diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:50:27 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:50:27 -0700 |
| commit | 18283fbaecd2028beb1a6a01854a23ccd7523d93 (patch) | |
| tree | 8e9e8e6e8f6f71aa5823304df6ff5bfb90831fbb /17163.txt | |
Diffstat (limited to '17163.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 17163.txt | 2283 |
1 files changed, 2283 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/17163.txt b/17163.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..050cb5b --- /dev/null +++ b/17163.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2283 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Mother Stories from the New Testament, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mother Stories from the New Testament + A Book of the Best Stories from the New Testament that + Mothers can tell their Children + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: November 26, 2005 [EBook #17163] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTHER STORIES: NEW TESTAMENT *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia, Jeannie Howse +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Front Cover] + +[Illustration: LITTLE ONES SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO HIM.] + + + + +MOTHER + +STORIES + +FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT + + +A Book of the Best Stories from the +New Testament That Mothers +Can Tell Their Children + + +With Forty-five Illustrations + +PHILADELPHIA +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + + + + + +ALTEMUS' MOTHER STORIES SERIES + + * * * * * + +MOTHER STORIES +A Book of the Best Stories that Mothers can tell their Children + +MOTHER NURSERY RHYMES AND TALES +A Book of the Best Nursery Rhymes and Tales that Mothers can tell +their Children + +MOTHER FAIRY TALES +A Book of the Best Fairy Tales that Mothers can tell their Children + +MOTHER NATURE STORIES +A Book of the Best Nature Stories that Mothers can tell their Children + +MOTHER STORIES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT +A Book of the Best Old Testament Stories that Mothers can tell their +Children + +MOTHER STORIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT +A Book of the Best New Testament Stories that Mothers can tell their +Children + +MOTHER BEDTIME STORIES +A Book of the Best Bedtime Stories that Mothers can tell their +Children + +MOTHER ANIMAL STORIES +A Book of the Best Animal Stories that Mothers can tell their Children + +MOTHER BIRD STORIES +A Book of the Best Bird Stories that Mothers can tell their Children + +MOTHER SANTA CLAUS STORIES +A Book of the Best Santa Claus Stories that Mothers can tell their +Children + +Profusely illustrated and handsomely bound in cloth, with +ornamentation in colors + +$1.00 PER VOLUME + + COPYRIGHT 1906 BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE +THE WISE MEN'S VISIT 7 + +THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS 10 + +JESUS IN THE TEMPLE 12 + +THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES 14 + +THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND 16 + +HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT 18 + +ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS 20 + +THE RICH FOOL 22 + +THE UNFRUITFUL TREE 24 + +SOWING THE SEED 26 + +THE ENEMY SOWING TARES 28 + +THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN 30 + +SEEKING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE 32 + +THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE 34 + +THE PARABLE OF THE NET 36 + +THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS 38 + +CURING THE INCURABLE 40 + +JAIRUS' DAUGHTER 42 + +THE TWO BLIND MEN 44 + +FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND 46 + +CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA 48 + +THE WOMAN OF CANAAN 50 + +PETER AND THE TRIBUTE MONEY 52 + +THE GOOD SAMARITAN 54 + +IMPORTUNITY REWARDED 56 + +THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 58 + +THE GOOD SHEPHERD 60 + +THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY 62 + +THE PRODIGAL SON 64 + +PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER CURED 66 + +THE UNJUST STEWARD 68 + +THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR 70 + +"AVENGE ME OF MY ADVERSARY" 72 + +THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER 74 + +THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD 76 + +THE BARREN FIG TREE 78 + +THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN 80 + +WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT 82 + +THE FOOLISH VIRGINS 84 + +THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS 86 + +MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND 88 + +JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN 90 + +THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER 92 + +TIMOTHY AND HIS MOTHER EUNICE 94 + +CHRIST BLESSING THE CHILDREN 96 + +[Illustration] + + + + +NEW TESTAMENT STORIES + +THE WISE MEN'S VISIT. + + +The birth of Jesus Christ was announced by two remarkable events: the +coming of wise men from the East, and the appearance of angels to some +shepherds at Bethlehem. + +The wise men were probably astronomers; and in watching the stars they +had seen one that had led them to leave their own country, and take a +long journey to Jerusalem. Most likely they rode on camels, and their +journey was a tedious one. But at last they reached Jerusalem, where +they inquired saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for +we have seen His star in the East and are come to worship Him." +Tidings of these inquiries were brought to King Herod, and when he +heard them he was much troubled. He was a wicked king; and feared that +if another king had been born, he would grow up and take the crown +away. Herod was also cruel and treacherous, and while pretending to +act rightly, often did many evil things. And now he intended to +destroy the infant King, who might one day take his sceptre away. + +So he first sent for the learned men of the Jews, the chief priests +and scribes, and demanded of them where Christ should be born; and +when they had replied that it was to be in Bethlehem, he secretly +called the wise men before him, and inquired of them what time the +star appeared. After getting the information he needed, he dismissed +the wise men, bidding them to go to Bethlehem "and search diligently +for the young child; and when ye have found Him," said Herod, "bring +me word again, that I may come and worship Him also." + +So the wise men left King Herod and Jerusalem, and journeyed onward +towards Bethlehem; and the star which they had seen in the East went +before them, till it came and stood over where the young child lay. +And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, for +they knew they had found Him whom they had come so far to seek. + +But the wise men did not bring Herod word where Jesus was; and he was +so angry that shortly afterwards he sent his soldiers, and slew all +the children under two years of age that were in Bethlehem and its +neighbourhood. He thought by so doing to kill Jesus among them, but +God prevented him from doing so. + +[Illustration: THE WISE MEN BEFORE THE KING.] + + + + +THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS. + + +It was night. In the fields near Bethlehem a company of shepherds kept +watch over their flocks. Probably they were holy men, and often +thought of God in the stillness of the early morn. And now they may +have been thinking of the coming of the promised Messiah. + +While watching their flocks, the angel of the Lord came to these +shepherds, and a dazzling light shone round about them. They were much +afraid; but the angel said, "Fear not; for behold I bring you good +tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is +born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the +Lord." And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the +heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, +and on earth peace, good will toward men." + +When the angels had departed, the shepherds returned to Bethlehem; and +there, in a stable, they found the infant Jesus, lying in a manger, +watched over and cared for by His mother Mary and Joseph. And so great +was the surprise and joy of the shepherds that they went out and told +all they met of the wondrous things which they had seen. + +Shortly after the visit of the shepherds, the wise men from the East +reached Bethlehem, and in a house they found Joseph, and Mary, and +Jesus. Then they fell down and worshipped Jesus, opening the treasures +they had brought, and offering Him precious gifts, gold and +frankincense and myrrh. But God warned them not to go back to Herod, +to tell him where the new-born King of the Jews was, and they returned +to their own country another way. + +[Illustration: THE SHEPHERDS WORSHIPPING THE INFANT JESUS.] + + + + +JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. + + +When Jesus was twelve years of age, His parents took Him with them to +Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover. Great numbers journeyed from +different parts to keep this feast; and travelled in companies or +caravans, the women and old men riding on asses or mules, and the rest +going on foot. Thus Joseph and Mary, with Jesus, left Nazareth, and +with many others journeyed to Jerusalem, where they kept the Passover. + +When the feast was ended, as they returned homewards, Joseph and Mary +discovered that Jesus was missing; but supposing Him to have been +somewhere among the company, they continued their first day's short +journey. When, however, evening came, and the caravan halted, and +Jesus was nowhere to be found, His parents sorrowfully returned to +Jerusalem seeking Him. At last, on the third day, they went to the +Temple, and found Jesus sitting in the midst of the aged and learned +Jewish doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. "And all +that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." + +His parents were amazed when they saw Jesus in such company. But Mary, +while she rejoiced at finding Him, gently said, "Son, why hast Thou +thus dealt with us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee +sorrowing." Jesus replied, "How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not +that I must be about My Father's business?" + +Jesus was the Son of God, and doing God's work was being about His +Father's business. Years