knowledge of Jesus and his kingdom, as they stand fully revealed, is less than that of the most illiterate gospel minister.

Then Jesus testified that all the people, including the publicans, justified God for punishing sin, when repentance was preached by John, and the people repented not. These also accepted John's baptism; but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God, and were not baptized unto repentance.

SECTION B.-JESUS STILL IN GALILEE.

IS ANOINTED BY

A WOMAN IN SIMON'S HOUSE. HE DISCOURSES.

Luke vii, 36-50.

The anointing, feast, and discourse mentioned here, according to Luke, our only reporter, took place somewhere in Galilee. But this anointing must not be confounded with the one at Bethany, mentioned by Matt. xxvi, 6, Mark xiv, 3, and John xi, 2.

Jesus, wherever he was at this time, was invited by a Pharisee to dine. So Jesus went, and, as usual, took his seat at the table. Just at this time a woman, noted for bad character (what we would call a street-walker or prostitute), seeing Jesus sitting, and knowing who he was, walked into the room, and brought an alabaster box of ointment with which to anoint his feet. We do not know who this woman was, her name, nor anything else. It has been supposed, and even said, by many, that it was Mary Magdalene; but there is no really good reason for such supposition and assertion. This supposition grew from two sources; namely, first, that Jesus was at this time near Capernaum and Magdala, the home of this Mary, and that this convenience brought her into the presence of Jesus. Second, because it is written that Jesus cast seven devils out of this Mary. But neither one of these reasons is sufficient to positively declare that this woman was Mary Mag

dalene. On the other hand, the distance we are from Magdala and Capernaum, and the lifetime character of Magdalene with Jesus, go to tell us loudly that in all probability this was not Mary Magdalene; for she would have hardly been so far from home at this time and so bold among strangers. And she was always the most leading of the female disciples, the most intimate friend of Jesus to the last, and she was always found in the association of the best women who followed Jesus, all of which point out that she was not of bad character; but the woman here was.

However it was, this woman was very penitent, and anxious to become saved. She was not ashamed; but stood behind Jesus and at his feet as he reclined at the table, and wept till her tears washed his feet. Then with her flowing hair she wiped them, and kissed, and anointed them with the precious ointment.

Then the Pharisee who invited Jesus, as usual, began to murmur; but this he did inwardly. He said, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner." We must credit Jesus for this inward thinking of the Pharisee; for if he had not brought it to light, we would not have it. Jesus brought it to light as follows: He said, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most?" Now Simon answers, "I suppose that he to whom he forgave most." Jesus replied, "Thou hast rightly judged." Then Jesus turned to the woman, and said unto the Pharisee: "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman,

since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou dist not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore, I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Then Jesus turned to the poor, penitent sinner, in her weeping and mourning under sin and the accusing conscience, and said, "Thy sins are forgiven."

Other Pharisees, doubtless, who were invited, began also to say inwardly, "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" This questioning was not sincere, but rather in ridicule. But for the comfort of the woman, Jesus again spoke, and said, Never mind any hinting jeers or doubtings, "thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace."

This beautiful and affecting passage is so true to point out Christianity and humanity. Jesus shows here a smiling face and a tender, sympathetic, and forgiving spirit, while man sets himself up in frowns upon sin, criticises, repels, and would show no mercy to them not half so bad as he is himself.

Jesus had said, however, many publicans and harlots would "come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. viii, 11, 12.) This prophecy is fulfilled here in this poor harlot, who, repenting truly, gets forgiveness, while the self-righteous Pharisees go on, in their blindness and sin, to hell, unforgiven.

SECTION C.-JESUS PREACHES IN GALILEE.

Luke viii, 1-3.

We now notice Jesus giving special attention to proclaiming the glad tidings of repentance and remission of sins. He is en route, and visiting the cities and villages

of Galilee. He is attended by his disciples, and not only so, but by certain women whom he had healed of infirmities, of evil spirits, and those out of whom he had cast devils. Also, there were women of rank, such as Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others. These women ministered unto Jesus of their substance, and cared for his temporal necessities. This is the first account of women disciples attending him, and these were principally up from about Capernaum, and, most probably, were at some city or town not far distant, to which Jesus had come preaching; for Jesus was then preaching on his way back to Capernaum. These women would gladly join this holy company of Jesus and the twelve at any time, when convenient and near, that they might hear Jesus and join in his saving work. They were quite anxious to hear Jesus now; for it had been several weeks since he had been about the sea. He left after the great sermon in the summer, and it was now in the early fall. Anyway, Jesus has journeyed on toward the sea, and we shall next find him in Capernaum, where he continued his beneficent labors.

SECTION 12.-JESUS AT CAPERNAUM.

HE HEALS A DUMB AND BLIND MAN. HIS DISCOURSE SUBSEQUENTLY.

Matt. xii, 22-37.

Jesus has now returned to Capernaum, his home, and the friends of a man, both blind and dumb and possessed with a devil, brought him to Jesus to be cured of these three great and incurable maladies-blindness, dumbness, and a devil. Jesus, upon their solicitation, and looking at the pitiable subject, was moved with compassion to act. This poor man had, through the effects of sin and the devil in him, lost one of his senses and the use of his vocal powers; hence, he was in a desperate condition. Jesus had had no patient through whom he could more certainly demonstrate his miraculous power to the unquestionable convic

tion of both friends and foes. This man's case required, as it were, a miracle in a miracle. He was threefoldly impaired. Jesus had to restore sight by recreating the visual organs; had to restore hearing by regenerating the interior ears; for the entire life of the parts had been exhausted; and then had to use, as the strong man, his powers to bind the devil and expel him. Jesus did all that was needed, and set the man up perfectly sound again. But just how he did it we do not know. We do n't know but that he said to the eyes, "Be open;" and to the ears, "Be unstopped;" and to the devil, "Come out of the man." If not this, he may have touched the man's eyes and ears, and thus restored them. But he was saved, it matters not how, and the people were witnesses; for they were amazed, and questioned, "Is not this the Son of David?" This was to ask, Is this not the prophetic Messiah? Does he not fulfill all expectations of the Christ? Who but the Messiah could do such things as these? But there were the same old adversaries of Jesus, the Pharisees, who, when they heard such questions, and knowing that they were questions of the people's convictions, said, "This fellow [notice the epithet, "fellow," though not original, yet it appropriately expresses the sense] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub, the prince of devils." Alas, what a prejudicial, false, absurd, and wicked statement! What a hard devil to kill is prejudice! This cowardly meanness, however, they only spoke among themselves. They did not openly contradict Jesus in the crowd; for the act of healing was too convincing, and had too much sway upon the people. But Jesus cares nothing for a man's words to be able to read his thoughts. He read such thoughts in their hearts, to which he confoundingly replied, "Every kingdom divided. against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." talk which the daily experiences of the people taught to

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