collect together the twelve Apostles, who were to be always of him how they were to spread the faith

with him, to learn when He was gone.

Three were already called, and

Verses 43, 44. "The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter."

Most likely he had heard from them of Jesus; perhaps he had been among those who had stood by the fords of Jordan, when the Baptist had declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God, who was soon to take away the sins of the world; He who was to "baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire;" He to whom a voice from heaven had spoken, saying, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." At once Philip followed Jesus.

There is no crowding about the Lord Jesus as there was about the Baptist. Slowly and reverently, one by one, the disciples present themselves to their new master, anxiously spreading the wonderful story that the Messiah is found.

Philip, like Andrew, hastens away with the glad tidings to a friend

Verse 45. "He findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." From this we see that Philip had studied, and partly understood, the word of God, the Holy Bible. Only in part did he understand it, for he had supposed Jesus, the son of the Virgin, to be the son of Joseph; he did not understand that the Mes

siah was very God as well as very man; but even his mistake showed his humbleness of mind, for it was no stumbling-block to him that the new-found Messiah was, as he supposed, the son of a carpenter, and of the despised city of Nazareth in

Galilee. Minds so teachable and inquiring shall not be left in error. Philip was the first disciple Jesus himself called.

Verse 46. "And Nathanael saith unto Philip, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."

A wise answer, for it is of no use to reason with a prejudice. Many an angry dispute and wearisome argument, which only makes men more strong each in his own opinion, would be prevented by the first answer being given in the simple, earnest spirit of these few words, "Come and see."

Verse 47, 48. "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me?"

It was the first time Nathanael had seen Jesus, and heard his voice. Great was his surprize to find himself already known. He had doubted if any good thing could come out of Nazareth; but anxious to know the truth of Philip's word, that the Messiah had indeed appeared, he hastened to come and see. Amazed that He, who for the first time he now looked upon, should at once give him a character which, no doubt he would not have thought of giving himself; in great surprize he asked of Jesus, "Whence knowest thou me?"

Far greater was his astonishment at the quiet answer of the Lord-" Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." Every doubt was ended; Nathanael proved the simplicity of his heart by his readiness to believe, and at once cried out with joyful certainty,

Verse 49. "Rabbi! thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel!"

What had passed when Nathanael was alone below the fig

tree we do not know. Most likely in secret prayer he had poured out to God earnest desires, and guileless wishes; he was an Israelite indeed, and God made known to him the fulfilment of his promises to Israel.

"When thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." Oh let these words of Jesus to Nathanael be ever with us! We cannot now hear him speak, yet these words declare him ever present to each one of us he says-" When thou art alone, I see thee."

To Nathanael's glad acknowledgment-" Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel," the Lord made answer and said

Verse 50, 51. "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. Verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

There is much to think of in what we have read to-day. It is, as I said before, the first beginning of the Church of Christ. We see his kind readiness to meet those, who hearing He was the Lamb of God, went to seek him; and how he invited them to his home. What has been, is now, and ever shall be; for Jesus, though in the form of man, was, and is God, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; still He kindly meets all who seek him-still He knows each anxious wish-hears each secret prayer, and kindly smiles on those, who having found him, spread the glad tidings of his kingdom.

And to those whose earnest, simple faith receives with thankful joy the words of Christ, taking them as proofs of his truth, more shall be given. The promise is to them as well as to Nathanael" Hereafter they shall see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Prayer.

O my Saviour, raise up within me such earnest desires to know thee for myself, that I may seek thee till I find thee. Invite me, I pray thee, to come and see where thou dwellest, and let me abide with thee. Let thy words have such power, that I may neither doubt nor fear, but gladly share the good news of thy kingdom with all I love. When I am alone thou

art with me; thou seest me whether I am busy in a crowd or alone in the fields, and beneath the trees; thou knowest my thoughts; thou dost hear my most secret prayer. O let my heart, my life, be thine, to the glory of God thy Father. Amen.

XXV.

JOHN II. 1, 2. "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there : And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage."

The village of Cana is just such a distance from the banks of Jordan, as would be easily passed over on foot in two days; therefore it is most likely that the Lord Jesus, who was going into Galilee when He called Philip, arrived in Cana on the third day after his five disciples had joined him. They were immediately invited to a wedding, in a house in which the mother of Jesus seems to have been as one of the family. Her husband Joseph is never mentioned from the time when the holy child Jesus at twelve years old is said to have been subject to his parents; so it is most probable that he had now been some time dead. Perhaps the newly-married pair were relatives of Mary. They must have been poor, for at their marriage-feast they were without the usual quantity of wine. In all countries

where grapes grow abundantly, wine is used as beer is in our own country, where the vine does not grow. Mary seems to have been distressed for the bridegroom, who was not able to provide enough for the number of his guests; and, though we do not exactly know what she expected from her Divine Son, she betook herself to him, saying, "They have no wine."

Verses 3, 4. "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine, (and) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come."

We must not suppose that there was the least disrespect in this answer of our Lord to his mother, though to our English ears it would seem strange for a son, in speaking to his mother, to call her "woman."

In the old times it was the custom so to speak, and the word "woman," was as full of affection and respect as any of the finest titles we now use. Among the people of old, even the greatest princesses were so called. But the words of our Lord, "What have I to do with thee, mine hour is not yet come," were surely meant to show to Mary, that though she was indeed the mother of his human nature, she must never forget that he was the Son of God, come to do his Father's will, not hers.

Though the words of Jesus were almost a reproof, his manner of speaking them must have been kind, for Mary still looked to him for help in the difficulty. There was no wine— and Mary turning to the servants, saith unto them

Verses 5, 6.

"Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece," (or about a hogshead, according to our way of measuring.)