afterwards He said, "I came not to do Mine +own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." + +[Illustration: "SON, WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US?"] + + + + +THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES + + +One day, as the crowds pressed round Him to hear the Word of God, +Jesus came to the Lake of Gennesaret and saw two boats drawn up on the +shore. Now one of these belonged to a man named Simon Peter, who was +at the water's edge washing his nets. Jesus entered into this boat and +asked Simon to push it off from the land a little. Then He sat down +and taught the people from the boat. And when He had done speaking to +them He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your +nets for a draught of fishes." Simon, answering Him, said, "Master, we +have toiled all through the night and have taken nothing, but as you +wish it I will let down the net again." And they let down the net into +the sea, but it enclosed so great a multitude of fishes that they +could not draw them up; and the net brake. Then Simon beckoned to his +partners, James and John, who were in the other boat, that they should +come and help them. And they came and filled both boats with the +fishes, so that they began to sink. + +When Simon Peter saw it he fell down before Jesus, saying, "Depart +from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all that were with +him were astonished at the marvellous draught of fishes which they had +taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not, Simon Peter; from +henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men." Meaning that he was to go +about winning souls for God, instead of being a fisherman. + +And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all they +had and followed Christ. + +[Illustration: THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES.] + + + + +THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND. + + +What a foolish man the builder of the house shown in our picture must +have been! Of course, when the wind blew and the waves dashed against +his house, it would fall. Look how the sea has washed the foundation +away, and how the roof is falling in! And the people; see how they are +fleeing to save their lives! And all this calamity because he built +his house upon the sand. But the other house, shown in the distance: +how firmly that stands! What a bold front it offers to the waves, and +how safely it resists the fury of the storm. Its foundations are sure, +because they rest upon the solid rock. + +Jesus had been teaching the people. He had taught them many wonderful +truths, which you will find written in the fifth, sixth, and seventh +chapters of Matthew; and in closing He said, "Whosoever heareth these +sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who +built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods +came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, +for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these +sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish +man which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and +the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it +fell, and great was the fall of it." The lesson Jesus sought to +impress upon the people by this parable was, that it is not enough +simply to hear what He says. Many will do that; but it is only those +who remember Christ's commandments and keep them, whose work will +stand when the time of trial comes. + +[Illustration: THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND.] + + + + +HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT. + + +Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, and while +He was there a certain Centurion, or captain in the Roman army, had a +favourite servant who was sick of the palsy and in great pain. When +this Roman heard of Jesus, he sought the Jewish elders and implored +them to go to Christ and beseech Him to cure the sick servant. And the +elders came to Jesus and besought Him urgently to do this miracle, +saying, "He is a worthy man, this Roman captain, for he loveth the +Jews and hath built us a synagogue." + +So Jesus went with them, and when He had come near the house, the +Centurion himself came to meet Him, saying, "Lord, trouble not +Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter my house. Speak +the word only, and this sickness shall depart and my servant be made +whole. For I am a man under authority of the Emperor, having many +soldiers under me, and I say unto this man, 'Go,' and he goeth; to +another, 'Come,' and he cometh, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he +doeth it. Wherefore, if I can so readily command my servants to do my +bidding, I know that if Thou biddest this sickness to go out from my +servant it will surely go." + +Jesus marvelled at the man's words, and said to His followers, +"Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in +all Israel." And to the Centurion He said, "Go thy way; and as thou +hast believed, so be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in +the selfsame hour, and when those that had been sent returned to the +house, they found the servant whole that had been sick. + +[Illustration: CHRIST AND THE CENTURION.] + + + + +ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS. + + +On one occasion, a proud Pharisee, whose name was Simon, invited Jesus +to eat with him. But the invitation was a cold one. There was no kiss +of welcome, no water to bathe His hot and dusty feet, no perfumed +ointment for His head: nothing but a bare admission to a vacant place +at the table was granted to Jesus. But there He reclined, His left +elbow resting on a cushion, and His feet projecting beyond the edge of +the couch. + +Now it happened that a poor, sinful woman was passing, who, +discovering that Jesus was in the house, timidly entered, and stood +behind Him. She had an alabaster box of ointment, and, as she looked +on Jesus, she wept. Her tears fell upon His feet; so, stooping down, +she tenderly wiped them away with her long hair; then she kissed the +Saviour's feet, and anointed them with the fragrant ointment. This was +done as a token of respect and love. + +But an evil eye had noted the kindly act; and the proud Pharisee +thought within himself, if Jesus were the prophet He professes to be, +He would certainly have known that the woman was a great sinner, and +would not have allowed her to touch Him. But Jesus came to save +sinners. He loves them, though He hates their sins. He rebuked the +haughty Simon; and showed him how he had neglected the commonest rites +of hospitality towards his guest, while this poor woman had treated +Jesus with the greatest reverence. Then Jesus said, "Her sins which +are many are forgiven, for she loved much"; and He bade her go in +peace. + +[Illustration: ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.] + + + + +THE RICH FOOL. + + +There was a certain rich man who owned much land. And his fields and +vineyards were so productive that when the time of harvest came, he +had not room enough to store his corn and fruits. So after much +thought he said, "This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build +greater ones, and there will I store all my fruits and my goods. Then +I can say to myself, 'I have great store of goods laid up, enough for +many years; now I can take mine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'" + +But God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be +required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast +hoarded?" + +Jesus says it shall be so with all those who set their minds upon +storing up riches in this world, rather than laying up treasures in +heaven by pleasing God and working in His service. Death will come +when they least expect it, and they will have to leave all their +earthly riches, and go where no treasure has been laid up for them. + +And He said unto His disciples, "Take no thought for your life, what +ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on; for the life +is more than meat, and the body more than raiment. For all these +things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knoweth +that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of +God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, for it is +the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have +and give alms; provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that +faileth not, where no thief approacheth, or moth corrupteth." + +[Illustration: THE RICH FOOL.] + + + + +THE UNFRUITFUL TREE. + + +A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and +sought fruit thereon, but found none. Then he called to the gardener +who attended to his vineyard, and said to him, "Behold these three +years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none. Cut it +down. Why does it encumber the ground?" + +The gardener answered him and said, "Lord, let it alone this year +also, till I shall dig about it and manure it. And if it bear fruit +then, it is well; but if not, then, after that, thou shalt cut it +down." + +In this parable the vineyard means the world, and the fig-tree ungodly +people whose lives do not produce good works--do not produce fruit in +the service of God. The Lord of the vineyard, that is, God, would +destroy such people, but Christ intercedes in their behalf, that time +for repentance may be given. "He is not willing that any should +perish, but that all should come to repentance." Christ came and +sought to change men's hearts, and make their lives fruitful for God. +The warning has been given, and when the Lord of the vineyard comes +again to seek good fruit the unfruitful trees shall be destroyed. + + Am I a barren tree, dear Lord? + A cumberer of the ground. + Oh! give me grace to fruitful be, + And in Thy work abound. + +[Illustration: THE UNFRUITFUL TREE.] + + + + +SOWING THE SEED. + + +A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell by the +wayside and was trodden down, and birds came and devoured it. And some +fell upon a rocky place, where there was not much soil, and as soon as +it sprang up it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some +fell among thorns and weeds, and they sprang up with it and choked it. +But other fell on good ground, and sprang up bearing ears, some with +thirty, some sixty, some a hundred seeds. + +When Jesus had told this