Trinity, etc. Trinitarian views have also been suspected in the significance attached to

the number "three" by a Galilean teacher of the third century, in this wise: "Blessed be

God, who has given the three laws (the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa)

to a people composed of three classes (Priests, Levites, and laity), through him who was

the youngest of three (Miriam, Aaron, and Moses), on the third day (of their

separation--Exo 19:16), and in the third month." There is yet another saying of a

Galilean Rabbi, referring to the resurrection, which, although far from clear, may bear a

Christian application. Finally, the Midrash applies the expression, "The sinner shall be

taken by her" (Eccl 7:26), either to the above-named Christian Rabbi Jacob, or to

Christians generally, or even to Capernaum, with evident reference to the spread of

Christianity there. We cannot here pursue this very interesting subject farther than to

say, that we find indications of Jewish Christians having endeavoured to introduce their

views while leading the public devotions of the Synagogue, and even of contact with

the immoral heretical sect of the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:15).

Indeed, what we know of the Galileans would quite prepare us for expecting, that the

gospel should have received at least a ready hearing among many of them. It was not

only, that Galilee was the great scene of our Lord's working and teaching, and the home

of His first disciples and apostles; nor yet that the frequent intercourse with strangers

must have tended to remove narrow prejudices, while the contempt of the Rabbinists

would loosen attachment to the strictest Pharisaism; but, as the character of the people

is described to us by Josephus, and even by the Rabbis, they seem to have been a

warm-hearted, impulsive, generous race--intensely national in the best sense, active,

not given to idle speculations or wire -drawn logico-theological distinctions, but

conscientious and earnest. The Rabbis detail certain theological differences between

Galilee and Judaea. Without here mentioning them, we have no hesitation in saying, that

they show more earnest practical piety and strictness of life, and less adherence to

those Pharisaical distinctions which so often made void the law. The Talmud, on the

other hand, charges the Galileans with neglecting traditionalism; learning from one

teacher, then from another (perhaps because they had only wandering Rabbis, not fixed

academies); and with being accordingly unable to rise to the heights of Rabbinical

distinctions and explanations. That their hot blood made them rather quarrelsome, and

that they lived in a chronic state of rebellion against Rome, we gather not only from

Josephus, but even from the New Testament (Luke 13:2; Acts 5:37). Their mal-

pronunciation of Hebrew, or rather their inability properly to pronounce the gutturals,

formed a constant subject of witticism and reproach, so current that even the servants in

the High Priest's palace could turn round upon Peter, and say, "Surely thou also art one

of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee" (Matt 26:73)--a remark this, by the way, which

illustrates the fact that the language commonly used at the time of Christ in Palestine

was Aramaean, not Greek. Josephus describes the Galileans as hard -working, manly, and

brave; and even the Talmud admits (Jer. Cheth. iv. 14) that they cared more for honour

than for money.

But the district in Galilee to which the mind ever reverts, is that around the shores of its

populousness, have been often described. The Rabbis derive the name of Gennesaret

either from a harp --because the fruits of its shores were as sweet as is the sound of a

harp --or else explain it to mean "the gardens of the princes," from the beautiful villas

and gardens around.

But we think chiefly not of those fertile fields and orchards, nor of the deep blue of the

lake, enclosed between hills, nor of the busy towns, nor of the white sails spread on its

waters --but of Him, Whose feet trod its shores; Who taught, and worked, and p rayed

there for us sinners; Who walked its waters and calmed its storms, and Who even after

His resurrection held there sweet converse with His disciples; nay, Whose last words

on earth, spoken from thence, come to us with peculiar significance and application, as

in these days we look on the disturbing elements in the world around: "What is that to

thee? Follow thou Me" (John 21:22).