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