parable, His disciples asked Him to explain +it to them. He said that the seed is the Word of God. The wayside +signifies the people who hear the Word but do not understand it, and +Satan comes and takes all thought of it out of their hearts as quickly +as the birds devour the seeds. The rocky places without much earth +denote those who, when they hear the Word, receive it with great joy +and profession of faith; but it never takes deep root in their hearts, +and when they are tempted they fall away and the good seed in their +hearts is withered up. The thorns and weeds are the pleasures and +riches of this life, which root so deeply and strongly in men's hearts +that the good seed has no chance, and is soon killed off. + +But the good ground is the hearts of good people, who remember God's +Word and try, every day of their lives, to do as He wishes us to do, +and to live holy and useful lives. The seed falling upon their hearts +becomes strongly rooted and grows up vigorously, bearing good fruit. + +What shall be said of _your_ heart, my young friend? Is it like the +wayside? the rocky place? the thorny ground? or like a good field that +has been well prepared for the seed? + +[Illustration: SOWING THE SEED.] + + + + +THE ENEMY SOWING TARES. + + +A certain man sowed good seed in his field, but in the night, whilst +men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went +his way. When the wheat-blade had sprung up and showed the ear, then +appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came to +him and said, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? Whence +then come these tares?" + +He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this." Then the servants asked, +"Shall we go, then, and gather them up?" But he said, "Nay, lest +whilst you gather up the tares, you root up the wheat with them. Let +both grow together until the harvest, and in that time I will say to +the reapers, 'Gather ye together first the tares and bind them into +bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" + +Jesus' disciples asked Him to explain this parable to them, and He +said: "The field represents the world, and He that sowed the good seed +is Christ Himself. The good seed is the Word He preached; the wheat +plants are the good people who believe in Christ and do as He teaches. +The enemy who sows the bad seed is Satan, and the tares that spring +from them are wicked people who follow the promptings of the evil one +in their hearts. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers +are the angels of God. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned +in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world with wicked +people. Christ shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out +of His Kingdom all things that offend and them that do evil, and shall +cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing +of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the +kingdom of their Father." + + "For the Lord our God shall come, + And shall take His harvest home; + From His field shall in that day + All offences purge away; + + "Give His angels charge at last + In the fire the tares to cast, + But the fruitful grain to store + In His garner evermore." + +[Illustration: THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.] + + + + +THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN. + + +Christ said that the kingdom of heaven could be likened unto leaven +(or yeast), which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, +till the whole was leavened. + +Now, this leaven, or yeast, is composed of tiny little plants, each +one so small that it cannot possibly be seen by the sharpest eye +except through a very powerful microscope. So small are they that it +would require three thousand of them, placed close together, side by +side, to make up the length of one inch. Like all other plants they +require food, and they find this in the dough they are placed in. You +know that all things are made up of atoms of chemical substances so +wonderfully blended together that only the chemist can separate them, +and when he has separated them they appear very different. Well, in +flour there are certain things so blended, and the yeast-plant takes +one kind of substance as food, and in doing so sets free another +substance called carbonic acid gas. This gas bubbles up and makes the +heavy dough spongy and light. If it were not for these tiny bubbles of +gas your bread would be as heavy and close as suet pudding. This is +the reason why yeast is put into dough for making bread or cake. One +of the most remarkable things about this yeast is, that when it gets +into any substance that contains its food, it at once begins to give +off buds, which, in a few moments, become full-sized and break away. +So rapid is this increase, that if a single yeast-plant were to be put +into a great mass of dough it would very quickly leaven the whole +mass. + +And so it is with the love of God. When once it gets into our hearts +it will keep on growing until all our life is filled with it, and we +try in all things to please Him. + +[Illustration: THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.] + + + + +SEEKING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE. + + +The people of Canaan, both in ancient and modern days, have made a +practice of hiding their treasures. This they have done to secure them +in times of danger. When invaders flocked into the land, the people +buried their gold and jewels, and fled. And often they died, or were +overtaken by their enemies and killed, so that they were unable to +return and regain their buried riches. Earthquakes also have taken +place, destroying towns and villages, and burying all the riches in +them beneath their ruins. Thus there is much hidden treasure in +Canaan, and numbers of the inhabitants spend their time seeking +diligently and anxiously for it. + +Our artist shows us a man who is thus seeking. He has heard that in +old times a great treasure was hidden in a particular field. So he +digs away patiently in various places until, at last, he finds out +that what he heard is quite true. He is sure the treasure is _there_; +and his desire is to become possessed of the field, so that he may +obtain the buried riches. He is willing to sell all that he has if by +so doing he may buy that field. So he hastens home, and gathers +together the whole of his property and sells it. Then he takes his +money to the man who has the land for sale, and buys the field of him. +Thus he becomes possessed of the treasure he has sought after. Jesus +says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that treasure. It is so +precious, that when a man finds out its value, and knows how it can be +obtained, he will be willing to give up everything he has for it--all +his companions, pleasures, sins, riches--indeed everything he +possesses, in order to gain this great treasure. + +[Illustration: THE TREASURE HID IN A FIELD.] + + + + +THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. + + +Very similar to the parable of the Hidden Treasure is this one of the +merchant seeking goodly pearls. + +"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly +pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold +all that he had, and bought it." + +In the picture we see the merchant on the sea-shore, where he has +waited for the landing of these sailors from another country. He asks +them if they have any goodly pearls for sale, and one man opens his +box and takes out this "pearl of great price." It is just the kind of +pearl the merchant had been seeking, so he quickly produces his two +bags of gold and offers them to the man for his pearl. But the man +smiles. "What! part with so large and so beautiful a pearl for two +bags of gold?" He could not think of it. The pearl is again placed in +its box, and the merchant has to go away disappointed. But the longing +to have that pearl is too great. A thought occurs to him. He will go +home and sell all that is his, and the money he shall thus obtain, +added to his two bags of gold, will surely buy the precious jewel. + +And so it is with men when they seek that pearl of pearls, the +forgiveness of God. They will give up a great deal in order to obtain +it, but they find that God requires them to give up everything that is +sinful or worldly. And if their hearts are really set upon obtaining +it, they will do as this merchant did, and part with everything that +would hinder them from coming to God, or walking in the way that leads +to heaven. + +[Illustration: THE MERCHANT SEEKING GOODLY PEARLS.] + + + + +THE PARABLE OF THE NET. + + +These fishermen have just returned to shore with their net full of +fish. Now this is not a casting-net, which is thrown out from the boat +and drawn in again, but a drag-net which is of great length, and which +is drawn constantly through the water until it is well filled with +fish. It is then hauled up to the shore, and the fishermen sit around +it, and take out the fish. Many of these, of course, are unfit for +food, or not liked. They cast those into the sea again, but the good +fish which they can sell for food are carefully placed in vessels +brought for the purpose. + +Christ said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast +into the sea, and gathered every kind (of fish): which, when it was +full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into +vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the +world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among +the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be +wailing and gnashing of teeth." + +At another time Jesus taught His disciples the same truth; when He +spake of His coming and of the gathering of all nations before Him, +the good entering into eternal life, but the wicked being cast away. +"When the Son of Man shall come in His glory," said Jesus, "and all +the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His +glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall +separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from +the goats. