Citation
Tallis's Illustrated Scripture history for the improvement of youth

Material Information

Title:
Tallis's Illustrated Scripture history for the improvement of youth
Portion of title:
Illustrated Scripture history
Creator:
Gaspey, Thomas, 1788-1871
Tallis, John, 1817-1876 ( Publisher )
Rogers, J ( Engraver )
Place of Publication:
London
New York ;
Publisher:
John Tallis and Co.
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
2 v. : ill., plates ; 18 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Bible stories, English -- Juvenile literature ( lcsh )
Bldn -- 1851
Spatial Coverage:
England -- London
United States -- New York -- New York
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

General Note:
Added title-pages, engraved.
General Note:
Added engraved title page imprint J. & F. Tallis.
General Note:
Illus. engraved by J. Rogers.
General Note:
Baldwin library copies bound as 4 volumes: v. 1, pt 1 & 2; v 2, pt 1 & 2 (Spine labels v I-IV)
Funding:
Brittle Books Program
Statement of Responsibility:
by the editor of Sturm's Family devotions.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
002238314 ( ALEPH )
24355767 ( OCLC )
ALH8811 ( NOTIS )
37031970 ( LCCN )

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Full Text


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THE NEW TESTAMENT.

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THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

>EPH

JOURNEY, ON

MELANCHOLY WAY,





TALLIS’S

ILLUSTRATED SCRIPTURE HISTORY

FOR THE

IMPROVEMENT OF YOUTH.

BY

THE EDITOR OF STURM’S FAMILY DEVOTIONS.

VOL. I.

PUBLISHED BY JOHN TALLIS AND COMPANY,
LONDON AND NEW YORK.



1851.






INDEX.

VOL Il

PAGE
Adultery, the Woman taken in . 201
Ananias, the Death of . . 243
‘Apostles, Christ Preparing the , 233
Antioch, Paul at . : . 263
Barren Fig- tree, Christ curses the 79
Bartimaeus, Christ restoring to

Sight . . . 7
Betray ed, Christ | . . . 39
Blind Man, Christ restores Sight

to the . 71

Bloody Issue, a woman cured of a 155
Brother, the Prodigal’s . . 167
Cana, the Marriage at . . 191
Canaan, Christ and the Woman of 25
Charger, John the Baptist’s Head

brought ina . . 67
Children, Zebedee’s . . 29
Christ, the Temptation of . li

— Peter denying . . 41



Precious Ointment poured
on the Head of . ¢
the Ascension of _. lil
Angels proclaim the Birth
of .

+ . ¢













Judas betrays . 176
scourged . . . 215
the Dead 221
Cleansed, the Leper 61
Comforter, Christ the . . 139

Commandments, the First to the
Tenth - 285—304

Cornclius, the Angel appearing to 255

Council, Christ led before the. 177





Cross, Christ taken fromthe | 47
Simon the Cyrenian com-
pelled to bear the . . 99
—— Vinegar given to Christ on
the .
—— Christ bearing the 217
Christ on the. . 219
Crucified, Christ . . . 179
Daughter, raising of Jairus’s . 19

Devils, Christ casts out a Legion of 153





AAA

PAGE

Disciples, Christ appears to his . 109

- Christ sends forth his . 157
Christ discourses with

his . . . - 171

J crus g¢ going forth with



Mary Magdalene and
the . 228

Doctors, Christ disputing "with
the . : - 131
Dragon, Michael and the . - 283
Dream, Joseph warned in a - 7
Emmaus, Christ at. - . 185
Ephesus, Paul preaching at . 273
Eutychus, Paul restoring Life to 275

Eyes of the Blind, Jesus opening
the . . al
Family, the Holy 129

Father, the Prodigal Son leaves

his

—-—- the Prodigal Son returns
to his. . . 165

the Woman anointing
Christ’s . . 149
—— Behold my Hands and my 187

— Christ washing the Disci-
ples’ . . . 209
Felix, Paul before . - 277
Fishes, the Miraculous Draught of 143
the Great Draught of . 229
Garden, Christ’s agony inthe . 37

Garment, a Woman touches the
Hem of Christ’s : 2
Ghost, Descent of the Holy, - 235
God, the Lambof 189
High Priest, Jesus taken before the 93
Peter before the . 241
Impotent Man, Christ curing the 197
Innocents, Murder of the . . 9

Feet,











Jerusalem, Christ entering . . 33
St. Peter’s first Ser-
monin . . . 237

Jesus, the Resurrection of . . 61



il INDEX.

PAGE
Jesus, Simon and Andrew called
b

y-
J oseph of Aremathaa begs

the body of . 103
—— an Angel proclaims the

Resurrection of . 105
—~ the Naming of . : 1197
— the Entombment of . . 181
—— Martha meets . 203



Mary anointing the feet of ro

John, St., the Infant
Preaching .- . 53
—__——— Baptizing . . 6a
Judas, Repentance of . . 43
Lame Man, Peter and John cur-
ingthe. . . . 239
Lazarus, Raising of . . 205

Little Children, Christ blessing . 75
Lystra, Paul and Barnabas at. 265











Paul stoned at . . 267
Magdalene, Christ appearing to

Mary . 225

Mary, ‘Christ appearing to. . 107
an Angel appearing to the

Virgin . 15

— Elizabeth visited by. ~ 117
Money-changers, Christ casting

out the . . . BL

the Tribute. . . $3

Mite, the Widow's. . . 85

Mount, Sermon on the . . b

Multitude, Jesus feeds the . . 69

Christ feeding the . 199

Nativity, the . 121

Noblenvan’ s Son, Christ curing the 195
Palsy, Christ healing one Sick of the 63
Peter, Christ’s charge to . 231
Cornelius meeting 257
Pharisees, Christ disputing with the 73
Philippi, Paul at . .

Pilate, Christ led forth by . “313
Prophesy, they bade him . - 95
Prison, Peter delivered out of . 259





PAGE
Prison, Paul and Silasin . . at
Publican, the Pharisee and the . 169
Repentance, Peter's. 97
Samaria, Christ and the Woman of 138
Samaritan, the Good . .

Sapphira, the Death of , 3B
Saul, Conversion of . . 249
Saviour, the » it

Sea, Christ walking on the » 23
Sepulchre, the two Marys at the 49
Women viewing the . 183
Servant, Christ healing the Cen-
turion’s. 145
Shepherds, Adoration of the . 125
Ship, Christ teaching from the . 21





Sick, Christ healing rthe . 141
Sight, Saul restored to . 251
Sleeping, Jesus finds the Disciples 91
Sinned, Jerusalem hath 87
Sorcerer, Elymas the . * 261
Sower, the Parable of the . 161

Star in the East, Wise Men and

the . 5
Starving, the Prodigal Son. " 163
Stephen, St. stoning of, to Death ar
Storm, Christ stilleth the
Spirit, Jesus casting out the Un-

clean 59
Spirits, Casting out the Unclean 65
Supper, the Last . 35
Synagogue, Christ teaching inthe 137
‘Tabitha, Peter raising . . 253
Tempted, Christ . 135
Thomas, the Incredulity of - 227
Thorns, Christ crowned with . 45

Transfiguration, the . . 27
Viper, Paul shaking off the - 279
Wilderness, Jesus inthe . . 133

Widow’s Son, Christ raising the 147
Woman, the Dragon persecuting

the . . 281
Zaccheeus, the Calling ‘of . 173
Zacharias, the Angel & appearing to 113





SAVLIOUT

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We NN NE SE RE EE LTS

THE SAVIOUR.

Tue words Jesus Curist, mean ‘the Saviour
of the world,” the word Messiau, has the same
meaning as Christ.

It is not a little remarkable, that most of
the nations of antiquity, however remote from
Christianity, had a faith or superstition which
exhibited many of the features of the re-
ligion of the Jews, as set forth in the Scrip-
tures. They believed, that the world having

been created and peopled with mortals, that

gods and angels not: unfrequently descended
to earth and conversed with them. Pre-
suming on this familiarity, men forgot their
duty, offended their celestial visitants, who
thereupon withdrew, and left them to their own
evil ways. They greatly sinned, and then a

mighty deluge punished their depravity, but :

some portion of the sinful men being spared,
the world again became populous, and unhap-

pily again became wicked. Their course in )
this advanced or second stage of depravity, }

became indeed so monstrous, that mercy could

not be allowed to interpose her shield, and ;

sacrifice was required. Thus it was that a
Heavenly being, laying aside his inherent glory,
VOL. I. B

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THE SAVIOUR.

came to earth—he came to suffer tnat man
should be spared. Such, in various myths, as

Sn een!

,

they are called, or mythological fables, is made |

to appear the early history of man’s creation,

fall, punishment, relapse into vice, and final |

salvation through redeeming love.
We find here a confused and imperfect

representation of those grand events on which /

depend the Christian’s hope. They serve to »

prove the universality of the belief that man
had fallen from a state of purity which was
originally his; and that to snatch him from
the consequences of his evil doings, the inter-

ee

cession of a gracious Mediator was held to be }

necessary.

Such a one was found. He, “the desired of
all nations,’ appeared, but he came not in
royal state. To give mortals an opportunity
of manifesting disinterested love, he was born in
poverty, and appeared before men as the son of
a mean carpenter. It was by his deeds, by his
words of wisdom and acts of charity, that the
Son of the Almighty chose to manifest himself
to the sons of men.

Children who are so happy as to have kind
parents who supply all their wants, and keep
them in peace and safety, may rejoice that their
lot is so very different from that of the infant

2



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THE SAVIOUR.

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2

Jesus. He came to this world to teach men
{ their duty, to warn them against sin, and to
rescue them from the power of the evil one.
, While such the glorious task which he took
» upon himself to perform, he was exposed to
) great danger; not merely of being unkindly
‘ treated, but of being killed by hard-hearted men.
/ 1 . .
» There was a wicked king whose name was
) Herod, and he feared that when Christ came
. he would lose his kingdom, and therefore
' wished to put the child to death. He artfully
' concealed his cruel purpose, and sent some wise
- men to enquire where Jesus was born. He
wanted to know exactly the spot in which he
could be found, as he said, that he might go
and worship him.
But the false king had no such purpose in
his heart, and if he had been told where the
child was, whose coming he dreaded so much,
he would have sent some of his people to (
murder Christ. Happily he failed in his object.
How he was baffled will hereafter be more
particularly explained. For the present it is
enough to say that Joseph, his reputed father,
and the Virgin Mary, removed their tender
charge beyond the reach of Herod, by taking
_ him to the land of Egypt.
) A long and painful journey they had to
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THE SAVIOUR,



perform, not without dread of being overtaken
by some of the bad king’s people. Had that
came to pass Joseph and Mary would have
been at least imprisoned, while the child would
have been slain.

Such was the commencement of the mortal
career of the Illustrious Messenger from Hea-
ven, who mercifully came to save a guilty race
from the just consequences of their mad doings,
their wretched idolatry, and their neglect of |
the Creator of all things.

In Roman Catholic countries some narratives
of the life and occupation of Joseph, Mary,
and Jesus, while the last was a child, exist.
They are the inventions of a former age, but
are devoid of truth, and are in no respect
borne out by Scripture.

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THE WISE MEN AND THE STAR
IN THE EAST.

““When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great
joy.”"—-MatTTHEW, chap. ii., verse 10.



A sricnt star had appeared in the Heavens,
and certain wise men seeing it, concluded that
it told of the birth of one who was to be king
of the Jews. They mentioned this to king
Herod, and he, not understanding that the
kingdom of Christ was unlike the kingdoms
of this world, came to the conclusion that
the birth announced would be fatal to his
greatness,

Filled with alarm, Herod sent for the wise
men, and enquired of them in private, the
exact time at which the star had appeared ;
and then directed them to go and search dili-
gently for the child, and when found, to bring
him word, that he might also go and see it,
pretending that he was desirous of offering his
homage to Jesus.

They departed on this errand, and the star
which they had noted in the East, went before
them as a guide, till at length ‘it stood over
where the young child was.

The wise men saw the child with the Virgin

5

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THE WISE MEN AND THE STAR IN THE EAST.

)

)

) Mary his mother. Then they fell on their

knees before him, opened their treasures, and

; presented to him gifts of ‘“‘ gold, and frank-

) incense, and myrrh.”

) Thus far all had fallen out as the wicked

, king Herod wished, but his evil purpose was

) soon defeated, as God, who sees all that is

) passing in a bad man’s heart, warned the wise

men in a dream that they must not return

, to him, and therefore they went back into

) their own country by another way.

Jesus was therefore for the present left in
safety. From this we learn that even a power-

ful king cannot conceal his thoughts from the
Almighty. Those who seek to do evil must
not hope to escape his all-seeing eye. Their
most cunning schemes are often in a moment
rendered vain, by wisdom which cannot be
dazzled or misled, and frustrated by a will
which the whole world has no power success-
fully to resist

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JOSEPH WARNED IN A DREAM







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—

JOSEPH WARNED IN A DREAM.

“The angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,
saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother,
and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee
word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
—MatTTHEW, chap. ii., verse 13.



Tue warning God was pleased to give to Joseph
of the wish of Herod to put the child Jesus to
death, was not neglected. Joseph arose in the
night, and took the infant and Mary his mother
from Bethlehem in Judea, where they had
previously rested, and set out for Egypt.

It will interest those who carefully read the
Bible, to mark that Joseph was directed, in
order to save the child from being destroyed, to
repair to that land from which, in other days,
Moses, by God’s command, and under his benign
protection, had rescued the Israelites from cap-
tivity. Egypt was a land wonderfully favoured
in many respects. There, when famine involved
the surrounding nations in great distress, abun-
dance of corn was stored; there Jacob and his
family found a home in the old age of the
patriarch ; and now, it was appointed to offer
blessed refuge to the distressed earthly parents
of the Saviour of the world.

Yet, strange as it is true, in that same Egypt

7



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JOSEPH WARNED IN A DREAM.

}
go little was the goodness of the Eternal valued
‘or understood, that its inhabitants gave them-
' selves up to the most shocking idolatry.
. Instead of bowing before the altar of the Lord ;
instead of offering homage to that gracious
( being who caused the river Nile to overflow,
(( and bade the golden corn wave over its other-
(wise barren sands, they were content to pros-
' trate themselves before monstrous images of
' stone, and even before senseless animals, and
( hateful reptiles. Such is the wretched abase- ,
; ment to which men condescend, who madly ‘
) turn from the light, and indulge their own °*
wild fancies instead of seeking to honour the |
‘true God.
( Some of their huge idols have been brought
to England ; as works of art, or as curiosities,
they may interest, but viewing them as objects
(( before which man. should prostrate himself in
adoration, they can only be regarded as monu-
/
1

ments of Egyptian folly.

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MURDER







THE INNOCENTS



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THE MURDER OF THE INNO-
CENTS.

/ © Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked ofthe wise
men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts
thereof, from two years old and under, according to the

time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”—
MattHEw, chap. ii., verse 16.





| Joseru and Mary, with the child Jesus, had left

Bethlehem, and were on their way to Egypt,

(| when king Herod, who had waited in vain for

‘\ the return of the wise men, found that they
had gone to their home, and would not tell
him what he wished to know. He was then
very angry with them, and as he could not
gratify his cruel nature by slaying the son of
Mary alone, the wicked thought came into his
mind, that by ordering all the poor little chil-
dren in Bethlehem to be put to death, what he
desired might be effected. He made sure that
Jesus was among them, and cared not how
much blood he shed. so the cause of his alarm
were removed.

Then his wicked soldiers went and seized all
the little boys and girls they could find in
Bethlehem. Those hard-hearted men tore
them from their helpless mothers. They cared

- VOL. I c 9

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oT



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NE EEE BOE ee

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THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENTS,

not for the cries ot the children nor the prayers
of their fond parents, but slew them ali.

Dreadful was the scene Bethlehem p e-
sented; but it realised what a holy prophet
had long before told would take place, and
“‘in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation,
and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not.”

When kind mothers are deprived of their
children, in their deep affliction they at first
can receive no comfort. The law of nature
forbids them to hope that the lost ones will be
restored in this world. They can only be
soothed by the blessed assurances which they
find in the Testament, that in his own time
God, who “ wipes the tear from all eyes,” will
remove their sorrow by death, and then, so
they lead a pious life here, and live with
becoming resignation to the will of their Eter-
nal Father, they will at last rejoin their beloved
infants in Heaven.









ae EE
aaa aa aga aaa a Na ta Ts

pe $I EET

|



THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

“The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain,
and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the
glory of them.”—MatTHEW, chap. iv., verse 8.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS,



Satan, the Devil, is the great foe of man.
Because for his rebellion and ingratitude he
has been expelled from Heaven, where but for
his wickedness he might have lived for ever,
he seeks to make human beings his partners
in misery. To this end he strives to tempt the
good, and uses all his art to lead them into
evil ways.

He was bold enough to try to impose upon
the Son of God. Satan, fallen as he is, has
still great power, and presumed to hope that
he could prevail upon Christ to forget his
Heavenly Father. He therefore carried Jesus
to the top of a high hill or mountain, from
which he could look down on all the kingdoms
of this world. He could see their grandeur,
their riches, and their glory. Ali these he pro-
mised to give to Christ, if he would consent to
worship him.

But Jesus knew the tempter, and scorned
both him and his offer. ‘‘ Get thee hence,
Satan,” he said ‘for it is written, Thou shalt

1]







ee ot eee



THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
' thou serve.” Then the Devil left him.

Satan now often tries to make the good
forget their duty. He shows them riches and
worldly honours, and whispers to them that all
these may be enjoyed, if they will lend them-
selves to falsehood and fraud. Too often he

succeeds :

( “Blinded in youth, by Satan’s arts,
The world to our unpractised hearts
) A flattering prospect shows;
Our fancy forms a thousand schemes
( Of gay delights and golden dreams,
And undisturbed repose.”
\ But let the young be assured vain, very vain,
are all these tempting prospects. To be happy
they must be good. All that can be gained by
sin soon passes away, or becomes an evil :

“Turns to sorrow shame and pain.

Let them bear in mind the words of our Lord
to Satan, and remember that God only they
must serve.

ER

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MOUNT

MON ON ‘THE

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ay

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

“ And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and
when he was set, his disciples came unto him.”—-MatTTHEW,

Se



ee ee

AFTER THE Birtu oF Carist, 31 YEARS.



ene eae

Tue disciples of Jesus gathered round their
divine preceptor on a mountain, and there the
Son of God deigned to teach them their

And sweet and soothing were the words that
‘‘Blessed,’’ said he, ‘‘are the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
Those who are humble here, are
thus taught that happiness is reserved for them
in a better world.

The Saviour continued, ‘ Blessed are they
that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Those who are here depressed by affliction,
may look for comfort from God.

Further, he said, ‘‘ Blessed are the meek:
for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after righteous-
ness: for they shall be filled.
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Thus it will be seen he taught his followers
that meekness would have its reward; that
mortals who seek to be good, shall not seek in

oo

Se

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Blessed are the

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THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

vain; and that those who are merciful to others
shall find mercy for themselves.

And “ Blessed,” he added, ‘‘ are the pure in
heart : for they shall see God. Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the chil-
dren of God.”

In this noble sermon we are taught the
mission of our Lord. It was a mission of
peace. He came not to destroy, but to purify
and to save: he came to warn men against that
strife to which they are sometimes betrayed by
their evil passions. To calm these, to do their
best to disarm rage, is the duty of the good,
and the peacemakers shall be called the children
of God.

Mercy and meekness, peace and purity, he
wisely commends to all the sons of men. This
ought not to be lost sight of in the world’s
rude strife. Great will be the reward of those
who profit from his sage and gentle admoni-
tions, for ‘‘the pure in heart shall see God;”’
though the meek and the righteous may
suffer for a time, ‘theirs is the kingdom of
Heaven.”

14

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Nee NEN A SO Lo SS a ee

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CHRIST STILLING ‘THE



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CHRIST STILLETH THE STORM.

“ And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the
sea; and there was a great calm.”—MATTHEW, chap. viil.,
verse 26,

AFTER THE BirTH oF CuRisT, 31 YEARS.





Tue disciples of Jesus were in a ship, the winds
rose, and a storm raged. He was sleeping, but
they were dreadfully frightened, and thought
the ship would sink, and that they would all be
drowned in the sea.

So they went to him and awoke him, and in
their dismay cried, ‘‘ Save, Lord: we perish.”

These men, though instructed by Christ,
and though he was present with them, still
wanted courage. The roaring winds, and the
agitated waves, filled them with vain alarm.
Instead of manfully and serenely braving the
danger, they seem to have given themselves up
for lost; and despairingly exclaimed, ‘‘ We
perish.”

Jesus looked on them with displeasure.
“Why,” said he, ‘are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith?’? He blamed them, but he relieved
their fears, for ‘‘he arose, and rebuked the
winds and the sea; and there was a great
calm.”

15

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CHRIST STILLETH THE STORM

In reading this remarkable history, we see a
picture of the weak anxieties and foolish alarms
to which men are prone to give themselves up.

The disciples looked at the tempest and
abandoned hope. In an agony of terror their
cry was, ‘‘ We perish.” How much suffering
would they have been spared but for their little
faith !

Let the lesson thus affordea never be for-
gotten. Great as the dangers may seem, deep
as the gloom which surrounds us may be, the
christian whose faith is firm, may calmly re-
pose and defy the fury of the storm. He
who came not to destroy, still lives; is com-
petent to save those who humbly put their
trust in him. While the man of the world
weakly trembles and is filled with miserable
fear, the Christian preserves his fortitude. He
knows that he is in the hands of a gracious and
Almighty father, and feels that he is secure,
come what may, because he has faith in God.

16

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Seo en TE et a =
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CHRIST’S GARMENT.

« And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of
blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem
of his garment.”—MATTHEW, chap. ix., verse 20.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.

{
A WOMAN TOUCHES THE HEM OF



Tue Saviour of the world, as presented to us
in Scripture, proved his exalted dignity, not
by exerting his power to control men, or to in-
vest himself with those honours and possessions
which ordinary mortals covet ; but by reprov-
ing vice, doing good, and setting a bright ex-
ample of spotless purity.

He did not reside in lordly halls, and revel
in the luxuries which glad the rich. On the
contrary, we find him constantly associated
with the poor, enlightening their minds and
abating their sorrows.

Those who were slow to believe in his divine
mission, could not shut their ears to the fame
of his great deeds. Among them was a woman
who had been very ill for a number of years ;
she was meek and lowly, and did not dare to
ask our Lord to relieve her pain. A worldly
doctor she knew, with far less power than he
possessed, would not give her such relief as

VOL. Il. D 17







TOS eS eee





TOUCHING THE HEM OF CHRIST’S GARMENT.

might be hoped from his skill, without fee
or reward, and she had probably nothing to
give.

But having heard of the wonderful works of (
Jesus, she resolved to watch his footsteps, and |
said within herself, this holy visitor is so full of
virtue, that if I can but touch his garment I
shall be well.

With this anxious hope, she approached him
as he walked along, and touched only the hem
of his dress. She did this as privately as pos-
sible, but the Saviour perceived it and turned
round, asking who had done it.

The poor woman trembled, and was much
frightened, but owned that the act was hers.
Jesus kindly removed her fears, and told her
not to be disturbed, for her faith had made her
whole, and from that hour she was quite well.

Faith in the Saviour is thus shown to be all-
sufficient to relieve distress. True christians
constantly feel that,—

“The wounded conscience knows its power
The healing balm to give,

And make the dying live.”

That balm the saddest heart can cheer,







THE RAISING OF JATRUSS DAUGHTER





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Se et a esi pa re a a ee ee ee
————F. =<

RAISING OF JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER.

/ But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took

her by the hand, and the maid arose.”—-MaTTHEW, chap.
ix., verse 25.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.



A stiuu stronger proof of the power of faith
than that already described, is furnished in the
case of a young female, the daughter of a
“certain ruler,” named Jairus, who was re-
ported to be dead.

Her father, in great distress, went to Jesus
and told him that she was no more. He wor-
shipped Christ, his child slept in death, but he
felt assured that if the Lord would but lay his
hand upon her, she would revive.

He was on his way to the ruler’s house when
the poor woman touched the hem of his gar-
ment. Arriving there he found minstrels
assembled, according to the custom of that
country, to perform a solemn or funeral ser-
vice. Jesus told them that the daughter of
Jairus was only sleeping. They were so con-
vinced that she was really dead, that they not
only doubted the truth of his declaration, but
they even laughed at the Son of God. In the

19



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RAISING OF JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER.

)

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words of Saint Matthew, ‘they laughed him
to scorn.”

The folly of these scoffers was soon proved,
Jesus approached the supposed corpse, took
the maiden by the hand, and she immediately
arose.

Self-sufficient men often believe that it is
not in the power of God to make things other
than they seem to their eyes. We ought to
distrust ourselves. Jesus was not always to
remain on earth, and miracles like those which
he performed to prove to the beholders that

) his mission was from Heaven, we are not per- |
mitted to witness, but the record of them
which has been preserved, should teach us that
nothing is impossible to Him who made us.
His goodness and his power know no bounds ;
his providence now often works mighty and
unforeseen changes, and a day will come when
wonders still more startling, will bring convic-
tion of his greatness to all whose hearts may

: at present be inaccessible to truth.

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THE SHIP

FROM

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CHRIST TEACHING FROM THE
SHIP.

—

oe

“And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so
that he went intoa ship. and sat; and the whole multitude
stood on the shore.” MATTHEW, chap. xiii., verse 2.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.



Tue simple eloquence of the Saviour of man,
as well as the miracles he performed, caused
many to attend him, who were not considered

we

of the number of his disciples. They were
attracted by admiring curiosity, some of them
probably by a feeling less pardonable; but at /
all events crowds followed him.
On one occasion, to avoid the pressure, he
passed into a ship, and thence addressed those
who had gathered on the shore. He spoke to
them in parables. That mode of teaching he
adopted, because it was given to those more
immediately connected with him ‘‘to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven,”’ though
in some degree veiled, and to profit from his
discourse, which scoffers could not understand.
From the ship he addressed the listeners
and told this parable: a sower, when sow-
ing his seed, dropped some of it by the
: way-side, when the fowls came and devoured
21



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eA A





CHRIST TEACHING FROM THE SHIP.

it; another portion fell on stony places, where
there was not much earth, and this, when it
sprung up was scorched and withered by the
sun; while some fell among thorns, which
choked it as it grew.

Such was not the case with all; one part
of the sower’s seed fell on good ground and in
due time produced a noble harvest, some
thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold!

By this Christ is understood to have pic-
tured the course of worldly men, in regard to
divine knowledge. The good seed, that which
truth and religion supply, is often dropped
where it fails to take root. Cares which ought
never to be allowed to interfere with our
musings on eternity, in a manner consume it;
present enjoyment causes the word as it were
to wither in the mind, or growing troubles,
when it is springing up, choke and cause it to
be neglected or forgotten.

Blessed is he whose heart presents that good
ground, in which the seed of eternal joy can
fructify. Richly will it compensate the wise
anxiety which duly tended it. Pious care will
be largely requited, as in the case of the sower:
nay still more magnificent the return—a brief
season of virtuous labour will insure the pure-
minded christian everlasting glory.

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CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.

eee ee

“ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught
him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore
didst thou doubt >—MatTHew, chap. xiv., verse 31.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 382 YEARS.



)

)

(

}

)

)

)
Jzsus had sent his disciples to sea in a ship, ;
and promised that he would follow. Left alone, |
he went apart on a mountain to pray. Mean- })
time, a storm arose, and the ship in which the
disciples were, met by contrary winds, was
tossed about on the troubled ocean.

