the schools of the Jewish masters, but drawn from the highest and purest of heaven's founts, Jesus gave proof, when, in the twelfth year of his age, he stood in the temple of Jerusalem, and filled the minds of all around him with wonder, at his knowledge and at his answers.

In the thirtieth year of his age, Jesus appeared amongst the Jews, as the teacher and author of the Christian religion. In the mean time, John, the son of the priest Zachary, whose birth and life had been most wonderful, came forth from his wilderness. This man, who, according to the declaration of the Most Wise, was the greatest of those who had been born of women, stood as the medium-point between the new and the old Testaments, and as a necessary link in the chain of divine revelation. Rejecting the proffered honour of being reputed Elias, or even the Messias, he proclaimed aloud, with a voice from the wilderness, that the kingdom of the Messias was at hand,— that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Redeemer,―that his kingdom was not national, nor of this earth. Our Lord, before the commencement of his teaching, was baptized by John, in the Jordan. His eternal Father then spoke; and whilst John, as man, bore testimony to his divine mission, Almighty God confirmed it by miracles from heaven. At this period, Tiberius was emperor of Rome; Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea; Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea; and Philip, his brother, tetrarch of Idumea, Trachonitis, and Abilene. DÖLLINGER.

WE must suppose the history of our blessed Redeemer to be sufficiently known by all. Avoiding all earthly splendour and worldly comforts, followed by a few chosen friends, unknown and persecuted by the rich and the noble as by the lowest of the people, he spent three years in acts of heavenly benevolence, and in imparting eternal truths to men. He taught the reconciliation of man with God, through faith and love, founded upon humility; for those who love honours cannot believe in him. He has himself left us a brief history of his life in these words (Mat. xi. 5): "The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them, and blessed is he who shall not be scandalized in me." And when the bitterness of his enemies had reached its highest point, he went with gladness to meet the sufferings that brought redemption and salvation to man. It is a just observation, but one which redounds not to our honour, that

men oftentimes love that which is evil and wicked, and that which is honourable and virtuous they will hardly believe of each other. Thus the enemies of the Most Holy found believers and followers, and He was despised, blasphemed, and murdered. A mind and a life opposed to the thoughts and ways of the earth, must necessarily have come in violent conflict with the world. "He was in the world, and the world knew him not; he came unto his own, and his own did not receive him." There were a few who followed him, but it was in timidity and fear; the powerful, on the contrary, and the many, incited by the interpreters of the law, by the priests and the pharisees, rose up against him, and sought his death.

He knew and foretold his sufferings. One of the chosen twelve was seduced to betray his Master, who, bound as a criminal, was led away to the tribunal of the high priest. When solemnly adjured to confess if he were the Son of God, he answered, "I am." Then did the assembled priests, and scribes, and members of the council, condemn him, as guilty of blasphemy, and worthy of death. From the Jewish court, which had lost, under the Romans, the power of death, he was borne away to the governor, Pilate, who, after unfeeling scorn, and severe chastisements, condemned the acknowledged innocent and just man to death. He died in the thirty-third year of his life upon earth, derided by the Romans and Jews, the most disgraceful death of the cross, and between two thieves. His bones were not broken,-the ordinary

usage after such a death; but, to prove that he was dead, a soldier opened his side with a spear. The body was buried in honour by a disciple: a guard was placed around the tomb, and a seal upon the stone.

On the third day he appeared again in life to his apostles. The truth of his religion could not be weakened by his violent and cruel death, but rather confirmed; and the end of his incarnation-the redemption and reconciliation of man with God—promoted. He remained forty days with his disciples, instructing them in the nature of his kingdom, their sacred duties, and future labours. There is nothing, however, expressed in the gospel, more than the general command to teach, to baptize, and to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them. Of those who believed in him, Jesus had chosen twelve, whom he admitted as the favoured witnesses of his own words and works. These, with the exception of the betrayer, he left as his representatives on earth. There were also seventy-two disciples closely connected with him; they, also, after his ascension, preached the gospel, but with less ample powers than the apostles. All these, or many of them, ("they who were come together,”—Acts i. 6), assembled with Jesus, near Bethania, at the end of the forty days; and whilst they were looking upon him, he raised his hands and blessed them, and was borne away into heaven.

DÖLLINGER.

So I call the study of nature, which scarcely requires anything besides the eyes, and for this reason falls within the capacity of all persons, even of children. It consists in attending to the objects with which nature presents us, in considering them with care, and admiring their different beauties, but without searching out their causes, which properly belongs to the physics of the learned. I say, that even children are capable of it; for they have eyes, and do not want curiosity; they ask questions, and love to be informed; and here we need only awaken and keep up in them the desire of learning and knowing, which is natural to all mankind. Besides, this study, if it is to be called a study, instead of being painful and tedious, is pleasant and agreeable; it may be as a recreation, and should usually be made a diversion. It is inconceivable, how many things children are capable of, if all the opportunities of instructing them were laid hold of, with which they themselves present us. A garden, a country, a palace, are all so many books, which