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats +on the left." + +[Illustration: THE PARABLE OF THE NET.] + + + + +THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS. + + +One day Jesus came with His disciples in a boat to the country of the +Gadarenes, near Galilee. They landed near the tombs, that is, caverns +cut into the rock, where the dead were buried. And there met them a +man, who, for a long time, had been possessed by many unclean spirits. +He lived in the tombs and wore no clothes. He had been so fierce and +wild that his friends had been obliged to chain him up, but he had +burst his fetters, and the devils had driven him out to the tombs. + +Jesus bade the unclean spirits to come out of the man. And when the +man caught sight of Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, +saying, "What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God most +high? I beseech Thee to torment me not." + +And Jesus asked him his name. And he said, "Legion," because many +devils were in him. They besought Jesus that He would not make them go +into the sea, but would let them enter into a herd of swine that were +feeding on the cliffs close by. He suffered them to do so, and the +devils went out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the whole +herd ran violently over the cliff into the water and were drowned. And +when the herdsmen saw what was done, they fled into the city and told +all the people. Then the people came out to Jesus, and they saw the +man that had been possessed, clothed and in his right mind, sitting at +the feet of Jesus. And they that had seen it told them by what means +the man had been healed, and they were afraid. The man out of whom the +devils had departed, besought Him that he might stay with Jesus, but +He sent him away, saying, "Return to thy house, and show what great +things God hath done unto thee." And he went his way and published +throughout the city what great things Jesus had done unto him. + +[Illustration: THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS.] + + + + +CURING THE INCURABLE. + + +Jesus went into Capernaum, followed by a great crowd of people, and +among them was a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a +disease which no doctor could cure, though she had consulted many, and +spent all her wealth upon them. She had said within herself, "If I +could but touch His garment I should be made well." So she pressed +through the crowd, and put out her arm and touched the hem of His +garment, and immediately she was made well. + +Then Jesus, turning round to His disciples, said, "Who touched Me?" +But they all denied that they had done so, and Peter and they that +were with him said, "Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, +and yet Thou sayest, Who touched Me!" They were surprised that Jesus +should make such an enquiry, seeing that so many were crowding round +Him, and pressing against Him. But Jesus said, "Somebody hath touched +Me, for I perceive that healing virtue hath gone out of Me." + +When the woman saw that Jesus knew what she had done, and that she +could not be hidden in the crowd, she came trembling, and, falling +down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people why she +had touched Him, and how she had been healed at once. And He said unto +her, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Go +in peace, and be healed of thy illness." + +Jesus wishes us to trust in Him. We suffer from a terrible +disease--the disease of sin, which no doctor can cure; but Jesus will +heal us and take away our sin if we trust in Him. + +[Illustration: CURED BY TOUCHING HIS GARMENT.] + + + + +JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. + + +Jairus was one of the rulers of the Jewish church, or synagogue, and +he had a daughter who had been very ill and was now at the point of +death. She was an only daughter, and was twelve years of age. So +hearing that Jesus was near, he came to Him, and, falling down before +Him, implored Jesus to come and see her. + +And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples. Soon +there came running to them a messenger from the ruler's house, who +said to Jairus, "Thy daughter is already dead; do not trouble the +master." But when Jesus heard it He turned to Jairus and said, "Fear +not. Only believe, and she shall be restored to life." + +When they came to the ruler's house they saw the minstrels and many +people who were making much noise and lamentation for the dead girl, +as was the custom. Jesus said unto them, "Make way; weep not, for the +maiden is not dead, but sleepeth;" but they laughed Him to scorn, +knowing that she was dead. And He put them all out of the room, all +but Peter and James and John, and the mother and father of the maiden. +Then He took her by the hand, and called to her, saying, "Maid, arise." +And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway; and He commanded +her parents to give her food. + +Her parents were astonished when they saw their daughter raised to +life and able to eat, but Jesus charged them that they should tell no +man what He had done. But the fame of the miracle He had wrought went +abroad unto all that land. + +[Illustration: JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.] + + + + +THE TWO BLIND MEN. + + +When Jesus had left the house of the ruler Jairus, there followed Him +two blind men. They called out to Him, "Thou Son of David, have mercy +upon us." + +Then Jesus looked at them, and asked if they really believed that He +had power to cure them and give them back their sight. And they said +unto Him, "Yea, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, and said unto them, +"According to your faith, so be it unto you." And immediately they +opened their eyes and were able to see. Jesus charged them to let no +man know what He had done. But when they were departed they spread His +fame abroad over all that country. + +Another time Christ and His disciples were coming away from Jericho, +followed by a large crowd of people. And there was sitting by the +wayside a blind beggar, Bartimeus by name; and when he heard the noise +of the multitude, he asked what it meant. They answered him, "Jesus of +Nazareth passeth by." Then he cried out in a loud voice, saying, +"Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." The people tried to keep +him from calling out, but he would not be quiet. He was determined +that Christ should see him. And Jesus stood still, and commanded them +to call him. So he arose and cast away his outer garment and came to +Jesus. When Jesus asked what he would have done to him, he answered, +"Lord, that I might receive my sight." And Jesus said unto him, "Go +thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." And he received his sight at +once, and followed Jesus, praising Him. + +[Illustration: THE TWO BLIND MEN.] + + + + +FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND. + + +One day Jesus went on board a ship and sailed to another part of the +coast, where He and His disciples might have rest. For the people in +the cities crowded them so closely that they did not even have time to +eat. They landed, and went into a desert place; but the people had +seen them depart, and marked which way the ship sailed. Then they all +flocked out of the cities and came on foot to the place where Jesus +was. When Jesus saw what a great number of people had come, He had +compassion on them, and spoke to them, and healed their sick. But in +the evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This is a desert +place, and the day has gone; send the people away, that they may go +into the villages and buy food." + +Jesus was too kind to send them away hungry like that. He said, "They +need not depart; give ye them food to eat." But they said to Him, "We +have here but five loaves and two fishes, which we have just purchased +of a lad." He said, "Bring them to Me." Then He told the people to sit +down on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fishes, +and, looking up to heaven, blessed them and broke them into pieces. +The disciples carried the bread and fish to the people and they all +ate and had plenty, although there were about five thousand men, +besides women and children. And yet, when the disciples took up the +fragments that were left, these fragments filled twelve baskets. How +kind was Jesus! He not only taught the people and healed their sick, +but He fed them when out in the desert place and hungry. + +[Illustration: FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND.] + + + + +CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA. + + +When the people had seen the miracle that Christ did in feeding so +many with so few loaves, they felt sure that He was one of the old +prophets that had come again, and they would have taken Him by force +to make Him king. So He sent His disciples by boat towards Capernaum, +and He went, alone, up into a mountain to pray. + +When it was dark, the disciples found themselves alone upon the sea, +opposed to strong winds, which tossed the boat upon high waves. Then +Jesus went out to them, walking upon the waves; but when the disciples +saw Him they thought it was a spirit, and cried out with fear. But +Jesus said, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." Peter answered +Him, saying, "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the +water." And He said, "Come," and Peter stepped over the boat's side +and walked on the water towards Christ. But when he saw the angry +waves around him and heard the roaring of the winds, Peter was afraid +and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me." And Jesus, +stretching out His hand, caught him, and said, "O thou of little +faith, why didst thou fear?" + +When Jesus and Peter had got into the boat, the wind dropped, the sea +became calm and the waves still, and immediately they were at the +place where they wanted to land. Then they worshipped him, saying, +"Truly Thou art the Son of God." And they came into the land of +Gennesaret, where the people knew Him and brought to Him all that were +sick, or blind, or lame, that they might touch His garment and be made +well. + +[Illustration: CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.] + + + + +THE WOMAN OF CANAAN. + + +Jesus came unto the borders of Tyre and Sidon, where the people were +not Jews, but Gentiles. And there came to Him a woman of Canaan, who +cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou son of +David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." She besought Him +to cast out this evil spirit from her daughter. But He answered not a +word, and His disciples counselled Him to send her away. Then He told +her He was not