They were apparently in danger, and looked
out in vain for their master till the fourth
watch of the night, when they at length saw
the form of a man walking on the sea. Their
minds being disturbed before, so strange a sight
filled them with fear. They thought it was a
spirit.

Jesus observed their alarm, and was not
slow to comfort his worshippers, but instantly
called to them in these soothing words: ‘‘ Be
of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Peter then answered the Saviour, and said:
* Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee
on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come ;” and

23

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aaa

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TT LE.



NOES



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and he seemed about to sink ; and, greatly
alarmed, he cried, ‘‘ Lord, save me.’

Jesus promptly stretched forth his hand,
caught the disciple, and, mildly reproving him,
» said: “O, thou of little faith | wherefore didst
thou doubt 2” Then both passed into the
ship, and the storm subsided.

In the conduct of Peter, we see imaged that of
many a faint-hearted Christian. Men believe
they have made up their minds to follow Christ :
but, when surprised by sharp trials, their

' courage fails, and they tremble for the imme-
diate consequences.

But, in their distress, though their hearts
should not be cast down, it is fitting that, like
Peter, they should cry, ‘‘ Lord, save me.’
Doing this, they find heavenly mercy is in
reserve for them, and each may then apply to

) himself the kind rebuke of Jesus, “O thou of

CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.

Peter left the ship to walk on the waves to-

wards Christ. But the wind was boisterous,

little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt § 2”
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CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF
CANAAN.

“ And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts,
and cried: unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord,
thou son of David ; my daughter is grievously vexed with a
devil."—MaTTHEW, chap. xv., verse 22.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.





A poor woman called upon the Saviour to pity
her because her child was afflicted, or, as it
is expressed in the text, was ‘ vexed with a
devil.”

The disciples of Jesus, who heard the com- ‘

plaint of the woman, having less compassion

than their divine master, called to him to send ,

her away. Christ reproved their want of feel-
ing, and told them that he had been sent
‘‘unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’’
To the supplicant he remarked, that ‘it was
not right that the children’s bread should be
thrown to the dogs.”

“Truth, Lord,”’ she replied, ‘‘ but yet the
dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
master’s table.”

This humble answer, joined as it was with a

holy hope that divine goodness would grant —

her suit, proved all-sufficient. ‘‘O woman!”
VOL. Il. E 25

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met

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eee

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CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF CANAAN,

Jesus exclaimed, ‘great is thy faith:” and
her daughter was cured.

Happy, indeed, was this petitioner. The
humility with which she pleaded, not to rank
with the chosen followers of the Lord, but
merely to be allowed access to the crumbs
which fell from their tables—to receive that
comfort of which they did not stand in need—
and the faith manifested in the Son of God,
gained her the boon she craved ; and her child
was restored.

A broken and a contrite heart obtains those
blessings which the proud and the self-sufficient
seek in vain. Hence the weak and the dis-
tressed are taught, that, in the day of their
adversity, though humble their pretensions,
thev may boldly fly to the Redeemer for suc-
cour. The crumbs that fall from such a
master’s table are rich in celestial nourishment.
While they abate present evils, they assure the
sufferer that his sorrows shall soon cease for

, ever.

26



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THE TRANSFIGURATTION .

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THE TRANSFIGURATION.

“ Jesus was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as
the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”—Mat-
THEW, chap. xvii., verse 2.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.

Tue transfiguration of Christ brings a scene of
great splendour before us. As was his habit,
Jesus withdrew from the crowded haunts of
men, taking with him ‘Peter, James, and
John his brother,” to “a high mountain.”
There we find, that, to the eyes of his won-
dering followers, he no more appeared like a
mere mortal, as at other times he had done.
He was transfigured ; that is, on his human
form celestial lustre was shed. He looked, it
may be presumed, as he will be seen in heaven,
for his face shone like the glorious orb of day.

Not only did the wondering disciples mark
his unearthly aspect, but they saw, conversing
with him, two holy servants of God, who long
before had passed away in the ordinary course
of nature.

Gazing on this sublime spectacle, Peter said,
‘‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou
wilt, let us make here three tabernacles ; one

27

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TET EEE ETE ET TTT SI

P THE TRANSFIGURATION.
!





eaten



for thee, and one for Moses, and one for
Elias.”

The disciple was still speaking, when a bright
cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came
out of the cloud, and said: “This is my be-
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased : hear
e him.”

\
y
Struck with holy awe, the disciples fell on
their faces; but Jesus dismissed their alarm,
( kindly touched them, and said, ‘Be not

afraid,” and then they found themselves with (
him alone. His late companions, Moses and ;
( Elias, had vanished.
‘ The disciples were charged by the Lord not |
\ to make known the wonders they had seen,
till he had risen from the dead. What had
thus been revealed proved to them, and at the
proper time was communicated by them to
their fellow-disciples, and indeed to all man-
kind, that their gracious preceptor was really
the Son of God, in whom his Almighty father !
was “‘ well pleased.” |

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ZEBEDEE’S CHILDREN.

«Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her
sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.”
MATTHEW, chap. xx., verse 20



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.



Two young men, the sons of a man named
Zebedee, were among the followers of the
Saviour. The mother, anxious for their eter-
nal welfare, came to Christ, and entreated him
to grant her a very great favour—that her
children might sit, one on his right hand, the
other on his left hand, when he should have
entered into his kingdom of everlasting glory.

Jesus replied to her that she knew not what
she asked. ‘‘ Are ye,”’ said he, “able to drmk
of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be bap-
tized with the baptism that I am_ baptized
with ?”

The sons declared that they were able.
Their being thus put forward gave offence to
the other disciples. Jesus was a lover of peace.
In his Sermon on the Mount he had told his
disciples that blessed were the peace-makcrs ;
and he now hastened to calm the angry feelings
which had been kindled. He reminded the
angry brethren of the contentions which pre-

- 29

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wee WN



Woe me me
I DO SS A ER ae,

ZEBEDEE’S CHILDREN.



vailed elsewhere among worldly-minded men ;
“but,” said he, ‘it shall not be so among
you; but whichsoever shall be great among
you, let him be your minister, and whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be your
servant.”

Here was a lesson for selfishness and pride!
Jesus wished his disciples to know that hu-
mility exalts, and to feel that they best consult
their own welfare, who study the interest and
the happiness of others. This he enforced by his
own example: the Son of Man, he told them,
came ‘‘not to be ministered unto, but to min-
ister,’ and even to give his life for the ransom
of many. Pious men, women, and children,
who hope to rejoice with him in heaven, it
follows must be content to give themselves up
to the performance of arduous and _ painful
duties on earth. The sincere Christian will do
well to bear constantly in mind what his master
suffered, and be prepared to ‘‘drink of the
cup ”’ of sorrow from which he drank.

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JESUS OPENING THE EYES OF
THE BLIND.
“Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and

immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed
him.”——MATTHEW, chap. xx., verse 34.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 32 YEARS.



Tue goodness of Jesus Christ had caused him
to do so much to relieve virtuous sufferers, that
wherever he moved, he was beset by the sick,
the lame, and the blind.

Two blind men on one occasion presented
themselves by the way-side. The bystanders told
who was about to pass, and they immediately
implored him to aid them, exclaiming, “Have
mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.”

These persons were in a crowd, and the
multitude complained of them for thus calling
on Jesus, and wished them to hold their peace ;
but they would not be restrained, and louder
than ever was heard their cry of ‘‘ Have mercy
on us, O Lord, thou son of David.”

The Saviour stopped, and turning toward
them, enquired, what it was they wished that he
should do tothem. Their answer was, a humble

entreaty that their eyes might be opened.
31

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po OND





SS

JESUS OPENING THE EYES OF THE BLIND.

Moved with their suffering, and affected by
their earnestness, Jesus had compassion on
them. He touched their eyes, and the darkness
in which they had pined was no more. ‘‘ Their
eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

Many eminent divines, have applied their
thoughts, and directed their eloquence, to the
illustration of this passage in Christ’s history.
They have pointed out as worthy of imitation,
the résolute importunity of the blind men. In
vain the thoughtless multitude rebuked them,
they cried out the more. Though at first
unheeded, their perseverance was rewarded,
and their sight was restored.

And hence we are taught that though the
prayer of sorrow may for a season appear to be
breathed in vain, supplicants ought not to be
discouraged; ought not to turn aside in despair.
Still pressing forward to the throne of grace, in
his own good time, the All-wise may be pleased
to grant their suit. The repetition of their cry
accepted as evidence of their faith, their eyes
will be opened, and they joyfully find their
names enrolled among the accepted followers
of Jesus.

ee DL ee

a ee
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———



















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CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.

“A very great multitude spread their garments in the way;
others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them
in the way.”—MaTTHEW, chap. xxi., verse 8.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 31 YEARS.



Tue evangelist Matthew, furnishes a minute
report of the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem.
It is in more respects than one, truly inter-
esting, not merely to the meditative Christian,
but to general readers.

Having reached Bethphage, near the mount
of Olives, Jesus thought it right to send for-
ward two of his disciples to a neighbouring
village, in which he told them they would find
‘‘an ass tied, and a colt.” ‘These his disciples
were to loosen and take to him. He added,
should any one question them about what they
were doing, they were to say, “‘the Lord hath
need of them.”

All happened ‘ashe anticipated; the ass
and her colt were found, brought to him, and
an ancient prophecy was fulfilled, which ran
thus, ‘Tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold,
thy king cometh unto thee, meek and sitting
upon an ass.” The fame of Jesus as a prophet,
was great. Crowds expected his coming, and

VOL, Il. F 3

=

Te ES



ae

EE EE—_ EER we em
ea aad a



CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.

threw their garments and branches of trees in
the road, in honour of their illustrious visitor.

At this period of his earthly course, Christ
was popular. A very great multitude, we
read, assembled to witness his arrival, yet he
was content to enter the proud city of Jerusalem
riding on an ass.

In the fifteenth century, when the Pope of
Rome affected more than regal state, this was
not forgotten by the reforming Christians of
that era. Jerome of Prague, caused a pictorial
representation of the Saviour entering Jeru-
salem, and the Pope progressing through Rome,
to be produced and exhibited, as contrasts ; to
show how luxury and pride had seduced the
prelate who claimed to be regarded as the
successor of the followers of Christ, from that
lowliness and sublime disregard of all that could
flatter mortal vanity, which marked the course
of ‘Him who came to seek his father’s sheep
in the wilderness.”’

The example set by Christ has in too many
instances been strangely forgotten by those who
wished to hold a distinguished rank among his
followers. Jesus was a foe to pride, and wished
those who aspired to rank with his disciples, to

. prove their fitness by humility, gentleness, and

love.
34

ee a Tt A A At
a a ON OO NN RE ET a aE a ae a a ae







?
)

E

RN A A Ne a

ee E-TETEE EE D;_ _
| Se aan a aay a

THE LAST SUPPER.

“Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.”
~— MATTHEW, chap. xxvi., verse 20



AFTER THE BirTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



History presents us with notning more affect-
ing than the details of the last supper of Jesus
Christ with his disciples.

He knew that his time was nearly come;
preparations were made for the passover, and
he sat down to the simple solemn festival with
his twelve followers.

Had all been faithfal, the scene would have
been memorable ; but it was rendered still more
so, by the fact, then known to the Saviour,
that one of those assembled around him
was sordidly plotting, from love of gold, to
betray him into the hands of cruel foes, that
he might be mocked, tortured, and put to
death.

Yet it was even so. He knew that one of
them was to act this monstrous part, and
pointed out the sinful individual.

How must Judas have trembled when he
heard those peace-breathing lips, which sel-
dom opened but to utter words of com-
passion, and suggestions of mercy, pronounce

©

Le
aaa

~‘

se __S

ee ee ee lt Tt et tN tN Gt tt
WA SO ee

~~

Re

Ne Ne SE NEE SS



ON




THE LAST SUPPER.

:
the dreadful sentence.—‘‘ Woe unto that man (
by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! it had

(

| been good for that man if he had not been
born.”

Jesus took the bread and brake it, and gave
portions of it to his disciples, and he handed
the wine cup to them, tenderly charging them
to consider that the latter imaged his blood,

! which was to be “shed for the remission of
sins.”
He directed his disciples to do as they were
then doing, to partake of bread and wine in
communion, when he should be no more on
earth, in tender remembrance of him their
Teacher and friend, for he then declared that
he would not drink thenceforth ‘“ of that fruit
of the vine, until that day when he should drink
it new with them in his Father’s kingdom.”
That touching and sorrowful repast, has since
been constantly remembered in every Christian
land. It is, of all the affecting observances of the
Christian religion, the one which appeals most
forcibly to the heart, recalling, as it does, what
the Son of God said and did, when his firmness
as aman was to be subjected to the last tre-
mendous trial; when he was to render himself
as ‘‘a sacrifice for all.”





rAR DEN

THE

IN



2
a

‘LH

439 te?





*)



I ee LI tI

Cee I

oo





CHRIST’S AGONY IN THE
GARDEN.

“He went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed,

saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”—
MATTHEW chap. xxvi., verse 39,



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.





Tr our Lord, when he came on earth, had come
in power—in that strength and greatness which
originally belonged to him, it might be ima-
gined that pains which would overcome an
ordinary mortal, would in his case have been
endurable. But the great work of man’s salva-
tion was not to be so easily performed; and
Christ, while in the flesh, if he did not betray
all the weakness, was subjected to all the
, ainful sensibilities of man’s nature.

We find this distinctly marked in the con-
versation which followed the last supper. ‘‘ My
soul,” the illustrious victim sadly exclaimed,
‘‘is sorrowful even unto death.”

By that time he and his disciples had reached
a place or garden called Gethsemane. Then it
was that he proved the depth of human sorrow.
Dark images of the fiend-like barbarity to
which he was about to be subjected, cane over

3

ee ee on ee
ll lO TS eee





'







CHRIST’S AGONY IN THE GARDEN.

him, and in his agony he exclaimed, ‘““O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from

!

/

| |

me.”’ How touching—how thrilling the ery! ?

how intense must the pain have been which
extorted it from the patient, all-enduring Jesus !

But the glorious sufferer did not stop
there. In that moment of exquisite suffering,
he added—‘‘ nevertheless not as I will, but as
thou wilt.”

Thus in his extremest grief, when most
severely tried, the Redeemer, labouring under
all the anguish that a mere mortal could know,

set before us a shining example of utter self- )

abandonment—of prefect resignation to the (
will of his omnipotent father.
The Christian pilgrim as he advances through
the rugged paths of life, when storms assail, ,
and despondency overclouds the mind, will do |<
well to recal what Christ suffered for him. A ‘
broken spirit in the hour of dismay, will
naturally turn to its eternal source, and pra
that the bitter cup may pass as Christ did, but
let the sorrowing petitioner not forget to add,

“nevertheless” O my father ‘not as I will,

but as thou wilt.”



38

ON Se ee EEE
Se Cr NN Ne

We















CHRIS'T BETRAYED



Rai

NE ER ee

et EE ee ETE
& ee

EE SE
See

CHRIST BETRAYED.

“While he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and
with, him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the
chief priests and elders of the people.’—MarruEw, chap.
xxvi., verse. 47.



AFTER THE BirTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



Jzsus may be said to have been left alone in
his woe. His disciples who had attended him
to the garden, were overcome with weariness
and grief—it could not be that they were
indifferent to their master’s distress—but when
he had withdrawn from them only a short time,
he found them asleep.

The prayer which he had addressed to God,
he repeated a second and a third time, but
always with the addition that not his will, but
that that of his Almighty Father should be
done. He felt that the great task he had taken
upon himself must be performed, and prepared
to undergo the last pang. He roused his sleepy
companions, and announced to them that the
betrayer was at hand.

Judas approached, accompanied by an armed
multitude, who were to arrest the destined
victim. That base-hearted man had before
agreed with the men who were engaged to seize

39



~Neeeee
TT ee Ne



,
)

.
)
)
}



STI TI
Cc nena rea eta awa eet

CHRIST BETRAYED.

Jesus, to point him out to them; ‘ Whom-
soever I shall kiss,’’ said he, ‘‘ that same is he:
hold him fast.”

The hostile band approached, and Judas
advancing to Christ, accosted him in the
language of reverential love, saying, ‘‘ Hail
master ;” and then he kissed him.

The preconcerted signal given, Jesus was
instantly secured, by those who attended for
that purpose. That Jesus should be captured
and should suffer, was necessary for the salva-
tion of the world, and for the fulfilment of
prophecy ; but the treachery of Judas, we
cannot contemplate without horror and dis-
gust.

It is the duty of the youth who would have
his name enrolled among the followers of the
Lord, to shun violence and subdue rancour.
He who cannot do this, has but ill-learned the
lesson which it was the object of the Saviour
to teach, for he set mankind an example of
patience and mercy, but violence and rancour
are less hateful than the monstrous perfidy of
the vile Judas, who while smilingly regarding
Jesus as a friend, and crying, ‘ Hail master,”
could betray with a kiss.

Rese

ee ote ee

wT RE REE TR Eee

es er ee eee

Ee ee ee 2 Sa
mse Wes

A

Se pa ee
EE

40

rn se er ee ee ee
= as > 7
nae a Te

a Ne ee
Fe

en ee ee



; _ : ‘
- / | A
} me D7 \. \
\ / \
ra
Cee
‘ a A
é 4 )
/ (KY
\ } “

SHOX)"
2 a

Dw Ss
\
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8

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4

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SS





\



PETER DENYING CHRIST.

« And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said
to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech
bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear,
saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock
crew. MATTHEW, chap. xxvi., verses 73 & 74.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 33 YEARS.

One of the primary objects of the Gospel, is
to teach those who desire to rank among the
followers of the Saviour, humility.

That humility which becomes a Christian,
can only grow on a knowledge of the weakness
of his nature. The disciple Peter, ardent and
sincere in his devotion to Jesus, presumptuously
declared, that though all beside should fall oft
from Christ, he would remain unmoved. He
was immediately checked by Jesus, who told
him, ‘‘ before the cock crow thou shalt deny
me thrice.”

In a very short time this was proved.
When cruel men reproachfully spoke to the
disciple, and told him in an accusing tone, that
he was known to be one of the followers of the
persecuted Saviour, his courage failed him, his
resolution gave way, and in his anxiety to
escape from their anger or their scorn, he began

VOL. Il. G

Wee eee

ee

Oe le ee ee

ae ee ee

Sa aw. -
a a



}

SeeEE—EEX&i=EziEDE nN ON ee
Te Se I EEE LE EE Se





PETER DENYING CHRIST.

to curse and swear, and said, “I know not the
man.’’ Scarcely were the words out of his
mouth, when the cock crew. With grief and
shame, the erring disciple then recalled what /
Jesus had foretold, and Saint Matthew writes, {
‘he went out and wept bitterly.” )

In the conduct of Peter, we see how mourn- i
fully the good may swerve from duty. It |
should teach men not to be too confident. ;
Because they mean well, it does not follow asa
matter of course, that under all circumstances
they will have the courage and presence of |
mind to do what is right. Let them try to 4)
fortify their good resolutions, and, unmoved by
the frowns of men, be faithful to the truth, and
to duty ; be faithful to the end.

Failing to do this, weakly striving to escape
blame or punishment, their hearts soon tell
them they desire it. Then like Peter, they may
weep bitterly. True repentance will, as in his
case, obtain pardon, but the Christian must not
be ashamed of his master here, if he hope to he
owned by that master in heaven.

we ee

eee OO

se ee ee
NNO

Pe AN Be gO oo oC
ST LN

42

PoE ee _-L,
ra = Toe — ES eee
Sr SS SE Ee

eae ae



op,

)

S

) om
M

ath \\

My

|





TS EE EEE ae
——— Se ad

ie

REPENTANCE OF JUDAS.

“Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was
condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty
pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.”-MaTTHEW,
chap. xxvii., verse 3.

ee

Sa



AFTER THE BirRTH OF CuRIST, 33 YEARS.



Te

Jupas, who had been one of the followers of
Jesus, who had enjoyed the privilege of con-
versing with the Son of God, and had been
taught by him his duty, was wicked enough to
betray him into the hands of the cruel Jews,
who sought to put him to death.
_ _ Sinful men cannot escape punishment. Judas
, found this to his sorrow; the stings of conscience
' tortured him, and he could not enjoy the wages
of guilt. In an agony of remorse, he took back
the thirty pieces of silver, which he had received
. ag the price of his crime, to the chief priest and
- the elders. He wished them to receive the
_ money, and said he had sinned against innocent

blood.
The hard-hearted men who had tempted him
- to his undoing, then looked on him with scorn,
and mocked his distress. ‘‘ What,” said they,
“is that to us? see thou to that.”

He had performed the treacherous deed they

43



(ARR ~





won

toe LL,
tN gl oo pI

see
a NE DRT,



)



—





rae —
SINT A RR



REPENTANCE OF JUDAS

had desired to witness, and they cared not what
. the sad consequences might be to him. The
rejoiced in the treason, but despised the traitor.
Then the wretched man was truly miserable.
He threw down the money in the temple, and,
mad with grief, at seeing himself mocked by
those whose favour he had hoped to gain, he
went and hanged himself.

Ill-gotten money never fails to bring with it
a curse. From youth to age, this solemn truth
ought to be deeply engraved on every Chris-
tian’s heart. All the luxuries, all the splen-
dour, that wealth can command, are utterly
worthless if he who possesses them wants
peace of mind. The rich man who is conscious
of crime, envies the humblest cottager, the
meanest beggar, the most abject slave who has
preserved his integrity. In the lordly hall, the
wealthy wicked chief seeks for rest in vain; he
lives in hopeless sorrow, and often, like Judas,
dies by his own hand in despair.

ae ei eae tage eae
Cale SE ee

44

we EL
eA ST nn AR SEE —E—EeEE,

eT




)
|
y 4
:

)
)
)
)
)
?
)
}
}

Cee ee _ e eooee aor)

~ ON Ne SON









CHRIST CROWNED WITH
THORNS.

“ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon
his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the
knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail King of the
Jews!” —MatTHEW, chap. xxvii., verse 29.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.

In our times, when a criminal is doomed to die,
though he is proved to have stained his hands
with blood, and is known to have committed a
dreadfully aggravated murder, while contem-
plating the awful punishment which awaits
him, generous pity is moved, soothing language
is addressed to him, and men almost “‘ forget
his vices in his woe.”’
It was not so in the case of the Saviour of
the world, who had been guilty of no crime.
The unfeeling men who had power over him in
his mortal state, were not content with con-
demning him to death on the cross. Brutal
mockery was resorted to, and ingenious bar-
barity laboured to heighten his distress.
Crowned with thorns, a reed was put into his
right hand, as a sham sceptre; scoffers spit upon
him, they smote him, and bending the knee
45





me EE





eee ee
NT

OE

ROI FL UL

CHRIST CROWNED WITH THORNS.

)

before him, they jeeringly affected to honour
’ him by shouting, ‘‘ Hail King of the Jews.”
Nor was this all. Pretending to give him
) drink to allay his thirst, they offered him an
) odious mixture of vinegar and gall. He tasted
it, but could not drink.

Then they crucified him. That mode of
punishment was dreadful. A powerful writer
in the Quarterly Review, says—‘‘ Of all the
devices of cruel imagination, crucifixion is the
masterpiece. The weight of the body was
borne by a ledge projecting from the middle of
the upright beam, and not by the hands and
feet, which were probably found unequal to the
strain. The frailty of man’s frame comes at
last to be its own defence; but enough re-
mained to preserve the pre-eminence of torture
to the cross. The process of nailing was ex-

quisite torment, and yet worse in what ensued

than in the actual infliction. The spikes
| rankled, the wounds inflamed, the local injury
(
|
:



ee

NN I NG NE OI

produced a general fever, the fever a most in-
tolerable thirst ; but the greatest misery to the
sufferer was, while racked with agony, to be
fastened in a position which did not permit
him even to writhe.”’

Such were the torments endured by Christ.

et am




46

POD ee mL: ee
ee

et
ee



V7;

Yj

Y,
iO

YY

+>
NY

Ss

pte aM sf EE eh

Lact gee i lth ye





Smee Seep ae
a ee ee ae pee

|





CHRIST TAKEN FROM THE

CROSS.
“And when Joseph had taken thé body, he wrapped it in a |

AFTER THE BirtTH oF Carist, 33 YEARS.



(
/
i
clean linen cloth.”—-MATTHEW, chap. xxvii., verse 59. '
)
)
\\

|
)
' Wuen at length the agonies of the Saviour had
reached an end, when he had endured all that
\ human nature could suffer, death, from which
) the happy and the thoughtless recoil with horror,
( brought the glorious victim repose. Relieved
/ from consciousness and from pain, the mangled
form of the Redeemer hung on the cross, when
Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, went to
Pilate the governor, and begged that the body
might be given to him. Pilate who had wished
to save Jesus from his enemies, though he had
not opposed their cruelty with proper resolution,
granted his request.
; The governor’s consent obtained, Joseph
’ took the body of our Lord from the cross, and
( wrapped it in a linen cloth. In that country
) it was common to commit the dead to the
earth, not in a coffin, but in a winding-sheet.

ee
er SN I RE ER

Oe

3 AT AR

Thus the remains of Jesus were disposed of,
and Joseph, with pious care, caused the corpse ,
47

ee
~ eo es
REEL







egg Eo OO ON
em a A aot



hewed out for him inarock. That done, he
rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre

aia

(
and departed. |
Joseph acted a kindly part. Pitying the (
dreadful inflictions which the victim of man’s
sin and of divine compassion had sustained, he
in giving the corpse a grave, did all that charity
in such circumstances could attempt, and placing
a stone at the door of the sepulchre, of course
‘ it was his object to guard against the remains |
, being disturbed by foolish curiosity, or ruffianly (
malice, which with impotent rage, will some- {
times seek to pursue the fallen, even in the
grave. !
There it was his wish, in love for the de-
parted, that the body should rest till reduced ‘
to dust, and for ever. He could hardly have ‘
anticipated what was soon to take place.
Generous pity prompted him to act as he did,
but would not have assured him of that grand
consummation in which all Christians rejoice. :
(
4
I:

Pe a Ee

CHRIST TAKEN FROM THE CROSS !
to be deposited in a new tomb which had been (
)

Ne ee
— TTL,
Ve Ne SS NL ON Te

























OO
er ee ee

THE TWO MARYS AT THE
SEPULCHRE.

« And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting
over against the sepulchre.”—-MATTHEW, chap. xxvil.,
verse 61.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CIFRIST, 33 YEARS.

:

‘

Arrecrion fondly lingers near the remains of ‘
(, the departed. The cynic may call this weak-
ness, but he can hardly deny that it is nature.
Those moments, though mournful, are deeply
interesting—

\ “When by the bed of languishment we sit,

( Or o’er our dying friends in anguish hang,

Wipe the cold dew, or stay the sinking head.”

! If sad the duty to perform, it is still a pri-
vilege which the kind relative or friend would
not trust to another hand.

Such are the feelings awakened in virtuous
believers, when in the course of nature an
esteemed fellow-creature is called away. His
good qualities are then industriously recalled,
his faults, his weaknesses, are excused or for-
gotten, and the mourner is absorbed in gen-
erous sorrow.

