Judea, and as far as Tyre and Sidon. Thousands of people came also from the regions along the sea coast, including the last-named cities, so that the multitude who followed Him increased daily. The sick, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, the possessed-that is, persons visibly tormented by the evil spirit-the paralytic, in a word, sufferers of all kinds were eager to approach Him, that by touching them, He might restore them to health. And He healed all, though among those who presented themselves were many sinners and unbelievers.

2. When He looked at the multitudes who came from such a distance to hear His word, and saw that, by reason of their vast number, all could not approach Him, He had compassion on them because they were like sheep that have no shepherd, and He said to His disciples, "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send labourers into His harvest." "the harvest," our Lord signified the souls of men, whom He so ardently desired to bring to the knowledge of the truth.

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To provide means of instruction for the people, He determined to adopt a new plan, but before making it known, He retired, on the evening of that day, to a mountain, and there He spent the whole night in prayer. Our Lord gives us the constant example of fervent and persevering prayer. It was by prayer that He prepared for every action of importance, thus as it were to renew His strength. On this occasion, having prayed the whole night, He chose

twelve from among His disciples at break of day, and summoned them before Him.

3. The names of these twelve were, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, the sons of Zebedee; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who afterwards betrayed his Lord. He sent them two by two, giving them power to instruct the people, and to heal the sick; therefore He called them apostles or messengers, for these two words signify the same thing. 4. He said to them, Go not into the way of the Gentiles;" the time for that is not yet come. "Enter not into the cities of the Samaritans, but go first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel :" that is, to the sinful among my own people. "And on your way, exhort all to penance, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils, and give freely what you have freely received.

"Take with you neither gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses, but only a staff, for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

"And into whatsoever city or town you shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy, and abide in his house till you depart from that place.

And when you enter a house, bless it, saying, 'Peace be to this house.' If that house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but, if it be not worthy, your blessing shall return to you.

5. "And when they will not receive you nor hear your words, going out of that house or city, shake the dust from your feet, for a testimony against it. I say to you, it shall be better for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

"I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for many of them will hate and persecute you on my

account.

6. "The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple if he be treated as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have insilted the Master," that is our Lord Himself, "what will they not do to His servants ?" that is, to the apostles and their successors in the priesthood.

"Fear not them that kill the body, and are mt able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who can cast both body and soul into lell.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and yet not one of them can fall to the ground vithout the permission of your Father. Fear not then, for you are of more value than many sparrows. Even the very hairs of your head are numbered.

"He that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven; but he that shall deny me before men," that shall refuse to acknowledge Me for his Master, and My doctrine, for the rule of his conduct, "I

will also deny him before my Father, and refuse to recognize him as my disciple.

"He that heareth you, heareth Me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth Me.'

7. "He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me.

"He that receiveth you, receiveth Me; ind he that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me.

"And he that shall give even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple; Amen I say to you, he shall no lose his reward."

And when Jesus had ended these instruc tions, His apostles went, two and two, to preaci in the cities and towns, exhorting men b penance, preaching the kingdom of heaven, and healing the sick. Jesus also departed with Hi disciples, and continued to diffuse all aroun His instructions and His benefits.

QUESTIONS.

1. Why did our Lord choose the twelv apostles ?

2. What did He mean by the words harvest and labourers?

3. What were the names of the apostles ?

4. To whom did our Lord first send them? 5. With what punishment did Jesus threaten those who should despise His disciples?

6. Who are now the preachers of God's word to whom we owe respectful obedience?

7. How did Jesus teach that we should love God above all things, and our neighbour for His sake?

"I will set a sign among them, and I will send of them that shall be saved, to the Gentiles ...to the islands afar off, to them that have not heard of Me, and have not seen My glory. And they shall declare my glory to the Gentiles."Isaiah lxvi. 19.

LESSON XXVII.

MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES.

1. The apostles coming together, gave our Lord an account of all they had done and taught. And going into a ship, He took them with Him to a desert place, that they might rest. But the people seeing that He went over the sea of Galilee, followed Him, and soon again He found Himself surrounded by a great multitude. Having compassion on them, He began to teach them, and to cure those among them who were afflicted with diseases.

And when the day was declining, the apostles came to Him, saying, "Master this is a desert place, and the day is now far spent. Send away the people that they may go into the neighbouring villages and towns to purchase food, for we have no provisions here."

But He answered them, "It is not necessary that they should go; do you give them to eat."