tain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh; (which is called Christ ;) when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

REFLECTIONS.

How constantly was our Saviour's life devoted to the good of his race! It was, indeed, to use his own expression, "his meat to do the will of Him that sent him, and to finish his work.” In the present instance, we see him wearied with a long journey on foot, seeking a few moments' rest by the side of a well while his disciples leave him to buy food, that his exhausted strength and their own may be restored. This, too, is in a land with whose inhabitants his nation "have no dealings," even in the common civilities of life. Yet even here, in his exhaustion, and among strangers, he finds occasion to speak the

words of God, to declare the spiritual nature of the divine kingdom, and his own commission from above. Let us, his disciples, learn from our Lord the value of time; and let it be our meat and drink, as it was his, to do the will of God, and promote the good of those around us.

How sublime, too, how worthy of deep reflection, are the lessons he now taught; the value of his own instructions, that well of living water, springing up into everlasting life; and the spiritual character of God, and of that worship which He accepts! Let us worship Him in spirit; by prayer, not formal, but coming from our hearts; by constant endeavours to be holy, as He is holy; by the remembrance that the omnipresent Spirit is always near us; by the service of every action, and word, and thought.

HYMN.

Rev. Mr. Pierpont.

Oh Thou to whom, in ancient time
The lyre of Hebrew bards was strung,
Whom kings adored in song sublime,
And prophets praised with glowing tongue!

Not now on Zion's height alone
Thy favour'd worshipers may dwell,
Nor where, at sultry noon, thy Son
Sat, weary, by the patriarch's well.

From every place below the skies,
The grateful song, the fervent prayer,
The incense of the heart, may rise
To heaven, and find acceptance there.
To Thee shall age, with snowy hair,
And strength and beauty bend the knee,
And childhood lisp, with reverent air,
Its praises and its prayers to Thee.
Oh Thou to whom, in ancient time,
The lyre of prophet bards was strung,
To Thee at length, in every clime,
Shall temples rise, and praise be sung.

SECTON IV.

CURE OF A NOBLEMAN'S SON.

JOHN IV. 43.

Now, after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then, when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went unto the feast. So he came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain no

bleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way, thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.

REFLECTIONS.

"The man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him." Few of those who surrounded Jesus would have been contented with so unostentatious a display of the Saviour's power. They would have besought him to visit in person the chamber of the sick; they would have expected to witness the performance of solemn rites. But for this petitioner,

the sentence, "Thy son liveth," was enough. Confiding humbly in the divine power, he yielded implicit belief to the words of Jesus. The example he affords is one which we can never directly imitate, for as the Saviour is no more on earth, performing miracles, the circumstances of his suppliant can never be ours. But the same implicit belief which filled his heart when Jesus spoke, may animate us when we listen to the declarations of Scripture, and when we look to Providence in the events of life. Our heavenly Father has promised us his protecting care: let us confide in that promise; and when, in the hour of distress, we rise from prayer, let it be as the nobleman of Capernaum left the presence of Jesus,-with undoubting faith that our supplication is heard and accepted, and that, although the gift we ask may be denied, all needed blessings will be granted us, by the mercy of our heavenly Benefactor.

HYMN.

What power, unseen by mortal eye,
Wafted Messiah's high command,
Bade sickness from its victim fly,
And the glad friends believing stand?

Father! 'twas thine. The Saviour spoke
The word confirmed by love divine;
The bonds of fell disease he broke,
And, in his power, exalted thine.