If such the case when a man or woman dies
of years, by gradual decay, it will easily be con-

VOL. II. H 49



Ee
So



NN me see
EO NE Ne DLE







_—s~
en



THE TWO MARYS AT THE SEPULCHRE.

es

ceived that great indeed must have been the
sorrow of the two Marys, when they beheld,
as Saint Mark tells us they did, ‘‘ Looking on
afar off,’ the dreadful spectacle on Mount
) Calvary. In the prime of life they saw their
' more than blameless friend and _ preceptor
treated as the vilest criminal that ever sinned
, against divine or human laws. They knew
» him condemned to the most terrible anguish, /
) yet they might not approach to “wipe the ‘
, cold dew” from the pallid forehead, or to |
‘“‘stay the sinking head.” Set up as a mark
for cruel mockery, Jesus was left to expire in {
| agony on the cross, while those who lamented
his sufferings, were kept at a distance.

| The awful scene at length closed. Human
nature, which Christ had assumed, could sus-
! tain such dreadful inflictions no longer, and the
|

we

a ees

Redeemer slept in death. Then it was the two
Marys approached the dear remains of their
Lord. They wept over those features which
they had so often beheld lighted up by benevo-
lence, instructing the ignorant, and relieving the
afflicted, and when by the care of Joseph of
Arimathea, the body had been placed in the
rock, the two Marys, reluctant to withdraw,
lingered near the door of the sepulchre.

ee ee eee

On
6 &
(aaa

NE EEE —EL oe eee
OL RT ONT NT







: = Se ee
yey a STS ee < Py ee wo. 5
f _ ZF,

TION

EC

»
Xv

RE SURI

HE

—



)

we TT nT
Sie a Ne SN Se SE

oe a

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

« And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of '
the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back |
the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”— MATTHEW
chap. xxviii., verse 2.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS, \



ee
a NNN

ee ~ we ee

— a

Ir was on the night of Friday that the two
mourners, the Marys, seated themselves near ((
the door of the sepulchre, where it may be pre-
' sumed they remained till daylight returned. ”
In the course of the Saturday, which was .
the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Phari- (
sees entreated Pilate to set a watch over the ‘
7

i PO
T° NN RR

body of Jesus, lest his disciples should steal it
away, and report that he had risen from the ;
dead. Pilate gave them permissicn to make it

as secure as they could, and they, determined
that none of his friends should have access to
the corpse, put a seal on the stone, and set a
watch to guard it.

These cares were vain. The angel of the ‘
_ Lord came from heaven and rolled away the |
‘ stone, and seated himself thereon. Then the
' men appointed to keep watch, were filled with

SOT Ta

, alarm, they trembled and swooned, or ‘‘ became
as dead men.”

:
\

i

4

ol (

}

WRAL |



A Te et,

my
}

his disciples that he is risen from the dead.”

a a ne
CITRIC LELAND LL RR EE

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

But to the two Marys, who at the close of
the sabbath, had returned to the tomb, the
angel brought words of comfort. ‘‘ Fear not,”
said he, ‘‘I know ye seek Jesus, who was
crucified. He is not here: come, see the place
where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell

Christ had foretold that on the third day he
should rise again, and this it was made the
chief priests and Pharisees so anxious to guard
against the remains being carried away.

For the two Marys, who had deplored with
tears and heartfelt sorrow the tortures Jesus
had to bear, what words can describe the joy,
the emotion they must have felt, when a bright
messenger from the sky gave them the glad
tidings, that he whom they mourned as dead,
had risen from the grave.

Often among the wise dispensations of Pro-
vidence, we see the good mourn the loss of a
kind and revered friend; but affection after a
time, where faith is not wanting, receives an
assurance almost as distinct as that given by
the angel to Mary, that grief may be spared,
that the loved ones removed, are not lost for
ever, but have risen to happiness and Heaven.













|
,
:
,
|
|




OG

SAINT JOHN PREACHING.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make his paths straight.”—Mark, chap. i.,
verse 3.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 26 YEARS.



Ir had been revealed to the children of Israel ~
long before the event, that the Messiah would
visit this world. Holy and inspired seers, gifted
to make known the future, proclaimed that a
celestial guest might be expected. They more-
over announced that a messenger should be
sent before him to prepare the way.

And a voice was to be heard, the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, ‘‘ Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
That voice was the voice of John the Baptist.
It was his mission to ‘“ preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.”

This eminent person was a pious man, whose
habits were singular and austere. ‘John was
clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of
a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts
and wild honey.”

John had a grateful task to perform. It was
given to him to announce the speedy coming
of the Saviour. In his preaching he told his
53

ON



Te SL Ee

ee ee

I

=

ee ee
TTR =

Qo





SAINT JOHN PREACHING.

hearers of the exalted character of Christ, say-
ing, “There cometh one mightier than I after
me, ’ the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy
to stoop down and unloose.” ‘‘I indeed, 9
said he, ‘‘have baptised you with water : but
he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost.”

Christ came as the prophets had foretold.
He was all that John had reported. But the
Jews, though credulous enough to believe those
who assured them that senseless images might
be worthily worshipped, who taught them to
bend the knee to such objects, and say, ‘‘ these
be thy gods, O Israel,” could not put their
trust in one whose piety and truth entitled him
to confidence. Thus unhappily, foolish mortals,
perverse and stubborn, obstinately shut their
eyes, and will not see that which tends to their
eternal bencfit. Good men still cherish a hope
that a day will come when “the paths of the
Lord shall be made straight,” and the truth
beam on each benighted mind, with such resist-
less and appropriate glory, that all must give it
a welcome.







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SAINT JOHN BAPTIZING.

“It came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth
of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.”—Mark,
chap. i., verse 9.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 30 YEARS.



He who was appointed to be the forerunner of
the Redeemer, the chosen herald of the Son of
God, was permitted to receive a still greater
honour, that of performing the baptismal cere-
mony for Christ.

John had been engaged in preaching baptism
and the remission of sins, when Jesus left
Nazareth and repaired to him to be baptized
in the river Jordan.

It is not too much to suppose that one who
had been apprized of the coming of the Lord,
and appointed to prepare his ways, was not
unacquainted with the quality of that commu-
nicant who now appeared before him ; yet even
a knowledge of his character and high mission,
could hardly have prepared him for the wonders
which were to be seen and heard on that great
day.

The ceremony had been completed, not as it
is usually performed now, but in the open
river, and John had left the water, when he saw
55

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SAINT JOHN BAPTIZING.
the heavens open, and the holy spirit in the
form of a dove, descending upon Jesus!

It was impossible for the Baptist to gaze on
such a grand and extraordinary spectacle, but
with breathless amazement and awe. It was
still before his eyes, when a voice was heard
from heaven, it was that of the Almighty him-
self, addressed to the Saviour, and saying,
“Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.”

Jesus, at this time, as a mortal, had reached

maturity. He had commenced, or was about
f

to commence, his grand labour, and to undergo
his fiery trial, which, it is generally believed, he
was not to enter upon till he had passed through
youth to manhood. ‘‘The praise and love
breathed on him from the sky,” as recorded by
the evangelist Mark, by his great and Eternal
Father, was therefore the reward of a virtuous
and blameless life, up to that moment.
Youthful readers perusing the eventful story
of the Son of God, are to remember that he
had all the weaknesses of humanity, while he
was here. Yet he was pure, and his dread Sire
‘‘in him was well pleased.”” It is quite possible
for his followers to imitate his purity, if with
unbending faith they seek to share his ever-

lasting glory.
56

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SIMON AND ANDREW CALLED
BY JESUS.

‘t As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew
his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will
make you to become fishers of men.”—-MARK, chap. i.,
verses 16 & 17.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF CuRIST, 30 YEARS.



In the Old Testament, we read, that when
presumptuous men undertook to erect a build-
ing which should reach to the sky, their daring
folly was requited by their being thrown into
helpless embarrassment, from the confusion of
tongues. Their enterprise was rendered a total
failure, by,;the will of Him to whose dwelling
they had“insolently proposed to ascend, in the
vain hopé that doing so, would save them from
future danger.
To humble pride, has ever been the will
of the Almighty. Disdain for the proud of
sthis world, is evinced by the Saviour. Those
who in their own conceit, were most eminent
for piety, or for learning, he valued not, but to
raise the lowly, and give them dignity and
importance, was his pleasure.
In the case of the arrogant builders of Babel,
VOL. II. I 57

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SIMON AND ANDREW CALLED BY JESUS.

the power of making themselves understood
was taken from them ; in that of the untaught »
followers of the Lord, an extraordinary gift of {
language was vouchsafed to them, which ren-
dered their speech intelligible, where before
they had no means of giving utterance to their
thoughts.
Such was the miraculous power of Jesus,
that he could qualify the ignorant to teach,
while he confounded the worldly-wise.
When walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw
Simon and Andrew, two poor fishermen, casting
their nets; he knew they were not scholars, |
that they were not possessed of learning, but
he called to them to follow him, and he would °
make them fishers of men. By this he meant (
that unlettered as they were, he wouid enable
them to snatch men from the sea of iniquity,
in which they were immersed, and render :
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them the messengers of mercy to their fellow- (
creatures.

Divine illumination, no doubt, came instantly
over their minds at the call of Jesus. They ,
forsook their nets, and followed him: they
abandoned earthly cares, to fix their thoughts
on Heavenly glory.

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CASTING




UNCLEAN SPIRIT

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JESUS CASTING OUT THE UN.
CLEAN SPIRIT.

“ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean
spirit; and he cried out.”—Mark, chap. i., verse 23.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 80 YEARS,



Jesus taught ‘‘as one that had authority, and
not as the Scribes’ had been accustomed to
teach, and throughout his mortal pilgrimage,
he was found giving the most important les-
sons in a style and manner peculiarly his own,
and proving that he ‘‘had authority, by the
wonders he performed.”

He was teaching in the synagogue at Caper-
naum when a man was presented to him who
was troubled with an unclean spirit.

This spirit, St. Mark reports to have cried
out, saying, ‘‘ Let me alone; what have we to
do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou
come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou
art, the Holy One of God.”

Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘‘ Hold thy
peace, and come out of him.”’

The command, we read, was not issued in
vain, for the Evangelist goes on, ‘‘ When the
anclean spirit had torn him (the sufferer), and
59

a
Se SERRE







cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
And they (the bystanders) were all amazed,
insomuch that they questioned among them-
selves, saying, what thing is this; what new
doctrine is this ?”’

They were astonished, as well they might be,
to find that the speaker had power over unclean
spirits, who were compelled to obey him. It |
was, indeed, an extraordinary case, in which
one so meek, so gentle, as Jesus was in his

JESUS CASTING OUT THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
general course of life, proved that he had at his



: command such irresistible power, that devils
perceiving him, were compelled to tremble and
depart at his bidding.

This the Jews had an opportunity of know-
ing, and in consequence, the Saviour’s fame was |
spread abroad, through all the region round |

about Galilee. It was known that he was
potent to relieve those who were afflicted, and ;

many were sufficiently on the alert to resort to |

( resort to him, that their maladies might be
cured. If men were as careful to seek Heaven

| as they are to crave relief from present anguish,
the Saviour’s gracious call would not be often

neglected.

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THE LEPER CLEANSED.

“There came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling —
down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean.”—Mark, chap. i., verse 40.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 31 YEARS.



In consequence of that fame, which has already .
been spoken of, which Jesus gained as one
who could heal the sick, a leper came to him,
and entreated him to make him clean.

Among the Jews a leper was regarded with .
great horror. We see in the Bible that even a °
king was no more respected when he was
afflicted with leprosy. Not only suffering pain, ,
but despised by his fellow-men, who might
have been expected to sooth his distress, the
case of the leper was most pitiable. Happily
he applied to one who, in a case of real woe, it
was not difficult to move. Jesus compassion-
ately “‘ put forth his hand and touched him,
and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

More was not necessary. No sooner had
the Saviour uttered these few words, than the
leprosy departed from the sufferer, and he was
clean.

When he was going, Jesus said to him,
“See thou say nothing to any man; but go

61

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THE LEPER CLEANSED.

thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer |
for thy cleansing those things which Moses \
commanded, for a testimony unto them.” (
The man, however, did not heed what the )
Saviour said to him in this instance. He went
forth and published it, or, as Mark tells us,
‘*began to blaze abroad the matter.”
The consequence was, that multitudes went
to Jesus from every quarter, so that he could
no longer go about the city. He then with-
drew into the desert, but even there they seem
to have followed him. To him who could heal
their bodily ailments, and did it too, without
expense, they were willing to resort in crowds.
The case of the leper evinces the importance
of faith in the goodness of the Saviour. There
is a leprosy of the mind as well as of the body.
Let him who is afflicted with the former imitate
the leper of Galilee, and call for aid from |
above, in the full conviction that the Lord who
hears the sinner’s prayer can make him clean.



:
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The Baldwin Library

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THE NEW TESTAMENT.

e =
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

>EPH

JOURNEY, ON

MELANCHOLY WAY,


TALLIS’S

ILLUSTRATED SCRIPTURE HISTORY

FOR THE

IMPROVEMENT OF YOUTH.

BY

THE EDITOR OF STURM’S FAMILY DEVOTIONS.

VOL. I.

PUBLISHED BY JOHN TALLIS AND COMPANY,
LONDON AND NEW YORK.



1851.
INDEX.

VOL Il

PAGE
Adultery, the Woman taken in . 201
Ananias, the Death of . . 243
‘Apostles, Christ Preparing the , 233
Antioch, Paul at . : . 263
Barren Fig- tree, Christ curses the 79
Bartimaeus, Christ restoring to

Sight . . . 7
Betray ed, Christ | . . . 39
Blind Man, Christ restores Sight

to the . 71

Bloody Issue, a woman cured of a 155
Brother, the Prodigal’s . . 167
Cana, the Marriage at . . 191
Canaan, Christ and the Woman of 25
Charger, John the Baptist’s Head

brought ina . . 67
Children, Zebedee’s . . 29
Christ, the Temptation of . li

— Peter denying . . 41



Precious Ointment poured
on the Head of . ¢
the Ascension of _. lil
Angels proclaim the Birth
of .

+ . ¢













Judas betrays . 176
scourged . . . 215
the Dead 221
Cleansed, the Leper 61
Comforter, Christ the . . 139

Commandments, the First to the
Tenth - 285—304

Cornclius, the Angel appearing to 255

Council, Christ led before the. 177





Cross, Christ taken fromthe | 47
Simon the Cyrenian com-
pelled to bear the . . 99
—— Vinegar given to Christ on
the .
—— Christ bearing the 217
Christ on the. . 219
Crucified, Christ . . . 179
Daughter, raising of Jairus’s . 19

Devils, Christ casts out a Legion of 153





AAA

PAGE

Disciples, Christ appears to his . 109

- Christ sends forth his . 157
Christ discourses with

his . . . - 171

J crus g¢ going forth with



Mary Magdalene and
the . 228

Doctors, Christ disputing "with
the . : - 131
Dragon, Michael and the . - 283
Dream, Joseph warned in a - 7
Emmaus, Christ at. - . 185
Ephesus, Paul preaching at . 273
Eutychus, Paul restoring Life to 275

Eyes of the Blind, Jesus opening
the . . al
Family, the Holy 129

Father, the Prodigal Son leaves

his

—-—- the Prodigal Son returns
to his. . . 165

the Woman anointing
Christ’s . . 149
—— Behold my Hands and my 187

— Christ washing the Disci-
ples’ . . . 209
Felix, Paul before . - 277
Fishes, the Miraculous Draught of 143
the Great Draught of . 229
Garden, Christ’s agony inthe . 37

Garment, a Woman touches the
Hem of Christ’s : 2
Ghost, Descent of the Holy, - 235
God, the Lambof 189
High Priest, Jesus taken before the 93
Peter before the . 241
Impotent Man, Christ curing the 197
Innocents, Murder of the . . 9

Feet,











Jerusalem, Christ entering . . 33
St. Peter’s first Ser-
monin . . . 237

Jesus, the Resurrection of . . 61
il INDEX.

PAGE
Jesus, Simon and Andrew called
b

y-
J oseph of Aremathaa begs

the body of . 103
—— an Angel proclaims the

Resurrection of . 105
—~ the Naming of . : 1197
— the Entombment of . . 181
—— Martha meets . 203



Mary anointing the feet of ro

John, St., the Infant
Preaching .- . 53
—__——— Baptizing . . 6a
Judas, Repentance of . . 43
Lame Man, Peter and John cur-
ingthe. . . . 239
Lazarus, Raising of . . 205

Little Children, Christ blessing . 75
Lystra, Paul and Barnabas at. 265











Paul stoned at . . 267
Magdalene, Christ appearing to

Mary . 225

Mary, ‘Christ appearing to. . 107
an Angel appearing to the

Virgin . 15

— Elizabeth visited by. ~ 117
Money-changers, Christ casting

out the . . . BL

the Tribute. . . $3

Mite, the Widow's. . . 85

Mount, Sermon on the . . b

Multitude, Jesus feeds the . . 69

Christ feeding the . 199

Nativity, the . 121

Noblenvan’ s Son, Christ curing the 195
Palsy, Christ healing one Sick of the 63
Peter, Christ’s charge to . 231
Cornelius meeting 257
Pharisees, Christ disputing with the 73
Philippi, Paul at . .

Pilate, Christ led forth by . “313
Prophesy, they bade him . - 95
Prison, Peter delivered out of . 259





PAGE
Prison, Paul and Silasin . . at
Publican, the Pharisee and the . 169
Repentance, Peter's. 97
Samaria, Christ and the Woman of 138
Samaritan, the Good . .

Sapphira, the Death of , 3B
Saul, Conversion of . . 249
Saviour, the » it

Sea, Christ walking on the » 23
Sepulchre, the two Marys at the 49
Women viewing the . 183
Servant, Christ healing the Cen-
turion’s. 145
Shepherds, Adoration of the . 125
Ship, Christ teaching from the . 21





Sick, Christ healing rthe . 141
Sight, Saul restored to . 251
Sleeping, Jesus finds the Disciples 91
Sinned, Jerusalem hath 87
Sorcerer, Elymas the . * 261
Sower, the Parable of the . 161

Star in the East, Wise Men and

the . 5
Starving, the Prodigal Son. " 163
Stephen, St. stoning of, to Death ar
Storm, Christ stilleth the
Spirit, Jesus casting out the Un-

clean 59
Spirits, Casting out the Unclean 65
Supper, the Last . 35
Synagogue, Christ teaching inthe 137
‘Tabitha, Peter raising . . 253
Tempted, Christ . 135
Thomas, the Incredulity of - 227
Thorns, Christ crowned with . 45

Transfiguration, the . . 27
Viper, Paul shaking off the - 279
Wilderness, Jesus inthe . . 133

Widow’s Son, Christ raising the 147
Woman, the Dragon persecuting

the . . 281
Zaccheeus, the Calling ‘of . 173
Zacharias, the Angel & appearing to 113


SAVLIOUT

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We NN NE SE RE EE LTS

THE SAVIOUR.

Tue words Jesus Curist, mean ‘the Saviour
of the world,” the word Messiau, has the same
meaning as Christ.

It is not a little remarkable, that most of
the nations of antiquity, however remote from
Christianity, had a faith or superstition which
exhibited many of the features of the re-
ligion of the Jews, as set forth in the Scrip-
tures. They believed, that the world having

been created and peopled with mortals, that

gods and angels not: unfrequently descended
to earth and conversed with them. Pre-
suming on this familiarity, men forgot their
duty, offended their celestial visitants, who
thereupon withdrew, and left them to their own
evil ways. They greatly sinned, and then a

mighty deluge punished their depravity, but :

some portion of the sinful men being spared,
the world again became populous, and unhap-

pily again became wicked. Their course in )
this advanced or second stage of depravity, }

became indeed so monstrous, that mercy could

not be allowed to interpose her shield, and ;

sacrifice was required. Thus it was that a
Heavenly being, laying aside his inherent glory,
VOL. I. B

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THE SAVIOUR.

came to earth—he came to suffer tnat man
should be spared. Such, in various myths, as

Sn een!

,

they are called, or mythological fables, is made |

to appear the early history of man’s creation,

fall, punishment, relapse into vice, and final |

salvation through redeeming love.
We find here a confused and imperfect

representation of those grand events on which /

depend the Christian’s hope. They serve to »

prove the universality of the belief that man
had fallen from a state of purity which was
originally his; and that to snatch him from
the consequences of his evil doings, the inter-

ee

cession of a gracious Mediator was held to be }

necessary.

Such a one was found. He, “the desired of
all nations,’ appeared, but he came not in
royal state. To give mortals an opportunity
of manifesting disinterested love, he was born in
poverty, and appeared before men as the son of
a mean carpenter. It was by his deeds, by his
words of wisdom and acts of charity, that the
Son of the Almighty chose to manifest himself
to the sons of men.

Children who are so happy as to have kind
parents who supply all their wants, and keep
them in peace and safety, may rejoice that their
lot is so very different from that of the infant

2
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THE SAVIOUR.

(



2

Jesus. He came to this world to teach men
{ their duty, to warn them against sin, and to
rescue them from the power of the evil one.
, While such the glorious task which he took
» upon himself to perform, he was exposed to
) great danger; not merely of being unkindly
‘ treated, but of being killed by hard-hearted men.
/ 1 . .
» There was a wicked king whose name was
) Herod, and he feared that when Christ came
. he would lose his kingdom, and therefore
' wished to put the child to death. He artfully
' concealed his cruel purpose, and sent some wise
- men to enquire where Jesus was born. He
wanted to know exactly the spot in which he
could be found, as he said, that he might go
and worship him.
But the false king had no such purpose in
his heart, and if he had been told where the
child was, whose coming he dreaded so much,
he would have sent some of his people to (
murder Christ. Happily he failed in his object.
How he was baffled will hereafter be more
particularly explained. For the present it is
enough to say that Joseph, his reputed father,
and the Virgin Mary, removed their tender
charge beyond the reach of Herod, by taking
_ him to the land of Egypt.
) A long and painful journey they had to
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THE SAVIOUR,



perform, not without dread of being overtaken
by some of the bad king’s people. Had that
came to pass Joseph and Mary would have
been at least imprisoned, while the child would
have been slain.

Such was the commencement of the mortal
career of the Illustrious Messenger from Hea-
ven, who mercifully came to save a guilty race
from the just consequences of their mad doings,
their wretched idolatry, and their neglect of |
the Creator of all things.

In Roman Catholic countries some narratives
of the life and occupation of Joseph, Mary,
and Jesus, while the last was a child, exist.
They are the inventions of a former age, but
are devoid of truth, and are in no respect
borne out by Scripture.

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THE WISE MEN AND THE STAR
IN THE EAST.

““When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great
joy.”"—-MatTTHEW, chap. ii., verse 10.



A sricnt star had appeared in the Heavens,
and certain wise men seeing it, concluded that
it told of the birth of one who was to be king
of the Jews. They mentioned this to king
Herod, and he, not understanding that the
kingdom of Christ was unlike the kingdoms
of this world, came to the conclusion that
the birth announced would be fatal to his
greatness,

Filled with alarm, Herod sent for the wise
men, and enquired of them in private, the
exact time at which the star had appeared ;
and then directed them to go and search dili-
gently for the child, and when found, to bring
him word, that he might also go and see it,
pretending that he was desirous of offering his
homage to Jesus.

They departed on this errand, and the star
which they had noted in the East, went before
them as a guide, till at length ‘it stood over
where the young child was.

The wise men saw the child with the Virgin

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THE WISE MEN AND THE STAR IN THE EAST.

)

)

) Mary his mother. Then they fell on their

knees before him, opened their treasures, and

; presented to him gifts of ‘“‘ gold, and frank-

) incense, and myrrh.”

) Thus far all had fallen out as the wicked

, king Herod wished, but his evil purpose was

) soon defeated, as God, who sees all that is

) passing in a bad man’s heart, warned the wise

men in a dream that they must not return

, to him, and therefore they went back into

) their own country by another way.

Jesus was therefore for the present left in
safety. From this we learn that even a power-

ful king cannot conceal his thoughts from the
Almighty. Those who seek to do evil must
not hope to escape his all-seeing eye. Their
most cunning schemes are often in a moment
rendered vain, by wisdom which cannot be
dazzled or misled, and frustrated by a will
which the whole world has no power success-
fully to resist

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JOSEPH WARNED IN A DREAM.

“The angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,
saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother,
and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee
word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
—MatTTHEW, chap. ii., verse 13.



Tue warning God was pleased to give to Joseph
of the wish of Herod to put the child Jesus to
death, was not neglected. Joseph arose in the
night, and took the infant and Mary his mother
from Bethlehem in Judea, where they had
previously rested, and set out for Egypt.

It will interest those who carefully read the
Bible, to mark that Joseph was directed, in
order to save the child from being destroyed, to
repair to that land from which, in other days,
Moses, by God’s command, and under his benign
protection, had rescued the Israelites from cap-
tivity. Egypt was a land wonderfully favoured
in many respects. There, when famine involved
the surrounding nations in great distress, abun-
dance of corn was stored; there Jacob and his
family found a home in the old age of the
patriarch ; and now, it was appointed to offer
blessed refuge to the distressed earthly parents
of the Saviour of the world.

Yet, strange as it is true, in that same Egypt

7



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JOSEPH WARNED IN A DREAM.

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go little was the goodness of the Eternal valued
‘or understood, that its inhabitants gave them-
' selves up to the most shocking idolatry.
. Instead of bowing before the altar of the Lord ;
instead of offering homage to that gracious
( being who caused the river Nile to overflow,
(( and bade the golden corn wave over its other-
(wise barren sands, they were content to pros-
' trate themselves before monstrous images of
' stone, and even before senseless animals, and
( hateful reptiles. Such is the wretched abase- ,
; ment to which men condescend, who madly ‘
) turn from the light, and indulge their own °*
wild fancies instead of seeking to honour the |
‘true God.
( Some of their huge idols have been brought
to England ; as works of art, or as curiosities,
they may interest, but viewing them as objects
(( before which man. should prostrate himself in
adoration, they can only be regarded as monu-
/
1

ments of Egyptian folly.

' |
: !
:
: |
8

{

De ee eet
Se = <
ad a nN RE eh a ee


MURDER







THE INNOCENTS
ae



THE MURDER OF THE INNO-
CENTS.

/ © Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked ofthe wise
men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts
thereof, from two years old and under, according to the

time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”—
MattHEw, chap. ii., verse 16.





| Joseru and Mary, with the child Jesus, had left

Bethlehem, and were on their way to Egypt,

(| when king Herod, who had waited in vain for

‘\ the return of the wise men, found that they
had gone to their home, and would not tell
him what he wished to know. He was then
very angry with them, and as he could not
gratify his cruel nature by slaying the son of
Mary alone, the wicked thought came into his
mind, that by ordering all the poor little chil-
dren in Bethlehem to be put to death, what he
desired might be effected. He made sure that
Jesus was among them, and cared not how
much blood he shed. so the cause of his alarm
were removed.

Then his wicked soldiers went and seized all
the little boys and girls they could find in
Bethlehem. Those hard-hearted men tore
them from their helpless mothers. They cared

- VOL. I c 9

a
anes





oT



SO
en en ER

NE EEE BOE ee

~~ ee



THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENTS,

not for the cries ot the children nor the prayers
of their fond parents, but slew them ali.

Dreadful was the scene Bethlehem p e-
sented; but it realised what a holy prophet
had long before told would take place, and
“‘in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation,
and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not.”

