cowardice! But we read nothing of him all through those sad scenes until the very last. Jesus was taken by his enemies, and crucified, and slain. The evening of that dreadful day had come, and the body of Jesus now hung, still and dead, upon the accursed tree; a little longer, and unless some friend appeared, it would be taken from the cross, and flung into the common grave of robbers and murderers, outside Jerusalem. Were there none to prevent this? None, of all the multitudes who had cried, “Hosanna!" or who had professed their love to Him, to resolve that his dear remains should rest at least in a peaceful and sheltered grave? Alas! no; his disciples had forsaken him many hours ago, and had fled, — all save those poor women who, with the beloved John, faithful to the end, had dared to stand and weep before the cross. But what could they do? Soon they must depart, and leave the dead Redeemer in the hands of his bitterest enemies. But stay; through the evening twilight see two shadowy forms hastily approaching. Is it possible that they have come to do that last sad act of love which it seemed so vain to hope? It is even so. Welcome, welcome, brave friends of Jesus, not ashamed of Him, even on his

cross! But whence have they come? and what are their names? The Scriptures shall answer (see John xix. 38, 39). One is Joseph of Arimathea, "who himself also was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews;" and the other is "Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night." For Joseph had gone in “boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus" (Mark xv. 43); and, almost as boldly, Nicodemus comes forward to help him in the loving, yet mournful task. The danger that had made others cowardly, had made these two men brave. But it was very late for them to show their courage. Would that they had been bolder before! What good they might have done! What words of truth and power they might have spoken! I think it must have been a very sorrowful evening for them both, as, while they took the sacred body of Jesus from the cross, and bore it to its resting-place in Joseph's garden, they thought how they had been ashamed to show themselves the Saviour's friends until they could do nothing more for Him than solemnize his funeral and weep beside his tomb.

Dear young people, do not be ashamed of Jesus. If indeed you have begun to learn of Him, to trust and to love Him, do not try to

hide this from those around you. I would not ask you to boast as if you were proud of your religion that can never be if you truly follow Him who was " meek and lowly of heart." But do not be afraid to have it known that you are Christians. Be ready at all times and places to "stand up for Jesus" among those who may disobey or scorn his name. In your homes, your schools, in the workshop, the factory, or mill, let your companions see and know whose you are, and whom you serve. It is right to be thus faithful and brave: it will also be the happiest plan. Thus, again, you will be able to be useful as long as you live. What opportunities of usefulness Nicodemus lost while he remained a secret disciple! If you truly love Christ, you will surely be anxious to win others to know and love Him too. And remember, lastly, that a time is coming when the Saviour will raise to immortal honor and joy all who are not ashamed of Him. For He himself has said, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in heaven."

VII.

THE PARALYTIC HEALED.1

MARK ii. 1-12.

The Paralytic and his Friends. —An Ingenious Plan. - A Wonderful Miracle.- Suprise and Joy. - The Bearers of the Palsied Man an Example to us. They were united, not discouraged, determined, ingenious. — Bringing our Friends to Christ.Four Young Girls. Be in Earnest. Why Jesus worked Miracles. God only can Forgive Sins. - Christ showing that He was God. Every Miracle a Picture. Capernaum. - Parable of the Barren Fig-tree.

BUT

UT that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins (He [Jesus] saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

No doubt, dear young friends, you have all read the beautiful story of which these words are the close. The poor paralytic had been brought by his four anxious friends to the house where

1 In Capernaum.

Jesus was; but they could not come nigh Him for the press. Determined not to go away without seeing Him, they had climbed to the roof, and, having removed the covering (probably of thin boards), lowered their burden to the feet of the Saviour. In these verses we are told the gracious words He spoke, and the miracle He wrought. What a wonderful sight it must have been for the eager crowd who had thronged from the streets of Capernaum to listen to the words of Jesus. Wonderful, too, to the scribes, who had been sitting there in their pride and scorn, asking, "Can this man forgive sins?" But most wonderful, and O! most joyful, to those four friends of the palsied man, who had taken so much trouble to bring him to Jesus, and who now looked down upon the glad scene from the roof, which in their faith and zeal they had broken through. They must have felt amply rewarded as their suffering friend arose, strong and rejoicing, and took up his.bed; while the crowd that could not or would not make way to let him in, stood back wonderingly to let him out, and joined with him in praise and glory to God.

Now, if we think of the conduct of these bearers of the poor paralytic, we shall find that they