Cæsar could have inspired this more than prophet. Led by a holy desire to listen to the words of wisdom, we approach within a few yards of John and his disciples, and we distinctly hear these words pronounced with reverence and godly fear-" Behold the Lamb of God!" The change in the deportment of John is at once explained. The predicted voice in the wilderness has been heard by the Jews. John has delivered his testimony.

The substance, of which he was a shadow, is manifest and he must decrease. There is now no office, however menial, that he will not perform, so that thereby his Lord and Master may be magnified.

The two disciples of the Baptist, upon hearing these words, "Behold the Lamb of God," leave their master, and follow Jesus. And is John disappointed or displeased at their desertion of him? Far from it. He would have the whole world follow Jesus, in whose increase he glories.

As he had taught that he baptized only with water from the river, and that One mightier than he would come and baptize with the Holy

Spirit, his disciples have gone after that mightier One, from whom they expect to receive that better baptism from the fountain of living water, of which, if they drink, they shall never thirst again.

He invites them

The Lord Jesus now hears the footsteps of these two men. He turns, and with condescending encouragement says to them, "What seek ye?" Knowing the wish of their souls, he leads them to declare it. They express their desire to attend him to his dwelling, to be instructed in heavenly wisdom. thither; and now mark the fruits of a living faith in Jesus Christ. One of the disciples suddenly leaves the Lord, he seems bound upon some important mission; brotherly love impels Andrew to go in quest of Simon, that he also may be introduced to the Messias, the Redeemer of Israel, the Saviour of his soul. He also is graciously received by the Lord, and a new and significant name is bestowed upon him, indicating constancy and stedfastness.

The day now closes, and I will return to my solitary home, and ponder all these great things my heart.

in

VI.

JOHN I. 43.

SURELY, O land of Israel, the light of the Lord is arisen upon thee, and his glory is now seen upon thee.

Now that the tabernacle is pitched that shall not be taken down, the words of the Prophet acquire their full significancy, and with him I exclaim" Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows?"

His

Yesterday we witnessed the calling of the Baptist's disciples, and of Peter! to-day we are following in the train of the Lord Jesus. face is towards Galilee,-a land of mountains, rocks, and fastnesses, once affording shelter to the Gentile nations, "Galilee of the Gentiles," its inhabitants warlike-a nation of soldiers.

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The Lord Jesus, in the way, meets Philip of

Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter; and discerning in him a fitness for the apostolic office, issues his royal mandate, "Follow me." Touched by the Spirit from on High, Philip promptly obeys the call, and is already a follower of the Holy one of Israel. And rejoicing in the discovery of Messiah, by one of the ties of his allegiance to that King of Kings he feels himself bound to try to induce every one to enter into his Master's service; and hence without delay, he first goes in quest of Nathanael his friend, to whom he exclaims, We have found in Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, Him of whom we have communed, whom we have expected-of whom "Moses in the law and the prophets did write."

Nathanael gives little credence to these words. He thus objects to them in the language of prejudice, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" But Philip's confidence is unshaken. He has been touched with the living coal from the altar-he has had a glimpse of the divine glory; but conscious of his inability to express what he implicitly believes, and trusting

to an influence on the mind of his friend, the power of which he himself feels but cannot explain, he briefly but wisely replies, "Come and see."

Nathanael accompanies Philip into the pre-. sence of the Lord, and is received with great encouragement as one "without guile." He who searches the heart, and knows "the thoughts afar off," pronounces Nathanael honest in principle, and sincere in his desire to know and to serve God and this desire-a gift from the Lordwill be gratified, this honest inquirer after truth, which he now gropes for like a blind man, will attain the height of all knowledge; for God will "pour water upon him that is athirst, and floods upon the dry ground."

That Nathanael has no high thoughts of himself, is evident from his receiving this testimony to his sincerity with a question which seems to imply that he deserves it not, "Whence knowest thou me?"

Our Lord's rejoinder is very brief; yet how sudden and surprising is the change which it has wrought! Behold Nathanael at the feet of Him