AN EVIL SPIRIT CAST OUT.

to keep and comfort them. Then
they heard a voice speaking out of
the cloud, and it said, “This is my
beloved Son; hear him.” It was
the Father’s voice; and He sgaid
this to teach the disciples how great
Jesus was; much, much greater
even than Moses and Elijah.

When Peter, and James, and
John, heard the voice of God, they
were again very much afraid; and
fell down upon their faces on the
ground. But Jesus came and
touched them; and said, “ Arise,
and be not afraid.” Then the dis-
ciples arose, and looked up. Moses
and Elijah were gone ;—gone again
to their happy home in Heaven.
Jesus only was there; and He was
not now shining in glory, but was

as He had been before the transfig-’

ARF
uration. Then He called His dis-
ciples, and led them down from the
mount. | |

Peter had felt happy on the moun-
tain, when he saw Jesus, and Moses,
and Elijah, in glory ; and he wished
to stay there always, and not to go
back into the world again. But
Jesus did not let Peter have his
wish. Jesus was going to suffer
Himself, before He went to glory;
and His disciples must suffer too,
before they could meet their Master
in Heaven. But Peter, and James,

} and John, have now long been with

Jesus; they are rejoicing with Mo-
ses and Elijah, and many more of
God’s faithful servants above. And
they will be there for ever, and
never again come back to a world
of sorrow and sin.

CCXCI.

AN fe viL PPIRIT fast Pur.

HEN Jesus came down
from the mountain, He
saw a great many people
standing round the dis-
ciples, talking to them.
As soon as the people saw Jesus,
they all ran to Him; and one of
them said, “Lord, I have brought
my son to thee to be cured; for he
has a deaf and dumb spirit; and I
asked thy disciples to cast it out,
but they could not.” Then Jesus
said, “ Bring the child to me.” So
the father went to fetch him. But
as the poor boy was coming to Je-

 

sus, the evil spirit tore him, and
threw him upon the ground. Then
Jesus asked, “How long has he
been troubled in this way?” The.
father answered, “From a little

child; and sometimes the evil spirit

throws him into the water, and
sometimes into the fire, and tries to
destroy him; but if thou canst do
anything, have mercy on us, and
help us.”

The father’s faith was very weak ;
he did not feel quite sure that Jesus
was able to save his child. But
Jesus said, “Canst thou believe ?