Jordan, and the monument of twelve stones, which Joshua set up to commemorate that event, is still visible to this day. There, too, is Jericho, the walls of which fell down at the blast of the trumpets, overthrown by the mighty power of God. But. time would fail me to point out all the interesting spots which may be seen. The whole country is full of sacred and patriotic associations. Almost every city, and mountain, and river is the remembrancer of some great event, some remarkable deliverance, which Jehovah has vouchsafed. Truly God has been good to Israel. It is not this delicious climate and scenery, these verdant forests, and luxuriant hills and dales, that alone declare the goodness of God; they have each and all of them a higher interest, and excite a deeper feeling than any mere landscape, however beautiful, is fitted to inspire. Here is a battle-field, where Jehovah marched before his people, when 'the earth shook, and the heavens dropped down at the presence of God.' There is a spot hallowed by the merciful appearance of God to his servants in visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on man.'

"But I cannot do justice to Selumiel's animated and eloquent description of the various scenes which lay before them. Familiar from his youth with the history of his nation, and having often visited this spot, and viewed the extensive prospect it commanded, he was able readily to answer the multitude of questions with which the little boys pressed him.

"Oh uncle," said Jonathan, "what is that great sheet of water which I see off towards the south-east ?"

"That is the Dead Sea," replied Selumiel.

"And is not that the spot where Sodom and Gomorrah once stood?"

"Yes, my dear boy, and there stands the perpetual monument of the destruction of those wicked cities. The shores of that sea, though it is so far off that you cannot distinctly perceive it, are desolate and barren, the soil being composed of sulphurous and saline matter, the relics of the tempest of fire and brimstone with which they were once deluged. How fearfully true does it appear in view of such a scene, that Our God is a consuming fire.' But I will not

dwell on painful scenes. Do you see that wilderness that skirts the shore of the Dead Sea?"

"Do you mean, uncle, those scattered clumps of forest-trees, with open spaces here and there among them?"

די

"The same, Jonathan," said Selumiel; "that is the wilderness of Judea, where the forerunner of Jesus first began to preach to the multitudes who came to hear him from all the surrounding country, saying: repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' There, too, is Bethlehem (pointing to a little village six miles south of Jerusalem on the road to Hebron) where Jesus was born; where the angels sung, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good-will towards men.' And here, just at the foot of this mountain, on its eastern slope, is the village of Bethphage (the house of figs), and just beyond it Bethany, where Lazarus, and Martha, and Mary lived, and where JESUS WEPT. I can never forget the feelings I had when John once related to me the circumstances of the death and resurrection of Lazarus, and with that sweet tone and look which he, above all men, possessed, pronounced the emphatic words,

• Jesus wept.' The greatness of the miracle was lost to me in the sympathy of Jesus. Oh, my dear boys, we have indeed an highpriest who can be touched with the feeling of our sorrows and infirmities, and a physician who is ever ready to pour healing balm into the wounded heart."

Their minds were now prepared to feel the full power of all the associations connected with the mountain on which they stood. The calm and soothing influence of natural scenery has been often felt and described. But the power of such scenery, the villages and groves where the Son of man but a few years before went about doing good," bursting through the tops of the trees that shaded the slope of the mountain, may be felt, but it can never be described.

While Selumiel had dwelt upon the scenes of Jewish history, the feats of their warriors, and visions of their sacred bards, their feelings rose with his description, and they could hardly restrain from bursts of admiration. But now, when he withdrew their minds from these exciting themes, and fixed them on the patience and self-denial and compassionate

kindness of the meek and lowly Jesus, a sweet religious awe pervaded their feelings, and their rapture subsided into the deepest tenderness.

"But it was not at Bethany alone," continued Selumiel," nor for the sorrows of a single family, and those his friends, that Jesus wept. On the very spot where we now stand, and with his eyes fixed on the proud towers of yonder city, which had refused and rejected him, and whose rulers were seeking his life, he wept over it, and in the accents of the tenderest compassion, exclaimed, 'Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! behold your house is now left unto you desolate!' and from that hour he never lifted up the voice of warning more in her streets. He never reproved or exhorted her proud and untractable inhabitants again. But his disciples, who knew not that the doom of Jerusalem was sealed, came to him to point out to him the splendid buildings of the temple. There it