggai to tell the old men not to 
 be afraid, for the glory of this latter House should be greater 
 than that of the former. The way this should be was that our 
 Blessed Lord Himself would come to the new Temple, as a little 
 Babe at first and afterwards as a grown Man; and when He 
 was there, the honor and glory of the Temple would be greater 
 
 RETURN OF THE JEWS FROM CAPTIVITY. -Ezra i : 5. 
 
 than ever it was before. Now there is no one Temple : but God's 
 Houses are Churches, and we have them everywhere to pray to 
 Him in, and meet Him there though we cannot see Him. Let 
 us take care to worship Him there very humbly and reverently. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where did the Jews return to? 2. What state was their city in? 3. 
 What had they to do to their city? 4. What did they first build up ? 5. What 
 sort of Temple did they build ? 6. Why was the new Temple not so fine as the 
 old one? 7. What did the old people do ? 8. What did the young people do? 
 9. How did God comfort the old people? 10. Who would come to the new 
 Temple? 11. Is there a Temple now ? 12. What have we instead ? 13. How 
 should we behave in church ? 
 
 16-B.S. 
 
242 THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 SECOND READING 
 
 " What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and to love mercy, 
 and to walk humbly with thy God ? " — Micah 6 : 8. 
 
 HE name of the leader of the Jews, when they came 
 
 home from Babylon to their own country was 
 
 Zerubabel. 
 
 Zerubabel was their prince. He was of David's 
 
 family, and he would have been king if the Jews had 
 
 been allowed to have kings ; but he was contented to 
 
 go back without the crown and throne and sceptre that his fathers 
 
 had had before him, and to live humbly in obedience to the king 
 
 of Babylon. 
 
 ZERUBABEL' S GREAT DESIRE. 
 
 That which Zerubabel cared to have was a little spot of 
 ground among the mountains. It was the village of Bethlehem, 
 the place from which David had been called away long ago, from 
 feeding his father's sheep, to come and be king of Israel. Why 
 should Zerubabel care for that little piece of ground more than 
 for Solomon's palace, that was so glorious? One reason was, 
 that the Prophet Micah had said, "But thou, Bethlehem-Ephratah, 
 though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of 
 thee shall ;He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel ; 
 whose goings have been from everlasting." 
 
 And faithful men understood that this meant that the Saviour 
 of the world should be born at Bethlehem, and that He would be 
 among Zerubabel's children's children. That was why Zerubabel 
 cared- so much for the poor little ruined village, and took care 
 to make a home of it again, though now there were only a hundred 
 and twenty-three people to come back to live in it. God was 
 pleased with Zerubabel's faith, and blessed him because he had 
 not despised the day of small things. 
 
 God said that to Zerubabel a mountain should become a 
 
THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 243 
 
 plain — that is, that what seemed most difficult should grow easy, 
 and that Zerubabel should be the man who should build up the 
 Temple again — God's own House, that was lying in ruins. That 
 was the great honor this good man had, because he believed in 
 God's promise with all his heart, and went so bravely and steadily 
 to work upon a little, when he could not do a great deal. For to 
 him that is faithful in a little shall much be given. 
 
 BUILDING OF THE NEW TEMPLE.— Ezra 3: 10. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Zerubabel? 2. "Where were the Jews coming back from? 3. 
 What had ZerubabePs fathers been? 4. Why was not Zerubabel a king? 5. 
 Who was the father of the kings of the Jews? 6. What had David been before 
 he was a king? 7. Where did he keep his sheep? 8. What was the place Zeru- 
 babel cared to have again? 9. Why did Zerubabel care for Bethlehem? 10. 
 Who was to be born there? 11. Who had said so? 12. What did Zerubabel 
 believe? 13. How many people went back to Bethlehem? 14. Did Zerubabel 
 despise it for being small? 15. What did he think of? 16. Why did God bless 
 him? 17. What did God say lie should build up? 18. What did God say dif- 
 ficulties should be to him? 19. Do not things we have to do sometimes seem 
 
244 THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 like great mountains to get over? 20. But who can make them easy to us? 21. 
 Only what must we do ourselves? 22. And what is the way to do great things 
 well ? 23. What must we never despise ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee." — Dan, 6 : 16. 
 
 HERE was another king of Babylon, and his name 
 was Darius. It was the strange, foolish way of his 
 people to treat him as if he was a sort of a god, and 
 more than man ; and one day his people came to him 
 and begged him to make a law that for thirty whole 
 days nobody should say their prayers to any god, or 
 ask anything of any man, except of Darius the king; or if they 
 did, they should be thrown to the lions, to be eaten up. 
 
 Darius thought this was all to do him honor, so he made the 
 law that thus it should be. Now when a law had once been made, 
 by the king of that people, it could not be changed. So nobody was 
 to say their prayers to anyone but the king for all that time. 
 
 But by-and-by the king's people came and told him that there 
 was one old man who did not attend to his law, but that they had 
 watched him in his own room, and there he said his prayers three 
 times a-day, just as if the king had made no law at all. 
 
 The king was very sorry when he heard who it was, for this 
 man who would not leave off saying his prayers was the man he 
 trusted most in all the kingdom. It was Daniel, one of the captive 
 Jews, son or brother to one of the last kings of Jerusalem. He 
 had been taken to Babylon when he was a very little boy, and 
 now he was quite an old man, but he had never ceased praying 
 to the great God of Heaven, and he was not going to leave off now. 
 He was a prophet of the Lord, and very wise, and he was one of 
 the king's very best advisers, so Darius was greatly grieved when 
 he was accused. 
 
THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 245 
 
 But Darius could not help himself; the law that had once 
 been made could not be broken, and these spiteful people declared 
 that Daniel must be thrown to the lions. All day long the king 
 tried to get his wise good counsellor saved from this dreadful 
 fate, but he could not succeed; and at evening Daniel's enemies 
 came to take him and throw him to the lions in their den. 
 
 Still, though Darius was a heathen himself, he had one hope ; 
 
 THE JEWISH CAPTIVES CONDUCTED BEFORE DARIUS. 
 
 and when he saw his friend led away, he said, "Thy God whom 
 thou servest continually, He will deliver thee." 
 
 So they took Daniel, and put him into a pit among the lions, 
 and they fastened up the door and left him there; and the king 
 was so sorry, that he could not sleep all night for grieving for 
 the good, wise, brave man who was thrown to the lions because 
 he would not leave off praying to God, and feared God more 
 than man. 
 
 And when daylight came they all went to the den. The 
 
246 
 
 THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 enemies hoped to find that Daniel was eaten up, but the king 
 cried out in a lamentable voice, "0 Daniel, servant of the living 
 God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver 
 thee from the lions?" 
 
 And Daniel's own voice came cheerfully back, and told the 
 king that his God had sent His angel, who had shut the lions' 
 mouths, so that they could not hurt him, and had kept him safe 
 all night. 
 
 DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN.— Daniel 6 : 19, 22. 
 
 And the king was very glad, and commanded them to take 
 Daniel out of the pit, and to put the spiteful men in instead ; and 
 the lions were so hungry that they brake all their bones in pieces 
 before ever they came to the bottom of the den. 
 
 Only think what Daniel was willing to bear rather than not 
 say his prayers ! And it was because he prayed that God saved 
 him. God's power shut the lions' mouths, because Daniel had 
 been more afraid to leave off praying than even to be torn to 
 pieces. How glad we should be that we can say our prayers 
 
THE RETURN FROM BABYLON. 
 
 247 
 
 safe and unhurt; and how careful we should be never to miss 
 them out of idleness, if Daniel would not miss them out of fear. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were the Jews living? 2. Who was king of Babylon? 3. What 
 law was Darius persuaded to make? 4. Who was to be prayed to? 5. What 
 was to be done to anybody who said prayers to any but Darius ? 6. Who did go 
 on saying his prayers? 7. Who was Daniel? 8. What was done to Daniel? 
 0. Did the lions hurt Daniel? 10. Why was Daniel kept safe in the den ? 11. 
 Whom did Daniel fear most, God or men? 12. When should we say our prayers? 
 13. Can anyone hurt us if God takes care of us? 
 
 BABYLONIAN BRICK. 
 
Zhkt^ninth Sunba^ 
 
 TROUBLES OF THE JEWS. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird." — Prov. 1 : 17. 
 
 THERE was a gentle 
 Jewish girl, named 
 Esther, who had been 
 left an orphan very young, 
 and was brought up by her 
 kind relation, Mordecai, 
 who was one of the Jews 
 who had not gone back to 
 Jerusalem, but still lived 
 in Persia. 
 One day there came a messenger from the king, to carry 
 away poor Esther from home. The king wanted all the maidens 
 in his land to be brought together, that he might choose the most 
 beautiful of them all for his queen, and the others would be 
 kept for slaves. 
 
 All the other maidens dressed themselves up, and painted 
 themselves to try to look beautiful; but Esther did not ask for 
 any ornaments, she only put on what she was ordered to wear. 
 Yet she looked so much the most lovely of all, in her modest 
 quietness, that the king chose her and married her, and set the 
 crown on her head, and made her his queen. 
 
 But she had a sad life, though she was queen. She was 
 always shut up, and could not see her kind friend Mordecai, and 
 she could not even go to her husband without his leave, or she 
 would have been put to death, 
 
 248 
 
Her kinsman, Mordecai, 
 used to sit in the palace gate 
 every day, to hear news of 
 her. Now, there was a very 
 bad man named Haman, 
 who used to pass by every day; and Mor- 
 decai never would bow to him, because he 
 was one of the people whom God had for- 
 bidden the Jews to have any concern with. 
 Haman grew so angry at last that he 
 resolved not only to get Mordecai killed, 
 but all the Jews besides. So he went to the 
 king, and told him a false story about the 
 Jews, and persuaded him to give orders 
 that their enemies in all the lands round 
 Jerusalem, and everywhere else, should 
 fall on them on a set day, and put them 
 to death. 
 
 And the king was so foolish and so 
 cruel as to consent to seal the letters, 
 saying that all the Jews were to be 
 killed on one day. But Mordecai 
 r heard about this cruel plot, and he 
 sent secret word to Esther that she 
 must try to save her people, by tell- 
 ing the king that he had 
 been deceived by Haman. 
 
 Poor Esther was much 
 afraid. She knew that if 
 she went to the king without 
 
 249 
 
250 
 
 TROUBLES OF THE JEWS. 
 
 leave, she would be put to death; but she thought it was better 
 for her to run the risk, than to let all the Jews perish. So she 
 dressed herself beautifully, as the king liked best to see her; and 
 she went to his court almost fainting with fear. 
 
 But when he saw her, he touched her with his golden sceptre. 
 Then she knew he would not put her to death ; and when he asked 
 
 QUEEN ESTHER CROWNED.— Esther 2 : 17. 
 
 why she had come, and what she wanted, she said she wished to 
 ask him to a banquet of wine in her chamber. 
 
 And when he came there, she was able to tell him of the 
 cruel plan for killing all her people, and how falsely Haman had 
 spoken. The king was very angry when he understood it all; 
 and wicked Haman was hung upon the very gallows he had meant 
 for Mordecai. And so the Jews were saved by the good queen, 
 who was not afraid to risk her life for her people. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were some of the Jews living? 2. What was the name of the Jew 
 girl ? 3. What was the name of her kinsman ? 4. How did the king choose his 
 wife? 5. Who was the most beautiful woman ? 6. W T here did Mordecai sit? 
 
TROUBLES OF THE JEWS, 
 
 251 
 
 7. To whom would not Mordecai bow? 8. What did Hainan want to do? 9. 
 Who consented ? 10. Why was it dangerous for Esther to go and speak to the 
 king? 11. What did the kiug do when he saw her? 12. What did holding out 
 the sceptre mean? 13. What did she ask him? 14. What did she tell him? 
 15. What was done to Hainan? 16. How were the Jews saved? 
 
 TRIUMPH OF MORDECAI.— Esther 6 : n. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Thy servants think upon her stones, and it pitieth them to see her in the 
 dust."-— Ps. 102: U. 
 
 HERE was a good Jew named Nehemiah, whom the 
 King of Persia had made his cup-bearer. One day 
 one of the Jews came from Jerusalem, and told 
 Nehemiah how sad all was at their home, the city 
 that once had been so beautiful. There was a little 
 bit of the Temple built up, but all the streets were 
 
 heaps of ruins, and only a house or two here and there built up ; 
 
 and the robber tribes round were always breaking in and doing 
 
 mischief. 
 
 Nehemiah wept, and prayed to God for his people ; and when 
 
252 
 
 TROUBLES OF THE JEWS. 
 
 he went in to wait on the king and queen, he still looked so sad, 
 that they asked him what was the matter. Then he told them 
 that he had just heard that his dear home, where his fathers' 
 tombs were, was lying waste, and that the cruel enemies were 
 always doing harm; and he begged the king to let him go home 
 and try to help them. 
 
 NEHEMIAH ARMETH THE LABORERS -Neh. 4: 16, 17. 
 
 So the king gave him leave, but set him a time to come back ; 
 and Nehemiah went all the long way to Jerusalem. It was quite 
 as bad as he had heard. The houses were all down, only here 
 and there one standing; and when he went out on his ass at 
 night to view the ruins, there was a heap of stones where a gate 
 should be, and a hole where a wall should be. 
 
 So Nehemiah stirred up all the Jews, and they set to work 
 to build the wall to keep out the robbers. Then the enemies 
 laughed at them, and said a fox could break down all they built; 
 and when they went on, people used to come and attack them, 
 so that they had to work with swords ready to fight, and always 
 
TROUBLES OF TTTE JEWS. 253 
 
 on the watch to come to help if they heard a trumpet blown. But 
 they kept on, and the wall was built and the gates set up ; and they 
 were safe once more from enemies coming in among them. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was Nehemiah? 2. Wliat made him sad? 3. Who were living at 
 Jerusalem? 4. What had happened to it? 5. What did Nehemiah do when he 
 heard this sad news? 6. How did God begin to grant his prayer? 7. What 
 did the king ask him? 8. What did he tell the king? 9. Where did he go? 10. 
 What did he find there ? 11. Why did they want a wall ? 12. What did he set 
 the Jews to do? 13. How did they build ? 14. W r ho tormented them ? 15. 
 But what was finished at last ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " The joy of the Lord is your strength." — Prov. 5 : 17. 
 
 OOD Nehemiah built up the wall of Jerusalem; and 
 his friend Ezra did all he could to teach the Jews 
 to keep the Law of God rightly. It was Ezra who 
 gathered together the five books of Moses, and 
 collected the writings of the prophets, and wrote out 
 the history of the kings, and put nearly all the Old 
 Testament in order as we have it now. 
 
 And Ezra and Nehemiah took care to teach the people to 
 keep the Sabbath again, as the Fourth Commandment had taught 
 them. Nehemiah used to have the gates of the city shut up, that 
 no stranger might bring any burthen in, and that no one might 
 come in to sell or buy on God's holy day. 
 
 And then they kept the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was 
 a most beautiful feast. All the people went and cut down great 
 boughs of myrtle, olive, pine, and citron, and willow trees, and 
 built up arbors with them, where they lived for seven whole days, 
 to put them in mind of how their fathers had lived when they 
 came out of Egypt. 
 
 And on the great day of the feast, every Jew went up to the 
 
254 
 
 TROUBLES OF THE JEWS. 
 
 Temple with a green bough in his arm, and stood in the court, 
 and all the priests came out on the steps with palm-branches, 
 and with silver trumpets. Then the trumpets were sounded, 
 and everybody waved their branches for joy. And the priests 
 began a beautiful rejoicing psalm, and at its most joyful verses 
 the people waved their palms again. 
 
 A SOLEMN FAST AND REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE.-Neh. 9: 1, 2. 
 
 At night all the court of the Temple was lighted up with 
 great lamps, to put the people in mind that the Lord is our light. 
 How beautiful it must have been, and how happy all the people 
 were to have come back from worshipping idols, and being pun- 
 ished in a strange land, to praise their own true God once more, 
 who blessed and made them happy. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who were the two good men who governed the Jews? 2. W 7 hat did Ezra 
 collect together? 3. W T ho taught good men how to write the Bible? 4. What 
 parts of the Bible did Ezra put together? 5. What commandment were Ezra 
 and Nehemiah careful about? 6. How did they keep people from breaking the 
 Fourth Commandment? 7. What great feast did they keep? 
 
THE COMING OF THE LORD. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "The fulness of the time was come." — Gal. 1^: l^.. 
 
 THERE was a long time after the 
 Jews came home during which we 
 do not know much about them. 
 Only they had quite left off worshipping 
 idols, and stood out bravely when a bad 
 king wanted to make them do so. 
 
 But they were not good in other 
 ways. They quarrelled among them- 
 selves a great deal. One set, who were 
 called Pharisees, were very proud and 
 hard-hearted; and another set, who 
 were called the Sadducees, would not 
 believe or obey any of the Bible that 
 was written after the time of Moses — none of the Prophets nor 
 of the Psalms. 
 
 These two sets quarrelled so much that they allowed a fierce 
 
 strange nation to come in and make themselves their masters. 
 
 These were the Romans, whose city was Rome, in Italy. They 
 
 were fierce soldiers, and wanted to make the world all their own. 
 
 One of their generals, whose name was Pompey, was so 
 
 255 
 
THE COMING OF THE LORD. 
 
 THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO ZACHARIAS.— Luke i : 12, 13. 
 
 THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO MARY.— Luke 1: 35- 
 
 256 
 
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 
 
THE COMING OF THE LORD. 
 
 257 
 
 daring that he forced his way into the Holy of Holies, where no 
 one was allowed to go but the High Priest once a-year. He was 
 disappointed to find nothing there, only an empty chamber, 
 without any image or likeness ; and the Jews were much grieved 
 and distressed. It was always said that nothing ever went well 
 with Pompey afterwards. 
 
 JfclS*^ 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF ELIZABETH AND OF MARY.-Luke i : 39~45- 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What sin had the Jews left off? 2. But were they grown good? 2. Who 
 were the two parties ? 4. What was amiss with the Pharisees ? 5. What would 
 not the Sadducees believe ? 6. What came of their quarrels ? 7. What sort of 
 people were the Romans? 8. Where was their home? 9. What did they want 
 to conquer? 10. Where did their general make his way? 11. What was the 
 Holy of Holies ? 12 What did he find there? 13. Why was there no image 
 there? 14. What commandment forbids the worshipping any image ? 15. Who 
 alone was allowed to go into the holy place? 16. How often. 17. What was 
 said of Pompey after he broke in ? 
 
 17-B.S. 
 
258 
 
 THE COMING OF THE LORD. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. — Luke 1 : 32. 
 
 HE Romans set up a strange king over the Jews. His 
 name was Herod, and he was an Edomite — that is, 
 a descendant of Jacob's brother Esau. He believed 
 in the true God, and began to make the Temple much 
 more beautiful than it had been since it had been 
 built up after the Jews came back from Babylon. 
 But he was a very wicked and cruel man, who killed his own wife, 
 
 THE BIRTH OF JOHN.— Luke i: 62-64. 
 
 and made everybody afraid of him; and the Jews were very 
 unhappy under him. 
 
 They had one hope, and that was, that it was just about the 
 time when God had promised to send a Holy One into the world 
 to save them and set them free; and they thought He would be 
 a great, mighty king, like David, who would conquer Herod, and 
 drive away the Romans, and have a crown and throne brighter 
 than Solomon's. 
 
THE COMING OF TILE LORD. 
 
 259 
 
 And just then an angel was sent from God to the little town 
 of Nazareth, where there lived a young maiden, quite a poor 
 woman, but most good and holy, a descendant of the great King 
 David. The angel told her that she was highly favored, for she 
 was to be the mother of the Son of the Highest, for the Holy One 
 who was to be born of her should be the Son of God; and when 
 He was born, she was to call His name Jesus, which means the 
 
 THE ANGEL ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF JESUS.-Luke 2 : 10, 11. 
 
 Lord our Saviour, because He should save His people from their 
 sins; and Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it 
 unto me according to thy word." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Whom did the Romans make king of the Jews? 2. What nation did 
 Herod belong to? 3. Who was the forefather of the Edomites? 4. Whose son 
 was Esau? 5. What sort of man was Herod? 6. What did he do to please the 
 Jews? 7. But how did he treat them? 8. Whom did he put to death? 9. 
 What were the Jews hoping for ? 10. Who had promised that Holy One ? 11. 
 What did the Jews think He would be ? 12. Who came to say He was coming 
 
260 
 
 THE COMING OF THE LORD. 
 
 at last? 13. To whom was the angel sent? 14. What was her name? 15. 
 Where did he live? 16. What did the angel tell her? 17. Who would be 
 born of her? 18. Whose Son would He be ? 19. What was she to call Him? 
 20. What does Jesus mean ? 21. What did she answer? 
 
 THE BIRTH OF JESUS.— Luke 2: 10, 12, 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 
 Lake 2: H. 
 
 HE blessed Virgin Mary lived at Nazareth; but it was 
 
 God's will that the holy Son of God should be born at 
 
 Bethlehem, the little town where David used to live 
 
 and keep his sheep. The Romans sent out orders that 
 
 everyone should go to their proper home to have their 
 
 names set down, and pay a piece of money. 
 
 So the Virgin Mary had to go, with a good man named 
 
 Joseph, a carpenter, who was to be her husband. Such a number 
 
 of people had come there that there_ was no room for them in the 
 
THE COMING OF THE LORD. 261 
 
 inn, and they had to go to a stable — a cavern underground — 
 where the oxen and asses were. 
 
 And it was there that the Holy Child of Mary, the Son of God, 
 was born, in the stable where the cattle were. The blessed mother 
 wrapped Him in baby-clothes, and laid Him in the manger, among 
 the hay and straw. 
 
 
 THE BIRTH OF JESUS PROCLAIMED BY THE SHEPHERDS.-Luke 2 : 17. 
 
 None of the people in the inn knew or cared ; but there were 
 shepherds on the hill, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 
 The angels came down to them, and told them that to them was 
 born that day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the 
 Lord, and that He was a Babe lying in a manger. 
 
 As soon as the angel had said that, many other angels, who 
 were very glad that poor men below should be saved, all began 
 to sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good- 
 will toward men." 
 
 So the angels and the shepherds kept the Saviour's birthday, 
 and we keep it upon Christmas-day. 
 
262 
 
 THE COMING OF THE LORD. 
 
 PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.— Luke 2 : 27, 28. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was David's town? 2. But where did the blessed Virgin Mary live? 
 3. How came she to go to Bethlehem? 4. Where had she to rest? 5. Why 
 could she not go to the inn? 6. Who was born in the stable? 7. Where was 
 He laid? 8. Who were told of it? 9. Who told the shepherds? 10. What 
 did the angels sing? 11. Why were they glad ? 12. Why are we glad? 13. 
 What is the birthday of our Lord ? 
 
jFort^first 5unba\>. 
 
 THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 rr We have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him." — Matt. 2: 2, 
 
 HE shepherds were not the only people 
 who came to see the blessed Lord Jesus 
 when He was a little Infant. Far away 
 in the East, God showed a bright, beau- 
 tiful star to some wise men, and taught 
 their hearts that it was the sign that 
 the great King was born. 
 
 They set out on their journey to 
 Judea, to see and honor Him ; and when 
 they came, they asked, "Where is He that is born King of the 
 Jews, for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to 
 worship Him." 
 
 This made Herod afraid, for he thought this must be a king 
 who would take his kingdom from him. He made the learned 
 men among the Jews look out in the prophecies where Christ 
 should be born. 
 
 They found it was to be at Bethlehem, and he told the wise 
 men so, and desired them to let him know when they found the 
 King, that he might come and worship Him too; but he did not 
 really mean to worship Him, but to kill Him. 
 
 However, God Himself showed these wise men where to find 
 our blessed Lord, for the same star that they had seen in the East 
 came out again, and went before them, and came and stood over 
 where the young Child was. And though they saw a little Baby, 
 
 263 
 
264 
 
 THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 and a poor mother holding Him in her arms, they knew He was 
 the Lord and King; and they worshipped Him, and offered Him 
 the gifts they had brought. 
 
 There was gold, and there was frankincense, which means 
 the sweet-smelling, costly powder that was burnt in the Temple ; 
 and myrrh, which is a precious gum which comes out of trees, 
 and is used to preserve and keep things good. 
 
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 THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN.— Matt. 2: 10, 11. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who came to see our Lord? 2. Where did they come from? 3. What 
 4. What did they ask? 5. Whom did they ask? 6. What 
 7. Did he want to worship? 8. What did he want to do? 9. 
 How did the wise men find the way? 10. Whom did they see? 11. What did 
 they offer Him? 12. What were the gifts? 13. What is frankincense? 14. 
 What is myrrh? 15. Why did they worship Him? 
 
 had they seen? 
 did Herod say ? 
 
THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 265 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "Arise, and take the young child and His mother." — Matt. 2: 13. 
 
 EROD was afraid that the new-born King of the Jews 
 would take away his kingdom. So he meant to kill 
 
 Him as soon as he could find out from the wise men 
 where He was. But the wise men never came back 
 to tell him, for God spoke to them in a dream, and 
 warned them to go back to their own country another way. 
 
 JOSEPH COMMANDED TO FLEE INTO EGYPT.— Matt. 2 : 13. 
 
 And God also spoke to Joseph the carpenter, the blessed 
 Virgin Mary's husband, and told him to take the young Child and 
 His mother, and flee into the land of Egypt, and stay there till 
 they should be told to come back, for Herod was seeking the young 
 Child to destroy Him. Joseph obeyed, and the whole family fled 
 into Egypt, and lived there for some years. 
 
 When Herod found the wise men did not come, he was very 
 angry; and to make sure of killing Him who was to be King of the 
 
266 THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 Jews, he was so cruel and wicked as to cause all the babies in 
 Bethlehem, of two years old and under, to be put to death. 
 
 We call them the Holy Innocents, because they were the 
 first who died for Jesus Christ's sake. It seemed very sad then, 
 but they have been happy and glorious ever since in heaven, and 
 
 THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.— Matt. 2: 14, 15. 
 
 always will be. But God had taken care of Him, and He was 
 safe in Egypt; and there they stayed till our Lord was about three 
 years old, and then the wicked King Herod died. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What did Herod want to do ? 2. Why could he not find our blessed Lord? 
 3. Who warned the wise men? 4. Whom did Herod murder? 5. What do we 
 call those Babes of Bethlehem? 6. But whom did he not find? 7. For where 
 was our Lord? 8. Who had takeu Him there? 9. Who was Joseph? 10. 
 How did Joseph know He was to go to Egypt? 
 
THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 267 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." — 
 Luke 2: 52. 
 
 HEN Herod died, Joseph brought our blessed Lord 
 and His mother back from Egypt, and went to 
 live at Nazareth. We do not know any more 
 about Him till He was twelve years old, and then 
 He went up with Joseph and His mother to Jeru- 
 salem to keep the Feast of the Passover. That 
 great feast the Jews always kept in remembrance of the night 
 when God delivered them out of their troubles in Egypt. 
 
 KILLING THE MALE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD.— Matt. 2 : 16. 
 
 When the time came for going home, the blessed Mary and 
 Joseph could not find the Child Jesus. They thought at first that 
 He was among the other boys of the company who had come up 
 from Nazareth, and they went on a day's journey; but when He 
 did not come back to them in the evening, they turned back to 
 Jerusalem to seek Him. They looked for Him during three days 
 
268 
 
 THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 all round the city, and found Him at last in the Temple, among 
 the boys who came to be taught by the learned men there. 
 
 Everybody who listened was astonished at His under- 
 standing and His answers; but when His mother came to call 
 Him, He went home with her directly; and He obeyed her and 
 Joseph in everything, and helped and worked for them, though 
 He was really their God and King. 
 
 JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE.— Luke 2 : 46, 47. 
 
 That was to teach us all how good children should behave at 
 home to their fathers and mothers, for Joseph was like a father 
 to Him, though His real Father is God. And as He grew older He 
 lived on with them, and worked as a carpenter with them till He 
 was thirty years old. So, you see, He knows just what it is to be 
 one of us, and a poor hard-working man. For God from heaven 
 came to be one of us men, and just like us. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. When did our blessed Lord come back from Egypt? 2. Where did He go 
 and live ? 3. How old was He when we hear about Him again ? 4. Where did 
 
THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. 
 
 269 
 
 He go then? 5. What feast did they go to? 6. What was the Passover to put 
 people in mind of? 7. What happened when it was time to go home? 8. How 
 long was He lost ? 9. Where was He found ? 10. What was He doing there? 
 11. What was everyone surprised at? 12. What did He do when He was called? 
 13. How can you do like Him when you are called from what you like? 14. 
 How did He always behave to His mother and Joseph? 15. How can you try 
 to be like Him ? 
 
jfort^-seconb Sunba\>. 
 
 THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Repeat ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." — Matt. 3: 2. 
 
 HE blessed Lord Jesus lived at Naza- 
 reth, and worked there as a carpen- 
 ter until He was thirty years old, so 
 that He has felt how we live here, and 
 knows what our feelings and ways 
 are by trying them. 
 
 When it was nearly time for Him 
 to begin to set up His kingdom, a holy 
 man was sent to make ready for 
 Him. This man's name was John, 
 and he lived out in the rocky and 
 bushy country on the bank of the 
 river Jordan, dressed in a coarse garment woven of earners hair, 
 and living on the locusts and wild honey he found there. 
 
 He stood there telling everyone who came that the kingdom 
 of God was going to begin, and that those who wished to belong 
 to it must repent and give up their sins. All who would feel and 
 own their sins he took down to the river and bathed and washed 
 them, to show how some day they would have their souls washed, 
 just as their bodies were washed now. 
 
 This washing was called baptising, and he is always called 
 John the Baptist; but he always told the people that there was 
 One coming who was greater than he was, and that this Holy 
 One would baptise them with the Holy Ghost and with fire. 
 
