sorrow and despair. If to cheer them he spoke of his resurrection, or asserted his dignity, as he had just done when speaking of the tax, they immediately misunderstood him, and indulged erroneous expectations. Such, it now appeared, had been the result of his recent communications. They contrived to satisfy themselves, that, whatever their Lord might mean, he could not mean to give up the kingdom of Israel and the throne of David; and as the time seemed to be drawing nigh, they began to be desirous of knowing what offices they should possess and what privileges enjoy. This had been a topic of speculation with them on their journey from Cesarea Philippi, and was carried so far as to occasion some dispute. They could not agree which of them ought to hold the highest offices, or be "the greatest," as they expressed it. Now nothing could be less agreeable to the mind of their Master, than such a strife as this. It showed not only a spirit of ambition and rivalry, but a desire of worldly distinction. Jesus, therefore, took an early opportunity to rebuke it; and he did it in that impressive way, which was so characteristic of him. He called the Twelve together to him in the house, and placed a little child before them. There, said he, is your example. Unless you give up this

Matt. xviii.

Mark ix. 33.

Luke ix. 46.

M

ambitious desire of personal distinction, and humble yourselves like children, instead of attaining high places in my kingdom, you will not even have any place in it. If any of you insist on being first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. And thus he went on, warning them against ambition, urging them to severe and self-denying virtue, and to mutual kindness, forbearance, and forgiveness, in a discourse at once the most solemn and affectionate. They could not have heard it without strong emotion. It seems as if it must have removed from their hearts forever all ambitious rivalry and unkind feeling. For he illustrated it by parables, setting forth the infinite grace and long-suffering of God in representations so wonderfully affecting, that all selfish pride and unrelenting hardness of disposition are made to seem despicable.

With this conversation our Lord closed his ministry in Galilee. It began, as we may judge from the first public discourse upon record, with benedictions on the meek, the humble, the forgiving, as if he thus would paint the character and display the genius of his religion. And we have just seen that it closed with pathetically impressing on his chosen Twelve the same great lessons; - lessons difficult to be learned, but which form the loveliness of the Christian character.

And now, says the Evangelist, "when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.' He knew what awaited him, but he would not shrink from it. The great work for which he had been sent into the world, and which he had devoted himself to accomplish, could not be complete except through his death. And he went steadfastly forward to meet it. He went, in one sense, alone. His nearest friends did not comprehend his situation. From them, therefore, he had no true sympathy. If he talked with them, they misunderstood his words. None but God knew what was before him; with none but God could he commune on the dreadful and mysterious fate which was approaching. But he felt that He heard him always; and he was not alone, for his Father was with him.

On leaving Capernaum, he at first attempted to pass by the direct route to Judea, which lies through Samaria. But he was refused admittance into one of the towns, because he was going up to the great feast at Jerusalem. Such was the religious bigotry of that people against the Jews. The disciples, who not only had a strong attachment to their Lord, but who were expecting him soon to appear in his glory as the Messiah,

Matthew xix. 1.

Mark x. 1. Luke ix. 51.

were highly indignant at so insulting treatment; and James and John carried the feeling so far, that they proposed to him to call down fire from heaven upon them, as Elijah had once done. But Jesus had no sympathy with such feelings or measures. He turned and rebuked them, saying, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." And then, to avoid all contention, he gave up his original plan, crossed the Jordan, and proceeded on his way through the country which lies on the other side of the river.

His journey thus lay through Peræa, a region which he had once or twice before visited, but where probably he was in general known only by reputation. The people resorted to him as he passed, and he taught and healed them. He was still in Herod's dominions; but his reasons for privacy seem to have existed no longer, now that he was secure of reaching Jerusalem in season for the feast. He went publicly, in company doubtless with the people who at this time must have been thronging the roads on the way to the city. He was one day warned by some Pharisees, that Herod was in pursuit of him, and advised to flee: "Get thee out, and depart hence; for Herod will kill thee." But he replied, that he feared him not; that he should proceed on his way, teaching and working miracles, for two days; and on the third should finish his errand and be out of

No one could now

the reach of the crafty prince. hinder him from completing his work; for it was not possible for a prophet to perish out of Jerusalem. And when he had said this, being deeply affected at the thought of the guilt and the wretchedness of that devoted city, he burst out in the pathetic exclamation: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings! and ye would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

This last journey to Jerusalem was signalized by many incidents and discourses. It was at this time that the Pharisees came to him, and attempted to ensnare him by subtile questions about the law of marriage and divorce; whom he silenced by the clearness and wisdom of his replies. Now it was too, that certain parents brought to him their little children, that they might share the attention and receive the blessing of the benevolent teacher. The disciples did not understand how suitable this was to their Master's character, and they rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus, who had so lately recommended the example of a child to his ambitious followers, was