they thought it was a fig.  We told them it might be a fig, or it might be an apple; but that the object of the Almighty was to try Adam’s obedience.  They at once agreed to this; and the master of the house wisely observed, Jesus Christ came to restore to us what was lost by Adam’s transgression.  He then said, It would have been better if Adam, after his transgression, instead of hiding himself, had confessed his sin to God, and begged his forgiveness.  We all agreed that it was a natural act for man, in his fallen state, to wish to seek excuse, rather than to confess his sin and repent.  We then made some remarks on the prophecy of the Saviour in the third chapter of Genesis, and ability was given us to preach the Gospel of life and salvation.  All hearts seemed touched, and our own overflowed with gratitude.  We may in truth say, Our Heavenly Father has plucked our feet out of a horrible pit and out of the miry clay, and set them upon a rock, and put a new song into our mouth, even praise to his glorious name.  On considering afterwards our situation, we could not but behold the hand of a gracious Providence which had led us to this spot; had we attempted to go by Corinth to Athens, we should [as they afterwards learned] have been stopped by the waters, and have missed seeing this interesting people; but from hence the way was passable, and only four days’ journey by land.

After dinner we walked through the village up to the rock.  We came to a fountain where several women were washing; one of them, a young-looking person, suddenly left her companions, and with hasty step and entreating air advanced towards us, as we supposed to ask something; but she bowed her head almost to the ground, and then kissed our hands; after which she withdrew in a cheerful and diffident manner.  The reason of this salutation was, that the young woman had lately been married, and it was customary for the last bride of the village to kiss the hands of strangers.

The temple of Apollo once occupied nearly half an acre of ground:  a great many of its marble pillars are still to be seen, half buried by the plough, and corn growing over them.  About a hundred yards from this temple is the cave in the rock from whence the priestess pronounced the oracle.  Among the curiosities of this wonderful place, the tombs in the rocks are not the least remarkable.  They are built of the most beautiful white marble; the entrance is by a large archway, and round the circle are several recesses in the stone, one above another, where the dead had evidently been deposited.  They illustrate the history of the maniac dwelling among the tombs (Mark v. 3.), for these caves formed a perfect sort of house in which persons might dwell.

8_th_.—­We were not able to leave Delphi on account of the high wind with some rain.  In the evening we again enjoyed our Scripture reading on the hearth.  We continued the book of Genesis, and our host inquired whether those who died before the birth of the Saviour were lost.  He was informed they were saved through faith in the promise.  He had supposed they went into hell, and that when Christ came he released them.  We asked him if Enoch, who walked with God and was translated, could have been sent to hell.  Of this he knew nothing, never having read the Scriptures.