a marvellous structure. With its stupendous outer wall, its lofty "Gate Beautiful," wrought of Corinthian brass, its pillared cloisters, its outer court, its central edifice, the temple proper, covered with gold, and blazing like an earthly sun, the whole was the wonder of the world, and the Israelite's peculiar pride and joy. Thither the tribes went up thrice a year to worship. But at the Passover feast, the city,-paved with marble, and built in a style of corresponding magnificence, was thronged with a "multitude which no man could number." It is computed that this feast drew together, in addition to the permanent population, not less than a million of human beings. Many of these were from remote lands. Arabia, Parthia, Mesopotamia, perhaps India and China; Egypt, Ethiopia, Nubia, Abyssinia; the parts of Libya about Cyrene; Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, Gaul and Spain; every part of the world sent up caravans of pilgrims to the Holy and Beautiful City,-all wearing the costumes and speaking the dialects of the several countries from which they came.

In this vast concourse, were thousands of "devout strangers," not of the seed of Abraham. It is a matter of history, that the Jewish religion had been making rapid progress among Gentile nations, for several generations before Christ. Even kings and queens were among the proselytes who sometimes worshipped in the temple-courts. The glowing prophecies of Isaiah had already been literally, though not finally and completely fulfilled. Perhaps, as our Lord made His way through the throng of strangers, He was reminded of the words of the prophet: "Lift up thine eyes round about and see; all they gather themselves together; they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see and flow together, and thy heart shall fear and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea

shall be converted unto thee; the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee; the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered unto thee: the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows? Surely, the isles shall wait for thee, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee." These predictions were fulfilled to the letter, at every Passover during our Lord's ministry.

This immense multitude, now crowding the city of Jerusalem, and covering the neighboring hills with their encampments, found the people of Palestine agitated,almost convulsed, with a great national excitement. For many months a mighty prophet had been preaching and baptizing, saying, "Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Nay, he had lately, it was said, declared pub.licly to members of the Sanhedrim, that the Messiah had already come; that He was even then in the land, mingling with the people, though they knew Him not. A vague hope was throbbing in all hearts, that the longexpected Heir of David would soon appear. Might He not appear at this very feast? What more fit occasion for so august an event? These questions, doubtless, passed from one to another. Thus the agitation extended from the Jews to the proselytes and strangers, until the whole vast concourse was tossing with excitement.

The Heir of David was indeed there, though He was unrecognized by the multitude. He had passed through the streets of the city; He had entered the precincts of the temple; He was in the midst of the multitude to

whom His presence was so full of divine promise; but none beheld in Him the "Messenger of the covenant," spoken of by the prophet.* Worldly and unspiritual, how could they discern the Son of God in the meek Galilean youth, upon whom only a few poor fishermen were in waiting?

Malachi iii. 1.

CHAPTER IV.

JESUS PURIFIES THE TEMPLE.

THE TRAFFICKERS IN THE TEMPLE-JESUS DRIVES THEM FROM THE TEMPLE-JESUS CHALLENGED TO SHOW A MIRACULOUS SIGN-REASON FOR HIS REFUSAL TO DO SO-HIS REPLY-SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS LANGUAGE -CONDITION OF THE HUMAN TEMPLE-GOD'S PURPOSE TO RE-EDIFY IT—MEANS REQUISITE, AND SYMBOLS EMPLOYED-CONSEQUENT MEANING OF CHRIST'S LANGUAGE, APPLIED TO HIMSELF-AS APPLIED TO THE CHURCH-FURTHER LABORS OF JESUS AT JERUSALEM.

It would be deeply interesting to know what were the emotions of Jesus, as He thus entered the vast arena called the "Courts of the Temple," and stood amidst the multitude on this august occasion. Of this we know nothing, save that He appears not to have been so much struck with the sight of that sea of human beings, as with the strange spectacle which met His gaze in another part of the sacred enclosure. There were congregated, not reverent Israelites, intent upon the imposing rites of the temple-service; not devout and expectant children of the promise, waiting for the glorious manifestation of their King; but flocks and herds, buyers and sellers, moneybrokers and dealers in doves; indeed, all the frequenters and appointments of a regular market. The eager, noisy huckstering went on in sight of the great altar, and of the awful rites of sacrifice. It would seem that the concourse of such a vast multitude, many of them from distant lands, and the consequent demand for victims for the altar, had created a very lucrative trade; and that, for greater con

venience, the dealers had established themselves in the court of the Gentiles, reasoning, perhaps, that animals intended for sacrifice were less impure and offensive to Jehovah than the uncircumcised heathen. And for this reason, perhaps, the Pharisees, from whose superstitious reverence for the temple some opposition to the desecration might have been anticipated, either connived at it or openly approved it. Possibly, they regarded the Gentiles as standing on a level with unclean beasts, while the sacrificial animals served for purification. It was, therefore, quite in accordance with the spirit of Pharisaism, that those animals were allowed to exclude the Gentiles from their court. *

This open and shameless profanation of the house of the living God, kindles in the soul of Jesus divine indignation. He is in His Father's house; He is rightful Lord and Master here; and He will give a demonstration of His authority. While the merchants and money-changers pursue their sacrilegious occupations, they are suddenly startled by the approach of a youthful stranger, on whose form and features are stamped superhuman power, majesty and holiness. He holds in His right hand a scourge, with which like a prophet of old, He seems to threaten them with divine judgments. They are smitten with supernatural terror. They have no thought of resist ing; but as our Lord advances they fall back; they fly from the holy place, expelled by a PRESENCE which cows and paralyzes their guilty souls. The sheep and oxen are driven out of the temple, and the tables of the money-changers are overthrown. The sellers of doves, treated with less severity, perhaps, because doves were the offerings of the poor, are sternly bidden to depart. "Take these things hence," says this Divine Lord

*Lange's "Life of Christ," volume 2, page 299.