adjourned to the open air, and he continued his address with them from three till six o'clock in the evening.

"All the Chinese declared that this appeared to them the right way, BECAUSE IT REVEALED TO THEM THE LOVE AND MERCY OF GOD."'

'Singularly interesting,' said Grosvenor.

'Yes, indeed, very instructive. And how hopeless a task would be the conversion of the hundreds of millions, if it must be achieved through first of all laying the outward evidences before them! You were asking, "Where we should be if some of these same external evidences came to be regarded as less perfect than we might desire?" of which we have a fear, however, and I had only begun to reply. But I might add, to what I have said, that we should only be where the Christian churches were at first, and before any New Testament (needing these evidences) was compiled; where they were, in fact, in the age when a Paul found some members of Christian churches refusing to recognise his apostolic claims; and, still more wonderful, a John also found even his authority rudely set at nought. And

then-'

'But-'

'Pardon me one moment. And then I suggest, thirdly, that the idea, or, rather, I would say the truth, being in the world, and having, thank God! taken pretty firm hold of the mind and heart of Christendom, can never perish. If God be love-which the moment it is propounded I see to be true, and if love is self-sacrifice-as I know it is, and every true man knows it is, and every woman knows more profoundly than any man, the story of the Cross can never really or extensively be brought into question. I believe, not merely because I find no flaw in the whole of certain outward evidence, which it takes a long time fairly to examine and weigh, seeing so many centuries separate us from the formative epoch, but from my own personal seeing of the truth.'

Grosvenor was silent; and, after a time, in which they walked on without speaking, for they had long since left the churchyard, Monkwood resumed :

"Is the "Pilgrim's Progress" one whit the less valuable because the story is not real, but only true?'

I admit the distinction between the two.'

'I sometimes think the best service the "Evidences" can ever be of is just that which the woman of Samaria rendered to the people of the city. They were induced to come to see and hear Christ for themselves, and stated the result in words worth a great deal more of pondering than they generally receive: "Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know," &c.'

6

Well, why here we are, I declare,' exclaimed Grosvenor; 'I had no idea we were so soon at the end of our walk. This is Osborne's place, and there is his wife at the gate. Come.'

And so the conversation, for that time, ended abruptly. Perhaps the reader will deem, however, that enough had been suggested by Sterling's grave to awaken thought for days to come.

Theocles.

IN TWO PARTS,

PART I.

THEOCLES, a young Greek, in his twenty-third year, stood in the court of the Temple at Jerusalem. He came thither by appointment, for there he had agreed to meet his friend and host, Ezira, a young Pharisee, the only son of an influential man in the city. The two had become acquainted in Rome, whither both had resorted, the one from Athens, and the other from the capital of Judea, for the purpose of visiting the seat of universal empire in the plenitude of her glory and majesty. Theocles had arrived in the Holy City but the evening before, and had risen early that morning, and hastened abroad to satisfy his curiosity and love of novelty by gazing upon the noble architecture of the place, and the bold and picturesque scenery by which it was surrounded. He had crossed the valley of Jehoshaphat, and ascended the Mount of Olives, from whence he had surveyed the region around as far as the eye could pierce, from the capital Ïying at his feet to the far South, where a grey mist rose from the surface of the Dead Sea. Returning thence, he had wandered in solitary reverie upon the banks of the soft-flowing Kedron,' where he would willingly have remained longer, but for the remembrance of his appointment with his friend Ezira. The shadow of the dial, however, yet wanted a hand's breadth of the hour of meeting, when he arrived, escorted by his Ethiop guide, at the appointed spot.

He was excited to admiration and awe by the near view of the magnificent structure before him. In perfect contrast with all that was so truly admirable in Western architecture, yet it seemed to his critical eye rather to suggest new principles of art than to challenge comparison with any with which he was familiar. Of the real glory of the building he knew nothing and cared nothing-not that Theocles was a stranger to religious impressions; he was, on the contrary, a true and sincere worshipper at many shrines. Thoroughly imbued with the spirit of grace, beauty, harmony, and virtue, of which the whole phalanx of gods and goddesses of the Grecian mythology were but the vehicles and the types, he was an enthusiastic devotee at every altar erected to these impersonated attributes. In the Aphrodite of his country's creed, he beheld not merely the exquisite form of maiden grace or severe and matronly beauty, but the deified presence of the all-inspiring feminine influences which exercise so mighty a sway upon the character and destinies of the world. In the Apollo, the Hermes, the Poseidon, and (greatest of gods) Zeus, the mighty son of Chronos and Rhea, he saw, not the wondrous forms alone that Phidias carved or Apelles painted, or even the hero-gods who quelled the Titans and conquered heaven, but the faintly indicated idea of a sublimer than mortal standard of wisdom, fortitude, and virtue, which it was to be the endeavour of his life more 3 B