 270 
 
THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY 
 
 271 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. How long did oar blessed Lord live at Nazareth? 2. What did He do 
 there? 3. Who was sent to prepare His way ? 4. Where did John live? 5. 
 What did he wear? 6. What did he eat? 7. What are locusts? 8. What did 
 he tell the people? 9. What were they to be sorry for? 10. What is repenting? 
 11. What did he do to those who repented? 12. In what river did he wash 
 them? 13. What was this washing called? 14- What was he called? 15. 
 Who did he say was coming? 16. How would that One baptize them? 
 
 JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS.— Matt. 3: 2, 8. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." — Matt 8: 17. 
 
 NE day, as John was baptising, Jesus came to him, 
 and desired to be baptised. His mother and John's 
 mother were cousins, and John knew He had never 
 done one wrong thing in all His life, and had nothing 
 to repent of. So he said, "I have need to be baptised 
 of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" Then Jesus 
 
 answered, "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil 
 
 all righteousness. 
 
272 
 
 THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY. 
 
 Then John baptised Him; and as they were coming up out 
 of the water, the heaven above was opened, and there came God 
 the Holy Ghost, taking a shape like a dove, and rested upon the 
 Head of Jesus, and there was God the Father's voice speaking 
 out of heaven, and saying, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I 
 am well pleased." 
 
 Then John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the Son of 
 God, and the great King whose way he had been sent to prepare. 
 
 THE BAPTISM OF JESUS —Mark i : 9. 
 
 And this was the beginning of baptism, or christening, as 
 we call it. We are all baptised into the name of the Father, the 
 Son, and the Holy Ghost, and made to belong to Jesus Christ. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who was John the Baptist? 2. Where did he baptize? 3. Who came to 
 him to be baptized ? 4. What relation was the blessed Virgin to his mother ? 
 5. What did he say? 6. Why did he say so? 7. What was the answer? 8. 
 What happened . after the baptism? 9. Who came down from heaven? 10. 
 Who spoke from heaven? 11. What did God the Father's voice say? 12. 
 What did John know then? 13. Whose Son is Jesus? 14. How had John 
 been preparing His way ? 
 
CHRIST IN THE MANGER, 
 
THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY, 
 
 273 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." — Matt. 4, : 7. 
 
 UR Lord Jesus had come into the world to conquer the 
 Devil, to whom Eve had given power over it when 
 she ate the fruit. 
 
 So He went up into a lonely place in the wilder- 
 ness, that He might meet the Devil, and stand up 
 against all the temptations that had led Eve astray. 
 He was there forty days, with nothing to eat ; and the Devil came 
 
 THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.— Matt. 4: 10, 11. 
 
 and said, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones 
 be made bread." But He would not do it at Satan's word; and so 
 as Eve fell by eating, He stood by resisting hunger. 
 
 Then the Devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, 
 and the glory of them, in one moment of time, and said, "All 
 these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship 
 me." But though Eve had been tempted by seeing the beauty 
 
 18-B.S. 
 
274 THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY. 
 
 of the fruit, our Lord was not led astray by all the glory and 
 beauty of this world. So He conquered again. 
 
 Then He stood with Satan on the top of a high wall, with a 
 precipice below; and Satan tempted Him to cast Himself down, 
 so that the angels should come round and bear Him up, and all 
 might see He was the Son of God. It was just as Satan had told 
 Eve, that she would be like a God if she ate the fruit ; and He said, 
 "It is written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." 
 
 Satan left Him then for a time, and the angels came and 
 waited on Him. That was the beginning of His victory over 
 Satan and sin. And every one of us must fight our battle too. 
 Whenever we are inclined to be naughty, Satan is tempting us, 
 but we must try to be strong and drive him away ; and our Lord 
 Jesus will help us if we only try, and will drive him away. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What had our Lord come into the world for? 2. When had Satan become 
 master of the world ? 3. Where did our Lord go ? 4. What was the first tempta- 
 tion? 5. Why would not He make the stones into bread? 6. What was the 
 second temptation? 7. What did Satan want Him to do? 8. What was the 
 third temptation ? 9. Who would have come round Him? 10. Would He let 
 them show that He was God? 11. What did He say to Satan? 12. What did 
 Satan do? 13. Who came to wait on our Lord? 14. Who had been conquered? 
 
^fort^^tbtrb £unba\\ 
 
 THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Behold the Lamb of God."— John 1: 36. 
 
 ^gTli^OW that John the Baptist knew that 
 Jesus was, indeed, the Son of God, 
 whom he had been sent to proclaim, he 
 began to point Him out, saying, "Be- 
 hold the Lamb of God, which taketh 
 away the sin of the world." There 
 were two poor fishermen, who had come 
 out to listen to John, who heard, and 
 who went to Jesus and asked, "Master, 
 where dwellest Thou?" He said, "Come 
 and see." 
 
 Their names were Andrew and 
 another John. They stayed all one 
 night with Him, and saw and felt that 
 He was so great and holy that no one else could be the Christ who 
 had been promised to come and save the world; and John was 
 always the nearest and best loved of all to Him. 
 
 Andrew went and told his own brother Simon, whom our 
 Lord named Peter, which means a rock; and they brought two 
 more of their friends to see Him, whose names were Philip and 
 Nathanael When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said, "Behold 
 an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 
 
 Nathanael asked how He could know him. Our Lord 
 
 275 
 
276 THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 answered, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under 
 the fig tree, I saw thee." Then Nathanael said, "Thou art the 
 Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel." For he had been alone 
 under the fig tree, and nobody who was not God could have seen 
 or known he was there ; and our Lord said that because he believed, 
 he should see greater things than these. 
 
 BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD,— John i : 36. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who had been sent to proclaim our Lord? 2. What did John the Baptist 
 say of Him ? 3. Who were the two first who listened ? 4. What was their 
 trade? 5. Who was the best loved of all? 6. Whom did Andrew fetch ? 7. 
 What name was given to Simon? 8. What does Peter mean ? 9. What friends 
 did they tell of our Lord? 10. What did our Lord say of Nathanael? 11. 
 What does " without guile" mean? 12. What did Nathanael ask? 13. Why 
 was he surprised? 14. What did our Lord say? 15. What was his answer? 
 16. How did he know that Jesus was God? 17. Where can God see? 
 
THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 277 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Thou hast kept the good wine until now." — John 2 : 10. 
 
 ERSONS who loved to learn of a Master were called His 
 disciples. So John and his brother James, Andrew 
 and Simon Peter, Philip and his friend Nathanael, 
 were all called our Lord's disciples. 
 
 They were all invited to a wedding at Cana, the 
 village in the hills where Nathanael lived ; and the blessed Virgin 
 
 
 JESUS CALLING HIS DISCIPLES.— John i : 51. 
 
 Mary, our Lord's mother, was there too. But the bride and bride- 
 groom were poor people, and in the midst of the feast it turned 
 out that there was not wine enough. The blessed Virgin said, 
 in a low voice, to her Son, "They have no wine." 
 
 Now, there were six great jars standing by, and Jesus told 
 the servants to fill them with water. So they filled them up to 
 the brim ; and then He told the servants to draw out some of what 
 they had poured in, and carry it to the chief person there. 
 
278 THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 As soon as this man had tasted it, he found it was such good 
 wine that he said to the bridegroom that most people began their 
 feasts with their best wine, but that here the best had been kept 
 for the last. This was the first wonderful thing our Lord did on 
 earth, and it made His disciples know that He was God, for no 
 one else could have done such a wonder. 
 
 We call these wonders miracles. Our Lord" worked many 
 
 THE MIRACLE IN CANA.— John 2: 7, 8. 
 
 more while He was on earth, and most of them were cures to the 
 blind, or the lame, or the sick. He made them well directly by 
 His power and love. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What are disciples ? 2. Who were the first disciples ? 3. What feast did 
 they go to ? 4. Where was the feast? 5. What was wanting at the feast? 6. 
 What did our Lord's mother say? 7. What did He tell the servants to do? 8. 
 How many waterpots were there? 9. What did the water become? 10. To 
 whom was it carried? 11. What was said of it? 12. How came it to be wine? 
 13. What is such a wonder called? 14. Why could our Lord do miracles? 15. 
 What did they show ? 
 
THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 279 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " I will make you fishers of men." — Matt, 4 ■" 19. 
 
 TOLD you Andrew and Peter and John were fishermen. 
 
 They used to go fishing at night in boats, on the blue 
 
 lake of Galilee, shut in between the high mountains. 
 
 One night, they had been out in two boats, trying hard 
 
 ^y to catch fish, but none would come to their nets. 
 
 In the morning, they saw Jesus standing on the 
 bank, with a great crowd of people round Him, come to see and 
 
 JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS.-John 3 : 2, 3. 
 
 hear His teaching. He called to Simon Peter to come and take 
 Him into his boat, so that He could teach the people from thence 
 without being crowded. 
 
 When He had done speaking, He told Andrew and Peter to 
 go out into the deeper water, and let down their nets. They said, 
 "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: 
 nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net." And instantly 
 
THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 
 
 JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.— John 4 : 25, 26. 
 
 JESUS HEALS THE SICK OF THE PALSY.— Mark 2 : 4, 5- 
 
 280 
 
HALLOWED -BE THY NAME 
 
CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF CETHSEMME* 
 
 sfif 
 
 I THY WILL BE DON! IN EARTH AS IT IS IM HEAVEN 
 
THE AHSEt DELIVERING PETER FROM PRISON « I" T? CHRIST PROCLAIMING BEUVERAHGETBTHE CAPTIVES- 
 
 ;:: r ;:-::::.■ 
 
THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES. 281 
 
 the net was so full of fishes, that Andrew and Peter could not 
 draw it up without the help of John and his brother James, who 
 was with him in his boat; and both boats were quite full of fish, 
 and ready to sink with the weight. 
 
 When the boats came to land, our Lord told the four disciples 
 that they were to come with Him, for He would make them fishers 
 of men, for they were to draw disciples to Him, instead of catching 
 fish. They believed Him, and left all they had to follow Him, and 
 they were always with Him — His dear friends who followed Him 
 everywhere, and stored up His holy words in their hearts. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was the trade of the disciples ? 2. Where did they fish ? 3. How did 
 they fish? 4. Who came to them? 5. What did he bid them do? 6. What 
 had they been doing all night? 7. But what did they now let down ? 8. What 
 did they find in their nets? 9. What were filled? 10. How came the fish there? 
 11. What did our Lord call them to do? 12. What were they to be? 13. 
 What did they leave ? 14. Who were these four ? 
 
3fort£-fourtb £unba\>* 
 
 ^D4Z 
 
 THE MINISTRY. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " He went about doing good." — Acts 10 : 38. 
 
 dill. %><&*% 
 
 IMON PETER had a house at Caper- 
 naum, which is one of the towns that 
 stand upon the shore of the Lake of 
 Galilee. There our Lord cured the 
 mother of Peter's wife of a bad fever 
 by His mighty power in one moment, 
 and there He generally lived when He 
 was in those parts ; but He never stayed 
 long there, for He went about doing 
 good. 
 In every town or village that he came to, He 
 used to go and teach in the synagogue. A syna- 
 gogue was a place where the Jews who lived too 
 far from Jerusalem to go to the Temple every 
 Sabbath-day used to meet, and hear the Old Testa- 
 ment read and explained to them, and pray together. 
 
 Our Lord used to teach in the synagogues, and draw out all 
 the meaning of the Law; and when He came out, all the sick 
 people who were near, and all the blind and deaf and dumb people, 
 were brought to Him, and He cured them all by only just 
 touching them, or even only by bidding their disease to go away. 
 For He was God as well as man, and could do all things. Or He 
 would sit on the mountain side, and all the people would come 
 round Him, and He would teach them. 
 
 282 
 
THE MINISTRY. 
 
 JESUS RAISES THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS.— Mark 5: 41,42. 
 
 JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE TWO BLIND MEN.— Matt. 9 : 27, 28. 
 
 283 
 
284 THE MINISTRY. 
 
 There is one beautiful discourse of His, called the Sermon 
 on the Mount, which I hope you will soon know well. And in it 
 He taught his disciples the prayer we all say, and call the Lord's 
 Prayer, and which we love the best of all prayers. 
 
 SERMON ON THE MOUNT.— Matt. 5: 1-3. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. In whose house did our blessed Lord Jesus live ? 2. Where was Capernaum ? 
 3. What had He done for Simon Peter's wife's mother ? 4. Where did He 
 teach? 5. What is a synagogue? 6. When did the Jews go there ? 7. What 
 did they do in the synagogue? 8. What did our Lord explain? 9. Whom did 
 He cure? 10. Where did He sometimes teach? 11. What is one great discourse 
 of His called? 12. What prayer did He give His disciples? 13. How does it 
 begin? 14. When do we say it? 
 
 jTr*maEEE 
 
 11 ■» " ■■ ■ ■■ »» ' " — « 
 
THE MINISTRY. 
 
 JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON.— Luke 7 : 14, 15. 
 
 JESUS SLEEPS DURING THE STORM.— Matt. 8: 24, 25. 
 
 285 
 
286 
 
 THE MINISTRY. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " I have compassion on the multitude." — Matt. 15 : 32. 
 
 UR Lord Jesus chose out twelve of His disciples to be 
 always with Him, and to teach and work with Him, 
 All the six you have heard of before were among 
 them, and there was another called Matthew, who 
 had been a rich man, but left all his riches to follow 
 our Lord. These twelve were called apostles. 
 I told you that the Jews were in two parties, called Pharisees 
 and Sadducees, and they used to quarrel and have many bad 
 
 SENDING FORTH THE TWELVE APOSTLES.— Matt, io : 5-7. 
 
 ways. When they found that Jesus blamed them, they were 
 very angry; and when He was called the Holy One whom God 
 promised, they said that the Christ would be a great king, and 
 that He was only pretending. But all the poor heard Him gladly ; 
 and when He was driven out of the towns, they came after Him 
 
THE MINISTRY. 287 
 
 into the hills and open places, and went everywhere they could 
 to hear Him. 
 
 One day, evening was coming on, and all these people had 
 been with Him all day, and had nothing to eat. He said to Philip, 
 "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" Philip came 
 from a village just below, but he did not know what to do. 
 
 Andrew said there was a little boy there, who had brought 
 
 DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.— Mark 6 : 27, 28. 
 
 five loaves and two small fishes; but what would they be among 
 so many? Indeed, the loaves were not like ours — only thin barley 
 cakes. But our Lord said, "Make the men sit down." 
 
 So they all sat on the grass ; and He gave thanks, and began 
 to give out to the apostles the bread and the fish, and they never 
 came to an end, but there was enough for all the five thousand; 
 and when they had all done, He told the apostles to gather up the 
 remains, that nothing might be lost. And there was enough to 
 fill twelve great baskets. 
 
288 
 
 THE MINISTRY. 
 
 JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.— John 6: io, n. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. How many disciples did our Lord choose? 2. What were they to be called ? 
 3. What were the names of the first six? 4. Who was the rich man? 5. Who 
 hated our Lord? 6. Why? 7. Wliy did they think He could not be Christ? 
 8. Where was He driven from ? 9. Where did he go ? 10. Who came after 
 Him? 11. What was all He had to feed them with ? 12. Who brought the five 
 loaves and two fishes? 13. Where did they sit? 14. What did our Lord do 
 first? 15. Who gave out the food ? 16. How much was left? 17. How many 
 had eaten? 
 
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THE MINISTRY. 
 
 289 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Be of good cheer ; it is I ; be not afraid." — Matt H : 27. 
 
 HE people whom Jesus had fed wanted to make Him 
 
 a king, but He would not be an earthly king; so He 
 
 told the apostles to row away across the lake, while 
 
 He went up alone into the hills to pray to His Father, 
 
 where the people could not find Him. 
 
 It was a rough night. The wind came down 
 from the hills, and tossed the lake up in great waves; and the 
 
 JESUS SUPPORTS THE SINKING PETER.— Matt. 14: 30,31. 
 
 apostles rowed with all their might, but they made little way. 
 But when the night was far on, they saw a Figure coming to 
 them, walking on the waves. They were frightened, and cried 
 out. Then the Figure said, "It is I; be not afraid !" and they 
 knew it was their Master, and were glad. 
 
 And Peter said, "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee 
 on the water.' ' So he came out of the boat, and as long as he 
 
 19-B.S. 
 
290 THE MINISTRY. 
 
 trusted in His Master, he could walk; but when he saw the wind 
 boisterous, he was afraid, and cried out, and then he began to 
 sink. 
 
 He called out, and Jesus put forth His hand and held him 
 up, saying, "0 thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?" 
 Then they were both taken into the boat, and the wind ceased, and 
 the lake was calm and still. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What did the people want to do? 2. Why did they want to make Jesus a 
 king ? 3. What did He do to get out of their way ? 4. Where did He bid the 
 disciples go? 5. What sort of night was it? 6. What happened to the apostles? 
 7. How did our Lord come to them ? 8. What did they do when they saw Him 
 first? 9. How did they know Him? 10. Who came out to Him on the water? 
 11. When was St. Peter safe? 12. When did he begin to sink? 13. What did 
 our Lord say to him? 14. What happened as soon as they were in the boat? 
 
 THE WELL OR FOUNTAIN AT NAZARETH. 
 
fovt^fifth 5unba£. 
 
 WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Young man, I say unto thee arise/ 7 — Luke 7 : 14- 
 
 f one can think how good and kind our 
 blessed Lord Jesus was. Once, when 
 He was going with His disciples into a 
 village called Nain, He met a funeral 
 coming out. People are not carried to 
 the grave in their coffins in the East; 
 but they are laid on a sort of bed called 
 a bier, with all their best clothes on, and 
 a wreath of flowers round the head. 
 
 The person who was now to be 
 
 buried was quite a young man, and he 
 
 was the only son of his mother, and she was a 
 
 widow. And when the Lord saw it, He had pity 
 
 on the poor woman, and He said to her, "Weep 
 
 not." Then He came and touched the bier, and the 
 
 bearers stood still. Then He said, "Young man, I say unto thee, 
 
 Arise." And he that was dead sat up and began to speak; and 
 
 our Lord gave him back alive to his mother. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was our Lord always doing? 2. What village was He going into? 
 3. What did he meet? 4. Who was going to be buried? 5. Had his mother 
 anymore sons? 6. And what was she? 7. How are people carried to their 
 graves in the East? 8. Who had pity on the mother? 9. What did He say to 
 
 291 
 
292 WONDERS OF OUR, LORD'S WORKING. 
 
 her? 10. What did He do? 11. What did he say to the dead man? 12. 
 What did the dead man do at once? 13. To whom was he given back? 14. 
 How came Jesus to be able to work such miracles? 15. Was not he most kind 
 and loving so to do ? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " His face did shine as the sun." — Matt. 17 : 2. 
 
 NLY once all the time He was in this world did our 
 Lord Jesus let His apostles see any of His glory, 
 and then it was only the three who believed in Him 
 best, and whom He kept the most with Him. 
 
 One night, He took Peter and James and John 
 out to a mountain with Him, as He was wont to do 
 when He was going apart to pray. They went to sleep; but 
 
 THE TRANSFIGURATION.— Luke 9 : 29-32. 
 
 when they woke, they saw Him in bright light and glory. His 
 face was shining like the sun, and His clothes were as white as 
 the light ; and there were two talking with Him, Moses and Elias. 
 And they were talking of how He was come to die at Jerusalem. 
 The three were afraid, but they were happy too; and Peter 
 
WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING. 
 
 THE GOOD SAMARITAN— Luke 10: 33, 34. 
 
 JESUS AND THE SISTERS OF BETHANY.— Luke 10 ; 41, 4- 
 
 293 
 
294 WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING. 
 
 said, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three 
 tabernacles; one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias;" 
 for, indeed, he hardly knew what he was saying. 
 
 And even as He spoke, a bright cloud came and hid the 
 wonderful sight from them, and then they found that no one was 
 with them but their Master, Jesus, looking as usual ; and He bade 
 them tell no one about what they had seen, until the Son of man 
 should be risen again from the dead. 
 
 THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON. -Luke 15 : 22. 
 
 They knew that their Lord was the Son of man; but they 
 could not think what He could mean by rising again from the dead. 
 
 This wonderful showing forth of His glory is called the 
 Transfiguration. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was the Transfiguration? 2. Who were allowed to see it? 3. Where 
 did it happen? 4. What was our Lord's face like? 5. What were His clothes 
 like? 6. Who came and talked to Him? 7. Who was Moses? 8. Who was 
 Elias ? 9. Do ,you remember what had become of Elias ? 10. What were Moses 
 and Elias talking about with Him? 11. What were the three apostles doing at 
 
WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING. 295 
 
 first? 12. What did Peter say when he woke? 13. What happened then? 14. 
 Who was left with them? 15. What did He forbid them to do? 16. When 
 might they speak of it? 17. What could not they .understand? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Suffer the little children to come unto me." — Mark 10 : 14.. 
 
 FTER His Transfiguration, our Lord Jesus often told 
 His apostles that He was going to be taken by the chief 
 priests at Jerusalem, and that He should be ill-used, 
 and beaten, and spit upon, and put to death on a cross ; 
 and that the third day He should rise again. But they 
 never could understand how this would be, for they had never 
 
 THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR.— Luke 16 : 19-21. 
 
 heard of rising from the dead ; and they were so sure that He was 
 Christ, and that Christ would be a great King, that they never 
 understood or believed that He was to die. 
 
 And sometimes they even disputed among themselves who 
 would be first and greatest in His kingdom. When they did this 
 
296 WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING. 
 
 our Lord called a little child, and took him, and set him in the 
 midst, and said that the greatest in His kingdom would be the 
 most like that little child; for only those who are ready to be last 
 here can be high up there. 
 
 The Lord loved little children. Once, when the mothers were 
 bringing their babies for Him to touch, the disciples wanted to 
 keep them away; but He said, "Suffer the little children to come 
 
 "SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME."— Mark to: 14. 
 
 unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of 
 heaven." 
 
 And then He took the little ones up in His arms, and put 
 His hands on them, and blessed them. And just so He embraces 
 and blesses the little children we bring to Him in church, though 
 we cannot see Him now ; and He is always glad to hear them pray. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What was the Transfiguration? 2. What did our Lord say would happen to 
 them? 3- Why would not the disciples believe it? 4. What did they dispute 
 about? 5. Whom did our Lord call? 6. What did He tell them? 7. What is 
 the way to be high in the kingdom of heaven ? 8 . Who were brought to Him ? 
 
WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORK IXC. 
 
 THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.— Luke 18 : n-is. 
 
 THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.— John n : 43, 44- 
 
 297 
 
tfort^sutb Sunba^ 
 
 GOING UP TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David." — Matt. 
 
 : SO. 
 
 .OR three years our blessed Lord 
 went about doing good and 
 teaching, generally in Galilee, 
 in the towns or on the hills, where 
 the people came out to hear Him; 
 and at the feasts, when people ought 
 to worship at Jerusalem, He used 
 to go up and speak to them in the 
 outer court of the Temple. 
 
 But there was a wicked high 
 
 priest named Caiaphas, who had 
 
 been set up by the Romans, and he 
 
 and the Pharisees and Sadducees all hated Jesus, because He 
 
 found fault with their evil ways, and they would not believe He 
 
 was the Christ, but wanted to put Him to death. 
 
 So whenever He came to Jerusalem it was more dangerous ; 
 and then they stirred up the chief men of Galilee, so that He 
 could not be in the town, but had to wander on the hills. Once, 
 when a man wanted to follow Him, He said, "Foxes have holes, 
 and the birds of the air have nests; but the, Son of man hath not 
 where to lay His head." 
 
 And at last, when His time was come, He set His face to go 
 to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, though He knew that He 
 
GOING UP TO JERUSALEM. 299 
 
 would be taken and put to death there, and so be the real Passover. 
 As He was going, two blind men, who sat by the roadside begging, 
 called out, "Have mercy on us, Lord, thou son of David!" And 
 He stood still and cured them both. 
 
 MARY ANOINTS THE HEAD OF JESUS.— Mark 14 : 1-11. 
 
 1. How long did our blessed Lord teaci 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 ■li ? 2. Where did He teach ? 3. When 
 did He go to Jerusalem? 4. What did He go to Jerusalem for? 5. Where did 
 He teach? 6. Who hated him? 7. Who was Caiaphas ? 8. Why did they 
 hate Him? 9. Where did they drive Him ? 10. W^hat did He say about hav- 
 ing no home? 11. When did He set His face to go to Jerusalem? 12. What 
 feast was He going to keep? 13. What did He know would happen to Him? 
 14. Whom did He cure as He was going? 15. What did the blind men cry out? 
 
300 
 
 GOING UP TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Hosanna to the son of David."— Matt. 21 : 9. 
 
 T was only the great rich wicked men that hated our 
 Lord. The common people heard Him gladly, and only 
 wanted Him to begin to be king. And they really 
 thought the time was come when He came up to Jeru- 
 salem. Just before He came in, He sent two of His 
 disciples to fetch a young ass on which no one had 
 ever sat, and on it He rode down Mount Olivet. 
 
 CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.— Matt. 21 : 8, 9. 
 
 Now, there was an old prophecy which said to Jerusalem, 
 "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an 
 ass." People remembered this, and began to receive Him like a 
 king; they spread their mantles on the ground before Him, and 
 others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the 
 way; and the people before and behind, especially the children, 
 cried out with all their might, "Hosanna to the son of David: 
 
GOING UP TO JERUSALEM. 301 
 
 Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in 
 the highest. Hosanna means, "save now." 
 
 The Pharisees were very angry, and bade Him stop them; 
 but He answered with the verse of a Psalm, "Yea, have ye never 
 read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained 
 strength?" 
 
 But as He looked at beautiful Jerusalem, He wept over the 
 city, for He knew that sad and dreadful punishments were coming 
 on it; and yet the people would not listen to Him, and be sorry, 
 and so be saved. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who loved our Lord? 2. What did they want Him to do? 3. What 
 made them think His reign was coming ? 4. How did He come into Jerusalem ? 
 5. What was the old prophecy? 6. What did the people do in His honor? 7. 
 What did they cry? 8. What does "Hosanna" mean? 9. Who were angry? 
 10. What did He say? 11. But why was He grieving? 12. What made Him 
 sorry for the city? 13. How were the people bringing sad punishment on them- 
 selves ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "My house shall be called the house of prayer." — Matt. 21: 13. 
 
 HE first thing our blessed Lord did at Jerusalem was 
 to go into the Temple; and there, in the courts, He 
 found people keeping shop, selling the lambs that 
 were wanted for the Passover, and doves for other 
 services, and changing the coin that strangers 
 brought for Jewish money. 
 This was very disrespectful to God, and He was angry. He 
 had driven them all out once, and they had come back, and now 
 they were doing it again. So He drove them all out, and told 
 them His Father's house was a house of prayer, but they had 
 made it a den of thieves. 
 
 No one dared to answer Him, and all that day and the next 
 He stood in the Temple, teaching the people, and showing the 
 
302 GOING UP TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 wickedness of the chief priests and Pharisees. It seemed as if 
 all the people of Jerusalem were ready to follow Him, and as 
 if He might begin His reign directly; but this was not what He 
 came for, and, as He well knew, the Pharisees were planning 
 against Him. 
 
 They wanted to get Him to say something that they could 
 
 JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS.— Matt. 21 : 13. 
 
 say was against the Law, so they asked Him many hard questions, 
 but His great wisdom put them all to silence, and made them 
 ashamed ; but they were so hard and wicked that they only hated 
 Him the more. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where did oar Lord go ? 2. What were the Jews doing there ? 3. Why 
 was this wrong? 4. What did He do to them? 5. Had He done this before? 
 6. What did He tell them? 7. Who was his Father? 8. What was His 
 Father's house? 9. What are our houses of prayer? 10. How must we behave 
 in them ? 11. Who were planning against Him? 12. But who followed Him 
 gladly ? 13. What did they want Him to be. 
 
3Fort\>-8eventb Sunday 
 
 THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 "Jesus knew that his hour was come." — John 18: 1. 
 
 HE chief priests grew more fierce 
 and bitter when they saw how all 
 men listened to the Lord Jesus. 
 They could do nothing to Him by 
 day, because the people would have 
 risen up to defend Him; so they 
 tried how to find Him alone and at 
 night, to take Him secretly. 
 
 Now, one of the twelve apostles, 
 named Judas Iscariot, was too fond 
 of money, and used to take for him- 
 self what was trusted to him to take 
 care of. So he went on from bad to 
 worse, till at last he did the dreadful 
 thing of promising the chief priests that he would show them 
 to some lonely place, where they could take his Lord and Master 
 prisoner; and then they were to pay him for this wickedness with 
 thirty pieces of silver. 
 
 Judas settled all this, and then he went back to our Lord and 
 the other eleven apostles just as usual, thinking they did not 
 know; but our Lord did know very well. But He bade the 
 apostles get ready the supper that was eaten the night before the 
 Passover, in a large upper room that was lent to them for it, and 
 there He sat down to eat with them. 
 
 303 
 
304 
 
 THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What feast was being kept at Jerusalem? 2. Why were the priests and 
 Pharisees angry ? 3. What did they want to do ? 4. Why did they not take 
 Him in the Temple ? 5. Where did they want to take him ? 6. Who said He 
 would show them the way? 7. What did they promise to Judas Iseariot? 8. 
 Who was he? 9. Then how came he to be so wicked? 10. Where did our Lord 
 go to eat His Last Supper? 11. Who were eating with Him? 
 
 JESUS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES FEET.— John 13 : 2-5. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "This do in remembrance of me." — Luke 
 
 19. 
 
 HEN our Lord and His apostles were eating the 
 Supper together, He was very sorrowful, and 
 said, "One of you shall betray me." The apostles 
 were grieved, and each said, "Lord, is it I?" And 
 He said, "He that dippeth his hand with me in the 
 dish, the same shall betray me." 
 And then, as the custom was, He dipped His piece of bread 
 
CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM, 
 
THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL. 305 
 
 in the dish in the middle of the table, and gave it to Judas. Then 
 the wicked man presently got up and went away. 
 