sent unto the Gentiles, but unto the lost sheep of +Israel; meaning the Jews. This was said to try her faith. Then she +came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, help me." But He said, "It is +not meet to take the children's food and to cast it to dogs;" meaning +that His help was due rather to the Jews than to the Gentiles. And she +said, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs sometimes eat of the crumbs which +fall from their masters' table;" meaning that, though she was a +Gentile, she believed in Him as the Son of God. + +Then Jesus answered, and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith; +be it unto thee even as thou desirest. Go thy way; the devil has gone +out of thy daughter." And when she was come to her house she found her +daughter made whole and laid upon the bed. + +Jesus, with His knowledge of our hearts, knew the faith this poor +woman had, and tried it so that it might shine the brighter. Then He +granted her the blessing she had asked Him for; and how she must have +rejoiced when she reached home and found her daughter quite well and +restored to her right mind. + +[Illustration: THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.] + + + + +PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY. + + +It was a part of the Jewish law that all strangers passing among the +Jews should pay to the priests of the Temple an offering to the Lord, +or tribute-money as it was called. + +Soon after our Lord's Transfiguration He came to Capernaum, together +with His disciples. When they had entered the city, there came to them +the priests who usually collected this tribute-money, and they said +unto Peter, "Doth not thy Master pay tribute?" And he answered, "Yes." +But when they had come to the house, Jesus said to Peter, "What +thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do they take tribute; of their own +people or of strangers?" And Peter answered Him, "Of strangers." + +Jesus saith unto him, "Then their own people are free; but lest we +should offend them by not paying, go thou down to the sea, and cast in +thy hook and line, and take up the first fish that taketh the hook +into his mouth. And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a +piece of money there. Take it and give it unto the priests as tribute +for Me and for thee." And Peter went down to the sea and cast in his +line, and took a big fish. And when he had opened its mouth he found +the piece of silver, and took it to the men in payment of the tribute. + +This tribute was collected to pay the expenses of the Temple worship. +Jesus sought to show that, as He himself was the Son of God, the King +for whose service the tribute was paid, He might justly be exempted +from paying it; yet to save giving offence He miraculously provided +the piece of money to pay tribute for Himself and Peter. + +[Illustration: PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY.] + + + + +THE GOOD SAMARITAN. + + +As Jesus was talking to His disciples, a certain lawyer stood up and +asked, "Who is my neighbour?" And Jesus answered by telling them this +story:-- + +A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among +thieves, who robbed him, stripped him of his clothes, and, wounding +him, left him on the road half dead. By chance there came a priest +that way, and, as a teacher of religion to men, he should have stopped +to help the poor man. Instead of this, he pretended not to see, and +passed by on the other side of the road. Then there came by a Levite, +who also, as an official of the church, should have given help. But he +merely came and looked on the injured man, and passed on the other +side as the priest had done. + +Afterwards there came by a Samaritan, and, when he caught sight of the +wounded Jew, he went over to him and was very sorry for him. Now the +Jews hated the Samaritans, and were their enemies, so that it would +not have been surprising if he, also, had done as the priest and the +Levite did. But, no! Though it was his enemy, he could not pass him by +and leave him on the road, perhaps to die. He examined his wounds and +bound them up; doing all that he could to soothe them. Then he lifted +him carefully on his own beast, and brought him to the nearest inn, +and took care of him through the night. The next day, when the +Samaritan departed, he paid the man who kept the inn, and said to him, +"Take care of this poor man until he is well, and whatever it may cost +for his lodging and food, that I will pay thee when I come again." + +"Which of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell +among thieves?" The lawyer answered, "He that showed mercy unto him." +Then said Jesus, "Go, and do thou likewise." + +[Illustration: THE GOOD SAMARITAN.] + + + + +IMPORTUNITY REWARDED. + + +One day Jesus was asked by His disciples to teach them to pray. So +Jesus taught them the prayer we all know so well, beginning with "Our +Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name." But Jesus told +them it was not enough to pray: they must not get tired of praying, +even if they failed to receive quickly the things they asked for. They +must keep on asking, until God in His own time and manner should grant +them what He saw to be good. This great lesson Jesus taught them by +the following parable:-- + +"Which of you shall have a friend," said Jesus, "and shall go unto him +at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a +friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set +before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not, +the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot +rise and give thee. I say unto you," said Jesus, "though he will not +rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his +importunity (continued asking) he will rise and give him as many as he +needeth." + +Then Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us too, "Ask, and it shall +be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened +unto you." For, said He, "every one that asketh receiveth; and he that +seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." If we +ask for those things that God sees to be good for us, we may certainly +expect to receive them. Let us ask God to keep us every day; and to +give us such things as He knows will be for our good. + +[Illustration: IMPORTUNITY REWARDED.] + + + + +THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. + + +A certain King took account of his servants and began to reckon what +they owed him. And there was brought to him one that owed him nearly +_ten million dollars_. But as he had not the money to pay, the King +commanded that he should be sold, together with his wife and children +and everything that he had, that payment might be made. Then the +servant fell down before the King and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, +have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Then the King had +compassion on his servant, and loosed him, and forgave him his debt. + +But when that servant had gone out from the presence of the King, he +found a fellow-servant who owed him a little over _fifteen dollars_, +and he laid hands on him and seized him by the throat, saying, "Pay me +that which thou owest." And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet +and implored him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee +all." And he would not have patience, but cast his fellow-servant into +prison till he should pay the debt. + +When his other fellow-servants saw what had been done they were very +sorry, and came to their King to tell him all about it. Then the King +called the unmerciful servant to him, and said, "O thou wicked +servant; I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me. +Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, +even as I had pity on thee?" + +And the King was wroth, and delivered him up to the tormentors, till +he should pay all that was due unto him. + +So likewise, says Christ, shall our Heavenly Father do also unto us if +from our hearts we forgive not every one that trespasses against us. + + "Forgive us our trespasses, _as we forgive them that trespass + against us_." + +[Illustration: THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.] + + + + +THE GOOD SHEPHERD. + + +In one of His beautiful parables, Jesus compares Himself to a +shepherd. "I am the good shepherd," says He, "the good shepherd giveth +his life for the sheep." And Jesus tells how the hired servant who +cares for nothing but his wages, runs away when the wolf comes; but +how the faithful shepherd, when robbers threaten his flock, or wild +beasts attack them, defends his sheep bravely, often laying down his +life for their sake. Jesus also speaks of how the shepherd knows his +sheep by name; and how, when he goes before them, they will follow +him, because they know his voice, but that they will not follow +strangers. And the Bible, speaking of Jesus Himself, says, "He shall +carry the lambs in His bosom," or His arms, like the kind shepherd is +doing in our picture. + +Now, why does Jesus call Himself the "good shepherd," and the Bible +speak of Him as carrying the little lambs? Is it not because He loves +us; because He knows each one of us; because He gave His life for us +when He died on the cross, and has gone to heaven showing us the way +thither; because He calls us to follow Him; and because He is so +willing to lead even the tiny ones, and shield them from harm, just +like the good shepherd carries the poor wee lamb? But Jesus asks one +thing of us in return for all His kindness and care, and that one +thing is our love. Are we giving Him our love now? Are we asking Him +to lead us, and keep us safe from harm? May we seek to follow Him and +to know His voice. + +[Illustration: THE SHEPHERD AND THE LAMBS.] + + + + +THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY. + + +Jesus had been preaching to a crowd of publicans and sinners. The +publicans of those days were the collectors of taxes for the Romans, +and it was a constant complaint against them that they exacted more +from the people than they had any right to do. So they were looked +upon as wicked men, although they were not all bad. Now the Scribes +and Pharisees, who made a great show of religion, so far as outward +forms went, were greatly shocked at seeing Christ sitting with +publicans, and said, "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with +them." + +Then Jesus asked them, "What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep, +and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the +wilderness, and go after the lost one, until he has found it? And when +he has found it, he lays it upon his shoulders and takes it home, +rejoicing; and calls together his friends and neighbours, saying unto +them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' + +"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner +that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need +no repentance. + +"Again, what woman if she has ten pieces of money, and loses one, does +not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she +finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends +and neighbours, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece +of money which I had lost.' + +"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of God's +angels over one sinner that repenteth." + +[Illustration: THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY.] + + + + +THE PRODIGAL SON. + + +A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his +father, "Father, give me the portion of thy wealth that would fall to +me at thy death." He did so, and a few days after the younger son +gathered all his wealth together and journeyed into a far country. +There he met with evil companions, and wasted his money in riotous +living. When he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that +land, and he began to be in want of bread to eat. So he went and hired +himself to a man of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed +his pigs. And he was so hungry that he would have been glad to have +eaten the coarse food such as the swine eat; but no one gave it to +him. + +His sufferings brought him to his senses, and he thought how foolish +he had been, for he remembered that his father's servants had food +enough and to spare, whilst his father's son was perishing with +hunger. He said, "I will leave this land and go to my father and tell +him how I have sinned against heaven and him. I will tell him I am no +longer worthy to be called his son, and will implore him to make me +one of his hired servants." And he arose and went towards his father's +house, but when he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and +was sorry for him, and ran and embraced him. Then he told his father +how he had sinned and had lost his title to be called the old man's +son, but the father was so glad to have his son come back repentant, +that he told his servants to bring the best clothing and a ring to put +on his son. And he made a great feast, and they were merry, for he +said, "This is my son that was as one dead to me and is now alive +again; he was lost and is found." + +[Illustration: THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.] + +But the elder son was very angry, and would not go in to the feast, +but said to his father, "Lo, these many years have I served thee, and +never offended or disobeyed thee, and thou hast never made a feast for +me and my friends; but now this thy other son has come back, that has +wasted thy wealth in riotous living, thou hast made a great feast for +him." And his father said, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all I have +is thine. It is right that we should make merry and be glad, for this +thy brother was as one dead to us and is alive again; he was lost and +is found." + + * * * * * + + + + +PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER CURED. + + +After Jesus had left the Centurion He went to the house of his +disciple Peter, and there He saw Peter's wife's mother, laid on a bed, +sick with fever. And He took her by the hand and lifted her up. The +fever left her and she was cured. She rose up from her bed and +attended upon them. + +That evening, when the sun was setting, they brought to Jesus all +those that were ill, and many that were possessed with devils. And He +cast out the devils by His word, and healed all those that were sick. + + * * * * * + + "At even, ere the sun had set, + The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay; + Oh, in what divers pains they met, + Oh, with what joy they went away!" + +[Illustration: PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER.] + + + + +THE UNJUST STEWARD. + + + See where the steward, worldly wise, + With wicked cunning in his eyes, + Shows his lord's debtors how to cheat + His master of his oil and wheat. + + "A hundred measures dost thou owe + Of oil? My friend, 'tis scarcely so: + Here, take thy bill and quick indite + Fifty: that puts the matter right." + + "A hundred measures is _thy_ debt + Of corn? My friend, thou dost forget: + Here, take thy bill, and write fourscore; + Surely thou owest nothing more." + + Thus wickedly he would provide + Houses in which he might abide, + When for his former acts unjust + He from his stewardship was thrust. + + And when his master heard, he smiled, + Though of his goods he was beguiled: + Nor did he e'en forbear to praise + The crafty foresight of his ways. + + The children of this world, alas! + The children of the light surpass, + In planning methods to provide + For ills from which they cannot hide. + + And so our Master bids us take + The money which He gives, and make + Friends with our riches for the day + When earthly treasures flee away. + + That when we leave our house below, + And into unknown regions go, + Through Jesus, we may find above + An everlasting home of love. + + Do I my little store expend + For such a wise and prudent end; + Or only think of my own gain, + And not of others' want and pain? + + Lord, by Thy Spirit, make me wise + Above my selfishness to rise, + And something daily give away + To find again in Thy great day! + + RICHARD WILTON, M.A. + +[Illustration: THE UNJUST STEWARD.] + + + + +THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR. + + +There was a certain rich man who was clothed in rich silks and fine +linen, and feasted on costly food each day. There was also a poor +beggar, who was ragged and hungry, and covered with sores. His name +was Lazarus, and they laid him at the rich man's gate, for he desired +to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the well-supplied table. And +even the dogs had pity on him, for they came and licked his sores. + +And it came to pass that the beggar died, and the angels carried him +away to heaven, where he was no longer clothed in rags, but in +glorious array. Neither was he hungry, for he sat with Abraham and +leaned upon his bosom. + +The rich man also died, and was buried. He was not carried to heaven, +but went to a place of torment, where he lifted up his eyes, and in +the distance saw Abraham with Lazarus on his bosom. And he cried and +said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may +dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am +tormented in these flames." But Abraham said, "Son, remember that thou +in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, whilst Lazarus had only +evil things; and now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Beside +all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed." + +Then said the rich man, "I pray thee therefore, father, that thou +wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren. Let +him go to them and testify unto them, that they may repent, lest they +also come into this place of torment." Abraham said unto him, "They +have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said, "Nay, +father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will +repent." But Abraham said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, +neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." + +[Illustration: THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.] + + + + +"AVENGE ME OF MY ADVERSARY." + + +In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared +for man. And in the same city there was a widow that had an enemy, and +he had done her an injury. And she came to the judge and implored him, +saying, "Give me justice; avenge me of my adversary." But he would +not. Then the widow came to him every day and cried, "Give me +justice;" but still he would not for a long while. At last he became +wearied of her constant cry, and he said within himself, "Though I +fear not God nor care for man, yet, because this widow troubleth me +with her complaint, I will avenge her; lest by her continual coming +she weary me." + +And Jesus said, "Hear what the unjust judge saith. And if he, who was +an unjust judge and a wicked man, would grant the widow's petition, +because she asked so often, will not God, who is good and just, give +His children what is good and right for them? Shall not God avenge His +own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with +them?" + +In this parable Jesus impressed upon his disciples the truth that, +although great trials might come upon them, and their lives be in +peril, yet they were not to lose faith in God, or be disappointed +because their prayers were not answered at once. They were to keep on +praying; asking God for such things as were right, and trusting that +He would preserve them amidst all their enemies; and in His own way +make them to triumph over their foes. Whatever is best for His people, +God will give them. He cares for the sparrows, and, even more, for +those who love Him. + +[Illustration: THE UNJUST JUDGE.] + + + + +THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER. + + +The tax-gatherers in those days were called Publicans. They were +reputed to be very unjust, exacting from people more than the law +required them to pay, and other wickedness was charged against them. +Of course, there were good men among them; St. Matthew was a +tax-gatherer before Jesus called him to follow Him. The Pharisees +studied the Scriptures and explained them to the people, but they did +not follow the teachings of Scripture. They were proud, and pretended +they were more religious than other men, but it was _only_ pretense. +Jesus compared them to whited sepulchres, and said they were +hypocrites, who led the people astray. + +A Pharisee and a Publican went up into the Temple to pray. The +Pharisee stood in a part of the Temple where all could see him, and +prayed thus: "O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, who +are unjust, and who take more than belongs to them. I thank Thee that +I am not like