ence
and of righteousness is certain to be cut down. While the opportunity is
given, repentance must be shown. "Now is the acceptable time; ... now is a
day of salvation."

15. A Cure on the Sabbath. Ch. 13:10-21

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath
day. 11 And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity
eighteen years: and she was bowed together, and could in no wise
lift herself up. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and
said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And
he laid his hands upon her: and immediately she was made straight,
and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved
with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered
and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought
to work: in them therefore, come and be healed, and not on the day
of the sabbath. 15 But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye
hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox
or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And
ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had
bound, lo, _these_ eighteen years, to have been loosed from this
bond on the day of the sabbath? 17 And as he said these things,
all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude
rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

18 He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and
whereunto shall I liken it? 19 It is like unto a grain of mustard
seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew,
and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the
branches thereof.

20 And again he said, Where unto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three
measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

A true follower of Christ will worship in public on the Sabbath Day, for
this was the custom of our Lord. On one of these days he found occasion to
reveal his sympathy and power by releasing a poor woman who for eighteen
years had been bound by "a spirit of infirmity," just as on such occasions
his word to-day brings deliverance to souls bound by the power of sin.

It was his sympathy which prompted this act and further led him to relieve
the consciences of his hearers from the burden of traditions placed upon
them