the charnel-house, and daily conversing with the bones and skulls of dead men, at last become hardened, and of all mortals are the least apprehensive of their mortality? Or, rather, are we affectedly ignorant; and do we wilfully put the evil day far from us? Whatever the cause be, the effect is sadly visible.-Bp. Bull.

PRAYER A PRECEPT TO ACTION.-Every petition to God is a precept to man; and when, in your litanies, you pray to be delivered from malice and hypocrisy, from pride and envy, from fornication and every deadly sin; all that is but a line of duty, and tells us we must never consent to an act of pride or a thought of envy, to a temptation of uncleanness or the besmearing or evil-paintings of hypocrisy. But we, when we pray against a sin, think we have done enough; and if we ask for grace, suppose there is no more required. Now prayer is an instrument of help, a procuring auxiliaries of God, that we may do our duty; and why should we ask for help, if we ourselves be not bound to do the thing? Look not, therefore, upon your prayers as a short method of ease and salvation, but as a perpetual monition of duty; and by what we require of God, we see what he requires of us; and if you want a system or collective body of holy precepts, you need no more but your prayer-book; and if you look upon them first as duties, then as prayers- that is, things fit to be desired, and fit to be laboured for,your prayers will be much more useful; not so often vain, not so subject to illusion, not so destitute of effect, or so failing of the promises.-Bishop Taylor.

THE BELIEVER'S ONLY REST.-If you are a child of God, wherever you propose to nestle, there your heavenly Father will plant a thorn, until you are driven, like a bird from spray to spray, and from leaf to leaf, and taught by painful experience, that God, and God alone, is from everlasting to everlasting the "dwelling-place" of his people.-Rev. H. Blunt.

CHRISTIANITY.-) -It would be a deplorable consideration indeed, if the great and important points of Christianity, those upon which men's eternal salvation depend, could not be judged of without learning, or were to be determined for men not by their own capacities, but by the decisions of others called learned men, who are constantly differing and wrangling with one another.-Bp. Horsley.

Poetry.

LAYS OF PALESTINE.-No. III.

BY T. G. NICHOLAS.

(For the Church of England Magazine.) "I lift up my soul unto thee."-Ps. cxliii. 8. WHEN in the kindling eastern sky

The radiant hues of morning shine, And earth's rich beauties testify

The hand that fashion'd them divine,— Ruler from all eternity,

I lift my heart, great God, to thee,
When 'neath the noonbeam's sultry ray

The herdsmen seek some shadowy nook, And flocks in sportive gambol play

Where freshly winds some purling brook Near woodland bower or leafy tree,I lift mine heart, O God, to thee. When mid the golden clouds of heaven The sun sinks gloriously to rest; When seeks the herd its fold at even, The turtle-dove its balmy nest; When day's declining shadows flee, I lift mine heart, O God, to thee,

When fond affection's ties are riven; When joys depart, and mercy's rod Compels, from each vain idol driven,

My wayward soul to own its God; When sorrow bows the suppliant knee, My chasten'd spirit turns to thee.

And when night's veil doth shroud the skies,
And all this darken'd world beneath,
When oft a thought of thee will rise,
Who dost sustain my fleeting breath,→→
Ruler from all eternity,

My soul adoring turns to thee,

THE SACRAMENT.

BY JAMES EDMESTON. (For the Church of England Magazine.)

As Salem's king the patriarch met

Returning with the spoil,

And bread and wine before him set,
Refreshment from his toil;

So in his courts, upon his day,
And at his table spread,
The Saviour meets us on our way
With sacred wine and bread,

The patriarch, wearied with the fight,

His sinking strength restor'd;
And we would seek new life and light,
And victory through our Lord.
Melchisedec the patriarch bless'd;

And, O thou Priest divine,
Upon our hearts thy blessing rest,
And consecrate us thine!
Homerton.

PRAY FOR YOUR QUEEN.

(For the Church of England Magazine.)

"Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant her in health and wealth long to live; . . . and, finally, after this life, may she attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."-Liturgy.

PRAY for your Queen: upon your sovereign's brow
Youth lingers still, nor has experience there
Written her duties in the lines of care;
The hand that holds fair England's sceptre now
Is but a gentle maiden's; can it clasp
That mighty symbol with a steady grasp ?
Dark clouds are louring o'er our sunny sky;
If they should gather, could that fragile form
"Ride on the whirlwind and direct the storm?"
Wisdom, strength, energy, are from on high;
Wouldst thou enrich her with these blessings?
Pray:

One reigns above whom heaven and earth obey.
Pray for your Queen: her's is a woman's heart,
And woman's perils lurk around her way;
Pleasure may lead her heedless steps astray,
Or flattery soothe when conscience wings its dart.
Love, that sweet well-spring of domestic joy,
Scarce rises in a court without alloy;

And woman's sorrows may be her's to share:
Sunshine has beamed upon her path thus far,
But this bright scene one sudden storm would mar,
And England's rose might droop, though now so fair.
Say, wouldst thou shield her from these perils ?
Pray:

Strength shall be granted equal to her day.
Pray for your Queen: for an immortal soul
Is shrin'd within that bosom. Could we see
Time by the brightness of eternity,
A shade across life's pageantry would roll ;

Then we should know how perilous is power,
Not bounded by the limits of life's hour:
Its deeds are stamp'd on history's open page;
Nor there alone--a tablet is on high,
Before the Almighty's pure and holy eye;
That record fades not by the touch of age,

And she must hear its witness. Christian, pray,
That joy be written there in heaven's bright ray.