this Publican. I fast twice a week; I give to the +priests and Levites a tenth part of all I possess." But the Publican, +who knew that he was wicked, and felt sorry for it, stood afar off in +a quiet part of the Temple where none would see him. He bowed his head +and beat upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner." + +Jesus said that this Publican went to his home more forgiven than the +Pharisee, for every one that is proud and thinks much of himself shall +be put down, and he that humbleth himself and is sorry for his sins, +shall be exalted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the +earth," says Jesus. + +[Illustration: THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.] + + + + +THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD. + + + "Go, work within my vineyard's bound, + At eve your 'penny'[1] shall be found:" + So spake the vineyard's lord, and they + Began to toil at break of day. + + For hours the sun had shown his face, + When idlers in the market-place + Once and again were sent within + The vineyard's wall their wage to win. + + Nay, when but one short hour remains + Before the sun its goal attains, + More loiterers hear the Lord's command + And set to work with willing hand. + + The steward came at close of day + Their wage to reckon and to pay; + And they whose toil could scarcely tire, + Received a penny for their hire. + + But they who the day's burden bore + And noonday heat, expected more: + And murmur'd that the generous lord + To all one penny should accord. + + But he replied, "I wrong not you; + I give you the full wages due; + And why should you my bounty blame, + In paying these beyond their claim?" + + Lord, to Thy vineyard Thou dost call + The least, the youngest of us all: + To each Thou dost assign a task, + From each some service Thou dost ask. + + How kind such feeble hands to use; + Such pleasant work I needs must choose: + I ask no wages, Lord, from thee, + For Thou hast given Thyself for me. + + When I remember all Thy grace, + I cannot loiter in my place: + And when I think of all my sin, + What wages can I hope to win? + + Thanks, Lord, if yet my years are few, + And I retain the early dew: + Oh, keep me through the noonday heat, + And cheer me with Thy presence sweet. + + For if I have Thy presence, Lord, + 'Tis an exceeding great reward; + And if at last I see Thy face, + 'Tis not of merit, but of grace. + + And, oh, what will that "penny" be + Which Thou wilt then bestow on me? + A glorious image it will bear, + Thy own dear Self, Lord, will be there! + + RICHARD WILTON, M.A. + + * * * * * + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The penny, or _denarius_, was a silver coin, stamped with +the image of the Roman Emperor, and worth about 16 cents of our money. +It was a full ordinary day's wage at that time. + +[Illustration: THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.] + + + + +THE BARREN FIG-TREE. + + +In the morning, when Jesus had left Bethany and was coming towards +Jerusalem, He was hungry. Seeing a fig-tree afar off, covered with +leaves, He came to it, hoping to find some fruit on it. But the tree +was a young one, and had not yet commenced to bear fruit. And He found +thereon nothing but leaves. Then He said unto it, "Let no fruit grow +on thee henceforward for ever." And the fig-tree withered away and was +dead from the roots. When the disciples saw it, they marvelled, +saying, "How soon the fig-tree is withered away!" + +Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, if ye have +faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do as I have done to this +fig-tree, but, also, if ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou +removed and be cast into the sea,' it shall be done. And all things, +whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believe that ye will receive them, +and ye shall have them. And when ye are praying, forgive any that have +injured you, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you +your trespasses against Him. But if ye do not forgive, neither will +your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." + +How strange it seems that Jesus, who was gentle and kind, should +pronounce a curse on this fig-tree, and cause it to wither away. Why +did He do so? Because He wished to impress upon His disciples the +terrible danger of unfruitfulness. If we are the disciples of Jesus, +we must bear good fruit; we must be loving, kind, and gentle, and try, +like Him, to be always doing good. + +[Illustration: THE BARREN FIG-TREE.] + + + + +THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN. + + +One day when the priests and elders of the Temple were asking +questions of Jesus, He told them this parable. + +There was a certain man who had a vineyard which was hedged or walled +round, and had a tower. But he was going away into a country far off, +so he let the vineyard to a number of husbandmen, or labourers, who +were to give him part of the fruit of the vines. When the time had +come that the fruit was ripe, he sent his servants to the husbandmen +that he might receive his share. But the wicked husbandmen took his +servants, and slew one, and beat another, and stoned the third. Then +he sent other servants, more than before, but the husbandmen served +them as they had done the others. Last of all he sent his own son, +saying, "They will reverence my son." But when those wicked men saw +him coming, they said among themselves, "This is the heir to all the +vineyard; come, let us kill him and seize on his inheritance." So they +caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. + +Then Jesus said to the priests and elders, "When the Lord of the +vineyard cometh, what will he do unto these husbandmen?" And they +answered, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let +out his vineyard to others, who shall render him the fruits in their +season." + +In this parable the owner of the vineyard means God; the vineyard +Canaan, and the husbandmen are the Jews, who had promised to obey Him, +but had not done so. He had sent His prophets among them, to warn +them, but these had been killed. At last He sent His only Son, but +they would not own Him as such, and soon they would kill Him. When the +priests heard this they knew it referred to them, and they were very +angry and would have taken Him and killed Him, but they were afraid of +the people, who took Jesus to be a prophet. + +[Illustration: THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.] + + + + +THE WEDDING GARMENT. + + +There was a certain King who gave a great feast upon the occasion of +his son's wedding. And he sent out his servants to bring in those that +had been invited, but they would not come. Then he sent forth other +servants, saying, "Tell them which were bidden, 'Behold, I have +prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things +are ready. Come unto the feast.'" But they made light of the message +and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his warehouse; others +took the servants and slew them. + +When the King heard what had been done, he was very angry, and sent +out his army to destroy the murderers, and burn up their city. Then +said he to the servants, "The wedding is ready, but they which were +bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and all ye +shall find, bid them come to the marriage." So they gathered together +as many as they could find. And upon each one, as he entered the +house, was put a beautiful marriage garment, which the King had +prepared. But when the people were all seated, and the King had +entered the house, he saw there a man that had not on a wedding +garment, and he said unto him, "Friend, how camest thou in hither +without a wedding garment?" And the man was speechless, for the +garment had been offered to him at first, but he had refused it. Then +said the King to the servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him +away and cast him into outer darkness." + +In this parable, the King means God, who gave the feast for His Son, +Jesus Christ. Those who were first asked were the Jews, who refused to +believe in Christ. Those who were afterwards brought in, signify the +people who have since listened to His Word, and believed in Him. The +one without the wedding garment is any one that pretends to accept the +invitation to be one of God's people, but in his heart does not +believe in Christ. + +[Illustration: WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT.] + + + + +THE FOOLISH VIRGINS. + + +In certain parts of the East it is the custom for a man when he is +married to bring home his bride at night, and for his relatives and +friends to go out with lamps and torches and music to meet him. + +Ten young women had been invited to meet the bridegroom with their +lamps burning and to sit down with him at the wedding-feast. Five of +them were wise and five were foolish. The wise ones took a supply of +oil in case their lamps should burn out before the bridegroom arrived; +the foolish five took no oil but what was in their lamps. But before +the bridegroom came they all fell asleep. + +At midnight there was a cry, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out +to meet him." But five lamps had almost burnt out, and the foolish +virgins said unto the wise, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are +gone out." But the wise ones answered, "Not so; lest there be not +enough for us and for you. Go ye, rather, to them that sell, and buy +for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and +they that were ready went in with him to the marriage-feast, and the +door was shut. + +Afterwards, came also the other virgins, saying, "Lord, Lord, open the +door to us." But he answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, I know +you not," and would not open the door to them. + +In this parable the bridegroom means Jesus returning to earth, on the +Day of Judgment. The ten virgins are the people of this world, some of +whom have their hearts full of the love of God and keep their lamps +burning with a steady and bright light; that is, they fulfil God's +commandments and obey the teachings of Christ. The others have not +this love in their hearts, and are not prepared for Christ's coming. +Their lamps give out a feeble light and soon will go out. + +[Illustration: THE FOOLISH VIRGINS.] + + + + +THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS + + +One day Jesus told His disciples this parable or story. + +A certain nobleman was called away to a far country to be appointed +king of it, and to return after a time. And he called his servants +unto him, and charged them with the care of his goods and treasure, +giving to each man according to his ability to use the same. To one +servant he gave five talents, to another two, and to another only one. +And straightway he left them, and departed upon his journey. Then the +man that had five talents went and traded with them, and did so well +that in time the profits amounted to five talents more, making ten +altogether. And he that had received two talents, also traded with +his, and added two other talents to them by way of profit. But he that +had had but one talent went away and covered it up in a cloth and hid +it away. + +After a long time the nobleman came back and called his servants to +him, and asked them for the treasure he had entrusted to their +keeping. And he that had received five talents, brought ten, and said, +"Lord, behold, I have gained five other talents beside them." And his +lord said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been +faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. +Enter thou into the joy of thy lord." And to him that had two talents, +and brought back four, the lord said the same words. Then came he that +had received but one talent and had hid it; and he said, "Lord, I knew +thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and I +was afraid, and went and hid thy talent, and lo, here thou hast that +which is thine." His lord said unto him, "Thou wicked and slothful +servant. Thou knewest that I reaped where I had not sown; thou +oughtest therefore to have put my money in the bank, that I might have +received mine own with interest for its use. Take therefore the +talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten; and take the +unprofitable servant and cast him into the outer darkness." + +Now the talent here mentioned was an eastern sum of money (nearly one +thousand dollars), but it really means the powers and opportunities +for doing good that God has given to all of us. One day we shall all +be called upon to give an account of the talents entrusted to our +keeping, and woe be to those who have abused their stewardship by +hiding their talent away. But those who have done good, according to +the power and opportunity given to them, shall be received into +everlasting joy by Christ the Lord. + +[Illustration: THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.] + + * * * * * + + + + +MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND. + + +One Sabbath-day Jesus went into the synagogue, and there He saw a man +that had a withered hand. By some means the muscles had lost their +power, and he could neither use his hand nor stretch it out. And the +Pharisees watched Jesus, to see if He would heal this man on the +Sabbath, that they might bring a charge against Him of breaking the +law. They asked Him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath-day?" and He +replied by asking who among them, if he had a sheep which had fallen +into a pit on the Sabbath-day, would not lay hold on it, and lift it +out. "How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is +lawful to do good on the Sabbath-day." + +Then said He to the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And he stretched +it forth, and it was made whole and healthy like the other. + +Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him, to +consider how they might destroy Him; but when Jesus knew it, He +withdrew Himself from that part, and great multitudes followed Him, +and He healed them all. + +[Illustration: THE WITHERED HAND.] + + + + +JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN. + + +Jesus had been cruelly put to death. His hands, which had been placed +on the heads of little children when He blessed them, had been nailed +to a cross of wood; and cruel nails had been driven through his feet. +And hanging on the cross, Jesus had died. But on the third day He had +risen from the tomb, and for forty days He had remained upon the +earth, meeting frequently with His disciples. At the end of that time +Jesus led the eleven apostles from Jerusalem towards Bethany; and when +near that village, and away from the multitude, He spoke to them, +promising that they should be made bold by the Holy Spirit, and +receive power to witness for Him both to the Jews and Gentiles. Then, +the Bible tells us, "He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it +came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and +carried up into heaven." And as He went up, a cloud received Him out +of their sight. + +The apostles fell down and worshipped Jesus, looking steadfastly after +Him as He went up; and as they did so, two angels in white garments +stood by them, and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up +into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, +shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Then +the apostles returned to Jerusalem. + +Yes, Jesus has ascended to heaven, and now He sits at the right hand +of God; but He tells us that He will come again, and take those that +love Him to dwell with Him in His glorious home for ever and ever. "I +go to prepare a place for you," Jesus says. + +[Illustration: JESUS ASCENDING TO HEAVEN.] + + + + +THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER. + + +Paul and Silas were in prison. They had done no wrong, but wicked men +had taken them before the magistrates; and the magistrates had caused +them to be severely beaten, and afterwards had sent them to prison, +where they were securely fastened in an inner dungeon, and their feet +made fast in the stocks. This was a most painful position for Paul and +Silas. But they were not unhappy. They prayed to God, and sang praises +to Him; and they sang so heartily that the other prisoners heard them. +It was midnight, and all was dark in the prison. But suddenly there +was an earthquake; so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, +all the doors were opened, and every one's bonds were loosed. All the +prisoners might have run away had they been minded to do so. + +The keeper of the prison had been sleeping, but the earthquake awoke +him. When he saw the doors open, he supposed that all the prisoners +had fled; and knowing how severely he would be punished on that +account, he drew his sword to kill himself. Paul knew this, and called +out loudly, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." Then the +keeper, who but a little while before had cruelly treated Paul and +Silas, came trembling, and fell down before them, and said, "Sirs, +what must I do to be saved?" He was afraid because of his sins; and +wanted to know how he might be saved from the fearful consequences of +sin. Paul's answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou +shalt be saved." Then Paul and Silas spoke to him about Jesus. He +believed, and was baptized; and the next morning the two disciples +were set at liberty. + +[Illustration: THE PHILIPPIAN JAILOR BEFORE PAUL AND SILAS.] + + + + +TIMOTHY AND HIS MOTHER EUNICE. + + +Timothy was a youthful and earnest disciple of Jesus Christ, whom Paul +loved dearly. Paul had found him during one of his missionary +journeys, and, discovering how highly he was esteemed as a Christian, +had selected him as his assistant. Afterward Timothy became Paul's +companion in travel, and the first bishop of Ephesus. While Timothy +was at Ephesus, Paul wrote two letters to him. They are contained in +the Bible, and are called the Epistles to Timothy. In them Paul says +many kind and wise things, giving Timothy directions how to act in his +high Christian office. But Paul also speaks of Timothy's early days, +and of his mother and grandmother. These were both good women, who +loved God, and diligently studied the Holy Scriptures. The mother's +name was Eunice. She was a Jewess. The grandmother's name was Lois. +Both loved the little boy Timothy, or Timotheus as he was called, and +they sought to instil into his young mind and heart the love of God +and the knowledge of His holy Word. In our picture we see Eunice +teaching her son. She has not a bound Bible, but a manuscript, wound +round small rollers. From this she reads to Timothy; while Lois, the +aged grandmother, sits by. + +Paul warned Timothy not to forget the teaching of his good mother and +grandmother; and especially to value his knowledge of the Scriptures. +Because, said Paul, "they are able to make thee wise unto salvation." +Many young folks have good mothers and grandmothers, who love to teach +them about Jesus. Are they receiving this teaching as Timothy did, and +being made wise unto salvation? + +[Illustration: LOIS, EUNICE AND TIMOTHY.] + + + + +CHRIST BLESSING THE CHILDREN. + +(_See_ Frontispiece). + + +Jesus had left Galilee, and was journeying toward Jerusalem, where He +was to be put to death. He was in the country beyond Jordan, called +Peraea, and had been speaking some very wise words to the Pharisees, +and also to His disciples, when some women came to Him, bringing +infants and young children that He might put His hands upon them and +pray for them. The disciples thinking probably that Jesus, who had so +many important things to attend to, would not wish to be troubled by +women bringing their children, rebuked them for so doing. But Jesus +loved children. So, when He saw the disciples about to send them away, +He was displeased; and, calling the disciples to Him, He said, "Suffer +little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is +the kingdom of God." Then, we are told, Jesus "took them up in His +arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." How kind was Jesus! +and how willing that the little ones should be brought to Him! And He +is the same now. May all our young readers learn to love Him, and find +for themselves how willing He is to love and bless them. + + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Mother Stories from the New Testament, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTHER STORIES: NEW TESTAMENT *** + +***** This file should be named 17163.txt or 17163.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/1/6/17163/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia, Jeannie Howse +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |