made himself of no reputation; and therefore the Jews slighted him, and disowned him. The Turks mock us at this day with our crucified God: Oh! say they, ye worship a crucified God; and some of the heathens said, they would not believe in a hanged God. Oh! blessed Jesus, thus art thou reproached and despised by the unbelieving world, because thou camest poorly, and diedst shamefully for our sins. They who despise the death of the Lamb, shall surely feel the wrath of the Lamb. They who turn away their ears from hearing Christ's voice now, Christ will turn away his ear from hearing their cries then. Christ is a pearl, whosoever hath him can never be poor, and whosoever wants him can never be rich; did but men see all in this pearl of price, then they would sell all for it.

PEARL VI.

CHRIST CRUCIFIED.

UR Saviour is thus spoken of by Josephus the Jewish historian :-" Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works-a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."

This corroboration of Scripture history is important, coming from such a quarter, though it is said by some that the above passage is not to be found in the original narration. Josephus was a learned Jew, who lived in the time of our Saviour. His history is a very instructive and interesting narrative, and forms a most excellent companion to the Bible, and should be read by every one who wishes to acquire a knowledge of the old Jewish chronicles—a knowledge, be it remembered, which is indispensable to the right understanding of many passages in Scripture. Josephus' his