ped Him. He had faith, too, for he said, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." He knew Jesus could; he did not know whether He would heal him. Jesus put forth his hand, touched him, and said, "I will, be thou clean." In a moment he felt that his leprosy was cleansed. Dear children, can you cure yourselves of the leprosy of sin? Can your parents, or friends, or your minister, cure you?

Oh, no, for it cleaves to them, too, by nature. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can cure it. Go to Him, and "Lord

say,

I know thou canst make me clean, and I know thou art willing too. Oh! heal my sinful soul! 'Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.'"

I must now tell you of a poor man who could not walk to Jesus to be healed. He could not get up from his bed, for he had no strength in his limbs. How do you think he would manage to get near to the Saviour? You shall hear.

Jesus was in the house at Capernaum, and, as every one now knew what wonderful things He

had done, a great number of people got together round Him, so that they filled up all the doorways. This poor man was determined to get near Him, so he persuaded four men to carry him up in his bed, upon the roof of the house. The roofs of the houses are not sloping in those countries, as they are in ours. They are made flat, so that people can walk, and even sleep on them in hot weather. Now see how these men persevered in getting the poor cripple near to Jesus. They uncovered the roof, made a hole in it, tied some long cords round the bed, and let it down into the midst of the room where He was. not only cured the poor man's body, He told him his sins were forgiven. Immediately strength came into his limbs, he got up from off his bed, rolled it up, and carried it out before all the people. You will understand how it was that he carry away his bed so easily, if I tell you that it is only a kind of light mattress which is used in that country for a bed.

could

Jesus

Dear children, learn a lesson from this poor

man! See how earnest he was in trying to get near to Jesus. You must be earnest too, if you would have your sins forgiven and your soul saved,

CHAPTER VIII.

JESUS AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA.

SOON after this, Jesus went again to Jerusalem, to the feast of the Passover. While He was there, He walked one Sabbath-day by a very large piece of water, called the Pool of Bethesda. Round this pool were five porches, or little houses. Sick people used to bathe in the water, and most likely those porches had been built for them to rest, or wait in. At a certain time, an angel used go down and trouble the water. The first person who dipped in the water after this was made quite well. When Jesus passed by, a great many sick people were waiting there, some blind, some lame. Among them was one poor man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. He was quite helpless, and could not move himself. Oh, how the kind Saviour pitied him! He stopped and asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" "Oh, Sir,"

to

he answered," indeed I would; but I have no hope of ever being cured. I have no one to help me, and when I am trying to get to the water, some one else steps in before me." Do you think Jesus would leave him in this sad condition? Oh, no! He said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." As soon as the words were spoken the impotent man found that he could walk with ease, and carry his bed. The Jews were very angry when they saw him carrying his bed on the Sabbath. The poor man answered them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, 'Take up thy bed.'" He felt sure he could not do wrong in obeying one who had power to heal him. You will see more about keeping the Sabbath by another little history.

Jesus and his disciples had occasion one Sabbath to pass through a corn-field. The disciples were hungry, and plucked some ears of corn to eat. This was not wrong in itself (Deuteronomy xxiii. 25), but the Pharisees were much displeased at their doing it on that day. Jesus told