VOL. VII.

worthily to conceive, and, as far as possible, to emulate. Call him an idolator if you will; but his worship was that of virtue in the sublimest form, and it was, further, sincere, constant, and enthusiastic. His soul revolted from the infidel professions of the Anaxagoreans, a sect of so-called philosophers, who, like many of the present day in Christian lands, sought for countenance in the pursuit of vicious practices by mocking at all religious belief. Theocles felt the throbs of something deeper than life in his inmost heart, and was seeking, though perhaps unconsciously, for a revelation of the mysteries of his spiritual being.

While this young man was gazing around him with delight at the contemplation of a structure so new to him as the Jewish Temple, he became aware that great numbers of the people were congregating on the spot, as if in expectation of some unusual event. He observed that the different parties as they arrived did not mix in an indiscriminate crowd, but formed separate groups, and talked earnestly with each other. The feelings, moreover, by which they were animated seemed by no means unanimous; some, especially the groups of the poor and meanly clad, appeared almost beside themselves with joy; others, and among them he discerned a few whom he judged to be the chief men of the city, were plainly under the influence of anger and hatred. Curious to know what powerful cause could give rise to such varied emotions, he threaded his way slowly among the different groups, and endeavoured to catch such stray words of their conversation as might yield him the information he sought. But he profited very little. The Syro-Chaldaic dialect of Judea was almost barbarous to his ears; and though he heard much, he could make out nothing intelligibly beyond the words 'Nazarene,'' Messiah,’ 'Jesus,'' healer of the sick,' the Christ'-pronounced now in rapture, now in rage and scorn.

'Surely,' said he to himself, this must be the commencement of some popular commotion;' and he began to doubt the propriety of remaining longer on the spot, being an utter stranger to all present, when he was joined by his friend, the young Pharisee. Theocles immediately assailed him with questions as to the cause and object of the present concourse. 'It is this very cause,' said Ezira,' which has prevented my accompanying you on your morning's ramble. I have been with my father to the council assembled on this very matter. There have been strange events going on in Judea while you and I have been idling at Rome. The whole country is gone mad after a low fellow who calls himself a prophet-who pretends to work miracles, to heal the sick, and even (for so I have heard) to raise the dead. It is said he will be here to-day; and doubtless it is this expectation that has brought such a concourse of ragamuffins together. But let him beware; his doom is settled, I assure you, unless he speedily moderate his pretensions. But come, let us enter the Temple; I will show you wonders.'

The two friends directed their course to the Beautiful Gate, and entered the sacred precincts. As a Pharisee, and the son of a Pharisee,

Ezira could introduce his friend to every part of the building where it might not be accounted defilement for a Gentile to tread. They spent some hours between the sacred walls; and the eager inquiries of the Greek elicited from the Pharisee much of the nature and purport of the ceremonial worship of the Jews. Strange and portentous thoughts rose in the mind of Theocles, and he resolved to search further and more at leisure into the mysteries of the Israelitish theology.

But, one thing had scandalized him-and, though not altogether without fear of giving offence, he requested an explanation of his friend. 'How comes it,' said he, 'that in a temple devoted to the worship of one invisible, but ever-present, God, your tremendous Adonai, you carry on a traffic, or allow it to be carried on? There is much of the precious metals adorning your noble shrine, but there is still more visible in the shape of money, which is constantly changing owners. Can this be for the honour of your God?'

Ezira blushed. You are too hard upon us,' he said; it is not to dishonour God or his temple that this is permitted. We receive a tithe of the gains of these merchants, and thus maintain a fund for the repair of the building. It is true there is no authority for this in our law-but we have traditions of equal force, and it is probable they

allow it.'

