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

Ministered of their substance, Legion, Virtue,
Mysteries,

Precipice, Synagogue.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XII.

WHAT are the contents of this Lesson?

Who were the women attending on Jesus?

To what operation does Jesus compare the preaching of the Gospel?

Who is the sower? What is the seed? Who are they by the way side? Who are they on the rock? Who are they among thorns? Who are they on good ground?

What answer did Christ give about his mother and brethren?

What miracle did he perform whilst on the sea?

What name did the demons assume that possessed the man living in the tombs?

Why were they called Legion?

Into what place did they entreat not to be sent ?

Into what did Jesus suffer them to enter?

What became of the swine?

What effect had this miracle on the Gadarenes ?

What request did they make of Jesus?

What request did the man cured of the Legion make?

What was Christ's answer to him?

Who was Jairus, and what request did he make?

What instance of faith was shown by a woman, when

Jesus was going to Jairus' house?

What did he say to the woman?

What word was brought to Jairus whilst on the way? Whom did Jesus suffer to be with him whilst raising

Jairus' daughter?

What charge did Jesus give to her parents?

LESSON XIII.

α

Christ sends forth his twelve disciples-Herod desires to see him-five thousand fed with five loaves and two fishes the various opinions about Christ-his transfiguration-he cures child possessed by a demon-they dispute which of them should be the greatest-the Samaritans refuse to receive him-answers to different persons who proposed to follow him.

FROM LUKE, IX.

THEN having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. And into whatsoever* house ye enter, there remain, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Now Herod the tetrarch+ heard of all that had been done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said by some that John was risen from the dead; and by some, that Elias had appeared; and by others, That one of the ancient prophets was risen again. And Herod‡ said, John have I beheaded; but who is this, of

* When arrived in any place they were not to go from house to house.

† See note page 13.

Herod had murdered John, and was now afraid that he had risen from the dead, his guilty conscience tormenting him: for a bad man is a terror to himself.

whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

And the apostles having returned, told him all that they had done. And taking them, he went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the multitudes, when they knew it, followed him; and he received them, and spake to them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of cure. Now the day began to decline: then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless we should go and buy food for all this people. (For they were about five thousand men.) And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fishes; and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and what remained+ to them was taken up, twelve baskets of frag

ments.

By fifties.-This was doubtless because it would have occupied too much time, if the disciples had given each man of the 5,000 his share. But by serving each company of fifty (leaving them to divide the food among themselves) the whole would speedily be served.

That nothing might be lost. The wasting of those things which are given for our use, is sinful. Besides that, the miracle was thus made more striking, from the remaining fragments so far exceeding the whole five loaves. It also showed that Jesus did not design ordinarily to supply himself and his followers with food by miracle, although he healed the sick, &c. every day.

And it came to pass, as he was alone* praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Who say the multitudes that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say Elias; and others say, That one of the ancient prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ† of God. And he strictly charging them, commanded them to tell this to no man; saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And he said to all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For§ whosoever wishes to save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, he shall save it. For what shall a man profit to have gained the whole world, but to have lost himself, or be cast away? For whosoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, There are some of those standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.

And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray. || And whilst he

* Alone; i. e. absent from the people.

Peter answers in the name of all, and declares their conviction that Jesus was the Christ, that is, the anointed One of God.

Not to publish it till after his resurrection.

The love of this life, and its enjoyments, is a great temptation to deny Christ, and to renounce his religion, and whoever would wish to save life in this world on such terms, will fail of eternal life in the next.

The glory in which Christ now appeared was a specimen of that glory in which he shall come to judge the world.

was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was dazzling white. And, behold, there talked with him two men, who were *Moses and Elias: who appearing in glory, spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep and awaking they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they were departing from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he was thus speaking, there came a cloud,† and overshadowed them: and the disciples feared as they entered into the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son hear him. And when the voice was uttered, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. And, behold, a man from the multitude cried out saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son; for he is mine only child: and lo, a spirit seizeth him, and suddenly he crieth out; [and he throweth him down,]‡ and teareth him so that he foameth; and, bruising him, hardly departeth from him. And I be

*The appearance of Moses the lawgiver, and Elijah the chief of the prophets, both attending on Christ, showed the agreement of the law and the prophets concerning him, and their fulfilment in him.

This cloud was a sign of the Divine Presence.

These words within brackets are found in three manuscripts, and several ancient translations. They have probably been supplied from Mark ix. 13.