When kind mothers are deprived of their
children, in their deep affliction they at first
can receive no comfort. The law of nature
forbids them to hope that the lost ones will be
restored in this world. They can only be
soothed by the blessed assurances which they
find in the Testament, that in his own time
God, who “ wipes the tear from all eyes,” will
remove their sorrow by death, and then, so
they lead a pious life here, and live with
becoming resignation to the will of their Eter-
nal Father, they will at last rejoin their beloved
infants in Heaven.



ae EE
aaa aa aga aaa a Na ta Ts

pe $I EET

|



THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

“The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain,
and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the
glory of them.”—MatTHEW, chap. iv., verse 8.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS,



Satan, the Devil, is the great foe of man.
Because for his rebellion and ingratitude he
has been expelled from Heaven, where but for
his wickedness he might have lived for ever,
he seeks to make human beings his partners
in misery. To this end he strives to tempt the
good, and uses all his art to lead them into
evil ways.

He was bold enough to try to impose upon
the Son of God. Satan, fallen as he is, has
still great power, and presumed to hope that
he could prevail upon Christ to forget his
Heavenly Father. He therefore carried Jesus
to the top of a high hill or mountain, from
which he could look down on all the kingdoms
of this world. He could see their grandeur,
their riches, and their glory. Ali these he pro-
mised to give to Christ, if he would consent to
worship him.

But Jesus knew the tempter, and scorned
both him and his offer. ‘‘ Get thee hence,
Satan,” he said ‘for it is written, Thou shalt

1]




ee ot eee



THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
' thou serve.” Then the Devil left him.

Satan now often tries to make the good
forget their duty. He shows them riches and
worldly honours, and whispers to them that all
these may be enjoyed, if they will lend them-
selves to falsehood and fraud. Too often he

succeeds :

( “Blinded in youth, by Satan’s arts,
The world to our unpractised hearts
) A flattering prospect shows;
Our fancy forms a thousand schemes
( Of gay delights and golden dreams,
And undisturbed repose.”
\ But let the young be assured vain, very vain,
are all these tempting prospects. To be happy
they must be good. All that can be gained by
sin soon passes away, or becomes an evil :

“Turns to sorrow shame and pain.

Let them bear in mind the words of our Lord
to Satan, and remember that God only they
must serve.

ER

aE



ae


MOUNT

MON ON ‘THE

\

SE]

THE


ay

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

“ And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and
when he was set, his disciples came unto him.”—-MatTTHEW,

Se



ee ee

AFTER THE Birtu oF Carist, 31 YEARS.



ene eae

Tue disciples of Jesus gathered round their
divine preceptor on a mountain, and there the
Son of God deigned to teach them their

And sweet and soothing were the words that
‘‘Blessed,’’ said he, ‘‘are the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
Those who are humble here, are
thus taught that happiness is reserved for them
in a better world.

The Saviour continued, ‘ Blessed are they
that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Those who are here depressed by affliction,
may look for comfort from God.

Further, he said, ‘‘ Blessed are the meek:
for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after righteous-
ness: for they shall be filled.
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Thus it will be seen he taught his followers
that meekness would have its reward; that
mortals who seek to be good, shall not seek in

oo

Se

a Tae

Blessed are the

ee

ae

jl



|








THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

vain; and that those who are merciful to others
shall find mercy for themselves.

And “ Blessed,” he added, ‘‘ are the pure in
heart : for they shall see God. Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the chil-
dren of God.”

In this noble sermon we are taught the
mission of our Lord. It was a mission of
peace. He came not to destroy, but to purify
and to save: he came to warn men against that
strife to which they are sometimes betrayed by
their evil passions. To calm these, to do their
best to disarm rage, is the duty of the good,
and the peacemakers shall be called the children
of God.

Mercy and meekness, peace and purity, he
wisely commends to all the sons of men. This
ought not to be lost sight of in the world’s
rude strife. Great will be the reward of those
who profit from his sage and gentle admoni-
tions, for ‘‘the pure in heart shall see God;”’
though the meek and the righteous may
suffer for a time, ‘theirs is the kingdom of
Heaven.”

14

EO ee
Nee NEN A SO Lo SS a ee

|
|
)
(

|
|
|
|

De ee ee

(


CHRIST STILLING ‘THE



S'TORM


ee ee ee

ee

ee

eee RS

EE



SI ae ee

a ee ae ae
Cr A



CHRIST STILLETH THE STORM.

“ And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the
sea; and there was a great calm.”—MATTHEW, chap. viil.,
verse 26,

AFTER THE BirTH oF CuRisT, 31 YEARS.





Tue disciples of Jesus were in a ship, the winds
rose, and a storm raged. He was sleeping, but
they were dreadfully frightened, and thought
the ship would sink, and that they would all be
drowned in the sea.

So they went to him and awoke him, and in
their dismay cried, ‘‘ Save, Lord: we perish.”

These men, though instructed by Christ,
and though he was present with them, still
wanted courage. The roaring winds, and the
agitated waves, filled them with vain alarm.
Instead of manfully and serenely braving the
danger, they seem to have given themselves up
for lost; and despairingly exclaimed, ‘‘ We
perish.”

Jesus looked on them with displeasure.
“Why,” said he, ‘are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith?’? He blamed them, but he relieved
their fears, for ‘‘he arose, and rebuked the
winds and the sea; and there was a great
calm.”

15

em gegen



a ne eT eee
“yf
A

OO ee
EE

em me ee ee ee ae

oe

SS

ee eee EEE EE



|
)
|
|
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3
|
|
|
:

CHRIST STILLETH THE STORM

In reading this remarkable history, we see a
picture of the weak anxieties and foolish alarms
to which men are prone to give themselves up.

The disciples looked at the tempest and
abandoned hope. In an agony of terror their
cry was, ‘‘ We perish.” How much suffering
would they have been spared but for their little
faith !

Let the lesson thus affordea never be for-
gotten. Great as the dangers may seem, deep
as the gloom which surrounds us may be, the
christian whose faith is firm, may calmly re-
pose and defy the fury of the storm. He
who came not to destroy, still lives; is com-
petent to save those who humbly put their
trust in him. While the man of the world
weakly trembles and is filled with miserable
fear, the Christian preserves his fortitude. He
knows that he is in the hands of a gracious and
Almighty father, and feels that he is secure,
come what may, because he has faith in God.

16

ee ee
ee
ee ee





ee
eee ee EE

ee

—
ILO NT

Seo en TE et a =
~~ = eat a gan
ae a IED = =_

CHRIST’S GARMENT.

« And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of
blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem
of his garment.”—MATTHEW, chap. ix., verse 20.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.

{
A WOMAN TOUCHES THE HEM OF



Tue Saviour of the world, as presented to us
in Scripture, proved his exalted dignity, not
by exerting his power to control men, or to in-
vest himself with those honours and possessions
which ordinary mortals covet ; but by reprov-
ing vice, doing good, and setting a bright ex-
ample of spotless purity.

He did not reside in lordly halls, and revel
in the luxuries which glad the rich. On the
contrary, we find him constantly associated
with the poor, enlightening their minds and
abating their sorrows.

Those who were slow to believe in his divine
mission, could not shut their ears to the fame
of his great deeds. Among them was a woman
who had been very ill for a number of years ;
she was meek and lowly, and did not dare to
ask our Lord to relieve her pain. A worldly
doctor she knew, with far less power than he
possessed, would not give her such relief as

VOL. Il. D 17







TOS eS eee


TOUCHING THE HEM OF CHRIST’S GARMENT.

might be hoped from his skill, without fee
or reward, and she had probably nothing to
give.

But having heard of the wonderful works of (
Jesus, she resolved to watch his footsteps, and |
said within herself, this holy visitor is so full of
virtue, that if I can but touch his garment I
shall be well.

With this anxious hope, she approached him
as he walked along, and touched only the hem
of his dress. She did this as privately as pos-
sible, but the Saviour perceived it and turned
round, asking who had done it.

The poor woman trembled, and was much
frightened, but owned that the act was hers.
Jesus kindly removed her fears, and told her
not to be disturbed, for her faith had made her
whole, and from that hour she was quite well.

Faith in the Saviour is thus shown to be all-
sufficient to relieve distress. True christians
constantly feel that,—

“The wounded conscience knows its power
The healing balm to give,

And make the dying live.”

That balm the saddest heart can cheer,




THE RAISING OF JATRUSS DAUGHTER


a ana
aaa

ee

Se et a esi pa re a a ee ee ee
————F. =<

RAISING OF JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER.

/ But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took

her by the hand, and the maid arose.”—-MaTTHEW, chap.
ix., verse 25.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.



A stiuu stronger proof of the power of faith
than that already described, is furnished in the
case of a young female, the daughter of a
“certain ruler,” named Jairus, who was re-
ported to be dead.

Her father, in great distress, went to Jesus
and told him that she was no more. He wor-
shipped Christ, his child slept in death, but he
felt assured that if the Lord would but lay his
hand upon her, she would revive.

He was on his way to the ruler’s house when
the poor woman touched the hem of his gar-
ment. Arriving there he found minstrels
assembled, according to the custom of that
country, to perform a solemn or funeral ser-
vice. Jesus told them that the daughter of
Jairus was only sleeping. They were so con-
vinced that she was really dead, that they not
only doubted the truth of his declaration, but
they even laughed at the Son of God. In the

19



a



MIE ee
ae >
an

ee ee

(
|
|
:
|
|
ee oN



RAISING OF JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER.

)

\
words of Saint Matthew, ‘they laughed him
to scorn.”

The folly of these scoffers was soon proved,
Jesus approached the supposed corpse, took
the maiden by the hand, and she immediately
arose.

Self-sufficient men often believe that it is
not in the power of God to make things other
than they seem to their eyes. We ought to
distrust ourselves. Jesus was not always to
remain on earth, and miracles like those which
he performed to prove to the beholders that

) his mission was from Heaven, we are not per- |
mitted to witness, but the record of them
which has been preserved, should teach us that
nothing is impossible to Him who made us.
His goodness and his power know no bounds ;
his providence now often works mighty and
unforeseen changes, and a day will come when
wonders still more startling, will bring convic-
tion of his greatness to all whose hearts may

: at present be inaccessible to truth.

)

|




THE SHIP

FROM

(4

IST TEACHIN

\

CHI


CHRIST TEACHING FROM THE
SHIP.

—

oe

“And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so
that he went intoa ship. and sat; and the whole multitude
stood on the shore.” MATTHEW, chap. xiii., verse 2.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.



Tue simple eloquence of the Saviour of man,
as well as the miracles he performed, caused
many to attend him, who were not considered

we

of the number of his disciples. They were
attracted by admiring curiosity, some of them
probably by a feeling less pardonable; but at /
all events crowds followed him.
On one occasion, to avoid the pressure, he
passed into a ship, and thence addressed those
who had gathered on the shore. He spoke to
them in parables. That mode of teaching he
adopted, because it was given to those more
immediately connected with him ‘‘to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven,”’ though
in some degree veiled, and to profit from his
discourse, which scoffers could not understand.
From the ship he addressed the listeners
and told this parable: a sower, when sow-
ing his seed, dropped some of it by the
: way-side, when the fowls came and devoured
21



|
Ne Ne SS



eA A





CHRIST TEACHING FROM THE SHIP.

it; another portion fell on stony places, where
there was not much earth, and this, when it
sprung up was scorched and withered by the
sun; while some fell among thorns, which
choked it as it grew.

Such was not the case with all; one part
of the sower’s seed fell on good ground and in
due time produced a noble harvest, some
thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold!

By this Christ is understood to have pic-
tured the course of worldly men, in regard to
divine knowledge. The good seed, that which
truth and religion supply, is often dropped
where it fails to take root. Cares which ought
never to be allowed to interfere with our
musings on eternity, in a manner consume it;
present enjoyment causes the word as it were
to wither in the mind, or growing troubles,
when it is springing up, choke and cause it to
be neglected or forgotten.

Blessed is he whose heart presents that good
ground, in which the seed of eternal joy can
fructify. Richly will it compensate the wise
anxiety which duly tended it. Pious care will
be largely requited, as in the case of the sower:
nay still more magnificent the return—a brief
season of virtuous labour will insure the pure-
minded christian everlasting glory.

a

I I


Ne. 6 Pk
Eee ~ =
|. SE I NE EEE



CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.

eee ee

“ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught
him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore
didst thou doubt >—MatTHew, chap. xiv., verse 31.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 382 YEARS.



)

)

(

}

)

)

)
Jzsus had sent his disciples to sea in a ship, ;
and promised that he would follow. Left alone, |
he went apart on a mountain to pray. Mean- })
time, a storm arose, and the ship in which the
disciples were, met by contrary winds, was
tossed about on the troubled ocean.

They were apparently in danger, and looked
out in vain for their master till the fourth
watch of the night, when they at length saw
the form of a man walking on the sea. Their
minds being disturbed before, so strange a sight
filled them with fear. They thought it was a
spirit.

Jesus observed their alarm, and was not
slow to comfort his worshippers, but instantly
called to them in these soothing words: ‘‘ Be
of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Peter then answered the Saviour, and said:
* Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee
on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come ;” and

23

at tt
er

i et.
aaa

oe ee

TT LE.



NOES



(
(
(
(
(
and he seemed about to sink ; and, greatly
alarmed, he cried, ‘‘ Lord, save me.’

Jesus promptly stretched forth his hand,
caught the disciple, and, mildly reproving him,
» said: “O, thou of little faith | wherefore didst
thou doubt 2” Then both passed into the
ship, and the storm subsided.

In the conduct of Peter, we see imaged that of
many a faint-hearted Christian. Men believe
they have made up their minds to follow Christ :
but, when surprised by sharp trials, their

' courage fails, and they tremble for the imme-
diate consequences.

But, in their distress, though their hearts
should not be cast down, it is fitting that, like
Peter, they should cry, ‘‘ Lord, save me.’
Doing this, they find heavenly mercy is in
reserve for them, and each may then apply to

) himself the kind rebuke of Jesus, “O thou of

CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.

Peter left the ship to walk on the waves to-

wards Christ. But the wind was boisterous,

little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt § 2”
(
(
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Bo |






CANA





AND THE WOMAN OF

CHRIST

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sesnprncemmmeenameemenmnaseteelDsseasaseacasss temasassssnssspmmsaamemassmmsasssessiintasi 2 —__._ (6
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NINE NES SE RE EE

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CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF
CANAAN.

“ And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts,
and cried: unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord,
thou son of David ; my daughter is grievously vexed with a
devil."—MaTTHEW, chap. xv., verse 22.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.





A poor woman called upon the Saviour to pity
her because her child was afflicted, or, as it
is expressed in the text, was ‘ vexed with a
devil.”

The disciples of Jesus, who heard the com- ‘

plaint of the woman, having less compassion

than their divine master, called to him to send ,

her away. Christ reproved their want of feel-
ing, and told them that he had been sent
‘‘unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’’
To the supplicant he remarked, that ‘it was
not right that the children’s bread should be
thrown to the dogs.”

“Truth, Lord,”’ she replied, ‘‘ but yet the
dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
master’s table.”

This humble answer, joined as it was with a

holy hope that divine goodness would grant —

her suit, proved all-sufficient. ‘‘O woman!”
VOL. Il. E 25

a eee ee



OS SL ORI Ra ~*



AO

wen

LALA ALL RL AL LL ALL AL ALE EO

met

SN
—

OLLIE

Te INT ET

~~

FO
a ae la ae a inn ~—

eee

ee EEE
wa









CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF CANAAN,

Jesus exclaimed, ‘great is thy faith:” and
her daughter was cured.

Happy, indeed, was this petitioner. The
humility with which she pleaded, not to rank
with the chosen followers of the Lord, but
merely to be allowed access to the crumbs
which fell from their tables—to receive that
comfort of which they did not stand in need—
and the faith manifested in the Son of God,
gained her the boon she craved ; and her child
was restored.

A broken and a contrite heart obtains those
blessings which the proud and the self-sufficient
seek in vain. Hence the weak and the dis-
tressed are taught, that, in the day of their
adversity, though humble their pretensions,
thev may boldly fly to the Redeemer for suc-
cour. The crumbs that fall from such a
master’s table are rich in celestial nourishment.
While they abate present evils, they assure the
sufferer that his sorrows shall soon cease for

, ever.

26



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THE TRANSFIGURATTION .

pers
)

THE TRANSFIGURATION.

“ Jesus was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as
the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”—Mat-
THEW, chap. xvii., verse 2.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.

Tue transfiguration of Christ brings a scene of
great splendour before us. As was his habit,
Jesus withdrew from the crowded haunts of
men, taking with him ‘Peter, James, and
John his brother,” to “a high mountain.”
There we find, that, to the eyes of his won-
dering followers, he no more appeared like a
mere mortal, as at other times he had done.
He was transfigured ; that is, on his human
form celestial lustre was shed. He looked, it
may be presumed, as he will be seen in heaven,
for his face shone like the glorious orb of day.

Not only did the wondering disciples mark
his unearthly aspect, but they saw, conversing
with him, two holy servants of God, who long
before had passed away in the ordinary course
of nature.

Gazing on this sublime spectacle, Peter said,
‘‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou
wilt, let us make here three tabernacles ; one

27

n
=~ PL
SE ee

ee ae ee

ee

ee ee

WR ELL SR RE EEN



We TSAR




~~
TET EEE ETE ET TTT SI

P THE TRANSFIGURATION.
!





eaten



for thee, and one for Moses, and one for
Elias.”

The disciple was still speaking, when a bright
cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came
out of the cloud, and said: “This is my be-
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased : hear
e him.”

\
y
Struck with holy awe, the disciples fell on
their faces; but Jesus dismissed their alarm,
( kindly touched them, and said, ‘Be not

afraid,” and then they found themselves with (
him alone. His late companions, Moses and ;
( Elias, had vanished.
‘ The disciples were charged by the Lord not |
\ to make known the wonders they had seen,
till he had risen from the dead. What had
thus been revealed proved to them, and at the
proper time was communicated by them to
their fellow-disciples, and indeed to all man-
kind, that their gracious preceptor was really
the Son of God, in whom his Almighty father !
was “‘ well pleased.” |

ee EEE
SOA nL = MU I

ee
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CHILDREN

ZEBEDEES

CHRIST AND




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ZEBEDEE’S CHILDREN.

«Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her
sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.”
MATTHEW, chap. xx., verse 20



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 32 YEARS.



Two young men, the sons of a man named
Zebedee, were among the followers of the
Saviour. The mother, anxious for their eter-
nal welfare, came to Christ, and entreated him
to grant her a very great favour—that her
children might sit, one on his right hand, the
other on his left hand, when he should have
entered into his kingdom of everlasting glory.

Jesus replied to her that she knew not what
she asked. ‘‘ Are ye,”’ said he, “able to drmk
of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be bap-
tized with the baptism that I am_ baptized
with ?”

The sons declared that they were able.
Their being thus put forward gave offence to
the other disciples. Jesus was a lover of peace.
In his Sermon on the Mount he had told his
disciples that blessed were the peace-makcrs ;
and he now hastened to calm the angry feelings
which had been kindled. He reminded the
angry brethren of the contentions which pre-

- 29

EEE
Tee a

wee WN
Woe me me
I DO SS A ER ae,

ZEBEDEE’S CHILDREN.



vailed elsewhere among worldly-minded men ;
“but,” said he, ‘it shall not be so among
you; but whichsoever shall be great among
you, let him be your minister, and whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be your
servant.”

Here was a lesson for selfishness and pride!
Jesus wished his disciples to know that hu-
mility exalts, and to feel that they best consult
their own welfare, who study the interest and
the happiness of others. This he enforced by his
own example: the Son of Man, he told them,
came ‘‘not to be ministered unto, but to min-
ister,’ and even to give his life for the ransom
of many. Pious men, women, and children,
who hope to rejoice with him in heaven, it
follows must be content to give themselves up
to the performance of arduous and _ painful
duties on earth. The sincere Christian will do
well to bear constantly in mind what his master
suffered, and be prepared to ‘‘drink of the
cup ”’ of sorrow from which he drank.

Se



|

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nee Ne.

a

30

, we
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oon


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WT NT

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a a
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a ee eee SE OS
eee





JESUS OPENING THE EYES OF
THE BLIND.
“Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and

immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed
him.”——MATTHEW, chap. xx., verse 34.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 32 YEARS.



Tue goodness of Jesus Christ had caused him
to do so much to relieve virtuous sufferers, that
wherever he moved, he was beset by the sick,
the lame, and the blind.

Two blind men on one occasion presented
themselves by the way-side. The bystanders told
who was about to pass, and they immediately
implored him to aid them, exclaiming, “Have
mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.”

These persons were in a crowd, and the
multitude complained of them for thus calling
on Jesus, and wished them to hold their peace ;
but they would not be restrained, and louder
than ever was heard their cry of ‘‘ Have mercy
on us, O Lord, thou son of David.”

The Saviour stopped, and turning toward
them, enquired, what it was they wished that he
should do tothem. Their answer was, a humble

entreaty that their eyes might be opened.
31

ee ee
NN EN


ee RE EEEE EET EEE ETE_-_:<:;‘i*zXCéL TT
po OND





SS

JESUS OPENING THE EYES OF THE BLIND.

Moved with their suffering, and affected by
their earnestness, Jesus had compassion on
them. He touched their eyes, and the darkness
in which they had pined was no more. ‘‘ Their
eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

Many eminent divines, have applied their
thoughts, and directed their eloquence, to the
illustration of this passage in Christ’s history.
They have pointed out as worthy of imitation,
the résolute importunity of the blind men. In
vain the thoughtless multitude rebuked them,
they cried out the more. Though at first
unheeded, their perseverance was rewarded,
and their sight was restored.

And hence we are taught that though the
prayer of sorrow may for a season appear to be
breathed in vain, supplicants ought not to be
discouraged; ought not to turn aside in despair.
Still pressing forward to the throne of grace, in
his own good time, the All-wise may be pleased
to grant their suit. The repetition of their cry
accepted as evidence of their faith, their eyes
will be opened, and they joyfully find their
names enrolled among the accepted followers
of Jesus.

ee DL ee

a ee
a a aS EEE ENE IE

ce ee wot er « as — ~
a Sehnert ee cee)

ce eee

———













:
:

Le eT



CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.

“A very great multitude spread their garments in the way;
others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them
in the way.”—MaTTHEW, chap. xxi., verse 8.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 31 YEARS.



Tue evangelist Matthew, furnishes a minute
report of the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem.
It is in more respects than one, truly inter-
esting, not merely to the meditative Christian,
but to general readers.

Having reached Bethphage, near the mount
of Olives, Jesus thought it right to send for-
ward two of his disciples to a neighbouring
village, in which he told them they would find
‘‘an ass tied, and a colt.” ‘These his disciples
were to loosen and take to him. He added,
should any one question them about what they
were doing, they were to say, “‘the Lord hath
need of them.”

All happened ‘ashe anticipated; the ass
and her colt were found, brought to him, and
an ancient prophecy was fulfilled, which ran
thus, ‘Tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold,
thy king cometh unto thee, meek and sitting
upon an ass.” The fame of Jesus as a prophet,
was great. Crowds expected his coming, and

VOL, Il. F 3

=

Te ES
ae

EE EE—_ EER we em
ea aad a



CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.

threw their garments and branches of trees in
the road, in honour of their illustrious visitor.

At this period of his earthly course, Christ
was popular. A very great multitude, we
read, assembled to witness his arrival, yet he
was content to enter the proud city of Jerusalem
riding on an ass.

In the fifteenth century, when the Pope of
Rome affected more than regal state, this was
not forgotten by the reforming Christians of
that era. Jerome of Prague, caused a pictorial
representation of the Saviour entering Jeru-
salem, and the Pope progressing through Rome,
to be produced and exhibited, as contrasts ; to
show how luxury and pride had seduced the
prelate who claimed to be regarded as the
successor of the followers of Christ, from that
lowliness and sublime disregard of all that could
flatter mortal vanity, which marked the course
of ‘Him who came to seek his father’s sheep
in the wilderness.”’

The example set by Christ has in too many
instances been strangely forgotten by those who
wished to hold a distinguished rank among his
followers. Jesus was a foe to pride, and wished
those who aspired to rank with his disciples, to

. prove their fitness by humility, gentleness, and

love.
34

ee a Tt A A At
a a ON OO NN RE ET a aE a ae a a ae

?
)

E

RN A A Ne a

ee E-TETEE EE D;_ _
| Se aan a aay a

THE LAST SUPPER.

“Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.”
~— MATTHEW, chap. xxvi., verse 20



AFTER THE BirTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



History presents us with notning more affect-
ing than the details of the last supper of Jesus
Christ with his disciples.

He knew that his time was nearly come;
preparations were made for the passover, and
he sat down to the simple solemn festival with
his twelve followers.

Had all been faithfal, the scene would have
been memorable ; but it was rendered still more
so, by the fact, then known to the Saviour,
that one of those assembled around him
was sordidly plotting, from love of gold, to
betray him into the hands of cruel foes, that
he might be mocked, tortured, and put to
death.

Yet it was even so. He knew that one of
them was to act this monstrous part, and
pointed out the sinful individual.

How must Judas have trembled when he
heard those peace-breathing lips, which sel-
dom opened but to utter words of com-
passion, and suggestions of mercy, pronounce

©

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aaa

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se __S

ee ee ee lt Tt et tN tN Gt tt
WA SO ee

~~

Re

Ne Ne SE NEE SS
ON




THE LAST SUPPER.

:
the dreadful sentence.—‘‘ Woe unto that man (
by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! it had

(

| been good for that man if he had not been
born.”

Jesus took the bread and brake it, and gave
portions of it to his disciples, and he handed
the wine cup to them, tenderly charging them
to consider that the latter imaged his blood,

! which was to be “shed for the remission of
sins.”
He directed his disciples to do as they were
then doing, to partake of bread and wine in
communion, when he should be no more on
earth, in tender remembrance of him their
Teacher and friend, for he then declared that
he would not drink thenceforth ‘“ of that fruit
of the vine, until that day when he should drink
it new with them in his Father’s kingdom.”
That touching and sorrowful repast, has since
been constantly remembered in every Christian
land. It is, of all the affecting observances of the
Christian religion, the one which appeals most
forcibly to the heart, recalling, as it does, what
the Son of God said and did, when his firmness
as aman was to be subjected to the last tre-
mendous trial; when he was to render himself
as ‘‘a sacrifice for all.”


rAR DEN

THE

IN



2
a

‘LH

439 te?


*)



I ee LI tI

Cee I

oo





CHRIST’S AGONY IN THE
GARDEN.

“He went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed,

saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”—
MATTHEW chap. xxvi., verse 39,



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.





Tr our Lord, when he came on earth, had come
in power—in that strength and greatness which
originally belonged to him, it might be ima-
gined that pains which would overcome an
ordinary mortal, would in his case have been
endurable. But the great work of man’s salva-
tion was not to be so easily performed; and
Christ, while in the flesh, if he did not betray
all the weakness, was subjected to all the
, ainful sensibilities of man’s nature.

We find this distinctly marked in the con-
versation which followed the last supper. ‘‘ My
soul,” the illustrious victim sadly exclaimed,
‘‘is sorrowful even unto death.”

By that time he and his disciples had reached
a place or garden called Gethsemane. Then it
was that he proved the depth of human sorrow.
Dark images of the fiend-like barbarity to
which he was about to be subjected, cane over

3

ee ee on ee
ll lO TS eee





'




CHRIST’S AGONY IN THE GARDEN.

him, and in his agony he exclaimed, ‘““O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from

!

/

| |

me.”’ How touching—how thrilling the ery! ?

how intense must the pain have been which
extorted it from the patient, all-enduring Jesus !

But the glorious sufferer did not stop
there. In that moment of exquisite suffering,
he added—‘‘ nevertheless not as I will, but as
thou wilt.”

