HE following extract from Dr. Wainwright's delightful work, "The Pathways and Abiding Places of our Lord," is given to our readers, as descriptive of the accompanying engraving. We much mistake if the few pages thus presented do not awaken a desire on the part of many of our readers to possess themselves of the entire work. To such we would say, that it can be had of the Messrs., Appleton. 66 Nazareth reposes in the bosom of a beautiful valley, abounding in rich pastures, groves of fig trees, and gardens hedged with the prickly pear, surrounded by picturesque but barren mountains. "It seems," says a graphic writer, as if fifteen mountains met to form an enclosure for this delightful spot; they rise around it like the edge of a shell to guard it from intrusion." Its obscurity, probably, was the occasion of the contemptuous proverb applied to it in ancient times: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ?" We now contemplate it with a far different sentiment, since out of this remote, contracted, and once despised spot, came incomparably the "best thing" the world has ever seen, or can see. The village stands upon the lower slope of the hill that bounds the valley on the west, and contains a mingled population of Greek and Roman Catholics, Maronites, and Mohammedans. The prevailing number, however, is Christian, and their influence has been felt; for the Mohammedans are here far less bigoted than in other places. The Convent is upon a rocky eminence, rising directly from the valley, upon the eastern border of the village. It is a substantial building of massive stone, enclosed in high walls. Within these, and connected with the convent, is the Church built upon the place where the house of Joseph and Mary is supposed to have stood. The Church itself, owing, it is said, to the jealousies of the Turks, who prevented the original design from being carried out, is not well-proportioned. Its length is much too little for its width; but in other respects it is handsome, and adorned with rich draperies. The grand altar and the choir are considerably raised above the floor of the Church, and are reached by flights of marble steps on each side. Between these is an opening, and a noble staircase of white marble, leading to a spacious chamber or grotto, below the floor of the Church, and directly beneath the altar. Descending these, in front stands another altar, over which lamps are perpetually VOL. VIII.-NO. V. breadth. The Latin inscription informs you what improbable fable superstition has connected with it: "Traditio continua est et nunquam interrupta apud omnes nationes Orientales, hanc petram, dictum mensa Christi, illam ipsam esse petram, supra quam Dominus noster Jesus Christus, cum suis discipulis comedit ante et post suam resurrectionem a mortuis," The tradition is constant and unbroken amongst all Eastern nations that this rock, called the table of Christ, is the selfsame rock upon which our Lord Jesus Christ, with his disciples, ate, both before and after his resurrection from the dead. burning. Upon a plain marble slab you read the words "VERBUM CARO HIC FACTUM EST." "Here the Word was made flesh." Near to this are two granite columns, the one designed to mark the place where the angel Gabriel stood when he came with the message of Annunciation from Heaven; the other, the place where Mary was seated. The former of these is broken in two, the upper portion hanging from the ceiling above, miraculously suspended, as the ignorant Catholic supposes; but this is too clumsy an invention for the intelligent among them to receive. Behind the altar are two rooms, excavated from the rock, being together about twenty feet in length, by ten in width. In one of these is another altar, with a picture of the Holy Family, and this inscription: "HIC ERAT SUBDITUS ILLIS." "Here was He subject unto them." These three apartments are supposed to have formed the habitation of the Holy Family; the front one having been covered with the house attached to the face of the rock, from which the Chambers in the rear were hewn out. It is said to be a fact that now, in Nazareth, are there houses similarly arranged, that is to say, built against the side of a rock, in which there is either a natural or an artificial cave. When one is just ready to accept this explanation, there comes in the absurd legend, that the original house, so placed, was taken by the angels through the air, in the latter part of the thirteenth century, to save it from desecration by the Turks, and was removed first to Dalmatia, and afterwards to Loretto; and this raises such indignation that we are tempted to reject the whole tradition. But certainly there is no improbability in it, so far as the site itself is concerned, and I see no-region like this, where earthquakes are inthing to forbid the supposition that we stood here upon the very spot which, for so many years, was honored as the chief ABIDING PLACE of our blessed Lord. But you are next led to a place with a tradition offering no insult to your common sense: the synagogue, or rather its site, where our Saviour first preached to His own countrymen, "The acceptable year of the Lord," and where they were filled with wrath at his bold and honest rebukes. "Then," says the narrative," they rose up and thrust Him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong." The scene of this intended violence is said to be ten miles from the city, and we did not therefore visit it. We felt the less inclined to do so, as it is not at all likely that the enraged people would carry our Lord so long a distance to wreak their vengeance, especially