hopes by assuming his proper rank at the feast, yet is it evident that her fears or apprehensions outweigh and outrun her hopes, for her countenance is ever anxious, and when her thought or her conversation dwells more especially on these themes, its expression is melancholy and sad. I asked her of the progress he had made since the last letters I had received, and whether more or fewer miracles than before had been performed.

"Julian," she answered, "had God himself walked among us in bodily shape, and powers of healing had flowed out from the glance of his eye, or the air in which he moved, or the touch of his garments, the effects that had followed would not have been more astonishing than the - new wonders that have been wrought by Jesus, either in respect to theirber or their greatness. er or their greatness. Wherever he hath moved have miracles been witnessed such as have filled all with amazement, and from all have drawn the same exclamation, Who shall this be but the Christ? "And you also have followed him?" I said. "Not constantly," she replied, "as have some; as now do Mary of Magdala and Joanna, the wife of Chuza "She is then a disciple at last," I exclaimed. "No one more devoted and sincere," replied Judith. "It was long before the late feast, that withdrawing from the service of Herod, with whom—then at length the open enemy and persecutor of Jesus, plotting even against his life

she would no longer remain, she obeyed the desires of her heart, and joined the number of those who followed Jesus, hearing him whenever she could, and whenever he tarried long in any one city, resorting thither, her husband with her, but not as yet, like her, a believer. For myself" continued Judith, "I went not far from Beth-Harem; but when Jesus drew nigh, in the lower parts of Galilee, and especially while he sojourned here on the Jordan, and in the nearer regions of the Peræa, thou wilt not doubt that I was then with him, Ruth being ever my companion."

"And after seeing and hearing for thyself, Judith, how stands thy faith?" ·

"In the very strength of God!" she replied.

"And with no accompanying doubt?”

"With none," she answered. "Whether," she added, after a pause, "it be reasonable so to believe and trust I know not; but so it is, after what I have beheld of the powers of Jesus, and have heard of his doctrine, I believe in him perforce, even as I believe in God. The works of God, the heavens with their hosts, declare him their maker and supporter; and so also the works of Jesus declare him to be of God, clothed with so much of a divine power as is needful to do such things. And when such an one proclaims himself, whether plainly or obscurely, to be the Christ, shall not his declaration be received? I know not how to refuse it. Would it not be to say that God can speak falsely?"

"It would, indeed,” I answered. Yet many of his most constant followers take offence at his speech, and forsake him, or are in doubt."

"I see not what they would have," Judith replied. "He indeed now speaks of his death as about to happen many think at the approaching feast, but then he declares at the same time that death shall not injure him, for he can resist its power. And who can doubt that when he has raised others from the dead, and lately Lazarus of Bethany, who had been long buried, he can protect himself from the effects of whatever might be inflicted upon him, or by virtues previously infused into his body, return to life after life had been taken away. Why he should permit himself to be slain I indeed cannot tell; unless it be by restoring life again to himself, still further to increase the confidence of others in his power, and that he may then, having so returned, restore at length the kingdom of Israel.”

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Ah, Judith, I perceive that thy faith stands indeed in a divine strength; at least in a strength that is furnished not from any of the resources of human wisdom. I must confess that for myself, though to the present moment I had believed with thee, the death of Jesus would convince me

at length of my delusion. And I may safely promise therefore, that if being destroyed by the priests or the Romans, he should overcome the power of death, and as thou thinkest return to life, and then enter into his kingdom, I will myself believe in him, take him as the Christ, and wear the yoke of his allegiance."

"I shall not doubt then," said Judith, "to see thee both a disciple and a subject."