Thus in his extremest grief, when most
severely tried, the Redeemer, labouring under
all the anguish that a mere mortal could know,

set before us a shining example of utter self- )

abandonment—of prefect resignation to the (
will of his omnipotent father.
The Christian pilgrim as he advances through
the rugged paths of life, when storms assail, ,
and despondency overclouds the mind, will do |<
well to recal what Christ suffered for him. A ‘
broken spirit in the hour of dismay, will
naturally turn to its eternal source, and pra
that the bitter cup may pass as Christ did, but
let the sorrowing petitioner not forget to add,

“nevertheless” O my father ‘not as I will,

but as thou wilt.”



38

ON Se ee EEE
Se Cr NN Ne

We












CHRIS'T BETRAYED
Rai

NE ER ee

et EE ee ETE
& ee

EE SE
See

CHRIST BETRAYED.

“While he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and
with, him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the
chief priests and elders of the people.’—MarruEw, chap.
xxvi., verse. 47.



AFTER THE BirTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



Jzsus may be said to have been left alone in
his woe. His disciples who had attended him
to the garden, were overcome with weariness
and grief—it could not be that they were
indifferent to their master’s distress—but when
he had withdrawn from them only a short time,
he found them asleep.

The prayer which he had addressed to God,
he repeated a second and a third time, but
always with the addition that not his will, but
that that of his Almighty Father should be
done. He felt that the great task he had taken
upon himself must be performed, and prepared
to undergo the last pang. He roused his sleepy
companions, and announced to them that the
betrayer was at hand.

Judas approached, accompanied by an armed
multitude, who were to arrest the destined
victim. That base-hearted man had before
agreed with the men who were engaged to seize

39



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TT ee Ne



,
)

.
)
)
}
STI TI
Cc nena rea eta awa eet

CHRIST BETRAYED.

Jesus, to point him out to them; ‘ Whom-
soever I shall kiss,’’ said he, ‘‘ that same is he:
hold him fast.”

The hostile band approached, and Judas
advancing to Christ, accosted him in the
language of reverential love, saying, ‘‘ Hail
master ;” and then he kissed him.

The preconcerted signal given, Jesus was
instantly secured, by those who attended for
that purpose. That Jesus should be captured
and should suffer, was necessary for the salva-
tion of the world, and for the fulfilment of
prophecy ; but the treachery of Judas, we
cannot contemplate without horror and dis-
gust.

It is the duty of the youth who would have
his name enrolled among the followers of the
Lord, to shun violence and subdue rancour.
He who cannot do this, has but ill-learned the
lesson which it was the object of the Saviour
to teach, for he set mankind an example of
patience and mercy, but violence and rancour
are less hateful than the monstrous perfidy of
the vile Judas, who while smilingly regarding
Jesus as a friend, and crying, ‘ Hail master,”
could betray with a kiss.

Rese

ee ote ee

wT RE REE TR Eee

es er ee eee

Ee ee ee 2 Sa
mse Wes

A

Se pa ee
EE

40

rn se er ee ee ee
= as > 7
nae a Te

a Ne ee
Fe

en ee ee
; _ : ‘
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} me D7 \. \
\ / \
ra
Cee
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é 4 )
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PETER DENYING CHRIST.

« And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said
to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech
bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear,
saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock
crew. MATTHEW, chap. xxvi., verses 73 & 74.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 33 YEARS.

One of the primary objects of the Gospel, is
to teach those who desire to rank among the
followers of the Saviour, humility.

That humility which becomes a Christian,
can only grow on a knowledge of the weakness
of his nature. The disciple Peter, ardent and
sincere in his devotion to Jesus, presumptuously
declared, that though all beside should fall oft
from Christ, he would remain unmoved. He
was immediately checked by Jesus, who told
him, ‘‘ before the cock crow thou shalt deny
me thrice.”

In a very short time this was proved.
When cruel men reproachfully spoke to the
disciple, and told him in an accusing tone, that
he was known to be one of the followers of the
persecuted Saviour, his courage failed him, his
resolution gave way, and in his anxiety to
escape from their anger or their scorn, he began

VOL. Il. G

Wee eee

ee

Oe le ee ee

ae ee ee

Sa aw. -
a a
}

SeeEE—EEX&i=EziEDE nN ON ee
Te Se I EEE LE EE Se





PETER DENYING CHRIST.

to curse and swear, and said, “I know not the
man.’’ Scarcely were the words out of his
mouth, when the cock crew. With grief and
shame, the erring disciple then recalled what /
Jesus had foretold, and Saint Matthew writes, {
‘he went out and wept bitterly.” )

In the conduct of Peter, we see how mourn- i
fully the good may swerve from duty. It |
should teach men not to be too confident. ;
Because they mean well, it does not follow asa
matter of course, that under all circumstances
they will have the courage and presence of |
mind to do what is right. Let them try to 4)
fortify their good resolutions, and, unmoved by
the frowns of men, be faithful to the truth, and
to duty ; be faithful to the end.

Failing to do this, weakly striving to escape
blame or punishment, their hearts soon tell
them they desire it. Then like Peter, they may
weep bitterly. True repentance will, as in his
case, obtain pardon, but the Christian must not
be ashamed of his master here, if he hope to he
owned by that master in heaven.

we ee

eee OO

se ee ee
NNO

Pe AN Be gO oo oC
ST LN

42

PoE ee _-L,
ra = Toe — ES eee
Sr SS SE Ee

eae ae
op,

)

S

) om
M

ath \\

My

|


TS EE EEE ae
——— Se ad

ie

REPENTANCE OF JUDAS.

“Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was
condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty
pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.”-MaTTHEW,
chap. xxvii., verse 3.

ee

Sa



AFTER THE BirRTH OF CuRIST, 33 YEARS.



Te

Jupas, who had been one of the followers of
Jesus, who had enjoyed the privilege of con-
versing with the Son of God, and had been
taught by him his duty, was wicked enough to
betray him into the hands of the cruel Jews,
who sought to put him to death.
_ _ Sinful men cannot escape punishment. Judas
, found this to his sorrow; the stings of conscience
' tortured him, and he could not enjoy the wages
of guilt. In an agony of remorse, he took back
the thirty pieces of silver, which he had received
. ag the price of his crime, to the chief priest and
- the elders. He wished them to receive the
_ money, and said he had sinned against innocent

blood.
The hard-hearted men who had tempted him
- to his undoing, then looked on him with scorn,
and mocked his distress. ‘‘ What,” said they,
“is that to us? see thou to that.”

He had performed the treacherous deed they

43



(ARR ~





won

toe LL,
tN gl oo pI

see
a NE DRT,
)



—





rae —
SINT A RR



REPENTANCE OF JUDAS

had desired to witness, and they cared not what
. the sad consequences might be to him. The
rejoiced in the treason, but despised the traitor.
Then the wretched man was truly miserable.
He threw down the money in the temple, and,
mad with grief, at seeing himself mocked by
those whose favour he had hoped to gain, he
went and hanged himself.

Ill-gotten money never fails to bring with it
a curse. From youth to age, this solemn truth
ought to be deeply engraved on every Chris-
tian’s heart. All the luxuries, all the splen-
dour, that wealth can command, are utterly
worthless if he who possesses them wants
peace of mind. The rich man who is conscious
of crime, envies the humblest cottager, the
meanest beggar, the most abject slave who has
preserved his integrity. In the lordly hall, the
wealthy wicked chief seeks for rest in vain; he
lives in hopeless sorrow, and often, like Judas,
dies by his own hand in despair.

ae ei eae tage eae
Cale SE ee

44

we EL
eA ST nn AR SEE —E—EeEE,

eT




)
|
y 4
:

)
)
)
)
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)
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Cee ee _ e eooee aor)

~ ON Ne SON



CHRIST CROWNED WITH
THORNS.

“ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon
his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the
knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail King of the
Jews!” —MatTHEW, chap. xxvii., verse 29.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.

In our times, when a criminal is doomed to die,
though he is proved to have stained his hands
with blood, and is known to have committed a
dreadfully aggravated murder, while contem-
plating the awful punishment which awaits
him, generous pity is moved, soothing language
is addressed to him, and men almost “‘ forget
his vices in his woe.”’
It was not so in the case of the Saviour of
the world, who had been guilty of no crime.
The unfeeling men who had power over him in
his mortal state, were not content with con-
demning him to death on the cross. Brutal
mockery was resorted to, and ingenious bar-
barity laboured to heighten his distress.
Crowned with thorns, a reed was put into his
right hand, as a sham sceptre; scoffers spit upon
him, they smote him, and bending the knee
45





me EE


eee ee
NT

OE

ROI FL UL

CHRIST CROWNED WITH THORNS.

)

before him, they jeeringly affected to honour
’ him by shouting, ‘‘ Hail King of the Jews.”
Nor was this all. Pretending to give him
) drink to allay his thirst, they offered him an
) odious mixture of vinegar and gall. He tasted
it, but could not drink.

Then they crucified him. That mode of
punishment was dreadful. A powerful writer
in the Quarterly Review, says—‘‘ Of all the
devices of cruel imagination, crucifixion is the
masterpiece. The weight of the body was
borne by a ledge projecting from the middle of
the upright beam, and not by the hands and
feet, which were probably found unequal to the
strain. The frailty of man’s frame comes at
last to be its own defence; but enough re-
mained to preserve the pre-eminence of torture
to the cross. The process of nailing was ex-

quisite torment, and yet worse in what ensued

than in the actual infliction. The spikes
| rankled, the wounds inflamed, the local injury
(
|
:



ee

NN I NG NE OI

produced a general fever, the fever a most in-
tolerable thirst ; but the greatest misery to the
sufferer was, while racked with agony, to be
fastened in a position which did not permit
him even to writhe.”’

Such were the torments endured by Christ.

et am




46

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ee

et
ee
V7;

Yj

Y,
iO

YY

+>
NY

Ss

pte aM sf EE eh

Lact gee i lth ye


Smee Seep ae
a ee ee ae pee

|





CHRIST TAKEN FROM THE

CROSS.
“And when Joseph had taken thé body, he wrapped it in a |

AFTER THE BirtTH oF Carist, 33 YEARS.



(
/
i
clean linen cloth.”—-MATTHEW, chap. xxvii., verse 59. '
)
)
\\

|
)
' Wuen at length the agonies of the Saviour had
reached an end, when he had endured all that
\ human nature could suffer, death, from which
) the happy and the thoughtless recoil with horror,
( brought the glorious victim repose. Relieved
/ from consciousness and from pain, the mangled
form of the Redeemer hung on the cross, when
Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, went to
Pilate the governor, and begged that the body
might be given to him. Pilate who had wished
to save Jesus from his enemies, though he had
not opposed their cruelty with proper resolution,
granted his request.
; The governor’s consent obtained, Joseph
’ took the body of our Lord from the cross, and
( wrapped it in a linen cloth. In that country
) it was common to commit the dead to the
earth, not in a coffin, but in a winding-sheet.

ee
er SN I RE ER

Oe

3 AT AR

Thus the remains of Jesus were disposed of,
and Joseph, with pious care, caused the corpse ,
47

ee
~ eo es
REEL




egg Eo OO ON
em a A aot



hewed out for him inarock. That done, he
rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre

aia

(
and departed. |
Joseph acted a kindly part. Pitying the (
dreadful inflictions which the victim of man’s
sin and of divine compassion had sustained, he
in giving the corpse a grave, did all that charity
in such circumstances could attempt, and placing
a stone at the door of the sepulchre, of course
‘ it was his object to guard against the remains |
, being disturbed by foolish curiosity, or ruffianly (
malice, which with impotent rage, will some- {
times seek to pursue the fallen, even in the
grave. !
There it was his wish, in love for the de-
parted, that the body should rest till reduced ‘
to dust, and for ever. He could hardly have ‘
anticipated what was soon to take place.
Generous pity prompted him to act as he did,
but would not have assured him of that grand
consummation in which all Christians rejoice. :
(
4
I:

Pe a Ee

CHRIST TAKEN FROM THE CROSS !
to be deposited in a new tomb which had been (
)

Ne ee
— TTL,
Ve Ne SS NL ON Te



















OO
er ee ee

THE TWO MARYS AT THE
SEPULCHRE.

« And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting
over against the sepulchre.”—-MATTHEW, chap. xxvil.,
verse 61.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CIFRIST, 33 YEARS.

:

‘

Arrecrion fondly lingers near the remains of ‘
(, the departed. The cynic may call this weak-
ness, but he can hardly deny that it is nature.
Those moments, though mournful, are deeply
interesting—

\ “When by the bed of languishment we sit,

( Or o’er our dying friends in anguish hang,

Wipe the cold dew, or stay the sinking head.”

! If sad the duty to perform, it is still a pri-
vilege which the kind relative or friend would
not trust to another hand.

Such are the feelings awakened in virtuous
believers, when in the course of nature an
esteemed fellow-creature is called away. His
good qualities are then industriously recalled,
his faults, his weaknesses, are excused or for-
gotten, and the mourner is absorbed in gen-
erous sorrow.

If such the case when a man or woman dies
of years, by gradual decay, it will easily be con-

VOL. II. H 49



Ee
So



NN me see
EO NE Ne DLE




_—s~
en



THE TWO MARYS AT THE SEPULCHRE.

es

ceived that great indeed must have been the
sorrow of the two Marys, when they beheld,
as Saint Mark tells us they did, ‘‘ Looking on
afar off,’ the dreadful spectacle on Mount
) Calvary. In the prime of life they saw their
' more than blameless friend and _ preceptor
treated as the vilest criminal that ever sinned
, against divine or human laws. They knew
» him condemned to the most terrible anguish, /
) yet they might not approach to “wipe the ‘
, cold dew” from the pallid forehead, or to |
‘“‘stay the sinking head.” Set up as a mark
for cruel mockery, Jesus was left to expire in {
| agony on the cross, while those who lamented
his sufferings, were kept at a distance.

| The awful scene at length closed. Human
nature, which Christ had assumed, could sus-
! tain such dreadful inflictions no longer, and the
|

we

a ees

Redeemer slept in death. Then it was the two
Marys approached the dear remains of their
Lord. They wept over those features which
they had so often beheld lighted up by benevo-
lence, instructing the ignorant, and relieving the
afflicted, and when by the care of Joseph of
Arimathea, the body had been placed in the
rock, the two Marys, reluctant to withdraw,
lingered near the door of the sepulchre.

ee ee eee

On
6 &
(aaa

NE EEE —EL oe eee
OL RT ONT NT




: = Se ee
yey a STS ee < Py ee wo. 5
f _ ZF,

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THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

« And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of '
the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back |
the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”— MATTHEW
chap. xxviii., verse 2.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS, \



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Ir was on the night of Friday that the two
mourners, the Marys, seated themselves near ((
the door of the sepulchre, where it may be pre-
' sumed they remained till daylight returned. ”
In the course of the Saturday, which was .
the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Phari- (
sees entreated Pilate to set a watch over the ‘
7

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body of Jesus, lest his disciples should steal it
away, and report that he had risen from the ;
dead. Pilate gave them permissicn to make it

as secure as they could, and they, determined
that none of his friends should have access to
the corpse, put a seal on the stone, and set a
watch to guard it.

These cares were vain. The angel of the ‘
_ Lord came from heaven and rolled away the |
‘ stone, and seated himself thereon. Then the
' men appointed to keep watch, were filled with

SOT Ta

, alarm, they trembled and swooned, or ‘‘ became
as dead men.”

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his disciples that he is risen from the dead.”

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THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

But to the two Marys, who at the close of
the sabbath, had returned to the tomb, the
angel brought words of comfort. ‘‘ Fear not,”
said he, ‘‘I know ye seek Jesus, who was
crucified. He is not here: come, see the place
where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell

Christ had foretold that on the third day he
should rise again, and this it was made the
chief priests and Pharisees so anxious to guard
against the remains being carried away.

For the two Marys, who had deplored with
tears and heartfelt sorrow the tortures Jesus
had to bear, what words can describe the joy,
the emotion they must have felt, when a bright
messenger from the sky gave them the glad
tidings, that he whom they mourned as dead,
had risen from the grave.

Often among the wise dispensations of Pro-
vidence, we see the good mourn the loss of a
kind and revered friend; but affection after a
time, where faith is not wanting, receives an
assurance almost as distinct as that given by
the angel to Mary, that grief may be spared,
that the loved ones removed, are not lost for
ever, but have risen to happiness and Heaven.







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SAINT JOHN PREACHING.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make his paths straight.”—Mark, chap. i.,
verse 3.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 26 YEARS.



Ir had been revealed to the children of Israel ~
long before the event, that the Messiah would
visit this world. Holy and inspired seers, gifted
to make known the future, proclaimed that a
celestial guest might be expected. They more-
over announced that a messenger should be
sent before him to prepare the way.

And a voice was to be heard, the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, ‘‘ Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
That voice was the voice of John the Baptist.
It was his mission to ‘“ preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.”

This eminent person was a pious man, whose
habits were singular and austere. ‘John was
clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of
a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts
and wild honey.”

John had a grateful task to perform. It was
given to him to announce the speedy coming
of the Saviour. In his preaching he told his
53

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SAINT JOHN PREACHING.

hearers of the exalted character of Christ, say-
ing, “There cometh one mightier than I after
me, ’ the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy
to stoop down and unloose.” ‘‘I indeed, 9
said he, ‘‘have baptised you with water : but
he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost.”

Christ came as the prophets had foretold.
He was all that John had reported. But the
Jews, though credulous enough to believe those
who assured them that senseless images might
be worthily worshipped, who taught them to
bend the knee to such objects, and say, ‘‘ these
be thy gods, O Israel,” could not put their
trust in one whose piety and truth entitled him
to confidence. Thus unhappily, foolish mortals,
perverse and stubborn, obstinately shut their
eyes, and will not see that which tends to their
eternal bencfit. Good men still cherish a hope
that a day will come when “the paths of the
Lord shall be made straight,” and the truth
beam on each benighted mind, with such resist-
less and appropriate glory, that all must give it
a welcome.




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SAINT JOHN BAPTIZING.

“It came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth
of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.”—Mark,
chap. i., verse 9.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 30 YEARS.



He who was appointed to be the forerunner of
the Redeemer, the chosen herald of the Son of
God, was permitted to receive a still greater
honour, that of performing the baptismal cere-
mony for Christ.

John had been engaged in preaching baptism
and the remission of sins, when Jesus left
Nazareth and repaired to him to be baptized
in the river Jordan.

It is not too much to suppose that one who
had been apprized of the coming of the Lord,
and appointed to prepare his ways, was not
unacquainted with the quality of that commu-
nicant who now appeared before him ; yet even
a knowledge of his character and high mission,
could hardly have prepared him for the wonders
which were to be seen and heard on that great
day.

The ceremony had been completed, not as it
is usually performed now, but in the open
river, and John had left the water, when he saw
55

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SAINT JOHN BAPTIZING.
the heavens open, and the holy spirit in the
form of a dove, descending upon Jesus!

It was impossible for the Baptist to gaze on
such a grand and extraordinary spectacle, but
with breathless amazement and awe. It was
still before his eyes, when a voice was heard
from heaven, it was that of the Almighty him-
self, addressed to the Saviour, and saying,
“Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.”

Jesus, at this time, as a mortal, had reached

maturity. He had commenced, or was about
f

to commence, his grand labour, and to undergo
his fiery trial, which, it is generally believed, he
was not to enter upon till he had passed through
youth to manhood. ‘‘The praise and love
breathed on him from the sky,” as recorded by
the evangelist Mark, by his great and Eternal
Father, was therefore the reward of a virtuous
and blameless life, up to that moment.
Youthful readers perusing the eventful story
of the Son of God, are to remember that he
had all the weaknesses of humanity, while he
was here. Yet he was pure, and his dread Sire
‘‘in him was well pleased.”” It is quite possible
for his followers to imitate his purity, if with
unbending faith they seek to share his ever-

lasting glory.
56

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SIMON AND ANDREW CALLED
BY JESUS.

‘t As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew
his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will
make you to become fishers of men.”—-MARK, chap. i.,
verses 16 & 17.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF CuRIST, 30 YEARS.



In the Old Testament, we read, that when
presumptuous men undertook to erect a build-
ing which should reach to the sky, their daring
folly was requited by their being thrown into
helpless embarrassment, from the confusion of
tongues. Their enterprise was rendered a total
failure, by,;the will of Him to whose dwelling
they had“insolently proposed to ascend, in the
vain hopé that doing so, would save them from
future danger.
To humble pride, has ever been the will
of the Almighty. Disdain for the proud of
sthis world, is evinced by the Saviour. Those
who in their own conceit, were most eminent
for piety, or for learning, he valued not, but to
raise the lowly, and give them dignity and
importance, was his pleasure.
In the case of the arrogant builders of Babel,
VOL. II. I 57

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SIMON AND ANDREW CALLED BY JESUS.

the power of making themselves understood
was taken from them ; in that of the untaught »
followers of the Lord, an extraordinary gift of {
language was vouchsafed to them, which ren-
dered their speech intelligible, where before
they had no means of giving utterance to their
thoughts.
Such was the miraculous power of Jesus,
that he could qualify the ignorant to teach,
while he confounded the worldly-wise.
When walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw
Simon and Andrew, two poor fishermen, casting
their nets; he knew they were not scholars, |
that they were not possessed of learning, but
he called to them to follow him, and he would °
make them fishers of men. By this he meant (
that unlettered as they were, he wouid enable
them to snatch men from the sea of iniquity,
in which they were immersed, and render :
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them the messengers of mercy to their fellow- (
creatures.

Divine illumination, no doubt, came instantly
over their minds at the call of Jesus. They ,
forsook their nets, and followed him: they
abandoned earthly cares, to fix their thoughts
on Heavenly glory.

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CASTING




UNCLEAN SPIRIT

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JESUS CASTING OUT THE UN.
CLEAN SPIRIT.

“ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean
spirit; and he cried out.”—Mark, chap. i., verse 23.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 80 YEARS,



Jesus taught ‘‘as one that had authority, and
not as the Scribes’ had been accustomed to
teach, and throughout his mortal pilgrimage,
he was found giving the most important les-
sons in a style and manner peculiarly his own,
and proving that he ‘‘had authority, by the
wonders he performed.”

He was teaching in the synagogue at Caper-
naum when a man was presented to him who
was troubled with an unclean spirit.

This spirit, St. Mark reports to have cried
out, saying, ‘‘ Let me alone; what have we to
do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou
come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou
art, the Holy One of God.”

Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘‘ Hold thy
peace, and come out of him.”’

The command, we read, was not issued in
vain, for the Evangelist goes on, ‘‘ When the
anclean spirit had torn him (the sufferer), and
59

a
Se SERRE




cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
And they (the bystanders) were all amazed,
insomuch that they questioned among them-
selves, saying, what thing is this; what new
doctrine is this ?”’

They were astonished, as well they might be,
to find that the speaker had power over unclean
spirits, who were compelled to obey him. It |
was, indeed, an extraordinary case, in which
one so meek, so gentle, as Jesus was in his

JESUS CASTING OUT THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
general course of life, proved that he had at his



: command such irresistible power, that devils
perceiving him, were compelled to tremble and
depart at his bidding.

This the Jews had an opportunity of know-
ing, and in consequence, the Saviour’s fame was |
spread abroad, through all the region round |

about Galilee. It was known that he was
potent to relieve those who were afflicted, and ;

many were sufficiently on the alert to resort to |

( resort to him, that their maladies might be
cured. If men were as careful to seek Heaven

| as they are to crave relief from present anguish,
the Saviour’s gracious call would not be often

neglected.

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THE LEPER CLEANSED.

“There came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling —
down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean.”—Mark, chap. i., verse 40.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 31 YEARS.



In consequence of that fame, which has already .
been spoken of, which Jesus gained as one
who could heal the sick, a leper came to him,
and entreated him to make him clean.

Among the Jews a leper was regarded with .
great horror. We see in the Bible that even a °
king was no more respected when he was
afflicted with leprosy. Not only suffering pain, ,
but despised by his fellow-men, who might
have been expected to sooth his distress, the
case of the leper was most pitiable. Happily
he applied to one who, in a case of real woe, it
was not difficult to move. Jesus compassion-
ately “‘ put forth his hand and touched him,
and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

More was not necessary. No sooner had
the Saviour uttered these few words, than the
leprosy departed from the sufferer, and he was
clean.

When he was going, Jesus said to him,
“See thou say nothing to any man; but go

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THE LEPER CLEANSED.

thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer |
for thy cleansing those things which Moses \
commanded, for a testimony unto them.” (
The man, however, did not heed what the )
Saviour said to him in this instance. He went
forth and published it, or, as Mark tells us,
‘*began to blaze abroad the matter.”
The consequence was, that multitudes went
to Jesus from every quarter, so that he could
no longer go about the city. He then with-
drew into the desert, but even there they seem
to have followed him. To him who could heal
their bodily ailments, and did it too, without
expense, they were willing to resort in crowds.
The case of the leper evinces the importance
of faith in the goodness of the Saviour. There
is a leprosy of the mind as well as of the body.
Let him who is afflicted with the former imitate
the leper of Galilee, and call for aid from |
above, in the full conviction that the Lord who
hears the sinner’s prayer can make him clean.



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CHRIST HEALING ONE SICK OF
THE PALSY.

“They came unto him bringing one sick of the palsy, which
was borne of four.”—Manrk, chap. ii., verse 3.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.



Jesus having returned to Capernaum, a poor
man who was afflicted with the palsy was
brought to him, being borne into his presence
by four persons. The crowds which his pre-
vious miracles had caused to follow him were
so great, that the friends of the sick man could
not get through to the Saviour; but resolute
to gain their point, they unroofed the house in
which he rested, and let down the bed on
which the sick man was prostrate, from the
top of the building.

This mark of faith in his goodness was gra-
ciously noted by Christ, and he said to the sick
man, ‘‘ Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Certain scribes were sitting near, and took
upon themselves to say, ‘‘ Why doth this man

speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but -

God only ?”
Jesus asked why they reasoned thus, and

whether it was easier to say to the sick of the
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CHRIST HEALING ONE SICK OF THE PALSY.

palsy, ‘‘ Thy sins be forgiven thee,” or to say,
“Arise, and take up thy bed and walk?” Their
looks, or words, doubtless intimated, that the
one might be done, but the other was impos-
sible.

And then, that they might know that the
Son of Man had power on earth to forgive
sins, to convince them that he could do more
than speak, or speak with more effect than
other men, he said, addressing his speech. to
the sick man, ‘‘ Arise, and take up thy bed,
and go thy way into thine house.”

The important word was spoken, and imme-
diately the sufferer, now a sufferer no more,
arose, took up his bed and wert forth before
them all,

This wonderful sight astonished the behold-

ers, and St. Mark adds, they “glorified God.”

All doubt that he who could thus chase disease
before him, came from the Most High, vanished.
They exclaimed, anything like what was then
witnessed they had never seen before. On their
minds no doubt remained. The divine power
was too gloriously displayed not to carry con-
viction to the hearts of those who had dared
at first to declare that the Redeemer uttered
blasphemies.

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CASTING OUT THE UNCLEAN
SPIRITS.

« And forthwith Jesus gave them leave, and the unclean spirits
went out and entered into the swine; and the herd ran
violently down a steep place into the sea (there were about
two thousand,) and were choked in the sea.”—Mark, v. 13.






AFTER THE BirtuH oF CurRisT 30 YEARS.



We find in the Gospel of St. Mark, a won-
derful relation of a miracle wrought by Jesus.
The Evangelist reports, that our Lord being
in the country of the Gadarenes, was met by
one who was troubled with an unclean spirit.
This man, strange to tell, had his dwelling
among the tombs. So disturbed was he in his
mind, that he was very violent, and withal so
strong, that no one could effectually restrain
him, for when bound with chains and fetters,
which would have rendered any other man
helpless, he brake them in pieces.

