About this time our Lord thought proper to make a public election of some persons above the rest, to whom he would more fully communicate the mysteries of his kingdom; and who, by a constant attendance on his ministry, and being witnesses of his sufferings, resurrection, and ascension, were to be qualified, under the influences of the Holy Spirit, to preach the gospel to all nations. Previous to this, we are told, our Lord withdrew himself to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer.

Lucy. What need had Jesus to pray, as he was God?

Aunt. He was now, my dear, in a state of bumiliation and debasement, into which he had voluntarily entered, in order to accomplish the salvation of his people. Though truly God, he took upon him the form of a servant, and, having assumed a character that implied subjection and dependence, it became him, in that relation, to set a perfect example of trust and confidence in God, and of devotion to his will. When we consider the essential glories of his nature as God, we cannot sufficiently admire his grace and condescension in thus humbling himself for our sakes. Behold the Governor of the Universe, the Lord of all Worlds, as a suppliant, at the footstool of the divine throne, on his bended knees, intreating for blessings to be poured upon our guilty heads! The solemn transactions which were about to take place, were to be the means of diffusing the light of the gospel to all the world: and our Lord's example on this occasion is designed to teach us, never to set about any important

business without first prayer, Prov. iii. 5, 6.

committing it to God by The next morning our Lord made choice of twelve persons from among his disciples, according to the number of the patriarchs and tribes of Israel, whom he called by the name of apostles.

Maria. What is the meaning of that name?

Aunt. A special messenger, or ambassador: an office of the highest dignity and importance that could be conferred on man. The persons chosen were, Simon, who is also called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew (who is supposed to be the same with Nathaniel), Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes, Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.

Our Lord, having chosen his apostles, came down into the plain, where a vast throng was assembled, from Judea, Jerusalem, and the 'sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon, bringing their sick and possessed; and they sought to touch him; for there went virtue out of him and healed them all. Our Lord, for the convenience of the people's hearing, went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came unto him; and there he delivered that celebrated discourse, generally called, The sermon on the mount. Our Lord began with pronouncing blessings on those whom the world despised, even such as are humble and poor in spirit; next he proceeded to condemn the wretched glosses and interpretations which the Jews had put on the moral law; shewing the extent of its precepts, and the

true sense in which they are to be understood; he then explained and enforced the duty of giving alms and praying; he next cautioned his disciples to take heed and beware of covetousness, and gave several other precepts and instructions, concluding with an earnest persuasive to listen to what he had been saying. But, before our next meeting I would have you read the whole sermon: you will find it in the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Matthew. Our Lord then returned to his own city Capernaum..

Lucy. I am astonished that the Jews should maintain such an inveterate hatred to our blessed Lord, when he went about continually doing good.

Aunt. The Gentiles, on various occasions, expressed more faith in Christ than the Jews. His fame having spread, a Roman officer, called a centurion, which signifies one that has the command of a hundred men, came to entreat him to heal his servant, who was at home sick with the palsy: and Jesus said, I will come and heal him. But the centurion answered, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Jesus, hearing this, said to them that followed, Verily, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel; adding, that many should come from the farthest parts of the world, to sit down in the kingdom of heaven, while the Jews, the children of the kingdom, should be excluded. This extraordinary faith Jesus rewarded with a cure, telling the centurion to go his way; for as he had believed so should it be done. And his servant was healed the same hour.

Maria. When I am sick, I shall be ready to wish I had lived when our Lord was on earth.

Aunt. And do you think, my dear, that the Lord has less sympathy for us now he is in heaven? or, that his power is diminished by his exaltation to glory? Surely not. We have the fullest encouragement at all times to present our supplications, and make known our distresses to him, and may rest assured that the afflictions we labour under, shall either be removed, or be made the means of good to our souls.

The next day, Jesus departed with his disciples from Capernaum, and entered Nain, a city of Galilee, not far from Nazareth, where he met a funeral procession. The sight of the poor afflicted widow, mourning the loss of her beloved and only son, moved the compassion of our Lord, who bade her not to weep, and commanded those who bore the corpse to stand still. He then said, Young man, arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak, and was delivered to his mother. This was so wonderful, that the people glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen up among us, and God hath visited his people.

DIALOGUE VI.

Lucy. WE have been prevented for some days from attending; but, indeed, my dear aunt, it was not from choice but necessity.

Aunt. It has given me great pleasure, my dear

children, to observe the attention you have paid to the subject of our conversations; and I hope, through the blessing of God, it will prove of lasting advantage to you. But we will go on with our history.

John, when he had been about five months in prison, hearing that the fame of Jesus daily increased, sent two of his disciples to our Lord, to inquire if he was the Messiah, or whether they were to look for another?

Lucy. I thought John had full testimony of that at our Lord's baptism, and that he had also declared him to be the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.

Aunt. I should rather think John took this method for the full confirmation of the faith of his disciples.

George. Did our Lord give them a direct answer? Aunt. No. He appealed to his works as a proof of his divine mission; for he wrought miracles in their sight, and then bade them go and inform their master what they had seen. After the departure of these messengers, our Lord continued his discourse to the multitude concerning John, which you will find in Matt. xi. 7-15.

Our Lord went through the cities and villages of Galilee, preaching the joyful tidings of the kingdom of God, being accompanied by his apostles, and some pious women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, with