PATMOS.

James was slain by Herod, as we
read before. The other James,
called “the Less,” Andrew, Thom-
as, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Simon, Jude, and Matthias, were
put to death at different places, and
in different ways. James the Less
wrote an epistle; so also did Jude.

Thomas, it is supposed, went as
far as Persia and India, and preach-
ed to the heathens in those countries;

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and was, at last, put to death by the
idolatrous Brahmins, or priests of
India. Yet God blessed the labors
of His faithful servant and martyr,
even long after hisdeath. Churches
were formed among the wild moun-
tains of India; and Christians are
still found there, who, it is thought,
are descended from those first con-
verted by the preaching of Thomas.

CCCLXLI.

PATMOS.

HE apostle who lived the
longest was John, “the
disciple whom Jesus loy-
ed.” He was not put to
death, as the others were ;

but he was cruelly persecuted, and

at last sent to the isle called Patmos,
far away from his country and his
friends. But John had the peace
of God in his heart, and therefore
he could be contented and happy
even in a desert island.

One Lord’s day, the first day of

 

the week, the Christian Sabbath,-

John was sitting alone, thinking on
heavenly things. He could not go
now to the house of God, and wor-
ship there with His people: but
John could still keep the Sabbath
in his own heart ;—“ he was in the
Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Suddenly

he heard behind him a great voice,
like the sound of a trumpet; and, -

turning round, he saw standing by
him “one like unto the Son of

man.” It was the Lord Jesus
Christ himself, who had come to
comfort His servant John; but He
did not now look as He had done
when He was on earth, as “a man
of sorrows,” when John saw him
suffering in the garden of Gethse-
mane, and on the cross of Calvary.
He appeared now in glory. “ His
head and His hairs were white lke
wool, as white as snow; and His
eyes were as a flame of fire; and
His feet like unto fine brass; and
His voice as the sound of many
waters; and His countenance
was as the sun shineth in his
strength.” The sight was too
bright and glorious for John to
bear, and he fell at His feet as
dead; as he had done once before,
when Jesus appeared in glory at His
transfiguration. But Jesus laid His
hand on John, and said, “ Fear not;
I am the first and the last : I am He
that liveth and was dead; and be-