d, 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