Night and day this wretched mortal ran
about in a distracted manner, sometimes wan-
dering on the mountains, and at others raving
among the tombs. His cries were loud and
dismal, and he often cut his flesh with sharp
stones.

The poor man seeing the Saviour at a dis-

VOL. II. K 65

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CHRIST CASTING OUT THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS.

tance, ran and worshipped him. Jesus pitying
his distress, commanded the unclean spirit, or
rather the unclean spirits, for there were many,
and their name was Legion, to come out of the
sufferer. His awful voice filled the evil ones
with terror, and they prayed him to let them
take possession of a herd of swine. He per-
mitted them to do so, and and the swine, about
two thousand in number, ran into the sea,
where they were drowned.

The man was happily cured, and was sent
home by Jesus, to make known what the Lord
had done for him. By becoming a devout
worshipper of Christ, a frantic maniac was re-
stored to reason, and his affliction, long deemed
hopeless, was no more.

The sufferer so relieved was but a type of
the man who long pining in spiritual darkness
is at length brought to know the truth. His
happiness is great who feels that his peace
is made; it fades not with the common enjoy-
ments of life, but defies the assaults of age,
sickness, and death.







JOHN THE BAPTIST’S HEAD
BROUGHT IN A CHARGER.

“And immediately the king sent an executioner, and com-
manded his head to be brought; and he went and beheaded
him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger.”—
Manzk, chap. vi., verses 27, 28.



AFTER: THE Birnta OF CuRIst, 80 YEABS.



Joun tHE Baprisr, it has already been seen,
was enabled to make known that the Saviour
of the world was at hand. Austere in his life,
and virtuous in his habits, he zealously opposed
sin, and feared not even to reprove a monarch
who had married the wife of his brother.

The name of the lady was Herodias, and she
was very angry with John for saying what a
sense of duty prompted, and the wicked woman
longed for revenge.

An oportunity soon offered for gratifying her
malice. Her daughter danced before the king,
and he was so immoderately pleased with what

’ he saw, that he told her he would give her any-

thing she might desire, even to the half of his
kingdom. The foolish promise he confirmed

’ with an oath.

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The daughter went to her mother to seek
advice as to what she had better ask, and







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THE BAPTIST’S HEAD BROUGHT IN A CHARGER.

Herodias, thirsting for the blood of the pious
man who had blamed her depravity, desired the
daughter to pray Herod that the head of John
the Baptist might be brought to her.

Upon that she went unto Herod and said,
‘“‘T will that thou give me by and by, in a
charger, the head of John the Baptist.”” Herod
was reluctant to comply with the monstrous
wish, but bound by an oath, he thought he
must not refuse, and accordingly he sent an
executioner to behead the Baptist in prison,
and his head was brought to the damsel, who
gave it to her cruel parent. What frightful
depravity to prefer to a beautiful present, the
ghastly bleeding head of a murdered man!

Beware of rash oaths. Through madly
swearing where no oath was necessary, Herod
was led to stain his hands with the blood of a
pious monitor.

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JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE.

“ When he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he
looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and
gave them to his disciples to set before them, and the two

shes divided he among them all.”—-Mark, chap. vi., verse
41



AFTER THE BIRTH oF CHRIST, 30 YEARS,



Tue wonders wrought by Jesus caused a mul-
titude to follow him. Having withdrawn with
some of his disciples: to a desert, and being thus
attended, the day was nearly spent, and the
crowd were faint and weary.

His disciples proposed sending them away,
that they might buy bread for themselves, but
Christ desired that food should be given to
them. They seemed to raise an objection to
this, and said,.‘‘ Shall we go and buy two hun-
dred pennyworth of bread, and give them to
eat?”

To this question he replied by asking how
many loaves they had, and being answered,
‘“« Five loaves and two fishes,”’ he caused them
to be brought to him; and then commanding
those around to sit down in companies on the
grass, when they were collected in hundreds
and in fifties, ‘‘he looked up to heaven, and
blessed and brake the loaves, and gave them to

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JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE.

his disciples to set before the hungry people,
and the two fishes divided he among them all.”
The multitude, consisting of five thousand
persons, “‘ ate and were filled,” and afterwards
the fragments remaining filled twelve baskets. |
Than this nothing can be more astonishing.
But the Creator who made the loaves and the
fishes, to prove before men the true character
of the Saviour, was. pleased on this oceasion
thus to increase the store of food in his hands..
Christ knew to whom he appealed for aid, and
knew that to his Almighty Father nothing is
» impossible. To entertain a doubt of this is folly..
Was thus furnishing the means of feeding a
multitude, more wonderful than the ereation of
a world? Can it be doubted that the world was
created? Doubting of this, it would puzzle a
scoffer to account for what he sees, and even
for his own existence.




BLIND MAN

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CHRIST RESTORES SIGHT TO
THE BLIND MAN.

“And he cometh to Bethsaida, and they bring a blind man
unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took
‘the blmd man by the hand, and ied him out of the town;
and when le had gpit en his eyes, and put his hands upon
him, he asked him if he saw ought.”—Mark, chap. viii.,
verses 22, 23.

ee
AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 30 YEARS,

——



Ir the Evangelists, in their several narratives,
present some repetitions, they also give im-
portant corroboration of some of those astonish-
ing facts which occurred in.the history of the
Saviour, which, if not necessary, is still not
undesirable.

Ata place called Bethsaida we read a blind
man being brought to Christ was restored to
sight. When thus favoured, in reply to a
question which Jesus put to him, he looked
up, and said he saw men, and to him they ap-
peared like trees walking. ‘‘ The Lord,” after
that, “‘ put his hands again upon his eyes, and
made him look up; and he was restored, and
saw every man clearly.”

The cure being thus perfected, the man was
sent to his home, but with a charge not to tell
of it in the town where he resided.

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CHRIST RESTORES SIGHT TO THE BLIND MEN.

In several cases, where sufferers had been
relieved by the Lord, they were dismissed with
this admonition. Sometimes, in proof of the
power which the Father confided to him,
astonished thousands were permitted to witness
such deeds as never man performed ; at others
the object of the benevolent Jesus was only to
relieve individual distress, to set an example of
doing good in secret.

The imperfect vision of the poor man when
he first gained sight, some able divines have
likened to the mental wanderings which some
Christians have known when first their hearts
were accessible to sacred truth; and the clear-
ness with which he afterwards saw objects as
they really were, to the rapid advances of the
understanding marked in those who continue
to seek truth by the light of Scripture.

ae

Se

ET TT OE IE a aE OA

_

ee SN
(Re eae
PHARISEES.

A P er
i
os i/o ;

Se ee eae

ee

a
—~
—
—
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DISPUTING


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et Ne tt tt etl lat tet th ln tt tl tl tl ett lt et ett tn
ee

{

eae
oe

CHRIST DISPUTING WITH THE
PHARISEES.,

* And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful
for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.”—Mark,
chap. x., verse 2.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.



Tut Pharisees, aself-sufficient body, were much
disposed to treat the Saviour with scorn. To
show their own fancied superiority, they often
engaged him in argument, but the result always
forcibly rebuked their vanity.

They came, St. Mark writes, ‘‘ tempting
him,’”’ when he was in Judea, by inquiring
whether he held it to be “lawful for a man to
put away his wife ?”

Our Lord, in answering these proud and art-
ful men, applied himself to impress upon them,
and upon all men, in what reverence the mar-
riage tie ought to be held.

From the beginning of the world, he told
them, God having created male and female,
designed them to come together, and being
united, it became the duty of a man to “ leave
his father and mother and cleave to his wife.”

Children will not from this understand that
when grown up to be men, they are to desert or

VOL. II. L 73

at HO —~

A

a ee
SOR

ee




CHRIST DISPUTING WITH THE PHARISEES.

treat parents with unkindness. That, the Sa-
viour never taught; but he spoke of the inti-
mate union of man and wife, as above all things
to be respected. ‘‘ Those,” said he, ‘ whom
God hath joined, ‘let no man put asunder.”
Thus delivering himself, Christ meant to
warn men against creating discord between
persons joined in marriage. He wished men to
feel, that to defend, to cherish, and sustain
their wives, was their first duty, a duty with
which no claim ought to be permitted to inter-
fere. It is especially desirable, that from ear-
liest youth this feeling should ‘‘grow with
our growth, and gain strength with our
(

strength.” All who are near to us are to be
loved, but none so steadfastly, none so dearly
as a wife.

Whatever the Pharisees might argue from
the old law, the marriage state was honoured
by the Saviour, and the union declared to
be that which no man ought to seek to dis-
solve.

ae Ne eo











oe



CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE
CHILDREN.

« But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said unto
them (the disciples), Suffer the little children to come unto
me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of
God.”—Manzk, chap. x.,‘verse 14.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.



In most of the scenes in which Christ is seen
with his disciples, the master is distinguished ‘
from the servant not by his proud and stately
carriage, but by his superior gentleness.

This was especially seen on one occasion,
when little children were brought to him, that
he might teach them. His disciples looked on
them with some unkindness, and rebuked or
found fault with those who brought them.

Not such was the conduct of Jesus. We
are distinctly told that he was much displeased
with his disciples, for their churlish behaviour,
and he immediately called to them, ‘‘ Suffer
little children to come unto me, and forbid
them not ;’”’ adding, “for of such is the king-
dom of God.”

Then he took the little ones ‘‘ up in his arms,
put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

Nor was this all, for he taught his followers

75:

SS

Fo a ee a ee —
Ne


PO I







CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN.

that they, if they would enter into God’s king-
dom, must become as little children.. His
words were these: “‘ Verily, verily, I say unto
you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom
of God asa little child, shall not enter therein.”

Intelligent, well-disposed young students
reading this, will kardly need to be told how
largely they are favoured. Can they desire
greater honour, than to know their parents
must become like. children to gain Heaven ?
To preserve the innocence which is_ theirs
should be their anxious care in after life. It is
their duty, and it is beyond all doubt their
interest. They will not neglect it if they
are duly grateful to their divine preceptor.
Let them ever bear in mind the condescending
kindness and love of him who could take chil-
dren in his arms, bless them, and proclaim that
“‘of such is the kingdom of God.”

76

ee ee eee

eee .
TN TR Ne A A NN Le

PON NN ee
en

ee er eee

( eee wo
Se a a Rae aa
LLL
Lae ,y/Y)

et CLL ee:

A

BARTIMGU

TO

















































SIGHT

ING

»

ES TOL

»
\

"HRIST
ON
(oan aaa a aI a ea a a

a a eee eal
a a a ee ae

CHRIST RESTORING SIGHT TO
BARTIMAUS.

“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho
with his disciples and a great number of people, blind

)
(
Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side
begging.”-—-Mark, chap. x., verse 46.
(
(



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.



Tus Son of God having visited Jericho, as he
was leaving that city, attended by his disciples
and followed by a crowd, a beggar, named Bar-
timeus, sat by the highway. He was told
that Jesus of Nazareth was passing, upon
which he raised his voice, and called out,
‘¢ Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy upon
me.”

Many who heard the poor man cry out, told
him to hold his peace ; but he cried the more a
great deal, “Thou Son of David, have mercy
upon me.”

Happy it was for him that he did so, for
Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be
called. Those near Bartimeeus, upon this, bid
him “be of good cheer, for he was called.”

He stood before Christ, who then demanded,
‘“What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?

77

[ppm ec en SS EET
Ne ee

ee a


Le
Dr NS



CHRIST RESTORING SIGHT TO BARTIMZEUS.

The blind man said unto him, “ Lord, that I
might receive my sight.”

The poor beggar was answered as others had
been under somewhat similar circumstances,
‘* Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.”
He then became one of the followers of Jesus.

Great was his happiness to be relieved from the
blindness which he had long deplored, and the
mighty benefit was owing to his resolutely con-
tinuing to call on the Lord. The example set
by Bartimzus is worthy of universal imitation.
Let the sufferer who wants Divine aid, per-
sist humbly and earnestly to press his suit.
It is weakness to suppose the Eternal must
immediately attend at our bidding. We must
patiently, though anxiously wait his good plea-
sure. Though thoughtless men should bid
him hold his peace, or even tell him prayer is
useless, he must not attend to them, but still
call on ‘the Son of David,” in the full con-
viction that he will not always call in vain.

78



ee ae












RS
>.



SN

Sie
Sos

=

sSS














a ae an A mm aan einen

ene

| CHRIST CURSES THE BARREN
FIG-TREE.

“ And seeing a fig tree affar off having leaves, he came, if haply
he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it,
he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not
yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, no man eat fruit
of thee hereafter for ever.” —-Mark, chap. xi., verses 13, 14.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS,

SussectTep to all the wants of humanity, we
read the Son of God, being come from Bethany,
saw a fig-tree, and suffering from hunger, he
approached it, with a view of partaking of its
fruit. When he came to it, he found the tree
was barren. Those who live in modern times, in
great civilized communities, know little of the
necessities which the sons of men experienced
in earlier days. They did not look on rows
of shops, amply stocked with all the necessaries
and luxuries which all the countries on the
face of the globe could furnish, but were obliged
to turn to the fields and the trees for such
a supply as nature, unassisted by skill and
science, might offer, and when these failed, dis-
tressing want, and indeed starvation, stared
them in the face.

Christ saw the fig-tree presented nothing

9

SS ee

a aaa aE

ee
Oa a a NET N aaaaaR DaNIS




1

a







CHRIST CURSES THE BARREN FIG-TREE.

that could satisfy the appetite of man, and then
he doomed the tree to remain in the same state
thenceforth and for ever.

Holy men have laboured to inprove this
incident. The barren fig-tree, which carried
no fruit at the proper season, on which the
cheering beams of the sun, and the refreshing
shower had fallen in vain, they liken to the hu-
man being, who favoured in the course of nature
by all that ought in due time to produce vir-
tuous resolution and good actions, is still found
wanting. On such they have inferred the sen-
tence pronounced against the worthless tree
must fall. A day lost cannot be recalled, and
the consequences may be terrible. This night
thy soul may be required of thee. Having
failed at the right period to give what might be
expected, they are cut off from the hope of
flourishing as they might have done in the time
to come. The wise and pious youth musing
on this will see, that ‘‘ now is the appointed
time,” that the present moment madly ne-
glected, the immortal soul may be lost for ever,

80

Ne I Nee

ne ee
Ne



me ted
ae

en a ee eee oT EO -
aa




tn


i ee ma a ato
SE

—

Ne ee

|
|
|
|
|





CHRIST CASTING OUT THE
MONEY-CHANGERS.

(

“Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that (
sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of /
the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves.” /

—Manzk, chap. x1., verse 15.



APTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.



As we trace the progress of Christ, how often
are we compelled to admire his gentleness,
humility, and benevolence! It is only in this
instance, in the case described in the text
quoted above, that we find him moved to
violence. His was not the wrathful disposition,
nor his the wretchedly irritable nature that
could not mark error without visiting it with
severe resentment; he could patiently rebuke,
mildly admonish, and strive by kindness to
reform.

What was it moved his indignation in this

case? It was, that on coming to Jerusalem,
and entering the Temple, he saw the house of
God profaned by lovers of money. Their greedy
doings caused him to lay aside his usual meek-
ness. With courage and resolution equal to
his goodness, he assailed the worshippers of
gold, and overthrew the tables of some and the

VOL. I. M 8] {

wr Hf




CHRIST CASTING OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS,

seats of others, and several he turned out of
the building. |

The feeling which prompted him was this: |
he knew that men could not serve God and /
Mammon, and disgusted with the movements
of avarice which met his eyes, within walls con- (
secrated to the Lord of all, he scrupled not at
once to put a stop to the unholy traffic, while /
he demanded, “Is it not written, my house (
shall be called of all nations, the house of
prayer?” Adding the sharp reproach, ‘but ye
have made it a den of thieves.”

Yet, notwithstanding this stern reproof of :
such practices, in subsequent years, men who
claimed credit for piety, and proclaimed them- {
selyes followers of Jesus, as eagerly sought
wealth in ‘‘ the house of prayer,” as the money- |
changers did, or the sellers of doves. Surely
some of them must, in their last moments,
have been visited with the keenest pangs of ‘
remorse, for having, so far as in them lay, ‘
made the temple of the Lord little better than
a den of thieves.









THE TRIBUTE MONEY.

«“ And he saith unto them, whose is this image and superscrip-
tion? And they said unto him, Cesar’s..—Mark, chap.
xii, verse 16.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.





Tus great reforms which Christ advocated,
caused many who profited by the abuses which
he anxiously laboured to put down, to plot
against him. That he should condemn their
hypocrisy, interfere with their unholy gains,
and throw them into the shade by the wonderful (
deeds which he performed, were in the eyes of ‘
wicked selfish men, crimes not to be forgiven. }
The reflections he, in his parables, had cast
upon them, made some of them very angry,
and they determined, if they could, to prove that
he was disaffected to the government. Severally
the Pharisees and Herodians were accordingly
moved, to attempt drawing from him some in-
cautious speech, which they might use to his
prejudice, as the foundation of a serious charge
against him. They spake to him in an artful
wheedling manner, and said, ‘‘ Master, we
know that thou art true and carest for no man, |
for thou regardest not the person of men, but
teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful
R3

ee
SS




raat



THE TRIBUTE MONEY.

to give tribute to Cesar or not? Slall we ;
give, or shall we not give ?”

Jesus saw the object of these treacherous
men, through their pretended admiration.
“Why,” said he, tempt ye me? Bring mea
penny, that I may see it.”

One was brought to him, and looking at
the coin, he then asked whose image and super-
scription it bore? They could do no other
than answer, ‘“Cesar’s.”” ‘Then,’ he re-
plied, ‘‘ Render unto Cesar the things that are
Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”’

This answer confounded those who had
sought to ensnare him. The tribute the Sa-
viour claimed for God, was not what was ne-
cessary to the splendour of a worldly monarch.
His followers, while they worship the King of
Kings, do not cease to be loyal subjects to
those whom it has been his good pleasure to
set in authority over them. To Cesar they
give what is due to Cesar, to the Almighty
what belongs to God.

TEE EO Ee
pee


POLL




OI TN TT
I

THE WIDOW’S MITE.

“Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the
people cast money into the treasury: and many that were
rich cast in much.”—-Mark, chap. xii., verse 41.



APTER THE Birt or Cnrist, 31 YEARS.



Tue simple and affecting incident connected
with the widow’s mite, has been admired by
many generations of men. While Jesus re-
mained in Jerusalem, his attention was drawn
to those who threw money into the treasury.

It appears that the rich gave liberally, but
there came a certain poor widow, and she only
threw in two mites, which made.a farthing.

The offering was poor, in a worldly point ot
view, but our Lord calling to his disciples,
spake to them, thus: ‘‘ Verily, I say unto you,
that this poor widow hath cast more in than
all which they have cast into the treasury ;
for all they did cast in of their abundance; but
she, of her want, did cast in all that she had,
even all her living.”

By this striking commentary, we are taught
God is not a sordid Deity, who covets what
mortals deem wealth, and finds no offering
acceptable but that which is costly and superb.
The tribute which the meanest, poorest, man,

85

Tn ee



|
!
|
!
:

cre a,


aga a IE a Seana a as tanec aaa aceon |

THE WIDOW’S MITE.
woman, or child can render, however small its
)
\
)



monetary value, bearing a just proportion to
the giver’s means—if it be an offering from the
heart—will not be scorned. The two mites of
the poor widow, as they were all she had, were
held by Christ to be of more value than the
showy donations of her wealthy neighbours ;
and if, as a modern writer remarks, the be-
reaved one had only been able to offer a tear,
(compassionating another’s woe) it would have
been deemed sufficient to recommend her to the
favourable notice of Divine benevolence.

The Searcher of all hearts sees the acting
motives of men. Does pomp make a showy
offering? That is not charity. The unas-
suming humility which gives without a thought
of praise, is that which gains the approving
smile of God.

ee een TL
a ee et

nai


JERUSALEM HATH SINNED.

“ And Jesus answering, said unto him, seest thou these great
buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another,
that shall not be thrown down.”—Mark, chap. xiii. verse 2.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.

JerusaLem had sinned, and a heavy doom im-
pended over the guilty city. The Saviour
knew how forgetful of God the ungrateful Jews
had been, and he also knew that it must be
severely visited by Almighty wrath.

He looked on the proud structures, which
seem to have moved the admiration of his dis-
ciples, and told them that all its splendour
would soon be no more.

Sitting on the Mount of Olives, over against
the temple, he gazed in solemn meditation on
the scene before him, and then instructed his
disciples what should be seen in future days.

Peter, John, James, and Andrew, were with
him, and he warned them, that impostors would
appear and declare that they were the promised
Messiah. Further, he announced to them, that
there would be ‘“ wars and rumours of wars;”’
that ‘‘ kingdom should rise up against kingdom,
and nation against nation ;” that there should
be ‘‘earthquakes in divers places,” and there

87

Se

Eee




he added, “shall not be yet.”

These were awfully-startling prophecies, but
who shall say they have not been fulfilled? |
Artful men and madmen have, at different
periods, endeavoured to impose upon mankind,
by impiously pretending that they were sent to |
save the world, each declaring himself to be the
Son of God; thus sinning against truth, and
seeking to dishonour Christ.

Wars have raged, earthquakes have been |
witnessed, famines and troubles have been de- |
plored, but ‘‘the end is not yet.”” These dread
events ought to be borne in mind. Religion
calls on reason to listen to their admonishing |
voice. They verify what was foretold, and
should warn both old and young, how dreadful (
are the visitations sent by an outraged Deity,
that they may not neglect those observances |

: which Scripture teaches will recommend them
{
)

| JERUSALEM HATH SINNED.
! shall be famine and trouble, “but the end,”

to his mercy and his love.


POURED
CHRIS'T

’
4

SNT
) |

IS OINTM]
HEAD ¢

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PRECIOUS OINTMENT POURED
ON THE HEAD OF CHRIST.

« And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he
sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box
of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the
vox, and poured it on his head.”—Mark, chap. xiv.,
verse 3.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 33 YEABS.



Wurte the chief priests and others sought to
compass the destruction of the Saviour, a
female in Bethany, moved by pity for his dan-
ger, or by admiration of his goodness, or pro-
bably by both, came and poured some precious
ointment on his head.

Upon seeing this, some of those who were
about him, remarked indignantly on the waste,
so they termed it, thus committed, remarking,
that ‘‘it might have been sold for more than
three hundred pence, and have been given to
the poor,” and they murmured against the
woman for what she had done.

‘“Then,” said Jesus, ‘‘ Let her alone; why
trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work
on me. For ye have the poor with you always,
and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good:
but me ye have not always. She has done

VOL. Il. N 89












what she could; she is come aforehand to
anoint my body to the burying.”

If, for a moment, we pause to reflect how
great, how glorious, how good, and withal how
mournfully distressed the Saviour was at that
period, oh! who would think that any ointment,
however precious, would be wasted if poured on
that august and sacred head !

‘Verily, I say unto you,’’ Christ then said,
‘“‘wheresoever this gospel shall be preached
throughout the whole world, this also, that
she hath done, shall be spoken of for a me-
morial of her.”

And true the Saviour’s words have proved.
More than eighteen hundred years have passed
since the incident, and still the kindly feeling
this woman evinced almost in the last sad hours
of the Saviour’s mortal existence, when she
anointed him for the grave, is remembered and
honoured in every Christian land. No wealth
could have purchased fame like that which has
rewarded her reverential tenderness.






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DISCIPLE

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SLEEPING.

“And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto
Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one (
hour? Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation.” (
—Mankk, chap. xiv., verses 37, 38.

JESUS FINDS THE DISCIPLES '
AFTER THE Birtu or CHRIST, 33 YEARS.

Deepty affecting is the narrative which St.
| Mark gives of the last moments of the Saviour. 7
Those moments were sad indeed ; nor can we |/
wonder the afflicted Redeemer should desire, if ‘
it might be, that the approaching dread inflic-
tion might be spared.

Every thing that could disturb his mind was ¢
supplied by the painful circumstances which —
surrounded him. He knew that his blood was »
to be shed, that he was pursued by unrelenting |
) enemies, and surrounded by treacherous or by -
timid, faint-hearted friends. By one he was
about to be betrayed, by a second he was to be ,
denied, and others were not so concerned for /
their Divine preceptor, but in his hour of bitter
agony they could compose themselves to sleep.

Peter, James, and John had accompanied him;
to the garden named Gethsemane. Jesus di- /
rected them to sit there, and watch while he

ST

ene neat



91

NN



Comair ene ae
SN ee





CE



JESUS FINDS THE DISCIPLES SLEEPING,

} prayed. Had they duly attended to him, and
/ given notice of the approach of those who
| sought his life, the sacrifice might at least have
been delayed.

) He went forward a little, and prayed “that
' if it were possible the hour might pass from
him,” but still wishing that God’s will should
) be done; when turning to his disciples, he
/ found them asleep. To Peter he addressed
these mild but cutting questions. ‘‘ Simon,
’ sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one
(| hour?” He added—* Watch ye and pray, lest
ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is
( ready, but the flesh is weak.”

(Still negligent of duty, a second and a third
time the doomed Jesus found the disciples
0 sleeping. This sorely tried his patience, and
( provoked the mournful reproach, ‘‘Sleep on
: now, and take your rest, for the son of man is
' betrayed.” Immediately afterwards, the armed
; men brought to the garden by Judas, “laid
«. their hands on him and took him.”

( Young hearts, awake to feeling, and true to
7 nature, must compassionate the Saviour, and
) blame the sleepy disciples; let them see that
i. they keep awake, ‘‘and watch and pray, lest ))
: they enter into temptation.”
i 92

Cow ee ee ee
a a OI EE SEE






aa”
ae

27
=












JESUS BROUGHT BEFORE THE HIGH PRLEST




JESUS TAKEN BEFORE THE
HIGH PRIEST.

“And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with
him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and
the scribes.”--MaRkK, chap. xiv., verse 53.



AFTER THE BirTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



Wuen wretched men suffer themselves to be
moved by envy, and carried away by malice,
their progress in wickedness, is commonly
very great. The enemies of the Saviour,
astonished at the wonderful things he did,
confounded by his powerful reasoning, and
worse than that, shamed by his blameless
conduct and unbending virtue, were more bitter
against him than ever; and at length, moved
by Judas, they made him a prisoner.

When Jesus found himself surrounded by
men armed with swords and staves, he de-
manded of them if they had come out, as
against a thief, to take him? Without an-
swering, they led him away to the palace of
the high priest.

The chief priest, the elders, and the
scribes, were all assembled there. They sought
for witnesses whose evidence might justify them

|
:
|
|
|


a



JESUS TAKEN BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST.

in putting Jesus to death, but they could dis-
cover none. They indeed found wicked men
ready to depose against him, but, as_ will
always happen to those who are so depraved as
to tell falsehoods of an innocent person, ‘their
witness agreed not together;’’

The high priest then questioned Jesus him-
self, and asked ‘‘ art thou the Christ, the Son
of the Blessed ?”

What an answer did this call forth—it was
startling; it was grand; it was sublime!
Christ said, ‘‘I am, and ye shall see the Son
of Man sitting on the right hand of power,
and coming in the clouds of Heaven.”

The high priest pretended to be shocked at
the wickedness of Christ. He rent his clothes,
and said, ‘‘ What need we any further witnesses?
Ye have heard the blasphemy; what think
ye?” The high priest was of course a man
of great influence. All present in the council
agreed with him, that Jesus had spoken blas-
phemy, and condemned him to death.

