follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest." He imagined that our Lord was about to establish an earthly kingdom in which he might hope to occupy an important position. But Jesus, knowing his thoughts, made answer: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." As if He had said: "My dwelling is not on earth; I am but a passenger through this world, in which I possess not even a shelter."

5. Jesus sitting one day in the Temple, opposite the treasury, observed some persons casting money into it. Some of these were rich people, and they bestowed large sums. But among them was a poor widow who cast in two small copper coins, called mites, the two worth one farthing. Then Jesus said to His disciples: "Amen, I say to you, that this poor widow has given more than all the others. For they offered to God a part of their abundance, while she, in her poverty, bestowed all she had, even the money on which she depended for her subsistence."

6. It is the good will and upright intention accompanying our prayers and alms, and not the length of the one, or the amount of the other, which renders them acceptable in the sight of God. Ennobled by these dispositions, the smallest offering acquires value in His eyes.

7. On another occasion a certain man said to Jesus, "Lord, are they few that are saved ?"

And Jesus answered, addressing not only the

individual who had proposed the question, but all the bystanders equally, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate, for many I say to you shall seek to enter, and shall not be able."

These words of our Lord teach us that we should look on the all-important affair of our salvation as deserving of every exertion, even the most painful and difficult; and that those who defer their conversion to the hour of death run a fearful risk of losing their souls in the end.

8. Peter one day asked our Divine Redeemer how often he should forgive his offending brother. "Must I," he enquired, "forgive him seven times ?" A seven times renewed pardon evidently appeared to him a great stretch of charity. But Jesus answered: "I say not to thee seven times, but seventy times seven times." In obedience to the precept of our heavenly Master, we must therefore utterly renounce all hatred and ill-will, and generously forgive as often as we are offended. Let us

make this, and all the other ordinances of Jesus contained in the foregoing lesson, the subject of our constant study, for by their faithful observance we shall merit for ourselves eternal life.

QUESTIONS.

1. Which of the commandments did our Lord declare to be the first and greatest?

2. In what words did Jesus invite us to recur to Him in our wants, and encourage us to observe His precepts ?

3. How did He impress us with the necessity of allowing nothing to shake our resolution of serving God?

4. What did Jesus say to the man who applied to Him under the false persuasion that He was going to found an earthly kingdom?

5. What did He say of the widow's mite ? 6. What renders our alms and other good works pleasing to God?

7. What did our Lord say to those who wish to be saved?

8. How often should we forgive our neighbour?

66 In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments."

"For this is the charity of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not heavy."-1 St. John v. 2, 3.

LESSON XXXII.

DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

1. Herod, son to the king of the same name who had ordered the massacre of the children at Bethlehem, reigned in Judea at the time of the preaching of John the Baptist and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Being anxious to see John, of whom report spoke so loudly, he

summoned him to his court. The holy Baptist profited of the opportunity to reproach the king for his crimes, and especially for having married Herodias, the wife of his brother, although the latter was still living.

Herod knew that John was a just and saintly man, so he listened to, and reflected on his advice, and even followed it on some points, though not on this. But the wicked Herodias conceived a violent hatred against him, and resolved on his destruction. In pursuance of her plan she persuaded Herod to apprehend and imprison him, but much as she wished to have him put to death, she could not prevail on Herod to conquer his fear of the people sufficiently to give the order for his execution. An opportunity for the accomplishment of her wicked design soon, however, presented itself.

2. Herod celebrated his birthday by a great feast, to which he invited his courtiers, his chief officers, and the principal inhabitants of Galilee; and during the repast, Herodias's daughter, then still a child, entered the apartment, and so delighted Herod and his courtiers by her dancing, that in the momentary excitement, the king said to her, "Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it to thee, even though it should be half my kingdom." This rash promise he confirmed with an oath.

The girl hastened to communicate the news to her mother, and to consult her as to what she should ask. And her mother replied, "Ask for the head of John the Baptist." Then the girl returned in haste to the king,

and demanded that the head of the Baptist should be given to her in a dish.

Herod was grieved and dismayed at the horrible request, but ashamed to break the oath he had so rashly taken in the hearing of his guests, he did not dare to refuse. He therefore sent executioners to the prison with orders to cut off, and bring in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.

In compliance with the barbarous order, the executioner cut off the head of the holy Precursor of Jesus, and bringing it all covered with blood to the girl, she took it in a dish to her mother.

We sometimes see vice triumphant it is true, but we must then remember that the joy of the wicked is of short duration, and that either in this life or the next, the justice of God is sure to overtake them.

3. We must not pass lightly over the circumstances of this frightful history. We see in it the gradual but sure and fearful progress of passion. Herodias, who began by deserting her husband, ended by becoming guilty of murder, and, to add to the enormity of her crime, making her daughter an accomplice, and the instrument of her revenge.

We learn also from this history, the danger and sinfulness of rash oaths. Herod, although he esteemed and respected the Baptist, sacrificed his life, through fear of breaking a promise made without due consideration.