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FEBRUARY 9.

LESSON VI.

Septuagesima Sunday. John iv. 1-10.

THE LIVING WATER.

1. When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2. (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples),

3. He left Judea, and departed, again into Galilee.

4. And he must needs go through Samaria. 5. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

1879.

7. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8. (For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat).

9. Then said the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

QUESTIONS.

What does the Greek word Septuagesima mean? Seventy. Why has this Lord's Day the name? Because it falls about seventy days before Easter.

Verse 1. What had the Pharisees heard? Which John is meant here? The Baptist.

2. Why did our Lord not baptize? It was more becoming to baptize converts in His own name. Who did this duty? Did the Apostles, as a rule, baptize after Pentecost? 1 Cor. i. 14-15. Did they confirm by the laying on of hands? Acts viii. 14-17.

3. Why did Jesus flee into Galilee at this time To avoid persecution and death before the time. Luke xiii. 31-33.

4. Where did Samaria lay? Between Judea and Galilee.

5. To what city did He come? What had its old name been? Shechem. What is its present name? Neapolis. Near what mountain was it? Gerizim-40 miles from Jerusalem. (See Gen. xii. 6-8; xxxiii. 19; Is. xxviii. 1-8).

6. How far from the place was the well? An hour's walk. What time for us was the sixth hour? Twelve o'clock.

7. Did women draw and carry water in the East? Gen. xxiv. 11; Ex. ii. 16.

8. Had all the disciples left Jesus, do you think? How was this circumstance then known subsequently? The remaining disciples may have related it; Jesus might have reported it; or the citizens. See v. 43.

9. How did the woman know Jesus to be a Jew? From His dress, or speech. Mark xiv. 70. Who were the Samaritans? See 2 Kings, xvii.; Ezra iv. 2-10; Neh. xiii. 28. They were a people who had a mixed religion-partly Jewish and partly Gentile. Why had the Jews no dealings with them? Because of their heathen origin and impure faith.

10. What does Christ's thirst show? That He was very man. What did Christ mean by "the gift of God?" Himself. John iii. 16; 2 Cor. ix. 15. What is the difference between living and stagnant (dead) water? The former is in fountains and springs; the latter in pools, ponds and cisterns. What are some of the properties of the former? It purifies, quenches, quickens, vivifies. What is the living water, in the spiritual sense? The Life and Grace of Christ. How is it conveyed to us? By the means of Grace.

CATECHISM.

VI. Lord's Day.

15. What sort of a mediator and deliverer, then, must we seek for?

For one who is very man, and perfectly righteous; and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is also very God.

16. Why must He be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature, which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others. 17. Why must He in one person be also very God?

That He might, by the power of His Godhead, sustain, in His human nature, the burden of

God's wrath; and might obtain for and restore to us, righteousness and life.

18. Who then is that mediator, who is in one person both very God, and a real righteous man? Our Lord Jesus Christ; "who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

19. Whence knowest thou this ?!

From the holy Gospel, which God Himself revealed first in Paradise: and afterwards published by the Patriarchs and Prophets, and was pleased to represent it by the shadows of sacrifices, and the other ceremonies of the law and lastly has accomplished it by His only begotten Son.

NOTE.-Septuagesima is a Greek word and means seventy. This Lord's Day is so called because it falls about seventy days before Easter. It is also known as the Third Sunday before Lent (Qua dragesima Sunday) forty days before the fasting season.

COMMENTS.-VERSE 1. John the Baptist had likely been cast into prison about this time. (Matth. iv. 12.) The Pharisees intended to open a direct persecution against our Lord now, since His influence irritated them still more, because "Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John."

VERSE 2.-It was not becoming for our Lord to baptize any one in His own name and person. He left this act to His disciples. Even the Apostles did not themselves baptize, after Pentecost, as a rule, but left this duty to their assistants. 1 Cor. i. 14-15. They performed the laying on of hands, and imparted the Holy Ghost. Acts viii. 1417. From this early division of acts, certain Churches ask their Deacons to baptize whilst Bishops confirm.

VERSE 3.-Jesus avoided persecution unto death at this stage of His life and mission, because His time had not yet come. Hence he left Judea. Luke xiii. 31-33.

