And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers."

22. On account of its mild, inoffensive, and patient character, the sheep is used in the Scriptures to typify the people of God, while Christ represents himself as the "good Shepherd." Lost sheep is a peculiarly tender and touching expression, signifying the situation of the impenitent sinner, and the interest that is felt for him by the Saviour.

23. Peter was commanded to feed the lambs, or to attend to the wants of the young of the Saviour's fold; and was twice enjoined to feed his sheep-administer carefully and continually to the spiritual wants of Christ's church, they being considered especially the Saviour's flock. The Saviour himself was called the Lamb of God, on account of his meek and patient character, and in allusion to the lambs sacrificed for the passover.

CHAPTER XI.

HOUSES-TIME.

1. HOUSES. Formerly, as now, the houses in Judea, and indeed almost throughout the East, were built low, with flat roofs, these being surrounded, according to an express command of God, (Deut. xxi, 8,) with a railing or battlement, about breast high.

2. These houses were commonly built of stone, but those of the poorer classes were constructed of mud, affording an easy entrance to thieves who wished to "break through and steal."

3. These houses were squares built around an open space in the centre, the dwelling rooms being upon the four sides of the quadrangle, usually in the second and third stories; the first story being low, and used for an entry, reception-room, and store-room. With the wealthy the second story was high, beautifully adorned with tapestry and ornamental work.

4. To this "upper room " frequent allusion is made in the New Testament. Here Paul preached his parting sermon, while Eutychus, sitting in one of the projecting windows, being overpowered by the heat and weariness, fell asleep and dropped out upon the pavement, and was raised again from insensibility by the apostle.

5. The open square in the centre is commonly paved, and sometimes covered with carpets, and cooled by a fountain of water. To protect this delightful retreat from the sun, a sail or a lattice is often drawn over the top. Here the master of the house receives his guests, and here Christ stood when he preached in Capernaum to the audiences that thronged the court and the doors.

6. The houses being flat upon the top, the roofs are often used as sleeping places, and in the hot, dry atmosphere of Judea, no place could

be more desirable. was usually built upon the roof, whither the inmates of the house might retire alone and unobserved to pray. Here Peter was praying when he saw the wonderful sheet let down from heaven, and was encouraged by this divine vision to follow the servants of Cornelius the Gentile.

A small chamber or closet

7. There were two ways of ascending to the top of Jewish houses-one way within the house, the other upon the outside. Thus when the friends of the paralytic man of Capernaum found the doorway of the house where Jesus was preaching thronged with the multitude, they sought the roof by the outside passage, carrying with them their helpless friend. But finding that the sail or lattice was drawn over the court, they unloosed and removed it, and lowered the bed containing the paralytic down into the open space before Jesus; thus doing little or no injury to the house.

8. The furniture of the houses of the common people was extremely simple and cheap. Instead of chairs they sat upon skins or mats. A simple matress was spread over these mats, and their bed was made, while their usual garments thrown over them formed the covering. Thus for a well man, or one really healed, it was no heavy burden to bear his bed away with him, as did the cured paralytic, at Christ's command.

9. The rich had couches and sofas upon which they sat and slept; some of them were

richly inlaid with ivory, and their coverlids were splendid and perfumed. 2 Kings iv, 10; Amos vi, 4; Prov. vii, 16, 17. In the time of our Lord it was customary to recline upon these couches while taking their meals, leaning upon the side, with the head toward the table, and the limbs stretched out behind them. We can see how the beloved disciple is said to have leaned upon the Saviour's bosom, he reclining next before him at the table; and also how Mary, coming behind, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair.

worked by two women seated upon the ground opposite each other. In the centre of the upper stone is a cavity to receive the corn, and by its side an upright wooden handle for moving the stone. One woman then commences by pushing the upper stone round with her right hand, toward her companion; the other, receiving it, pushes it round again to the first, and thus they continue the rotary motion, while with the left hand they supply fresh corn, as the meal and bran escape from a hole in the side.

11. Their corn was ordinarily ground by servant maids every morning early, and thus at break of day the "sound of the millstones" could be heard all through the villages. From this description we can perceive the significance of the Saviour's prophecy, "Two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken and the other left." To this Isaiah makes frequent allusion in his prophecies, as when he pronounces the curse of the Almighty against the rebellious people: "Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of millstones, and the light of a candle, and the whole land shall be a desolation."

12. Their ovens were sometimes only earthen pots, in which fire was placed to heat them, and upon the outside, or the inside, after the fire was burned down, batter, or dough, was spread and baked. Oftentimes they consisted of holes in the ground, with stones in the bot