whose office it was to appoint the reader, invited Jesus to read the lesson for the day. He was a member of this synagogue, and, as such, was invited to take his part in the service.

The passage was in Isaiah,* and had reference to himself. Having finished it, Jesus handed the roll to the minister, and sat down; and, while the eyes of all were upon him, he proceeded to explain the prophecy. It was the manner of the Jewish teachers to stand up to read, and to sit while instructing the people.

At first they listened with delight and surprise at the wisdom that fell from his lips. They remembered his quiet, humble life when he dwelt amongst them, and wondered where he had obtained so much knowledge. But, as he proceeded to tell them of their blindness, and that he could not do many miracles there because they would not believe, that a prophet would not be accepted in his own country, they were disappointed and enraged. Rising from their seats, they seized him, and led him out of the synagogue up to the brow of a high hill near the town, intending to cast him off into the precipice below. Here there seems to have been some division amongst them. Some of them, more kindly disposed, endeavored, perhaps, to prevent the cruelty of the others; and, while they were contending, Jesus passed through the midst of them, and made his escape.

*Isaiah 61: 1.

CHAPTER V.

Jesus goes to Capernaum. — Miraculous draught of fishes. The four disciples called. The unclean spirit cast out.-Peter's mother-in-law healed. — Jesus goes through Galilee. - The leper healed. — Some account of the leprosy. The paralytic healed. — Matthew called.

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OUR Lord next went to Capernaum to reside; and here he walked frequently on the borders of the lake.

The inhabitants, many of them, were fishermen, and made their living by selling the fish that abounded in those waters.

One day, as he was preaching, finding himself thronged too closely by the crowd, he desired to enter a boat that lay near. It belonged to Peter, who was washing his nets at a little distance. At the voice of Jesus, he quickly left his employment, and, at his request, pushed the boat from the shore.

Then, seating himself in it, the Saviour taught the people who gathered around him to the water's edge.

After he had finished speaking, and the assembly had dispersed, he turned to Peter, and bade him let down his net into the sea.

Peter replied that he and his companions had been toiling all night without success, but, if Jesus said the word, they would again make the attempt.

Then they let down the net, and immediately it was

filled, so that Peter, and Andrew, who was with him, beckoned to their partners, James and John, to come to their assistance.

They brought their boat alongside, and soon both the vessels were filled with the fish, and began to sink.

Alarmed at their danger, Peter fell down at Jesus' knees and cried out, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" but Jesus said unto him, "Fear not, Simon; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."

No longer should it be the sole business of his life to provide food for the body, but he should become a preacher of the gospel.

To Andrew and Peter, both, he said, "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men;" and they left their nets and followed him.

Afterwards, finding James and John sitting in a boat mending nets, Jesus called to them, also, to come and follow him. At once they left Zebedee their father with the hired servants, and went with him, from that time, to be his friends and followers. They needed no argument to convince, no entreaties to persuade, for they had heard of the Saviour's baptism at the Jordan and the testimony of the Holy Spirit; these had themselves witnessed the miraculous draught of fishes, and were sure that he was the Christ. With these disciples, Jesus returned to the village of Capernaum,—the village of comfort, or lovely village, as it was called, because there was a delicious spring of water there, an important matter in a country that was often parched with intense heat, and where springs and wells were rare and highly prized.

Here he taught in the synagogues on the Sabbath, and the people gladly heard him; while they marvelled at doc