Siloam was south of the temple inclosure, outside the wall. It is still to be seen, an oblong reservoir, with a flight of steps leading down to the water. By interpretation, Sent. The word "Siloam " means "sending," or "sent." John hints at the thought that the pool was by its very name a symbol of Christ, who was the One sent from God. He went his way. The after conduct of this man shows that Christ chose well

the subject of his miracle: one who was strong in faith, ready in obedience, bold, and even stubborn, in his confession of the Master. Washed, and came seeing. The sight came after he had washed in the pool which by its name represented Christ, who is the water of life. He came, not to the Saviour, who had not remained at the place where he had met him, but to his own home. (5) Greater than this transformation is the enlightenment of a blinded soul by the Sun of righteousness.

8. The neighbors. Those who lived near him were the first to notice the change in the once blind. (6) So those who live nearest to the true convert will perceive that he is a new creature. Had seen him that he was blind. Rev. Ver., "They which saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar." He belonged to the lowest class, the blind beggars, still to be seen in every Oriental city; Is not this he that sat and begged? They noticed that he was now a beggar no longer, but a worker, a good trait in this man, who appears nobly throughout

the story.

9. Some said, This is he. They remembered his appearance, and were sure that he was the same man, thongh changed. He is like him. The opened eyes made such a change in his looks that many were not sure of his identity. I am he. He knew that he was the one who had been once a blind beggar. (7) So when a soul is saved there is a new creation, yet the same person.

well-known man, whose name was in every body's lips. (8) Let no one converted by Christ be ashamed to own his Lord. I went and washed. He could not have preached a sermon, but he could tell the facts of his experience. (9) And so can any one who has an experience to tell.

12. Where is he? Perhaps the inquiry was made with the purpose of arresting Jesus, and hence the cau tious answer of the man. I know not. He had not yet seen his deliverer; just as we see him not, though we are saved by him.

13, 14. They brought to the Pharisees. These ligion. No special body of men is here meant, but the were the ruling minds among the Jews in matters of releading spirits of the Pharisaic party, who were all opposed to Jesus. It was the sabbath. The seventh day of the week, whose sanctity had been surrounded with many rules by the Jewish rabbis. Christ did not recognize their authority, and hence their opposition to him.

15. The Pharisees also asked him.

to obtain the statement of the man as a ground of action They wished against Jesus. He said unto them. Notice the firmness of this man in his testimony. Of three things he was sure that once he was blind, that now he could see, and that it was Jesus who had wrought the change.

standard of their own as to sabbath-keeping, and then 16. This man is not of God. They first set up a decide that the mighty worker who disregards it cannot be of God; in other words, that his miracles are wrought by the power of Satan. Others said. These were the thoughtful, more intelligent minority, like Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and perhaps G amaliel. How can a man that is a sinner. Works of healing and of mercy come from God, and not from Satan.

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QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCHOLARS. Whom did Jesus see in the streets of Jerusalem ? A man blind from his birth.

How did the disciples questlon Jesus about him? What sin did this man or his parents do that he should be born blind?

What did Jesus tell them? That neither the sins of the man nor of his parents was the cause of his blind

ness.

Why was this allowed? That men might see the power of God.

Whom had God sent to show forth his power? His Son Jesus.

What did Jesus do? He spit upon the ground and made clay, and put it upon the man's eyes.

What command did he give him? "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam."

Why did he command this? To try the man's faith in him.

What happened? The man washed, and came back seeing. (Repeat the Golden Text.)

Why did some of the neighbors not know him? His face was changed.

How must it have looked? Bright and happy. What did he see for the first time? The golden light of the sun.

What did the light show him? Many beautiful things.

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What does Jesus tell us? "I am the light of the world."

How is he the light of the world? Because he shows us the beautiful things of heaven.

When does he open our eyes to see them? When

we come to him and obey him.

Who refused to believe that Jesus was from God? The Pharisees.

What did the blind man say of him? He is a prophet.

Words with Little People.
Jesus gave the blind man sight,
Gave him light instead of night;
Broke the bands that bound him fast,
SURE he was he saw at last.

When Jesus comes into your little heart and takes the darkness of sin away and fills it with the light of forgiveness and joy and life, DON'T say you hope you are his Say von know

THE LESSON CATECHISM.

[For the entire school.]

"While I am," etc. v. 5.

"Jesus answered." v. 3. Hath shined in our hearts." 2 Cor. 4. 6. "Eyes of your understanding....enlightened." Eph. 1. 18.

"Delivered us from the power of darkness." Col. 1. 13.

