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God.

enough in prayer, and had not had faith in Well, the poor father told Jesus what a dreadful state his son was in; how he was sometimes cast into the fire, and sometimes into the water. He was not quite sure that Jesus could cure him, but he said, “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." Jesus told him that if only he could believe, anything was possible to him. The poor father burst into tears and cried out, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Jesus then spoke to the evil spirit. It came out of the child, and he was made

quite well. All the people were filled with wonder; this will not surprise you, I am

sure.

Soon after this, when Jesus was at Capernaum, they that collected the tributemoney came to Peter, and said, "Does your Master pay tribute ?" "Yes," said Peter. Now Jesus had no money to pay with. What do you think He would do?

it

He sent Peter to the sea, told him to cast a hook, and take the very first fish that he caught. I dare say you think he was to sell this fish to pay the tribute. No; something more wonderful than that. Peter was to open his mouth, and Jesus told him he would find a piece of money. Peter did as Jesus commanded him : he caught a fish, opened his mouth, and found a piece of money, which was exactly enough to pay his own tribute-money and Peter's.

You see, dear children, that, though Jesus was Lord of heaven and earth, He became so poor that He could not pay the small sum of fifteen pence without working a miracle. Why did He so humble himself? St. Paul tells us: "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. viii. 9.)

CHAPTER XV.

JESUS TEACHING LESSONS OF HUMILITY

AND FORGIVENESS.

AND now I think you will be very much surprised at what I have to tell you about the disciples. It shows us how weak even good people are in themselves. As they were on the way to Capernaum, they were disputing together who should be the greatest. Perhaps they did not think at the time that Jesus knew anything about this strange quarrel. But when they were come into the house He asked them, "What was it that ye disputed about by the way ?" They were too much ashamed to answer Him. (Mark ix. 34.) Then Jesus sat down, and took a little child and set him in the midst of them. He told them that no

one could really be his disciple unless he was as humble and as willing to be taught as a little child. If any one of them wished to be greater than the others, he was to be less than all. Jesus talked a great deal to them about being humble and forgiving. Peter asked how often he must forgive any one who offended him. He said, “Must I forgive him seven times ?” Peter thought that would be very often; but Jesus told him he must be willing to forgive seventy times seven, if necessary. He then taught them, by a beautiful parable, the true secret of a forgiving spirit. A certain king had many servants. He wished to reckon with them. One of these servants owed him a great deal of money, nearly two hundred pounds of our money. The man had nothing to pay with, and his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had. When the servant heard this, he fell down at his feet, and begged for time, to try and raise the

money, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." His kind lord saw his distress, and was very sorry for him. He loosed him, and forgave him the whole of the debt. "Oh!" you think, "how full of thankfulness that poor man must have been." But now, see whether it was so. A short time after he went out, and saw one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a small sum of money (about three pounds). In a rough manner he took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that thou owest." The poor man begged, just as he had begged his lord, to give him time, and he would pay him all. Not one moment would he wait, but cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. Now when the other servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and went and told it to their lord. Do you not think it was quite just that his lord should now punish this wicked man? Oh, yes! he called him, and said unto him, "Oh thou wicked servant! I forgave thee

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