The  Baptist  haviag  made  this  public  declaration,  the  Messiah
left  Bethabara,  but  returned  the  day  fullowing,  and  John,  hap-
pening to  stand  «rith  two  of  his  followers  on  the  bank  •  of  the
river  Jordan,  pointing  to  him  as  he  passed,  and  in  a  pions  rap-
ture, rjppeated  what  he  had  addressed  to  the  multitude  the
preceding  day,  '*  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God."  It  is  hence
imagined,  that  these  two  disciples,  or  followers  of  the  Baptist,
were  absent  at  the  time  of  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  for
that  reason  this  method  was  taken  of  pointing  out  to  them  the
venerable  person  of  the  promised  Redeemer  of  the  world.
Animated  with  an  ardent  desire  of  hearing,  as  well  as  seeing
this  extraordinary  person,  they  left  John  and  followed  Jesus,
who,  conscious  of  their  design,  turned  about,  and,  with  the.
utmost  affability,  gave  them  an  invitation  to  the  place  of  his
residence.  The  Evangelist  John  informs  us,  that  one  of  these
disciples  was  Andrew,  the  brother  of  Simon  Peter ;  and  it  is
conjectured,  from  his  silence,  that  himself  was  the  other  ;  for  it  is
remarkable,  that  in  his  writings  he  studiously  concealed  his  own
name.  Be  that  as  it  will,  it  is  abundautly  evident,  that  the
testimony  of  the  Bagtist,  added  to  the  tokens  he  had  from  the
blessed  Jesus,  in  the  course  of  his  converse  with  him,  amply
satisfied  Andrew  that  he  was  indeed  the  promised  Messiah,  the
Saviour  and  Redeemer  of  lost  and  perishing  sinners.
