of Assyria to take the places left vacant by the ten tribes whom he had carried away captive.  I recall to your recollection, too, his eulogy on the Roman centurion, and his constant exposure of the contemptuousness of the Pharisees in their attitude not only toward the publicans and sinners of their own nation, but also toward Gentiles of every description.  Think of his dealing with the Syrophoenician woman.  She was a Canaanite of the old race, and, though at first he seemed to turn her away, yet ultimately he gave her all she asked and more:  and even his apparently abrupt treatment of her in the beginning, if I read the history aright, was meant to be an exposure and condemnation of the feelings commonly cherished toward those of her nation by the Jews of his day.  No doubt it tested and strengthened her own faith.  But we must not forget that the whole conversation with her was meant to teach a lesson to his disciples also.  It was part of their training for their future life work.  It was a portion of their preparation for carrying his gospel to all nations.  And so he spoke out their own thoughts about the women, holding up a mirror before them in which they might see themselves, when he said, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs;” and he ultimately showed them that she was better far than many who would have spurned her from their presence.  So from the kindness showed to aliens by the Lord himself, we may learn not only to beware of this leaven of the Pharisees, but also to deal kindly and truly with men of every race, and make them sharers with us in the blessings of the gospel.

But thus far we have not come upon any case where the difference was one not only of race but of color.  Even here, however, we are not without scriptural instances to guide us.  You remember that of Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian.  Jeremiah was, by the cruelty of his enemies, imprisoned in a dungeon or water tank, and was sunk in the mire at the bottom.  Ebed-melech, learning his condition, went and informed King Zedekiah of the real state of the case, and obtained a command to take an escort of thirty men with him and deliver him from the dungeon lest he should die.  So with great tenderness the Ethiopian threw down rags to put under the ropes which he let down, and by which he was to soften the pressures of the cords under his arms as they drew him up therewith from his filthy prison; and after they had thus delivered him there came to the prophet this message of God concerning him; “Go and speak to Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:  Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.  But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.  For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey