to show mercy to one poor Gentile woman, who was in trouble. She must have heard of Jesus, and believed Him to be really the Saviour, for she came kneeling to Him, and called Him "Lord." Her cry was for her poor daughter. Satan had entered into her, and she earnestly entreated Jesus to come and cast him out. But Jesus seemed as if He did not even hear her. "Send her away," said the disciples, "for she crieth after us." Jesus answered, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Now, if this poor woman had not been very earnest, she would have gone away, thinking it was of no use for her to go on praying. But did she do this? Oh, no! She became more earnest still. She came and worshipped Jesus saying, "Lord, help me." Jesus spoke again-He said, "It is not meet (or right) to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs." By dogs, He meant the Gentiles. Now hear how meekly and humbly this poor woman replied, "Yes,

Lord, but even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table." And now Jesus would try her faith no longer. "Oh! woman, " said He, "great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter was made quite well directly.

We may all learn from this poor woman's example what it is to be really in earnest in prayer. See how she went on and

on, in spite of all difficulties;—and so we must pray again and again for those blessings which we really desire. Sometimes God seems as if He did not hear us; but this is only to try us, whether we are really anxious for the things we ask. If we persevere, He will certainly hear us, and bless us. By-and-by I shall have to tell you a parable by which Jesus teaches this. We do not hear of anything else which He did in that country.

EVEN the disciples did not always understand Jesus. They had yet a great deal to learn, and Jesus was very kind and tender to them. Once when He was walking with them, He began to tell them how many things He had to suffer; that He should be killed, and would rise again the third day. They could not bear to hear of his suffering. Peter even began to rebuke Him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord." Jesus treated this as if it had been a temptation of Satan. He turned round and said unto Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me.'

Jesus often chose three of his disciples to be with Him, when He could not have

them all with Him.

These three were

Peter, James, and John. About six days after what I have just told you, He took them up into a high mountain. There Jesus prayed, and while He prayed they saw a wonderful change pass upon Him. His face shone like the sun, and his raiment was white and bright as the light. Two men were seen talking with Him about his death. These two men were Moses and Elias, who appeared in their glorified bodies. The three disciples were so astonished and affrighted at this wonderful sight that they knew not what to say. At last Peter cried out, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three tents, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." While he was speaking, a cloud covered them, and they were all filled with fear as they entered the cloud. Soon a voice was heard out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The disciples fell on their faces when they heard this

voice. At last Jesus came and touched them, saying to them in his own kind and gentle manner, "Arise, be not afraid." And now they ventured to look up again, but no one was to be seen except their Lord. Jesus walked down the mountain with them, and desired them to tell no man what they had seen, until He was risen from the dead. They found the other nine disciples with a great crowd of people round them, and all talking very earnestly. As soon as the people saw Jesus, they all ran to meet Him. What do you think was the matter? A poor

I will tell
I will tell you.

man was there whose son had an evil spirit. He had brought him to the disciples, while Jesus was on the mountain, but they could not cast out the devil. Why do you think? Jesus had given them power to cast out devils,-why could they not do it? When they were alone with Him afterwards, they asked Him why it was. Jesus told them it was because they had not been earnest