children.

And* one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and standing at his feet+ behind him weeping, she began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now the Pharisee who had invited him seeing it, spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what kind of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say it. There was a certain creditor that had two debtors; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answering said, I suppose he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman, since she entered, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed

* His name was Simon.

+ Christ probably reclined on a couch, with his head to wards the table, and his feet stretched out behind him, for such was the custom in those days.

Christ knew what was passing in Simon's thoughts, and answered him as if he had actually spoken.

my feet with ointment. Wherefore, I say unto thee, Her sins which are many are forgiven; for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee: go in

peace.

WORDS, &c. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON X.

Centurion,
Bier,

Raiment,
Gorgeous apparel,

Creditor,
Debtor.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON X.

WHAT are the contents of this Lesson?

What was he that sent to Jesus to heal his servant?
What did the centurion's messengers say in his favour?
What was the second message sent by the centurion?
What did Jesus say when he heard it?

What did Jesus mean by saying, "not in Israel?"
What miracle did he perform near Nain ?

For whose sake did he perform it?

What effect had this miracle on the people, and what did they say?

What message did the Baptist send to Jesus?

What was our Lord's answer to the Baptist's messengers?
What testimony did he give in favour of the Baptist?
What class of people had been baptized by John?
What class had not been baptized by him?

To what did our Lord compare the perverseness of the men of his generation?

What difference was there between John's outward behaviour and Christ's?

* An extraordinary mark of respect.

Those that sat at table with Jesus, murmured at his assuming the prerogative of God by forgiving sins; but he with peculiar dignity overlooks their objections, and simply repeats his assurance of pardon to the woman.

When Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, what happened remarkable ?

What did the Pharisee say within himself about Jesus suffering the woman to touch him?

What answer did Jesus give to the Pharisee?

What is meant by one debtor owing five hundred pence, and another fifty?

Which of the two debtors will love the most?

How did our Lord contrast Simon the Pharisee's conduct with that of the woman?

What did Jesus say to the woman?

What did those sitting at meat with Jesus say within themselves?

What second declaration did our Lord make to the woman?

LESSON XI.

hymn of praise to God for his compassion in forgiving our sins, and bearing with our infir

mities.

PSALM CIII.*

BLESS the Lord, O my soul,

And all that is within me, [bless] his holy name;
Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities,

Who healeth all thy diseases,

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction.

Who crowneth thee with kindness and mercies,
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good,

[So that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle's,f

*Psa. cii., Douay version.

+ Like the eagle's.--The eagle lives and retains its strength to a great age, and moulting in old age, it renews its feathers, and appears as strong and beautiful as ever.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and of great kindness:
He will not always contend,

Nor will he keep [his anger] for ever.

He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities;

For according to the height of the heavens above the earth,

us:

So great is his mercy to them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,

So far hath he removed our transgressions from

As a father pitieth his children,

So the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame,

He remembereth that we are dust:
[As for] man, his days are as grass,

As the flower of the field so he flourisheth,
For a blast passeth upon him and he is not,
And his place knoweth him no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity,
And to eternity to them that fear him.
And his righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep his covenant,

And to those who remember his commandments to do them.*

The Lord hath prepared his throne in heaven, And his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels,

Great in strength fulfilling his word,

* The transitory life of man is in this passage beautifully contrasted with the eternity of God, and of his mercy to them that fear him. It reminds us of the words of the apostle Peter in his first Epistle, chap. i. 24, 25. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass-the grass withereth, the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever, and this is the word which by the Gospel hath been preached to you."

In obeying the voice of his commands.
Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts,

Ye ministers of his that do his pleasure:
Bless the Lord, all ye his works,
In every place of his dominion:
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

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

The parable of the sower-its interpretationChrist's mother and brethren desire to see him -his reply-he goes into a ship and falls asleep— 'a storm arises—he rebukes the wind-casts out a legion of demons, and permits them to enter into swine-Jairus entreats him to cure his daughter—— a woman is healed by touching him-he cures Jairus' daughter.

FROM LUKE, VIII.

AND it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene,*

*She was probably of Magdala, a city of Galilee, and not the same with Mary the sister of Lazarus, who lived in Bethany.