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to see the great prophet of Israel. As he was a man of small stature, he climbed up into a sycamore tree which overhung the road by which Jesus was to pass; in this situation he was recognized by our Lord, who, knowing the sincerity of his faith, called out to him, "Zacchæus, make haste, and come down ; for to day I must abide at thy house." The publican, overjoyed, made haste to descend, he provided a rich entertainment at his house, and, when Jesus entered, he stated the rules that guided his transactions in life, saying, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Jesus replied, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

About this time Lazarus, who had so hospitably received our Lord at Bethany, was seized with a dangerous disease: his sisters immediately sent intelligence to Jesus, saying, in the language of simple affection, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." When our Lord heard the news, he said to his disciples, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be

glorified thereby." He remained therefore two days longer in the place where he was, when he received Martha's message, which was probably somewhere in the vicinity of Jericho. After that, he said to his disciples, "Let us go into Judæa again." They answered, "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone. thee; and goest thou thither again?" These terrors were not groundless, but our Lord was anxious that his disciples should know how to support themselves under unmerited persecutions by a consciousness of rectitude, he therefore replied, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." He then added, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." Finding that the disciples did not understand this figurative allusion, Jesus plainly told them, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

When they reached Bethany, they found that Lazarus was not only dead, but had lain four days in the grave. As the village was not more than two

miles from Jerusalem, many people came from the city to console Martha and Mary, for the loss of their brother, so that when Jesus drew near the house was crowded with company. Martha, hearing of Christ's approach, went forth to meet him, and when she saw him, exclaimed, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Jesus replied that her brother would rise again from the dead, to which she responded that she knew her brother would rise again at the general resurrection. Our Lord then asserting his divinity, declared, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Martha eagerly testified her faith, saying, "Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." She then went for her sister Mary, who, on approaching Jesus, burst into tears; our Lord himself shewed the emotions of his compassionate nature, and wept with her. The mournful procession then went towards the grave, which according to the custom of the country, was a large cavern in the side of a rock, having its

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