VERSE 4.-Samaria. This is the central district in the Holy Land, lying between Galilee, north, and Judea, south. It was a three days journey.

VERSE 5.-Sychar. This was anciently called Shechem, and is now known as Neapolis. It lay at the foot of Mount Gerizim, in which the Samaritan Temple was built, about forty miles from Jerusalem. Here Abraham halted on his way from Haran to Canaan. Here Jehovah appeared to him and promised the land to his seed. Here he built an altar to the Lord. Gen. xii, 6-8. Jacob had purchased the adjoining field from the children of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Gen. xxxiii. 19. Sychar means drunkenness, a crime with which Isaiah charged the Ephraimites, who dwelt there. Is. xxviii. 1-8.

VERSE 6.-Jacob's Well. Not one hour's walk from the city was this famous well, dug in a solid rock, three yards wide and seventy-five feet deep. Here our Lord sat at mid-day, 12 o'clock, and spoke the beautiful words

contained in this chapter, in which He compares Himself to the fountain of Eternal Life.

VERSE 7.-Drawing and carrying water was woman's work among the Jews. Gen. xxiv. 11; Ex. ii. 16. - It is said, that the young men went to the wells, where maidens were wont to come, to select their wives.

Dr. Schaff says, in his late work, " Through Bible Lands," "there is no reasonable doubt as to the identity of this well. Jews, Mohammedans and Christians are all agreed. The tradition is supported by the landscape, which is a living illustration of the narrative of John. The well is a natural resting-place on the high-road from Jerusalem to Galilee, over which Christ traveled, in the grain-field which Jacob bought, and which was then, as now, whitening to the harvest, (v. 35,) near Joseph's tomb and the town of Shechem, and in full view of Mount Gerizim, to which the woman_pointed as the true place of worship." V. 20.

Give me to drink. Here is a strong proof of our Lord's real human nature. That He thirsted shows that He was very man.

VERSE 8.-This was natural, as it was noon. It is not necessary to believe that all the disciples had left Him. Perhaps one or more remained to hear the discourse with the woman. Though Christ may have reported the conversation subsequently. And the citizens themselves may have related the circumstance, too, since our Lord and His disciples tarried there some time. V. 43.

VERSE 9.-The inhabitants of Judea were differently dressed from those in Samaria. Their languages differed too. Mark xiv. 70. In both ways the woman knew Christ to be a Jew.

SAMARITANS. The origin of this people must be learned from earlier records. See 2 Kings xvii. Shalmaneser carried away Israel, that is, the remnant of the Ten Tribes, into Assyria. Tribes from other nations were placed in the cities of Samaria, by King Esarhaddon (Ezra iv. 2, 10) 677 before Christ. These strange people were, of course, idolaters. God's displeasure was kindled, and they were plagued with wild beasts of prey. The king of Assyria sent them a captive priest of Israel, after

they made known to him their misery and its cause. This priest taught them how to fear and worship God. But they established a mixed system of religion for themselves, partly Jewish and partly Gentile. In this way the Samaritan religion came to be. After the kingdom of Judah returned from their captivity, and commenced to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, the Samaritans wished to join in the work; but the Jews would not suffer them, because of their heathen origin. Then the Jews and the Samaritans became open enemies. About 409 years before Christ, a certain priest of Judah, Manasseh, was expelled from Jerusalem, by Nehemia, for an unlawful marriage. Neh. xiii. 28. He obtained permission from the Persian king Darius Nothus to build a temple on Mount Gerizim. See 1 Kings xvi. 24-33; xviii. 20, etc. They held to the Five Books of Moses and reject the rest of the Old Testament. From all this we may learn the reason of the animosity which existed between the Jews and the Samaritans. VERSE 10.-The gift of God. Jesus Christ is this gift of God. See John iii. 16; 2 Cor. ix. 15. Living water. The water in ponds, pools and cisterns may be styled stagnant, dead. That in springs and fountains is living water. To the latter kind He compares His Life and Spirit. As it quenches thirst, quickens the body, purifies from defilement, and renders fruitful, so is the life of Jesus a purifying, satisfying, quickening and ivifying element in us, springing up into Eternal Life. ii, 14.

