But these

who knows what is in man. What has led him to this act of worship? The Lord's words convey but little meaning to our ears. In what does their power consist? He has merely said, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." are the words of God, and not man. but lately prejudiced Nathanael, now thy worshipper, O Lord Jesus! exclaims in tones of astonishment and admiration, "Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel!"

The honest

While under the fig-tree, whither he had retired, that, in secrecy, he might pour out his soul, Nathanael knew that no one was present but the God of Israel, to whom his heart was lifted up. If, then, Jesus heard his secret orison, Jesus is the Son of God, who was destined to sit upon the throne of David, and reign over the house of Jacob for ever. Moreover, his secret prayer is now openly rewarded. One of the petitions of every "Israelite indeed" is already answered in the actual showing forth of the promised Messiah.

And now the Lord Jesus, as if in approbation

of the open and free confession of Nathanael, vouchsafes still further to strengthen him, by a precious promise which extends to all who are partakers of the like faith; namely, that he should witness still greater manifestations of the divine glory, and should hereafter "see the heavens open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man," as did the patriarch in his vision at Bethel.

Let this scene, O God, never be forgotten by thine unworthy servant!' Such must be the supplication of every one who may at any time have been admitted into the presence of Immanuel. Let us acknowledge him as the ladder by which every heavenly gift must descend, and by which every aspiration must be borne up to the throne of grace. By this means the ministering spirits of the angelic host will come with help to our souls, and at last will bear us to the city of brightness and glory, to join in the great" Allelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

When I return to my humble abode, and retire under the shade of my own fig-tree, then let me not forget that the same eye rests upon me

which watched over Nathanael, that every imagination of my heart is known to the same God, and that he is privy to every thought which arises in my mind, not only in the secrecy of retirement, but in the busy haunts of men. Let me in return for this, and every new proof of my Saviour's love, strive to purify myself as he is pure,-to love him more because he hath first loved me.

D

VII.

JOHN IV. 1.

HE who looketh to the ends of the earth and seeth under the whole heaven-who compasseth our path and is acquainted with all our ways," overrules what man appoints; therefore, blessed be his name.

We left the verdant banks of Jordan, with the full purpose of pursuing our next excursion to Nazareth but upon approaching the entrance of this long and narrow vale, stretching towards the west, we learn that he whose footsteps we desire to follow, has entered it; we shall therefore bend our way between these lofty mountains-Gerizim and Ebal, mountains of renown, from the blessings and curses, pronounced from them by Jehovah's command.

To thee, Gerizim, I would rather turn mine

eyes, not merely because thy sides are more fruitful and verdant than Ebal, which, facing a scorching sun, is parched and barren, but because the tribes who spoke from thy summit pronounced words which even now return sweetly on the ear, "" Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field," &c. We were blessed in the fields of Bethlehem, and in the plains of Jordan. And now as we enter this city, Sychar, over which hang thy heights, Gerizim, we, in the confidence of faith, look for the blessings pronounced on those who sincerely resolve upon giving their whole heart to the Lord.

But who is she, who, flushed and earnest, thus hurries into the gates with us? She is filled with some mighty event, and appears seeking to whom she may communicate it.

She hastily approaches a party of the citizens, and exclaims, with breathless haste, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?"

From her replies to their inquiries relative to the cause of her agitation, I learn that she has