 And as they were still in the upper room, our Lord took 
 bread and broke it, and gave a piece to each of His apostles, and 
 said, "Take, eat : this is My Body, which is broken for you : this 
 do in remembrance of me." And He took a Cup of wine, and 
 said, "This Cup is the new testament in My Blood: This do, as 
 oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." 
 
 THE LAST SUPPER.— Matt. 26 : 26-28. 
 
 And that was the beginning of what we call the Holy Sacra- 
 ment of the Lord's Supper, "For as often as ye do eat of this 
 Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do show the Lord's death till 
 He come." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Who were eating together? 2. When was it? 3. Why was our Lord sor- 
 rowful ? 4. What did He say one of them would do ? 5. What did they all 
 ask ? 6. Who did He say it would be ? 7. What did He dip then ? 8. To whom 
 did He give it? 9. Who went away ? 10. What holy Sacrament did He ap- 
 point? 11. What did He take? 12. What did He say of the bread? 13. 
 20-B.S. 
 
306 THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL. 
 
 What did He then take? 14. What did He say of the wine? 15. What is the 
 outward sign of the Lord's Supper ? 16. What is the inward grace ? 17. What 
 does it show forth. 
 
 JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.— Matt. 2S : 38, 39- 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " Not as I will, but as Thou wilt."- 
 
 UPPER being over, and night coming on, our Lord went 
 out with His disciples to a garden, full of olive trees, 
 called Gethsemane, where He often used to pray. He 
 told them again on the way that they would soon all 
 be afraid, and leave Him; but Peter could not think 
 so, and said boldly that if everybody fell from Him, he 
 never would. But Jesus answered, "Verily, I say unto thee, that 
 this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." 
 
 Then He went on to the garden, taking only Peter, James, 
 and John into it with Him, and telling them to watch while He 
 went apart to pray. They were heavy and sorrowful, and could 
 
THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL. 
 
 307 
 
 not keep awake; but while He was praying, He was in the 
 greatest trouble and grief that ever anyone felt. 
 
 He knelt and prayed in an agony, till His sweat was as great 
 drops of blood falling down to the ground. For He was feeling 
 the sorrow for all the sin of all the world — the sorrow that belongs 
 to you and me. 
 
 The disciples heard Him say, "0 my Father, if it be possible, 
 let this cup pass from me : nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou 
 wilt." He came to them more than once, and called them, as if 
 He longed for them to comfort Him; but still they fell asleep 
 again, though He said, "What, could ye not watch with me one 
 hour? The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where did our Lord go then? 2. What was the garden full of? 3. What 
 did He say the apostles would all do ? 4. Who thought He never could leave 
 Him. 5. What did our Lord tell Peter ? 6. Whom did He take into the gar- 
 den ? 7. What were they to do ? 8. What great grief did He suffer ? 9. Why 
 did He suffer such agony? 10. What did he pray? 11. What could not the 
 disciples do? 12. What did He say at last? 13. What was their flesh? 14. 
 Was He angry? 15. But was He not much grieved that they did not comfort 
 Him? 
 
tfoxty*eiQhth 5unba\>. 
 
 THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss ? " — Luke 22 : £8. 
 
 UST as our Lord had wakened His three 
 apostles for the last time, there came a tread 
 of soldiers, and lanterns gleamed through 
 the olive trees. For Judas Iscariot, the 
 traitor, knew that his Master was apt to go 
 to the olive garden to pray at night, and he 
 was leading them, and he said to them, 
 Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He : hold Him 
 fast." And he came up first to Jesus, and said, 
 "Hail, master; and kissed Him." All our Lord said 
 was, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" 
 
 Peter tried to defend Him, and drew a sword and cut off the 
 ear of one of the servants ; but our Lord bade him put the sword 
 back into the sheath; and then, in His great love, our blessed 
 Lord touched the ear, and cured it in an instant, and begged that 
 all the disciples might be allowed to go their way. Indeed, they 
 were so much afraid that they all forsook Him and fled away, 
 except John and Peter, who both followed to see what would be 
 done with Him. 
 
 The soldiers dragged our blessed Lord to the house of the 
 high priest, Caiaphas, where his enemies tried to make out some 
 charge to bring against Him ; but as He was good and holy, and 
 had no sin at all, they could accuse Him of nothing. And when 
 
 308 
 
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 309 
 
 they asked Him questions, He answered them not a word, for 
 He knew that it was only to accuse Him. 
 
 While He stood at the upper end of the hall, John, who knew 
 one of the servants, had come in to the lower end, and had brought 
 in Peter with him. The chill of the morning had come on, and the 
 servants lighted a fire on the pavement, where Peter stood and 
 
 JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS.-Matt. 26: 48-50. ' 
 
 warmed himself. One of the maids there looked at him, and 
 asked if he did not belong to Jesus of Nazareth. Peter was afraid, 
 and said, "I know not what thou sayest." 
 
 But then another maid said, "This fellow was also with 
 Jesus of Nazareth./ ' Peter grew more afraid, and went on 
 declaring he did not know such a person; but presently another 
 servant said, "Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?" Again 
 Peter's fear of being punished for wounding the man in the 
 garden led him further astray, for he began to curse and swear, 
 and say, "I know not the man." Just then the cock crew, and 
 the Lord turned round and looked upon Peter. 
 
310 THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 That look went to his heart. He went out and wept bitterly; 
 and whenever he thought of his sin, he wept. 
 
 CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS.-Matt. 26 : 65,66. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Where was our Lord? 2. "What time was it? 3. Whom had He taken 
 with Him? 4. Who came up in the night? 5. Who was leading them? 6. 
 How did Judas show which was our Lord ? 7. What was he wicked enough to 
 say? 8. How did our Lord answer? 9. How did Peter try to save Him? 10. 
 What blow did He strike? 11. What command did our Lord give Peter? 12. 
 What did he do for the wounded man? 13. What care did He take for His dis- 
 ciples? 14. Who only followed Him ? 15. Where was our Lord taken? 16. 
 What did the chief priests try to find ? 17. Why could they find nothing to ac- 
 cuse Him of? 18. What had He said Peter would do? 19. What had Peter 
 then said? 20. Yet what did he do ? 21. What made Him deny? 22. What 
 did he answer ? 23. What brought his better mind back ? 24. What sound ? 
 25. What look ? 26. What did he do when he thought of his sin ? 
 
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 311 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter." — Isaiah 58: 7. 
 
 S soon as it was light, all the chief men of the Jews met 
 in the council chamber in the Temple, and had our 
 Lord brought before them. But no one could prove 
 that He had broken the law ; and whenever a story was 
 brought against Him, it turned out not to be true. 
 At last the high priest stood up and commanded Him to say 
 whether He were the Christ or not. He answered, "Thou hast 
 
 PETER DENYING JESUS —Luke 22 : 60,61. 
 
 said : nevertheless, I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son 
 of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the 
 clouds of heaven." 
 
 At this answer, Caiaphas and all the other enemies made a 
 great outcry, as if they were very much shocked, at His speaking 
 of Himself as the great Judge of all — namely, as God. 
 
 They all cried, "He is guilty of death;" and they began to 
 
312 THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 beat Him and strike Him; and they blindfolded Him, and struck 
 Him on the face, and bade Him say whose blow it was. And 
 all the time He stood gentle and patient, and said not one word 
 of complaint or anger. 
 
 Since the reign of the great wicked Herod, the Romans had 
 not allowed the Jews to put anybody to death without their leave ; 
 so the chief priests were obliged to take Jesus before the Roman 
 governor, Pontius Pilate. But it was not possible to find anything 
 that a Roman would think He deserved to be put to death for. 
 
 When the chief priests said that "by our law He ought to 
 die, because He made Himself the Son of God," Pilate only feared 
 to do anything against Him ; for he saw that there was no fault 
 in Jesus, but that the chief priests were spiteful, and hated Him. 
 
 Then the chief priests said that He called Himself King of 
 the Jews. This made Pilate more anxious, for to set up to be an 
 earthly king would have been rebelling against the Romans ; but 
 still he wanted to let Jesus go, because he saw that He was 
 innocent ; yet he did not like to offend the priests, who might have 
 accused him to the Emperor of Rome. Pilate saw what was just ; 
 but he was afraid, and cared for himself more than for his duty. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where did the chief priests meet? 2. Who was brought there before them? 
 3. What did they intend to do ? 4. But could they find any fault in Him ? 5. 
 So what did the chief priest ask Him? 6. What did He say? 7. What did 
 they all cry out ? 8. How did they begin to treat Him ? 9. How did He bear 
 it all? 10. How can we try to be like Him? 11. What were not the Jews 
 allowed to do? 12. Who had the power over them? 13. Before whom did the 
 chief priests take our Lord? 14. Who was Pilate? 15. What did Pilate think 
 of the charges against Him? 16. But why did not Pilate set Him free? 17. 
 Why was he afraid of His being called King of the Jews ? 
 
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 313 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 u Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be 
 granted unto you." — Acts 3: 14- 
 
 ILATE thought he had found a way of saving the Lord 
 Jesus without offending the Romans. It was the 
 custom that at the feast of the Passover he should 
 set some prisoner free, whomsoever the Jews asked 
 for. And he thought, as the people loved our Lord, 
 that they would ask for Him. 
 
 JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS.— Mark 15 : 16-19. 
 
 But there was a robber and murderer in prison named 
 Barabbas, and the enemies of our Lord went about among the 
 people, stirring them up to ask for him to be set free; so that 
 the poor, foolish people all broke out with a great shout to ask 
 that this murderer Barabbas might be set free. 
 
 Pilate asked them what he was to do with Jesus, and then 
 there was a great roar from all the people, "Crucify Him! 
 crucify Him! ,, 
 
314 THE TRTAL AND CONDEMNATION. 
 
 Now, crucifying was a very horrible and painful punishment, 
 that had never been allowed among the Jews, but was chiefly 
 used by the Romans themselves for slaves and for robbers; so 
 that their savage cry was for Jesus to have the punishment that 
 belonged to Barabbas. 
 
 Pilate's soldiers were very cruel, and they laughed at a poor 
 man being called a king; so when they had beaten the blessed 
 
 CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.— John 19 : 14-16. 
 
 Jesus till He was bleeding all over, they took one of their old red 
 soldiers' cloaks and threw it over Him ; and they platted a crown 
 of sharp thorns, and forced it upon His head; and they put a 
 reed in his right hand, instead of a sceptre ; and they bowed their 
 knees, mocking Him by pretending to do Him honor. 
 
 He never spoke one word of anger all this time; and when 
 Pilate saw His meek, brave, patient face, pale and faint with 
 pain, and streaming with blood, he thought the people would pity 
 Him; so he led Him out once more to the top of the steps of the 
 judgment hall, and said, "Behold the man !" But the people were 
 
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION. 315 
 
 too mad to have any pity or feeling, and they only cried louder and 
 louder still, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" 
 
 Pilate was not brave enough to go against them all, even to 
 save an innocent man ; so all he did was to take water and wash 
 his hands before them all, to show that he was clear of wishing it, 
 and he said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person." 
 But the chief priests made the dreadful answer, "His blood be 
 on us, and on our children!" meaning that they would take the 
 guilt and punishment. 
 
 THE END OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.— Matt. 27 : 3-5. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What plan had Pilate for saving our Lord? 2. Whom did he always set 
 free at the feast ? 3. Whom did he wish to set free ? 4. But whom did the 
 chief priests make them ask for? 5. Who was Barabbas? 6. What did they all 
 cry out? 7. What kind of punishment was crucifying? 8. To whom would it 
 naturally have belonged? 9. But who was going to bear the worst of punish- 
 ments? 10. How did the soldiers treat our Lord? 11. Why did they mock 
 Him ? 1 2. What did they put on His head ? 13. What did they dress Him in ? 
 14. What did they put in His hand? 15. What did Pilate hope to do? 16. 
 What did he say ? 17. What was the cry in answer ? 
 
dfort^nintb Sunba^ 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 They pierced my hands and my feet." — Ps. 22 : 16. 
 
 HEN the judgment was over, Pilate gave 
 up our Lord to the four soldiers who 
 were to crucify Him. His cross, a 
 heavy beam of wood, with another 
 fastened across it, was laid on His 
 shoulders, that He might carry it to 
 the place where He was to suffer — a 
 place named Calvary, outside the walls 
 of Jerusalem. 
 
 He was so weak and worn out 
 after the long sad night, the being 
 taken from one judge to another, and 
 the beating and tormenting, that He 
 could hardly walk under it; and the 
 soldiers met a man coming out of the 
 1 country whom they forced to carry it 
 after Jesus. 
 
 When they came to Calvary, the soldiers made the blessed 
 Jesus lie down on the beam of wood, and they stretched His arms 
 out on the cross-beam, and drove a large nail through each of the 
 palms of His hands into the wood, and another nail through His 
 feet; and then they lifted up the cross, with Him upon it, and 
 planted it in the ground, that He might hang there till He 
 should die. 
 
 And all He said while they were thus nailing Him were the 
 
 316 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 317 
 
 words, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!" 
 That was the great pain He bore to save us ! 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. Where was our Lord to be crucified? 2. Who led Him there? 3. Where 
 was it ? 4. What had He to carry ? 5. But who had to be called to help Him ? 
 6. Why was He so worn out? 7. What had they done to Him? 8. What was 
 the cross? 9. How was He fastened to it? 10. What was done to it then? 
 11. What prayer did He make? 12. For whom was He praying? 13. For 
 whom was He dying? 
 
 JESUS FALLS UNDER THE CROSS.— Luke 23: 27, 28. 
 
 " Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews."- 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 -John 19 : 19. 
 
 VER the head of the blessed Lord on the cross was a 
 tablet, with the words, "Jesus of Nazareth the 
 King of the Jews;" and on each side of Him was 
 another cross, with a robber upon it. 
 
 There He hung patiently, while the chief priests 
 and Pharisees passed by, mocking and laughing at 
 His pain, and crying out, "He saved others; Himself He cannot 
 
318 THE CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from 
 the cross, and we will believe Him." 
 
 Even the robbers at first joined in the cry; but by-and-by 
 one of them began to feel that He who was so patient and so great 
 in all that agony must truly be the Son of God; and he rebuked 
 his fellow, and said, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into 
 Thy kingdom !" And the Lord answered, "To-day shalt thou be 
 with me in paradise !" 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION.— John 19: 30. 
 
 His holy mother had come to stand by the foot of His cross, 
 and with her, her sister and some other women, and His beloved 
 apostle John. The Lord looked down at her, and said, "Woman, 
 behold thy son!" and He looked at St. John, and said, "Behold 
 thy mother!" And John took the blessed Virgin home with him, 
 and was always like a son to her afterward. 
 
 At noon-day, a dreadful darkness came over all the earth, 
 and it lasted for three whole hours, as if the very sun mourned 
 for Him who made it. Just at three o'clock, the blessed Lord 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION. 319 
 
 said, "I thirst;" and as one of the soldiers was touching His lips 
 
 with a sponge full of vinegar, He gave a great sad cry, "My God, 
 
 my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!" 
 
 Then presently he added, "It is finished ! Father, into Thy 
 
 hands I commend my spirit!" And He cried with a loud cry; 
 
 and so He, who was God and man in one, died for us men, and 
 
 for our salvation. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1 . What was set up over our Lord's head ? 2. Who were crucified on each 
 side? 3. How did the robbers behave at first? 4. How did one change? 5. 
 What did he say? 6. How did our Lord answer? 7. Who were standing 
 by His cross? 8. What did He say to His mother? 9. What did He say to 
 John? 10. What did John do for her? 11. What came over the earth ? 12. 
 How long did the darkness last? 13. What did our Lord cry out? 14. How 
 did a soldier try to quench His thirst? 15. What was His sad cry? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 "And rested the sabbath day." — Luke 23: 56. 
 
 IERE were some good people even among the chief 
 of the Jews ; and two of these, named Nicodemus and 
 Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pontius Pilate, and 
 asked him to let them bury the body of Jesus. People 
 generally were much longer in dying on the cross, so 
 Pilate sent to see if He was dead. 
 To make sure, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a 
 spear, and out came blood and water together. The robbers were 
 still alive, so the soldiers broke their legs, that they might die 
 sooner; and so the repenting one soon went to our Lord in 
 Paradise. 
 
 Then Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took the holy 
 body down from the cross, quite dead. Now, close by, Joseph had a 
 garden, and in it was a cave which he meant to be buried in, but 
 where no one had yet been laid. They carried our Lord's body 
 there ; and the good women who followed Him, Mary Magdalene 
 and the rest, wrapped it up in linen cloths and sweet spices. 
 
320 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION. 
 
 They wanted to do more for it; but it was getting late on 
 Good Friday evening, and the Sabbath or seventh day was counted 
 from sunset, and then they could do no manner of work. So they 
 had to wait till the Sabbath should be over; and Joseph rolled a 
 great rock to close up the door, and they went away in their grief. 
 
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 THE BURIAL OF JESUS.— John i 9 : 41,42. 
 
 And then came a guard of soldiers, whom the chief priests 
 had sent to watch the stone, for fear, as they told Pilate, that 
 the disciples should steal the body away in the night. So they put 
 seals, to make sure that no one should move the stone; and the 
 soldiers were set to watch. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who asked for our Lord's body? 2. What did Pilate want to know? 3. 
 How did they make sure that our Lord was dead ? 4. What was done to the 
 robbers? 5. Where did Nicodemus and Joseph take the body? 6. To whom 
 did the cave belong? 7. Who were there too? 8. How did they wrap the 
 body? 9. What did they put with it? 10. Why did they not do anymore? 
 11. What day was it? 12. What was the next day? 13. What is the Fourth 
 Commandment? 14. When did the Sabbath begin? 
 
jFtftfetb Sunba^ 
 
 «N 
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 ow is Christ risen from the dead/' — 1 Cor. 16 
 
 ^ s it b-ecnatft dfiwjv 
 
 HE holy women waited all 
 the Sabbath day in sorrow ; 
 and our Lord Jesus lay in 
 His grave. But, on the 
 night after, He rose up 
 from His grave, and came 
 forth again, for He is alive 
 for evermore. There was 
 a great earthquake, and an 
 angel came from heaven, 
 and rolled away the stone 
 from the door of the cave, 
 and sat upon it; and for 
 fear of him the keepers did 
 shake, and were as dead 
 men. 
 
 Very early in the morn- 
 ing, Mary Magdalene and the other women came with the sweet 
 spices they had prepared. They wondered who would roll away 
 the stone for them ; but when they came nearer, they saw that it 
 was taken away ; and when they went in, they saw that the body 
 of the Lord was gone. 
 
 They feared at first that some one had taken it away; but 
 behold, two men stood by them in shining garments, who said, 
 
 21-B.S. 
 
 321 
 
THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 THE RESURRECTION.— Matt. 28 : 2-4. 
 
 322 
 
 THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS.— Mark 16 : 5, 6. 
 
THE RESURRECTION. 323 
 
 "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is 
 risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." 
 
 And as the women went in great wonder to tell the disciples, 
 they saw -Jesus Himself, the same whom they had seen and 
 touched quite dead the day before yesterday, standing before 
 them, speaking kindly to them. So they held Him by the feet, 
 and worshipped Him. For never was there such wonderful joy 
 and gladness in all the world. 
 
 MARY MAGDALENE AT THE SEPULCHRE.— John 20: 11-13. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. What happened all the Sabbath? 2. What happened the night after? 3. 
 Who rose again ? 4. Who came down from heaven ? 5. What happened to the 
 soldiers ? 6. Who were the first at the grave in the morning ? 7. What did 
 they bring? 8. What did they wonder about? 9. What did they find? 10. 
 Who stood by them ? 11. What did the angels say ? 12. Who was living? 13. 
 Whom did they go to tell? 14. Who met them? 15. How did they show their 
 joy? 16. Why were they so very glad ? 17. What day was it? 
 
324 
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 "The Lord is risen."— Luke ££: #£. 
 
 T was the first day of the week that our Lord rose from 
 the dead, and we call that day the Lord's day, and 
 have kept it holy ever since, instead of the seventh. 
 But on that first day it seemed too wonderful. The 
 apostles had never understood when their Lord spoke 
 of dying and rising again ; and though the women said 
 
 they had seen Him, they were afraid to trust their word, and 
 
 thought it a mistake. 
 
 JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE.— John 20 : 16. 
 
 Later in the day, two of the disciples were walking to 
 Emmaus, a little village near Jerusalem, when a stranger came 
 and joined them. He asked why they were sad, and what they 
 were talking of. They told Him it was of Jesus of Nazareth, who 
 had been a great prophet, and they had hoped would have 
 redeemed Israel; but now He had been put to death the day before 
 
THE RESURRECTION. 325 
 
 yesterday, yet that some of the women said that they had seen a 
 vision of angels which said that He was alive. 
 
 Then the stranger began to show them, as they had never 
 seen before, that all the Old Testament meant that when the 
 Christ came, the Seed of the woman, He was to suffer, and save 
 the world before His kingdom and glory could begin; and their 
 minds understood, for they were opened to see and know the 
 Scripture, so that they were sure that Jesus was the Christ. 
 
 So they came to Emmaus, and went into a house; and the 
 stranger made as if He would have gone farther, but they pressed 
 Him to come in. 
 
 He sat down with them, and took bread and blessed and 
 broke it; and then their eyes were opened, and they knew it was 
 Jesus Himself ! And as they knew Him, He vanished out of their 
 sight. And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn 
 within us, while He talked with us by the way?" 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What day did our Lord rise? 2. What is it called? 3. Which day do we 
 keep holy? 4. Who could not believe yet? 5. W 7 here were two disciples going? 
 6. Who came and walked with them? 7. Who was it really? 8. Did they know 
 Him? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 " Peace be unto you." — Luke 24 : 36. 
 
 N the evening, the ten apostles were all together in the 
 upper room, with the doors close shut, for fear of the 
 Jews. There were only ten, for Thomas was not there ; 
 the wretched Judas had hung himself in his grief and 
 despair. 
 
 The two disciples came back from Emmaus, and 
 told how they had seen Jesus; and while they were telling about 
 it, though the door was not opened, they found Jesus Himself 
 standing in the midst, and they heard His voice say, "Peace be 
 unto you." 
 
326 THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 They were afraid at first; but again He said, "Why are ye 
 troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold 
 My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself : handle Me, and see ; 
 for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." Then 
 He showed them that there were the marks of the nails in His 
 hands and feet, and the spear- wound in His side; so that it was 
 His own real body that had come again from the dead. 
 
 JESUS APPEARS TO TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES.— Luke 24 : 15. 
 
 And while they could not believe for joy, and wondered, He 
 said, "Have ye here any meat?" And they gave Him a piece of 
 broiled fish and a honeycomb; and He ate with them, to make 
 them quite sure it was Himself. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where were the ten met? 2. "Why were there only ten? 
 
 3. Who were 
 
 away? 4. What had become of Judas? 5. Who had come home? 
 
 stood in the midst? 7. What did He say? 
 did He eat before them? 
 
 8. What did He show ? 
 
 6. Who 
 9. What 
 
jfift^-first Sunba^ 
 
 THE ASCENSION. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 " Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 
 
 -John 20: 29. 
 
 OUR blessed Lord Jesus did not stay with 
 His apostles as He did before His 
 death and rising. They did not see Him 
 after that first day for a whole week ; and 
 they could not make Thomas, who had not 
 been there when He came, believe that it 
 was true that any man could come again 
 from the grave. 
 
 He said He should never believe that 
 it was the Lord Himself, unless he could 
 put his fingers into the prints of the nails, 
 and his hand into the wound in the side. 
 
 The next Sunday evening, Thomas 
 and the other ten were all in the upper 
 room together, when Jesus came and stood 
 in the midst, and said to Thomas, "Reach 
 hither thy finger, and behold My hands; 
 and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it 
 into My side: and be not faithless, but believing." 
 
 Then Thomas knew Him indeed, and could only say, "My 
 Lord and my God." 
 
 And the Lord answered, "Thomas, because thou hast seen 
 me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen, and 
 yet have believed." And that is the blessing for all of us, who 
 
 327 
 
328 THE ASCENSION. 
 
 have not lived when our blessed Lord was on earth. We have not 
 seen Him, but we must believe in Him; and that faith is the 
 beginning of all goodness. 
 
 JESUS CONVINCING THOMAS OF HIS RESURRECTION.— John 20 : 26-29. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. What had happened on Easter-day ? 2. Who saw our Lord then? 3. Who 
 had not seen Him? 4. What could not Thomas believe? 5. What did He say? 
 6. What prints did he mean ? 7. When did our Lord come again? 8. Where 
 were the apostles? 9. Who was there this time? 10. Wliat did our Lord say 
 to him? 11. What did Thomas answer? 12. What did our Lord then say ? 
 13. Why had Thomas believed ? 14. But who are blessed? 15. Have we seen 
 our Lord? 16. But what must we do? 17. What is believing called? 18- 
 What begins with faith ? 
 
THE ASCENSION. 
 
 329 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 " Feed my lambs."— John 2 : 15. 
 
 UR Lord told His apostles to go into Galilee ; and there 
 some of them went out fishing on the lake, as they 
 used to do; but they fished all night, and caught 
 nothing. In the dawn of morning, they saw One 
 standing on the bank, and He said, "Children, have 
 ye any meat?" They said, "No." Then He said, 
 "Cast the net on the right side of the ship." And directly the net 
 
 JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES AT THE SEA OF TIBERIAS.— John 21 : 1-7. 
 
 was full of a hundred and fifty-three fishes, all large and good, 
 and it did not break ! 
 
 Then John knew who it was, and said to Peter, "It is the 
 Lord." And Peter was so glad, that he sprang out of the boat, 
 and came hurrying through the water to His Master's feet. 
 
 And Jesus said, "Come and dine;" and the disciples found 
 a fire ready lighted on the bank, with the broiled fish and bread ; 
 
330 THE ASCENSION. 
 
 and they ate with Him again, and felt His care after their long, 
 weary, hungry night. 
 
 When they had eaten, the Lord said, "Simon, son of Jonas, 
 lovest thou me more than these?" 
 
 "Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee," Peter answered. 
 
 "Feed my sheep," our Lord said. Then again He asked, 
 "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" "Yea, Lord, Thou 
 knowest that I love Thee," said Peter. "Feed my lambs," He 
 said; and again He asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me." 
 Then Peter was grieved, and said, "Lord, Thou knowest all things ; 
 Thou knowest that I love Thee." 
 
 And again Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." Peter knew that 
 our Lord is the Good Shepherd, and that His sheep and lambs are 
 the people and the children of His flock, the Church ; and that he 
 was to show his love for His Master by taking care of them. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Where did our Lord come to His disciples again? 2. What were they 
 doing ? 3. What time did He come ? 4. How did they know Him ? 5. Had 
 He ever done anything like this before? 6. Who knew Him first? 7. Who 
 sprang to Him first? 8. What did He give them to eat? 9. What question did 
 He ask Peter three times ? 10. What had Peter once done three times? 11. 
 What did Peter answer now? 12. What did our Lord three times bid him do? 
 13. Who is the good Shepherd? 14. Who are His sheep? 15. Who are His 
 lambs ? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " This same Jesus, which is taken up from yon into heaven, shall so come 
 in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. " — Acts 1 : 11. 
 
 ,OR forty days our Lord came in ways like what I have 
 told you to see and teach His disciples. Once, five 
 hundred of them saw Him together; but He never 
 came to the wicked unbelieving Jews again. 
 
 But when the feast of weeks was near, the 
 disciples went back to keep it at Jerusalem. There 
 our Lord came to them again, and He led the eleven apostles out 
 
THE ASCENSION. 331 
 
 with Him to the Mount of Olives. He taught them, and charged 
 them much; and He gave them a great command, "Go ye there- 
 fore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the 
 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to 
 observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, 
 I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' ' 
 
 And then He bade them stay at Jerusalem until they should 
 
 THE ASCENSION.— Luke 24: 50,51- 
 
 be endued with power from on high. And while He talked with 
 them, He was parted from them, and went rising up into heaven, 
 going higher and higher, till a cloud received Him out of their 
 sight. 
 
 While they still looked up after Him, two angels stood by 
 them, and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up 
 into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into 
 heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go 
 into heaven." 
 
332 THE ASCENSION. 
 
 And so it was that our blessed Lord Jesus ascended up to 
 His throne in heaven again, after He had been born, and lived, 
 and died to save us. And there He is in heaven, now watching 
 over us, and laying all our prayers before His Father in heaven, 
 and getting ready our home there for each of us. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. How long did our Lord stay below? 2. Where did the disciples go? 3. 
 Where did He take them with Him ? 4. What was the great charge He gave 
 them? 5. Whom were they to teach? 6. What were they to do to those whom 
 they taught? 7. In whose name were they to baptize them? 8. What were they 
 to teach them? 9. Who would always be with them? 10. What happened 
 while He was speaking? 11. Where did He rise? 12. "Who came to tell them 
 where He was gone? 13. What do we call the day? 14. When will He come 
 again ? 
 
jfift^seconb Sunba^. 
 
 O 
 
 THE WAITING-TIME. 
 
 FIRST READING. 
 
 I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he 
 may abide with you forever." — John 14-: 16. 
 
 UR Lord had told the apos- 
 tles that though He was 
 going to heaven, He would send 
 them another Comforter, who 
 would be with them for ever, 
 and in whom He Himself should 
 be present with them — even 
 God the Holy Ghost, who is One 
 with God the Father and God 
 the Son. 
 
 Ten days after He had 
 ascended up to heaven, on the 
 great day of the feast of weeks 
 (or, as we call it, Whitsunday) , 
 as the disciples were together 
 in one place at Jerusalem, they 
 heard a sound like the noise of 
 a rushing mighty wind, and it 
 filled all the house; and there 
 came flames like tongues divided in the midst, and sat on 
 the head of each disciple — not burning, but shining. 
 
