Soon after this conversation Jesus departed from Jerusalem to visit other parts of Judea, and his disciples began to baptize those who received his doctrines. John the Baptist, who was not yet cast into prison, was preaching and baptizing near the river Jordan, and his disciples came to him, complaining that Jesus was baptizing and making a great number of proselytes. John replied by bearing ample testimony to the superior claims of Jesus as the promised Messiah; he said to his disciples, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the

Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on his Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Soon afterwards John was cast into prison, as has been already related, and Jesus passed into Galilee, where he wrought so many miracles that the fame of them reached the Baptist in his dungeon. Aware that his own death was near at hand, John, not so much for his own satisfaction as for that of his disciples, sent two of his followers to enquire from Jesus whether he was the expected Messiah. They came opportunely when our Lord was proving his divinity, and the truth of his mission, by the most signal miracles. Jesus answered by referring them to what they had themselves witnessed, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

CHAPTER V.

SECOND YEAR OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY.

WHEN Jesus heard that John had been thrown into prison, he resolved to remove from Judea into Galilee, probably because he was unwilling that the increasing number of his followers should give umbrage to the Roman government. His road lay through Samaria, and led him to the city of Sechem, which the Jews contemptuously named Sychar, or "the drunken," in allusion to the expression of the prophet Isaiah, who calls the rebellious Jews Sichorè Ephraim, that is "the drunkards of Ephraim." Here he met a woman who had come to draw water, and entered into conversation with her. The supernatural knowledge which our Lord displayed led the woman to believe on him. She returned to the city and informed her neighbours of the wonder, they came out and besought him to remain with them some days. Many of the Sechemites were converted by his preaching, and said unto the woman, "Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

From Sechem our Lord entered into Galilee, where he was well received by the Galileans, who had witnessed the miracles he wrought during the celebration of the feast at Jerusalem. Whilst he was at Cana, the scene of his first miracle, a nobleman came from a distance beseeching him to come and heal his son, who was at the point of death, expressing himself in such zealous terms that there was no doubt of the sincerity of his faith. Jesus therefore, to show that he could work miracles at a distance as well as near, dismissed him with these words, "Go thy way, thy son liveth." The nobleman returned, found his son recovering, and learned from the servants that his amendment began from the very instant that Jesus had spoken. This miracle was followed by the conversion of the nobleman and his entire family.

From Cana Jesus proceeded to his old city Nazareth, and having on the Sabbath day entered into one of their synagogues, or places of assembling for public worship, the book of the prophet Isaiah was given to him that he might read the portion of Scripture appointed for the service of the day. He opened and read the following vivid description of the Messiah, preaching the gospel, and confirming it with many godlike miracles of mercy. "The Spirit of the Lord

GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Christ expounded the meaning and application of this prophesy to the astonished assembly, but some of the hearers were offended, and reproached him with the meanness of his origin. In reply our Lord reminded them of the inscrutable ways of Providence, in selecting instruments to work his will, at which the Nazarites were so enraged that they rushed upon him with one consent, and hurried him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, designing to cast him down headlong. But Jesus eluded their malice, and, slipping through the crowd, removed to Capernaum.

While preaching in one of the synagogues at