and offer for his cleansing, as Moses commanded. Thus did our Saviour shew his regard to the law of Moses, while yet in force; though frequently charged by his enemies with the violation of it: but his principal design appears to have been, to make the priests themselves, by virtue of their office, attest the truth of this miracle, the fame of which had spread all over the country; thus manifesting his divine mission to his most inveterate enemies, and leaving them without excuse: for it seems to have been generally unstood, that nothing less than the exertion of a divine power could be sufficient to cure a confirmed leprosy. (See 2 Kings v. 7.) The nature of this disorder being such that it could not be concealed, would make the cure the more conspicuous. But we must conclude for to-day.

DIALOGUE V.

Aunt. OUR Lord, after continuing about three months in Galilee, entered privately into Capernaum, and probably into Peter's house.

Lucy. I should imagine he could not be long re

tired.

Aunt. His return was soon known, when multitudes flocked to hear his discourses, so that the house was filled; and, among the rest, were some Pharisees and Doctors of the law from Jerusalem and Judea. Maria. With what intention did they come? Aunt. Rigidly to examine the discourses and mi

racles of our Lord. While he was preaching, a man who had lost the use of his limbs by the palsy, was brought in a bed carried by four men, who, not being able to get in for the throng, took him up to the house-top, and, taking off part of the tiling, let him. through the roof.

Maria. How surprised the people must be to see the man coming down in the midst of them!

Aunt. No doubt but it excited their attention. And Jesus, when he saw their faith, said unto the man, Thy sins are forgiven thee. The scribes and pharisees began to reason, saying, Who can forgive sins but God alone? Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said unto them, Whether is it easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Rise up and walk? But,. that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins (he said to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy couch, and go to thine house. The man did as our Lord bade him, and departed to his own house. And they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.

Our Lord removed thence to the sea-side, for the convenience of the people, whither multitudes followed him, whom he instructed. As he was passing along, he saw a publican, or collector of the public taxes, named Levi, or Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom, it being his business to receive the duties on all commodities that came by the sea of Galilee. The various extortions usually practised by persons of this profession, rendered the employment itself odious to the Jews, especially when followed by any of their own nation; so that the very

name by which they were distinguished became a term of reproach, and those who valued their reputation would consider it a disgrace to associate with them. Our Lord addressed Matthew, according to his usual mode of calling his disciples, saying, Follow me. A divine power accompanied the word to his heart, which determined him at once to renounce his gainful occupation, and become a constant disciple of Jesus. Impressed with gratitude for the favour so unexpectedly conferred on him, Matthew made a great feast at his house, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples; and there was a great company of publicans and others, who sat down with them. The pharisees, observing this, were extremely disgusted, and said to the disciples, Why eateth 'your master with publicans and sinners? The answer which our Lord returned is full of instruction, as it serves not only to vindicate the propriety of his conduct, but also to shew the end and design of his coming into the world. They that are whole, said he, have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The passover approaching, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. This appears to have been the second which he attended, after entering on his public ministry. In the south-east part of the city was a pool, called Bethesda, having five porches, in which lay a number of diseased persons, as blind, lame, withered, &c. waiting for the moving of the waters.

George. Could they tell the exact time when they would be moved?

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Aunt. No. They waited for an angel, who at certain seasons came and troubled the waters; and the first that stepped in was cured. On the sabbath our Lord repaired to this hospital, and a certain man was there, who was bowed down with infirmity. Jesus said unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? He replied, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but, while I am coming, another steppeth down before

me.

Lucy. How long had he been in that condition?

Aunt. Thirty-eight years, This man is an example for us to wait at the house of mercy, (for that is the signification of the term Bethesda,) or where God peculiarly displays his mercy, under the faithful preaching of his word: and though others should get the start, yet there is encouragement to wait; for by waiting, this man found a cure and it is said, They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. The time of waiting is not fixed. Then let us wait unweariedly, as the man did, who at length received the blessing. For Jesus said unto him, Arise, take up thy bed and walk; which the man immediately did. This would be the more noticed, as it was on the sabbath-day, when no burdens were allowed to be carried.

Maria. I think the Jews reproved the man for doing so.

Aunt. But the man replied, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed and walk. Then they interrogated him, concerning the person, who had commanded him so to do; but he

of

withdrawn himself, a multitude being in that place. Soon after, probably on the same day, Jesus met the man in the temple, whither we should hope he had repaired to render thanks for his unexpected cure. Jesus said unto him, Behold thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing befal thee. And the man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. Probably, he expected they would honour his benefactor; but, on the contrary, they persecuted him as a sabbath-breaker.

Lucy. Then, in fact, they sought his life; for a sabbath-breaker was to be stoned to death.

In

Aunt. They sought continually to slay him. the 5th chapter of John, you may read our Lord's defence, where he asserts his personal and mediatorial dignity and authority; appealing to the testimony of John, to that of God by his miracles, and to that of the scriptures concerning him, and concludes with saying, Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me: but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Maria. What answer could they make to this?

Aunt. It does not appear that they made any; his persecutors being so over-awed, that they proceeded no farther against him. After this, our Lord withdrew with his disciples to the sea-side, whither multitudes followed; whilst he, standing in a small vessel, instructed them, healing the diseased, and dispossessing all the impure spirits, who falling down before him, proclaimed him to be the Son of God.