as much nearer precipices would have answered their purpose. Our longest excursion was to a well, out of the town, called Mary's fountain, because the virgin here procured the daily supply of water for her little household. Such is the tradition, and a very probable one it is; for in a frequent, and volcanic action unknown, springs of water are not likely to disappear, or to change their places; and as this is the only well near Nazareth, and whence all the A little way from the Convent, the guide, inhabitants still draw water, the story may who shows the memorable places in Naza-have been a daily theme for the people since reth, leads you to a small chapel; and here, you are told, is the site of the workshop where Joseph pursued his trade. Not far from this again, is another chapel, where you are shown a mass of rock, of irregular shape, twelve feet in length, by about nine or ten in the remarkable events occurred. There is little reason for doubt, that like the women of Nazareth, whom we saw in large numbers, constantly going and returning, and with their pitchers at the fountain, so the Virgin Mary often came hither with the infant Jesus in her arms, or leading Him by the hand as He grew in stature. Born to that end, born to promote all truth, Happy Mary! Blessed mother of a more blessed Son! And happy are we, as pilgrims, to behold His Abiding Place, and to trace His pathways; but above all, as He Himself declared, “Yea, rather blessed are they that hear His word, and keep it." While we walked slowly back from this ancient and memorable well, I could not divest myself of the associations of the spot. Every young mother acquired a momentary interest in my eyes, as though she might be another Mary, and every infant seemed to have a nearer connection than children elsewhere with the infant Saviour. I pictured to myself the humble but lovely form of the blessed among women, as she went, perhaps every day, or at morning and evening, to and fro upon this very way. What thoughts within her heart, as she pondered upon the wonder-in ful origin of the beloved but mysterious child that nestled in her bosom! In no other bo men. song som but hers had a mother's fondness ever been mingled with a virgin's adoration. She had heard the messages of angels and the prophecies of saints; she had seen the wonder of shepherds and the worship of wise She may have listened to the chorus which united heaven and earth; for the of a multitude of the celestial host was heard even by ears not endowed with a mother's attention. For His sake she had fled from the wrath of a king, and for Him she had been a pilgrim in a land far away from her home. And now he rewarded all her fondness, her hopes, her piety, her prayers! He grew in wisdom. As she still led Him by the hand towards this fountain, His discourse was not all as the prattle of other children: How often, in His youth, had His steps been directed hither, while His kinsmen and His townsmen little recked of the Prophet that was among them! He had walked forth these fields to meditate at even-tide, and had climbed those mountains to hold communion with His Father. In secret His spirit ripened : "His life, Private, inactive, calm, contemplative," had raised little suspicion of ulterior greatness. Like many good men he grew in quiet, His footsteps were noiseless even in secluded Nazareth, and like the good harvest, bending low in the fields, He grew full and ripe by humility. Then from these valleys and hills he walked forth among men; and out of the vast treasure-house of His poverty, lowliness, sufferings, and death, bestowed upon all who followed Him, through these, their precious fruits also, riches and happiness, heavenly honors, and immortal life. Come! let us up out of the valley, and climb Mount Tabor, following His example, though the way be toilsome, that we, too, in our measure, may be permitted to converse with Prophets, and to look upon the face of God. joy, that Thou helpest them and wilt hear them from Thy holy heaven, even with the saving strength of Thy right hand. Have mercy upon this country, and forgive the sins of this people: turn Thee unto us, bless us, and cause thy face to shine on our desola A PRAYER FOR THE TIMES." O, Lord, be with our Rulers in the day of trouble : let thy name, O God of Jacob, defend them; send them help from Thy Sanctuary, and strength out of Zion. Set their hearts firm on Thee, and upon other things only as they are in and from Thee; that we may see with tions."-Laud. Letters FROM ADINA, AT JERUSALEM, TO HER FATHER AT ALEXANDRIA, BY PROFESSOR J. H. INGRAHAM. Second Series.-Letter Fifth. Jerusalem. though I do not believe this young. man who was to-day baptized is Messias and Christ, who is to restore all things to us, yet I am prepared to reverence him as a Prophet." "And," answered Rabbi Amos, "if we find the prophecies do meet in him which we look for to meet in Messias when he cometh, wilt thou believe, venerable father?" Y DEAR FATHER,-In my last letter to you, I spoke of our return from Jordan to Gilgal, to the country house in the wheat fields of Peniel, where Rabbi Amos sojourns during the two weeks of harvest. At the house were assembled, not only John, the "I will believe and reverently adore," ancousin of Mary, and the noble La-swered the sage, bowing his head till his zarus, but also Gamaliel, and Saul, his disci-flowing white beard touched his knees. ple, of whom I have before spoken, who were invited to partake of my uncle's hospitality for the night; besides, the court of the dwelling was thronged with strangers, and the common people, who, being far from their homes, and without food, had freely been in vited to lodgings and food by the hospitable priest. As we sat up late conversing upon the remarkable events of the day, an observation made by John, when speaking of the change in the face of Jesus, that "his visage was marred more than the sons of men," led the venerable Gamaliel to say to us : 66 "Those are the words of Esaias, and are truly spoken of Messias, when he shall come." 