"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."

One day, when passing with his disciples through the streets of the city, he saw a man who had been blind from his birth. When his companions inquired whether the blindness was owing to the man's sin or his parents', he replied that he was blind in order that the goodness of God might be displayed in his cure. He assured them, also, that as long as he was in the world, he was the light of the world. Going near to the man, he spat upon the ground and made clay; and, anointing his sightless eyes, he bade him go to the pool of Siloam, and wash. Under the walls of the city there was a fountain issuing from a rock, and running by a silent stream into this pool. It was the same fountain from which the sacred water was brought at the Feast of Tabernacles. Immediately, at the word of Jesus, the blind man went, guided by a power divine, and washed, and received his sight. When his neighbors saw him returning with the use of his eyes, they began to question him, whether he was really the man who had been blind so long, or some one like him. Having discovered that it was their old acquaintance, so many years shut out from the light of day, and that he had been cured by Jesus, they reported the news to the Pharisees.

Very soon the man and his parents were summoned to appear before the Sanhedrim, and be examined concerning the miracle. They found it impossible to ascertain anything satisfactory from the parents, who, afraid to commit themselves, referred their examiners to their son, declaring him to be of age. They then addressed themselves to the

blind man, who openly avowed his belief that the person who had healed him was of God, because he had done that which man alone could not do. Provoked at his replies, they cast him out of the council, and excommunicated him from the worship of the synagogue for the term of thirty days; and, at that time, unless he repented, the punishment might be renewed.

Jesus, hearing that the man had been so severely dealt with for his sake, found out where he was, and, going to him, said, "Dost thou believe in the Son of God?" He asked, in return, "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe?" Then the Saviour revealed himself, and the man fell at his feet, and worshipped him. He had found the true Messiah, for whom his countrymen were still looking, and whom, in their unbelief, they were rejecting; and he cared little though he was refused admission to the synagogue, since he might hope for an entrance into the Temple above.

CHAPTER XI.

Feast of Dedication. -Jesus declares himself one with the Father. Retires beyond Jordan. - Raises Lazarus from the dead. - Council of Caiaphas against Jesus.-The woman bowed with infirmity. - Our Lord warned against Herod. — Mourns over Jerusalem. - Dines with a chief Pharisee. · Parable of the supper. - Prodigal son. - Unjust steward. Publican and Pharisee. The young children blessed.The rich young man.

WHILE our Lord was still at Jerusalem, the time for the Feast of Dedication arrived. This festival was held in winter, and was celebrated by each family in their homes, throughout the land, commencing on the fifteenth of December, and continuing eight days. It was often called the feast of lights or lanterns, as the Jews illuminated their

dwellings in testimony of their joy.

It was first instituted by Judas Maccabeus, one hundred and sixty-four years before our Saviour's birth, on the occasion of the purification of the Temple after it had been profaned by a heathen monarch. Antiochus Ephiphanes, King of Syria, sent a messenger to Jerusalem, who dedicated the Temple to Jupiter Olympus, and carried away the golden candlesticks, the altar of incense, and the table of shewbread; while upon the altar of burnt-offering he placed a smaller one, on which he offered sacrifices to the heathen deities.

At the end of three years the Temple was purified, the

altar rebuilt, new vessels and golden candlesticks placed there, and the Jews restored to the worship of their fathers.

One day, during the celebration of the feast, as Jesus was walking in Solomon's porch, the Jews came around him, and asked that he would tell them plainly if he was the Christ.

He answered that he had already told them, and they believed not; and, referring them to his works, he said they bore witness of him. After this he proceeded to declare himself one with the Father; and, in their anger, they took up stones to cast at him. For a moment he stopped their fury by a mild appeal to his miracles; but, upon reässerting his real nature, his unity with Jehovah, they endeavored to seize him, and he was obliged to make his escape from them.

Finding his preaching availed nothing against the blindness and unbelief of his hearers, and that his life was rendered insecure by the malice of his enemies, Jesus left Jerusalem, and retired to the vicinity of Bethabara, where his baptism had occurred.

During his stay at that place many came to be healed; and, having seen the cures he performed, they said, “All that John spake of this man was true."

While still here, a messenger arrived from his friends at Bethany. Lazarus had been taken dangerously ill, and his sisters sent that beautiful message to him, "Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick." When Jesus heard this, he said to the messenger, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Often had Jesus been their guest; often had they listened with delight to his instructions, and ministered to his wants; and we are told that in return they were beloved, Lazarus and his sisters. When these tidings were

received, our Lord did not go at once to them, but lingered for two days where he was, and then said to his disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." Remembering the fierce opposition of the Jews at Jerusalem, they were afraid to have him venture so near the city, and endeavored to dissuade him from it. They said, "Master, the Jews of late have sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?"

He told them that Lazarus, their friend and his, was sleeping, and he desired to go and wake him out of his sleep. They replied, if he slept, they thought he would do well; but Jesus spoke of the sleep of death, and they did not understand him.

Then he told them plainly that Lazarus was dead, and for their sakes he was glad, that their faith in him might be strengthened.

Thomas said to the rest, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." He wished to share with his Master the persecutions that might await him, and he would not have him encounter them alone.

They then set out for Bethany, a distance of twentyfive miles, about a day's journey, and, upon their arrival at the entrance of the village, Jesus sat down under the shelter of some trees to rest. While there, he learned that Lazarus had been already dead four days. According to the custom of the Jews, he was, soon after death, wrapped in linen, and placed within the family sepulchre,-in one of the niches hewn out from the sides of it, where the dead were laid. Both Mary and Martha wondered that their message had been so little heeded by the Master, and each day had watched the hours go by, until all hope of their brother's restoration to life had gone with them.

The fourth day had come, and towards evening word was