'Were I a priest of Adonai,' said the Greek, 'I should hardly defile my fingers with such gains. I saw a gowned grey-beard just now, cheating a countryman in changing a gold Alexander, and I would have plucked his beard for him had I not more reverence for the temple of a stranger than he for his own.'

Ezira was beginning to stammer forth some reply, when their attention was diverted by loud and continued sounds of welcome and acclamation, which every moment drew nearer and nearer. The friends hastened to the entrance of the Temple, from whence they could have a view of the proceedings. They had, however, hardly reached the portal, when they were forced back again into the ample court by the pressure of the entering crowd, consisting of persons of both sexes and all ages, evidently in the excitement of joyous exultation. They ceased their loud shouts as they entered the sacred precincts, and ranged themselves in orderly ranks, leaving commodious space for those who were to follow. A deep and expectant silence reigned for a brief moment. Then a measured, slow, but firm and stately, step was heard, and, as all eyes were turned to the portal, the Nazarene the despised and the adored-entered the Temple of the Most High. Tall, dark, and comely, in a pale, grey, seamless robe, girt around the middle, stood the Son of the Carpenter-the mystery of his hour. Upon a countenance of ineffable grandeur and grace sorrow and suffering had already done the work of age. Hunger and houselessness, and long acquaintance with grief, had channelled in deep furrows his weatherworn aspect.

This sublime figure was followed, at the distance of a few paces, by a group of Galileans, whose costume showed them to be, for the most

part, fishermen or dwellers on the coast. As he advanced towards the centre of the area, where stood the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves for sacrifice, a sudden change came over that mild countenance, and a glance of withering scorn shot from his eye. Addressing himself to a band of the traffickers in coin, who had clustered round their leader, 'Is it not written,' said he, 'that my house shall be called, of all nations, a house of prayer? But ye here made it a den of thieves.' And seizing a scourge from one of his followers, with lusty strokes, he dealt them the thiet's guerdon-blows, heavy blows; and as they, conscience-smitten, quailed beneath his vigorous arm, he caught and swung aloft in air their stalls of traffic, and dashed their sordid metal to the ground. On all that bought and sold within that hallowed shrine, he laid untiring lashes-nor ceased until the Temple of the Lord was purged of their defiling presence. Then, and not till then, all traces of anger and scorn left his countenance, where the expressions of sorrow, benignity, and love alone were wont to dwell.

Theocles had gazed upon this scene with an emotion entirely new to him, The godlike form of the desert-wanderer; the severe but winning majesty of that countenance and demeanour; the lightning flash of scorn and wrath from those orbs of seeming fire; the irresistible authority before which the daring spirit of Mammon quailed and fled; all were present in full force to the mind of the astonished Greek. With eyes riveted upon that divine shape, he greedily devoured every movement and gesture. Again to hear that voice-but once again!' Very different were the feelings of Ezira. This open outrage and assault upon the merchants, some of whom were friends and intimates of his family, stirred him to such a pitch of rage and hatred that he actually trembled with passion. Excusing himself hastily to Theocles, and saying that he must hurry to the council, he rushed from the temple to carry to his party the news of what he had witnessed.

He had hardly quitted the scene, when the voice of the Nazarene was heard in clear and sonorous, but meek and passionless tones, teaching and explaining to the listening throng the songs and prophecies of their poet-king. In language plain and simple, but with eloquence that stirred the heart-strings of his hearers, he spake as yet never man spake, in the hearing of Theocles, who, in this weather-beaten and woe-worn son of the wilderness, beheld a form infinitely surpassing all his pre-imagined incarnations of majesty, virtue, and truth. But his awe and admiration had yet more wonders to feed on. Scarcely was the brief lesson ended, when, through the open gates, a melancholy procession of the lame and blind, and palsy-stricken-of shrunken and fever wasted forms, borne in the arms of their mourning yet trusting friends, came slowly into the centre of the area, and besought, some with earnest cries, others with but imploring glances, the compassion of Him, the houseless physician, who, they nothing doubted, could restore them to the embrace of healthful life; nor was the appeal in vain. With eyes beaming benevolence, the Prophet of the people walked slowly round that circle of mortal misery-on every suffering