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opportunity for which she had waited so long; and when Salome inquired, "What shall I ask?" she simply answered, “The head of John the Baptist."

E. What a dreadful request! I think it must even have shocked Herod.

M. It did; and distressed him too; he was "very sorry," and would gladly have saved this faithful servant of God: but because he had made such a solemn promise, and because he was ashamed to show before all the people how much he cared for John, he granted the abominable request, and commanded his head to be brought to Salome; who took it to her mother, glad I daresay herself to get rid of such a cruel sight.

E. Mamma, I know it is right to keep our promises, and it is right to obey our parents, and yet I cannot help thinking that it was very wrong of Herod to keep that promise, and wicked too in Salome to obey that command even from her mother. What do you think?

M. Just as you do, my child. Herod and Salome made themselves partakers in the murder committed by the dreadful Herodias. The duty of both, in this case, was very clear. Children are indeed bound to obey their parents, but they are still more bound to obey God; and when His commands are clear, as they were in this instance, they should respectfully decline doing what is wicked, even though they should be unfortunate enough to have parents who would lead them into sin. The same law which says, "Honour thy father and mother," says also, "Thou shalt not kill." Then as to Herod, he should have remembered that murder is still more wicked than

perjury, even could his oath have bound him to commit it. But this was impossible. He could not bind his conscience to do a wicked thing: if a man swears, he must indeed perform his oath, as the Psalmist teaches us, though it be to his own hindrance, that is, however inconvenient, but not however wicked. For man is already bound in conscience to abstain from all wickedness, and no oath can make him free to sin.

E. Besides, Mamma, I think Herod might have said, when he heard what Salome asked, that that was more than he had promised. For you know he had only said, he would give her half his kingdom.

M. You are quite right: to destroy an innocent man, and especially such a man, was more than his whole kingdom was worth; and an upright, honourable mind would have felt it so at once. But Herod seems to have acted more from a regard to his worldly character, and a fear of contempt amongst his nobles, than from any upright or honourable feelings there was more, I imagine, of regard to the opinion of the world, than of a tender conscience, in his scruples about breaking his oath. Such was the end of the holy Baptist. He was faithful, you see, even unto death, to his great Master; faithful to his office as a preacher of repentance; and great, no doubt, is his reward in heaven. He "spoke of the testimonies of God even before kings, and was not ashamed;" and now he belongs to the glorious army of martyrs, to whom especial privileges seem to be held out in Scripture. The malice of Herodias could do no more than kill the body; it could not deprive him of the crown of life, which our Lord hath provided for those who have been faithful unto

death. A few brief moments of suffering, and then the joys which are at God's right hand for evermore. In this world the wicked are sometimes allowed to persecute the righteous; whilst the former feast, the latter are slain. But how different will it be in the next world, when those who have been put to death "for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God," shall reign with Christ in everlasting glory!

See Matt. ix, 27-38; x. 1-42; xiii. 54-58; xiv. Mark vi. 1—29. Luke ix. 1-9.

1-12.

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY EVENING.

BREAD FROM HEAVEN.

M. When our Lord heard of John the Baptist's death, He took His Apostles, who had just returned from the mission on which He had sent them, and, leaving Capernaum, retired with them across the sea to a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. This He did, it seems, partly that the Apostles might rest awhile after their arduous labours, for there were many people going and coming where they now were, and they had no leisure so much as to eat; partly, no doubt, to keep out of the way of Herod Antipas and the cruel Herodias, by leaving their dominions. But no sooner did the people perceive that Jesus was departing, than they proceeded by land to the same place; so that a great multitude was ready to receive our Lord as He came out of the ship. How many would have been displeased at this interruption of the little leisure which they allowed themselves, and which

was hardly enough for necessary rest and food! How many under such circumstances would either have remained on the water aloof from the crowd, or have sought some other place where they could not follow! But not so our blessed Saviour! When He saw the people assembled, He was moved with compassion. He pitied their ignorance, and notwithstanding that they were intruding on His retirement, He began to teach them. They were as sheep without a shepherd, so He pitied them and became their Pastor. Although they had come at an inconvenient time, He received them, and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing, shewing kindness, as He always did, in regard to their bodily as well as to their spiritual ailments.

E. Then, I suppose, Mamma, we ought not to be vexed, when we are interrupted in our pleasant employments, for the sake of being kind to our fellow creatures. I suppose we ought to be glad to do good at any time, however inconvenient to ourselves?

M. It is a most important lesson to learn, not to be ruffled when we are put out of our way; but in all things to forget self more and more, and to be always ready to embrace every occasion of serving or obliging others. This duty will be sweetened to us, if we only recollect at the moment how beautifully and patiently the Lord Jesus performed it. Indeed how pleasant and easy might all our duties become, if we could only keep our Saviour in our thoughts continually, recollecting His lovely example which is ever before us in His word, and remembering that what He showed us how to do, He will assist us in doing.

I have already mentioned that the place where the

people followed our Lord was desert or uninhabited, and yet that the people came in a great multitude. In such a place they would be unable to procure any provisions when they wanted food; yet their eagerness kept them listening to our Lord, and beholding His miracles until the day began to wear away and evening drew nigh. Yet observe again the considerate kindness of our blessed Saviour. He would not send the poor people "empty away." He had instructed their ignorance; He had healed their diseases; and now, pitying their hunger, He would give them bread also, and prepare a table for them in the wilderness.

E. But, if the people were so numerous and the place was desert, how could bread enough be got for so many?

M. That was the very difficulty which the Apostles themselves felt: and when our Lord spoke to them on the subject, they asked if they should go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, to enable them to give every one a little.

E. Then how many do you suppose, Mamma, the people were? For that would not have been very much; would it?

M. Not if their penny had been like our penny; but the fact is that what is called in our English translation of the Gospels a 'penny,' was much more valuable than our present coin of that name. The Roman penny here meant, was a silver coin of more than seven times the `value of our penny, and considered at that time sufficient to pay a labourer for a day's work: so that two hundred penny worth of bread would be as much as a labourer would earn by the work of two hundred days. Yet even this supply would have been scanty compared

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