REMARK. As a reservoir to a large city supplies, through its various .channels, homesteads and hearts with water, so does Christ convey His life and grace to all hearts and people, by the means of grace. Let us pray with the woman, v. 15.

mit was lined with beauties, birds, music and pleasures, and the hundreds of cold, stony statues standing on the way showed how many had succumbed to temptation. And so it is with young men. How many, starting forth with noble ambitions and expectations of glory, ever pass the temptations placed in the path to greatness?

THE Bible is the young man's own book. It denounces vice without feeding a dangerous curiosity. It dignifies virtue, not as a means of getting on, but as success and happiness now; and, best of all, it gives the young man the one exclusive way in which vice is vanquished and virtue attained. It lifts up Christ. It invites to the cross. It offers the new heart and the right spirit. It penetrates the disguises of elegant sin, and exposes the sophistry of cultivated iniquity. It flashes its revealing rays upon the opening abyss to which the tempter leads. It unmasks the voluptuous angel of light, and shows the malicious fiend. Into the scale against the "pleasures of sin for a season," it throws the " peace of God," and the "pleasures for evermore.' - Dr. John Hall.

DANGEROUS DISREGARD.-A Hindoo woman applied to a Christian missionary for baptism and reception to his church. That she might fully understand what she was at, and that her faith might be put to a reasonable test, the missionary pointed out to her the consequences of the step she was about to take. He set before her the loss of caste, the anger of her husband, and the probable poverty and suffering in store for her. She heard him through, and then replied: "I know all this. I thought it all over before I came, but I am ready for it all. What I may bear for Christ, is nothing to what He bore for me."

A WOMAN forgot to send home some work on Saturday. On Sunday morning she told her little niece to put on her things and take the bundle under her shawl to the lady's house. "Nobody will see it," she said. "But is it not Sunday under my shawl, aunt?" asked

SOMEWHERE in the far East there was a high mountain, upon the summit of which was deposited a treasure of great value and virtue. It was to be won by him who could reach the top of the mountain without looking back. But the moment the pilgrim turned to look behind he was turned into stone. The pathway from the base to the sum- I the child.

FEBRUARY 16.

LESSON VII.

1879.

Sexagesima Sunday. John iv. 46-54.

THE HRALING OF THE NOBLEMAN'S SON.

46. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

47. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

48. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."

49. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

50. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word

that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

51. And as he was now going down, h is servants met him, and told him, saying, Th y son liveth.

52. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

53. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

54. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.

QUESTIONS.

What does Sexagesima mean? Sixty. Why is such a name given to this Lord's Day? It falls about sixty days before Easter.

Does John pretend to relate all Christ's miracles? See xx. 30, and xxi. 25. By what thought was he governed in his selection? To prove Christ's divine nature. xxi. 31.

Verse 46. Why is this Cana always distinguished by the phrase of Galilee? There were two Canas. Josh. xix. 28; xvi. 8,. and xvii. 9. Had Christ done any miracle here before? ii. 1-11. Of what other miracles was this the first, likewise? Of healing at a distance. Matt. viii. 5-13; xv. 21-28. Why is this man called a nobleman? Belonged to King Herod's Court. What name has been given him? Chuza. Luke viii. 3; or Manaen. Acts xiii. 1. How far was Cana from Capernaum? A day's journey.

47. What brought this man to Jesus? affliction have this effect with men ?

Does

48. What is the difference between "signs" and "wonders?" Signs were proofs of His character as the Messiah; wonders were His works. Is it a sound faith that wants to see? Rom. x. 17. Had this man some faith? Or he would not have come to Christ. Had he enough

faith? Then he would not have insisted on His coming down.

49. Did the father cease to pray? Why did Christ delay? To discipline his faith.

50. Did Christ go down with him? What else did He do? Did the father believe and obey?

51. Who met him on his home-way? What did they say?_Had not Christ spoken these very words? How do you account for this coincidence? We cannot tell.

52. What did the father inquire after? What hour did both Christ's word and the cure occur in? Seven o'clock. Was it a gradual cure? The fever left him wholly.

