who told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

George. I suppose they followed the woman to see Jesus out of curiosity.

Aunt. Most likely many did: but some of the Samaritans believed that Jesus was the Messiah, from what the woman told them concerning him: and when they were come, and heard his words, notwithstanding their rooted prejudices against the Jews, they besought him to tarry with them; and he abode there two days. And many more believed, and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

After this, our Lord returned into Galilee, and came again to Cana, where he had performed, the miracle of turning water into wine. And there came a certain nobleman, supposed by some to be Chuza, Herod's steward, whose son was sick at Capernaum; and he besought Jesus, that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe; most likely referring to the Samaritans, who had believed his word without any miraculous confirmation. The nobleman entreated Christ to come down before his child died. Jesus said unto him, Go thy way, thy son liveth. And he believed the word which the Lord had spoken, and went his way.

Lucy. Did not this imply strong faith in Christ? for he could have no demonstration that his son was healed.

Aunt. Undoubtedly it did. His servants came to

meet him, with the welcome intelligence that his son was recovered. Upon inquiring, he found that the fever left him, the same hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth; in consequence of which, this nobleman and all his family believed in Christ.

Our Lord, in his progress, came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: he entered into the synagogue, according to his usual custom, and the prophecy of Isaiah was delivered to him? when he read these words, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, Isa. lxi. 1, 2. And he closed the book.

George. Did our Lord apply it to himself?

Aunt. He did: but they were not disposed to receive him. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, was proceeding to shew that a prophet must not expect any honour in his own country. But they were so exasperated at his discourse, that they rose up and thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of a hill, that they might cast him down headlong. Maria. Oh, what a wicked people! How did our Lord escape?

Aunt. He passed through the midst of them, as it should seem, in a miraculous manner, and went to Capernaum, which he made the chief place of his residence; thus remarkably accomplishing Isaiah's prophecy: the land of Zebulun, the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the

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Gentiles: the people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region of the shadow of death, is light sprung up. Isa. ix. 1, 2.

Capernaum was the metropolis, or chief city of Galilee, situated upon the lane of Gennesareth, or the Sea of Galilee, called also the Sea of Tiberius. This lake was about twelve miles in length, and five in breadth, abounding with all kinds of fish, and surrounded with several cities and towns, which stood on its banks: on the east side were Chorazin, Bethsaida, Julius, and Hippo; on the west, stood Capernaum, Tiberias, and Tarichea, beside other places of inferior note. As our Lord was walking by the lake, he saw two fishing-vessels; one belonging to Peter and Andrew, the other to James and John, who, after a most tedious and unsuccessful night, were gone on shore to wash and dry their nets. Our Saviour, being pressed by the multitude that came out of Capernaum, stepped into Peter's vessel, desiring him to put a little from the shore, where he preached to the people. And when he had done speaking, he said to Peter, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Peter expressed some reluctance, having met with so little success: nevertheless, at the word of the Lord, he let down his net, and enclosed such a multitude of fishes, that the net brake; upon which, they called their partners to help them: and they filled both their vessels, so that they began to sink.

George. This must greatly astonish them.

Aunt. It did; especially Peter, who fell down at Jesus' feet, praying him to depart from him, for he was a sinful man. The Lord, to calm his mind, bid

nobler employment for him; for, from that time, he and his brother Andrew should catch the souls of men: he likewise gave the same call to James and John, who, with their father, were mending their nets in the other vessel. These four left all, and followed Jesus.

Lucy. Did not Peter and Andrew live at Beth-. saida? and were they not called at that place?

Lucy. Their first call was at that place, about a year before, during which period they seem to have followed their own occupations, and to have removed to this city for the advantage of trade; but from this time they became constant and inseparable disciples of our Lord. On the sabbath-day, our Saviour entered into the synagogue and taught. A man who was present, being possessed with an impure spirit, cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Lucy. How this declaration must astonish the Jews! Aunt. Especially when Jesus rebuked the devil, commanding him to hold his peace, and come out of the man. And when the devil had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him. There were fre quent instances of persons being possessed among the Jews at this time: but the cure of them being so far beyond the reach of human ability, the spectators were seized with the greater surprise, that Jesus, by his word, should have authority and power over unclean spirits. Upon this, his fame was spread throughout Galilee, and its neighbouring parts.

When our Lord came out of the synagogue, he went into the house of Simon Peter, whose wife's mother was ill with a violent fever. Jesus, being informed of it, went to her bed-side, and rebuked the fever. She was immediately restored to perfect health, and arose and waited on the company. This, together with the other miracle, caused the people from all parts to bring their sick, diseased, and possessed, begging relief of this heavenly physician; and he healed them; thus accomplishing Isaiah's prophecy, which says, He took our infirmities upon himself, and bore our diseases. Early in the morning our Lord retired to a private place, whither his disciples followed him; the people finding out his intention of departing, came to him, and besought him to continue at Capernaum.

Maria. Did our Lord comply with their request? Aunt. He told them that he must preach the kingdom of heaven in other cities also. He then made a progress throughout Galilee, preaching the gospel in the synagogues, and curing all manner of diseases; the evangelists mention demoniacs, lunatics, and paralytics: but the principal cure performed by our Lord in this journey, appears to have been that of healing a leper, which not only caused his fame to be spread throughout Galilee, but engaged numbers to follow him out of other parts, as Decapolis, Judea, Jerusalem, and the country beyond Jordan.

Lucy. Was there any thing very extraordinary in this case?

Aunt. There is one circumstance particularly deserving our notice, and that is, our Lord's injunction to the leper, to go and shew himself to the priest,