(Jerusalem)

Over a mostly level plain, with a very rare sprinkling of stunted vegetation, we were about an hour and a half in reaching the traditional place of the baptism of Jesus. On our right, we could trace the winding course of the river, from the strip of verdure, and small trees among which it flows, though we could not see the river itself.
On our left, the plain was broad, terminating in the abrupt, light-gray hills of Judea, overlooking the site of ancient Jericho. It was not till we came almost to the brink of the Jordan, that we got a glimpse of its swiftly flowing ad slightly turbid waters. O favored eyes! O hallowed moment! Can the emotions awakened by such a sight be described? And this is the Jordan— the sacred river, flowing as of old— in whose streams and on whose banks such scenes of wonderful interest have transpired! And here it rolls still, graceful in its seep, musical in its flow, and every murmer of its waters seems to repeat and confirm the events of Bible history. O sweet and quiet spot for sacred meditation! Here let me sit down by this tree on this bank, and watch the rushing stream, and recall the past!
After reading passages of scripture relating to the place, I wandered up and down the bank, gathering a few moments to take home. Just above there was a bend in the river to the right and a considerable growth of trees and shrubbery on the banks not far below, as well as above, presented a view of the river to any great extent. The width of the Jordan here I judged to be twenty yards or more, and its depth was probably ten feet. This is the traditional place of our Saviour’s baptism, the passage of the Israelites and the further miraculous divining of the river by Elijah and Elisha. -------------------------------------------------
How sacred, how solemn is such a place! How thrilling, how divine its associations! Jesus was here— here he was baptized— here the heavens opened at the scene. Here was heard the approving voice of the Father, and her the Spirit Dove came down upon the Lamb of God. The devout tourist would scarcely leave such a spot before bathing in the hallowed river. Si I felt as thrice I bowed my head in the Jordan and heard the murmer of its waters above me.
Had my visit to the Jordan been a few weeks later, at the Greek Easter, I might have witnessed that singular and exciting