As he spake these Then said Jesus to

those things that please him.
words, many believed on him.
those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father, ye would love me :
for I proceeded forth, and came from God:
Neither came I of myself, but He sent me.
Why do ye not understand my speech?
Even because ye cannot hear my word.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of father your ye will do. He was a murderer from

DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

141

the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin ? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words:

ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham ?

Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Before Abraham was, I AM.

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but

Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

143

THANKSGIVING.

Shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord: sing praises, rejoice, and give thanks.

O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine
heritage.

Govern them, and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we magnify Thee;

And we worship Thy name ever, 'world with-
out end.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the begin-
ning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.

Questions on Section XIV.

Relate the mission of the seventy disciples who were sent two and two. What were the three principal Jewish festivals, and in commemoration of what events in their history were they first instituted? Why were the Jews astonished when Jesus taught in the temple? What was it that He stood and cried on the last day of the feast of tabernacles? What did the people say? Relate the controversy which arose about Him between Nicodemus and the Pharisees, and their own officers whom they had sent to take Him. How did Jesus foil the Pharisees when they sought to ensnare Him by bringing to Him for judgment the woman taken in adultery? On what ground did the Pharisees object to His declaration, "I am the light of the world?" What was our Lord's declaration to those who should continue in his word? From what bondage does Christ make us free? How does our Lord reprove the Jews who affirmed that they were the seed of Abraham, and children of God? How does Christ assert his own divinity in speaking of the faith of Abraham? Relate the interview between Christ and the seventy disciples when they returned from their mission? On what ground did He tell them to rejoice?

SECTION XV.

From Christ's Direction, to the Lawyer, how to attain Eternal Life, to His Reproof of the Ruler of the Synagogue.

PRAYER.

O Almighty Lord, who art a most strong tower unto all them that put their trust in Thee, be now and evermore our help and defence and make us to know and feel that there is none other name under heaven given to man, in whom and through whom we may attain everlasting life, but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

AND, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying,

Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind;

and thy neighbour as thyself.
And He said unto him,
Thou hast answered right:
this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed,