It seems to have been during this tour, that he received a message from John the Baptist. John had been now for some time in prison; and, hearing there a report of the wonderful things done by Jesus, seems to have thought it was strange that he, the Messiah, should not do something for his deliverance. He not improbably expected that he would come and rescue him. Perhaps, too, he wondered that he continued peaceably to preach, without assuming the state and power of his office. As he brooded over these thoughts in the confinement of his dungeon, he might even come to doubt whether after all this was the real Messiah. At any rate, he wished to convey to him a rebuke for leaving his forerunner to suffer when he could so easily deliver him. He therefore sent to him two of his disciples to put the question to him plainly; "Art thou he that should come, or

Ido we look for another?"

The two disciples came, and delivered their message. It happened, that at that time Jesus was occupied with the people who attended him, and he went on doing his mighty works without replying to what had been said. When he had finished, he turned to the messengers, and bade them go back and tell John what they had seen him do ; this would be a sufficient answer to

his inquiry; and he added, with something of reproof, that it would be happy for him if he did not allow his own personal feelings of disappointment to create doubt in his mind concerning him.

But though he had thought it necessary to send to John a message somewhat severe, no sooner had the disciples departed, than he turned to the people, and in earnest language pronounced a eulogy on him; praising his firmness and selfdenial, and declaring him the greatest of the prophets. From this he passed to censure the inconsistency of the people, who rejected John for his austerity, and yet condemned himself for his indulgence. He then uttered his severe and thrilling denunciation against Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, because, having witnessed so much of his miracles and his ministry, they yet had not repented and reformed. But his compassionate mind could not pause here. He burst forth in loud praise to God for the gracious wisdom with which he had revealed himself, not to the wise of this world, but to the simple; and he ended with that affectionate invitation to receive him and his doctrine, which it is impossible in certain states of mind to read without tears. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke

ed amongst them, walking in Solomon's porch, or piazza. It was about ten weeks since he had last been seen there. Then he had been beset by enemies, and driven from the temple in fear of his life. Since that time he had been in a distant part of the country, active in teaching the people, gathering his followers, appointing his assistants, seeming to claim the Messiahship, yet not openly declaring himself, and by no means assuming the appearance which the Messiah was expected to assume. Therefore the opinions of men were still divided about him, just as they had been at his former visits. And when he now returned to them, they immediately came round him, to gain satisfaction to their minds. "How long," said they, "dost thou keep us in doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." that if they had been disposed to believe, the evidence he had laid before them in his doctrine and miracles, was ample. It was because they did not like the character in which he appeared, that they doubted. If he had come in majesty and power, like the princes of the world; denouncing woes on the oppressors of the nation, like Jeremiah; and like the Maccabees, sounding the trumpet and lifting the standard; then they would have believed. It was in vain, therefore, that he

Now it is clear,

attempted to explain himself to them. They were wedded to their own notions; they were fixed in their own prejudices; they would not understand him. They carped at his words; they perverted his meaning; they took up stones once more to stone him; they sought to seize his person. But he again escaped from them; and after having passed, as it appears, less than a day in the city, he quitted it, as if hopeless of doing any good to so conceited and prejudiced a people.

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CHAPTER XII.

JESUS RETIRES BEYOND THE JORDAN-RAISES LAZARUS RETURNS TO GALILEE HIS PARABLES HE VISITS NAZARETH AGAIN.

HAVING thus quitted Jerusalem, our Lord passed over the Jordan, and took up his abode for a time at Bethabara, where John had formerly baptized. Many resorted to him there, and he increased the number of his disciples. It is thought, that it was during his residence here, that the seventy disciples returned to him. He had sent them out, soon after the twelve apostles and with similar instructions, to preach in the villages. The return of the Twelve is nowhere recorded, nor is any thing related of the course or effects of their ministry. Some of them at least, perhaps all of them, were with him at the present time; but when they joined him is not said. The return of the Seventy is particularly mentioned by Luke, but he gives no history of what they had done, or where they had been. He simply states, that they came to their Master "with joy," especially exulting that the demons were subject to them in his name. Jesus sympathized in their