The worst passions of men have often been
indulged, under pretence of punishing unhappy
persons said to have sinned against the majesty
of Heaven. He takes upon himself a fearful
responsibility, who punishes that of which God
alone can judge.

94



~~ N



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BADE M PROPHESY





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) THEY BADE HIM PROPHESY.

“‘Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to
buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy : and the servants
did strike him with the palms of their hands.”—Manrk,
chap. xiv., verse 65.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 31 YEARS.



| Arrer the appeal of the high priest, the
decree against our Saviour was pronounced,
‘ and impious mortals prepared to deal with the
| blameless captive in their. hands, as if he
| had been proved to be the greatest possible
offender against Divine and human laws; the
vilest of the vile.
| Such had been the Saviour’s whole career,
that it might have been expected those who
coveted his death, that a powerful reformer
might be removed out of their way, would have
) desired that it should be accomplished as
gently as possible. The opposite of this was
witnessed.
’ No indignity was judged too monstrous to
) be offered to him who had been gentleness
and love personified. Some began to spit on
him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him,
and to say unto him “Prophesy.” By that
they meant to invite him to prophesy what
95

a
z ee
emenees eT ee ae Ng gt gat a










THEY BADE HIM PROPHESY. |
their barbarity would presently undertake ;
and to this startling mockery, they added the
outrage of letting ‘‘ the servants strike him with |
the palms of their hands.”

Such were the wrongs endured by the Son |
of the Most High! Such was the mad, the |
shameful conduct of those he came to save!

The mighty sacrifice Christ was content to
make, to effect the redemption of sinners,
it will be seen was rendered so appalling,
that an additional pang imagination could
scarcely suggest... He was mocked with scof-
fing speeches, spit upon, and struck by base
hands; and all this before the punishment
to which he had been cruelly doomed, was
considered to have commenced. The exe-
cution on the cross was horrible; but this
was not all Christ had to endure. An exile
from the realms of light, he had to suffer
through a mortal life all the ills of poverty
and scorn. Had the cup—the last bitter
draught, been allowed to pass from him; had
he never been crowned with thorns, nailed to
the cross, cr pierced with a spear, he might
still have been correctly described as ‘‘a man
of sorrow, acquainted with grief.”

eee Ee ee
———_—=&[_$_=—





4



PETER’S REPENTANCE.

“And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind
the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow
twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought
thereon, he wept.” —Mank, chap. xiv., verse 72,



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



In those moments of sadness when the mighty
sacrifice which Christ came to make for the
immortal benefit of man, was advancing to

( completion, when sorrows fast accumulated on
the devoted Redeemer, when many, regarding
him as an impious cheat, thought no insult too
gross, no outrage too cruel to be offered to the
lamb destined for slaughter, Peter declared

| that, however the rest of mankind were affected,
though all beside should join to desert or

| betray, he would remain faithful, and never
shrink from duty. Christ knew him to be
sincere, but he also knew him to be frail, and
predicted with respect to the too-confident dis-
ciple, that before the cock should crow twice,
he would deny his suffering master thrice.

All this took place. Peter wished to escape
observation, when a female recognised him, and
said, ‘Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.”
That which ought to have been then, and

VOL. II. 97



en,




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RN ee eee + Lee =.

Pu.



PETER’S REPENTANCE.

which was afterwards, his glory, he wanted
courage and magnanimity to avow. He de-
clared that he knew not what the speaker
meant. Then the cock crew. Twice after-
wards, with little variation, he did the same,
(( and falsely declared that “he knew not the
man” thus pointed at by the finger of scorn.

The cock crew a second time, and the err-
ing follower of the Lord, recalled with shame
and sorrow the words which his persecuted
master had addressed to him. With grief and
shame he saw how mournfully he had wan-
dered from duty, and he wept.

Bitter, most bitter, must have been his
reflections at that moment. Christ had de-
clared that those who were ashamed of him
) here, he would not acknowledge in his father’s
kingdom. The disciple felt that to escape the
| contempt, or it might be the cruelty of the
world, he had risked the loss of heaven and
() everlasting happiness.

The conduct of Peter should teach the true
| believer to be humble. He must not be too
confident in his own strength. ‘‘ Let him who

standeth take heed lest he fall.” Peter wept,
| and well might he weep for his fault; but his
, repentance, prompt and sincere, saved him.

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LED TO BEAR THE CROSS.

“And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by,
coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and
! Rufus, to bear his cross."—-Mark, chap. xv., verse 21.
}

SIMON, THE CYRENIAN, COMPEL.
(

AFTER THE Birtu OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS,

\

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(

Tue youthful student, who owns the pious and

( sensible wish to possess himself in early life of

( Christian knowledge, cannot too carefully or

‘ too often turn his attention to the sufferings of

! the Saviour in the latter days of his earthly
course. Such information is, under any cir-

( cumstances, exceedingly desirable. It will

‘ teach the unfortunate submission to the will

" of the Eternal, in every imaginable situation.

; Many sufferers condemned to die have derived

« the sweetest consolation, from tracing in the

history of Jesus .

(

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“The path he marked for us to trea
And what he’s doing for us now.”

Ne

His example, while persecuted by men, has
given them courage, as his promises have sup-

FN NN

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, Plied them with more than heavenly hope, with
i a blessed assurance that a short course of
sorrow, would introduce them to eternal joy.
The narrative of St. Mark shows that when |
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SIMON COMPELLED TO BEAR THE CROSS,

Christ was charged with declaring himself King
of the Jews, he returned no answer. On a
certain festive occasion it was customary to
give liberty to one who had been imprisoned.
Pilate now offered to release Jesus, or to Jet
loose @ murderer named Barabbas, who had
been implicated in some recent insurrectionary
movement. Pilate rashly concluded that the
people generally, were not so misled, but
they would prefer the blameless Nazarite
being set at large, to sparing a rebel assassin
the just punishment of his guilt. Their deci-
sion was contrary to what he expected, and
Barabbas was allowed to go free, while Christ
having first been scourged, was handed over to
them to be crucified. He was in mockery
clothed in purple, and a crown of thorns was
placed on his sacred head. The tormentors
then spit upon, smote him with a cane or reed,
and this cruel sport concluded, they led him
out to die.

Jesus was sinking beneath the weight of the
cross, which he had been made to carry, and
it was only then, when he could sustain the
burden no longer, that one Simon, a Cyrenian,
was compelled to undertake it.

Such were some of the indignities and pains
submitted to by Christ for man’s redemption.

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VINEGAR GIVEN TO CHRIST ON
THE CROSS.

“One ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it ona
reed, and gave him to drink.”—-Mark, chap. xv., verse 36,



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CURIST, 33 YEARS,



TuE unrelenting foes of Jesus, who took him
from the presence of Pilate in order to put him
to death, having forced the Cyrenian to carry
the instrument of punishment which the victim
had not strength left to bear, soon reached
Golgotha, ‘‘ which is, being interpreted, the
place of a skull.” Here the only movement
that seems to bear the impress of tenderness
or pity towards the destined victim, was wit-
nessed, and we are told ‘“‘they gave him to
drink wine mingled with myrrh.” It is, how-
ever, added, ‘‘but he received it not.”
Throughout the final scene the Jews mani-
fested no other touch of compassion. They cru-
cified the Lord between two thieves, and even
when they saw the form of Jesus suspended
from the cross, while he experienced insufferable
torture, ‘they that passed by railed on him,
wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that
destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three
101

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days, save thyself, and come down from the
cross.” Likewise also the chief priests mock-
ing, said among themselves with the scribes,
‘“‘ He saved others, himself he cannot save.”

Not all the insults they had offered, nor all
the wrongs they had inflicted on the bleeding
form of Jesus, seem to have exhausted the
malice of his foes. ‘‘ King of Israel,’ they
cried with heartless derision, ‘‘ descend now
from the cross, that we may see and believe.”
While he was thus mocked, the sixth hour
arrived, and darkness, unlooked-for darkness,
came over the land, as if nature herself could
no longer endure a spectacle so awful. The
gloom thus thrown over the scene, continued
during three hours. Christ, in the extremity
of his woe exclaimed, quoting a Psalm, ‘‘My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!”
When he had thus spoken one ran and filled a
spunge with vinegar that he might drink.
Even in that moment the taunting cry which
had been raised before was repeated.

Death now relieved Jesus from mortal suf-
ferings. He heard no more the wretched jeers
of exulting tormentors. The sacrifice he came
to make, a fearful one to contemplate, was
completed.

162

VINEGAR GIVEN TO CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

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JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAA BEGS
THE BODY OF JESUS.

“ Joseph of Arimathewa, an honourable counsellor, which also
waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly
unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”—Manrk, chap.
xv., verse 43.



ALTER THE FIRTH oF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.

Tue last agonies of the Saviour of the world,
were witnessed by some compassionate women,
and when at length his sufferings terminated
with his life, they, with a gentleness appropriate
to their sex, were anxious to give the loved
remains of him whom they could not save from
death, funereal honours.

Moved by their distress, and perhaps by their
entreaties, Joseph of Arimathea, a good and
worthy man, who we are told ‘“ waited for the
kingdom of God,”’ and doing so was, it is not
hazarding much to conclude, assured of the
true character of Jesus, presented himself boldly
before Pilate, and craved that the remains of
the sufferer might be handed over to him for
interment. This application caused the go-
vernor to experience some surprise, as he
supposed the tortures of Christ on the cross,

had not so soon reached their close. He, how-
103



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JOSEPH BEGS THE BODY OF JESUS.

ever, enquired of the centurion, who was near
at hand, if such were the case, and, satisfied on
that point, he granted the prayer of Joseph.

This favour obtained, the latter did all that
kindness and veneration could suggest in
honour of the dead. He caused the body to
be wrapped in fine linen, surrounded it with
costly new spices, and then had it deposited
in his own new tomb, and placed a great stone
over the mouth thereof.

The anxious care of Joseph that the rites of
sepulture should be duly attended to, in the
case of the Saviour, proves that he knew how
to admire the excellence of his conduct while
he deigned to sojourn among the sons of men.
We cannot but wonder that any one should
have failed to do so.

It should be the anxious desire of those who
read this, to guard against copying the sad
error of the Jews in regard to the Redeemer.
Let them covet in all things so far as in them
lies, to honour him. Joseph seeing but a
ghastly unconscious corpse, desired to offer all
that tender sympathy could supply. What
then ought Christians to feel who know that
he has risen again, and know that in all their
sorrows they may look to him for succour! He
can save them, even from themselves.

104

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AN ANGEL PROCLAINS THE RESURRECTION OF

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AN ANGEL PROCLAIMS THE RE.
SURRECTION OF JESUS.

“He saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of
Nazareth, which was crucified: he is not here: behold the
place where they laid him.”—-Mark, chap. xvi., verse 6.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.



Arrection loves to visit the tomb which has
received the mortal remains of those we loved
in life. The two Marys, now that Jesus was
consigned to the grave, took sweet spices to |
anoint him. They wanted strength to remove
the stone which covered the mouth of the ‘
sepulchre, ‘‘and who,” they in sadness ex- |
claimed, ‘‘ shall roll away the stone?”

But their pious care was soon at an end.
They looked and they saw that the stone was
already rolled away. Minds awake to the su-
perintending goodness which watches over the
path of the faithful worshipper, often find, while
journeying through life, that the difficulty
which they had feared would be great, almost
too much for them to grapple with, has been
removed by a kind Providence, without any
effort being required on their part. They saw
with melancholy satisfaction, that the tomb
was open to them, but what must have been

VOL. I. P 105



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a







AN ANGEL PROCLAIMS CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.

their amazement to hear, how great their delight,
when they were informed, by one who though
presented to them in the form of a ‘‘ young
man clothed in white,’’ had in his air and
countenance that which told he was of celestial
origin, and when they heard from angel lips,
the glad sounds, that the Christ whom they
mourned was no longer a tenant of the grave,
but had risen to glorious everlasting life.

Theirs was a joy not selfish. In the
marvellous consummation it was theirs to hail,
in that important hour, the Marys might
rejoice that they had indeed seen the Lord’s
salvation, and the salvation of all mankind.
They saw that “the last enemy” had been
conquered. Christ rising from the dead proved
that man is born for immortality, and that
those the angel of peace calls away are not
lost for ever. Thenceforward their strain
might be—

“Oh! weep not for the friends that pass

Into the lonesome grave,

As breezes sweep the withered grass

long the restless wave ;

For though thy pleasures may depart,
And darksome days be given,

And lonely though on earth thou art,

Yet bliss awaits the holy heart,
When friends rejoin in heaven.”

106



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CHRIST APPEARING

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CHRIST APPEARING TO MARY.

“ Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had
cast seven devils,”"—-Mark, chap. xvi., verse 9.



Te



AFTER THE BirtH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS,



a eee

Ir must strike every one at first as strange that
the Jews should have been so wanting to them-
selves as not to rejoice in the high honour
conferred on them, as well as the mighty, the
. everlasting benefit offered to all, by the appear-
» ance of the Son of God among them. The
' pious and generous young mind, cannot dwell
_ on the great event without feeling that Christ’s
, advent ought to have given them unmixed
delight, and surprise will naturally be felt that
they could be so blind as not to welcome the
divine visitor with transports of joy.

But the Jews of that period were under the
control of their priests; and these, forgetful of
the solemn duties which attached to the sacred
functions they had taken upon themselves, ,
thought more of preserving the good things of ,;
this world, which they already plentifully en- (
) joyed, than of celebrating the approach of him

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who was to conduct mankind to a better. Hence
they were incredulous when they were told of

107

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his disciples, after beholding him put to death,

» wanting to re-establish their faith, but these
_ were, in mercy, soon supplied.

)



anata ean

CHRIST APPEARING TO MARY,

Jesus and his miracles. They treated all the
reports which reached them, notwithstanding
their truth was vouched for by thousands, with
scorn, and denounced them as wretched false-
hoods.

They took great care to guard against the
body being removed, as they feared it might be
carried off by his disciples, and that by their
means it might go forth that he had risen
from the dead, as had been predicted. Allthe ;
precautions they could use, however, proved
vain. On the third day the Saviour left the
sepulchre, and appeared to Mary Magdalene. |
She made known what she had seen, but even

|
\



and hearing him spoken of as a deceiver,
doubted the truth of her statement. They,
‘‘when they heard that he was alive, and had
been seen of her, believed not.’”’ After that he
appeared to two of them, but still the residue
did not believe what they told.

This unbelief prevailed even among those
who might have been expected to prove least
accessible to doubt. Further proofs were

108

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CHRIST APPEARS TO HIS DIS-
CIPLES.

“ Afterwards he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat,
and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of
heart, because they believed not them which had seen him
after he had risen.”—-Makk, chap. xvi., verse 14.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 83 YEARS,



Txose to whom the Saviour appeared after his
crucifixion, failed not to report what they had
seen, but they could not obtain credence. That
the dead should rise again seemed impossible.

To put an end to all disputes on this im-
portant subject, Jesus condescended to appear
to eleven of his disciples ‘‘ as they sat at meat.”
Such an apparition must have astonished them
all; but that they saw Jesus of Nazareth, who
had been crucified, none of them could doubt.

He spoke to them. He reproved their un-
belief and hardness of heart, as shown in their
not giving credit to the relations previously
made to them.

Christ then gave his disciples an important
charge. ‘Go ye,” he said, ‘‘into all the
world, and preach the word to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptised, shall be
saved, but he that believeth not shall be

109

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CHRIST APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES.

damned.” He added, ‘‘ And these signs shall
follow them that believe: in my name shall
they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new
tongues ; they shall take up serpents, and if
they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt
them ; they shall jay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover.’

‘« The artifice,” says D’Tsraeli, “‘ practised by
Rabbinical Judaism, which finally terminated in
-Talmudical edicts, was to treat the sacred code
as prodigal of mystic secrets hidden in a phrase,
or hanging on a single word, possibly on a par-
ticular letter, to be. applied in a sense literal,
or symbolical, or anagogical. Hence they tell
us there is not even a letter in the law on
which huge mountains are not suspended.
These are the Alps on Alps of the Talmud.”
When Jesus told the disciples to preach his
gospel to all the world, to every creature, he
did not encumber them with any of this Rab-
binical machinery. His word was to be com-
municated in all its beautiful simplicity. To
teach humility and love, to instruct men in
what they owed to the eternal author of their
being, to teach them to do as they would be
done by, and to love one another, that was the
commission which, on his rising from the
tomb, his disciples received from Christ.

110

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ST

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THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was re-
ceived up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
~—MaRkK, chap. xvi., verse 19.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 33 YEARS.

Ir is painful to trace the progress of the Sa-
viour, from its bringing before us so much of
the weakness and wickedness of men. But the
close of his eventful story, sublimely images
what he has taught us to hope for ourselves.
After being reviled, smote, spit upon, and in
various ways tortured, the grand result at last
bursts on us with celestial brightness, and we
find, having left the grave to which, by the care
of Joseph of Arimathza, he was consigned, and
instructed his disciples to ‘‘ preach the gospel
in all the world,” he was at length received into
heaven, the home of his Eternal Father, and
seated on the right hand of God!

The momentous revelation thus made to us,
interesting in itself, is full of glorious promise
to all the pious. How soothing is the thought
suggested by the life of the Saviour, his suffer-
ings, and his passage to heaven! Great as the
wrongs which he received at the hands of the
sons of men had been, awful as his trials were,

111

ee eee eee
Re Ee eee




THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

they bear no comparison to the unending bliss
which, his mighty task performed, was reserved
for him above the sky.

Ought not this to cheer and to sustain the

humblest of his followers? Seems not a voice |
from above to say—‘ Pale sufferer in this vale ,

of tears, sorrow presses thee down, time has
blanched thine hair, so much of it as remains
to thee! thine eyes. are dim, thy tottering
limbs can scarcely sustain thy faded form! age
and poverty depress thy spirits, cruel men de-
vour thy substance, and threaten thy life! yet
still this day of affliction, thou mayest be as-
sured, shall pass away, and the present dark-
ness be succeeded by ‘ marvellous light.’ The
gloom of the grave leads but to heavenly glory,
and thou, in the presence of him who hast re-
deemed thee, shalt rise superior to the world
and all its scorn, its griefs and afflictions, to
know blessed repose in ‘the bosom of thy
father and thy God.’ ”




ZACHAL

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THE ANGEL APPEARING TO
ZACHARIAS.

« And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing
on the right side of the altar of incense.”—LUKE, chap. i,
verse 11,



Zacuartias, a priest, who lived in the time of
Herod, king of Judea, had a wife of the race
of Aaron. They were both righteous people
before God, observing his ordinances, and of
blameless life. They had been married many
years, and had no child ; and becoming old they
expected no offspring.

One day Zacharias went to the temple to
offer incense. A multitude of people were
there, ‘praying, when suddenly an angel from
heaven appeared on the right side of the altar.
The priest saw the glorious stranger, and dread
came over him, but he was soon comforted, as
the angel called to him not to fear, for the
prayer which he in former days had addressed
to the Most High, was heard, and long as
he had waited in vain it would still be granted.
His wife Elisabeth would give birth to a son,
and call him John. ‘“ He,” it was added by
the heavenly messenger, ‘‘ should be a source of
joy and gladness, and many would rejoice in

VOL. Il, Q 113



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ne ee!

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THE ANGEL APPEARING TO ZACHARIAS,

his birth,” for ‘‘ great in the sight of the Lord,”
and ‘filled with the Holy Ghost,’ he should
cause many to turn to the Lord their God.

Other biessed effects, it was added, should
result from his ministry. The astonished
Zacharias could hardly believe what he heard,
though it came from the lips of an angel.

His doubts were soon removed. ‘‘I,” said
the stranger, ‘‘am the angel Gabriel, who
stands in the presence of: God, and am sent to
announce the glad tidings.”’

He added, Zacharias should from that time
remain dumb, because he had doubted, till
what was announced came to pass.

When Zacharias went forth he was speech-
less. The people looked on him with amaze-
ment, but dumb he remained till his wife,
Elisabeth, became a mother.

The child, according to the command, was
called John, since known in the religious
world as John the Baptist.

Nothing is impossible to the Almighty.
Prayer, though it may not be immediately
answered, if offered in the spirit of true de-

votion, will procure blessings from above, for |
which weak mortals, wanting faith, could not |

presume to hope.

114

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THE ANGEL APPEARING TOC THE
VIRGIN MARY.

“ The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee
named Nezareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name
was Mary.”—-LUKE, chap. i., verses 26, 27.





Great and extraordinary was the announce-
ment of the bith of John the Baptist, but
something still more extraordinary, stiil more
glorious was to follow. The angel Gabriel
came again to earth, and appeared to the
Virgin Mary, the youthful wife of a man
named Joseph, who dwelt in Nazareth, a city
of Galilee. He came and addressed her thus :
‘* Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord
is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

A mortal being cannot gaze on immortality
without awe. Gracious as the speech of the
angel was, it caused Mary to experience infinite
alarm. He however went on to declare that
she had found favour with God, and should.be-
come the mother of a son who should ke
named Jesus, and called ‘“‘the Son of the
Highest.”” He added, ‘‘and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father
David: and he shall reign over the house of

115

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THE ANGEL APPEARING TO THE VIRGIN MARY.

Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall
be no end.”

Mary, wondering at what she heard, was at
a loss to imagine how these things could be
brought about, when she was informed that
‘the power of the Highest’ would overshadow
her, and that the infant to which she was
to give birth must be called the Son of God.

Further, the angel mentioned that her
cousin Elisabeth, who had long been childless,
would bear a son. “For,” said he, “‘ with God
nothing shall be impossible.’’

Mary, after this important revelation, could
no longer doubt. What her feelings must have
been at finding a lot so distinguished was re-
served for her, no language can tell. She re-
ceived the tidings with pious joy, and sub-
missively replied to the angel, ‘‘ Behold the
handmaid of the Lord ; be it unto me according
to thy word.”

When Mary had thus intimated her gra-
titude and her hope, the angel departed from
her.

In her case, as in that of Elisabeth, we see
the will and over-ruling power of the Eternal
can be governed by no circumstances that ordi-
narily regulate the fortunes of men.

116

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ELISABETH VISITED BY MARY.

‘* Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with
haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of
Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. "LUKE, chap. i, verses
39, 40.

Arter the astonishing revelation made to the
Virgin Mary by the angel Gabriel, she visited
Elisabeth. She was probably moved to do this,
in consequence of learning from the speech of
her celestial visitor that her cousin was also
fargely favoured by the Almighty, though not
to the same extent as herself.

If any doubt lingered on her mind, in regard
to that which at first seemed so hard of belief,
it must have been dismissed when she saw
Elisabeth, for the latter no sooner heard her
salutation, than she felt like one inspired in an
extraordinary degree, and in the language of
the Evangelist, “she was filled with the Holy
Ghost,” and with an air of joyous congratula-
tion, using the exact words of the angel, ‘“‘ she
spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed
art thou among women.’

Elisabeth then exulted in the honour con-
ferred upon her by Mary; seeing, as she
expressed herself, ‘“‘that the mother of her

Lord should come to her.”’
117



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ELISABETH VISITED BY MARY.

(

)

| She indulged in other reflections of the like

) gratifying character. ‘‘ My soul,” she ex-

( claimed, “doth magnify the Lord, my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

‘*For he,” she added, ‘‘ hath regarded the
low estate of his handmaiden, for behold from
henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed.”

| We see here that Mary had a distinct view
of the honour in which her name would be

/ held in all time to come. She rejoiced in
the great things that ‘‘ he that is mighty’’ had
done to her; she rejoiced in knowing that he
had “‘ scattered the proud in the imagination of
their hearts,” had ‘put down the mighty from
their seats, and exalted them of low degree,”
while he had “ filled the hungry with good
things and sent the rich empty away,”

Occupied with these heavenly musings, we
see the mercy and the goodness of God, filled
Mary with pious and delightful anticipations,
and made her truly ‘‘ Blessed among women.”



: THE INFANT ST. JOHN.
“ The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the

deserts till the day af his shewing unto Israel.”—-LuKE, chap.
i, verse 80.



AFTER THE Dirvu oF Curist. 4 YEARS.



Tue Virgin Mary remained with her cousin
Elisabeth, during three months, and till she
brought forth a son.

Thus was fulfilled the prophecy or announce-
ment made by tke angel Gabriel to Zacharias
and Elisabeth. When the time to name the
child arrived, it was proposed that he should
be called ‘‘ Zacharias, after the name of his
father.” To that his mother opposed herself,
and said, ‘‘ he shall be called John.”

Her speaking thus, caused some surprise to
be expressed by friends about her. It was cus-
tomary in that country, as it is now in England,
to give an infant the name of his father or
of some near relation, and it was remarked to
Elisabeth, that none of her kindred were known
by the name which she wished her child to
bear. Indeed considerable resistance was of-
fered to her wish, and signs were made to
Zacharias, that he might decide the question
which had been raised.

119

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THE INFANT ST. JOHN.

The aged priest, it will be remembered, was
bereft of speech from the time when the angel
appeared to him. He now signified that he
wished a writing-table to be brought to him,
which being done, he wrote on it, ‘‘ His name
is John.”

This caused surprise to those who stood by, |
but greater amazement still was witnessed,
when on a sudden, he, who had so many
months been dumb, suddenly found his
“tongue loosed.”

The priest Zacharias made use of the organ
so miraculously withdrawn, and so happily
restored, by praising God. He raised his voice
and cried, ‘‘ Blessed be the Lord God of Is-
rael, for he hath visited and redeemed his
people.” He rejoiced in the promised mercy
of the Lord, while with more than the fondness
of a father, even with the prescience of a holy
prophet, he pronounced that John should “ go
before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways;
to give light to them that sit in darkness and
in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet
into the way of peace.”

Such were the expectations raised and
speedily fulfilled in the case of the infant St.
John.

120










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NATIVITY

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~——

THE NATIVITY.

“ And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him
in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn.”—-Luxk, chap. ii., verse 7.



Tuar great event in the history of the world,
the birth of Jesus Christ, as recorded by St.
Luke, is brought before us in so familiar a
style, that it has about it all the freshness of a
contemporary report. No grandeur of lan-
guage is affected. The advent of the Re-
deemer required no factitious aid to make its
vast importance understood, by countless gen-
erations of men.

The narrative is as simple and as unostenta-
tious as the mortal parents of Jesus were; as
simple as the means at their command, when
Christ Was born; when the infant, having been
wrapped in swaddling clothes, was laid in a

‘ manger. The Son of the Almighty was thus

disposed of, ‘‘ because there was no room for
Joseph and Mary in the inn.” When it is
stated that ‘‘ there was no room for them,” we
may conclude that if they had been persons of
higher degree, that is of greater importance, in
a worldly point of view, a more fitting place
might have been found for the mother and her
child.

VOL. II. 121

mw



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Seca ne ee ea a aa
THE NATIVITY.

It happened at the time, when Christ was
born, that there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch
over their flock by night. ‘‘To them the angel
of the Lord appeared, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them.” That which had
taken place on earth, was at that moment the
subject of a grand celebration in Heaven. To
the Heavenly host it was known that Christ
thus commenced hisimportant mission. Their
pure intelligence was not blind to the greatness
of the undertaking. But ambition of higher
glory, of accomplishing more that is great and
good, we may hence conclude is not unknown
in Heaven. The angels who “stand before the
throne” knew that Christ’s object was mercy,
and they knew that he who took upon himself
the difficult, the painful labour of seeking it,
was equal to the task, and that in perform-
ing it, while saving sinners, he would exalt his
own name through all eternity.

