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and reasoned with them, He withdrew secretly, perhaps miraculously, to Bethabara beyond Jordan, where many resorted to Him, and believed on Him.

Jesus at Bethabara,-at Bethany.-The Raising of Lazarus.-The Conversion of Zaccheus.-Christ's · last Journey to Jerusalem. Matt. xix. xx. xxvi. 6-13. Mark x. xiv. 3-9. Luke xviii. 15–43. xix. 1-27, John xi. xii. 1-11.

The

During our Lord's retreat, several instructive discourses and interesting events occurred; not the least so, was that of parents in the fulness of tender anxiety bringing their little children to Jesus, and entreating Him to lay His hands on them and bless them. disciples considered this a troublesome intrusion on the attention of their Master, and they rebuked those who brought the little ones; but the Great and Good Shepherd, of whom it was predicted that He should gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom," expressed displeasure at this mistaken interference of the disciples, and, with godlike majesty and condescension, took the children in his arms, saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." By this delightful instance of the Redeemer's compassion and condescension, let parents be encouraged in earnest supplisation for their infant race-let little children be encouraged to seek an interest in His favour-and let all learn the dispositions necessary to constitute us subjects of

the Messiah's kingdom-the humility, meekness, simplicity, obedience, and dependence of little children.

About the same time, a certain young ruler came, with much apparent eagerness and docility, to inquire of the Teacher sent from God, what he must do to inherit eternal life?-Jesus knew his heart, and saw there much self-righteousness and worldlymindedness, and so framed his answer as to reprove and expose both these dispositions. "What must I do," said the young man, "to inherit eternal life?" -Ah! how little did he understand of the value of eternal life, or of the weakness of his own nature, to imagine that his doings could merit such a boon. Jesus, however, answered him on his own principles, by pointing to the moral law-and to the second table of it, obedience or failure in which, would be more palpable than in the immediate exercises of the heart towards God-"Thou knowest the commandments-Do not commit adultery-Do not kill -Do not steal-Do not bear false witness-Honour thy father and thy mother." When these commandments were presented, in all their spirituality and force, to the enlightened mind of the apostle Paul, they proved the means of convincing him of his own depravity and weakness, and led him to exclaim, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?" Rom. vii.-but the young ruler, with amazing selfcomplacency, replied to our Lord, "All these have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?" The omniscient Jesus, no doubt, could have referred the

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