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elevation of a concave form, stands the city of Nazareth, partly encompassed with mountains.

This is the Sabbath, and having reached the city, we hasten to the Synagogue, which it is the custom of the Lord Jesus to attend; for in Nazareth was he brought up.

We enter the Synagogue, and behold Jesus has stood up for to read-And they deliver to him the book of the Prophet Esaias. He opens the book at the place where it is written—“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted; to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bound; "-Our Lord having read these words, closes the book, and gives it to him whose office in the Synagogue it is to take care of it, and again sits down.

As the fame of his being a mighty prophet was noised abroad, and had reached Nazareth, the eyes of all are fastened upon him, anxiously desiring to know how he will deliver himself upon a Scripture, which is considered by all to

refer to the advent of Messiah. He appropriates the words of Esaias, and declares, that the prophecy is this day fulfilled in their ears. The spirit of the Lord is upon him, and he, the promised Messiah, is now engaged in his public ministry.

All at first listen with wonder and admiration to his precious words, and willingly agree to their truth. But the authoritative application of scripture to himself, which their reason so readily assented to, soon yields to the delusion which fills the mind of every carnal Jew, relative to the secular triumphs of the expected Messiah. The great prince and conqueror, who is to restore the Hebrews to splendour and preeminence among the nations, of which their kingdom under David and Solomon was but a shadow, surely cannot be identified with the son of the carpenter of Nazareth? This is an error to which Nazarenes can never give way. The evidence of miraculous power, which satisfied the credulous inhabitants of Capernaum, will not weigh with those who are acquainted with the lowly birth, mean employment, and

unassuming character of the humblest of their townsmen.

The Lord has already penetrated into the mind of every one present, and knows all their rising thoughts. He perceives that they are influenced by his supposed relationship to Joseph, rather than by his doctrine and mighty works ; and he addresses them in a strain of just reproof, which converts their doubts into clamour and violence.

He tells them that even were his divine power to be manifested in their presence, it would be unavailing, as they are prepared by unworthy prejudice, and consequent unbelief, to resist that which would carry with it demonstration to an ingenuous mind. He shows them, that God for weighty reasons, known to himself alone, may deny to some those blessings which he grants to others. Thus, in the time of the great famine, God sent his prophet to a poor widow of Sarepta in the land of Sidon, while the widows of Jewry were left without relief; and in like manner, many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha, yet none of them were cleansed save Naaman

the Syrian. The proud and prejudiced Nazarenes at once apprehend the scope of our Lord's address, and their wrath is so kindled, when they learn from him that the Gentiles may prove more worthy of his favour than themselves, the natural descendants of Abraham, that they not only drive him out of the city, but force him to the brow of the hill whereon it is built, that they may cast him headlong into the abyss.

Great would be our apprehension for the safety of our Master, in the midst of an infuriated multitude bent upon his destruction, did we not know his divine power. Our fears are for their safety, lest swift destruction should be the meed of unjust and rebellious rage.

But how is this? The crowd are returningnot in companies, but singly and detached, all evincing bewilderment, dismay, and shame :unable to consummate the murderous purpose, these violent and cowardly men now appear pale and conscience-stricken, like felons anxious to avoid all inquiry and hide their confusion.

And where is the object of their fury? Surrounded by his enemies, our Lord miraculously passing through the midst of them, went his way!

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LUKE V. 1-11.

WE leave Capernaum, just as the golden rays of early morn are beginning to tinge the dark summits of the neighbouring mountains, and we are reminded by the dawning light, of Him, after whom we follow-the Sun of Righteousness-who is beginning to penetrate the moral darkness in which the world has long been shrouded; who is now introducing a dispensation of light, by which peace, order, and harmony will be finally established, and that violence which hitherto hath filled the earth will be made to cease,

We now follow the course of the beautiful stream from which Capernaum takes its name ; the purity of the water is remarkable, as sparkling over its rocky and polished bed, it swiftly

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