LESSON VI.

24. And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it but he could not be hid.

25. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

26. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation: and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

27. Bat Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

23. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

29. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

30. And when she was come to her house,

May 7, 1882.

she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

31. And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

32. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

31. And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him. Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

37. And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

26. A Greek, a

Ques. 19. Whence knowest thou this! Ans. From the holy Gospel, which God Himself first revealed in Paradise; and afterwards published by the patriarchs and pro

phets, and was pleased to represent it by the shadows of sacrifices, and the other ceremonies of the law; and lastly has accomplished it by His only begotten Son.

Verse 24. Whither did Jesus go? Was it customary to go amongst the heathen? What did He wish to escape?

25. What brought the woman to Christ? Was she herself afflicted? How did she salute the Master?

26. Did she belong to God's covenant people? Was she a believer in Jesus? What ailed her child?

27. How did Jesus at first receive her

prayer? Did He intend to send her away, or to prove her faith?

28. Who are meant by dogs? Who by the children? Are dogs entitled to crumbs ?

29. From what did her saying proceed? Did her faith stand the trial? Can one

30. Was her faith rewarded? person's faith then avail for others? 31-32. What ailed this man? Does deafness generally lead to stammering and loss of speech?

33-35. What did the Healer do and say? Was the cure complete? Does the deaf soul speak God's praise? Must the ear of the soul be opened? By whom can this be done?

36-37. What testimony do the people bear concerning Christ's works? What prayer should every hearer make? See Ps. 51: 15.

LESSON VI.

May 7, 1882.

Fourth Sunday after Easter.

I. A MOTHER'S PRAYER ANSWERED, vs. 24-36. Our Lord confined His ministry to the Jewish people; but never refused the prayer of any heathen sufferer who needed His help, as we learn in this lesson. Seeking rest and safety, He went to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon-that is, into the border land between the Jews and the Gentiles. His presence could not be kept secret, for His fame had preceded Him. In chapter 3: v. 8, we learn that He had hearers from Tyre and Sidon, among whom may have been this woman. Her daughter was afflicted with that worst of evils-the influence of an unclean spirit.

The Syro-phenician woman displayed marvelous faith and perseverance in prayer, as is shown by her coming to a Jewish Healer, falling at His feet and beseeching His aid. Matthew (15: 22) quotes the words of her petition: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David!" He also relates that Jesus "answered her not a word." Thereupon His "disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us;" most likely they desired the Master to comply with her request.

V. 27. Let the children first be filled, etc. He seems to discourage her, first by silence, and then by reminding her that she had no claim upon Him. But this was done to try her faith, and to make her still more persevering. Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me. The delay only makes her more importunate.

Children-dogs. The Jews were the children of Abraham, and looked upon Gentiles as mere dogs; and Jesus made use of this expression both to test her, and to show His disciples, that if He did not despise the Gentiles, neither must they henceforth. The bread of life was first to be given to the chosen people, for charity begins at home. But Jesus does not look upon those Gentile strangers as wild, untamed dogs, but uses the word by which the domestic pets were known.

"Yes, Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs!" She turned Jesus' seeming refusal into

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an argument in her own favor. I do not ask for the children's bread, but for their crumbs, which they cast away. Thou hast sufficient for them all, and enough for me. Here is seen her humility also.

In every respect this woman is a model: (1) in her love for her child, (2) in her steadfast faith in Jesus, (3) in her perseverance, (4) in her humility.

V. 29. For this saying-this strong confession of faith. Matthew tells us that He also said: "O woman, great is thy faith." The devil is gone out. You need no longer feel that you are a dog, but one of the children of the feast; take not merely crumbs, but full supplies.

II. A DEAF STAMMERER CURED. Vs. 31-37.

V. 31. Decapolis, ten cities-in the north-eastern part of Palestine. Their population was chiefly heathenish.

V. 32. They bring one that was deaf, etc., literally a deaf stammerer. He could speak, but only indistinctly. He may have been tongue-tied in addition to his deafness. They brought-they beseech. Again this representative faith some believing for others' good, and praying for others' help.

V. 33. Took him aside: (1) because He was seeking retirement and would avoid publicity. (2) His ministry in that region was at an end, since the people had rejected Him. (3) to fix man's attention on Himself and free it from the thoughts of the crowd.

"The Lord does now oftentimes lead a soul apart, sets it in the solitude of a sick chamber, or in loneliness of spirit, or takes away from it earthly companions and friends, when He would speak with it and heal it." (Trench.)

Put His fingers into his ears—touched the part he intended to benefit, and touched his tongue, the other organ that was to receive help. This was the only practical way of holding communication with a deaf man. "It is only that finger of Thy Spirit, Lord Jesus, that can open our ears, and make passage through our ears into our hearts. Let that finger of Thine be put into our ears; so shall our deafness be removed, and we shall hear." (Bishop Hall.)