 And wonderful knowledge came to all of them — they under- 
 stood all they could not understand before ; and they could speak 
 all sorts of different languages, without ever having learnt them. 
 These wonders were to show them that God the Holy Ghost had 
 
 333 
 
334 THE WAITING-TIME. 
 
 come down from heaven to be with them, and to dwell in them, 
 and help them, and make them strong for ever and ever. 
 
 ggg^jggggggggsgggs .; 
 
 TONGUES OF FIRE RESTING ON THE DISCIPLES.— Acts 2 : 2-4. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Whom had our Lord promised to send His disciples? 2. Who is that 
 Comforter? 3. Who is with us when God the Holy Ghost is with us? 4. How 
 long after our Lord's Ascension did He come ? 5. What feast was it? 6. What 
 do we call the day? 7. Where were the disciples? 8. How did they know 
 when God the Holy Ghost came down? 9. What did they hear? 
 
 SECOND READING. 
 
 " Abide in me." — John 15 : 4- 
 
 HE Lord God the Holy Ghost goes on coming and being 
 with us still. He does not show us when He comes 
 now, because it is more blessed to believe than to see ; 
 but we know He does come to each of us when we are 
 baptised, to help us and make us good. 
 
 The reason He made the apostles able to speak 
 all those languages, was that they were to go and teach all the 
 nations round the Gospel — that is to say, the good news that 
 
THE WAITING-TIME. 335 
 
 Christ was come, and had died for the sins of everyone, and risen 
 again. They did go and teach; and all who chose to believe and 
 belong to Christ's kingdom were baptised. 
 
 Then each of us receives the Presence of the Holy Ghost, to 
 help us to be good, and to keep God's holy law, the Ten Com- 
 mandments, that He gave on Mount Sinai. 
 
 More and more of that good help of the Holy Spirit is given 
 to everyone who comes, as our Lord bade, to take and eat and 
 drink of the bread and wine, by which we partake of the Body 
 and Blood of Christ ; and He gives all that we ask to us if we pray 
 to Him. For we belong to those nations that the apostles were 
 commanded to teach and baptise, and bring into the fold ; and we 
 belong to Jesus Christ just as much as His own first disciples did. 
 
 We are called Christians, after His name; and all the time 
 
 we live here, He takes care of us ; and if we serve Him, He takes 
 
 our souls to be with Him in Paradise, when death parts them 
 
 from our bodies. 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 1. Who stays with us still? 2. When does He come to us? 3. What does 
 He come to us for ? 4. Why did He teach the apostles to speak languages ? 5. 
 Where were they to teach the nations? 6. What does Gospel mean? 7. What 
 is the good news? 8. Who belong to His kingdom ? 9. What have we to do? 
 10. What are His laws? 11. W 7 ho will help us to keep them? 
 
 THIRD READING. 
 
 " We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth." — 
 2 Pet. 3: 13. 
 
 HE Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. We do not 
 know when it will be; but, sometime or other, He 
 will send His angel to blow a trumpet; and all that 
 are in their graves shall hear His voice, and their 
 souls will come back to their bodies ; and we shall all 
 be alive again; and if we have been good and holy, 
 we shall be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. 
 
336 THE WAITING-TIME. 
 
 For then He will come, with all His holy angels, and will 
 sit on a great white throne; and all that have ever lived will be 
 called before Him, and judged for all the things they have done, 
 and the words they have said. 
 
 And then those that have gone on doing wrong, and never 
 being sorry, and never caring for the Lord Jesus, but have made 
 Satan their master, will be given to Satan, to be in misery in 
 hell-fire for ever. 
 
 But those who have tried to do their best, and held fast to 
 our Lord Jesus, and prayed Him to wash them clean in His blood, 
 will be taken home for His sake. And they will have the happiest 
 and most blessed home that ever can be in heaven. There will be 
 all brightness, and no more pain, nor grief, nor sorrow; and the 
 Lord shall wipe off all tears from all eyes; and there shall be 
 gladness and joy for ever and ever. 
 
 The old earth will be burnt up ; but there will be new heavens, 
 and a new earth, all beautiful, with nothing that will hurt or spoil 
 ol* fade, but all lovely and peaceful. 
 
 And then there will be the great joy of singing the praise of 
 God, who made us, and saved us, and helps us to be good, for 
 ever and ever. 
 
 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and 
 is to come ! Alleluia ! 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 1. When will oar Lord come again? 2. What will He come for? 3. How 
 will the dead be waked ? 4. Who will be caught up to meet Him ? 5. What 
 will He sit on ? 6. Who will come before Him ? 7. What will everybody be 
 tried for? 8. Who will be punished? 9. Who will be saved? 10. What will 
 become of the old world ? 11. What will the new home be? 12. What sort of 
 place will it be? 13. Why will it be so happy? 
 
New Testament Story in Verse 
 
 By ANNE FLETCHER. 
 
 The Archangel's First Visit. 
 
 T"" WAS in the days of Herod — 
 * First king of that proud name — 
 Who reigned over Judea, 
 The land of Scripture fame. 
 
 A certain Zacharias, 
 
 Of the large, priestly force, 
 The temple of Jerusalem 
 
 Was serving in his course. 
 
 His wife, Elizabeth, belonged 
 
 To Aaron's favored line ; 
 And they were righteous before God, 
 
 And kept the law Divine. 
 
 But this couple had no children, 
 
 And they were very old ; 
 And lived alone, nor ever hoped 
 
 A son they should behold. 
 
 And it came to pass one morning — 
 
 As Scripture doth record- 
 That Zacharias burned incense 
 On the altar of the Lord ; 
 
 And outside the people waited, 
 And stood in silent prayer ; — 
 
 For in this way they worshiped 
 In that holy temple fair. 
 
 And, in that solemn season 
 
 To Zacharias' sight — 
 Standing beside the altar — 
 
 Appeared an angel bright. 
 
 22-B.S. 
 
 And the good priest was troubled, 
 When he saw the spirit form, 
 
 And fear fell on him, and he shook 
 Like willow in a storm. 
 
 But the angel said to him : "Fear not, 
 Thy prayer is heard in heaven, 
 
 And to thy wife, Elizabeth, 
 A son shall now be given. 
 
 "And thou shalt call the baby John, 
 And thou shalt have great joy ; 
 
 And many shall rejoice with thee 
 Over this precious boy. 
 
 "And he shall, in the holy sight 
 Of God, be great and high; 
 
 And wine, or ardent spirit, 
 
 His lips shall ne'er come nigh. 
 
 "The Holy Ghost shall early 
 
 Spread through his heart abroad, 
 
 And many of your ancient race 
 Shall he turn to their God. 
 
 "And in the power and spirit 
 
 Of Elias, he shall go 
 Before Him who is coming 
 
 To save the world from woe. ,, 
 
 Then Zacharias, in surprise 
 
 And overwhelming bliss, 
 Demanded of the angel: 
 
 "Whereby shall I know this ?" 
 
 337 
 
338 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 And the angel, answering, said: 
 
 "I am that Gabriel, 
 Who stand in God's high presence, 
 
 And am sent glad news to tell. 
 
 "And, now, because thou doubtest, 
 
 Behold thou shalt be dumb, 
 And shalt not speak, until the child 
 
 I have foretold has come." 
 
 Meanwhile the people waited till 
 The priest should come outside, 
 
 And marvelled at his long delay — 
 What could to him betide? 
 
 And, when to them he did appear, 
 And could not speak a word, 
 
 They knew that he had seen, within, 
 A vision from the Lord. 
 
 And so he served the temple 
 
 Until the day had come 
 When, his ministration over, 
 
 He departed to his home. 
 
 The Archangel's Second Visit. 
 
 QIX months, and, sent again from God, 
 *^ The angel Gabriel came 
 To a city of fair Galilee, 
 And Nazareth by name, 
 
 To a virgin, spouse to Joseph 
 
 Of David's royal race; 
 And the virgin's name was Mary, 
 
 Whose life was truth and grace. 
 
 The angel entered softly, 
 
 Where Mary sat alone, 
 Saying : "Hail ! the Lord is with thee, 
 
 Thou highly favored one." 
 
 But, when she saw the stranger, 
 Mary was troubled sore; 
 
 For such a salutation 
 
 She ne'er had heard before.. 
 
 But: "Fear not," said the angel, 
 "For, Mary, thou hast found 
 
 Favor with God, whose goodness 
 And mercy doth abound. 
 
 "And thou art greatly honored, 
 For God hath chosen thee 
 
 To nurse the high, anointed One 
 Whose name shall Jesus be. 
 
 "He shall be great, and shall be called 
 
 The high Jehovah's Son 
 And the Lord God shall give to Him 
 
 His father David's throne. 
 
 "And he shall reign o'er Jacob's house 
 
 For ever, evermore; 
 His Kingdom still shall flourish 
 
 When earthly reigns are o'er. 
 
 "Behold," he said, "Elizabeth, 
 Thy cousin, good and kind, 
 
 I've also promised her a son, 
 And the promise true she'll find. 
 
 "For God is the omnipotent, 
 
 All power is in His hand, 
 And nothing is impossible 
 
 To His Divine command." 
 
 Then Mary meekly said : "Behold 
 The handmaid of the Lord; 
 
 And let the honor be to me 
 According to thy word." 
 
 The angel then departed — 
 
 Ascending up above — 
 And left the gentle virgin bowed 
 
 In humble trust and love. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 339 
 
 Mary's Visit to Elizabeth. 
 
 jVFOW Mary felt a longing 
 
 *■ ^ To see her cousin dear, 
 
 And with Elizabeth to spend 
 
 A season of good cheer. 
 
 And so in haste, and early, 
 She started forth one day, 
 
 And journeyed to a city 
 In Judea's hills away. 
 
 For there dwelt Zacharias, 
 
 And Elizabeth so pure, 
 And, entering in, the virgin found 
 
 A welcome, warm and sure. 
 
 For the Holy Ghost gave token 
 To Elizabeth's glad heart, 
 
 That her visitor, in God's wise plan, 
 Should have a happy part. 
 
 Then out she spake, exultant, 
 
 "O, why to me accord 
 The honor of a visit 
 
 From the mother of my Lord? 
 
 "And blessed is she for evermore, 
 Who humbly hath believed, 
 
 For every word shall come to pass 
 Which she from God received." 
 
 And Mary said : "O, how my soul 
 
 Jehovah magnifies ! 
 And how my spirit joys in God, 
 
 My Saviour, 'bove the skies ! 
 
 "For He hath had regard unto 
 His handmaid's low estate, 
 
 And henceforth all shall call me blest- 
 The humble and the great. 
 
 "For He, the high and mighty One 
 Hath done to me great things, 
 
 And holy is His honored name ; 
 His praise my spirit sings. 
 
 "His mercy they that fear His name 
 
 Enjoy from day to day ; 
 From age to age it is the same, 
 
 And shall be so alway. 
 
 "And He hath shown abroad the strength 
 
 Of His almighty arm ; 
 For He hath chased the proud, who sought 
 
 To do the humble harm. 
 
 "He hath put down the mighty 
 From their haughty seats on high ; 
 
 And lifted up the lowly to 
 The region of the sky. 
 
 "His hand hath filled the hungry poor 
 
 With daintiest of food, 
 And the rich he hath sent empty 
 
 Away from hope of good. 
 
 "He hath come to the assistance 
 Of His servant Israel's race; 
 
 In remembrance of His mercy, 
 His promise and His grace, 
 
 "As He spake, in the beginning, 
 
 To Abraham, our head, 
 And to Jewish tribes for ever — 
 
 Naught hath failed of all He said." 
 
 After this the virgin Mary 
 
 With Elizabeth, so true, 
 Made a pleasant three months' visit, 
 
 Then to her home withdrew. 
 
 Now that great thing did come to pass, 
 
 Which Gabriel had foretold, 
 In the sacred temple service, 
 
 To Zacharias old. 
 
340 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 And soon Elizabeth received 
 
 The promised baby boy; 
 And gazing on the heavenly gift, 
 
 Her heart was filled with joy. 
 
 And all her friends and cousins, 
 
 To whom the tidings went, 
 Came with their gratulations, 
 
 Upon the glad event. 
 
 Then on the day of naming, 
 
 The parents both agreed 
 That John the infant should be called, 
 
 As Gabriel had decreed. 
 
 And the speech of Zacharias 
 
 Immediately returned; 
 He praised and glorified the Lord, 
 
 His heart with fervor burned. 
 
 And fear came on the neighbors all, 
 As these things were noised abroad ; 
 
 And they said : "What kind of child is this 
 Who comes, foretold of God? 
 
 But the hand of God rich blessings 
 On the babe, each day, bestowed ; 
 
 And the heart of Zacharias 
 
 With the Holy Ghost o'erflowed. 
 
 And he burst forth in thankfulness, 
 And praised, and prophesied 
 
 Of all the wondrous goodness 
 That should to men betide. 
 
 For the light of inspiration 
 
 Had shown to him, indeed, 
 That his son was the Elias, 
 
 Who should the Lord precede. 
 
 The Holy Child. 
 
 "D OME was the world's proud mistress, 
 A ^ And would tax her subjects all: 
 Thus every man, to his own town, 
 Received Imperial call. 
 
 And Joseph, wed to Mary, 
 
 Must go to Judah's land, 
 And, with the sons of David, 
 
 Must take his lineal stand. 
 
 Then, from Nazareth, he journeyed, 
 With his fair and gentle spouse 
 
 To Bethlehem of Judea, 
 The place of David's house. 
 
 But when — their journey ended — 
 
 They sought repose to win, 
 Their lodging was a stable, 
 
 So crowded was the inn. 
 
 And to that stable, lowly, 
 
 In humble, human guise, 
 There came a babe most holy, 
 
 Descended from the skies. 
 
 'Tis written that the angel 
 
 Had to the virgin come, 
 And told her that this Holy Child 
 
 With her should make his home. 
 
 And now a rosy light from heaven 
 
 On Bethlehem's city shone ; 
 And this was the first Christmas 
 
 The world had ever known. 
 
 For Jesus was the promised Christ, 
 
 So long ago foretold — 
 The King that all the Jewish race 
 
 Were longing to behold. 
 
 The Shepherds. 
 
 'y HE men, who watched the sheep that 
 * night, 
 
 Were seated on the ground, 
 When a glorious light from heaven 
 Shone brightly all around. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 341 
 
 And, lo ! an angel of the Lord 
 
 Appeared before their eyes, 
 And they were filled with sore affright, 
 
 With wonder and surprise. 
 
 The angel said to them : "Fear not, 
 
 For I have come to tell 
 News of the joyfullest event 
 
 The world has e'er befell. 
 
 "For, this day, unto you is born, 
 
 In David's' city fair, 
 A Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord, 
 
 And David's lineal heir. 
 
 "And this shall be a sign to you 
 
 That true is what I've said : 
 You'll find the babe in swaddling clothes, 
 
 And in a manger laid." 
 
 Then suddenly a crowd appeared 
 
 Of spirits, bright and fair, 
 And their glad voices, praising God, 
 
 Resounded through the air. 
 
 "Glory to God," they sweetly chant, 
 Who reigns in highest heaven, 
 
 And peace on earth for evermore, 
 And love to men be given. 
 
 Thus singing, shining, up they went 
 
 Away to heaven again; 
 And night and silence were restored 
 
 To ancient Bethlehem's plain. 
 
 "Come," said the shepherds, "let us go 
 
 Into the city old, 
 And see the strange, mysterious child, 
 
 Of whom we have been told." 
 
 And, leaving there their flocks, they went 
 
 Into the town near by; 
 And found the babe, as they had heard, 
 
 His gentle mother nigh. 
 
 And, having seen him, they made known, 
 
 To people all abroad, 
 The things that had been told to them 
 
 About the Son of God. 
 
 The people listened to the news 
 
 With very great surprise, 
 The wondrous things the shepherds heard, 
 
 And witnessed with their eyes. 
 
 But these strange things within her heart 
 
 The mother kept concealed, 
 And pondered o'er them, nor her thoughts 
 
 To any she revealed. 
 
 The shepherds, thrilled with gladness, 
 praised 
 
 The God of heaven above, 
 For all things they had heard and seen 
 
 Of His unbounded love. 
 
 Good Old Simeon. 
 
 1VT OW, when a week had passed, the babe 
 * Received the sacred sign 
 Which God to Abraham had given, 
 As covenant divine. 
 
 They gave him Jesus for his name, 
 
 According to the word 
 Of the archangel Gabriel, 
 
 Who stands before the Lord. 
 
 And, then, a few weeks later, 
 
 To Jerusalem they went, 
 Before the great Jehovah 
 
 The young child to present; 
 
 And to offer, on the altar, 
 
 In thankful sacrifice, 
 A pair of doves, or pigeons, 
 
 Of small and humble price. 
 
342 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 At that time, in the temple gate, 
 
 There was an aged saint, 
 Who waited for the promised Christ 
 
 Nor did his firm faith faint. 
 
 A just and righteous man was he, 
 And Simeon was his name, 
 
 And the Holy Ghost, with power, 
 Upon his spirit came. 
 
 And it was thus revealed to him 
 
 That he should never die, 
 Until his mortal eyes had seen 
 
 The Lord's Christ, from on high. 
 
 And he came, by the spirit, 
 
 The temple court within 
 Just as his earthly parents 
 
 Their infant child brought in. 
 
 Then Simeon took the Holy Child 
 
 Into his arms, and said: 
 "Bless Thee, my God, for all the way 
 
 Thou hast Thy servant led. 
 
 "And now let me depart in peace 
 
 According to Thy word, 
 Since my old eyes have haply seen 
 
 My Saviour and my Lord ; 
 
 "Whom Thou hast sent into the world, 
 
 To lighten all mankind, 
 And that Thy people, Israel, 
 
 Their precious Prince may find." 
 
 Then Joseph and the virgin 
 
 Were filled with great surprise 
 
 At the words that Simeon uttered — 
 So grave, devout and wise. 
 
 And Simeon blessed both parents, 
 
 And said to Mary then, 
 "This child is set that Israel 
 
 May fall and rise again ; 
 
 "And for a sign, which wicked tongues 
 
 Shall slander and indict, 
 And that the thoughts of evil hearts 
 
 May be exposed to sight." 
 
 The Prophetess. 
 
 HP HEN, also, lived one Anna, 
 * A prophetess, of God, 
 Who, in His faith and service, 
 Her way, through life, had trod. 
 
 She was an aged widow, too, 
 
 Daughter of Israel's race; 
 And, coming in that instant, 
 
 She joined in thanks and praise; 
 
 And then throughout the city went, 
 
 And told the glorious news 
 From house to house, wherever dwelt 
 
 The pious, hopeful Jews ; 
 
 Told that the great Messiah, 
 Long looked for, now had come, 
 
 An infant in a virgin's arms, 
 And in a lowly home. 
 
 The Wise Men. 
 
 ]\|OW, when this wondrous babe was 
 *■ ^ born 
 
 Into his low estate, 
 Another strange event occurred, 
 
 Which Scripture doth relate. 
 
 There dwelt, far off, in eastern land, 
 
 Wise men devout and good 
 Who nature's grandest mysteries 
 
 Revered and understood. 
 
 One night as eagerly they scanned 
 
 The splendors of the sky, 
 They saw a new, strange star appear 
 
 Among the worlds on high ; 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 343 
 
 And said it came thus suddenly 
 
 Important news to bring — 
 The sign that Balaam had foretold — 
 
 Of Israel's glorious King. 
 
 And when they reached Jerusalem, 
 "Where is your King?" they said, 
 
 "For we have come to worship Him, 
 And by his star were led." 
 
 This question greatly troubled 
 Proud Herod, on the throne, 
 
 For, in the land of Judah, 
 He would be King alone. 
 
 At once he called the priests and scribes, 
 
 Demanding they should tell 
 In what place had it been foretold 
 
 That Christ should come to dwell. 
 
 And readily they answered — 
 
 Nor waited to take note — 
 "In Bethlehem of Judea," 
 
 For thus the prophet wrote: 
 
 "Thou Bethlehem, in Judah's land, 
 Art not 'mongst princes small; 
 
 For out of thee shall come a Prince 
 And rule my people all." 
 
 Then Herod for the wise men called, 
 
 And, with foreboding fear, 
 He bade them tell him just what time 
 
 The star did first appear; 
 
 And said : "Go search in Bethlehem, 
 And when the babe you find, 
 
 I, too, will come and worship Him, 
 For thus I am inclined." 
 
 The wise men were rejoiced to see 
 The radiant star once more, 
 
 And gladly followed, as it led 
 The way to Joseph's door. 
 
 They opened, then, their treasures, 
 Gold, frankincense and myrrh — 
 
 Fit offering to a Prince Divine, 
 From reverent worshipper — 
 
 And joyfully bestowed their gifts 
 
 Upon the Son of Man — 
 And thus the custom, since observed, 
 
 Of Christmas gifts began. 
 
 The wise men to their lodging went, 
 For rest and sleep, that night ; 
 
 But God came to them in a dream, 
 Before the morning light; 
 
 And said, "To Herod ye shall not return, 
 
 Nor tell my Son's abode." 
 And so returning to their home, 
 
 They took a different road. 
 
 Away to Egypt. 
 
 A ND when they had departed thence, 
 •**■ To Joseph came a dream, 
 In which an angel of the Lord 
 Appeared and spoke to him : 
 
 "Rise, take the babe and mother, 
 
 And into Egypt flee. 
 For Herod seeks to kill the child — 
 
 Go, till I call for thee." 
 
 Then Joseph rose, obedient, 
 
 And while it still was night, 
 With the young child and mother, 
 
 To Egypt took his flight. 
 
 Then cruel, wicked Herod, 
 
 When the wise men told him naught, 
 Or let him know what house contained 
 
 The babe whose life he sought, 
 
 Sent forth his brutal servants 
 
 To kill each little boy, 
 In and around old Bethlehem — 
 
 Each mother's hope and joy; 
 
844 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 All — every tender nursling, 
 From two years old and less ; 
 
 Nor heeded Rachael's weeping, 
 Her mourning and distress. 
 
 But wicked, wicked Herod, 
 
 Who would be king alone, 
 Was soon thereafter called to die, 
 
 And leave Judea's throne. 
 
 And now the wrathful tyrant 
 Has no more power to harm; 
 
 And his fierce and jealous hatred 
 No more can cause alarm. 
 
 To Joseph, down in Egypt, 
 
 Now comes another dream, 
 Wherein an angel of the Lord 
 
 Appears again to him ; 
 
 And says : "Now, back to Israel's land 
 
 With child and mother go ; 
 For he, the murderer, is dead, 
 
 Who was the infant's foe." 
 
 Then Joseph rose and willingly 
 
 Obeyed this new command, 
 And, taking child and mother, 
 
 Returned to Israel's land. 
 
 But hearing Archelaiis 
 
 Was king in Herod's room, 
 He turned aside to Galilee, 
 
 Which was his former home; 
 
 And dwelt in Nazareth city, 
 
 Thus plainly may be seen 
 The truth of Scripture words : "He shall 
 
 Be called a Nazarene." 
 
 And there the blessed Jesus 
 Spent childhood's simple days, 
 
 And, as he grew, waxed strong and wise 
 By God's unholding grace, 
 
 The Child in the Temple. 
 
 TVTOW, every year, these parents 
 * ^ Jerusalem did seek; 
 To keep the feast of passover, 
 And spend the holy week. 
 
 And when the child was twelve years old, 
 
 They did as heretofore ; 
 And went up to Jerusalem, 
 
 The road oft traveled o'er. 
 
 They kept the feast as usual, 
 And, then, with cheerful mind, 
 
 Returned the way that they had come — 
 But Jesus stayed behind. 
 
 The parents traveled all day long, 
 
 Believing that their Son, 
 Somewhere, among the company, 
 
 Was coming safely on. 
 
 But when, at evening, they encamped, 
 And sought for Him around, 
 
 To their surprise and sore distress, 
 He was not to be found. 
 
 Still seeking Him they turned their face, 
 
 And traveled back again, 
 The old road to Jerusalem ; 
 
 But seeking was in vain. 
 
 For three days long they went about, 
 
 Within the city lines, 
 Then, in the temple, found the lad, 
 
 Among the great divines. 
 
 He sat and heard the doctors talk, 
 And asked them questions wise ; 
 
 And all who listened were amazed 
 At his profound replies. 
 
 And His parents were astonished 
 When they beheld Him thus, 
 
THE CHILD CHRIST, MARY HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH 
 
 JESUS RENDERED OBEDIENCE, NOT ONLY TO MARY, BUT TO JOSEPH— LUKE 2 : 51, 
 
346 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 And Mary said : "O why, my son, 
 Hast thou so dealt with us ? 
 
 "Thy father, Joseph, and myself 
 Have three days sought for thee, 
 
 And sorrowed greatly, fearing we 
 Thy face no more would see." 
 
 Then Jesus, gravely, said to them : 
 "Wherefore my absence mourn? 
 
 My Father's work I have to do, 
 Till I to Him return." 
 
 And Mary, in her inmost heart, 
 
 Did secretely confine 
 The things He did, the words he spoke, 
 
 This wondrous Child Divine. 
 
 And Jesus rich in wisdom grew, 
 As passed the years of youth, 
 
 And gained the favor of all men, 
 By virtue and by truth. 
 
 John the Baptist. 
 
 TVTOW, in the fifteenth year, when 
 * ^ reigned 
 
 Tiberias Caesar grand, 
 And Pontius Pilate, under him, 
 
 Ruled over Judah's land, 
 
 And three of Herod's sons controlled 
 The regions North and East, 
 
 And Annas and Caiaphas were 
 Appointed, each, high priest, 
 
 The word of God came unto John — 
 
 Old Zacharias' son — 
 Who, in Judea's wilderness, 
 
 Had dwelt and prayed alone. 
 
 His raiment was of camel's hair, 
 
 There in his strange retreat, 
 While locusts and wild-honey 
 
 Comprised his only meat. 
 
 He preached where flowed the Jordan 
 Down through Judea's land ; 
 
 Saying : "Repent ye, for the kingdom 
 Of heaven is at hand." 
 
 Now, the people all expecting 
 
 Their Messiah at that time, 
 Mused in their hearts if John were not 
 
 That prophet most sublime. 
 
 So the Jews sent priests and Levites, 
 
 Down from Jerusalem, 
 To see this new, strange preacher, 
 
 And closely question him. 
 
 And, "Who art thou?" they asked of him, 
 
 And humbly he confessed 
 "I'm not the Christ, looked for by you, 
 
 Nor with such honor dressed." 
 
 "What then? Art thou Elias?" 
 He said : "Not that I know." 
 
 Art thou a risen prophet?" 
 He firmly answered, "No." 
 
 Then said they : "Tell us who thou art, 
 
 That we may answer give 
 To them that sent us thither 
 
 Some knowledge to receive." 
 
 He said: "I am the voice of one 
 Who through the land doth cry, 
 
 'Make straight, as said Esaias, 
 The way of the Most High.' " 
 
 The messengers were Pharisees, 
 Who said : "Why then baptize, 
 
 If thou be not the promised Christ, 
 Or he that should arise ?" 
 
 John answered: "I, indeed, baptize 
 With water from the stream ; 
 
 But there is one among you now 
 Of whom you do not dream. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 347 
 
 " Tis He who cometh after me, 
 The latchet of whose shoes, 
 
 Because He is so mighty, 
 I'm not worthy to unloose. 
 
 "And He shall, with the Holy Ghost, 
 
 Baptize you and inspire, 
 And fill your souls with power divine, 
 
 And with celestial fire. 
 
 "Whose fan is in His hand, and He 
 Will -thoroughly purge His floor; 
 
 And gather up His wheat, but then, 
 With fire the chaff devour." 
 
 And many other things said he, 
 
 Exhorting all who heard ; 
 And preaching unto them, with zeal, 
 
 The Gospel's precious Word. 
 
 Emmanuel. 
 
 A ND in those days it came to pass 
 ** That Jesus — Holy One — 
 From Nazareth came to Jordan, 
 To be baptized of John. 
 
 For He had reached just thirty years, 
 
 The age the law declared 
 Those called into the priesthood, 
 
 For service were prepared. 
 
 But John forbade Him, saying, 
 
 "'Tis I have need to be 
 A subject of Thy baptism, 
 
 And comest Thou to me?" 
 
 And Jesus, answering, said, to him, 
 
 "Suffer it now, for thus 
 To keep the law of righteousness, 
 
 It well becometh us." 
 
 Then, meekly, and with solemn awe, 
 
 Did John the Lord baptize, 
 And when the heavens were parted wide, 
 
 He saw, with great surprise, 
 
 As Jesus felt the water, and 
 
 With humble reverence prayed — 
 
 The Holy Ghost descending, like 
 A dove, upon His head. 
 
 And a voice, in tones majestic, 
 
 Came from the heavens, so bright, 
 
 Exclaiming, "This is my beloved Son, 
 In whom I take delight." 
 
 The Temptation. 
 
 ^T HEN Jesus, with the Spirit filled, 
 A And soul exalted high, 
 Was led from Jordan's bank into 
 The wilderness near by, 
 
 To be tempted of the devil — 
 
 Who in evil most delights. 
 There He, with wild beasts, made his home 
 
 For forty days and nights. 
 
 After this the Lord was hungry, 
 When the devil came, and said, 
 
 "If thou'rt the Son of God, command 
 These stones to be made bread." 
 
 But He answered, "It is written, 
 Man doth not live by bread alone, 
 
 But by each word, proceeding 
 From God, upon the throne." 
 
 The devil then conducts Him through 
 
 The holy city, fair, 
 And sets Him on the temple roof, 
 
 High in the ambient air ; 
 
 And says to Him, "If so Thou be 
 
 The Son of God, indeed, 
 Cast thyself down from hence, and for 
 
 Thy safety take no heed ; 
 
 "Since it is written, 'Unto God 
 
 In danger thou shalt flee, 
 For to His angel band He gives 
 
 A charge concerning thee.' " 
 
348 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Then Jesus unto him replied, 
 
 "Again the written word 
 Rebukes presumption and declares, 
 
 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord." 
 
 Again the devil takes Him up 
 
 Into a mountain — high, 
 And shows Him all the kingdoms of 
 
 The world, both far and nigh. 
 
 And saith unto Him, "All these things 
 
 Will I give unto thee 
 If Thou wilt own my princely power, 
 
 Fall down and worship me." 
 
 Then Jesus called him by his name, 
 "Satan," He said, "be gone, 
 
 For it is written, 'Worship pay 
 To Israel's God alone.' " 
 
 Then, thus repulsed, the devil fled, 
 
 Pursued his wicked way, 
 And angels came and ministered 
 
 Unto their Lord that day. 
 
 The Meeting with John. 
 
 r "T HE next day Jesus, calm and pure, 
 * Was walking all alone, 
 Down, near the banks of Jordan, 
 When He was seen by John ; 
 
 Who said, while pointing unto Him, 
 "Behold the Lamb of God, 
 
 Who takes the world's dark sin away, 
 And bears the awful load." 
 
 Again did Jesus walk, when John 
 
 With two disciples stood, 
 Who, looking on Him, said to them, 
 
 "Behold the Lamb of God!" 
 
 And the disciples, at this word, 
 Followed where Jesus went; 
 
 Who, turning, gently asked of them, 
 Their purpose and intent. 
 
 "Master," they said, "Where dwellest 
 thou?" 
 
 He answer, "Come and see." 
 They went, and stayed with Him that day, 
 
 In holy converse free. 
 
 Now, one of these men was Andrew, 
 Who, filled with thoughts profound, 
 
 And, meeting his brother, Simon, 
 Said, "We the Christ have found." 
 
 And brought him straight to Jesus, who 
 
 Said to him, as he came, 
 "Thou'rt Simon, son of Jonah, now 
 
 "Cephas shall be thy name." 
 
 The Meeting with Nathanael. 
 
 HP HE following day would Jesus 
 •*• Return to Galilee ; 
 And, finding Philip, saith to him, 
 "Come thou and follow me." 
 
 Then Philip found Nathanael, 
 
 And, unto him, he saith, 
 "We've seen the Christ of proohecy 
 
 Jesus of Nazareth." 
 
 Nathanael answered shortly, 
 
 "Thinkest thou can it be 
 That good come out of Nazareth?" 
 
 Saith Philip, "Come and see." 
 
 When. Jesus saw Nathanael come, 
 
 Him did He kindly greet ; 
 "Behold an Israelite," He said, 
 
 "In whom is no deceit." 
 
 Nathanael asked, "Whence know'st thou 
 me?" 
 
 "Beneath the fig tree's shade, 
 Before that Philip called to thee, 
 
 "I saw thee/' Jesus said. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 349 
 
 Nathanael said to Him, "Rabbi" — 
 With wonder overawed — 
 
 "Thou art the King of Israel, 
 Thou art the Son of God." 
 
 "Because I told thee," Jesus said, 
 "I saw thee 'neath the tree, 
 
 Believest thou? Yet shall thine eyes 
 Much greater wonders see. 
 
 "For thou shalt see bright angels, 
 Through heaven's open span, 
 
 Ascending and descending 
 Upon the Son of man." 
 
 The Marriage at Cana. 
 
 '"P HE third day spent in Galilee 
 * There was a marriage feast ; 
 In Cana was the wedding held, 
 And Mary was a guest. 
 
 And Jesus, to this marriage feast 
 Received a formal call — 
 
 The wondrous Gospel Teacher, 
 With His disciples all. 
 
 And when more wine was wanted, 
 
 The mother of the Lord 
 Requested Him to show His power, 
 
 And wine to them afford. 
 
 But Jesus answered, "Woman, 
 My youthful days are o'er, 
 
 And to direct my actions 
 
 Should be your part no more. 
 
 "To show to men, by miracles 
 My power, the wondrous sum, 
 
 'Tis mine to choose the proper time 
 Which has not fully come." 
 
 Then, Mary to the servants said, 
 "Hark what He saith to you ; 
 
 And, whatsoever it may be, 
 That thou shalt surely do." 
 
 And there were set six waterpots, 
 That cleanly Jews might reach 
 
 To wash their hands, and they contained 
 Two or three firkins each. 
 
 Jesus unto the servants said — 
 Who paid respect to Him — 
 
 "These vessels all with water fill;" 
 They filled them to the brim. 
 
 Then He commanded, "Draw out now, 
 
 And bear a cup well filled 
 Unto the ruler of the feast;" 
 
 And they did as He willed. 
 
 And the ruler, when he tasted 
 The wine from water made, 
 
 Not knowing how it was produced, 
 Unto the bridegroom said: 
 
 "Each man who spreads a feast, sets 
 forth 
 
 Good wine at first, of course, 
 And, when the guests have drunk it all 
 
 Produces what is worse. 
 
 "But never at a marriage feast 
 Has bridegroom done as thou 
 
 Who gave poor wine at first and kept 
 The good wine until now." 
 
 Thus, by this first of miracles, 
 
 Did Jesus show His power, 
 And His disciples knew Him Christ, 
 
 From that important hour. 
 
 Driuing Out the Money- Changers. 
 
 TP HEN the Jews* passover drew nigh, 
 * And to Jerusalem 
 Went Jesus, and His followers 
 The journey made with Him. 
 
350 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 But when they reached the temple court 
 A market there they found ; 
 
 Creatures on sale, for sacrifice, 
 And merchants sitting round. 
 
 Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, 
 And drove them all outside, 
 
 And, angered by their wickedness, 
 The money scattered wide. 
 
 And the disciples then recalled 
 The Psalmist's ancient word, 
 
 "I have been eaten up with zeal 
 Unto thy house, my Lord." 
 
 Then said the Jews, "We want to see 
 
 What evidence you show 
 That you possess authority 
 
 Such things as these to do ?" 
 
 "Cast down this temple," Jesus said, 
 
 Let its proud walls decay, 
 And I will raise it up again, 
 
 Ere three days pass away." 
 
 They answer, "Forty years and six 
 
 This temple took to build, 
 And wilt thou rear it in three days ? 
 
 Art thou so strangely skilled?" 
 
 But of his body thus he spoke, 
 
 A temple strong to view, 
 And the disciples, when He rose, 
 
 Recalled that word most true. 
 
 Now, while in old Jerusalem, 
 
 At the passover feast, 
 Jesus performed great miracles, 
 
 By which His fame increased. 
 
 Yet He gave not His confidence 
 
 To any, great or small, 
 Because He read the human mind 
 
 And knew the hearts of all. 
 
 And needed not to be informed 
 That man is weak and vain, 
 
 Who will applaud and honor now, 
 And persecute again. 
 
 A Ruler of the Jews. 
 
 'T' HERE was a man, a Pharisee, 
 ■*■ One of the chosen race, 
 Who, in the council of the Jews, 
 Maintained an honored place. 
 
 The same to Jesus came by night, 
 Saying, "Rabbi, well we know 
 
 Thou art from God, for no mere man 
 Such miracles can do." 
 
 Jesus replied, "Thou dost believe, 
 
 Yet such a faith as thine 
 Is naught, unless thou undergo 
 
 An inward change divine. 
 
 "Except a man be born again, 
 
 I truly say to thee, 
 The holy kingdom of his God 
 
 His eyes shall never see." 
 
 Then Nicodemus said, surprised, 
 "How can a man, when old 
 
 Become a little babe again, 
 Such wonders to behold?" 
 
 And Jesus answered, "Verily, 
 The birth of which I speak 
 
 Is by the Spirit's gracious power, 
 Which every one must seek. 
 
 "That which is born a little babe 
 
 Is but a fleshly frame, 
 But inward birth to all imparts 
 
 The Spirit's living flame. 
 
 "And, as the way the wind doth blow 
 Is not known by the sound, 
 
 So shalt thou feel, but not discern, 
 The inward change profound." 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 351 
 
 Then Nicodemus asked again, 
 "How can these things be so?" 
 
 Christ answered, "Dost thou rule thy race 
 And yet these things not know? 
 
 "I verily declare to you 
 
 The truths that are divine, 
 And ye receive not in your heart 
 
 These precious words of mine. 
 
 "If I have told you earthly things 
 
 And you do not believe, 
 How shall you of these heavenly things, 
 
 My truthful words receive? 
 
 "And no man hath ascended up 
 
 To heaven's throne, above, 
 But the eternal Son of man, 
 
 Who hath come down in love. 
 
 "And as a serpent Moses raised, 
 
 Upon on upright pole, 
 That those who felt a poisonous bite 
 
 Might look and be made whole, 
 
 "So must the Son of man be raised — 
 In hate, and wrath and strife — 
 
 That whoso shall believe on Him 
 May have eternal life. 
 
 "For God so loved this sinful world 
 
 He gave His only Son, 
 That those who should believe on Him 
 
 Might find their heaven begun. 
 
 '•For God sent not His Son below 
 
 The wicked to condemn: 
 But that, through Him, salvation might 
 
 In mercy reach to them. 
 
 "He that believes is saved from death, 
 But he that doubts must die ; 
 
 Because he has rejected, thus, 
 The Son of God, most high. 
 
 "And this is what condemns their lives, 
 
 That light is shining clear, 
 And men love darkness lest their deeds 
 
 Of evil should appear." 
 
 John the Baptist. 
 
 A FTER these things did Jesus go 
 ** Forth into Judah's land, 
 Attended by his followers, 
 A faithful holy band. 
 
 John in his holy zeal baptized 
 
 The people all around, 
 In Aenon, near to Salim, 
 
 Where water did abound. 
 
 And John's disciples told him all — 
 
 How Jesus, too, baptized, 
 And crowds of people went to Him ; 
 
 But John was not surprised. 
 
 He answered, "Man can nothing take, 
 
 Except to him 'tis given, 
 And to baptize with water 
 
 Was my command from Heaven. 
 
 "And ye, yourselves, can witness true 
 
 I said, I am not He — 
 The Christ, the long expected one — 
 
 He cometh after me. 
 
 "Full happy is the bridegroom, but 
 His friend, which standeth near, 
 
 Rejoiceth in his happiness, 
 So I am filled with cheer. 
 
 "He will go on, in power and might, 
 
 His glory must increase ; 
 While I, His humble forerunner, 
 
 Must dwindle and decrease. 
 
 "He that descendeth from above 
 
 Is Lord and King of all; 
 While he that is mere earthly man 
 
 Is tainted by the fall. 
 
352 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 "He that from heaven comes to earth — 
 The mighty Prince and Lord — 
 
 Tells men what He has seen and heard, 
 And none receive His word. 
 
 "Yet he that hath received His word 
 
 Hath set his loyal seal, 
 That God's eternal righteousness 
 
 He doth to man reveal." 
 
 But John's bold, fearless preaching 
 Now, suddenly, must cease — 
 
 How truly he had prophesied 
 Unto himself decrease ! 
 
 Wicked Herod. 
 
 TJ EROD, tetrarch of Galilee, 
 ■*■ * John's teaching oft did seek, 
 Thought him a just and holy man, 
 And gladly heard him speak. 
 
 Yet Herod had a wicked heart, 
 And crime had stained his name, 
 
 For he lived with his brother's wife, 
 And none had dared to blame. 
 
 But John, with holy courage, had 
 
 Condemned his sinful life, 
 And said, "It is not right for thee 
 
 To have thy brother's' wife." 
 
 Therefore, the woman hated him — 
 
 Herodias was her name — 
 And would have killed him if she could, 
 
 With neither fear nor shame. 
 
 But Herod she persuaded, 
 
 To seize the preacher bold, 
 And in a dungeon's gloomy cell 
 
 His prisoner to hold. 
 
 Now, when the news of this event 
 To Jesus had been brought, 
 
 While in the land of Judah, 
 
 Where He baptized and taught, 
 
 And He well knew that word unto 
 
 The Pharisees had gone, 
 How, in His mission here and there, 
 
 He plainly favored John, 
 
 He left Judea's flowerey land, 
 And turned His face again 
 
 To Galilee, His early home, 
 In Herod's proud domain. 
 
 Yet neither horse nor chariot had 
 
 This royal Son of God ; 
 But traveled humbly and afoot 
 
 The hot and dusty road. 
 
 The Woman at the Well. 
 
 TJ IS way lay through Samaria, 
 1 A And, as the noon was high, 
 He came to Jacob's ancient well, 
 The town of Sychar nigh. 
 
 And, wearied with His journey, 
 He by the well sat down, 
 
 While His disciples went to buy 
 Some food within the town. 
 
 Then, presently, a woman came — 
 
 A daughter of the land, 
 To draw some water from the well- 
 
 Her pitcher in her hand. 
 
 And Jesus, full of pitying grace, 
 Beyond what we can think, 
 
 Looked gently in the woman's eyes, 
 And said, "Give me to drink?" 
 
 And thus, this poor Samaritan, 
 Who knew but sin and shame, 
 
 Was led to seek the living draught, 
 Found in Messiah's name. 
 
 And she, that single pupil, heard, 
 By the old patriarch's well, 
 
 The greatest, grandest lesson 
 That e'er from Jesus fell. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 353 
 
 And she believed. O, woman fair, 
 Though fallen thou hadst been, 
 
 The Searcher of all hearts in thee 
 The seed of faith had seen; 
 
 And traveled through Samaria, 
 
 To meet you, and to tell 
 The new and wondrous doctrine 
 
 That you received so well. 
 
 And now came the disciples back, 
 Who wondered that He taught 
 
 One humble woman there alone, 
 Yet wherefore no man sought. 
 
 But the woman left her pitcher, 
 
 And to the city went, 
 And told to every one she met 
 
 The wonderful event; 
 
 How she had seen a traveler, 
 
 Sitting by Jacob's well, 
 Who all her secret history 
 
 Did accurately tell. 
 
 And, "Come and see him !" she exclaimed, 
 'Tor he the Christ must be ; 
 
 Such wisdom, dignity and grace 
 None e'er possessed as He." 
 
 Meanwhile the Lord's disciples 
 Before Him set some meat, 
 
 And urging Him with gentle words, 
 Said, "Master, come and eat." 
 
 But, in that hour, no mortal food 
 His craving want could fill, 
 
 His heart and mind were wholly set 
 To work His gracious will. 
 
 'Twas now the harvest day of souls, 
 
 In old Samaria's fields, 
 And He would gather all the fruit 
 
 That faithful labor yields. 
 
 So He, in answer to the call 
 
 That He partake of food, 
 Taught the great lesson to all men 
 
 Of always doing good. 
 
 And, now, came the Samaritans 
 And begged the Lord to stay 
 
 And lodge within their city's walls, 
 And teach them every day. 
 
 And He who hearkens when we ask, 
 Complied with their request; 
 
 And in their city He abode 
 Two days, an honored guest. 
 
 And many of those men believed 
 He was the Christ — the Lord, 
 
 When they beheld His holy life, 
 And heard His gracious word. 
 
 The Nobleman's Son. 
 
 A ND, now, upon His journey bent, 
 **■ He turned His eager face 
 To tread the road to Galilee, 
 Urged on by love and grace. 
 
 And on before Him went His fame. 
 
 'Mongst Jews both great and small, 
 And teaching in their synagogues, 
 
 Was glorified of all. 
 
 And He was well received by them — 
 
 The men of Galilee — 
 Who, at the feast of passover, 
 
 His miracles did see. 
 
 There was a certain nobleman, 
 
 Who in Capernaum dwelt; 
 Whose son was sick, and nigh to death, 
 
 And great concern he felt. 
 
 But hearing Jesus had returned 
 
 To Galilee, was glad, 
 And hastened to Him, to entreat 
 
 That He would heal the lad. 
 
 23-B.S. 
 
354 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Then Jesus said, to try his faith, 
 
 "Unless ye wonders see 
 Ye will not yield your hearts to God, 
 
 Nor yet believe on me." 
 
 To this remark the nobleman 
 
 Made no direct reply ; 
 But said : "Oh, Sir, come down with me 
 
 Before my child shall die." 
 
 Jesus responded : "Go thy way, 
 
 Thy son doth surely live ;" 
 And the man went, nor did he doubt 
 
 The word the Lord did give. 
 
 And as he traveled to his home, 
 
 His servants came to meet, 
 And tell him that his son was well ; 
 
 His joy was now complete. 
 
 He asked them when the child improved, 
 
 And they, in answer, said 
 "The seventh hour of yesterday 
 
 The burning fever fled." 
 
 That very hour, the father knew 
 
 Had Jesus said he lived ; 
 And he, himself, and all his house, 
 
 On Christ, the Lord, believed. 
 
 In the Synagogue. 
 
 Tp HEN Jesus came to Nazareth, 
 * His childhood's quiet home; 
 And, as to teach on Sabbath days 
 His custom had become, 
 
 He, in the synagogue, stood up, 
 
 To read the holy Book ; 
 And the writings of Isaias, 
 
 When handed Him, He took; 
 
 And opened it, and found the place 
 Wherein the prophet spake 
 
 Of Israel's Messiah, 
 
 Who should their bondage break. 
 
 He read the text, distinct and clear, 
 Then closed the Book again, 
 
 And took His seat, while on Him gazed 
 The eyes of all the men. 
 
 And He began to say to them : 
 
 "This day, in all your ears, 
 This holy Scripture is fulfilled, 
 
 After so many years." 
 
 And they, in awe and wonder, heard 
 His words of grace and truth, 
 
 And said : "Is not this Joseph's son, 
 Whom we have known from youth ?" 
 
 But soon their kind and gentle mood 
 
 Began to disappear, 
 Because He told them homely truths 
 
 They did not wish to hear. 
 
 At last, the fickle people rose 
 
 In wild and wicked wrath, 
 Seized Him, and roughly led Him up 
 
 The sloping, hillside path; 
 
 That, in their raging anger, they 
 Might cast Him headlong down 
 
 The precipice, one side the hill, 
 On which was built their town. 
 
 But He passed through their very midst, 
 
 An unfelt, spirit shape ; 
 And left them, standing wonder-struck 
 
 At this most strange escape. 
 
 And so He went from Nazareth; 
 
 His home was there no more ; 
 But in Capernaum He dwelt, 
 
 And showed His grace and power. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 355 
 
 The Draught of Fishes. 
 
 ONE day the Lord stood by the shore 
 Of lake Gennesaret; 
 And watched the fishermen, as there 
 They pulled the outspread net. 
 
 And, as He stood, the people came, 
 And pressed upon Him round, 
 
 To hear Him preach the Gospel news, 
 Which they so precious found. 
 
 Then Jesus, seeing Simon's ship 
 Was anchored close at hand, 
 
 Stepped quick aboard, and gave command 
 To push a space from land. 
 
 And, sitting down, He taught the throng 
 
 Who crowded on the shore, 
 And heard, with joy, such heavenly truth 
 
 As ne'er was preached before. 
 
 The sermon ended, then He bade 
 
 Simon launch out for fish; 
 And Simon answered that he would, 
 
 If 'twere the Master's wish, 
 
 But added : "We have toiled all night, 
 Nor sleep nor rest have sought, 
 
 But through the water dragged out nets, 
 And yet no fish have caught." 
 
 Still, while he spoke, he launched the ship 
 
 Out on the waters wide, 
 And let the net down in the sea, 
 
 The vessel's' rail beside. 
 
 And lo ! at once, with fish 'twas filled, 
 
 A multitude so great 
 That the strong net came wide apart, 
 
 So heavy was their weight. 
 
 The fishermen their partners called 
 
 To bring another ship ; 
 And soon both vessels were quite full, 
 
 And sinking in the deep. 
 
 Then Simon Peter, in amaze, 
 
 At Jesus' knees fell down ; 
 And said : "O Lord, depart from me, 
 
 My sins to Thee are known." 
 
 But Jesus gently said to him : 
 "Thou need'st not be afraid ; 
 
 From henceforth thou shalt sinners catch, 
 By my Almighty aid." 
 
 And when they brought their ships to land, 
 They — Peter, James and John — 
 
 Forsook their vessels and their friends 
 And followed Christ alone. 
 
 The Unclean Spirit. 
 
 TV] EXT Sabbath, in the synagogue, 
 * ^ When He stood forth to teach, 
 The people wondered at His force, 
 And mighty power to preach. 
 
 And one was there within whose breast 
 
 A devil foul had sway ; 
 Who, held in bondage most unclean, 
 
 Yet sought to praise and pray ; 
 
 But, by the devil moved, cried out, 
 And called the Lord by name; 
 
 Declaring that he knew Him well, 
 And also whence He came. 
 
 Then Jesus to the devil said : 
 "Silence and come thou forth;" 
 
 Who came forth, hurting not the man, 
 But casting him to earth. 
 
 And all the people were amazed 
 
 At what they saw that day, 
 And said, "With power doth He speak, 
 
 And spirits vile obey." 
 
 And the news spread round the country, 
 And was told from place to place, 
 
 Of the wonder-working prophet, 
 And this miracle of grace. 
 
356 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Simon's Wife's Mother. 
 
 \ I J HEN Jesus left the synagogue 
 
 " * He did not go alone, 
 But with Simon and with Andrew, 
 Followed by James and John, 
 
 And entered into Simon's house, 
 Where they besought His aid, 
 
 For the kind mother of Simon's wife 
 Was in a fever laid. 
 
 The raging fever quickly fled 
 
 At His divine behest, 
 And she arose and ministered 
 
 To every waiting guest. 
 
 Casting Out Devils. 
 
 lVrOW, when the sun was setting low 
 * ^ They brought all the diseased ; 
 He laid His hands on every one ; 
 To heal them He was pleased. 
 
 And many devils He cast out 
 By His command and power ; 
 
 And all the people quickly came 
 Together at the door. 
 
 The devils He forbad to speak, 
 As they around Him trod — 
 
 For one and all acknowledged Him 
 The Christ— the Son of God. 
 
 And so the word Esaias spoke, 
 Foretelling Him, came true: 
 
 "Himself bare our infirmities, 
 And all our sickness knew." 
 
 The next morn, rising early, 
 
 Before the break of day, 
 He went out to a desert place, 
 
 To meditate and pray. 
 
 And Simon and his company 
 Went after Him, and said: 
 
 "All seek for Thee and are amazed, 
 Supposing Thou hast fled." 
 
 He said to them : "I go to preach 
 
 In other cities too ; 
 For therefore came I down from heaven, 
 
 To teach the Gospel true." 
 
 And He preached in their synagogues 
 
 Throughout all Galilee ; 
 While, from before Him, as He went, 
 
 He made the demons flee. 
 
 Healing a Leper. 
 
 A ND now it came to pass, one day, 
 *** When in a certain town, 
 A leper, seeing Jesus, came, 
 And on his face fell down. 
 
 And worshipped, and beseeching Him, 
 Said : "Lord, if but Thou please, 
 
 Thou hast the power to make me clean, 
 From this most foul disease." 
 
 At once the Lord put forth His hand, 
 
 And, with a gracious touch, 
 Said : "It doth please me — be thou clean ;" 
 
 Thus prayer availeth much. 
 
 But Jesus charged him not to tell 
 
 The miracle abroad; 
 But go straightway unto the priest, 
 
 And offer gifts to God. 
 
 Yet so much more His fame went forth, 
 
 And multitudes came near, 
 That He might heal their sicknesses, 
 
 And they His words might hear. 
 
 But He stayed in the desert drear 
 While blazed abroad the news, 
 
 Fearing they would proclaim Him King, 
 And thus provoke the Jews. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 357 
 
 After some days He came again 
 
 Into Capernaum ; 
 And it was quickly noised abroad 
 
 The Master was at home. 
 
 The Man Sick of the Palsy. 
 
 A XD many people gathered, till 
 **■ The house could hold no more; 
 Grave doctors and proud Pharisees 
 Thronged in and round the door. 
 
 Ann Jesus preached, and taught them all 
 The precious, Gospel Word; 
 
 And healed the sick who recognized 
 The power of the Lord. 
 
 And now behold a kindly act: 
 
 A bed is borne by four — 
 On which one sick of palsy lies — 
 
 Near to the crowded door. 
 
 And when they cannot enter in, 
 
 They to the roof ascend ; 
 And, breaking it, let down the bed 
 
 On which is laid their friend. 
 
 Thus to the sick man Jesus spake : 
 
 "Thy sins are all forgiven." 
 And then the scribes said in their hearts, 
 
 "Who thus blasphemeth Heaven?" 
 
 Immediately the Lord perceived 
 Their thoughts, and answer gave, 
 
 "Which is the easier, from sin 
 Or from disease to save? 
 
 "But that ye now may learn the fact, 
 And know it from this hour, 
 
 That to forgive all sin on earth 
 The Son of man hath power;" 
 
 He said unto the sick man: "Rise, 
 Take up thy bed and bear 
 
 It on thy shoulders hence away, 
 And to thy house repair." 
 
 Immediately the man arose, 
 To perfect health restored; 
 
 And taking up his bed, went home, 
 And glorified the Lord. 
 
 The Calling of Matthew. 
 
 1VIOW, after this, as Jesus passed 
 
 Where customs were received, 
 He saw a man named Matthew sit 
 And, knowing he believed, 
 
 Said to him only : "Follow me," 
 
 And Matthew, leaving all, 
 Rose up and the disciples joined, 
 
 At this most simple call. 
 
 Then Matthew — sometimes Levi called- 
 
 Prepared a splendid feast, 
 Inviting a great company, 
 
 With Jesus, honored guest! 
 
 But Matthew was a publican, 
 On whom the Jews did frown, 
 
 And so were many of his friends, 
 Who at the feast sat down. 
 
 And thus the scribes and Pharisees 
 
 To the disciples said : 
 "With publicans and sinners vile 
 
 Why doth your Lord eat bread?" 
 
 Then Jesus said : "Not to the well, 
 
 But sick, are doctors sent; 
 And I came, not to call the good, 
 
 But sinners to repent. 
 
 The Pool of Bethesda. 
 
 O OON after this, again the feast 
 ^ Of passover came round, 
 And Jesus, at Jerusalem, 
 All worshipful was found. 
 
358 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 For, to fulfill all righteousness 
 
 He taught the people all, 
 And joined the service in God's house 
 
 At every stated call. 
 
 Now, in Jerusalem, there is 
 
 At the sheep-gate a pool, 
 Bethesda called in Hebrew phrase, 
 
 Five-porched, of water full. 
 
 And in these porches lay a throng, 
 Diseased and racked with pain; 
 
 Blind, halt and withered, hoping from 
 The water help to gain. 
 
 For, sometimes, down an angel went 
 
 And tossed the quiet pool; 
 And who could, after, step in first, 
 
 Was sure to be made whole. 
 
 And one poor sufferer lay there, 
 
 On that unhappy ground, 
 Who eight and thirty tedious years 
 
 Infirmity had bound. 
 
 When Jesus, passing, saw him lie, 
 He knew his wretched case; 
 
 And He who shares His peoples' woes, 
 Looked down with pitying grace ; 
 
 And kindly asked the man : "Wilt thou 
 
 Be healed of thy disease?" 
 Well knowing that no earthly boon 
 
 Could more the cripple please ; 
 
 Who answered, in dejected tone, 
 "Sir, I have no kind friend — 
 
 Whene'er the water is stirred up — 
 His kindly help to lend. 
 
 "But while with slow and painful steps, 
 
 I try to move alone, 
 Another suff'rer gets down first, 
 
 Whose limbs are good and strong ;" 
 
 Then Jesus said : "Rise, lift thy bed, 
 
 And walk with it away." 
 Immediately the man obeyed; 
 
 And 'twas the Sabbath day. 
 
 The Jews who met him, therefore, said: 
 
 "Thou'rt doing very wrong, 
 Upon this holy, Sabbath day, 
 
 To bear thy bed along." 
 
 He answered them : "The man who did 
 
 The wondrous work on me, 
 Of healing by His own command 
 
 My long infirmity — 
 
 "He said: Take up thy bed and walk,' 
 
 And, instantly, there came 
 A healthful glow through all my limbs, 
 
 With power to do the same." 
 
 Then asked they him : "What man is he, 
 
 Who thus irreverent spake, 
 Commanding thee thus wickedly 
 
 The Sabbath law to break?" 
 
 But the healed man knew not the friend 
 Who did him so much good ; 
 
 For Jesus bore Himself away 
 To escape the multitude. 
 
 But afterward, as Jesu^ taught 
 
 Within the temple gate, 
 He found this man and said to him, 
 
 "Behold thy healthy state; 
 
 "Now sin no more, lest worse should come 
 
 Upon the guilty soul." 
 Then went the man and told the Jews 
 
 Twas Jesus made him whole 
 
 Therefore the Jews did persecute 
 
 The Lord and seek to slay, 
 Because He did these wondrous things 
 
 Upon the Sabbath day. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 359 
 
 But Jesus preached to them the truth, 
 In language strong and clear ; 
 
 And happy were they who believed, 
 And lent a willing ear. 
 
 The Man With a Withered Hand. 
 
 A GAIN, as in the synagogue, 
 ** The Lord on Sabbath taught, 
 A man who had a withered hand 
 His kind attention sought. 
 
 And scribes and Pharisees around 
 Watched if the Lord would use 
 
 His power to heal upon this day, 
 That they might Him accuse. 
 
 But He, who knew their evil thoughts, 
 
 Unto the sufferer said : 
 "Arise, and stand forth in the midst ;" 
 
 And the poor man obeyed. 
 
 Then He, to those who watched Him, said : 
 
 "I one thing ask of you; 
 Is it on Sabbath days correct 
 
 Evil or good to do?" 
 
 But they replied not, then He said : 
 
 "What man among you all 
 Shall have one sheep which on this day 
 
 Into a pit shall fall ; 
 
 "And he will not lay hold on it, 
 
 And quickly lift it out? 
 That man is better than a sheep, 
 
 You surely cannot doubt. 
 
