Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. Minor typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. * * * * * [Illustration: cover] Riverside Edition THE WRITINGS OF HARRIET BEECHER STOWE _WITH BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTIONS PORTRAITS, AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS_ IN SIXTEEN VOLUMES VOLUME XV [Illustration] The Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe Riverside Edition [Illustration: large house] HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. RELIGIOUS STUDIES SKETCHES AND POEMS BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE [Illustration] BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside Press, Cambridge 1896 Copyright, 1855, BY PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO. Copyright, 1867, 1883, and 1895, BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE. Copyright, 1876, BY J. B. FORD & CO. Copyright, 1896, BY HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. _All rights reserved._ _The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._ Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTORY NOTE ix RELIGIOUS STUDIES. FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTER. Advent I. CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 1 II. CHRIST IN PROPHECY 11 Christmas III. THE CRADLE OF BETHLEHEM 23 IV. THE BLESSED WOMAN 30 V. THE HOLY CHILDHOOD 40 Epiphany VI. GENTILE PROPHECIES OF CHRIST 44 VII. THE HIDDEN YEARS OF CHRIST 52 Lent VIII. THE PRAYER-LIFE OF JESUS 57 IX. THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS 62 X. OUR LORD'S BIBLE 66 XI. CHRIST'S FIRST SERMON 71 XII. THE FRIENDSHIPS OF JESUS 75 XIII. CHRIST'S UNWORLDLY METHODS 83 XIV. CHRIST AND THE FALLEN WOMAN 87 XV. THE REVEALER OF GOD'S SYMPATHY 94 XVI. THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF JESUS 108 XVII. THE TOLERANCE OF JESUS 117 XVIII. THE SILENCE OF JESUS 121 XIX. THE SECRET OF PEACE 125 XX. THE CHURCH OF THE MASTER 130 XXI. JUDAS 143 Passion Week