V. 34. Looking up to heaven, to indicate to the man that all help cometh from above, and not from human might. Like His touching the ear and tongue, it was intended to draw out the man's own faith and tacit obedience. Ephphatha, the Aramaic word for, be opened.

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In thus gradually restoring the man, rather than by a mere word in an instant, our Lord drew forth, encouraged, enticed into strength the feeble faith of the man. He brooded over him with His holy presence of love. He gave the faith time to grow. He cared more for his faith than for his sight. He let him watch Him, feel Him doing it, that he might know and believe." (McDonald.)

Vs. 35. 37. Was loosed. Hearing was restored, and the bond that prevented speech was loosed. The miracle was complete. Tell no man (See comments on v. 33). Jesus was seeking privacy.

But the few who witnessed the miracle could not keep it secret, so great was their astonishment. Their testimony is that of all who have been with Jesus. He hath done all things well.

AFTER MANY DAYS.

In a city mission-school in Hartford, Connecticut, nearly thirty years ago, a kind-hearted teacher toiled faithfully and endured patiently with one boy in his class who seemed thoroughly and hopelessly bad. He visited that boy in his wretched home, he invited him to his own pleasant room, he clothed him, found one place after another of employment for him, spoke to him always in kindness, counselling and warning him untiringly; but all to no seeming purpose. The boy was still wild, coarse, profane, reckless, ungrateful. At last he ran away from his home, and shipped

Liverpool vessel from New York. The end had come to his life in that mission-school; but what a harvest for all that sowing! Three years went by. Then from the interior of British India word came from that boy, saying that he was a soldier in the English army under Sir Colin Campbell, battling against the Sepoys. Already he had marched nine hundred miles, and endured untold privations and hardships.

But there, in that far land, shut in among the mountains, away from home and Christian surroundings, sick in body and sad in spirit, he had recalled the lessons of his Hartford mission-school; and now the aftermath of his discouraged teacher's influence showed itself in his words of penitence and gratitude, and of trust in his Redeemer's love.-S. S. Times.

BEWARE OF UNBELIEF.

Let me warn you, that doubt can only lead you from darkness to darkness, and may, in the end, rob you of all power to believe in God or man. Unbelief is but a poor basis for a good character or a grand life. Faith in God has been the corner-stone of all that is noble in human history, or valuable in human achievements. Add to all your scholarship a study of God's word. Cherish in your

heart a humble and reverential love of

your Maker, and let the beautiful character of Jesus the Christ be your model of excellence and of life. Trust and obey Him.-DR. J. M. GREGORY.

CHURN SLOWLY.

A little maid in the morning sun

Stood merrily singing and churning— "Oh, how I wish this butter was done,

Then off to the fields I'd be turning!" Till the farmer called, with a half-made frown, So she hurried the dasher up and down "Churn slowly!

"Don't ply the dasher so fast, my dear,
It's not so good for the butter,
And will make your arms ache too, I fear,
And put you all in a flutter-
For this is a rule, wherever we turn,
Don't be in a haste whenever you churn-
Churn slowly!

"If you'd see your butter come nice and sweet,
Don't churn with a nervous jerking,
But ply the dasher slowly and neat-

You'll hardly know that you're working; And when the butter has come you'll say, Yes, this is surely the very best way' Churn slowly!"

Now, little folks, do you think that you
A lesson can find in butter?

Don't be in a haste, whatever you do,
And while you stand at life's great churn,
Or get yourself in a flutter;
Let the farmer's words to you return-
"Churn slowly."

-Selected.

LESSON VII.

1. In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

2. I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to at:

3. And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

5. And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

6. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

7. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

8. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets 9. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10. And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalimanutha.

11. And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

May 14, 1882.

12. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13. And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14. Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17. And when Jesus knew it. he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18. Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19. When I brake the five loaves among five thousand how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Ques. 20. Are all men, then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?

Ans. No, only those who are ingrafted into Him and receive all His Lenefits by a true faith.

Verses 1-3. What led Jesus to work this second miracle of feeding the multitudes? Is He still touched by the sufferings of men? (Heb. 4: 15).

4-9. In what points does this miracle differ from the former? Does it teach us the same lessons?

11. What did the Pharisees seek? Did they desire this to confirm faith, or did they wish to entrap Him?

12. Had He not done sufficient miracles to convince any earnest mind? Why did He sigh?

13. To whom is this departure a warning?

14. Was this discourse spoken on land, or on the water?

15. Against what does He warn them? What is leaven commonly called? What does it typify? (See Matt. 16: 11-12). Is there not gospel-leaven, as well as that of hypocrisy?

16-21. What mistake did the disciples make? Did they utter their opinions aloud? How, then, did Jesus know them? Why is it that so many "do not understand?" What blinds the mind? What prayer is suitable for each of us? (See Psalm 119: 18).