only induced her to persevere in her entreaties. The disciples, ignorant of the motive which occasioned Him to delay granting her petition, and anxious to put a stop to her importunities, interceded in her favour. In reply, He urged the paramount claim of the Jews, to whom his personal ministry was more especially restricted. Undiscouraged by this argument the woman still continued to worship Him as God, and to implore his mercy, under a strong persuasion, that He was incapable of resisting an appeal to the tender sensibilities of his loving nature. But determined that her faith should have its perfect work, He said, in a figure of speech proverbial among the Jews, to express their contempt for the heathen,-"It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs." She meekly acquiesced in the distinction, but dexterously turned it to her own advantage, by asking only for a dog's share in his goodness, which He could bestow, according to his own reasoning, without infringing upon his benevolence to others. Her faith triumphed and gained its reward. "Her daughter was made whole from that very hour," and on her return home, she found her reposing on a bed, in a sweet and comfortable slumber.*

In his way from the borders of Syria, Jesus was met on the coast of Decapolis, by a party, who implored Him, to lay his hand "upon a man who was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech."

* Mark vii. 24-30.

He acquiesced instantly, and graciously leading him to a retired nook near the sea, "put his fingers into his ears, and spit and touched his tongue." On this, as on some other occasions, using external means, which, in conjunction with his omnipotent Ephphatha, unloosed the string of the tongue of this afflicted man, and opened his ears, to hear that voice, which spake as no other man could speak.

No doubt, the first words he uttered were employed in the praises of his Divine Benefactor, who in vain charged him and his friends, not to publish the miracle. "Beyond measure astonished," they could not help proclaiming,-" He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." *

On his return to Galilee, Jesus ascended one of the mountains which embosom the Sea of Tiberias, and was speedily followed by a vast assemblage of afflicted beings, full of faith in his power to restore their lost limbs and impaired faculties. After remaining there three days, till they were all healed, and instructed in the way of salvation, their provisions were consumed, with the exception of "seven barley loaves and a few small fishes." These, Jesus multiplied, with his usual benevolent regard to human necessities, till the hunger of all was appeased, that He might "not send them away fasting." Their number consisted on this occasion, of "four thousand men, besides women and children." t

* Mark vii. 31-37.

+ Matt. xv. 29-39.

When they had all departed to their respective homes, He entered a ship, and sailed immediately to the coasts of Magdala and Dalmanutha. He was there met by a deputation of Pharisees, demanding a special sign from heaven, (probably by some splendid appearance in the sky,) to prove that He was the Messiah. He " sighed deeply in spirit," over their unbelief and obduracy, after so many evidences had been afforded of the truth of his pretensions, and reproved their hypocrisy, by referring them, as usual, to his approaching death and resurrection; and their wilful blindness, by a reference to the indications of the political atmosphere concerning his advent, while they could readily conjecture the state of the weather, from the appearance of the clouds at sunrise and at sunset. On returning to the vessel, He warned his disciples, against the corrupt doctrines with which the Pharisees had leavened the Scriptures, by infusing into them the deadly weed of human tradition, which entangled and obstructed the pure wheat of Divine inspiration. As they had only one loaf, and had forgotten to provide more, they imagined that this admonition was intended as a reproof for the omission. But, to confute that false notion, He reminded them of the evidences they had witnessed, of his power to produce bread, on two urgent occasions. Light then gleamed into their minds, and they comprehended his meaning.

They landed on a beautiful rocky shore near Bethsaida, at that time a place of great commercial

importance. On entering the town, a blind man was brought to Jesus, with urgent entreaties that He would restore him to sight, by his all-powerful touch. With his characteristic courtesy and condescension, He immediately took him by the hand, guided his uncertain steps through the busy streets, to a secluded spot in the environs, and there performed the miracle, by a gradual process; and afterwards dismissed him, with an injunction, not to reveal it in Bethsaida. Most likely, on account of the infidelity which prevailed there, and implicated it in the woes pronounced on Chorazin, for despising their peculiar privileges.* The next place Jesus visited, was Cesarea Philippi, near the spring-head of the river Jordan, surrounded by a rich and luxuriant country, and, at that time, distinguished by its wealth and architectural grandeur. For Philip the Tetrarch had beautified it with splendid edifices, especially with an elegant temple, erected in honour of the Emperor Augustus. While in this neighbourhood, He made the interesting inquiry of his disciples, concerning the general opinion of his origin and real nature. Under the enlightening influences of the Holy Ghost, Peter in reply, avowed his own belief, in the grand and sublime truth of his Godhead. Jesus assured him that his divinity was indeed the rock upon which his church was to be erected. And that, although all her members * Mark viii. 22-26.

must be brought down to the dust of the grave, yet, through Him, they would triumph over death, by a glorious resurrection. In the same breath, He committed to Peter and to the rest of his apostles, the care of publishing his Gospel, which would be a perpetual savour of life to the believer, and a savour of death to the unbeliever, as alone revealing the terms, on which the sinner can obtain pardon,-absolution not belonging to any human authority. He at the same time charged them not to tell any man that He was the Messiah, while He continued upon earth; and tenderly began to prepare their minds for his approaching ignominious death, and propitiatory sacrifice. Peter's warm and affectionate spirit, rose in opposition to such a voluntary yielding of himself into the hands of his enemies; and, seizing hold of his garment, with great earnestness he remonstrated against it. The zeal of Jesus, for the honour and glory of the Divine attributes was not, however, to be so easily quenched; therefore, turning on him a look of disapprobation, at his unconscious hostility to the will of God the Father, He repulsed him with a rebuke, for thus concurring in the usurpations of Satan. At the same time He inculcated the necessity of self-denial, on all who desired to tread in his footsteps and follow Him into the realms of holiness and immortality, to purchase which, for them, his death was expedient. For their consolation, under this trying separation, He promised to see them again on earth,