53. What occurred in this house now? Had not the father believed on Him before? As a wonder-worker; now as the Messiah.

54. Was this Christ's second miracle, or only the second on His way out of Judea into Galilee? The latter. What points may we reflect on now? 1. How Christ's healing at a distance is another proof of His divinity. 2. That intercessory prayers and acts of parents avail to their children. 3. That a cross brings a crown often. 4. That Jesus is the Healer of our diseases. 5. That we must come to Him. Matt. xi. 28-29.

CATECHISM.

VII. Lord's Day.

20. Are all men, then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?

No, only those who are ingrafted into Him, and receive all His benefits by a true faith. 21. What is true faith?

True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others,

but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.

22. What is then necessary for a Christian to believe?

All things promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our Catholic, undoubted Christian faith, briefly teach us.

NOTE. The Sunday before Lent is known as Sexagesima Lord's Day, being about the sixtieth day before Easter.

COMMENTS.-St. John selected his miracles from a vast store-house of wonders, recorded and unrecorded. See xx. 30 and xxi. 25. His aim seems to have been to establish our Lord's divine nature, against the rising doubts and denials of it already appearing in the early age of the church, xx. 31.

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Miracles serve more to prove the character and mission of Christ, than to convert the hearts of men.

VERSE 49.-A greater fervor and more earnest supplication possessed the father now. Love for his child, whose life hung in the balance, lashed his soul nearer to Christ. Our Lord tried the poor man's faith, in order to strengthen

tion, as it were, to rest His miracle working lever upon. Without faith our Lord's hands were bound. Just by not "going down," He increased the father's faith.

VERSE 46.-Cana of Galilee. This was a small town in the tribe of Asher (Josh. xix. 28), on the road from Nazareth to Capernaum, by the sea of Tiberias. There was another Cana in the tribe of Ephraim, in Samaria, Josh.it, and thus secure a sufficient foundaxvi. 8 and xvii. 9. Hence this place is always so distinguished-of Galilee. Christ performed His first miracle here. ii. 1-11. Here He now performed the first of a series of wonders, at a distance, or without being immediately present at the scene. Matt. viii. 5-13; xv. 21-8. A certain nobleman. He is so called because he was an officer in King Herod's (Antipas) household and court, whom the masses held as a king. Some suppose this nobleman to have been Chuza, mentioned in Luke viii. 3. Others think him to have been Manaen spoken of in Acts xiii. 1. He lived a day's journey from Cana.

VERSE 47.-But for the sickness of his son, this man might never have come to Christ. He came expressly to entreat Him to heal him. It was a case of outward pressure that drove him, rather than an inward longing of soul. It resulted in a double cure, however.

VERSE 48.-Signs and Wonders. The Jews continually called for "signs," or proofs of His character as the Messiah, and were ever eager for "wonders" or miracles of His hands. They would ever see with the natural eye. This was a proof of a very low order of faith. True faith cometh by hearing." Rom. x. 17. The beginning of a belief had been made in the father's heart, or he would not have come to Christ; but it was but a small beginning, else he would have not thought it necessary for Christ to "come down," in order to heal the child. Aside of the Samaritans, this nobleman was not so very noble after all-v. 41. We need not, however, take our Lord's reply as a rebuke to the father's request,

VERSE 50.-Go thy way. In this saying, now, lay His faith-giving power for the father. Thy son liveth. This was the healing declaration to the child. He spake and it was instantaneously done. A threefold wonder this: 1. It set the nobleman's heart in right fellowship with the Lord, as a believer: 2. It set the father as a proper medium between the Lord and the sick son; 3. It restored the child. The first miracle was effected in the father's heart. He now proceeds leisurely homeward, reaching his house only on the following day. "He that believeth shall not make haste."-Is. xxviii. 16. The result had necessarily to follow.

VERSE 51.-Thy son liveth. The word of power which Christ uttered at Cana seems to have reached all the way to Capernaum, since it echoes back, as it were, in its original form, from the servants running towards their master, without knowing what had transpired at Cana, between Christ and the nobleman, but noting the sudden change and perfect restoration of the child, they hasten to recall him.

VERSE 52.-The hour when he began to mend. At most the father had merely hoped for a gradual mending-a change for the better. But the servants tell him that the "fever left him "entirely forsook the patient, leaving him well. The hour was given him exactly. -7 o'clock.

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