Jordan, as it is called, where the ancient Israelites had entered the promised land, when the waters were divided before the ark.

Here the shores of the river were very beautiful, and the shelving banks were covered with a luxuriant growth of acacias, and various shrubs. Willows, too, with their long drooping branches, grew close to the water's edge.

As our Lord approached the place where John was resting in the shade of the trees, having that day baptized many persons, he was

instantly recognized.

When he made

known his object in coming, and desired to be baptized, John declared his unworthiness to do it. He could not, for a moment, aspire to such an honor; rather he had need, he said, to be baptized by Jesus. Our Lord replied that he

must suffer it to

it became them to fulfil all righteousness.

No longer resisting, he led the way to the river's brink, and

Jesus stood by his side. In deep and solemn silence they stood there, their forms reflected in the clear stream at their feet, while heaven alone witnessed the scene. Then John, with trembling hand, baptized his Lord and Master. And, as they went up from the river, the heavens opened, and the Spirit descended in the form of a dove and lighted upon the Saviour's head, while a voice from heaven proclaimed, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."

Immediately after this Jesus left the banks of the Jordan, and retired into the desert, for a season of fasting and prayer, before he began the work of his public ministry.

The progress of the narrative will show that it was the custom of our Lord to observe special seasons of prayer, previous to all the great events of his life.

The desert to which he went at this time was probably that of Quarantania, lying between Jericho and Jerusalem.

Here were only a few scanty shrubs and trees; and, unless miraculously supplied, Jesus must have subsisted upon the locusts and wild honey of the place. When exhausted by fasting and prayer, which had continued forty days and forty nights, and wearied with constant vigils against the wild beasts that made their dens around him, Satan, with wicked purpose, visited the Son of God, hoping, if possible, to defeat his object in coming to the world. Knowing that he was faint for want of food, he urged him to command that the stones should be made bread, and so prove himself divine. But Jesus replied, "It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." After this he led the Saviour into the holy city, and placed him upon a pinnacle of the temple,— probably on the roof of Solomon's porch, which overlooked a deep precipice. Then he challenged him to throw himself off, saying that angels

would bear him up, that he should not dash his foot against

a stone.

But here, also, he found our Lord immovable, neither listening nor yielding to his suggestions, but reproving him by the words of Scripture, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Again Satan would exert his utmost skill in the unequal contest, having reserved the most powerful temptation to the last.

He led the Saviour to a high mountain, and pointed out to him all the kingdoms of the land, that lay spread out before them in the beauty of a summer landscape. This was probably Mount Pisgah, the same upon which Moses ascended to overlook the land of Canaan, just before his death. Here were mountains, vales and rivers, cities with their gorgeous palaces glittering in the sunlight, and villages half hid by the foliage of their trees. All this he promised him, with all the glory, and full command of countries and people, if he would worship him, the prince of darkness. But Jesus bade him leave him, saying, "Get thee behind me, Satan! for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

The arts of the tempter were unavailing; his greatest efforts were worse than useless; and, finding our Lord inflexible, he left him, hoping for another and more favorable opportunity. No sooner had he gone, than angels came and with tenderest care ministered to his wants, bringing strength and consolation to his exhausted spirit. During this absence of our Saviour in the desert, John still continued to attract around him many of the restless and discontented Jews, who were ever ready to hear some new thing.

This excited uneasiness among the Priests and Levites,

and they sent to him to know who he was, and to ask if he was really the true Messiah. He frankly told them he was not, but that He should soon appear who was so far above him, that he was not worthy to unloose the latchet of His shoes.

The Jews wore sandals, or soles of leather or wood, bound to the foot by a leathern strap. As they entered their house, these were removed by a servant; and John declared himself unworthy to perform even this humble office for Christ.

The next day after the interview with the priests' messengers, John was standing with some of his disciples, and, seeing Jesus approach, he said to them, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Then he related to them the scene of his baptism, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, assuring them that this was the Son of God.

The day after, he was again with two of his followers by the banks of the river, and, as they conversed, Jesus passed near them; again he pointed him out, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" At once they left their master, and hastened to overtake the stranger. As they drew near, he turned and said, "What seek ye?" They replied, "Master, where dwellest thou?"

In kindest accents he bade them "Come and see;" and they went with him and spent the remainder of the day, for it was already past three o'clock in the afternoon.

They probably accompanied the Saviour to the house of some friend; for he was only a stranger in that place, like themselves, but as his guests they would be welcome. One of these, named Andrew, when he returned at night to his lodging, called Peter, his brother, to him, and related the events of the day, too wonderful ever to be forgotten.

Those hours spent with Jesus; his lessons of wisdom and love; his condescension and tenderness to such poor, ignorant men! What words could describe their feelings or their thoughts, as they listened? They were convinced that they had seen the Messiah; and Andrew awakened in Peter a desire also to see and hear him. The next day the brothers went to find Jesus; and the wish of Peter was gratified. As soon as the Saviour beheld him, he saw in him those traits that would make him a useful soldier of the cross. There was something in his manner and bearing, in his earnestness and frankness, that interested our Lord, and he said to him, "Thou shalt be called Cephas, a stone;" meaning that his character should become strong and immovable, as his name implied. Our Lord does not seem to have called these brothers to follow him until some months later, when he met them by the Sea of Galilee. They were John's disciples; and it is probable they remained with him until his imprisonment, when they returned to their home near Capernaum.

The next day, as Jesus was leaving this region on his way to Galilee, he found Philip, who was from Bethsaida, the same place from which Andrew and Peter came, and he said to him, "Follow me." Philip had doubtless heard from his friends who Jesus was, and he went at once and called Nathanael, of Cana of Galilee, and told him they had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. He was doubtful when he heard this, and asked if any good thing could come out of Nazareth, a place so noted for its wickedness. Then Philip bade him "Come and see," and he consented.

When Jesus saw them approaching, he said to those near him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile."