July 11

to serve the younger, in her impatience had recourse to injustice and lies to accelerate the event. He that believeth maketh not haste. He remembers how long he kept God waiting for him. He knows that the Lord's time is the best time; that every thing is beautiful in its season; that fruit is most wholesome and rich when it is fully ripe. He is also sure that he cannot wait in vain—for they shall not be ashamed that wait for him. For

No uncertainty attends the final accomplishment of his word. This Abraham found: "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." This the Jews found. At the end of four hundred and thirty years they were to leave the house of bondage: "And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." He also engaged to give them Canaan for an inheritance. And therefore whatever difficulties opposed their passage and their entrance, it was at last acknowledged, "Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation." "Behold," says Joshua, "this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." Solomon also at the dedication of the temple bore the same testimony to the veracity of God: "Thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day."

Let us then be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Let us remember that all his promises are yea and amen in Christ Jesus; and that every thing in his nature and in his character is a pledge for the execution. "The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry"—And bring with it the triumph and the song; "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

JULY 11.—"When THOU WAST UNDER THE FIG TREE, I saw thee."—John 1:49.

BEBOLD here THE RETIRED ISRAELITE—"Thou wast under the fig tree."

It is spoken of Nathanael. Some have contended that he was the same with Bartholomew. Others, with less plausibility, have supposed that he was the bridegroom of the marriage at Cana in Galilee. He is once mentioned, along with some of the disciples, at the sea of Tyberias, in the close of this Gospel. With this exception, all we know of him is from the chapter before us. Philip had the honour of introducing him to the Son of God: "Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael in reply said unto him, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." His objection shows that his knowledge was small, and his prejudices vulgar. But his compliance proved that he was open

to conviction, and willing to examine. And this accords with the character given of him by our Lord. "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" By calling him an Israelite he distinguished him from other nations, and by calling him an Israelite indeed he distinguished him from his own nation: for all were not Israel who were of Israel. He was a Jew inwardly, whose circumcision was that of the heart in the spirit. He was not free from infirmity, but devoid of hypocrisy, and upright before God and man. Conscious that he had never been with Jesus, he asks with surprise, "Whence knowest thou me?" And Jesus answered, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree."

The fig tree was the place of his retreat. It was probably in a garden, forming by its foliage a kind of natural alcove. It was chosen by Nathanael, not only because its large leaves would screen him from the rays of the sun, but conceal him from human inspection. For he wished to be alone. We may be alone in company. Who has not endured the solitariness of being with persons of no congeniality with their own views and feelings, who have checked and chilled every favourite sentiment, and rendered every attempt to introduce pious discourse like putting a tender exotic plant out into the frost and snow? But through desire, a man having separated himself seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. The place is not always optional. The poor are to be pitied who have no conveniency for retirement; and they are still more to be pitied who, by reductions in life, have been deprived of the accommodations they once enjoyed—If they are Christians, there is nothing they will so much feel themselves. But where it is optional, the place is indifferent, any farther than it may usefully or injuriously affect us as to the object of our withdrawing. Many therefore prefer the apartment of a room. But others, instead of being distracted and diverted when abroad, are aided and impressed; their thoughts are quickened, their fancy is enlivened by the displays of wisdom, power, and goodness all around them; and they can easily rise from things seen and temporal to those which are unseen and eternal—They love the fig tree; and the wood, the corn-field, the meadow, and the garden will bear witness to their devotion. Isaac was in the field at evening tide to meditate; and Peter was praying on the house-top.

But what was Nathanael doing under the fig tree? It was something significant, and which was instantly recalled. There are facts in the lives of all which are easily susceptible of remembrance. Some of them may be awful; and only a hint given, or a circumstance mentioned, will call up the colour in the cheek, or excite a pang in the conscience. Such to the seduced must be any reference to the place of allurement and ruin; and to the murderer the place stained with blood. But to pious minds there are spots delightfully and sacredly interesting, because they have been no other than the house of God and the gate of heaven. Such was Beth-el to Jacob, and the hill Mizar to David, and the river of Chebar to Ezekiel, and Patmos to John, and the fig tree to Nathanael. Though we know not in particular what was Nathanael's engagement, it was obviously something of a religious nature. He was probably reading