What exclamation did a woman of the crowd use, and how did Jesus answer it?

What sign did he say should alone be given to that generation?

What similitude is there between the history of Jonas and of Christ?

Why is it said that the queen of the south shall condemn the men of that generation?

Why is it said that the Ninevites shall condemn them? What did the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner wonder at ?

What did our Lord say to him? and what did he mean by "cleaning only the outside?"

In what way may all things be clean?

In what things were the Pharisees very exact, and what did they pass over and neglect?

What outward mark of pride did they show?

To what does our Lord compare the Scribes and Pharisees?

With what does he charge the lawyers?

To what burdens does he allude?

What did he say was to be required of that generation ? Whose was the first blood shed in the world?

Who was Abel, and by whom was he murdered?

For what purpose did the Pharisees urge Jesus to speak

of many things?

Of what did he warn his disciples to beware?

Of whom does he tell them not to be afraid?

Whom does he tell them to fear?

What was the whole of what he said to strengthen his disciples against persecution?

What reward for those who shall confess Christ before men?

What is reserved for him that denieth Christ?

What blasphemy is not to be forgiven?

What did he tell his disciples about their answering when

brought before magistrates and powers?

What help did he promise them on such occasions?

D

LESSON XVI.

A man asks Christ to divide an inheritance-the answer, and application—the parable of the rich man's ground-punishment of him who knew his master's will, and did it not-of him that knew it not-Christ came to send fire and division on earth-he exhorts to reconciliation-not to judge our neighbour in affliction-the parable of the figtree-a woman infirm for 18 years, cured-indignation of the ruler of the synagogue-Christ's answer to him-the kingdom of God compared to a grain of mustard-seed and to leaven.

FROM LUKE XII. AND XIII.

AND one of the multitude said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who appointed me a judge or a divider over you?* And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life+ consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my produce? and he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I collect together all my produce and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool! this night shall thy soul be

* Jesus claimed no power as a civil magistrate. His kingdom is not of this world.

That is, the comfort or usefulness of a man's life.

required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So* is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, nor for the body, with what ye shall be clothed. The life is more than meat, and the body than clothing. Consider the ravens : for they sow not, neither reap: which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them. How much more do ye excel the fowls! And which of you by taking anxious thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why are ye anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not: and yet I say unto you, That Solomont in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you? O ye of little faith! And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,‡ nor be in anxious suspense. For all these things do the nations of the world seek: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.But seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have, and give alms make for yourselves bags which grow not

* Our Lord here makes an awful application of the parable, showing the folly of seeking the wealth of this world, to the exclusion of all care about the salvation of the soul.

+ Solomon, Son of David, King of Israel, exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and for wisdom. 1 Kings, x. 23.

Or, "Be not lifted up on high."

old, a treasure* in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your+ treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning; and be ye like men that wait for their Lord, when he will return. from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Happy are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, That he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will attend and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch,§ or come in the third watch, and find them so, happy are those servants. And this ye know, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken into. Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

:

Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us; or likewise to all? And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise. steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their measure of corn in due season?|| Happy is that servant, whom his lord,

* The eternal happiness of their souls in heaven.

+ Whatever a man considers his chief treasure will govern both his heart and conduct.

An exhortation to watchfulness. There is an allusion made to the long garments worn by the eastern nations, which were girded up about the loins when active service was required. The whole passage is descriptive of a wedding, at which it was customary to carry torches.

§ The watch was a fourth part of the night, or three hours. The first began at six in the evening, the second at nine, &c.

Measure of corn.-The mode of maintaining slaves sometimes was, to deliver to them a certain measure of corn or other food at stated times.

when he cometh, shall find so doing. In truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he possesseth. But if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men-servants and maid-servants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken: the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him asunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unfaithful. And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. *I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be now kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you No; but rather division:‡ for, from henceforth, there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daugh

*Christ's intention was to promote peace, but man's pride and prejudice were so great as to occasion great animosity against him and his followers.

The baptism here mentioned was his sufferings; he was soon to be bathed in his own blood, and he was straitened, or pained with desire till those sufferings were accomplished.

The natural consequence of the reception of the gospel by some, and its rejection by others; a consequence not to be charged on the gospel, but on the perversity of its enemies.