 "Wherefore 'tis lawful thus to do 
 Good on the Sabbath days ;" 
 
 And He looked on them with surprise, 
 Grieved by their wicked ways. 
 
 Then to the man who meekly stood, 
 Waiting the Lord's command, 
 
 In centre of the synagogue, 
 
 He said: "Stretch forth thine hand." 
 
 And though the hand hung helpless down, 
 The heart with faith was strong; 
 
 And instantly ran vital force 
 The arm's whole length along. 
 
 Then went the haughty Pharisees 
 
 And the Herodians rude, 
 And held a council to destroy 
 
 Him who did only good, 
 
 But Jesus, knowing it, withdrew, 
 Still followed by the crowd ; 
 
 He healed them all, but charged that they 
 Speak not His name aloud. 
 
 The Twelve are Chosen. 
 
 A ND then up to a mountain's side, 
 ** One day, the path He trod, 
 And there alone He bowed Himself 
 All night in prayer to God; 
 
 And in the morning called all those 
 Who Him their Master claimed, 
 
 And, from amongst them, chose out 
 twelve, 
 Whom He apostles named. 
 
 And He ordained this favored few, 
 
 With privilege to each 
 To be with Him when He so willed, 
 
 Or be sent forth to preach ; 
 
 And to have power to heal the sick 
 The dumb, the halt, the blind, 
 
 And cast all evil spirits out, 
 That vex and curse mankind. 
 
 And these were the twelve chosen men : 
 
 Simon, to whom the Lord 
 Had given the name of Peter — 
 
 A stone, both strong and hard ; 
 
 And Andrew, Simon's brother, and 
 
 The sons of Zebadee, 
 Bold James and John, whom Jesus said 
 
 Should Boanerges be, 
 
360 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Which means the sons of thunder, and 
 
 Philip, Bartholomew, 
 Matthew and Thomas, James and Jude, 
 
 Both sons of Alpheus true; 
 
 Simon, who was a Canaanite — 
 
 By Luke Zelotes named — 
 And Judas called Iscariot; 
 
 Traitor, for evil famed. 
 
 Healing the Sick. 
 
 T T E then descended to the plain, 
 * * To seek for food and rest, 
 When all the people of the land 
 In crowds around Him pressed. 
 
 The weary sick and those who felt 
 The pangs of racking pain, 
 
 And others vexed with devils hoped 
 From Him relief to gain ; 
 
 And, following, sought to touch Him, 
 As power from Him had flown ; 
 
 But in compassion He beheld 
 And healed them, every one. 
 
 The Sermon on The Mount. 
 
 A GAIN, up to the mountain side 
 -**• He went, and took His seat; 
 And His disciples followed Him, 
 And gathered round His feet. 
 
 And lifting up His eyes on them, 
 He raised His voice to teach, 
 
 Declaring those exalted truths 
 He came on earth to preach. 
 
 He told them, first, the blessedness 
 
 Of purity and grace; 
 And that the souls most like to God 
 
 Should see the Father's face. 
 
 Then told them of their high estate, 
 
 Their privilege sublime, 
 To upright stand, and shed forth light 
 
 Upon the realms of time. 
 
 And taught them of the moral law, 
 
 And of the law of love, 
 For heart and spirit to be kept, 
 
 All human laws above. 
 
 In simple words He framed for them 
 
 A solemn, fervent prayer, 
 By which they could approach to God, 
 
 And on Him cast their care. 
 
 He taught that, if their neighbors' faults 
 
 Were lovingly forgiven, 
 They all might claim in humble faith 
 
 The Fatherhood of Heaven. 
 
 Then charged them 'gainst the error made 
 
 From that time until now, 
 That men to different mastors 
 
 Allegiance can avow. 
 
 "For God," He said, "ye cannot serve, 
 
 And mammon serve beside ; 
 In love to one and not to both, 
 
 Your spirit must abide." 
 
 He then the precious lesson taught 
 
 Of God's vast providence, 
 Which is our faithful guardian, 
 
 And our secure defence. 
 
 The little songsters of the air, 
 
 The lilies of the field, 
 Are fed, and clothed, from day to day, 
 
 While they no forethought yield. 
 
 And man, much better in His sight — 
 
 How little faith has he, 
 To doubt the providential care 
 
 That all his needs can see! 
 
362 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 "Seek first the kingdom of your God, 
 
 His righteousness divine, 
 And all the stores of earthly good 
 
 Shall graciously be thine." 
 
 The Preacher then went on to charge 
 'Gainst judging others' sin — 
 
 Those fond of spying evil deeds, 
 Should with their own begin. 
 
 And they who ask, or seek, or knock, 
 
 God never will deny; 
 And men to other men should do 
 
 As they would be done by. 
 
 And it is wise to enter in 
 
 The narrow way and straight; 
 
 And shun the way where many go — 
 The wide and open gate. 
 
 Though men may openly appear 
 
 What they are not within ; 
 Yet you shall know, if in their lives 
 
 You see the fruit of sin. 
 
 For every good and perfect tree 
 Doth faultless fruit bring forth ; 
 
 But when you see an evil tree, 
 Its fruit is nothing worth. 
 
 And each tree bearing not good fruit 
 
 Into the fire is cast; 
 Wherefore, 'tis by their deeds ye know 
 
 The doom of all, at last. 
 
 "Not every one who says to Me ; 
 
 "Lord, Lord,' shall enter heaven; 
 But he that does my Father's will ; 
 
 And knows his sins forgiven. 
 
 "Many will say to me that day: 
 T've done good in Thy Name;' 
 
 I never knew you, I will say, 
 I disregard your claim. 
 
 "Therefore, who hears these words of 
 mine 
 
 And doth not doubt or mock, 
 Is like a man who wisely built 
 
 His house upon a rock. 
 
 "And the rain fell and floods came on, 
 And winds blew fierce and long; 
 
 But that house stood, securely firm, 
 On its foundation strong. 
 
 "And every one that hears my words 
 
 And disobeys, shall stand 
 Like to a foolish man, who built 
 
 His house upon the sand; 
 
 "And the rain fell and floods came on, 
 And winds blew round and round 
 
 Upon that house, and soon it fell 
 In ruins on the ground." 
 
 The Centurion's Servant. 
 A ND, now, when Jesus entered 
 **• Into Capernaum; 
 A Centurion besought Him for 
 A servant, sick at home. 
 
 "I will come," He said, "and heal him." 
 The Centurion answered: "Lord, 
 
 I am not worthy Thou should'st come, 
 But only speak the word. 
 
 "For I, myself, am in command, 
 
 And whatsoe'er I say 
 To one, or to another man, 
 
 They instantly obey." 
 
 When Jesus heard him, in surprise 
 
 He said to those around : 
 "I verily, in Israel, 
 
 Such great faith have not found." 
 
 Then said to the Centurion : "Go, 
 Thy faith the work has sealed ;" 
 
 And in the self -same hour he found 
 His servant had been healed, 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 363 
 
 Raising the Widow's Son. 
 
 IT came to pass upon the day 
 Succeeding this event, 
 That as He journeyed on His way, 
 Much people with Him went. 
 
 Along the road He traveled on, 
 
 Until He came to Nain ; 
 When, just outside the city gate, 
 
 He met a funeral train. 
 
 In sorrow they were bearing forth 
 
 A weeping widow's son ; 
 And many sympathized with her — 
 
 He was her only one. 
 
 And when the Lord saw her He had 
 
 Compassion on her grief; 
 And said unto her: "Weep no more, 
 
 I bring you sure relief." 
 
 He touched the bier, and all the friends 
 
 Stood still in mute surprise, 
 When to the dead He spoke: "Young 
 man, 
 
 I say to thee arise." 
 
 And the dead youth sat up, alive, 
 
 And to her speechless joy, 
 The mother from the Lord received 
 
 Her resurrected boy. 
 
 The Pharisee and the Woman. 
 
 T T happened that a Pharisee 
 * Invited Christ to eat, 
 When a poor, sinful woman came 
 And worshipped at His feet ; 
 
 And washed them with her copious tears, 
 And wiped them with her hair, 
 
 And kissed them, and anointed them 
 With ointment rich and rare. 
 
 The Pharisee, within himself, 
 Said: "If this man were wise, 
 
 And were a prophet, he would know 
 This sinner to despise." 
 
 And Jesus, answering his thought, 
 Explained the woman's love: 
 
 She was a sinner who, now saved, 
 Her gratitude would prove. 
 
 And while the guests in wonder gazed, 
 
 He to the woman spoke : 
 "Thy sins are all forgiven — thy faith 
 
 Hath broken Satan's yoke." 
 
 The Blind and Dumb Man. 
 
 A GAIN a man they bring to Him, 
 -** Of Satan sore possessed, 
 Both blind and dumb, in wretched plight, 
 But Jesus gave him rest. 
 
 The sufferer both spake and saw, 
 
 When people, every one, 
 Who saw this miracle, exclaimed: 
 
 "Is not this David's Son?" 
 
 But the proud Pharisees, in heart 
 
 Ignored this title true ; 
 And said the wondrous healing gift 
 
 To Satan's power was due. 
 
 Then Jesus knew their thoughts and said : 
 
 "What Ipgic ye command ! 
 If Satan cast out Satan, then 
 
 His kingdom cannot stand." 
 
 The Storm on Galilee. 
 
 A ND as the multitudes increased, 
 
 ** And thronged about the Lord, 
 
 He said : "I other towns must seek, 
 
 And in them preach the word." 
 
364 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 So He commandment forwith gave 
 
 That His disciples go, 
 And get a ship in readiness, 
 
 Across the lake to row. 
 
 Then a certain scribe said : "Master, 
 
 I'll follow Thee to-day, 
 By land or water, wheresoe'er 
 
 Thou goest or shalt stay." 
 
 And Jesus answered : "Foxes can 
 
 Run into holes for rest, 
 And every bird of air can fly 
 
 Into a pleasant nest ; 
 
 "But no place hath the Son of Man 
 
 Whereof it can be said: 
 'That is His home, where He may lay 
 
 In peace His weary head.' ' 
 
 The scribe had nothing more to say ; 
 
 He, doubtless, did not care 
 The fortunes of so poor a man 
 
 To follow and to share. 
 
 Another said : "Lord, let me go 
 My father's grave to make." 
 
 Said Jesus : "Let the world do that, 
 Come thou, my portion take." 
 
 And now the followers of Christ 
 
 Were all aboard the ship, 
 And He, o'ercome with weariness, 
 
 Lay down and fell asleep. 
 
 And the disciples, in alarm, 
 Their Master woke from sleep ; 
 
 "Lord, we must have thine instant help 
 Or perish in the deep ;" 
 
 When He, in calm and gentle voice, 
 Said : "Wherefore do ye fear, 
 
 O ye of little faith and trust. 
 While I, your Lord, am here?" 
 
 Then He arose in dignity, 
 
 And spoke His sovereign will, 
 
 Commanding both the winds and sea 
 To hearken and be still. 
 
 And instantly all nature's face 
 
 A tranquil aspect wears, 
 Hushed is the tempest, and the sky 
 
 Again serene appears. 
 
 The men each to the others, said, 
 
 In awe and great amaze : 
 "What kind of man is this, whose word 
 
 The fearful storm obeys ?" 
 
 The Legion of Devils. 
 
 jVTOW when they reached the other side, 
 * * All fright and danger o'er, 
 The country of the Gadarenes 
 Received them to its shore. 
 
 But many steps they have not gone 
 
 To reach the city near, 
 When suddenly two unclad men 
 
 From 'mongst the tombs appear. 
 
 By unclean spirits sorely vexed, 
 No firm restraints could hold 
 
 Their demon-strengthened limbs, or keep 
 Their frantic souls controlled. 
 
 And in the mountains and the tombs, 
 With cries, both night and day, 
 
 They cut themselves, and caused such 
 fear, 
 None dared to pass that way. 
 
 But when the Lord approached, a change 
 Came o'er these men possessed ; 
 
 One fled — the other, falling down 
 In worship, sore distressed, 
 
 Cried: "What have I to do with Thee, 
 Jesus, Thou Son of God? 
 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 365 
 
 Torment me not, nor banish me 
 To my most drear abode." 
 
 Then Jesus said : "Come out of him, 
 
 Thou unclean spirit, vile, 
 And let thy presence ne'er again 
 
 His tortured soul defile." 
 
 And then He asked : "What is thy name ?" 
 
 "Legion," the man did say, 
 For many, many devils bold 
 
 Within him had held sway. 
 
 The devils, knowing they no more 
 In this poor man could dwell, 
 
 Imploringly besought the Lord 
 To drive them not to hell ; 
 
 And seeing a great herd of swine 
 
 Upon the mountain side, 
 Begged His consent to enter them, 
 
 With which the Lord complied. 
 
 But though there were two thousand swine 
 They could not fight nor flee, 
 
 The legion entered them, and all 
 Rushed headlong in the sea. 
 
 And they that fed the swine, alarmed, 
 
 Ran hastily away, 
 And told in town and country round 
 
 The wonders of that day. 
 
 Then every one went out to see 
 What wondrous things were done, 
 
 And still and calm the country lay, 
 And all the swine were gone. 
 
 And he who long had raged around, 
 
 A terror to mankind, 
 Sat peacefully at Jesus' feet, 
 
 Clothed, and of rightful mind. 
 
 And they who saw the miracle, 
 With eager tongues revealed 
 
 How he of legion once possessed 
 So suddenly was healed. 
 
 Then the whole multitude from all 
 
 The country round appear, 
 And beg the Lord to leave their coasts 
 
 For they were filled with fear. 
 
 Now, as the Lord took ship again, 
 The man thus saved from woe, 
 
 Prayed that he might be with the Christ, 
 Wherever He should go. 
 
 But Jesus answered : "Nay, return 
 
 To thine own house, and tell 
 What God hath done for the, and hence 
 
 With thine own kindred dwell." 
 
 And the man did as Jesus said, 
 
 And told to great and small 
 Of his most glad deliverance 
 
 From Satan's dreadful thrall. 
 
 The Daughter of Jarius. 
 T T came to pass as Jesus thence 
 * Returned, across the sea, 
 Many He found awaiting Him — 
 The men of Galilee. 
 
 And behold, Jarius, ruler of 
 
 The synagogue, drew near, 
 And knelt at Jesus' feet, and prayed, 
 
 In great distress and fear, 
 
 That Jesus to his house would go 
 
 And heal his dying child — 
 A little daughter, twelve years old, 
 
 In manners sweet and mild. 
 
 Then Jesus, whose glad work it was 
 
 To cheer each broken heart, 
 Went with him, followed by the crowd. 
 
 Who would not from Him part. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 And a poor woman, suffering 
 
 From a severe disease, 
 Who, for twelve years, her money all 
 
 Had spent in doctors' fees ; 
 
 When told that He was passing by 
 
 Came in the crowd, behind, 
 And said: "If I may touch His clothes, 
 
 I sure relief shall find." 
 
 And, stooping down, she gently touched 
 His garment's hem : when, lo ! 
 
 She felt the fountain of her plague 
 Had ceased at once to flow. 
 
 When He, perceiving in Himself 
 
 Some loss of power Divine, 
 Turned and demanded of the crowd : 
 
 "Who touched this robe of mine?" 
 
 Then His disciples said to Him : 
 "The people throng round Thee, 
 
 They closely press on every side, 
 And sayest Thou : "Who touched me ?' " 
 
 But He still looked around, when she, 
 
 Knowing she was not hid, 
 Came, trembling, fell down at His feet, 
 
 And told Him what she did. 
 
 But He said, kindly : "Daughter, thou 
 
 This act must not deplore, 
 Thy faith hath healed thee, go in peace ; 
 
 No plague shall vex thee more !" 
 
 And while He spoke, from Jairus* house 
 Came messengers, who said : 
 
 "Trouble the Master now no more ; 
 The little maid is dead." 
 
 But Jesus to the ruler turned, 
 And said : "You need not grieve ; 
 
 All shall be well with thee and thine, 
 If only thou believe." 
 
 Before He reached the ruler's house, 
 
 He told the rest to wait, 
 And none but Peter, James and John, 
 
 Went with Him through the gate. 
 
 And when He entered in the house, 
 
 He found it full of grief, 
 Nor did the mourning company 
 
 Expect from Him relief. 
 
 Then He said gently to the friends : 
 "Why make this noise, and weep? 
 
 The damsel is not truly dead, 
 But taketh rest in sleep." 
 
 And they all laughed — a laugh of scorn — 
 Well knowing she was dead, 
 
 When He turned out the sneering crowd, 
 And calmly onward led. 
 
 The father and the mother, who 
 
 No doubting did betray, 
 And His believing followers, 
 
 To where the maiden lay ; 
 
 Then took her gently by the hand, 
 And said, with pitying eyes: 
 
 "Talitha Cumi ; damsel, I 
 Now say to thee arise." 
 
 Then instantly the maid arose, 
 
 And walked upon her feet, 
 When He in kindness ordered that 
 
 They give her food to eat. 
 
 Two Blind Men Healed. 
 
 1VTOW when the Lord departed thence, 
 * ^ Two blind men followed close, 
 And, "Oh! Thou Son of David," cried, 
 "Have mercy upon us." 
 
 And when He reached His lodging house, 
 
 The blind men entered too ; 
 Then Jesus asked : "Do ye believe 
 
 That I this thing can do ?" 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 367 
 
 They said: "Yea, Lord;" then did He 
 touch 
 
 Their eyes, with fingers kind, 
 And said : "According to your faith, 
 
 Be ye no longer blind." 
 
 Forthwith they saw, and Jesus charged 
 
 That they let no man know ; 
 But they went out and spread His fame 
 
 Wherever they did go. 
 
 The Disciples Sent Forth. 
 
 STRAIGHTWAY the Lord departed 
 thence, 
 And came to His own home, 
 And in the synagogue He taught 
 When Sabbath-day had come. 
 
 The people wondered at His words, 
 And asked : "How can it be 
 
 That this man has such power gained 
 As we both hear and see ? 
 
 "For is not this the carpenter? 
 
 We know his mother well ; 
 His brethren and his sisters, too, 
 
 All here among us dwell." 
 
 And so they took offence at Him, 
 
 And Jesus said : "In vain 
 A prophet much esteemed abroad 
 
 At home would honor gain." 
 
 And He could do no mighty works — 
 
 Save healing a few sick, 
 And teaching in the villages — 
 
 Because their faith was weak. 
 
 But looking on the people with 
 
 Compassion in His heart, 
 As scattered sheep, and ignorant — 
 
 He called the twelve apart, 
 
 And sent them forth, through all the land, 
 
 To preach, by two and two, 
 To the lost sheep of Israel, 
 
 The Gospel, pure and true. 
 
 Death of John the Baptist. 
 
 TJ EROD, the king, his birthday kept, 
 * * And festive supper spread, 
 For lords, high captains and chief men, 
 Of Galilee the head. 
 
 And with the flowing of rich wines, 
 
 And strains of music sweet, 
 The daughter of Herodias danced 
 
 On light and airy feet; 
 
 Which dancing so much pleased the king 
 
 He promised, with an oath, 
 That whatsoever she would ask 
 
 He'd give her — nothing loth. 
 
 The daughter of her mother asked : 
 
 "What gift shall I desire?" 
 The wicked woman answered her : 
 
 "John Baptist's head require." 
 
 Straightway the brazen damsel came, 
 
 And, with petition bold, 
 Demanded John the Baptist's head, 
 
 Just as she had been told. 
 
 Although the king was sorely grieved, 
 He would not break his word, 
 
 In honor of the company 
 
 By whom the oath was heard. 
 
 Now, soon as John's disciples knew 
 
 Of his most cruel doom, 
 They took his body, tenderly, 
 
 And laid it in a tomb ; 
 
 And to the Master straightly told 
 
 What had befallen John — 
 The deed which at the king's command 
 
 His servile guard had done. 
 
368 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 But fear's dread torment soon drew near, 
 When Herod heard the news 
 
 Of the wonder working Jesus, 
 Now preaching to the Jews. 
 
 And he, with pale and trembling lips, 
 
 Unto his servants said : 
 "This is the Baptist whom I slew, 
 
 Arisen from the dead. 
 
 "Therefore do wondrous works in him 
 Show forth themselves, to prove 
 
 That he a mighty prophet was, 
 Appointed from above." 
 
 Feeding the Multitude. 
 
 '"F HE twelve apostles, when the time 
 * For their return had come, 
 Betook themselves with one accord 
 To Jesus, at His home; 
 
 And told Him all things that befell 
 
 While they had been away ; 
 What they had done, what they had taught, 
 
 And how they fared each day. 
 
 Then Jesus at Bethsaida 
 
 Was with compassion moved, 
 
 To see the people crowd around — 
 The sheep He so much loved. 
 
 He talked to them of God and heaven — 
 
 The land above all lands — 
 And healed as many as had need 
 
 Of healing at His hands. 
 
 Then said the twelve : "Lord do Thou send 
 
 The multitude away, 
 That they some victuals may procure 
 
 Before the close of day." 
 
 But Jesus knew that poverty 
 
 Oppressed the multitude, 
 And kindly to His followers said: 
 
 "Can ye not give them food ?" 
 
 "Two hundred pennyworth of bread," 
 
 Philip at once replied, 
 "Would not a little food for each 
 
 Of this great crowd provide." 
 
 Then Andrew, Peter's brother, spoke : 
 
 "Here is a lad," he said, 
 "Who two small fishes has, beside 
 
 Five loaves of barley bread. 
 
 "But, what are they to such a crowd?" 
 The Lord said : "Bring them here. 
 
 Then seat the people on the grass, 
 By fifties, far and near." 
 
 And taking in His hands the bread 
 And fish, He looked toward heaven 
 
 And blest it in the name of Him 
 From whom all bread is given; 
 
 Then brake, and the disciples passed 
 
 The broken food around 
 To all the multitude, who sat 
 
 Expectant on the ground. 
 
 Then Jesus said : "Go, gather up 
 The fragments careless tossed 
 
 Upon the ground, in wanton waste, 
 That nothing may be lost." 
 
 And the disciples — patient men, 
 Went, stooping, o'er the field, 
 
 And fragment of the late repast 
 Twelve baskets full did yield. 
 
 And when the Lord perceived that they 
 
 Did meditate to bring 
 United force with the intent 
 
 That they might crown Him king, 
 
 He urged that His disciples should 
 Take ship and cross the sea, 
 
 While He dispersed the multitudes, 
 And followed secretly. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 369 
 
 Jesus Walks Upon the Sea. 
 
 \\T HEN Jesus, up the mountain side 
 ^* Ascended all alone, 
 To spend some hours in peaceful prayer 
 Before His Father's throne. 
 
 Meanwhile the twelve were toiling hard 
 
 In rowing o'er the lake, 
 But 'gainst the stormy winds they could 
 
 But little progress make. 
 
 And Jesus, on the mountain high, 
 
 Engaged in fervent prayer, 
 Looks on the lake and sees his friends, 
 
 And feels their toil and care. 
 
 Now comes the fourth watch of the night ; 
 
 The tired men still row 
 Against a rising, boisterous sea, 
 
 While angry tempests blow. 
 
 But now, amid the wild uproar, 
 
 And darkness of the storm, 
 They saw approaching, o'er the waves, 
 
 Their Master's much loved form. 
 
 They failed to recognize their Lord, 
 With storm and darkness near, 
 
 Supposed He was a spirit form, 
 And cried aloud for fear. 
 
 Then straightway Jesus hushed their cries ; 
 
 "Be of good cheer," He said; 
 They knew the kind, assuring voice : 
 
 " 'Tis I, be not afraid." 
 
 Then Peter, warm, impulsive, bold, 
 
 Said : "Lord, if it be Thou, 
 Bid me and let me come to Thee 
 
 Upon the waters now." 
 
 Jesus said : "Come." Then Peter stepped 
 
 Over the vessel's side, 
 And walked securely and alone 
 
 Upon the stormy tide. 
 
 24-B.S. 
 
 His eyes were on the Master fixed, 
 
 But, looking on the wave, 
 At once he did begin to sink, 
 
 And cried out: "Lord! Oh, save!" 
 
 Then Jesus quickly stretched His hand 
 And raised the sinking man, 
 
 Said: "Wherefore did'st thou doubt?' 
 and placed 
 Him on his feet again. 
 
 And when they step aboard the ship, 
 
 There is a sudden peace, 
 The wind is still, the stars are bright, 
 
 The waves their motion cease. 
 
 And the disciples, bending low, 
 
 Their spirits deeply awed, 
 Said : "Of a truth we now are sure 
 
 Thou art the Son of God." 
 
 Then comes to pass another thing, 
 
 They cannot understand; 
 The ship, so lately out at sea, 
 
 Is now quite close to land. 
 
 And, resting from their hours of toil, 
 And filled with wonder deep, 
 
 The twelve around their Master's feet 
 Lie down in peaceful sleep. 
 
 The Bread from Heaven. 
 
 HT HE next day, for the absent Lord, 
 * The people searched around, 
 Near to the place where He had fed 
 Five thousand on the ground. 
 
 Then Jesus said : "Ye seek me not 
 
 In honor of my power, 
 But for the bread I brake to you 
 
 In hunger's helpless hour. 
 
 "Labor not so for earthly meat, 
 
 Which perisheth away, 
 But for that meat which shall endure 
 
 Through everlasting day." 
 
370 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 And then He preached to them the words 
 
 Of saving, Gospel truth, 
 Of Bread that keeps the soul in strength 
 
 And in immortal youth. 
 
 He told them that He was the Bread 
 Which had been sent from heaven, 
 
 That Bread of everlasting life, 
 To all believers given. 
 
 And some went back, and walked no more 
 With Him— the Truth, the Way ; 
 
 Then to the chosen twelve He said : 
 "Will ye, too, go away?" 
 
 Then Simon Peter answered Him : 
 "Lord, to whom shall we go ? 
 
 Thou hast the words of endless life; 
 From Thee doth wisdom flow. 
 
 "And we believe, and we are sure 
 
 That Thou are Jesse's Rod; 
 The promised Christ of Israel — 
 
 Son of the living God." 
 
 Jesus said : "Have I not chosen 
 
 Twelve of you to believe, 
 And witness to a sinful world 
 
 The truth which ye receive ; 
 
 "And one of you a devil is?" 
 
 He spoke of Judas vile, 
 Who should, by wicked treachery, 
 
 The bishopric defile. 
 
 Now, when around Capernaum 
 The Lord had done much good, 
 
 He rose and traveled forth, to where 
 Old Tyre and Sidon stood ; 
 
 And entered in a house, that He 
 
 Might of the crowd be rid, 
 And rest in peace there for a day ; 
 
 But He could not be hid. 
 
 For a woman, whose young daughter 
 Had an unclean spirit, heard 
 
 That He was that great prophet who 
 Could heal her with a word. 
 
 And, hast'ning to Him, she knelt down, 
 And bowed her weeping face, 
 
 Relating in His willing ear 
 Her daughter's grievous case. 
 
 But Jesus answered not a word ; 
 
 The apostles wondered why, 
 And said to Him : "Send her away, 
 
 We're weary of her cry." 
 
 And then He said : "I am not sent 
 
 Save to the sheep astray 
 From Israel's fold — beloved of God — 
 
 To guide them in the way." 
 
 Now this poor woman was a Greek, 
 
 And of Phoenician birth ; 
 But she believed great David's Son 
 
 Was Prince of all the earth ; 
 
 And that He loved all human kind, 
 
 Of every degree; 
 So, drawing near, she worshipped Him 
 
 Exclaiming : "Lord, help me !" 
 
 Then He replied : "It is not meet 
 To take the children's bread 
 
 And cast it out to dogs, while they — 
 The children — are not fed." 
 
 But she said : "Yea, Lord, very true, 
 Yet dogs, Thou know'st, do eat 
 
 The crumbs that from the table fall, 
 Beneath the children's feet." 
 
 "O, woman," Jesus answered then, 
 "Great is thy trusting faith ; 
 
 And be it unto thee, and thine, 
 Whatever thy heart saith." 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 371 
 
 And she went joyful to her house, 
 
 And found the devil fled, 
 And her fair daughter calm and well, 
 
 And laid upon her bed. 
 
 Feeding the Hungry. 
 A ND now, this gracious work performed 
 **■ The Lord returned again 
 Unto the sea of Galilee, 
 
 And through Decapolis plain. 
 
 Unto a mountain He repaired, 
 
 And sought a quiet seat ; 
 But many sufferers followed Him, 
 
 And crowded round His feet. 
 
 The eager multitudes brought forth 
 The blind, and dumb, and lame, 
 
 And Jesus healed them, every one, 
 Who to His presence came. 
 
 And all the people glorified 
 
 The God of Israel; 
 And, much astonished, they exclaimed, 
 
 "He hath done all things well !" 
 
 Then the Lord sent the people home, 
 
 And, taking ship again, 
 Sailed with the twelve along the sea, 
 
 Unto Magdala's plain. 
 
 There Pharisees and Sadducees 
 Came, tempting Him, and sought 
 
 A sign from heaven that they might know 
 The doctrines that He taught. 
 
 But He refused to give a sign 
 
 To hypocrites so base, 
 And leaving them, and taking ship, 
 
 Sailed to another place. 
 
 Curing the Blind. 
 jVTOW, coming to Bethsaida, 
 * They bring a blind man down, 
 Beseeching Him to touch him, 
 But He leads him out of town. 
 
 Then, spitting, moistens the blind eyes, 
 
 And asks him if he sees ; 
 And the man looks up and answers : 
 
 "I see men walk, as trees." 
 
 Then Jesus put His gentle hands 
 
 On the man's eyes again, 
 Made him look up — his eyes were healed, 
 
 And he saw all things plain. 
 
 The Apostle Peter. 
 
 T^HEN, after that, as Jesus with 
 * His twelve disciples walked 
 To Caesarea Philippi, 
 
 And gravely with them talked, 
 
 He asked them who the people said 
 That He, Himself, might be; 
 
 They answered John, Elias, and 
 The prophet Jeremy. 
 
 He saith : "But whom say ye am I, 
 Who long with you have trod?" 
 
 Peter exclaimed : "Thou art the Christ, 
 Son of the living God !" 
 
 Then Jesus answered him : "How blest 
 
 Simon Bar-jona, thou, 
 For flesh and blood hath not revealed 
 
 What thou, from heaven, dost know. 
 
 "And I say also unto thee, 
 
 That thou art Peter sure, 
 And on this rock I'll build my church 
 
 From gates of hell secure. 
 
 "Keys of authority and truth 
 
 Shall unto thee be given; 
 What thou dost bind or loose on earth 
 
 Is bound and loosed in heaven." 
 
 From that time forth the Lord began 
 
 To tell, and to explain 
 To His disciples, how He should 
 
 Be killed, and rise again. 
 
372 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 But Peter said : "Nay, nay, my Lord 
 
 This, surely, shall not be ; 
 Such treatment of the Prince of Life — 
 
 Were great indignity." 
 
 But Jesus turned and said to him : 
 
 "Satan, get thee behind, 
 Thou savorest not the things of God, 
 
 But pride of carnal mind." 
 
 And then said Jesus to them all : 
 
 "Who will my servant be, 
 Must deny self, take up his cross, 
 
 And humbly follow me. 
 
 "For whosoe'er will save his life, 
 
 Shall lose it in the end ; 
 But he who yields it for my sake, 
 
 To life in heaven shall tend. 
 
 "For what is a man profited 
 
 If he shall gain the whole 
 Of this world's pompous wealth and 
 power, 
 
 Yet lose his own poor soul?" 
 
 Jesus is Transfigured. 
 
 TV TOW Jesus tarried round these coasts 
 * ^ Till six days passed away ; 
 Then He took Peter, James and John 
 Up in a mount to pray. 
 
 And, as He prayed, His face was changed, 
 
 And shining as the Sun ; 
 His raiment became white as snow, 
 
 When glistening at noon. 
 
 And while He thus transfigured stood, 
 
 In His apostles' sight, 
 They suddenly beheld two men 
 
 Appear, with Him, in light. 
 
 'Twas Moses and Elias, who 
 Talked feelingly with Him 
 
 About the death He must endure 
 Soon at Jerusalem. 
 
 Then Peter spoke — his heart was full 
 
 Of holy love and fear: 
 "Lord, it is good," he said, "for us 
 
 To dwell forever here. 
 
 "Let us three tabernacles build ; 
 
 The first shall be for Thee, 
 One be for Moses, man of God, 
 
 One for Elias be." 
 
 He spoke his heart's sincere desire, 
 
 But ere the words were said, 
 A bright cloud overshadowed them, 
 
 And covered every head. 
 
 And from the cloud a voice was heard, 
 
 "This is my Son beloved, 
 In whom I am well pleased — hear Him, 
 
 If ye would be approved!" 
 
 When the disciples heard the voice, 
 
 They fell upon their face, 
 O'ercome by fear and sore dismay, 
 
 In that most awful place. 
 
 And Jesus, touching each one, said : 
 
 "Arise and do not fear;" 
 And when they looked around they saw 
 
 No one but Jesus near. 
 
 And as they came down from the mount, 
 
 He bade them not disclose 
 What they had seen and heard that day, 
 
 Till from the dead He rose. 
 
 And they obeyed, and of that scene 
 
 No word to others said ; 
 But 'mongst themselves enquired what 
 meant 
 
 The rising from the dead. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 373 
 
 An Only Child Healed. 
 
 THE next day, coming to the place 
 Where they had left the nine, 
 They found a crowd, glad to behold 
 The Master's face, Divine. 
 
 He asked the scribes : "What question ye 
 
 With my disciples here?" 
 When one in haste approaching Him, 
 
 And kneeling down in fear, 
 
 Said : "Lord, have mercy on my son — 
 
 He is my only child ; 
 And a dumb spirit tortures him, 
 
 And makes him fierce and wild. 
 
 "And often in the fire he falls, 
 
 And in the water too ; 
 And I spoke to Thy disciples, 
 
 But they could nothing do." 
 
 Then Jesus said : "O, men perverse, 
 
 Why can ye not believe ? 
 How long shall I be with you ere 
 
 The faith ye will receive?" 
 
 Then to the father : "Bring to me 
 Your son." The child was brought, 
 
 When he fell, foaming, on the ground, 
 By the foul spirit wrought. 
 
 Then Jesus asked the man : "How long 
 Has he been troubled thus?" 
 
 He answered : : "From a little child ; 
 But, Lord, canst Thou help us ?" 
 
 Jesus replied: "If thou hast faith, 
 Then thou shalt have relief." 
 
 The man cried out: "Lord, I believe; 
 Help Thou mine unbelief." 
 
 Then Jesus to the demon spoke : 
 
 "Deaf and dumb spirit sore, 
 I charge thee to come out of him, 
 
 And enter him no more." 
 
 The spirit cried and troubled him, 
 
 Till, like one dead, he fell ; 
 But Jesus took him by the hand, 
 
 And, lo ! the child was well. 
 
 And now the Master and the twelve 
 
 Into a house retired ; 
 And the nine came to Him and asked 
 
 That which they most desired : 
 
 The twelve then asked : "Why could we 
 not 
 
 Cast out that spirit, pray?" 
 He said : "Because your unbelief 
 
 Stood boldly in the way. 
 
 "For, verily, if ye have faith 
 
 As a small, mustard grain, 
 Then shall unto this mountain say, 
 
 'Remove to yonder plain.' 
 
 "It shall remove. Nothing shall be 
 
 Impossible to you; 
 Yet these foul spirits go not, save 
 
 By prayer and fasting, too." 
 
 Jesus Teaches Humility. 
 /~\ NE day while Jesus sat at rest 
 ^-^ He asked the twelve to say 
 What was it they disputed, as 
 They walked along the way. 
 
 But they replied not, for they had 
 
 Disputed which should gain 
 The greatest rank and power, w T hen 
 
 Their Lord should come to reign. 
 
 Then Jesus said: "If any man 
 
 Desire the highest place, 
 He shall be last, and servant, too, 
 
 Within the realm of grace." 
 
 He set a child in midst of them, 
 
 Then took him in His arm, 
 And said : "Whoso receiveth such, 
 
 And shieldeth him from harm, 
 
374 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 "Receiveth me, if, with true love, 
 
 He does it in my name, 
 And not only receiveth me, 
 
 But Him from whom I came." 
 
 The Young Lawyer. 
 A ND now behold a lawyer rose 
 ** With tempting question vain, 
 And said : "Master, what must I do 
 Eternal life to gain?" 
 
 Jesus addressed His questioner 
 With manner frank and kind, 
 
 And by a parable He taught 
 His keen and doubting mind ; 
 
 Told of the good Samaritan 
 
 Who succored a poor Jew ; 
 Then, in conclusion, counseled him : 
 
 "Go thou and like wise do." 
 
 At Bethany. 
 
 A ND as they went, He and the twelve, 
 ** Along the public road, 
 They entered into Bethany, 
 Where Martha, kind, abode ; 
 
 Who hospitably welcomed Him 
 
 Into her house to rest, 
 Then hastened to provide for Him 
 
 Refreshments of the best. 
 
 Meanwhile her sister Mary, 
 Who long had wished to meet 
 
 The gracious Lord and hear His voice 
 Sat meekly at His feet. 
 
 But Martha, cumbered and perplexed 
 With anxious, household care, 
 
 And wishing for her welcome Guest 
 A banquet to prepare, 
 
 Entered the room where Jesus sat, 
 And said : "Lord, dost Thou know 
 
 My sister lets me serve alone? 
 Bid her some help bestow." 
 
 And Jesus answered in a tone 
 
 Of grace yet kind concern, 
 "O, Martha, Martha, good and true, 
 
 Thou something hast to learn. 
 
 "Thou careful art, and troubled much 
 
 All good things to enjoy, 
 And that thy friends may feast full well 
 
 Thy time and means employ; 
 
 "And yet there's but one needful thing, 
 Worthy thine utmost thought, 
 
 And that good part is Mary's choice, 
 Which from her take thou not." 
 
 The Lord's Prayer. 
 
 A GAIN, did Jesus journey on, 
 *"■ When, in a certain place, 
 He lifted up His voice in prayer 
 With unction, power and grace. 
 
 When He had ceased one of the twelve 
 Said: "Lord, teach us to pray, 
 
 As John taught those who followed him, 
 "We wish to do as they." 
 
 He taught them then that form of prayer 
 
 Which pure devotion is ; 
 Known as The Lord's Prayer ever since, 
 
 Because the words are His. 
 
 Then on He went, and preached the truth, 
 
 Along each country road, 
 And taught the people, high and low, 
 
 The love and fear of God ; 
 
 And told them how God answers prayer, 
 If prayer be warm and true — 
 
 With far more loving, swift response 
 Than earthly parents do. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 375 
 
 The Woman with an Infirmity. 
 
 NOW, in a synagogue, as He 
 One Sabbath day did preach, 
 Behold a woman, quite bowed down 
 And listening to His speech, 
 
 A poor, afflicted sufferer, 
 
 Who bore with groans and tears, 
 A spirit of infirmity 
 
 For fully eighteen years. 
 
 Upon her Jesus laid His hand, 
 And, suddenly made straight, 
 
 She rose and glorified her God, 
 Whose mercies are so great. 
 
 The ruler of the synagogue, 
 
 Indignant that the Lord 
 Upon the Sabbath day had wrought 
 
 This healing by His word, 
 
 Unto the people said : "There are 
 
 Six days in which you may 
 Do all your works ; — in them be healed— 
 
 Not on the Sabbath day." 
 
 Then Jesus answered: "Hypocrite, 
 
 Doth not each of you think 
 It right, on Sabbath day, to lead 
 
 His beast away to drink? 
 
 "And ought not this poor woman, who 
 
 Is Abraham's daughter, be 
 Made loose from pain she bore so long 
 
 Through Satan's tyranny?" 
 
 And all His adversaries were 
 Ashamed when thus He chid, 
 
 While others wondered and rejoiced 
 For all the works He did. 
 
 The Man Born Blind. 
 
 Y\ 7HEN, coming near His journey's 
 VV end, 
 
 Jerusalem was nigh, 
 He, one day, saw a man, born blind, 
 As He was passing by. 
 
 And His disciples questioned Him : 
 "Master, whose sin hath done 
 
 Such evil as is this man's lot — 
 His parents' or his own?" 
 
 And Jesus answered : "Neither hath 
 
 His parents sinned nor he, 
 But that the works of God, in him, 
 
 Might be made plain to see. 
 
 "I must perform my Father's works 
 
 While it is day ; the night 
 Is coming, when no man can work; 
 
 But I am the world's light, 
 
 "As long as I am in the world." 
 And when He thus did say 
 
 He spat upon the ground, and made 
 The spittle into clay; 
 
 And with it He anointed thick 
 The eyes that ne'er had seen, 
 
 Then said unto the man : "Go wash 
 In water pure and clean." 
 
 Then went the man obediently, 
 And washed his sightless eyes, 
 
 And instantly he saw all round, 
 With grateful, glad surprise. 
 
 The neighbors said : "Is this the man 
 Who begged, and could not see ?" 
 
 Said others: "He is like to him." 
 But he said : "I am he." 
 
FINDING OF THE LOST SHEEP. 
 
 St. Matthew 18. 12—14 ; St. Luke 15. 3—7 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 377 
 
 They asked him how he gained his sight, 
 And he, with thankful voice, 
 
 Told all about the wondrous work 
 That made his heart rejoice. 
 
 And now unto the Pharisees 
 The happy man they brought ; 
 
 And it was on the Sabbath day 
 This miracle was wrought. 
 
 Questioned by doubting Pharisees, 
 
 Me did to them relate 
 The way by which he was relieved 
 
 From his unhappy state. 
 
 They said the man who gave him sight 
 
 A sinner, sure must be 
 Or He would not, on such a day, 
 
 Make a blind man to see. 
 
 Yet others said : "How can a man 
 
 Who is a sinner do 
 Such miracles ?" The healed man said : 
 
 "He is a prophet true." 
 
 The Jews would not believe the man 
 
 Was ever blind at all ; 
 And, to find out if it were so, 
 
 They did his parents call, 
 
 And asked them : "Is this man your son, 
 Who without sight was born? 
 
 How, then, doth he now see so well, 
 Yet blind until this morn?" 
 
 The parents said: "He is our son, 
 And was born blind, we know ; 
 
 But know not how he gained his sight ; 
 Himself the truth must show." 
 
 The Jews straightway recalled the man, 
 And said : "Give God the praise, 
 
 We know this man's a sinner, by 
 His Sabbath-breaking ways." 
 
 He answered them : "I know not if 
 
 This man a sinner be ; 
 One thing I know, that whereas I 
 
 Was blind, yet now I see. 
 
 "We know that God regardeth not 
 
 A sinful man's appeal; 
 But to obedient worshippers 
 
 He will Himself reveal. 
 
 "Since first the world began can ye 
 
 Such wondrous power find 
 As that a mortal man could heal 
 
 The eyes of one born blind? 
 
 "And if this man were not of God, 
 Nor down from heaven came, 
 
 He could do nothing in my case — 
 All glory to His name !" 
 
 And then they answered, wrathfully: 
 
 "Thou, who believest thus, 
 Wast altogether born in sin, 
 
 And art thou teaching us?" 
 
 They cast him out ; which Jesus heard, 
 And found him, when alone : 
 
 "Believ'st thou on the Son of God?" 
 He asked in gentle tone. 
 
 The man said : "Lord who is He, that 
 My faith to Him might bow ?" 
 
 Said Jesus: "Thou beholdest Him, 
 He talketh with thee now." 
 
 Then he said : "Lord, I do believe," 
 With fervent voice, and loud, 
 
 And bending forward to the earth, 
 In reverent worship bowed. 
 
 The Raising of Lazarus. 
 r\ F MARTHA you've already heard, 
 ^-^ Who entertained the Lord 
 When once He passed through Bethany, 
 And Mary heard His word. 
 
L 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 379 
 
 They had a brother, Lazarus, 
 
 And Jesus loved the three, 
 And now the young man was brought 
 low, 
 
 And very ill was he. 
 
 And his sisters sent a message 
 
 Unto the Lord, in haste : 
 "Behold, he whom Thou lovest well 
 
 Is sick and failing fast." 
 
 But Jesus said : "This sickness 
 
 Comes not that he must die, 
 But for God's glory, that His Son 
 
 Be glorified thereby. 
 
 "Our friend, Lazarus, sleepeth," 
 Were the next words He spake : 
 
 "And I go hence that I may him 
 Out of his sleep awake." 
 
 Then said they : "Lord, if Laz'rus sleep 
 
 He surely shall do well" — 
 Thinking that it was natural rest 
 
 That o'er his eyelids fell. 
 
 Then He said, plainly : "Lazarus 
 
 Is cold and still in death. 
 But well, for your sakes, 'tis that I 
 
 Went not while he had breath. 
 
 "For so your faith shall be made bright, 
 That may be somewhat dim ; 
 
 But now arise and leave this place, 
 That we may go to him." 
 
 Then Thomas said — called Didymus — 
 
 To the disciples all, 
 "Let's go, that we may die with Him, 
 
 If death should Him befall." 
 
 And now all hearts are sad and still, 
 
 And many throb with fear, 
 As Jesus and His followers 
 
 To Bethany draw near. 
 
 And those who meet Him tell the news 
 
 Of sorrow and of gloom, 
 That Lazarus has already lain 
 
 Three days within his tomb. 
 
 Now Bethany was very near 
 
 Unto Jerusalem ; 
 And many to the sisters came, 
 
 To see, and comfort them. 
 
 And as they sat in silence, 
 
 Their hearts with grief bowed down, 
 The word was brought that Jesus 
 
 Was coming into town. 
 
 Then Martha went to meet the Christ, 
 And said unto Him : "Lord, 
 
 If Thou hadst been here, my brother 
 Had recovered by Thy word." 
 
 "Thy brother," thus the answer came, 
 
 "Shall rise again, I say." 
 "Yea, in the resurrection morn," 
 
 She said, "at the last day." 
 
 "I am the resurrection, and 
 
 The Life," the Lord replied. 
 "He that upon my name believes 
 
 Shall live, though he had died." 
 
 "Oh, Lord," she answered fervently, 
 
 "I truly do believe 
 Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, 
 
 Whom this world should receive." 
 
 When Jesus saw the sisters' tears, 
 
 And tears of those around, 
 He groaned in spirit and was sad, 
 
 With troubled thoughts profound. 
 
 He said to them : "Where have ye laid 
 Your friend and mine to sleep?" 
 
 They say to Him : "Lord, come and see," 
 Then all beheld Him weep. 
 
380 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 And then they took away the stone 
 From where the dead was laid, 
 
 And Jesus lifted up His eyes, 
 And solemnly He said: 
 
 "Father I thank Thee that Thou hast 
 Heard my heart's secret prayer, 
 
 And I know that Thou dost always 
 Bow down to me Thine ear." 
 
 And when He thus had spoken, 
 
 He cried in accents loud : 
 "Lazarus, come forth," and the dead 
 
 Came forth, bound in his shroud, 
 
 And his face bound with a napkin ; 
 
 His movements thus were slow ; 
 But Jesus called out, with command : : 
 
 "Loose him and let him go." 
 
 Then O, what deep and solemn joy 
 The sisters' hearts conceived ! 
 
 While many of the Jews around 
 On Jesus Christ believed. 
 
 They Brought Little Children to Him. 
 /~\ NE day the mothers, who believed, 
 ^^ Their little children brought, 
 And from the Master's gentle hand 
 A gracious blessing sought. 
 
 But the disciples, in their zeal, 
 
 Said: "Take these children home, 
 
 They're in the way of older ones, 
 Who for some good have come." 
 
 But Jesus loved the little lambs, 
 And much displeased was He, 
 
 Saying: "Suffer little children, 
 That they may come to me. 
 
 "For 'tis such innocents as these 
 That God's high kingdom win; 
 
 And all must have as simple hearts 
 Who gain a place therein." 
 
 Then gently lifting in His arms, 
 
 And folding to His breast, 
 He put His hands upon their heads, 
 
 And every infant blest. 
 
 The Young Ruler. 
 TVTOW, as He went, forth in the way, 
 *- ^ A certain ruler came ; 
 "What shall I do," he frankly asked, 
 "That I may heaven claim?" 
 
 "Why callest thou me good?" the Lord 
 
 Enquired in gentle tone. 
 "There is none good in earth or heaven 
 
 But God, and God alone. 
 
 "Thou knowest the Commandments ; 
 
 Keep them in deed and truth, 
 He answered and said : "Master, I've 
 
 Observed them from my youth." 
 
 Then Jesus looked at the young man, 
 And loved him in His heart, 
 
 And said : "One thing thou lackest yet, 
 Thou with thy wealth must part. 
 
 "Go sell, and give all to the poor, 
 And stored in heaven 'twill be, 
 
 Then come and cheerfully take up 
 The cross and follow me." 
 
 But the young man was sad at heart, 
 
 Unwilling to obey ; 
 His riches he would not give up, 
 
 So, grieved, he went away. 
 
 And then to His disciples 
 
 The Lord said, grave but kind: 
 
 "How hardly shall the rich their way 
 Into God's kingdom find? 
 
 "It is easier for a camel 
 
 Through a needle's eye to go 
 
 Than he who loves his worldly goods 
 The bliss of heaven should know." 
 
CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN 
 
 ST. MATTHEW 19: 13—15; ST. MARK 10: 13—16; ST. LUKE 18. 15, 16. 
 
382 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Peter Questions Him. 
 
 A ND Peter then began to say : 
 **■ "Lo ! we have given up all, 
 And followed and believed on Thee ; 
 What shall to us befall?" 
 
 And Jesus answered, "Verily, 
 
 I say, no man hath left 
 Parents or brethren, wife or child, 
 
 Of home or lands bereft, 
 
 "To suffer for the Gospel's sake, 
 Who shall not find much more, 
 
 Both in this world and that to come, 
 Laid up for him in store. 
 
 "But they who will be first on earth 
 
 Shall be the last in heaven ; 
 And they who here take lowest seats 
 
 Shall then have highest given." 
 
 Parable of the Laborers. 
 
 A ND Jesus taught them as they walked, 
 '**' By pointed parable, 
 That all shall have an equal right 
 Who serve the Master well. 
 
 He told them of a man who hired 
 
 Some laborers to work, 
 And promised each a penny, for 
 
 The day, from morn to dark. 
 
 Again at noon, and later still, 
 
 He others idle found, 
 And sent them into his vineyard 
 
 To work upon the ground. 
 
 And then again, and just before 
 
 The closing of the day, 
 He hired others who should get 
 
 A penny for their pay. 
 
 But when the eventide had come, 
 And the day's work was done, 
 
 The men were called, that each might get 
 Whatever was his own. 
 
 The last come were paid first, and each 
 
 A pleased expression wore. 
 But when the first were paid they thought 
 
 That they should get still more. 
 
 And when a penny each received, 
 
 They murmured at the pay, 
 Which was the same for one hour's work 
 
 As for the long, warm day. 
 
 The good man answered one of them: 
 "Friend, I do thee no wrong; 
 
 A penny I agreed to give — 
 That doth to thee belong. 
 
 "Take that thine is and go thy way, 
 
 I will to this last one 
 Give just the same as unto thee — 
 
 Is it not all my own ? 
 
 "So shall the last be as the first, 
 
 And first as last to view ; 
 For many be the called of God, 
 
 And yet, the chosen, few." 
 
 Foretells His Death. 
 
 '"THEN Jesus took the twelve apart, 
 * And gravely said to them : 
 "Behold, we now are on our way 
 Up to Jerusalem, 
 
 "And all things that the prophets wrote 
 
 About the Son of Man, 
 Shall be accomplished in that place, 
 
 True to the ancient plan. 
 
 "And He shall be betrayed unto 
 The chief priests and the scribes, 
 
 Delivered up to the Gentiles, 
 And mocked with taunts and jibes; 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 383 
 
 "And they shall scourge and spit upon, 
 
 And crucify your Lord ; 
 The third day He shall rise again, 
 
 According to His Word." 
 
 The apostles listened, yet these things 
 
 They could not realize ; 
 The meaning of the truths they heard 
 
 Was hidden from their eyes. 
 
 The Request of James and John. 
 
 "PHEN came, as they were walking on, 
 * The wife of Zebedee, 
 Who said : "Lord, what I most desire 
 Wilt Thou grant unto me ?" 
 
 He said unto her: "What wilt thou?" 
 She answered : "That my sons 
 
 May at Thy right and left sit down, 
 Thy kingdom's greatest ones." ■ 
 
 Then Jesus to the young men said : 
 
 "Ye know not what ye ask. 
 To drink my cup, my baptism bear, 
 
 Would be too hard a task." 
 
 They answered : "We are strong enough.' 
 
 Then He said : "Ye shall try 
 To drink my cup, my baptism bear, 
 
 While grace shall strength supply. 
 
 "But to sit at my right and left 
 
 I cannot give to you ; 
 My Father doth reserve those seats 
 
 For whom He deems them due. 
 
 "Be not such lords as Gentiles are, 
 
 And who would highest be 
 Let him be servant to the rest, 
 
 And take a low degree. 
 
 "E'en as the Son of Man came not 
 
 To take a lofty place, 
 But to be minister, and give 
 
 His life to save the race." 
 
 A 
 
 Blind Bartimeus. 
 
 ND now the Lord His way must take 
 Through ancient Jericho. 
 The people crowd around Him there, 
 And make His progress slow. 
 
 And Bartimeus, blind and poor, 
 
 Was sitting by the way ; 
 Another beggar, sad and blind, 
 
 Sat by his side that day. 
 
 And when they heard the tramping 
 crowd, 
 
 And asked the reason why, 
 They learned that Christ of Nazareth 
 
 Was just then passing by. 
 
 Then each man cried aloud at once, 
 
 In tones of earnest plea : 
 "Jesus, Thou Son of David, 
 
 Have mercy upon me." 
 
 And Jesus had compassion on 
 Their dark and helpless plight, 
 
 And gently touched their eyes and said : 
 "Your faith doth give you sight." 
 
 Immediately their eyes were healed, 
 
 And both with joyful mind, 
 Followed the Master, praising God, 
 
 And all the people joined. 
 
 Zaccheus. 
 
 A ND now, as Jesus passed along, 
 **• A rich man hasting came — 
 A chief among the publicans, 
 And Zaccheus by name. 
 
 Jesus he sought to see, as did 
 
 The people, one and all, 
 But could not overlook the crowd, 
 
 His stature was so small. 
 
384 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 So he ran on before, and climbed 
 
 Into a sycamore tree ; 
 That, perched above the surging throng, 
 
 He might the better see. 
 
 And when the Lord came near, He raised 
 His eyes, saw him, and said: 
 
 "Zaccheus, in thy house, to-day, 
 I will take rest and bread." 
 
 And then in haste the man came down, 
 
 And joyfully received 
 Into his house, which stood near by, 
 
 The Lord, whom He believed. 
 
 And when the crowd saw what was done, 
 
 To murmur they began, 
 That Jesus was content to be 
 
 Guest with a sinful man. 
 
 Yet Zaccheus heeded not, but stood, 
 
 And said unto the Lord : 
 "Behold, Lord, half of all my goods 
 
 I to the poor afford. 
 
 "And if I aught have taken, 
 Through falsehood to me told, 
 
 More than is right from any man, 
 I give it back fourfold." 
 
 And Jesus said : "Salvation is 
 
 To this house come to-day ; 
 For this man is of Abraham's line, 
 
 Though having gone astray. 
 
 "For I, the Son of Man have come 
 
 Into this world below, 
 To seek the straying and the lost, 
 
 And save from guilt and woe." 
 
 Parable of the Pounds. 
 
 A ND as the people all around 
 *** Attentively did hear, 
 Believing that God's kingdom would 
 Without delay appear; 
 
 He taught the listening company, 
 
 By parable profound, 
 How God expects His faithful ones 
 
 To occupy His ground. 
 
 And as He does commit to them 
 
 Ten pounds, or five, or one, 
 He will reward them, at the last, 
 
 By what they each have done. 
 
 And having finished His discourse, 
 
 Wisely instructing them, 
 He went before them, in the way, 
 
 Up to Jerusalem. 
 
 The Anointing at Bethany. 
 
 O IX days before the Passover 
 ^ The Lord appeared again 
 In Bethany, where Lazarus dwelt, 
 And his good sisters twain. 
 
 There, by a supper in the house, 
 Their welcome was expressed, 
 
 And Martha served, but Lazarus sat 
 At table with the guest. 
 
 Then Mary came and took her place 
 
 Down at the Master's feet, 
 And broke an alabaster box, 
 
 Of odor very sweet. 
 
 And tenderly she did anoint 
 
 The feet of Jesus there; 
 And wiped them with the flowing locks 
 
 Of her luxuriant hair. 
 
 Then Judas, called Iscariot, 
 
 His sullen silence broke, 
 And of the woman's costly gift 
 
 Thus, with a sneer, he spoke : 
 
 "For three hundred pence, in money, 
 This ointment would have sold, 
 
 And that would feed and clothe the poor, 
 Who hungry are, and cold." 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 385 
 
 Tie said this, though he had no care 
 
 Or pity for the poor; 
 But was a thief, and had the bag, 
 
 And coveted the store. 
 
 Then Jesus said : "Let her alone ; 
 
 Against my burial day 
 She poured this ointment on my feet, 
 
 I lcr last regards to pay. 
 
 "The humble poor ye always have 
 With you, to help their needs ; 
 
 But me ye cannot always have 
 To show me loving deeds." 
 
 Xow many people of the Jews 
 Soon knew that He was there, 
 
 And crowded in, that they might see, 
 And His discourse might hear. 
 
 Yet not for Jesus' sake alone 
 
 Had they the visit made, 
 But to see Lazarus, whom He 
 
 Had raised up from the dead. 
 
 Entry into Jerusalem. 
 
 '-p HE morning rose with peaceful skies, 
 *■ The first clay of the week, 
 And Jesus forthwith went His way, 
 Jerusalem to seek. 
 
 He knew what waited Him — the thought 
 
 His lofty spirit thrilled — 
 That all His Father's' work be done, 
 
 And Scripture be fulfilled. 
 
 Along the road towards Olive's mount — 
 That oft-trod road — He went, 
 
 Then two of His disciples 
 Into Bethphage He sent; 
 
 And said : "Into the village go, 
 Where straightway ye shall see 
 
 An ass tied, and a colt with her ; 
 Loose them and bring to me. 
 25-B.S. 
 
 "If any may say aught to you, 
 
 This shall be your reply : 
 'The Lord hath need of them,' then he 
 
 Will cheerfully comply." 
 
 Then the disciples went their way, 
 And found, as they were bidden, 
 
 An ass tied, and a colt, whereon 
 No man had ever ridden. 
 
 And their owners, as they loosed them, 
 
 Enquired : "Why do ye so ?" 
 They said: "The Lord hath need of 
 them." 
 
 And then they let them go. 
 
 And they brought them unto Jesus, 
 And put on them their clothes ; 
 
 And Jesus rode upon the colt, 
 While loud Hosannahs rose. 
 
 And multitudes of people spread 
 
 Their garments in the way, 
 While others strewed palm branches where 
 
 The Master rode that day. 
 
 And "Hosannah, Son of David!" 
 
 They cried with one accord, 
 "Blessed is He that cometh thus 
 
 In the name of the Lord !" 
 
 But the Pharisees said: "Master, 
 
 Rebuke this noisy shout." 
 Said Jesus: "Should they hold their 
 peace, 
 
 The stones would then cry out." 
 
 Now they descend fair Olive's Mount, 
 
 Jerusalem appears, 
 And Jesus beholds the city, 
 
 And over it sheds tears, 
 
386 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Saying: "Hadst thou but known the 
 things 
 
 Which belong to thy peace : 
 But now from thine eyes they are hid ; 
 
 Thy day of hope shall cease." 
 