122

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ANGELS PROCLAIM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
- LUKE ,CH.2.V. 10.
sLORY LD ( GOD THE SAVIOTR'S BIRTH

LrATYE NO y Y ry ny aT . AKRYT / 77






ANGELS PROCLAIM THE BIRTH
OF CHRIST.

* And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all peopie. ”
—LuKE, chap. ii., verse 10,



Ir will easily be conceived that the insufferable
splendour of an inhabitant of the sky cannot be
looked upon by mortal eyes without fear. The
shepherds, when they saw the angel, were
affrighted. He marked their alarm, and has-
tened to dissipate it by saying, ‘‘ Fear not; for
behold I bring you good tidings, of great joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David, a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.”
Having briefly imparted what had taken

place, he mentioned some of the circumstances ©

connected with the birth of Jesus. ‘‘ This,”
he said, shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find
the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying
in a manger.”

Possessed of such intelligence, the favoured
shepherds were permitted to witness on earth
that worthy commemoration which had already
commenced in Heaven. The celestial brethren
of the angel descended from the sky, and joined
company with the speaker, to proclaim the

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ANGELS PROCLAIM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

goodness of the Omnipotent; for we read,
‘‘And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the Heavenly host, praising God,
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace and good-will towards men.”

The boldest flights of poetry have imaged
nothing more magnificent than this scene.
What could surpass in grandeur the descent of
a multitude of seraphim and cherubim from
the opening sky! Had anything been wanting,
it would have been supplied by the sublime
theme which united their voices, while they
sung, ‘‘Glory to God, peace on earth, and
good-will to men.”

Thus distinctly was it announced that Christ
took upon himself a mortal form, to promote
peace and good-will; thus clearly was it inti-
mated to those who claim to be numbered
among his followers, that it is their duty, as it
was his high mission, to extend the reign of
peace, and to dispose men to love one another.

Reassured by what they had heard, the
shepherds soon threw off their fear, and pre-
pared to journey to Bethlehem, to see with
their own eyes what the Lord by his angels had
made known to them.



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ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS




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ADORATION OF THE SHEP-
HERDS.

“ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and
the babe lying in a manger.”—LUKE, chap. ii., verse 16.



Lirrie could the shepherds, when they on that
memorable night which witnessed the birth of
the Lord, went forth to watch their flocks,
have expected to hear of such an event ; little
could they have expected to see a multitude ot
angels, and hear the Heavenly chorus which
burst on their astonished senses. Having lis-
tened to the celestial strain, and been told by
what signs they might know the infant, whose
coming had been thus announced, they lost no
time in journeying to Bethlehem, and appear
to have had no difficulty in finding the objects
of their search. They found Mary and Joseph
lodged in a stable, and the babe lying in a
manger. What they saw, and what had been
so miraculously made known to them, they
reported abroad. The glad tidings were received
with wonder. Mary rejoiced, in the belief that
the promised Messiah had come, and the shep-
herds having had the fullest confirmation of
that which had been communicated by the
125

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ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS.

Heavenly messenger, returned glorifying and
praising God for all that they had heard.

In the humble guise, above described, the
Son of God was first presented to mortal view.
Was it to teach all who in future times might
desire to honour his name, that lowliness in
this world is not to be despised. To that in-
fant, seen by the shepherds lying in a manger,
the hopes of all Christians have for many ages
turned. In all circumstances, in him they seek
a friend and comforter. ‘ But,” says the
pious Hervey, ‘especially when the hour of
thy departure approaches, when ‘thy flesh and
thy heart fail,’ when all the springs of life are
irreparably breaking, then look unto Jesus with
a believing eye. Like expiring Stephen, behold
him standing at the right hand of God, on
purpose to succour his people in their last ex-
tremity. O then,’ adds the same admired
writer, “‘be sure to look to Jesus! See by
faith the Lord’s Christ; view him as the only
way to the everlasting mansion, as the only
door to the abodes of bliss.”’




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“When cight days were accomplished, his name was called
Jesus, which was so named of the angel.”—LUKE, chap. ii,
verse 21.

Tuer Jews had various rites in common usage,
which need not here be minutely detailed.
One of their customs which seems rarely to
have been neglected, was to name their chil-
dren when they were eight days old.

This was done in the case of the infant
Jesus. ‘‘ When eight days were accomplished,”
he was so called, according to the Jewish forms.
In his case, like that of St. John, the name
had been dictated by a messenger from above.

In early times the distinguishing appella-
tions given to men or children had reference to
the offices which they were expected to fill, or
the duties they were to undertake. The word
; Jesus, means Saviour, and Christ has, in the
Greek tongue, the same signification as Mes-
siah in the Hebrew language, and is equivalent
to anointed, or ordered to fill an office.

That he was so ordered or appointed we
have from his own mouth. In the gospel of
St. John, when praying to his Eternal Father,
he describes himself to have been sent to make

men know “the only true God and Jesus
127

ee

THE NAMING OF JESUS.
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Christ.” Further, he says, ‘“‘I have glorified
thee on the earth, I have finished the work |
which thou gavest me to do.”

Still more distinctly is this set forth in the
following verse :—‘‘ And now, O Father, glo- |
rify thou me with thine own self, with the )
glory which I had with thee before the world
was.”

Thus we learn that before the creation of the |
world, the Saviour shared the glory of the !

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THE NAMING OF JESUS. |
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Almighty in Heaven. Subsequently, in con-
sequence of the heavy penalty incurred by
sinful man, an important work was given to
him. To him, in mercy to a sinful world was
confided that mission, in the fulfilment of which
he appeared as a mortal, suffered as a mortal,
and finally died as a mortal.

Therefore as it was the object of his coming
and sacrifice to save, it was ordered that he
should bear the name of Jesus, or the Saviour.

ee Te et es

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128

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THE HOLY FAMILY.

‘And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”—Lvuxg,
chap. ii., verse 40.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF Crist, 2 YEARS.



sacrifice, from the consequences of his fearful
transgressions, the Son of the Almighty con-
descended to become a mortal, he took the
form of a common child, and not only assumed
it for a moment, but subjected himself to the
slow progress of human growth. He not only
taught and suffered as a man, but he was sub-
jected to all the pains of infancy. With them,
of course, he knew its joys; and in the beau-
tiful group which Raphael has produced, he
has given us a glimpse of the Saviour in his
happiest moments. We can hardly help la-
menting that they were so few ; but we may
be permitted to rejoice that if, in after-life, his
woes were great, the glory which these gained
for him is greater, and is eternal. «

The artist presents him to us clasped to the
bosom of his virgin mother, who experiences no
common happiness at finding herself the worldly
parent of the Son of the Creator of the world.

(

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VOL. II. s 129
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THE HOLY FAMILY.

With fond delight she exults in the important
charge confided to her, while the infant clings,
with natural love, to such a mother—with
that love that children, who are blessed with
kind parents, ought to feel from the moment
they are capable of reflection, till that in which
they, by the common lot of mortality, pass
to the grave.

A witness of the affectionate delight which
both evidently feel—John the Baptist appears
a gratified, admiring, though youthful spec-
tator. To him it might be given, even at that
early period, to contemplate the important
Jabours which Jesus was, in the fulness of
time, to accomplish. He might anticipate the
great task which he himself had to perform, in
preparing the way for the illustrious Redeemer.

Many passages in the history of Jesus and
John serve to show, that even in early youth a
knowledge of divine truth may be gained.
How happy are they who wake to reflection in
the spring-time of life, and who, instead of
wasting their hours in idle sports and frivolous
amusements, learn, from a careful perusal of
the sacred page, to aspire to higher enjoy-
ments.

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CHRIST DISPUTING WITH THE
DOCTORS.

“ And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in
the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing
them and asking them questions.”—-LUKE, chap. ii., verse 46.

AFTER THE Birty oF CuRIsT, 12 YEARS,





Art an early period of his earthly career, Jesus
gave goodly promise of that wisdom which, at
a later day, was to burst on the world with
such dazzling, such unapproachable splendour.

Joseph and Mary were in the habit of going,
every year, to Jerusalem, to assist at a solemn
Jewish celebration—the feast of the passover.
When Jesus was twelve years of age, they
prepared, as usual, to go, and resolved to take
him with them. They accordingly journeyed
thither, and took part in the ceremonies,
which, at times, were repeated. They appear
to have lasted several days; and when they
had concluded, Mary and her husband returned
to their home, but missed the child on their
way. On such occasions, great numbers re-
sorted to Jerusalem, and travelled in company.
Joseph and Mary expected to find Jesus in
the crowd; and, disappointed in this, they

131

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et cag ga

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Ne

So


CHRIST DISPUTING WITH THE DOCTORS.

concluded that he had found his way to some
of their kindred and acquaintance ; and in this
belief, they went a day’s journey in search
of him, but without success.

They, no doubt, were greatly disturbed at
this. Parents who suppose their children are
lost, or in danger, can know no rest.

Thus it was with Joseph and Mary; and
accordingly we are told by St. Luke, they
retraced their steps to Jerusalem.

They sought him during three days, and
at length discovered him seated in the temple,
where he discoursed with tearned doctors,
asking questions ; and, more than that, giving
them such answers, that all were astonished at
his understanding.

“But son,” said the Virgin Mary, “why
hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy
father and I have sought thee, sorrowing.”’
He answered, ‘‘ Wist ye not that I must be
about my Father’s business ?”

A child must not distress his parents by
absenting himself from them: but Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, had sought the temple to
confer with learned men, to qualify himself for
the part which he had to perform ; he was not
negligently wasting his hours—he was ‘‘ about
his Father’s business.”’

132









rae sane tat pinata rinse nsiad

tN







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JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS

“And Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from
Jordan, and was led by the spirit into the wilderness.”
LuKE, chap. iv., verse 1.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.



MEN of extraordinary piety, in ancient days,
not unfrequently withdrew themselves from
towns and cities to the desert. There contem-
plating the rugged face of nature, and denying
themselves the ordinary comforts of civilized
life, they were enabled, more earnestly, to
muse on sacred things. Far removed from
the vanities of the world, their untrammelled
thoughts could freely seek to commune with
the Author of their being, the Creator of the
world, free from interruption ; and
“Look through nature, up to nature’s God.”

In the bustle of cities, perplexed with the
cares of business, and often unavoidably en-
gaged in strife, the mind will occupy itself
with cares which it is almost degradation for
an immortal spirit to regard. Such is the
weakness of our nature: all feel it; but a
silent monitor within, in his ‘‘still small voice,”
fails not to whisper, ‘‘This is wrong. Oh,
man! a higher destiny is yours; and is it

133

———


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ee geen

Pe a NaN a EN a a a a a ar ttc acetic



JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS.

for you, alike forgetful of the purposes of your
own individual being, and of that immortality
which is reserved for those who are faithful to
duty, thus to suffer your thoughts to dwell on
objects which will eventually be found as value-
less as the trifling toys which beguiled the days
of infancy !”’

It is in solitude that our thoughts often take
a higher, nobler flight, than they can accom-
plish surrounded by the cares, or even the
comforts of life. If the feeble voice cannot
reach mortal ears at but a short distance,
we feel that there is no obstacle to the slightest
whisper we can breathe, gaining instant access
to an Omnipresent Deity.

That consoling reflection has supported many
a wanderer in a foreign land. Cut off from
social intercourse with his fellows, from the
solace of attending divine worship, he has still
rejoiced in the blessed assurance—

«That He whose temple is all space,
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies,”

could hear the petition of the lonely one, grant
what was needful for his comfort, and save
him from evil. To Him let us ever be accus-
tomed to turn our thoughts, who has promised,
that when we call upon his holy name we mav
expect an answer.

134




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CHRIST TEMPTED.

“And the devil said unto him (Jesus), if thou be the Son
of God, command this stone that it be made bread.”—
LUKE, chap. iv., verse 3.

AFTER THE BirtH oF CaRistT, 30 YEARS.



Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness.
The evangelist gives no intimation that it was
the evil spirit that so conducted him; but
while there, the devil appeared to him, and
during forty days tempted him.

Fasting was one of the exercises which
ancient piety most frequently used. Jesus,
while tempted by Satan, refrained from food.
The extraordinary situation in which he found
himself, rendered him heedless of the common
demands of nature, and enabled him to bear
up under circumstances which otherwise would
have exceeded the powers of human endurance.
Eventually, he suffered from hunger.

That was the moment in which the evil one,
believing him, with the wants, to have the
weakness of humanity, thought fit to tempt
him. Pointing to a stone, he said, ‘‘If thou
be the Son of God, command this stone that it
be made bread.”

135










OS



CURIST TEMPTED.

Hunger could not move the Saviour to |
attend to the bidding of Satan. His reply was,
‘‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word of God.” Common sustenance is
valueless in comparison with divine intelligence.

The devil afterwards was permitted to take
Jesus to the top of a mountain; and there
he offered to give him all the kingdoms of the
world, if our Lord would worship him.

His efforts were all in vain. He could not
compass his object. Christ replied, with just
disdain. ‘Get thee behind me,” he said;
“for it is written, Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Happy are they who, from childhood up-
wards, remember and profit from this striking
narrative. The sons of men cannot indeed be
offered so large a bribe to turn from the
right path, as the devil was permitted to
exhibit to Jesus; but in many of the walks of
life, objects of great present importance may
be thrown in their way.

The devil subsequently wanted Jesus to
cast himself from a pinnacle; but all his
powers were exerted in vain, and finally he
departed, as he continues to do, from those }
who steadfastly resist the sinful bribes which |
may be thrown in their way. |

136

a easement ~~ ——
rn







CHRIST TEACHING IN THE
SYNAGOGUE.

« And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.”
Luke, chap. iv., verse 15.



AFTER THE Birt or Curis, 30 YEARS.



Tue greater works which Jesus performed
must not cause us to overlook the untiring
zeal with which, on other occasions, he la-
boured for the benefit of mankind. He was a
preacher; and, in Galilee, had obtained much
fame. He taught in the synagogue, and, we
may conclude, with immense success; as St.
Luke tells, ‘‘ He was glorified of all.”

When at Nazareth, as was his custom, he
went into the synagogue on the Sabbath-day,
and stood up to read. The narrative pro-
ceeds—‘‘ And there was delivered unto him
the book of the prophet Esaias. And when
he had opened the book, he found the place
where it is written, The spirit of the Lord
is upon me, because he hath anointed me
to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath
sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind; to set at liberty those

VOL. II. T 137


a





CHRIST TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE.

that are bruised: to preach the acceptable
year of the Lord.”

In thus directing attention to the language
of Esaias, he made known what was his own
high mission. The envoy of God’s mercy,
the minister of peace, he came especially to
bring gospel comfort to the poor. He was
sent by his Almighty father to heal the
broken-hearted.

Can any one read this unmoved? What
hope must it not impart to every mourner to
know that the great Creator sent his Son
to this world, to relieve sinful men from
the greatest evils that can press upon their
imperfect nature; and, more than that, to
prepare them for a happier state of being.

How comprehensive is Divine benevolence!
All our wants are known to Him who made
us; and though we are so far left to ourselves,
that serious evils may overtake us—if we
forget not our duty—if we ‘‘ remember the
promises,’’ we may rest satisfied that we shall
not be wholly forsaken—left to pine in hopeless
sorrow, and perish in despair. Mercy provided
for his spiritual necessities by giving to the
world a glorious teacher, rich in wisdom, in
holiness, and love.

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CHRIST THE COMFORTER.

“ And he began to say unto them, this day is the scripture
fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and
wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of
his mouth.”—LUKE, chap. iv., verses 21, 22.




























AFTER THE BIRTH OF CuRisT, 30 YEARS.

Iv has been seen, that Jesus Christ loved to
refer to the prophets of Israel, and especially
to dwell on passages which told the chosen
people that those eminent persons, sent among
them by the God of their fathers, should
relieve hearts that groaned beneath incurable
sorrow, and set the captive free. In-his words,
as in his actions, it was his aim to succour the
afflicted, and to awaken hope in the des-
ponding. Thus in all his progress, even to
that dreadful moment when, raised between
heaven and earth, his bleeding, mangled form
hung on the cross at Calvary, he was con-
stantly employed. Whatever his own cares,
we still find him soothing the distress of
others, that all might recognise in him, ‘‘Christ
the comforter.”’

When Jesus had taught in the synagogue,
as shown in former pages, ‘‘ He closed the
book, and gave it again to the minister, and

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CHRIST HEALING THE SICK.

“Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick
with divers diseases brought them unto him, and he laid
his hands on every one of them, and healed them.”—LvkKE,
chap iv., verse 40.

AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.

Tue power and the goodness of the Redeemer
were rendered most conspicuous by the com-
fort he diffused among those who were afilicted.
Hunger was appeased by his kindness; the
voice of mourning was checked by his pre-
sence ; and sickness fled from him.

His skill in the healing art, or rather the
authority vested in him, which transcended
all skill, had wrought such wonders, that in
the countries which he traversed, he had great
fame. Fortified by priests and scoffers against
the truths of religion, which he applied himself
to implant in their hearts, though they might
dissent from his doctrine, his ability to relieve
sickness they could not deny, or even treat as
a matter which was doubtful.

Accordingly we find that however men in
health might neglect his teachings, when they
or their friends were attacked by any fatal
malady, they failed not to turn to Jesus. In

141




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CHRIST HEALING THE SICK.

Capernaum he had cast out devils; from the
mother of Simon’s wife he had dismissed a
dangerous fever; and these things being known,
while still he remained in that place, ‘‘ when
day was about to close,”’ St. Luke tells, ‘‘that all
they that had any sick brought them to him.”

Nor did they seek him in vain. Ever ready
to relieve the afflicted, ‘‘ he laid his hands on
every one of them, and healed them all.”

In this we see the amazing goodness of the
Saviour of man. He did not confine his kind-
ness to those who were known to him, who
had served him, or who were his devoted fol-
lowers, but he restored every one of the appli- |
cants to health.

The comprehensive love thus displayed, jus-
tifies a hope that even those who are least
enlightened, may yet be benefited by his
mercy. It proves the excellence of the advice
given by an admired Puritan writer, ‘‘ Make
but choice of this friend, and you shall never
say of him, He is dead, I have lost him.”

He who can heal the body, who eould thus
largely dispense his bounty to those who suf-
fered from the diseases incident to this life, \
will not fail those who trust in him, to lead
them to a better, and to give them that ‘‘ peace
which passeth all understanding.”

142 |
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THE MIRACALOUS DRAUGHT OF




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THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT
OF FISHES.

« And when they had thus done, they enclosed a great multi-
tude of fishes, and their net brake.”—-LuxKe, chap. v.,
verse 6,



AFTER THE Brata or CuHrist, 30 YEARS,



Tue life of a fisherman is one of severe hazard
and toil. He has to brave storms and all
varieties of weather, and often his greatest
exertions prove of little avail, and his labour is
left unrewarded. In ancient times it was more
perilous than it is now. The disciples, who
were fishermen, im common with all who
ploughed the sea, were in the habit of keep-
ing near the shore for safety. Experience has
taught men that on the wide ocean, there is
more security far from land.

Christ knew this, and after teaching the
people who thronged to hear him, he said to
Simon, in whose vessel he found himself, to
‘launch out into the deep, and let down your
nets for a draught.”

Simon therefore replied, ‘‘ Master, we have
toiled the night, and have taken nothing.
Nevertheless,” he added, “at thy word I will
let down the net.”

143
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THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

Good cause had he to rejoice that he at-
tended to the word of Jesus, for having again
thrown in the net ‘they enclosed a multitude
of fishes.” The number taken was so great
that the net or nets began to break, and Simon
and those who were with him found it neces-
sary to beckon to their partners, who were in
another ship, to help them. They came, and
caught such vast numbers of fishes that they
filled both their ships enormously, till they
seemed in danger of sinking.

For such a result they were not prepared,
Simon Peter, when he saw it, was frightened,
and ‘“‘he fell at Jesus’s knees, saying—Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

All were astonished, but Christ soothed
them, and promised that thenceforth, it should
be their business “‘ to catch men.”

The miraculous draught of fishes not only
relieved the present wants of Simon and his
companions, but it immediately led to their
gaining a higher occupation, beneficial not only
to themselves, but to millions then unborn.

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‘And a certain centurion’s servant who was dear unto him,
was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus,
he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him
that he would come and heal his servant.”—LUuKE, chap. vii.,
verses 2, ¢

AFTER THE BiRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.

Ir there is a sameness in the narratives handed
down to us of the doings of the Saviour, it
should always be gratefully remembered that
this mainly arises from the many acts of kind-
ness and mercy which marked his earthly
career, and which he was never weary of re-
peating.

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, the
servant of a Roman officer, a centurion, was
sick and about to die. This servant was
greatly valued by her master; she is said to
hhave been ‘‘dear unto him,” and when he
heard of Jesus, who had effected various im-
portant cures, he sent to him and prayed that
he would heal the afflicted one.

The prayer was supported by elders of the
Jews, who importuned the Saviour to comply
with the centurion’s wish, as he was a friend

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S cnmtsr HEALING THE CENTURION’S SERVANT.

to the Jewish nation, and had built for them a
synagogue.

Christ soon consented to go to the house in
which the sick person lay. It was not very
distant, but before he could approach it the
anxious centurion sent other friends to him,
who in effect said, ‘‘ The centurion wishes you
not to trouble yourself to walk to his home.
He is unworthy of that honour, he is unworthy
to stand in your presence. All he dare ask is
that you will say the word, and confident he is
that his servant will immediately be healed.”

The full conviction thus manifested in the
power of Jesus met with its reward. Turning
to those who were near him the Redcemer
said, ‘‘ I have not found so great faith, no not
in Israel.”

He willed it and it was done. Those that
had been sent to him, returning to the centu-
rion’s house, found the servant completely
restored.

It was the lively faith, combined with the
unaffected humility of the supplicant, which in
this case prevailed. Those who first duly
humble themselves, and whose confidence in
the goodness of the Lord is steadfast and
undoubting, will not appeal to his mercy in
vain,

146

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CHRIST RAISING THE WIDOW’S
SON

“ Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there
was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother,
and she was a widow; and much people of the city was
with her.”—-LUKg, chap. vii., verse 12.



AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.



Ir there is anything connected with humanity
pure and unalloyed by a touch of worldly feel-
ing, it is the warm affection of a mother; it
there be anything in mortal grief (brief as we
know it must be) that can command reverence
and sympathy, it is the woe of a mother who
mourns the loss of her child. The climax is
supplied when that child is an only one, and
the mourner a widow.

It happened that when Jesus was approach-
ing the gate of a city called Nain, he saw a
crowd which accompanied or followed the
corpse of a young man, the only son of his
widowed mother.

He saw the bereft parent, and was affected
at marking her distress. The tears of a woman
fail not to make a deep impression on the heart
of man. In this case so deeply did Christ feel
147





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CHRIST RAISING THE WIDOW’S SON,

for the affliction of the mourner, that he inter-
rupted the ordinary course of nature to give
her comfort.

‘Weep not,” said he to the disconsolate
parent. Then he touched the bier on which
the body was stretched. The bearers stood
still, when, addressing the lifeless form, the
Lord pronounced the words, ‘“‘ Young me \, I
say unto thee arise.”’

How must the attendant crowd have been
astonished when the next moment they saw
the dead man sit up; ‘and begin to speak.”
Not only did he do this, but it was soon
evident that he was completely restored, and
Christ delivered him to his mother.

This miracle created great amazement in the
beholders. It proved to them all that Jesus
was no common mortal; no mere pretender.
‘‘ And there came a fear on all; and they
glorified God, saying, that a great prophet is
risen up among us, and that God hath visited
his people.”

The fame of the deed went through “all
Judea, and throughout all the region round
about.”’ This might have been expected ; and
it might also have been hoped that such a
convincing proof of the divinity of Jesus would
have set unbelief at rest for ever.

148





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THE WOMAN ANOINTING
CHRIST’S FEET.

“ And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when
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she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house,
brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet
pehind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears,
and did wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his
feet.”—-LUKE chap vii., verses 37, 38.





AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.





Ir has often veen remarked, that during the
earthly wanderings of Jesus, his sorrows were
most deeply mourned ; his wants most kindly
attended to by woman. The tenderness. of the
softer sex, was where he appeared most con-
spicuous, as if to atone for that original weak-
ness which “ brought sin into the world,” and
a Redeemer to suffer for it.

Christ appears to have sojourned some time
in Nain. One of the Pharisees invited him to
eat with him, and Jesus accepted the invita-
tion.

While he sat at meat in the house of the
Pharisee, a woman who had not led a blameless
life, knowing he was there, and admiring his
goodness, presented herself before him, bring-

ing with her an alabaster box of ointment, and
149






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THE WOMAN ANOINTING CHRIST’S FEET.

standing with great humility at his feet behind
him. Conscious of her own unworthiness, she
wept. Her tears fell on the Saviour’s feet.
She wiped them ‘with the hair of her head,
and anointed them with the ointment.”

The Pharisee knew the woman was not a
person of good life, and said to himself, that
Jesus, if he had been a prophet, would at once
have penetrated her character. The Lord saw
the vain man’s thoughts, and hastened to point
out to him that this poor woman, sinner as
she was, had manifested for him more kindness,
more generous regard, than he had received
from the Pharisee himself, who had invited him
to eat. ‘‘Thou,” said he, ‘‘ gavest no water
for my feet.”” (This anciently was one of the
first offers of Eastern hospitality.) ‘‘ She has
washed them with her tears: my head with oil
thou didst not anoint, but this woman hath
anointed my feet.”

Such marks of kindness Jesus knew how to
value. He pitied one who ‘had loved much.”
The Lord will not suffer love and kindness to
remain unrewarded. To the weeping but gentle-
hearted frail one he addressed the all-consoling
words, ‘‘ Thy sins are forgiven, go in peace.”

150

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THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

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THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

“ A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some
fell by the way-side ; and it was trodden down, and the
fowls of the air devoured it.”~-Lukg, chap. viii., verse 5.



AFTER THE BirTH OF CHRIST, 30 YEARS.



Tue beautiful apologues known as parables, by
which it was the good pleasure of Christ to
instruct his followers, have been justly regarded
as a treasure by many generations of men.
Such they must be considered to the end of
time.

A sower Christ describes to have gone forth
to sow his seed, some of which fell by the way
side, and it was trodden down and devoured
by the fowls. Some of it feli upon a rock and
withered away for want of moisture, and some
fell among thorns, and was choked. But a
portion of the seed fell in good ground, and
brought forth a hundred-fold.

When the disciples heard this parable, they
were at a loss to guess its application till the
Lord enlightened them.

By the seed he imaged the word of God. That
which falls by the way side is the exhortation
which is not duly attended to, through the arts
of the devil; that which falls on the rock pic-

15]



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THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

tures the word, which is joyfully received at first,
but is soon forgotten by thoughtless hearers ;
while that which fell among thorns, is that which
is put aside by worldly cares and pleasures.

The seed spoken of as having fallen on good
ground, is the word ‘‘of God which, having
found its way into a good and honest heart,”
there remains and brings forth good fruit with
patience.

Important, most important, is the know-
ledge thus imparted. It warns the young
and the thoughtless uot to neglect holy things;
it admonishes those of riper years not to wel-
come the truth with overstrained eagerness,
and then coldly disregard it. The wealthy it
solemnly cautions against permitting their
interests or their pleasures to render them
heedless of what is of infinitely more con-
sequence than the grandest projects on which
they can be engaged in this world.

Could the voice of reason be heard, mor-
tals would feel their interest and their duty
the same. Oh! that their eyes might be
opened! Then would discord, envy, and all
uncharitableness be banished, and men would
live in harmony and peace here, while looking
forward with blissful confidence to a happier
state of being, glorious and eternal.

152








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