is true that by this means he gained many friends; but as their hearts were not altogether right towards him, he did not associate with them on intimate terms. Nicodemus, a distinguished Jew, had honest views, and was desirous of becoming truly acquainted with the will of God. He came therefore to Jesus in the night, and had an instructive conversation with him. In particular, Jesus told him that a change of heart, as well as love to and confidence in him, the Son of God, were indispensable for any man who would become his real disciple, and obtain the grace of God. From Jerusalem Jesus travelled with his disciples into various regions of Judea, teaching, wherever he went. John was filled with great joy by the accounts he received of these doings, and bore testimony to the excellencies of Jesus. This joyful witness, however, to the glory of Jesus, was soon afterwards thrown into prison, and in a short time beheaded, because he boldly censured the wickedness of king Herod. Towards the beginning of winter, Jesus went again into Galilee. On the way, he had an interesting interview with some of the Samaritans. He also tarried a short time at Cana. It was while here that he healed a certain nobleman's son, who lay sick at Capernaum. He then visited Nazareth and taught there; but the inhabitants of this city, instead of being improved by his doctrines, became bitterly incensed against him, and thrusting him out of the city, led him to the brow of the hill on which the city was built, and were going to throw him down headlong; but Jesus escaped from their hands without doing them any violence, and went down to Capernaum, where he took up his residence while in Galilee, teaching in the public school or synagogue, to the great satisfaction of all who heard him. Here also he cured Peter's wife's mother of a fever, and healed various other sick persons. By means of the doctrines which he taught, which were very excellent, as also by the miracles he wrought for the good of unhappy persons, he everywhere acquired for himself authority. From Capernaum, in company with a great multitude of people, he visited other cities in Galilee. It was while on this journey that he delivered the admirable discourse called the Sermon on the Mount, in which he taught his disciples and other hearers, respecting the true meaning of the divine law, the true manner of giving alms so as to please God, the true way of praying acceptably to God, the laying up of eternal riches in heaven, confidence in God in respect to the wants of the body, and many other important truths. Having delivered this discourse, he again restored many sick to health, and in particular healed a leper. About this time he taught on the sea of Gennesareth, out of a ship which belonged to Peter, in the presence of a great multitude. After the discourse was ended, Peter, who had laboured all night in vain, at the command of Jesus once more let down the net, and obtained an uncommonly rich draught of fishes; upon which he was filled with the greatest astonishment, and humbly confessed that he was altogether unworthy of the grace and help of Jesus. Thus it is that God, always at a right time, and often in an unexpected manner, richly rewards those who obey him and put their confidence in him. They toil all night perhaps without success, and are about to give up in despair, when they see the day dawning in the east, and the sun himself soon shines upon them, bringing to them a thousand blessings in his train. For the righteous there is always a rich blessing in store. In a certain city, a leper besought him for help. Jesus helped him, and forbade him from telling others of it; but, without minding what Jesus said, he went right away and told of it. It was the custom of Jesus, often to betake himself to solitary places and pray. He retired to such a place at this time, for the assembly of people around became too great and powerful for him, and were very troublesome. As, however, even here, he was thronged with people, and sick folks were brought to him from all quarters, he healed them, and then made his escape from them, in order to sail over to the other side of the sea. In the ship he fell asleep. There arose a violent storm. Full of anguish, the disciples awoke him, and entreated him for help. He immediately spake a few words, and silenced the storm. After this, he returned to Capernaum. Soon after his arrival there, he healed a sick person who was suffering very much from the palsy. SECTION IV. THE SECOND YEAR OF JESUS AS A TEACHER. JESUS again, in company with many persons of kind and friendly dispositions, went up to the feast of the passover at Jerusalem. Here, at the pool called Bethesda, he healed a man who had had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. His enemies censured him for this, because he did it on the sabbath-day; but he showed them that he had done right. Not long after this, he, in company with his disciples, went through a field of grain, on the sabbath-day; and the latter, as they passed along, plucked off the ears of the grain, and, rubbing them out in their hands, ate the kernels; which the Pharisees also looked upon as a breach of the sabbathday; but Jesus defended his disciples. On another sabbath, he entered into the synagogue or the school of the Jews, taught, and, at the same time, healed the right hand of a man which was withered. At this, the Scribes and Pharisees were so embittered against Jesus, that they resolved among themselves to kill him. When, however, he perceived this, he removed from them, and again betook himself to the Sea of Gennesareth. To this place a very great multitude of people followed him from all the regions of Judea. Here he instructed the people from out of a vessel which lay near the shore on which they stood, healing all the sick that they brought to him. Yes, the sick were even healed by only touching him. He often left all company and ascended a mountain alone, in order to give himself up for a few hours in the quiet of solitude to pious thoughts and meditations. This he did on the very night previous to the time he had fixed for choosing, out of the multitude of his followers, a particular number of intimate associates to be his disciples or pupils; who, by daily intercourse with him, should be prepared to become public teachers of mankind; and who, in confirmation of their having received a commission and full authority from God for this purpose, should be endowed with the power of working miracles. After he had prepared himself for making this important choice by a solemn and heartfelt prayer to God, he called all his followers to him, and publicly selected twelve for his particular pupils. These he called apostles or missionaries. He now returned to Capernaum, where he healed the sick servant of a Gentile centurion. From this place he went to Nain, where he raised from the dead the son of a poor widow. This and a multitude of other miracles which Jesus did in Galilee increased the envy and bitterness of his enemies against him. In order to be secure against their persecutions, he crossed over to the other side of the sea of Gennesareth; and from this place he returned again to Capernaum. Here he defended himself against those who censured him for having held intercourse with publicans and sinners. In thus censuring him, they did him great injustice; for his desire was to make men better; and in order to effect this, it was necessary for him to associate and converse with them, just as a physician must associate and converse with those sick persons whom he would cure of their diseases. He raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, and also in a very wonderful manner healed many other sick persons; and, among others, two blind men who followed him as he went out of Nazareth, and cried after him for help. He only touched their eyes, and they received their sight. person. He also restored speech to a dumb See here, dear youth, how unspeakably kind our Saviour is! He helps every one who asks him for help. He sends no miserable person away from him, but has compassion upon all. Refuge of the troubled spirit, When the flood is rolling near it, |