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CONVERSATION XLIV.

IMITATION OF SPIRIT.

DISCIPLESHIP.

Review. The Calling of Matthew, from the Sacred Text.Ideas of the Conversation. Holiness. Discipleship. - Influences of Nature. - Pictures of the Scene. Idea of Miracles.- Analogies. Influence of Example. Practical Holiness.- Instances and Illustrations, - Obedience of the Faculties. - Subject.

Review.

Close.

MR. ALCOTT. Can you recall the conversation of Wednesday last? What did it lead to?

WILLIAM C. I recollect that the roof of the house was taken off, and the Paralytic let down.

EDWARD C. I remember it was in Capernaum.
SUSAN. The house was full where Jesus was.

LUCIA. It led us to talk upon where Good and Evil come from.

ELLEN. And we said that faith would have some effect in curing.

MR. ALCOTT. Have any of you ever thought that Faith alone, without any means of a material kind, would cure diseases?

MOST. No; but that it would help.

(Lucia, Ellen, Susan, George B. held up hands, as thinking that faith alone cured.)

MR. ALCOTT. Did you think so?

ELLEN. No; but I thought you did.

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MR. ALCOTT.

Do you remember what was said

about the little infant?

CHARLES. Yes; you asked, what if you should bring a little Infant into the room, and say it was wicked, would it be blasphemy?

MR. ALCOTT.

be?

Did you think that I thought it would

(All held up hands.)

ELLEN. I thought so myself, however, before I thought of what you thought.

MR. ALCOTT. What made you think I thought so? ELLEN. From the way in which you put the question.

Mr. Alcott here read the lesson for the day.

Luke v. 27.

Mark ii. 13.

Mark ii. 14.

Matt. ix. 9.

Luke v. 27.

Matt. ix. 9.

Mark ii. 14.

Matt. ix. 9.

Luke v. 27.

Luke v. 28.

THE CALLING OF MATTHEW.

MATT. ix 9. MARK ii. 13, 14. LUKE v. 27, 28.

Vulgar Æra, 27. Julian Period, 4740.

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he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. and as he passed by

from thence, he saw a man,

a publican, named Levi,

named Matthew,

the son of Alpheus,

sitting at the receipt of custom.

and he said unto him, follow me.

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

He asked who expected to be interested, and to talk?

Ideas of the
Conversation.

(All expected to be interested, though some felt languid.)

EMMA. I shall be interested; but I do not

like to talk, because I never seem to have said any thing when I do speak — I cannot get words for my thoughts. MR. ALCOTT. Who prefer to hear others talk to talking themselves?

(All held up hands, except Josiah.)

JOSIAH. I prefer to talk myself generally.
MR. ALCOTT. Why?

JOSIAH. Because I do not think the others always say what is true.

MR. ALCOTT. But when they do say what is true, how is it?

JOSIAH. Oh! then I like to hear them talk.

GEORGE K. and MARTHA.

esting things than I do.

Others think more inter

GEORGE B. I never have any thing to say.

Holiness.

MR. ALCOTT. What do I mean by reading from St. Mark as I have just done?

SUSAN. He is one of the Gospels.

MR. ALCOTT. One of the Gospel Writers.

ELLEN. A disciple.

ALFRED. An Evangelist.

ONE. What does Saint mean?

MR. ALCOTT. Holy, good.

Discipleship.

But what did the reading bring into your minds?

GEORGE K. I thought Levi followed Jesus, because he thought he would do some miracle.

MR. ALCOTT. What kind of miracle?

GEORGE. K. An outward miracle, such as changing water into wine, a material miracle, not spiritual. MR. ALCOTT. What is the difference what is a spiritual miracle?

GEORGE K. Why, to cure the Paralytic, because Jesus said, " thy sins be forgiven thee," which was something in his spirit.

MR. ALCOTT. What is meant by forgiveness?

GEORGE K. He meant that his conscience should not accuse him any more of it. That was Christ's forgiveness.

ALFRED. I think Matthew followed Jesus partly, because Jesus commanded him to do it.

MR. ALCOTT. How many think it a command? (A few held up hands.)

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CHARLES. I think Matthew had never seen a man who had so much faith in him, as to want him to follow him.

RECORDER. What do you mean by Jesus having faith in Matthew?

CHARLES. Confidence in his honesty, and that he would be good as a disciple.

SAMUEL R. I thought Matthew did not think much about what he was going for, but went from curiosity. GEORGE K. I thought Jesus spoke in a very kind manner, as if he wished him to go very much.

MR. ALCOTT. Did he entreat him to go, urge, rather than command?

CHARLES. He asked, to see whether he would go or

not.

Influences of
Nature.

JOSIAH. Mr. Alcott, I do not know why Jesus went upon the sea-side, unless it was very pleasant there, and it was hot, and

he wanted to cool himself.

FRANKLIN. I think he went there because he liked to see the waves and Nature.

MR. ALCOTT.

Why did he wish to see Nature?

FRANKLIN. I cannot express it.

GEORGE K.

Because he liked to have room enough,

and perhaps there might be boats there, and if the mul

titude pressed upon him, he could get in and teach.

ANDREW. I think he went there to see the little

fishes.

MR. ALCOTT. Why did he want to see them?

ANDREW. Because he liked to see them swimming. MR. ALCOTT. Why did he like to look at them then?

ANDREW. Because they had such pretty skins.

ELLEN. I think he liked to go by the sea, because I like to go there.

CHARLES. He wanted to have the sea put mightiness into his words.

MR. ALCOTT. He wanted, you think, to take advantage of the influences of Nature on the Imagination? NATHAN. He wanted to have other people learn to admire Nature.

Pictures of the Scene.

JOSIAH.

I thought Jesus looked very hot, and he went down by the sea; and you could just see the other side of the sea.

And he and his disciples were together; and the multitude was on the other side of the bank, and his hand was up, teaching. (He gave the attitude.)

MR. ALCOTT. And what was his hand up for?

JOSIAH. Because it looked pretty. In ancient times they always did so, but they don't do so now; and they all had white robes on.

MR. ALCOTT. Why white robes?

JOSIAH. It was the fashion. But, Mr. Alcott, what was the receipt of custom?

MR. ALCOTT. Taking taxes; that was the publican's business.

(Josiah needed more explanation of this, and the question went round, "what were taxes?" and it was thoroughly discussed. Charles thought it was wrong to have to pay any taxes; but Mr. Alcott did

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