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 SAINT ANDREW. 237

give to each of them his respective field of labor, and they then entered upon their public ministry. Biographical brevity is characteristic of New Testament history. The record of each of the Apostles and early disciples is limited, and only elaborated in the case of Peter and Paul, one representing the circumcision, and called the " Apostle of the Circumcision," the other the uncircumcision, to whom, (according to Gal. 2 : 7,) •' the Gospel of the uncircumcision v/as com- mitted."

Andrew in his first following of Jesus, was not so constant in his attendance as to prevent him from continuing his occupation as a fisherman. He had stood with John when he bore testimony to the divinity, the humanity and the office of One among them " vvhom they knew not." He was with him at the Ford of Bethabara, when he announced : " Behold the Lamb of God ; " and when he bore record : " This is the Son of God." Aittr which Andrew " findeth his own brother Simon," saying unto him, " We have found the Messiah " When Andrew's constant presence became necessary, he was formally called by the Master and accompanied Him in liis journeyings, and was an eye and ear witness of His wonderful acts and sayings, saw His miracles, listened to His teachings, heard His discourses, and conversed freely with Him, thereby becoming thoroughly prepared for the great work which was graciously assigned to him.

In the calling to the Apostleship of Matthew, James and John, Peter and Andrew are specially and prominently mentioned, while the circumstances attending the calling of the other seven are not recorded. On account of the priority assigned to Peter, it has been supposed that he was the oldest of the Apostles ; but there are writers who consider Andrew to have been older than his brother. He is generally represented as younger. There is no scriptural authority on the subject.

St. Andrew was styled by the Cretes the " First Called." He was emphati- cally the " First Missionary," for when St. John the Baptist saluted the Saviour, Andrew followed Him, and " abode with Him that day." Immediately on being convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, he started to communicate the glad tidings to others, and persuaded them to come and see for themselves. The promptness and alacrity of the Apostle has been suggestive, for in some cities, particularly in Montreal and New York, i have read of '' Philip and Andrew Societies," whose specific work is to bring persons to the Saviour. These brotherhoods connected with local churches are active and aggressive, and are appropriately named, because Philip and Andrew early exemplified a true missionary spirit.

The names of Philip and Andrew are intimately associated with the Greeks who desired to " See Jesus," which occurred during the last days of the Saviour's ministry in the courts of the Temple, in the presence of Andrew and these Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to the feast of the Pass- over, and were called " proselytes of the gate or covenant." The Father de- clared the third time His love for the Beloved Son, by an audible voice, thus convincing the Greeks, who were to be the first fruits of the Gentiles, that Jesus was the Messiah. Andrew having been a disciple of St. John the Baptist before the advent of Jesus as a public teacher, and probably a mem- ber of the sect to which John belonged — the Essenian, a Jewish sect of mystics, ascetics, — may "account for the learning " and ability which he subsequently exhibited in his public ministry.

THE THISTLE.

The Thistle is the National emblem of Scodand, and evoked from her illus- trious bard the tribute : —

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