THE

YOUTHS' MAGAZINE;

OR

Evangelical Miscellany.

AUGUST, 1833.

CANA, IN GALILEE.

CANA of Galilee is the place which has been rendered so highly memorable by our Lord's first miracle, John ii. 11, which he wrought at the marriage-feast; in all probability of a relation, since his mother and some of her kindred were present. The performance of this miracle appears to have been the most proper for the manifestation of his glory, and commencement of his ministry, since it carried with it such irresistible conviction. Under a scorching sun, I stopped at a fountain, near the entrance of this village, to take refreshments; and it will be observed, that it was the only one near the village, and it is called "The Well of Cana;" and here, it may be remarked, as at all wells, there are one or more trees to afford shelter from heat, as of old. On sitting upon the shattered wall which inclosed it, I turned to that highly interesting passage of sacred writ which records that six water-pots of stone were used at the nuptial feast, when "the modest water saw its God and blushed." While I was thus engaged, a striking fact occurred.

Six

females, having their faces veiled, (Gen. xxiv. 66, Song of Sol. v. 7,) came down to the well, each carrying on her head a pot, for the purpose of being filled with water, which evinced how much the customs of old are observed here at this day.

These vessels are formed of clay, hardened by the heat of the sun, and are of a globular shape, and large at the mouth, not unlike the bottles used in our country for holding vitriol, but not so large. Many of them have handles attached to the sides; and it was a wonderful coincidence with scripture, that the vessels appeared to contain much about the same quantity as those which the evangelist informs us were employed on occasion of the celebration of the marriage which was honored by the Saviour's presence; namely, three firkins, or about twelve gallons each. It is further a remarkable circumstance, that in the Holy Land it rarely happens that men are employed for the purpose of drawing water; but it is a duty entirely devolving on the females, and shows strongly that such a practice has been continued from the earliest ages. Gen. xxi. 31, xxiv. 11-20, Exod. ii. 16, John iv. 6. The water of this well is pure as crystal, and supplied by springs from the mountains. It may be added, that during the time of the patriarchs, the discovery of water was held of such high importance as to distinguish the spot by a particular name; and of this we have a striking picture as recorded by the great lawgiver and evangelist, Gen. xxvi. 18-23. After the attention of the women had been arrested by my reading on the spot, one of them lowered her pitcher into the well, and offered me water to drink, (Gen. xxiv. 18,) having perceived that my servant was spreading out provisions on the ground at the time: they then returned to the village with the vessels on their heads, and were succeeded by others on the same errand. Α sketch of this highly interesting scene is given with all

possible accuracy. It was in this village that, at a future period of his life, our Lord, in his unparalleled condescension and sympathy, made another display of his power, at the earnest solicitation of a person of rank, whose son was on the eve of dissolution at Capernaum, thirty miles. distant; and on his return to that place, the father found that he had been restored to health at the very hour when he held the conversation with this great Physician of body and soul. John iv. 46. This was the second miracle performed in Galilee. W. Rae Wilson's Travels in Holy Land.

INNOCENT LOVE AND INNOCENT PLEASURE.

We are two sisters, my name is Innocent Love, and the name of my sister is Innocent Pleasure; we are of celestial origin, and were sent on earth by our Father to be the solace and delight of newly-created man. We were the companions of Adam and Eve, till they tasted the forbidden fruit, and preferred the blasted joys which sin offered to them before the ever fresh blooming pleasures which our conversation affords. The very presence of sin is baneful to us, we therefore quitted the abode of man after his disobedience, though from time to time we have returned and dwelt for a season with the servants of God in all ages of the world.

It is now nearly two thousand years since our mortal enemy received a deadly wound; and we have since ventured to appear more frequently in the society of human beings, and have been acknowledged by restored men as the dispensers of heavenly gifts; but we are still so much strangers to the generality of people, that they do not know us even when they see us, but have given our names to two of the daughters of Satan, who like their father, have assumed the appearance of angels of light. Ever since we fled from Paradise, pretending we were still abiding in the world, they have appeared in our characters; and sometimes for a little while they so strongly resemble us, that if it were possible they would deceive the very elect; but their nature is as different from ours, as is the gloomy night of hell from the cloudless day of heaven. They serve their father, whose service is sin; we love our Father, and the love of him is the fountain of holiness.