THE FAMILY OF JESUS. —

Jesus, and they have been in a very
sad state of unbelief from that time
until now.

But what may we learn from the
parable? We all are, by nature,
under the power of Satan, and only
Jesus Christ can deliver us from his
power. Now there are many people
who hear the gospel, as the Jews
did, and know what is right, and
try, but in their own strength, to do
what is right;—to overcome some
of their sinful tempers and passions ;
that thus they may appear better in
the sight of men. These people are
then like the man in the parable,
when the evil spirit went away from
him for a little time. But their
hearts are not changed; and, there-

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fore, in the sight of God, they are
as wicked as they were before. And
Satan. soon returns to them; he
comes and dwells within them,
tempting them to new and greater
sins, and making them worse and
worse; till, at last, if God’s mercy
prevent not, he brings them to that
dreadful place, “prepared for the
devil and his angels.”

Let the unbelief of the Jews, and
the awful state in which they have
remained so long, be a warning to
us. And let us pray, not only that
our outward conduct may be right
in the sight of men, but also, that
our hearts may be right in the sight —
of God.

 

CCLXXYV.

JHE fAMILY OF JESUS,

NCE, when Jesus was
teaching the people, His
mother and His brethren
came to the door of the
house where He was, and
asked to see Him. He turned to
His disciples, and looked affection-
ately upon them, and said, “ Behold
my mother, and my brethren!
Whosoever doeth the will of God,
the same is my mother, and sister,
and brother.”

All those who truly love God,
belong to the family of Jesus;—
all who have repented, and come to
Christ for pardon, and whose hearts
have been made new by the Holy
Spirit. What a happy family this

 

is! God is their father; and He
says to them, “ Ye are my sons and
daughters.” Jesus Christ is their
brother; and He “sticketh closer”
than any earthly brother; for “ He
is a brother born for adversity.”
And the Holy Spirit is their friend
and comforter in all their sorrows ;
for Jesus said, “I will send you
another comforter, even the Spirit
of truth.”

There is no anger, no quarrelling,
in the happy family. All is love
among them. Christ has said,
“ By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another.” John xiii. 35. A
home is prepared for this family ;