r an injury. And she came to the judge and implored him,
saying, "Give me justice; avenge me of my adversary." But he would
not. Then the widow came to him every day and cried, "Give me
justice;" but still he would not for a long while. At last he became
wearied of her constant cry, and he said within himself, "Though I
fear not God nor care for man, yet, because this widow troubleth me
with her complaint, I will avenge her; lest by her continual coming
she weary me."

And Jesus said, "Hear what the unjust judge saith. And if he, who was
an unjust judge and a wicked man, would grant the widow's petition,
because she asked so often, will not God, who is good and just, give
His children what is good and right for them? Shall not God avenge His
own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with
them?"

In this parable Jesus impressed upon his disciples the truth that,
although great trials might come upon them, and their lives be in
peril, yet they were not to lose faith in God, or be disappointed
because their prayers were not answered at once. They were to keep on
praying; asking God for such things as were right, and trusting that
He would preserve them amidst all their enemies; and in His own way
make them to triumph over their foes. Whatever is best for His people,
God will give them. He cares for the sparrows, and, even more, for
those who love Him.

[Illustration: THE UNJUST JUDGE.]

THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.

The tax-gatherers in those days were called Publicans. They were
reputed to be very unjust, exacting from people more than the law
required them to pay, and other wickedness was charged against them.
Of course, there were good men among them; St. Matthew was a
tax-gatherer before Jesus called him to follow Him. The Pharisees
studied the Scriptures and explained them to the people, but they did
not follow the teachings of Scripture. They were proud, and pretended
they were more religious than other men, but it was _only_ pretense.
Jesus compared them to whited sepulchres, and said they were
hypocrites, who led the people astray.

A Pharisee and a Publican went up into the Temple to pray. The
Pharisee stood in a part of the Temple where all could see him, and
prayed thus: "O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, who
are unjust, and who take more than belongs to them. I thank Thee that
I am not like this Publican. I fast twice a week; I give to the
priests an