prophetic intimation of the destiny which was in store for James and John, the actual subsequent history of those two great Saints. More remarkable yet is the manner in which the express prediction was fulfilled of CHRIST'S Cup to be tasted, and CHRIST's bloody Baptism to be experienced, by them in their own persons. In the one case, (that of the Evangelist,) the period of service was prolonged far beyond the term of life usually allotted to Man. In purpose and will, indeed, St. John was a Martyr; but he went to the grave, eventually, in peace. In the other case, (that of St. James,) an abrupt termination of his hopes and fears, his labours in the cause of the Gospel and of CHRIST, was occasioned by the civil sword. His conspicuous zeal provoked the rage of the first royal persecutor of the Church; so that he drank literally of his Divine Master's Cup, and by the sword of Herod Agrippa was baptized with His baptism of blood. He was the first of the Apostles to reach the Heavenly goal, as St. John was the last. And the fate of this pair of Brethren seems to shew that there are various modes of drinking the Cup of CHRIST, and being baptized even with that baptism with which He was finally baptized.' But the history of St. James, like that of the

Forerunner, chiefly forces upon us the reflexion that the race of GoD's Saints is not to be estimated by an ordinary human standard. CHRIST has a work for each to do; and, (if we may reverently say it,) as He Himself finished the Great Work of the New Creation in three short years, it may very well happen that at the end of a far shorter period it may please Him to dispense with the services of any of His faithful soldiers, and to take them to Himself.

And this thought may perhaps be transferred, without violence, to the annals of our private experience; and furnish us with a clue, (may we not add, with a topic of consolation?) under many a mysterious bereavement. It seems to us strange, and it surely is a marvel, that men and women in their prime, or persons approaching the period of maturity, or young children, or little creatures in their tender infancy, that these should be often abruptly snatched away; taken, when they leave behind them desolate hearts, and streaming eyes; perhaps empty households, and the ruined hopes of a whole family. That these dispensations are often intended as chastisements to the survivors, messages of Love, sent to those who, it may be, would heed no other message,—this we are at all times ready

enough to admit. Shall we not sometimes further open our hearts to the comfortable thought that the race, however brief, may yet have been fully run? that the spirit may have been perfected, although in an incredibly short space of time? that the allotted work may have been accomplished, although the bud of life has scarcely yet expanded into a blossom? and that wondering Angels may have already carried away the subject of so many tears to the enjoyment of an imperishable crown?

St. Bartholomew the Apostle.

GUILELESSNESS.

ST. JOHN i. 47.

JESUS Saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile !

THERE can be little or no doubt that the Apostle whom the three first Evangelists call Bartholomew, is the same person whom St. John mentions by the name of Nathanael. That St. John, in the last seven verses of his opening chapter, is describing the call of an Apostle, cannot well be questioned; and the manner in which he introduces the same Nathanael at the close of his Gospel, is enough to prove that he was one of the Twelve. It will be found that he must perforce have been either St. Simon or St. Bartholomew; and, (as already observed,) there can be little doubt that he was the latter of these two. It would have been agreeable to find this conjecture supported by the appointed service for the day, by the Collect, the Epistle, or the Gospel for the present Festival: but the Church

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is silent, and we are left to interpret her silence in whatever way we please.

Bartholomew, then, seems to have been the sixth person who was added to the Apostolic Body, having been brought into our SAVIOUR'S presence by Philip. He was of Cana of Galilee"; and, from the manner of his introduction, he was evidently known to Philip already, though Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.' 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. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. JESUS Saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest Thou me? JESUS answered and said unto Him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of GOD; Thou art the King of Israel. JESUS answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree,

St. John xxi. 2.