 The city's gate they enter now; 
 
 Much moved, the people say: 
 "Who is this ?" Some answer : "Jesus, 
 
 Prophet of Galilee." 
 
 Then to the temple went the Lord, 
 
 To clear its spacious courts 
 Of those who bought and sold within 
 
 Its sanctified resorts. 
 
 And when the chief priests and scribes 
 saw 
 
 His wondrous works and ways, 
 And children in the temple courts 
 
 Shouting these words of praise: 
 
 "Hosannah to great David's Son !" 
 
 They very angry were, 
 And said to Him : "These babbling cries 
 
 Around, dost thou not hear?" 
 
 And Jesus saith unto them : "Yea, 
 
 Have ye not read the Word : 
 'The mouths of babes and sucklings doth 
 
 Thy perfect praise accord ?' " 
 
 The Pharisees, among themselves, 
 
 Said : "Do ye not perceive 
 That ye prevail naught while the world 
 
 Doth on this man believe ?" 
 
 The Barren Fig-Tree. 
 
 OUT now the eventide was come, 
 *-* And Jesus turned away, 
 And with His twelve disciples went 
 And lodged in Bethany. 
 
 Next morning, as the Lord returned, 
 
 Quite early in the day, 
 He wanted bread, and looking, saw 
 
 A fig-tree in the way. 
 
 Without delay He went to it, 
 
 To get some figs to eat; 
 But He found only leaves thereon, 
 
 Which are not good for meat. 
 
 And then the Master spoke to it — 
 
 Spoke to the useless tree — 
 And said: "Henceforth, forevermore 
 
 Let no fruit grow on thee." 
 
 Into the city then He went, 
 
 And in the temple taught, 
 And preached to all who thronged around 
 
 And His instructions sought. 
 
 But the chief priests and elders came, 
 And asked Him : "Who gave thee 
 
 Authority to do these things 
 That we both hear and see?" 
 
 And Jesus answered : "I, also, 
 
 Will ask one thing of you, 
 Which, if you tell me, I will tell 
 
 Who prompts the things I do. 
 
 "The baptism of John, whence was it, 
 
 From heaven, or of men?" 
 This question, which He asked of them, 
 
 They could not answer then. 
 
 For thus they reasoned with themselves : 
 "If we shall say from heaven, 
 
 He will say : 'Why not, then, to him 
 Was your attention given?' 
 
 "But yet, if we shall say of men, 
 The people's wrath we fear; 
 
 For all hold John a prophet true, 
 And his name they revere." 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 387 
 
 And so they said : "We cannot tell." 
 
 He answered: "Nor to thee 
 Tell I by what authority 
 
 I do the things you see." 
 
 And then, as evening fell, the Lord 
 
 With His disciples went 
 Unto the mount of Olives, where 
 
 The night they often spent. 
 
 And in the morning they returned, 
 
 And lo ! as they passed by, 
 They saw the fig-tree in the way, 
 
 All withered up and dry. 
 
 And Peter then remembered well : 
 
 "Master, behold," he said, 
 "The fruitless tree which Thou didst 
 curse 
 
 Is withered all and dead." 
 
 And Jesus, answering, said to them : 
 
 "Verily, I say to you, 
 Have faith in God and doubt Him not, 
 
 And ye shall such things do. 
 
 "And who shall to this mountain say, 
 
 In firm, believing faith, 
 'Be thou cast forth into the sea,' 
 
 It shall be as he saith. 
 
 "And whatsoever ye desire 
 
 And ask for when ye pray, 
 Believe that ye receive the gift; 
 
 It shall be yours straightway. 
 
 "And when you pray forgive all those 
 
 Who have offended you, 
 That so your Heavenly Father may 
 
 Forgive the wrongs you do." 
 
 The Law of Love. 
 
 |\TOW, "Master," said a Pharisee, 
 * ^ Thus tempting Him again : 
 "Which commandment is the greatest 
 That the law doth contain ?" 
 
 Jesus said : "Thou shalt love the Lord 
 
 Thy God with all thy heart, 
 And all thy soul and all thy mind — 
 
 This is the first great part. 
 
 "And the second is like to it : 
 Thou shalt thy neighbor love 
 
 In the same way thou lov'st thyself ; 
 By deeds this new law prove. 
 
 "Upon these two commandments — 
 Within the spirit wrought — 
 
 Hang all the law that Moses wrote, 
 And all the prophets taught." 
 
 The Widow's Mites. 
 
 A ND now the Lord was sitting where 
 ** He could the people see 
 As they cast their gifts of money 
 Into the treasury. 
 
 And many rich cast in large sums ; 
 
 Then came a widow, poor, 
 And she threw in two mites, which make 
 
 One farthing, and no more. 
 
 Then the Lord called His disciples 
 
 And said to them : "Verily, 
 This poor widow has cast the most 
 
 Into the treasury. 
 
 "For all they, of their abundance, 
 Offered, some less, some more, 
 
 But she, of want and penury, 
 Did cast in all her store." 
 
 The Hypocrites. 
 
 T ESUS spoke to the multitude, 
 ^ That gathered at His feet : 
 "The scribes and Pharisees do sit 
 In Moses' sacred seat. 
 
THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS. 
 
 St. Matthew 25: 1-Le 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 389 
 
 
 "Do, therefore, what they bid you do, 
 
 But follow not their way; 
 For they, themselves, keep not the law, 
 
 Nor do they what they say. 
 
 "For they bind heavy burdens 
 
 For other men to bear ; 
 But will not give a helping hand 
 
 To ease another's care. 
 
 "And all they do is to be seen 
 
 Of men they daily meet; 
 Their outward garments they adorn, 
 
 Down to their very feet ; 
 
 "And love the upper rooms at feasts, 
 And greetings in the crowd ; 
 
 And the chief seats in synagogues 
 And titles make them proud. 
 
 "But be not ye called 'Rabbi,' for 
 To Christ that name is given ; 
 
 And call no man father on earth ; 
 Your Father is in heaven. 
 
 "Nor be ye masters called, for One, 
 Even Christ, your Master is, 
 
 And he that would be greatest, let 
 The servant's place be his. 
 
 "And whoso shall exalt himself 
 
 Shall be low and abased, 
 And he that humbles himself shall 
 
 To lofty seat be raised." 
 
 He Weeps Over Jerusalem. 
 
 AND then, His gentle spirit grieved 
 For Israel's sin and pride, 
 With tender pity in His voice, 
 He sorrowfully cried: 
 
 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ! 
 
 Which doth the prophets kill, 
 And stonest them sent unto thee, 
 
 The promise to fulfil; 
 
 "How oft would I have gathered 
 
 Thy children to my breast, 
 As a hen her brood doth gather 
 
 Beneath her wings to rest. 
 
 "And ye would not. And now, alas ! 
 
 Behold your sad estate, 
 Your doom is nigh, your house is left 
 
 Unto you desolate. 
 
 "Moreover, ye shall not see me 
 
 Until ye say the word : 
 'Blessed is He that cometh in 
 
 The name of Israel's Lord.' " 
 
 And His disciples then He warned 
 
 To watch, and faithful be, 
 Not knowing at what hour they 
 
 The Son of Man should see. 
 
 Parables of the Virgins and Talents. 
 
 A ND then He pictured to their minds, 
 ** In parables most clear, 
 What should take place before the throne 
 When the Lord should appear. 
 
 The fate of the ten virgins, 
 Of whom but five were wise, 
 
 And five were foolish, without grace, 
 He placed before their eyes. 
 
 And of the nobleman who went 
 
 To travel far away, 
 And to his servants talents gave, 
 
 Their wisdom to display. 
 
 And two their talents used in trade, 
 And brought their master gain, 
 
 Which pleased him so he raised them up 
 O'er cities fair to reign ; 
 
 While one was slothful, loving ease, 
 
 His talent hid away, 
 And brought with it a vain excuse 
 
 Upon the reck'ning day. 
 
390 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 But his lord answered wrath fully, 
 
 He no excuse would take, 
 But told him what he should have done, 
 
 A lawful gain to make. 
 
 Then ordered that they take and cast 
 
 Nor pity him, nor spare — 
 The unprofitable servant 
 
 Out into dark despair. 
 
 The Corn of Wheat. 
 
 A ND while He taught the people all, 
 -** From highest to the least, 
 Some Greeks appeared, who had come up 
 To worship at the feast. 
 
 The same approached to Philip, who 
 
 Was of Bethsaida, 
 Saying : "Sir, we would the Master see, 
 
 And from Him knowledge draw." 
 
 Philip and Andrew went apart, 
 And they informed the Lord 
 
 That polished strangers, standing near, 
 Desired to hear His word. 
 
 "The hour — the long-approaching hour — 
 
 Is come," the Lord replied, 
 "When I should close my earthly work, 
 
 And should be glorified. 
 
 "Verily, I say unto you, 
 
 Except a corn of wheat 
 Sink in the ground and die, it will 
 
 Alone produce no meat. 
 
 "But if it die, it brings forth fruit; 
 
 And he that life doth love 
 Shall lose it : he that hates it gains 
 
 Eternal life above. 
 
 "If any man will serve me, then 
 
 Let him come after me ; 
 And where I am, there, also, shall 
 
 My faithful servant be. 
 
 "Now is my soul in agony, 
 And what more shall I say? 
 
 Father, save me from this sad hour, 
 My human heart would pray, 
 
 "But for this cause — that I might die — 
 
 Unto this hour I came, 
 So in my heart I cry : "Father, 
 
 Glorify thine. own name!" 
 
 Then came there a voice from heaven, 
 
 Saying, in clearest strain : 
 "I have glorified it, and I 
 
 Will glorify it again." 
 
 The people standing by were sure 
 
 That thunder shook the air ; 
 But others said : "Not so, it is 
 
 An angel's voice we hear." 
 
 Jesus answered, and said : "This voice 
 
 Came not because of me, 
 But that ye all might understand 
 
 The power of Deity. 
 
 "Now is the judgment of this world; 
 
 Its prince cast out shall be ; 
 And I, if I be lifted up, 
 
 Will draw all men to me." 
 
 The Traitor Judas. 
 
 1VIOW Satan to the carnal heart 
 * Of Judas entered in — 
 He that was called Iscariot, 
 Who money loved to win. 
 
 And he went unto the chief priests, 
 
 And bargained to betray 
 His Master to their evil power 
 
 If they would give him pay. 
 
 And his base scheme these men were glad 
 
 To hear and understand, 
 And thirty shining silver coins 
 
 They weighed into his hand. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 391 
 
 And from that time he sought a way 
 
 He could, by sign or word, 
 In absence of the multitude, 
 
 Deliver up his Lord. 
 
 The Upper Room. 
 
 j\ T OW came the first day of the feast — 
 * ^ Day of unleavened bread — 
 When the Passover must be killed ; 
 And the disciples said: 
 
 "Where wilt Thou, Lord, that we shall go 
 
 And preparation make 
 For Thee to eat the Passover, 
 
 And we, with Thee, partake ?" 
 
 Peter and John He then sent forth, 
 Saying: "As ye walk the street, 
 
 A man, bearing a pitcher 
 Of water, ye shall meet. 
 
 "Then follow him into the house, 
 
 And to the good man say : 
 The Master needs the guest-chamber 
 
 To keep the feast to-day. 
 
 "And a large, furnished, upper room 
 
 He unto you will show." 
 Then the disciples went and found, 
 
 As the Lord said, 'twas so. 
 
 Now, at the evening hour, the Lord 
 
 With His disciples came, 
 And sat down round the table where 
 
 Was served the paschal lamb. 
 
 And He said unto them : "I have 
 
 Desired with every breath 
 To eat this Passover with you, 
 
 Before I suffer death." 
 
 Washing the Disciples' Feet. 
 
 '"T HIS being over, Jesus rose, 
 * And laid His robe aside, 
 And a towel girded round Him, 
 So free was He from pride ; 
 
 And with water in a basin 
 
 Washed the disciples' feet. 
 O, lowly Master ! loving Lord ! 
 
 Thy meekness is complete ! 
 
 But Simon Peter would refuse, 
 
 With love and high esteem, 
 This humble office should be done 
 
 By Jesus unto him; 
 
 Till Jesus, checking his proud will, 
 
 Answered decidedly, 
 By saying: "If I wash thee not, 
 
 Thou hast no part with me." 
 
 Then Peter cried : "Lord, not my feet 
 
 Only from stain be free ; 
 But also let my hands and head 
 
 Be purified by Thee." 
 
 Jesus said : "He whose feet are washed 
 
 Is every whit made clean ; 
 And ye are clean, but not you all — 
 
 He Judas, false, did mean. 
 
 So, when the Lord had watched their 
 feet, 
 
 And had His robe put on, 
 And took His seat, He said : "Know ye 
 
 What I to you have done ?" 
 
 Then taught them that if He, their Lord, 
 Had washed their feet, then so 
 
 Should they to one another 
 Such act of grace bestow ; 
 
392 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 That they to His example 
 
 Should prompt respect accord, 
 
 Well knowing that the servant is 
 Not greater than his Lord. 
 
 Jesus is Betrayed. 
 
 MOW, after this, was Jesus sad, 
 ^ ^ And trouble did display ; 
 For one of them who sat with Him 
 He said should Him betray. 
 
 And then, all being sorrowful, 
 
 Said : "Is it I ?" in turn. 
 But He said : " 'Twere good for that man 
 
 If he had ne'er been born." 
 
 Now the disciple Jesus loved, 
 
 Who next His bosom lay, 
 At sign from Peter asked : "Who, Lord, 
 
 Would vilely Thee betray ?" 
 
 Jesus said : "When I did the sop 
 
 It shall be that man's lot." 
 And when He dipped He gave it to 
 
 Judas Iscariot. 
 
 Yet upon Judas' callous heart 
 
 No softening touch it gave : 
 But Satan entered into him, 
 
 To harden and enslave. 
 
 Jesus said : "What thou do'st, do now." 
 None knew what this did mean ; 
 
 But Judas rose and left the room, 
 And sought a different scene. 
 
 The Last Supper. 
 
 A ND now the evening shades had 
 -**• closed, 
 
 And night was o'er the sky ; 
 Supper was ended and lamps lit 
 
 Within that chamber high. 
 
 The Lord took bread, and, blessing it, 
 
 He brake in pieces small; 
 Saying: "Take, eat, this is my body, 
 
 Once broken for you all." 
 
 Then took the cup, and, giving thanks, 
 
 He gave it to them, too ; 
 Saying : "Drink ye, for this is my blood, 
 
 Which is poured out for you. 
 
 "And eat this bread, and drink this cup, 
 
 For memory of me. 
 But I'll not taste the wine till I 
 
 My Father's kingdom see." 
 
 Peter's Warning. 
 
 T^ HEN Peter cried out in alarm: 
 "Lord, whither goest Thou? 
 I will go with Thee unto death, 
 Or unto prison now." 
 
 Jesus said to him: "Verily, 
 Before the cock shall crow, 
 
 This day thou wilt deny full thrice 
 That thou the Lord dost know." 
 
 Promise of the Comforter. 
 
 A GAIN the Master's voice arose 
 **■ In precious converse sweet, 
 The last and richest lessons, 
 With wisdom most replete : 
 
 "Let not your heart be troubled, 
 
 Believe in me, most true, 
 For in my Father's house I shall 
 
 Prepare a place for you." 
 
 And on, in soothing accents, flowed 
 
 Upon their listening ears 
 Words which, while they increased their 
 love, 
 
 Excited still their fears. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 393 
 
 For He talked of going from them, 
 
 Yet being with them still, 
 And giving them what they should ask, 
 
 If they would do His will; 
 
 And said He would pray the Father 
 
 The Comforter to send — 
 The Holy Ghost — who, teaching them, 
 
 Would lead them to the end. 
 
 And again He said unto them, 
 
 As He, at first, had said : 
 "Let not your heart be troubled, 
 
 Nor let it be afraid." 
 
 The Parable of the Vine. 
 
 \ I J HEN it was time to go, He said: 
 
 "Arise, let us go hence," 
 And they all stood and sung a hymn 
 Ere they departed thence. 
 
 Then out into the shadowed street, 
 
 After the close of day, 
 The Lord and His eleven friends 
 
 Walked slowly on their way ; 
 
 On towards the mount of Olives, where 
 
 His custom was to go, 
 Along the well-known path which crossed 
 
 Where Kedron's waters flow. 
 
 And still the Master, as His wont 
 When walking with His friends, 
 
 Continued teaching golden truth 
 The which to glory tends. 
 
 He likened Himself to a vine, 
 While they the branches were ; 
 
 His Father was the husbandman, 
 Who of the plant had care ; 
 
 And charged them that they must bear 
 fruit, 
 And never barren prove; 
 
 His Father should be glorified 
 
 Through faith that works by love. 
 
 And charged them to abide in Him, 
 And thus much fruit return ; 
 
 And warned them 'gainst the dreadful 
 fire, 
 Where barren branches burn. 
 
 He then unfolded to their view 
 The things that should be done, 
 
 When He, their Head, should go away, 
 And they be left alone ; 
 
 And told them if they asked of God, 
 
 In His name, any thing, 
 Such prayer would quickly rise to heaven, 
 
 And joyful answer bring. 
 
 Again He spoke to them of love, 
 
 And of His blessed peace, 
 And said, as He had overcome, 
 
 So should their warfare cease. 
 
 His Prayer for His Disciples. 
 
 A ND then He stood and raised His 
 **■ eyes 
 
 To heaven's transparent dome ; 
 And in the same clear voice He said: 
 
 "Father, the hour is come." 
 
 Then followed such a solemn prayer, 
 
 With holy nearness filled, 
 As human lips ne'er breathed before, 
 
 By faith however thrilled. 
 
 The prayer ended, then Jesus crossed 
 
 Over the Kedron brook, 
 And the last walk, in silence calm, 
 
 With His disciples took. 
 
394 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 Christ in Gethsemane. 
 
 /~\ N Olivet a garden grew — 
 ^-^ Gethsemane its name — 
 And here, in that portentous hour, 
 The "Man of Sorrows" came. 
 
 The shadows of the midnight fell, 
 And silence reigned around, 
 
 As He and His eleven friends 
 Trod the familiar ground. 
 
 Then, Oh! such heavy agony 
 
 Descended on His soul, 
 That even His strong spirit was 
 
 Unable to control. 
 
 He said to them : "Exceeding woe, 
 
 Beyond all mortal grief, 
 O'erwhelms my soul ; watch here while I 
 
 In prayer shall seek relief." 
 
 Then went a little farther off, 
 
 And on His face He fell, 
 And offered up this earnest prayer: 
 
 "If it be possible, 
 
 "My Father— Oh! My Father!— 
 
 Let this cup pass from me. 
 Nevertheless, Thy holy will, 
 
 And not my will shall be." 
 
 Then, coming back to those He left, 
 
 A mournful watch to keep, 
 He found them prone upon the ground, 
 
 And wrapped in heavy sleep. 
 
 But Jesus said: "Sleep now and rest, 
 
 The hour is close at hand. 
 Behold the Son of Man betrayed 
 
 To an ungodly band." 
 
 At the Palace of the High Priest. 
 
 A ND as He spake, behold a crowd 
 f*- With lanterns and with swords ; 
 And Judas, traitor, came before, 
 With kiss and guileful words. 
 
 But He who reads all hearts, and points 
 
 To what He finds amiss, 
 Said: "Judas, dost thou thus betray 
 
 Thy Master with a kiss?" 
 
 Then gently turning to the crowd, 
 He asked them : "Whom seek ye !" 
 
 They said: "Jesus of Nazareth." 
 He answered : "I am he." 
 
 And the armed band led Jesus 
 
 Along the city road, 
 Up to the high priest's palace — 
 
 Caiaphas' abode. 
 
 Meanwhile sat Peter by the fire, 
 Wondering how this would end, 
 
 And feeling wholly powerless 
 His Master to defend. 
 
 A servant, passing, said to him : 
 "Thou with this man hast been." 
 
 But Peter in great fear replied : 
 "I know not what you mean." 
 
 And soon another said he had 
 
 Of Jesus' friends been one, 
 But Peter cursed and swore that he 
 
 Had never Jesus known. 
 
 Just then the cock crew, shrill and clear, 
 
 And Jesus turned His face, 
 And full on Peter cast a look 
 
 Of love, reproach and grace.. 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 395 
 
 Then over Peter's aching heart 
 
 Repentant anguish swept, 
 And he rushed out into the dawn. 
 
 And bitterly he wept. 
 
 Christ before Pilate. 
 
 AND now the morning beams appeared 
 The council of the Jews 
 Led Jesus to the judgment hall, 
 That they might Him accuse. 
 
 And Pilate gathered to his aid 
 
 Chief priests and rulers all, 
 And Jesus stood before him in 
 
 The royal judgment hall. 
 
 And Pilate said unto them : "Ye 
 Have brought this man to me, 
 
 Saying, 'He perverts the people/ 
 But no fault in Him I see. 
 
 "Nor yet Herod ; for I sent you 
 With your prisoner to the king ; 
 
 But no offence to Roman law 
 Could you against Him bring. 
 
 "I, therefore, will chastise Him 
 
 And order Him released ;" 
 For 'twas custom he should free to them 
 
 A prisoner at the feast. 
 
 But they exclaimed : "Away with Him," 
 
 And cried, with one accord, 
 That he release Barabbas, 
 
 And crucify the Lord. 
 
 Now Barabbas was a robber, 
 And they knew his record well ; 
 
 He for murder and sedition 
 Lay in a prison cell. 
 
 "Why, what great evil hath He aone?" 
 Pilate, the third time saith ; 
 
 For he knew it was for envy 
 That they desired His death. 
 
 Pilate's Wife's Dream. 
 
 A GAIN upon the judgment seat, 
 *^ To end this cruel strife, 
 Sat Pilate, when a servant came 
 With message from his wife. 
 
 "Beware" — the word the lady sent — 
 
 "That thou no evil do 
 To Him who stands before thee now— 
 
 That man so just and true. 
 
 "For I while sleeping on my bed, 
 Have suffered, in a dream, 
 
 Much anguish and distress of mind, 
 This day, because of Him." 
 
 Then Pilate saith to Jesus: 
 
 "Art thou the very king 
 The Jews expected should appear, 
 
 And their salvation bring?" 
 
 "My kingdom," Jesus answered, 
 
 "Is not beneath the skies, 
 Else to protect me from the Jews 
 
 My servants would arise." 
 
 "Art thou a king, then?" Pilate asked. 
 
 "Thou sayest it," the reply ; 
 "For I was born, and hither came, 
 
 The truth to testify." 
 
 Pilate said to Him : "What is truth ?" 
 Then left the judgment hall, 
 
 And said unto the Jews : "I find 
 In Him no fault at all." 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION 
 
 St. Matthew 27: S5-38; St. Mark 15: 24-28; St. I^uke 23: 33, 34; St. John 19: 18-24 
 
NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 397 
 
 Then Pilate, taking water, washed 
 
 His hands before them all; 
 And said: "This just man's blood on me 
 
 Shall not in judgment fall." 
 
 Then answered all the people : 
 "Let this man's blood be shed ; 
 
 And let it fall on each of us, 
 And on our children's head." 
 
 The Crucifixion. 
 
 TT was outside the city wall 
 * Of proud Jerusalem, 
 That Roman soldiers crucified 
 Whom Pilate dared condemn. 
 
 But from the suffering Nazarene 
 
 No word of murmur came ; 
 Patience appeared through keenest wrong, 
 
 And dignity through shame. 
 
 Only this kind and earnest plea 
 Their malice from Him drew : 
 
 "Father, I pray, forgive them now, 
 They know not what they do." 
 
 The Mother of Jesus. 
 
 "MOW there stood by that dreadful cross 
 *■ ^ The mother of the Lord, 
 Whose soul with sharpest agony 
 Was pierced, as with a sword. 
 
 When Jesus therefore saw her near, 
 
 And His disciple, John, 
 The man whom He loved best, He said : 
 
 "Woman, behold thy son." 
 
 Then said to the disciple : 
 
 "Thy mother here behold !" 
 And John thenceforth his loving care 
 
 Around her did enfold. 
 
 The Darkened Sun. 
 
 1VTOW 'tis high noon and, solemn sight, 
 1 ^ The sun withdraws his face, 
 And shadows, over all the land, 
 The beams of day replace. 
 
 All nature, wrapped in solemn awe, 
 
 Stood shuddering in dismay, 
 xAs hours of stern, Almighty wrath, 
 
 Passed tediously away. 
 
 Once, from the cross, an anguished voice 
 Came languidly: "I thirst," 
 
 And then a cry, as though the heart, 
 So full of love, had burst. 
 
 "Eli, Eli," these were the words, 
 
 "Lama Sabachthani ?" 
 Oh ! what acutest agony 
 
 Wrung forth that mournful cry ! 
 
 Meanwhile a sponge, in vinegar, 
 One standing near Him dips ; 
 
 And, putting it upon a reed, 
 He lifts it to His lips. 
 
 He then, with exclamation loud, 
 
 His voice aloft doth send, 
 Saying : "Father, now into Thy hands 
 
 "My spirit I commend!" 
 
 And, then, behold! the temple vail 
 
 From top to bottom rent ; 
 An earthquake shook the city's walls, 
 
 The rocks to pieces went. 
 
 And the centurian, with his guard, 
 
 Seeing these signs abroad, 
 Exclaimed in fear: "Now, of a truth, 
 
 "This was the Son of God." 
 
898 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 The Burial. 
 
 |\|OW a good man, Joseph by name, 
 1 ^ Of wealth and high renown, 
 In secret a disciple true, 
 Of Rama's ancient town, 
 
 Besought that Pilate grant to him 
 
 Permission to remove 
 The body of the Crucified, 
 
 Whom he had learned to love. 
 
 And then came Nicodemus, 
 With aloes and with myrrh — 
 
 Another who had been of Christ 
 A secret worshipper. 
 
 And these two men, who ne'er had made 
 
 Profession, great or small, 
 Prepared the sacred body for 
 
 An honored burial. 
 
 They wrapped it, with the spices, 
 In clean, white linen clothes ; 
 
 According to the way in which 
 The Jews their dead dispose. 
 
 Then reverently laid it down 
 In Joseph's tomb — quite new, 
 
 Which he had hewn from out the rock, 
 His own last sleep in view. 
 
 The Resurrection. 
 *"P HE Sabbath passed in sullen calm 
 *■ The Lord of all things slept, 
 And some exulted in their crime, 
 While others mourned and wept. 
 
 It passed, it ended, and, behold ! 
 
 While darkness veiled the sky, 
 Midst shock of earthquake, there came 
 down 
 
 An angel from on high. 
 
 He sought the silent sepulchre, 
 And rolled away the stone — 
 
 The heavy stone that filled the door — 
 And took his seat thereon. 
 
 His features shone with lightning glow, 
 His robes were snowy white ; 
 
 With solemn awe the keepers shook, 
 And fell, as dead, with fright. 
 
 Women at the Tomb. 
 
 AJ[ EAN WHILE the day began to 
 *" * dawn — 
 
 The first day of the week — 
 And sorrowing women early came, 
 
 The sacred tomb to seek ; 
 
 With spices and with ointments sweet, 
 To preserve the precious clay ; 
 
 And saying : "Who shall roll for us 
 That heavy stone away?" 
 
 But when they reached the sepulchre, 
 They saw the stone removed, 
 
 And, entering in, they also missed 
 The form of Him they loved. 
 
 Instead, they saw a strange young man, 
 
 Sitting up on the right, 
 Clothed in a long, white flowing robe, 
 
 And they were filled with fright. 
 
 And he said unto them : "Fear not, 
 
 Ye seek Him who was slain. 
 He is not here. He's risen indeed, 
 
 Come, see where He has lain." 
 
 The Ascension. 
 
 f~\ N sacred Olivet, once more, 
 ^-^ The apostles met their Lord, 
 And looked with rapture on His face, 
 And heard with joy His word. 
 
MAR 13 teis 
 
 400 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE. 
 
 He spake with old-time gentleness, 
 
 And dignity, and love, 
 Commanding that they should not from 
 
 Jerusalem remove. 
 
 "But wait there till the promise of 
 
 My Father come," He said, 
 "Of which you heard me plainly speak 
 
 The night I was betrayed. 
 
 "For John baptised with water, 
 
 But ye shall feel the glow 
 Of baptism with the Holy Ghost, 
 
 Not many days from now." 
 
 And as He talked He led them on 
 
 As far as Bethany, 
 When they, together, forward came 
 
 And asked Him earnestly, 
 
 Saying : "Lord, wilt thou at this time 
 
 To Israel restore 
 The kingdom in such splendor 
 
 As it enjoyed of yore?" 
 
 But Jesus said unto them all : 
 
 " 'Tis not for you to know 
 That which the Father doth intend 
 
 Respecting things below. 
 
 "But ye shall be endued with power, 
 And strength, and majesty, 
 
 After the Holy Ghost has come 
 Upon you from on high. 
 
 "And ye shall witness unto Me 
 
 Both in Jerusalem, 
 Judea and Samaria, 
 
 And lands ye now condemn." 
 
 And then He lifted up His hands, 
 And blessed them as they stood, 
 
 While He ascended from their sight, 
 Their Master, great and good. 
 
 And they beheld Him rise aloft 
 
 Into the ether bright, 
 Until a cloud enveloped Him, 
 
 And bore Him from their sight. 
 
 And while they looked up after Him 
 Toward heaven, amazed and sad, 
 
 Behold two angels stood by them, 
 In white apparel clad ; 
 
 Which said: "Ye men of Galilee, 
 Why stand ye, gazing up, 
 
 As though the Lord had gone away, 
 And left you without hope? 
 
 "As ye have seen Him rise to heaven 
 
 In majesty sublime, 
 So, in like manner, shall He come, 
 
 In the allotted time." 
 
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