purity of God's house. The had doubtless heard of Jesus' blameless life and holy character, of his wisdom and devotion; and most likely some rumor had reached them of the miracle at Cana. They had heard enough to make them refrain from opposition, but they wanted proof that he had a right to clear the temple of the traders. He did not give them any such sign as they demanded, any present sign; but said, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews answered, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?' But he did not speak of their temple; he spoke of his own body: he predicted that he should be killed, and that in three days he should rise from the dead. They did not understand this, and he left them: but after his resurrection his disciples remembered this saying.

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Jesus performed some miracles in Jerusalem at this feast of the Passover, and many believed on him, that is, believed that he came from God, that he had divine authority for what he did and said, that he was the Messiah: but Jesus, knowing how fickle the hu

man mind is, how intent men are upon their own notions, and what incorrect ideas these Jews entertained respecting the Messiah, did not put much trust in them: he altogether avoided placing himself in their power.

At this time, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night, and confessed his belief that he was a teacher come from God. Whether he came by night because it was more convenient to him, or because Jesus was occupied and surrounded by numbers during the day, and so not able to afford him time for such inquiries as he wished to make, or because he was ashamed and afraid openly to acknowledge his divine mission, does not quite clearly appear; but there is reason to fear that the last was the reason. Jesus entered freely into conversation with him, and plainly showed him that his disciples must be open, candid, and fearless; that they must stand in the clear light, and be neither ashamed nor afraid of his name and truth. He showed him, also, that he himself was surrounded with peril, and should suffer a public death. We shall hear of Nicodemus again, and shall see that this private interview

with our Lord made a deep impression upon his mind.

After this, Jesus left Jerusalem, and went with his disciples into the land of Judea, where he continued with them, baptizing such as desired to be admitted into the number of his disciples. John also continued to teach and to baptize; and this appears to have caused some doubts and controversies, the disciples of John being somewhat alarmed for their master's honor, because more persons went to Jesus to be taught and baptized than came to John. He reminded them of his former declaration that he was not the Messiah, but only his forerunner, and added, 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' So faithful to his mission was this noble-minded man; so free was he from any desire to appear more than he was.

CHAPTER VII.

THE RETURN TO GALILEE.

THE Pharisees, who were men of great influence in Jerusalem, and who were very jealous of any interference with that influence, soon heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. Jesus thought it prudent, therefore, to leave Judea for the present; for he knew that they were closely watching him, and bore no good will toward him, because he was so popular with the multitude. He was, moreover, a reformer of religious abuses, as he had shown by driving the traders out of the temple; they thrived by those very abuses, and for that reason wished to preserve them. He departed, therefore,

again into Galilee.

His way lay through Samaria, a part of the country situated between Judea and Galilee. When he came near the city of Sychar, called in the Old Testament Sichem, he became weary with the length of the journey and the heat, for it was now noon, and sat down upon

Jacob's well, which was a little way out of the city, and sent his disciples to buy food. While they were gone a Samaritan woman came to the well. Jesus was thirsty, and it would appear a very natural thing for him to ask her, when she had drawn some water, to give him leave to drink from her bucket. It is what any person would do in such circumstances, and the request would be readily and cheerfully granted. But the Jews and the Samaritans were great enemies to each other, and carried their hatred so far that they would have no friendly intercourse: they were not disposed to ask or to do any kind or neighborly act. The woman was greatly surprised, if not displeased, at the request of Jesus, and answered, 'Why dost thou, being a Jew, ask drink of me who am a Samaritan woman?'

Jesus was not angry at this reply, but made it the occasion of entering into conversation with her respecting his mission; and told her some circumstances of her life, which caused her to exclaim, 'Sir, I perceive thou art a prophet;' and to ask him a question respecting a controversy between the Jews and the Samaritans as to the proper place for the wor