2. To the blind man.

"Came seeing." v. 7.

"Went and washed....received sight." v. 11.

"One thing I know." v. 25.

"He hath opened mine eyes." v. 30. Light of the world." v. 5. "The light has come." John 3. 19. "The earth shall be full." Isa. 11. 9. "An everlasting light." Isa. 60. 19, 20.

THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
Pictures of a Soul's Salvation.

1. The first picture is that of a sinner, in his condition from birth; a condition of imperfection and incompleteness, with one side of his nature undeveloped; a condition of blindness, unable to see, or to know what sight is, just as a sinner has no true conception of what salvation is; a condition of helplessness and poverty. How many are in just such a state as this blind man!

2. The next picture is that of the Saviour. He saw the blind man when the man knew it not; he felt for him, not in curiosity, but in yearning sympathy; he eived the glorious possibilities in him, of which

ot with

him, and in that touch was power. So Christ comes to darkened souls, that he may bring them into light.

3. The third picture is that of the seeker. He did not cavil, nor question, but obeyed. He let the Saviour put clay on his face, walked through the streets, washed in the pool. And in doing Christ's will with unquestioning faith he found light.

4. The fourth picture is that of the saved man. He was transformed "a new creature," so that old acquaintances scarcely knew him; there was insight, "now I see;" there was assurance, just as the soul knows it has been forgiven; there was gratitude, for see how many times he repeated the story of his healing; there was confession of Christ in the face of opposition. How clear the illustration of one who has been saved by the power of Christ!

An English Teacher's Notes on the Lessons.

BY SARAH GERALDINA STOCK.

Among the many advantages of the time we live in are the lectures on cookery, so much in vogue, by ladies who have studied and become adepts in the art. These lectures are mostly accompanied by what are termed "Demonstration Lessons." After explaining how a thing is done, the lecturer actually does it in the presence of her audience, and lets them see the whole process. It seems to me-I would say it reverently, and ask my readers to pardon the homely nature of the simile-that the story narrated in our passage for to-day is a sort of "Demonstration Lesson" on the subject we had last time. In our last lesson we heard of faith, a false, fruitless faith, and a true and fruitful faith. To-day we have the latter-the true faith-shown us in actual and practical working in the story of the blind beggar. The lady, however, who gives the "Demonstration Lesson"-to return to my homely simile-cannot insure that those who witness it will succeed in their attempts to imitate her. However thoroughly they may understand the matter, they cannot become adepts like herself unless they do what she has done. In like manner it is not hearing about faith nor seeing it exemplified in another person that will make any one a believer. To become that he must believe. But God does use in a wondrous way the examples given in his word of the working of that faith which is his gift, and which is yet demanded of those who hear his Gospel.

Here is a whole chapter of the gospel of John taken up with one man's story-an obscure individual too, of whom we hear nothing more, not one of those Scripture worthies whose names are better known than those of most earthly heroes-just a blind beggar, who used to sit by the way-side asking alms. What was there particularly noticeable about him? The disciples noticed one thing, his miserable and hopeless condition, and asked whether the suffering were a punishment for some particular sin. That was all they saw. But what did Jeuss see? A man with a high destiny! "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be manifest in him." The people

we do that we might work the works of God?" And he had answered: "This is the work of God,. that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." This is the work we are going to see carried out in the blind beggar's story. It is the story of a man believing in Jesus.

There are six points in the story-if we include, as we can hardly help doing, the sequel as told in vers. 26-41.

1. Jesus touching.

The blind man was utterly ignorant of Him who came along the way where he sat begging. We know it was the "Light of the World," the Eternal. One who was "before Abraham," the persecuted Son of man who had just passed safely out of the presence of those who wished to slay him. But he did not. He had not sought for Jesus. He appears to have known little or nothing about Jesus. But. Jesus knew him, came to him, noticed him, touched him, freely, lovingly, powerfully.

Just so, Jesus comes to a house-a school-a class -to one boy-and touches him. Some little word gets hold of the boy, he does not know why; something he can hardly tell what-moves him. And he does not know that it is the touch of Jesus the Lord.

2. The beggar receiving.

The touch was not what he expected. If he looked for any thing it was a gift of money. But he received it-uncomfortable as it may have been, and unsuggestive, too, of any improvement in his condition; for however certain kinds of ointment may have been used for disease of the eyes, there could have been no thought of any thing benefiting one born blind, much less a lump of ordinary clay. He received it, and this was the first stirring of faith, passive as it may have seemed. And when that little something is felt within a child's heart the question is, Will he stifle or throw it off, or will he receive it? 3. Jesus commanding.

"Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." No reason given, no promise made. authoritative word spoken.

That was all. But just the

And so with the child that has received the touch of Jesus. There is a command. It may be: Go and pray. It may be: Seek some Christian friend. It may be: Take your bible: or, Attend some class. The word is not always the same, nor does a child always understand what it is to do for him. 4. The beggar obeying.

"He went therefore "--because of the commandnot understanding much about it, but just simply obedient to this friendly and authoritative voice. This is faith's second step. And what was the result? "He came seeing." He had trusted the hand that touched-trusted the voice that commanded; and how grandly was he rewarded! But the work was not yet complete. He had not seen Jesus, and knew little about him. The next thing

was,

5. The beggar confessing.

His altered condition was soon observed and

plete in all but that divine touch which will cause the light to shine. The psalmist expresses confidence in God by saying, "For thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." See this! unlighted candle! It is useless. What will give it power? 1. The extinguisher must be removed. 2. A flame must touch it. We must remove every hin derance that prevents the divine touch from enlightening the darkness.

Lesson Word-Pictures.

What a long Sabbath it is for that beggar by the wayside? Others can sit in their homes with their children; he sits begging by the way-side, holding out to tree and shrub and bird and flower and the face of passing stranger eyes that never have seen, eyes that never may see. Drop a penny in his thin hand and he will be thankful. There is a stir in the street. Does he know that the Light, the Light of the world, is passing? O if he realized it, that Jesus, the Light of the world, was passing, would not he be thrilled by an eager desire to reach Jesus and plead with him? If he only knew that Jesus and his disciples were talking about his blindness! Yes, and Jesus is now stooping to the ground. He has spat upon it. He is kneading it. He has made an ointment of the earth, and now he has anointed those poor, sightless eyes with the clay. Off he goes, this blind beggar with the clay on his eyes, feeling his way with his battered stick. Where are

you going?" some one may be asking. "Going to the pool of Siloam to wash mine eyes," he says. "What for?" And his answer perhaps is, "To get my sight." "Ha, ha! Let's follow the old fool!" one man says to another. "Let's see if he will get his sight." He reaches the pool, this poor, blind beggar-he stoops, he washes his eyes, he-"Can you see!" ask the spectators. "Nonsense!" But look! He is lifting those once sightless eyes, and lo, like a new creation, God's beautiful world of tree and flower and field unrolls before him. Home he goes, walking in the midst of a paradise. Such joy is shining in the depths of his eyes, like pearls at the bottom of a stream! The neighbors miss that stooping, groping beggar who shuffled along in a continual darkness. Who is this man, erect, confident, happy? Not the blind beggar? Yes, and Jesus took away his blindness. What a stir there is now among the Pharisees! Who healed the blind man? Jesus did it, and did it on the Sabbath! What horror distorts the faces of the Pharisees as they look at the eyes that have been opened, as if they were gazing upon the leprosy! "O he is not of God, this pretentious miracle-worker, Jesus!" some are saying, turning away their faces. "Why not?" others are asking. Let the beggar give his opinion. What does he think of Jesus? Hark! There he stands, looking up, looking off, beholding God every-where, and-Jesus? He is of God, is the once blind man's opinion.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming. and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

There is a closer connection between this lesson and the last one than appears upon the surface of the story. The Pharisees had cast out of the synagogue the blind man whom Christ had healed, simply because he persistently declared his belief that his healer was a prophet. By their spirit they showed that they were not true shepherds of the people. In this allegory Christ rebukes their conduct. He shows the difference between the hireling who serves for gain, the robber who plunders the flock, and the shepherd who leads his sheep into green pastures, and lays down his life in their defense. He brings before us the picture of the Oriental sheep-fold, not a covered building, but a rude inclosure, open to the sky, surrounded by stone walls overtopped with thorn bushes, and entered by a single door, way. In this yard a number of flocks are kept at night

guarded by the porter and his dog. In the morning the shepherds come, and each in turn stands in the door-way and gives a call to his own sheep. In the huddled mass each member of his flock hears the summons, and follows after his own shepherd, until flock after flock has left the fold, each wending its way over the meadows to its own pasture, with the shepherd at its head. The man who at midnight seeks to climb the wall shows himself to be a robber; the shepherd who leaves his sheep in their hour of need is no true shepherd, but a hireling; while he who owns and knows each one of his sheep is ready to die in their defense. The Saviour shows by this illustration that he is at once the door by which each one enters the fold, and the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.