'Let us consult Esaias, then, and see what further he hath said," cried Rabbi Amos. "Mary, bring hither the roll of the Prophet." My cousin Mary returned and placed it on a small stand before him, for, as I said in my last, we were all seated in the porch, where the evening breeze was cool. A lamp then being brought, I held it above the roll of parchment while my uncle found the part of the Prophet to which the words belonged. "Read aloud, worthy Rabbi," said the philosopher Gamaliel, "we will all listen; for "Read, Adina, for thy eyes are young," said my uncle; and obedient, though embarrassed before such an audience, I read as fol lows: "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee, his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.” "How completely," said John," these words describe his appearance on the verge of the desert." "But," said Saul, Gamaliel's disciple, "if this be prophesied of the Christ, then we are to have a Christ of dishonor, and not one of honor and glory. Read one part that you have omitted, and you will see that there are words that import a higher condition than that of this unknown person, whom John the Baptizer himself confessed he did not know, nor ever beheld before." I read on as follows: "Behold my servant shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. He shall sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him. He shall lift up his hand to the Gentiles, and set up his standard to the people. Kings shall bow down to him with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of his feet!" "That must have been a phenomenon of na ture, or done by the art of a Babylonish sor "There! such is our Messias," exclaimed cerer, whom I saw in the multitude," answered the philosopher. Saul. "Did you not hear the words?" asked Rabbi Amos. "Yes, Rabbi ; nevertheless, they may have been thrown into the air from the lungs of the sorcerer; for they do marvellous things." "Would you suppose that a sorcerer would be disposed to apply the sacred words of the Lord ?" asked John, earnestly. 66 By no means," he answered reverently. "If Rabbi Amos will allow me, I will show you the very words in King David's prophecies of Messias." Yes, it is a Christ of power and dominion who is to redeem Israel," added Gamaliel. "Not an unknown young man, scarcely thirty years of age, who came from whence no one knoweth, and hath gone as he came. As for the Christ, we shall know whence he cometh!" At hearing this great and good man thus discourse, dear father, my heart sank within me; for I could not but confess that these prophecies of honor could not apply to the humble person John had baptized; for Lazarus had already told us that his friend Jesus was of humble birth, a carpenter's son, and his mother a widow; that he had known him from boyhood, but known him only to love him. I now looked towards him, Why do the rulers take counsel together but I took courage when I saw that the against the Lord, and against his anointed? I words of Gamaliel did not in the least dimwill declare the decree. The Lord hath said the light of his faith and confidence, which unto me, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I sparkled in his eyes, that his friend Jesus was begotten thee.' truly Messias of God. But my eye fell on what follows, and as I read it I gained more confidence: "He hath no form nor comeliness: and when we shall see him, there is no spoken to our Christ by the Lord Jehovah. beauty that we should desire him.” "If the first part of this prophecy," said Lazarus, his fine eyes lighting up, as he looked at Saul," be of the Christ, as you have confessed, then is this last of him; and the fact that you reject him, is but the fulfilment of this part of prophecy." Hereupon arose a very warm discussion between Gamaliel and Saul on one side, and Rabbi Amos, John, and Lazarus, on the other, the former contending that the prophecies referred to two distinct Christs, one of whom was to be lowly and a sufferer, and the other honorable and a conqueror; while the latter maintained that the seemingly opposite predictions referred to but one Christ in two different periods and circumstances of his life. "But let this be as it may," said John, after the arguments on both sides had been exhausted, "how will you, oh, Gamaliel, and you, Saul, get over the extraordinary voice and fiery appearance which distinguished the baptism?" All looked with interest on John, as he took from his mantle a roll of the Psalms. He read as follows, looking at Gamaliel : 66 Upon hearing this read, Gamaliel was thoughtful. Rabbi Amos said: "Of a truth, we Jews believe these words were to be Have we not heard this prophecy fulfilled this very day in our ears?" "It is extraordinary," answered Gamaliel. "I will search the scriptures when I reach Jerusalem, to see if these things be so." "And the light in the form of a dove! Dost thou find an explanation for that?" asked Rabbi Amos. "No," answered he; " and I will withhold all further opinion for the present." "It becomes you, oh, Gamaliel," said Rabbi Amos, "who art a father and teacher in Israel, to know whether these things be so, that thou mayest teach thy disciples.” |