there. However, it was not possible that he should be concealed; and a woman, whose daughter was suffering in a peculiarly distressful manner, learning that he was there, made her way to him, and earnestly entreated his compassionate aid. He at first refused, because she was a Gentile, and he was sent to the Jews only. When she still insisted, and would not be denied, he refused her yet more strongly, saying, that his bread was for the children, and he could not give it to dogs; a term by which we may suppose the Jews were accustomed to designate the Gentiles. Even this reply, harsh as it seemed, did not discourage the persevering mother. It was not intended to do so; but to draw forth and display her faith. This it effected; and she made that respectful and beautiful answer, which has always been admired, and which won our Saviour's admiration;-True, Lord, said she; the bread is for the children; but the dogs may have the crumbs which fall from the table. Jesus immediately answered, "For this saying, go thy way; great is thy faith." And for the reward of her faith, she found her daughter healed.

No other incident during this excursion is recorded, nor are we informed how long a period was consumed in it. And we have no ground on which to build a conjecture.

Returning from the neighborhood of Tyre

and Sidon, he passed through parts of Decapolis, still out of the jurisdiction of Herod, and came to the sea of Galilee. Here again crowds collected about him, and he did many miracles among them; one of which, the cure of a person deaf and dumb, is particularly recorded by Mark. After being with them three days, he took compassion on them, as it was an uninhabited place, and did for them, as he had, under similar circumstances, done for the people in the vicinity of Bethsaida; he distributed among them the little food which his disciples had with them, and, by miraculously multiplying it, satisfied the hunger of more than four thousand persons. He then dismissed them; and taking ship, sailed to Dalmanutha and Magdala. These places, of which nothing very material is known, were situated toward the southern extremity of the lake, on the eastern side, nearly opposite to Tiberias. Here those perpetual cavillers, the Pharisees, assailed him, asking him for a sign from heaven. This was their old refuge,-to pretend that they would believe on him, if they could but see a sign from heaven; while yet they were disbelieving and disparaging all the wonderful things he was daily doing. What would such men believe? Evidently nothing; and therefore, aware of their

Matt. xv. 29.,

xvi. 1.

Mark vii. 31.,

viii. 1.

unfairness and weary with their hypocritical importunities, Jesus refused to gratify them; told them that any man with his eyes open might discern the signs of the times; and that no sign should be given to so evil a generation, but that of the prophet Jonah.

Leaving this place, he again took ship for the purpose of crossing the lake. While on the passage, he alluded to what had just passed, and bade his disciples beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And here he was obliged to observe, as was often the case, how slow even his devoted friends were to comprehend his meaning. Much as they were accustomed to his mode of speaking, they yet stupidly supposed, that, in this remark, he meant to blame them for forgetting to put bread on board the boat. He was obliged to explain to them, that he meant the doctrine, and not the bread, of the Pharisees. This is a little thing perhaps; but we may easily see how his spirit must have been sometimes tried and his hopes damped, by dulness and want of faith in those whom he taught. It must have been no small trial, when about to commit his religion to the care of these men, to find that they did not comprehend it; and to be obliged to complain of them as of" little faith," "slow of heart to understand."

They landed at Bethsaida, on the upper end of

the lake. Here he restored sight to a blind man, in a very private way, as if he desired to avoid notice; and then proceeded with his disciples to Cesarea Philippi. This city was about forty miles directly north of Bethsaida. It stood near to the ancient Laish, or possibly on the same site. It had been rebuilt by Philip, the present tetrarch of the province, and was named by him Cesarea, in honor of the Emperor. His own name was added, in order to distinguish it from another Cesarea on the coast. It was a place of some note. What was the object of our Lord's visit there, is not stated. As far as can be judged from circumstances, he was simply seeking to avoid Herod, until the time when he should go up to Jerusalem. Hence his journey was private, without crowds, miracles, or discourses;—at least none are recorded.

One circumstance, however, is related, which serves to show the state of his mind, and formed the beginning of a new era in his history. He knew that his ministry was soon to end, and that he must leave his great plans to be carried on by the few affectionate men that were with him. He knew that they were devoted to him with zealous hearts, yet he had seen something of their dulness, and was aware that they did not fully un

Mark viii. 22.

derstand him. Would they have strength to bear the disappointment of their hopes, and adhere to him faithfully, when they should find that the loss of all earthly honors awaited them? As yet he had not spoken to them directly on this subject. He had not revealed to them, that he was to be taken from them by a violent and disgraceful death. It was necessary to break to them the

truth.

The present seemed to be the suitable time for doing it. He was at a distance from the ordinary sphere of his labors, and the scene of his recent triumphs. Instead of being accompanied by thousands of grateful and admiring men, who hung on his lips, rejoiced in his benevolent power, and longed to proclaim him king, he was hurrying privately from place to place, attended only by a few tried friends, seeking concealment from the tyrant who had just put his harbinger to death. All this must have perplexed his disciples. How is it, they would say, that just as all seemed ripe for the explosion, instead of availing himself of the advantageous crisis, he shuns it; avoids the people, seeks retirement, does few miracles, and those almost by stealth? Jesus felt that such thoughts must be passing through the minds of his followers, and must severely perplex them.

Matt. xvi. 13.

Mark viii. 27.

Luke ix. 18.