Andrew, or to Zebedee, the father of James and John. The sea was the lake of Tiberias. Violent storms, and great gusts of wind, are very common on the lakes in our own country, particularly when surrounded by mountains, such as encompassed this lake of Tiberias, or as it is elsewhere called the sea of Galilee. Questions. What was the vessel here called a ship? A small fishing boat. Whom did it probably belong to? Perhaps to Peter and Andrew, or to Zebedee. What name had that sea? The Lake of Tiberias. Has it not another name? Yes, the sea of Galilee. What are common in the lakes of our own country? Storms and sudden gusts of wind. Teacher. This storm on the lake of Tiberias must have been very violent to cause so much terror in the minds of the disciples; because they were mostly, if not all of them, accustomed to a sea-faring life. When they awoke our Saviour saying, Lord, save us, we perish; he justly reproved them for their want of faith. After the miracles he had wrought, they ought to have been quite sure that he would not suffer them to perish.-How wonderful and beautiful it must have been, to see the waves become smooth, and the winds still, at His command! Questions. What way of life had most of the disciples been used to, or brought up in? A Seafaring life. Must not then this storm have been very violent to cause them so much terror? Yes. When they awoke your Saviour, what did he rebuke them for wanting? Faith. After the miracles they had seen him perform, ought they not to have been quite sure that he would not suffer them to perish? Certainly. What became smooth, and calm, and beautiful, at his divine command? The waves and the sea. Teacher. And thus, he stills the storms and bad inclinations of our hearts, when we flee to him for succour, and ask for the assistance of that Holy Spirit, which his death and atonement have procured for all those who ask for it in sincerity and humility. Your Saviour's motive in crossing the lake of Tiberias at this time is not mentioned; but he no sooner landed on the other side, in the country of the Gergesenes, than he gave an instance of his power over unclean or wicked Spirits, as he had shewn it over the winds and waves. Questions. Who is it that stills or quiets the bad inclinations of our hearts, when we flee to him for suc cour? 41 Our Saviour. What has he promised to all those who ask for it in sincerity? The Holy Saviour land on the Spirit. Where did your opposite side of the lake? In the country of the Gergesenes. What did he there shew he had the same power to subdue and rebuke, as he had done the winds and waves? Unclean or wicked spirits. Teacher. Two men were possessed with these wicked spirits, they were driven by them to madness, and dwelt among the tombs ; which were graves hewn out of the sides of rocks.-Upon our Saviour's ordering these Spirits to loose the men, they requested to be permitted to go into a herd of swine, rather than to be driven back immediately to their place of torment. They still however did not escape, for we are told the swine ran down a steep place into the sea, and there perished. The Jews were forbidden by the law of Moses, to eat the flesh of swine; but they kept them in great numbers to sell to the Roman soldiers, and other Gentiles. No doubt they acted wickedly by carrying on this trade; therefore your Saviour gave them only a proper punishment by thus destroying their means of continuing it. Questions. What did those wicked spirits drive those two poor men to? To madness. And where did they dwell? Among the Tombs. How were those tombs made? They were cut out of the sides of the rocks. Did your Saviour grant the request of the wicked spirits to go into the swine? Yes. And how were those Jews punished, who owned them? By the Swine running into the sea and there perishing. Teacher. This transaction is unlike any thing in these days; but you may learn from it that wickedness, of any kind seldom prospers. -03 The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. ST. MATTHEW xiii. 24. "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which soweth good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field; from whence then hath it tares? And he said, an enemy hath done this." Teacher. In Eastern countries it was the practice to give instruction by parables. A parable means a feigned story, or a fable, consisting of circumstances which any person may so apply to their own situa tion as to receive advice or information. The fields which lay near to the sea shore seem to have supplied your Saviour with hints for the parable of the tares. Questions. How was it the practice to give instruction in Eastern countries? By parables.' What does a parable mean? A feigned story or fable. Were not people to apply them to their own case, and so gain advice, or information? Yes. What objects in nature seem to have supplied your Saviour with hints for the parable of tares? The fields which lay near the sea shore. Teacher. From your Saviour's explanation of the parable of the tares? you are taught that the Gospel (by which the good seed is meant) would (if not injured and destroyed) produce righteousness in all minds; but its growth and harvest are too often checked and rendered fruitless by the Devil, who takes advantage of the idleness and carelessness of people, to sow his tares in their minds ;that is to put bad thoughts and wishes therein. Questions. From your Saviour's explanation of the parable of the tares, what is meant by the good seed? The Gospel. And if that good seed were not in |