when he was nearly thirty years of age, John called the Baptist, preached that Christ was about to appear; and when John baptized multitudes, Jesus came to be baptized also, and a voice from Heaven announced, "Thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased."

6. The first preaching of Jesus is related thus by St. Luke. "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee; and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias: and when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him."

7. Immediately after Jesus was baptized he attached followers to himself, who believed they had found the Messiah; and he not only taught as never man spake before, but he performed miracles. The first related in the gospel is the transformation of water to wine in Cana of Gali

lee.

Other miracles he frequently exhibited, and all to do good; and in order to teach and to bene

fit his countrymen as much as possible, ne appointed twelve persons to perform the same benevolent offices which, he did.

8. Christ chose from his disciples the twelve apostles, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheus, Simon called Zelotes, Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot. On a certain time, Jesus having miraculously fed five thousand men, those who had seen the miracle said, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone."

9. Our Saviour recommended to the Jews to submit to the Roman government, and himself paid a tribute or tax demanded of him; and when he enjoined Peter to do it he said, "Lest we offend them," Thus ready was he to submit to all civil regulations.

10. On one occasion he entered Jerusalem as a king, but in the humblest manner. He often preached that his kingdom was not of this world. The entry into Jerusalem is thus described. "And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

11. The Pharisees, and priests of the Jews became jealous of the influence of Jesus. He did not attempt to alter the forms of the Jewish worship, but he commanded those whom he healed to show themselves to the priest, and to make the religious offering which the law required. He came, he said, "not to destroy but to fulfil" God's purposes; and he did good and not evil every hour of his life.

12. The chief priests and Pharisees were wicked and artful me and when Jesus reproved their practices, they knew that he brought them into contempt, therefore they accused him of pretending to be a king, and carried him before Pilate the Roman governor, hoping that he would condemn him for the crime of assuming the dignity of a prince in the Roman dominions.

13. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, and would have released him, but the people persisted in their accusation, and to satisfy them he released a malefactor instead of Jesus. In consequence of this sentence, Jesus after suffering many indignities and insults, was crucified between two thieves. This transaction is related in the 27th chapter of Matthew, the 15th of Mark, the 23rd of Luke, and the 19th of John. Read these chapters.

14. Before his condemnation Jesus knew the designs of his enemies, and he knew that his innocence would not avail him any thing; his spirit sunk under the prospect of his sufferings, and he prayed "Father, if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me"-spare me the agony of this cruel death; but he was perfectly willing to submit to

his Father, and again he said, "Let not my will but thy will be done."

15. Joseph, a rich Jew of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, disciples and friends of Jesus, begged his body of Pilate, and interred him in a new sepulchre, but the third morning after the crucifixion, the affectionate Mary Magdalene went to the place where Jesus had lain, and he was no longer there, but he shortly appeared and spoke to Mary and his disciples. This memorable event is called the Resurrection, and is a proof, as he rose from the grave and afterwards ascended into Heaven, that all men shall never die, but have everlasting life.

16. After the resurrection Jesus showed himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen forty days, and conversing with his disciples concerning the kingdom of God, that is, concerning obedience to God's laws, their duty as his followers, and their prospects in another life, in which God will reward every man according to his deeds, assigning punishment and misery to the guilty and impenitent; glory, honour, and immortality to them who forsake their sins, and obey God's laws, which are revealed in the Gospel.

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS.

1. This great preacher of righteousness was a perfect pattern of piety and of submission to his Father's will in all things. He was eminently active in the discharge of the work to which he

.

was appointed, going about doing good without ceasing. He was an obedient son, being subject to his parents. He was a kind friend, as his attachment to John the disciple, and to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus their brother, shows.

2. He was full of compassion, and generous sympathy-he wept at the grave of Lazarus, and gave wine at the wedding feast of Galilee. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and instructed the ignorant. He abhorred all hypocrisy, and without fear of the wealthy and powerful Pharisees, he dared to reprove their pretended piety. Such was his reverence for religion and the places of worship, that he drove profane men from the temple, when they made a market of it.

3. He had a sincere love of truth, and taught it even at the expense of his life. He was kind to the evil and the unthankful; patient under every insult; a peace-maker, endeavouring to reconcile those who hated one another; full of mercy towards his enemies and persecutors, praying, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." He possessed unbounded liberality of benevolence. He was a Jew, and dwelt among his own people, whom he sometimes called the "children of the kingdom," but he spoke honourably of the virtues of the Samaritans whom they despised; he respected that Roman centurion, of whom he said "I have not found so great faith, no, not in all Israel"-among all the Israelites; and he declared, "he that worketh righteousness, of every nation" shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven-the rewards of the righteous.

4. There is no need that the infinite goodness of this perfect being, who was "like unto us, sin