eth on the occasion of our Lord's
announcement of his mission.

'This day,' said Jesus, 'is this scripture fulfilled in your ears;' and
went on with his divine talk. We shall yet know, I trust, what 'the
gracious words' were 'which proceeded out of his mouth': surely some who
heard them, still remember them, for 'all bare him witness, and wondered
at' them! How did they bear him witness? Surely not alone by the
intensity of their wondering gaze! Must not the narrator mean that their
hearts bore witness to the power of his presence, that they felt the
appeal of his soul to theirs, that they said in themselves, 'Never man
spake like this man'? Must not the light of truth in his face, beheld of
such even as knew not the truth, have lifted their souls up truthward?
Was it not the something true, common to all hearts, that bore the
wondering witness to the graciousness of his words? Had not those words
found a way to the pure human, that is, the divine in the men? Was it
not therefore that they were drawn to him--all but ready to accept
him?--on their own terms, alas, not his! For a moment he seemed to them
a true messenger, but truth in him was not truth to them: had he been
what they took him for, he would have been no saviour. They were,
however, though partly by mistake, well disposed toward him, and it was
with a growing sense of being honoured by his relation to them, and the
property they had in him, that they said, 'Is not this Joseph's son?'

But the Lord knew what was in their hearts; he knew the false notion
with which they were almost ready to declare for him; he knew also the
final proof to which they were in their wisdom and prudence about to
subject him. He did not look likely to be a prophet, seeing he had
grown up among them, and had never shown any credentials: they had a
right to proof positive! They had heard of wonderful things he had done
in other places: why had they not first of all been done in _their_
sight? Who had a claim equal to theirs? who so capable as they to
pronounce judgment on his mission whether false or true: had they not
known him from childhood? His words were gracious, but words were
nothing: he must _do_ something--something wonderful! Without such
conclusive, satisfying proof, Nazareth at least would never acknowledge
him!

They were quite ready for the honour of having any true prophet, such as
it seemed not impossible the son of Joseph might turn out to be,
recognized as their