24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; A.D. 30. OF THE 27. And whosever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. 28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 29. And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. beforehand, but those in some way selected by the Father himself, because he knew they could be best trained and fitted for the work. This is the ideal we are seeking after in our city and national govern ments. A watch wheel is good in a watch, but is entirely unfitted to be a part of a steam engine. LIBRARY.-24. Mrs. Gatty's "Parables from Nature," "Imperfect Instruments." Bulwer's "Pilgrims of the Rhine,' the Journey of the Virtues." 28. HE THAT WILL BE CHIEF AMONG YOU LET HIM BE YOUR SERVANT. LOCH KATRINE, embowered among the Highlands of Scotland, a poem in water, immortalized in story and song till it seems almost transfigured with a glory beyond its natural beauty and charm, is yet the source of the water supply of the city of Glasgow, flowing down among the homes of the poor, cleansing the filth from the streets, 'bringing refreshment, cheer, comfort, cleanliness, and health everywhere. So to every one who has the Gospel, or possesses wealth, culture, education, talent, is given the privilege and duty of sending the living water in copious streams to the heathen, to the poor, to the sinful, to all who are in need. PICTURE.-The Angels in the Kitchen. LIBRARY.-28. "A ransom for many." Sophocles' "Edipus." "For one soul working in the strength of love Is mightier than ten thousand to atone." 30. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace; but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. Reference.—30-34. See on ix. 27–30. 30. TWO BLIND MEN.-Mark and Luke speak only of one, Bartimeus. Variations in the Narrative. In the stories of the different evangelists there are a number of variations and sometimes almost slight contradictions. However, we must remember that this is always true of independent histories of an event seen by different observers from different standpoints, and is a proof of the reliability of the story. If all had exactly agreed, it would be proof of collusion. The same event presents a different aspect to each observer. Even if there were contradictions, which there are not, they would not discredit the fact. Thus there was a real battle of Waterloo, although as Chadwick says, When the When the generals of Henry the Fourth strove to tell him what passed after he was wounded at Aumale, no two of them agreed in the course of events which gave them victory. Two armies beheld the battle of Waterloo, but who can tell when it began? At ten o'clock, said the Duke of Wellington. At half-past eleven, said General Alava, who rode beside him. At twelve, according to Napoleon and Drouet; and at one, according to Ney." Probably it began at different times in differents parts. See also Whately's "Historic Doubts" concerning Napoleon. Battle of Waterloo began. SO MANY BLIND IN PALESTINE.-A well-known commentator in mentioning this difficulty, refers to fourteen or fifteen proposed ways of harmonizing the discrepancies. What nonsense! why whenever you enter any city or any village in the East you are likely to find one blind man on one side of the way, and two blind men on the other side of the way, and all three of them are sure to call on you for help. -H. C. Trumbull, in Studies in Oriental Social Life. BLIND BARTIMEUS. Blind Bartimeus at the gates Of Jericho, in darkness waits; He hears the crowd; he hears a breath Say, "It is Christ of Nazareth!" And calls in tones of agony, Ἰησοῦ, ἐλέησόν με [Jesus, mercy have on me!] The thronging multitudes increase; [Take courage, rise, he calleth thee!] Then saith the Christ, as silent stands A.D. 30. March. PEREA. THE TWO BLIND MEN. LIBRARY.-Mrs. Browning's sonnet, "Perplexed Music." COMPENSATIONS.-God's compensatory law is at work also, and it is interesting to watch its workings. It is a curious fact that most of those who suffer from mental and physical defects possess unusual excellence of character, or rare brilliancy of mind. Such have enriched the world with beauties which the most felicitous might covet, but could never produce. Such were Democritus (of whom it was said, "though born blind, he saw more than all Greece besides"), Horace, Fra Angelico, Milton, and the beloved Cowper, Blaise Pascal, and hosts of others. There are paths so dark that they who tread them would fain cry out with fear, did they not hear the strains and breathe the aroma floated to them from the celestial gardens. As the moon sees the face of the sun, and therefore makes the earth glad, so they feel the Hand that guides them, and are content. Such souls with triumph sing: "I know whom thou wilt glorify, And raise o'er sun and stars on high, Thou leadst thro' depths of darkness here!" THE RECOVERY OF SIGHT.-"A maiden some sixteen years of age had all her life been the unconscious victim of a blemish in her eyes that hindered perfect vision. A surgical operation was finally agreed upon and successfully made. One evening, some time after her recovery, she went into the open air after nightfall. She rushed into the parlor, the joy of a great discovery lighting up every feature. 'Oh, come!' she exclaimed-'come out quickly to the lawn, and see what beautiful things have appeared in the sky!' Her friends hastily followed her out of doors, wondering what might have occurred. They saw nothing. What do you mean?' they asked her. 'Look!' she said; 'don't you see those bright things sparkling all over the sky?' 'My dear child,' one who loved her, said, softly, 'Those are the stars!' Heaven is full of shining lights that God has hung out to charm the pathway to His eternal home, to lure you upward, to show you how far eternity exceeds time in beauty, how far heaven rises beyond earth in value and glory. Yet your eyes are still withholden. Oh, for the hand of Him who opened the eyes of the blind to touch your soul, and give you sight of these realities." REFERENCE. See on ix. 27. -Dr. McCook. CHAPTER XXI. 1. And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2. Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her : loose them, and bring them unto me. 3. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, A.D. 30. MOUNT OF OLIVES AND TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. 9. 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. PICTURE. The Triumphal Entry, Doré, Plockhörst, Bida. 8. SPREAD (kept spreading) THEIR GARMENTS, outer garments.— "They took off their own outer robes, somewhat on the principle that actuated the heart of young Sir Walter Raleigh, when, on Queen Elizabeth coming to a miry part of the road, and hesitating for an instant how to step across, he took off his new plush mantle, and spread it on the ground. Her majesty trod gently over the fair foot-cloth.'"-Morison. Sir Walter EXAMPLE AT Bethlehem.—" At that time (1834) when some of the inhabitants of Bethlehem, who had participated in the rebellion, were already imprisoned, and all were in keep distress, Mr. Farrar, then English consul at Damascus, was on a visit to Jerusalem, and rode out with Mr. Nicolayson to Solomon's Pools. On their return, as they rode the ascent to enter Bethlehem, hundreds of people, male and female, met them, imploring the consul to interfere in |