beheld Zemira an outcast and a fugitive. Parental love, and the love that is yet more ardent, that of a lover, restrained all acts of violence; but Zemira was added to the number of those who in that early day were practically taught to rely on the Creator alone. Ben Harim and Azel both deemed their unnatural conduct-the one casting off a child, the other his long betrothed, were sacrifices well pleasing to God; Zemira, on the other hand, felt that her martyrdom of heart was the just and needful punishment, for having quenched her convictions, for having called good evil, and evil good. But He, who bindeth up the broken in heart-who saith to the wanderer, Return, and I will receive you graciously, left her not without a record that none ever trusted in Him and were ashamed. She was preserved through persecution, danger, tumult, and suffering—a bruised but not a broken reed, receiving in inward peace a blessed substitute for outward prosperity. She proved, as Mattithiah often said to her, the truth of Christ's words, Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

X. X.

Sure He who built this world of ours,

With all its lights and shades,

With all its sunshine, all its showers,
Its valleys, hills, and glades,
Designed it not a dwelling-place
For sorrow, dark and dull,

But the glad home of hope and love,
Filled with the beautiful;

Whatever seemeth drear and dim
Was surely not decreed by Him.

Look in, look in, upon thy heart,
Oh, murmurer! look within;

Is there no shadow-spreading spot,

No light-eclipsing sin?

Wash out the plague-spot, cleanse thy hands,

Be every idol riven,

And all the earth, with all its lands,

Shall seem a gate to heaven;

And sighs and tears, if pure, shall be

Sweet balm and music unto thee.

THE SEA OF GALILEE.

THIS little lake, buried amid the quiet plains of northern Palestine, is but casually noticed before the time of Christ. Sometimes the stillness and beauty of its waters attracted the attention of a solitary traveller, and he paused to admire its gentle ripple, or to watch the fish sporting upon its surface; but to the ancient Jew its borders were to a great extent unknown. The whole country between it and the Mediterranean was thinly populated, and, in fact, shunned by the southern tribes as the abode of monsters and wild beasts. A few solitary fishermen built their huts along the shore, and plied their laborious trade; but they were despised by the inhabitants of the towns, and appear to have been in a great measure unknown, excepting in the immediate neighborhood of the lake.

At the time of the Maccabees, Galilee came into more extensive notice. Regular crafts were built on the waters of its lake, and towns

sprang up along the shore. When Jesus entered upon his ministry, he performed many miracles in that region; from which time, the Sea of Galilee is frequently mentioned. Here, while Simon and Andrew were pursuing their occupation of fishermen, our Saviour passed by, and called them to become fishers of men. On its shores were Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum, the places where many of his mighty works were done. Perhaps, many a night, while gazing out over its waters, the Redeemer of men wept over a guilty world with bitterer grief than when, from the Mount of Olives, he foresaw the destruction impending over Jerusalem. Here, when fatigued with labor, he retired

to meditate and pray; and here he performed the astonishing miracle of feeding the thousands who flocked to hear him, upon a few loaves and fishes. The miraculous draught of fishes took place here; and a number of his parables contain references to the surrounding scenery.

Storms were of rare occurrence upon this lake. This may in part account for the distress of the disciples, on the occasion when Jesus lay sleeping in their boat, while the wind and waves raged around. The miracle which he performed, seemed to have inspired all in the vessel with greater awe for his person, than any which they had as yet witnessed. It was during a storm on the same waters, that Jesus walked across their surface to his disciples, and proved his divine power by saving the incredulous Peter, and stilling the tempest at the moment of entering the ship. After the death of Christ, the disciples recommenced their old pursuit of fishermen; and it was by the Sea of Galilee that that remarkable interview took place between them and their risen Lord, which is described in the last chapter of John's gospel. They had toiled all night and caught nothing. At daylight, while wet and dispirited, a stranger approached and mildly asked: "Children, have ye any meat?" and at his request they once more threw out their net on the right side of the ship. The result revealed the character of the mysterious stranger. A multitude of fishes was enclosed, and the awe-struck disciples came on shore. Here was a fresh object of wonder. A fire of coals was burning, with fish and bread laid upon it; and once more the little band, who had been scattered as sheep without a shepherd, sat down to eat with their Lord. How consoling to their lacerated feelings, to behold near them the same being whose goodness had formerly been the source of their chief happiness. To find that he had indeed risen from the dead to go before them into Galilee, and that they had not followed cunningly devised fables. Our Saviour did not let the solemn occa