poor had been remembered, dismissed the assembly, who departed with more quietness than they would have done but for the parting words of the Ruler. The quietness, however, lasted not long, as it cannot among this fierce and contentious people, broken into so many factions, each aiming at the injury or destruction of the other. For no sooner had the multitude within the synagogue joined itself to the multitude without, than conversation and dispute arose on all sides concerning what had been said by Zadok, Simon, and Shammai. Some blamed one, and some another; some applauded one, and some another. Among others, I saw the old man, whom I had overheard on the way to the synagogue, apparently with much passion, accusing the Ruler as he descended the steps of the building.

"Is it," said he, " from the Ruler of our Synagogue, that we are to hear fools and madmen, idle wanderers, and falsehearted deceivers held up to honor? Who but Simon, and wretches like him, believe in John."

"Good Sir," replied Shammai, "I have held up no deceiver, or blasphemer to honor before the people. Had I held up John to honor, which I did not, it is not yet shown that he is mad, or false, or impious."

"Yet," said the other, "every one of any consideration knows it."

"The people do not know it," replied the Ruler. "They are on John's side."

"Who," said the rich man, "are the people? and what do they know, and how should they judge? Have our rulers, the priests, the council, our rich or learned men believed in him? That is the only question worth asking. of Jerusalem condemn him.”

They

"To be condemned by them of Jerusalem, is often to be commended of the truth;" answered Shammai.

"Thou art a disciple of John and the Devil, and so shall I report thee," cried the other in a rage. Shammai laughed, while the other turned away trembling with anger, more even than with years. The people, who had heard what the Ruler had said, applauded him, and said "Shammai is the friend of truth; he is afraid neither of the rich, nor the powerful."

Zadok approaching, some one cried out, "Who is Zadok's Christ, standing in the midst of us? Is Zadok also a believer in John?"

Another exclaimed, "It is a greater than John the Baptist, Zadok believes in."

"Or his disciple, Simon the Tanner," shouted a third with a deriding tone.

"Blessed the people," cried yet another voice from the crowd, "to whom the Lord shall send a king, dressed in skins himself has cured, and his sceptre an ox's goad."

"Nevertheless," said another, "an ox's goad in the hands of him with whom is the spirit of the Lord, were more than all the power of all the Herods. Remember Samson's jaw bone of an ass."

"Let him who accuseth Herod look to it," cried an angry voice, "lest he fall into the jaws not of an ass, but a lion."

"That was the voice of Zadok," said one aloud.

"It was not the voice of Zadok," cried the Rabbi, as he stalked gloomily away, and left the crowd behind. At this moment those with whom we had been standing about the steps of the synagogue and between the building and the walls of the outer court, were drawn to the street, by the loud tones of some one declaiming to the people, where, raised above the crowds upon a stone at the corner of the market, he stood reporting news which he had heard of a prophet having risen up among the hills of Idumea, and to whom all in that region were giving ear. The throng thickened around him, eagerly listening to what he had to say, and making inquiries concerning the time and manner of his appearing. They were interrupted by the voice of another from the crowd, who exclaimed,

"Trust not these lying rumors, people of

Beth-Harem; give no heed to them. I am but just arrived from the hills of Idumea on the way to Tiberias, where the people knew nothing of this prophet. Listen to the instructions of your ruler Shammai, and run not after every shadow."

While this person spoke, the other, who had delivered the news with so much boldness, mingled with the crowd and disappeared, pursued by the cries of the people.

I now turned away, and leaving the city behind, bent my steps toward the Jordan. The soft breath of the fresh air burdened with spicy odors, together with the calm aspect of nature, was like a medicine, healing the distempered body, and restoring the mind also, after the feverish heats of the assembly I had left. I sought at once the banks of the river, that I might move quietly along in the solitude of its deep shadows, rather than mingle with those who, on the highway, would be passing in the same direction with myself. The atmosphere was temperate, and so still, it hardly so much as made the leaves to tremble on the lightest boughs, or the tenderest flowers to bend their heads. Birds and insects enjoying the sacredness of the day which gave them security against their common enemy, saluted

the ear with their sweetest notes.

The serpent, who glided across my path, startling me by his fearful shape and glistening hues, seemed to dread me less than on other days, and went slowly by. Reaching the stream, I seated myself upon a rock lying within the fields of Onias not far from the grotto of which I have already told you, and leaning against the trunk of an aged willow, gave myself to the thoughts which the scenes before me, and those which I had just witnessed, in Beth-Harem, equally suggested. How peaceful is nature! I thought how calmly her various courses move on. There is here no confusion, jarring, and discord. The sun, the moon, and the stars all wheel around us, and the ear cannot hear the sound of their going, neither do they ever cross each other's path. All is peace, order, and silence. The trees and herbs all grow to their full stature, yet we see not, we hear not, as they go up from strength to strength. But with man all is rage, disorder, and strife. Nothing is quiet; no motion is without noise, interference, or conflict. In the mind of each individual there is warfare, peace never; and for nations, it seems their chosen work to injure or destroy. Within their own borders they chafe even among themselves; being uneasy in every present state, and while they look about for