in their eyes as that a man should make himself equal with God. They took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus in a wonderful manner escaped from them, passing through the very midst of them, and yet hiding himself from them.

CHAPTER XVII.

JESUS QUESTIONED BY A LAWYER.

ONE day when Jesus was teaching, a lawyer stood up, and asked Him a very important question. The lawyers were very learned in the law of Moses, and explained it to the people. This lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to get to heaven.

Now, I am afraid he did not really care to know, but only wanted to hear what Jesus would say. Jesus asked him what he read in the law. "I read there," said the lawyer, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbour as thyself.' "Thou hast answered rightly," said Jesus; "do this, and thou shalt live."

Now, the lawyer knew that he had never loved God with all his heart, but he did not wish to confess his sin; so, to excuse himself, he inquired, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus answered him by a very beautiful parable. A certain man was travelling from. Jerusalem to Jericho on foot. He was attacked by thieves, who stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and left him half dead lying upon the ground. While he was lying there in this sad state, a priest came down that way, looked at him, and passed by on the other side. Soon after a Levite passed by, and he, too, turned away, without trying to help or comfort him in any way. Presently another man came past; but he was a Samaritan. Now, you remember the Jews and Samaritans were not friendly; but this man's heart was full of kindness; he could not bear to see the distress of the poor wounded man. Going up to him, he bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine; then he set him on his . own beast, and took him to the nearest inn.

There he had him taken care of. The next

day this kind Samaritan was obliged to go on his journey. Before he set out, he called the master of the house, and, taking out two pence, he gave them to him.

"Take care of this sick man,'

" said he, and, if you spend more for him, I will repay you when I come this way."

This was the parable. Jesus now asked the lawyer which of the three-the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan-was neighbour to him that fell among thieves. He answered, that the one who showed mercy was his neighbour. "Then," said Jesus, "go thou, and do likewise."

Are you not very much shocked, dear children, at the conduct of the Priest and Levite? I am sure you are. You see then how disgusting as well as sinful selfishness is. St. Paul teaches us a very sweet lesson when he says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Phil. ii. 4.)

CHAPTER XVIII.

JESUS AND THE HAPPY FAMILY AT

BETHANY.

I AM now going to tell you about a very happy family who lived at Bethany, a little village a short distance from Jerusalem. Why were they so happy, do you think? "Perhaps," you say, "they were very rich." No, dear children, that would not have made them so happy. One little verse tells us how it was. "Now, Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus ;" and He often stayed at their house when He was near Jerusalem. Those must be happy whom Jesus loves. The first time we read anything about Martha and Mary was when Jesus was travelling, and they received Him into their house. As soon as Jesus