It was with no little eagerness that, soon after my arrival, I sought the home of Ruth and her father-he now in possession again of his limbs and his sight. By the aid of Onias and of ancient friends in Beth-Harem he has become a husbandman on the banks of the Jordan. There I found him, and now the mistress of a well stored and comfortable dwelling, Ruth also, the happiest and the brightest spirit of these regions. They were truly glad to behold again one who, by a kind fortune, both as regards them and himself, had first helped to lift them up out of their low estate. But every feeling toward me was lost in one of gratitude and love for Jesus, to whom they owe so much more. It is their delight to speak of him, and they would gladly have followed him had he encouraged them to do so. They now look forward with great expectations to the time, which they doubt not will come, when he shall stand revealed before the people. Their joy would be double, could they behold him seated where they think it is his right to sit, and raised above any apprehension from those who are thirsting for his life. The approaching Passover is expected by them with impatience, as they intend to go up to Jerusalem, and trust then to see Jesus again, and are fully persuaded that at that time he will declare himself and appear what he really is. The rumours of his death, both as predicted by himself or threatened by the Pharisees and rulers, they will not credit. As for the purpose on the part of the rulers to destroy him by accusing him before Pilate, they say that it is but the same

report that has been renewed from time to time during the whole year that Jesus has taught; and as for any prediction of such an event by himself, they judge it too little probable to deserve any credit. It is to them unlikely in proportion to their persuasion that Jesus is Christ, and in that they are immovably fixed. More grateful, hoping, and believing followers Jesus has not in all the compass of Judea than Levi and Ruth.

*

*

*

The ruler Shammai has been with us to-day. Upon inquiring for Zadok, he replied that he was already gone up to Jerusalem.

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Why so early?" Judith inquired.

"Can you ask, daughter?" said Shammai.

"I need not have asked, certainly," replied Judith, sighing; "the same cruel zeal that has carried him so many times over Judea and Galilee doubtless has now carried him to Jerusalem. May Jehovah confound all his counsels, and bring them to nought!"

"He will not rest," said the ruler, " until he has accomplished his aim. He can scarcely fail, what with his own craft and the power of those with whom he is in league." "And his aim," I said, "is the accusation and destruction of Jesus, I suppose."

"Yes," said Shammai, "nothing less. John being disposed of, the adherents of Herod look upon Jesus as the only remaining obstacle in their way."

"But," said I," are not the people clearly with Jesus? When, as before the Feast of Tabernacles, I mingled much with them, I found them for the most part of his side; and as I learn, the numbers of his followers and friends have greatly increased of late, many even among the rich and in high station looking upon him with favour, and secretly favouring him, if not openly confessing him."

"That is true," said the ruler; "the people worship him and show their homage by crowding about him, hearing him preach, and looking upon his miracles. But they are

It

a loose, tumultuous, and changing body, without leaders and without power, notwithstanding their numbers. will be easy for Zadok and a few like himself to manage them; nay, by a little skill to make it appear that the people themselves require his destruction. There is a body of men in Jerusalem, Priests, Rulers, Pharisees, and Scribes, to whom, when united for some common object, the destruction of a friendless, solitary individual like Jesus, will be but as the crushing of an insect."

"Say not so, Shammai," said Judith. "I will not believe that there are in all Jerusalem, bold and wicked as those whitewashed priests are, men to be found who will dare to assail with ill intent a man like Jesus, so evidently even in their own eyes full of the very power of God. They will fear lest their hands fall blasted at the very touch of him, and the curse of the Almighty cleave to and pursue them."

"Judith, Judith," cried Onias, "thou knowest not what thou sayest. If the law is what we have taken it to be, even the law of God, then doth Jesus well deserve to die; for what precept is there he hath not perverted, or what holy day he hath not violated? When, seeing what his powers are, we looked to behold him its friend and protector, what doth he but bring it into contempt more and more, breaking its commands himself and teaching others so? Be not so carried away, my daughter, by insane hopes as to despise the word of God - which so many years has been. the boast and glory of his people, and raised them to a place above all the nations of the earth, whom God has been pleased to leave in their idolatry and in its room thrust the new doctrines of this young man of yesterday, for which, if he offer the proof of his miracles, they must be the product of devils, seeing that God cannot overthrow his own work."

Said Shammai, "Not only will he be charged with breaking the Law, and with blasphemy for making himself the Son of God, but with treasonable designs against the