The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-28

mountain, here bursts forth the great
fountain of Jordan. one Of the largest
single springs in the world "a river fun
grown at birth. On little knoll close
by the mighty fountain. once
stood the temple Of Dan. with his
golden calf, the centre OF the idolatrous
worship Of the northern tribes. Park
like glades, studded with noble oaks,
spread on both sides Of the wide valley
which slopes down to the plain Of .Ior-
dan. But il was not on this account
that tho place is mentioned. Ii was the
northern limit Of our Lord Is journey
ings, just on the frontier of the land Of
isreal. AT Cesarea Phillippi they were
IN one Of the holy places OF classical
psganism. In a lovely glen. where
magnificent streams burst from the
foot Of lofty cliffs everywhere over
hung. with luxuriant foliage. the
Greeks had cOnsecrated a grottO to
the worship Of their rustic god
Pan. Alongside Of this Gentle city
had sprung up. named after the heaihen
divinity Paneas.-a name which 10 still
retains. But Herod had built a sumptu-
GUS temple; and Philip the tetrarch.
who ruled it at this time. had bcauii-
fed and enlarged IL and changed it,
name TO C@sarea Phillippi, combining
hattery to his suzerain with the en-
deavor to preserve his own memory.
High up on the face OF the enclosing
cliff was many sculpture and tablet
deeply chiseled. which remains in tact
to this day. carved M honor Of the deity
of the place and his liccntious
rites. These rock-hewn carvings must
have caught the eye Of the Lord and
his disciples as they passed up toward
the city, above which is the probable
scene of the TRANSPORTATION. And per-
haps he had them in view when. think
ing Of a far more imperi.hable rock.
be said to Peter, Upon this rock Will
build my church. For our rock is not
as theirs The Master and bis disciple
were mere standing on the very border
line of Judaism and Paganism. They
looked south On the land Of Nap,hali.
then studded with synagogues. Bee
meath them, where tie waters Of
Paneas joined the Jordan were
the dcsolate ruins, which recorded
the former apostacy Of the lsraeite
kingdom. Behind them were the gor-
geous buildings which illustrated iho
TWO most dcbasiug extremes of the sen-
suous idolatry Of the Greek and Roman
world: substituting ON the one hand
for the worship Of the Eternal Power
and Godhead the maicralistic worsllp
Of nature in It's lowest form and on ths
other hand, prostitulins the humau
conscience to the purposes of q iyrann'-
cal aud brutal government. but
around our5 Lord stood the germ
of the living Cnurch-tbst ht
tie band which represented the
Israel from whom Chm came. 800 i-o
lated and lonely race. Alone. too. boo
their strong faith in coming Dclir-
orer. who should overthrow I'D that
mighty fabric Of ilolary- "a faith
which. 10 those who were aliens nom
their commonwealth. seemed tne MOST
crazy Of dreams. I'm such a spot and
amid such surroundings does the Lord
Jesus elicit definitely for The first timc.
the emphatic declaration. THOU arc the
Christ" As though he had in Dds
mind the wants and hopes Of tie
,a4i0uo races OF mankind which he
aiOiic 1Ouits nt,et. un tnnt lt'ntifi sl"-
he would break down the middle wall
Of partition between jew and Gentle.
Here ne unveiled the power which
should fee men 5 conscience from tlc
thrall Of pagan superstition and sensu-
alitv. Here he told how the hopes %
oppressed and doVnca-t Israel should
be fulfilled. while all alko should in
the answer to the great question find
light and peace and freedom.