Miscellaneous.

PALENQUE. Among the remarkable monuments of antiquity on the American continent, are the ruins of Palenque, in the republic of Guatemala, the existence of which is but little known. About the middle of the last century the ruins of an ancient city, which were spread over an area of great extent, were discovered in the vicinity of the town of Palenque, in the province of Ciudad Real de Chiapa. They were evidently of high antiquity, many centuries antecedent to the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. These extensive and remarkable ruins were subjects of much discussion and learned speculation at the time of their discovery, and at length attracted the attention of the Spanish government. In the year 1776, a royal order was issued to Antonio del Roi, to proceed to the spot, and make a full and minute examination of these interest

ing monuments of the art and labour of other times. In May 1786, Del Roi repaired to Palenque, taking with him a number of labourers, provided with implements to make the necessary excavations and examinations. "By dint of perseverance," says he, "I effected all that was necessary, so that ultimately there remained neither a window or doorway blocked up, a partition that was not thrown down, nor room, corridor, court, tower, or subterranean passage, in which excavations were not effected from two to three yards in depth." These ruins are called by the Spaniards Casas de Piedras (stone houses), and are situated on a plain at the base of a high mountain, and extend from east to west between seven and eight leagues; but their breadth is by no means equal to their length, being little more than half a league in width, where they terminate towards the river Micol, which winds around the base of the mountain. The situation appears to have been well chosen, as the climate is described as being beautiful, the soil fertile, and capable of producing in great abundance every thing to satisfy the wants of man. The city probably

commanded other resources to enable it to maintain as great a population as seems to be indicated by its extent. Del Roi gives the following description of the largest of the mass of buildings, which stands on a mound twenty yards high, and is surrounded by other edifices-namely, five to the northward, four to the southward, one to the south-west, and three to the eastward; while in all directions the fragments of other fallen buildings are to be seen extending along the mountain. "The interior of the large building is in a style of architecture strongly resembling the Gothic, and from its rude and massy construction,

promises a great durability. The entrance is on the eastern side, by a portico or corridor thirty-six yards in length, and three in breadth, supported by plain rectangular pillars, without either bases or pedestals, upon which there are smooth square stones of more than a foot in thickness, forming an architrave, while on the exterior superficies are species of stucco shields; over these stones there is another plain rectangular block five feet long and six broad, extending over two of the pillars. Medallions or compartments in stucco, containing different devices of the same material, appear as decorations to the chambers; and it is presumable, from the vestiges of the hands which can still be traced, that they were busts of a series of kings or lords to whom the natives were subject. Between the medallions there is a range of windows like niches, passing from one end of the wall to the other, some of them in the form of a Greek cross. Beyond this corridor is a square court, entered by a flight of seven steps; the north side is entirely in ruins, but sufficient traces of them remain to shew that it once had a corridor and chamber similar to those on the eastern side, and which continued entirely along the several angles. The south side has four small chambers, with no other ornament than one or two little windows like those already described. The western side is correspondent to its opposite in all respects but in the variety of expression of the figures in stucco; these are much more rude and ridiculous than the others, and can only be attributed to most uncultivated Indian capacity. The device is a sort of grotesque mask with a crown and long beard like that of a goat, under which are two Greek crosses. It is by no means improbable that these fantastic forms, and others equally whimsical, were the delineations of some of their deities, to whom they paid an idolatrous worship consistent with their false belief and barbarous customs."-British Gazette.

HEARERS AND DOERS. I remember our country. man Bromeard tells us of one, who, meeting his neighbour coming out of church, asked him, "What! is the sermon done?" "Done!" said the other, "no; it is said, it is ended, but it is not so soon done." And,

surely, so it is with us; we have good store of sermons said, but we have only a few that are done; and one sermon done is worth a thousand said and heard; for "not the hearers of the law, but the doers blessed are ye if ye do them.”—Bp. Hall. of it, are justified: and if ye know these things,

EGYPTIAN COLUMNS.-The pillar of Pompey, near Alexandria, is a remarkable object, and attracts much attention, which is attributed by some to Cæsar; by others to Alexander the Great, and Adrian. We find in Scripture mention made of columns (Gen. xxviii. 18, 22; Deut. xxvii. 4; Josh. viii. 32; Judges, ix. 6); and that they were also set up sometimes as sepulchral pillars (Gen. xxxv. 20; 2 Sam. xviii. 18), or trophies (1 Kings, vii. 18-21; 1 Chron. xxii. 15; Is. xix. 19), and defence (Jer. i. 18); also as witnesses to covenants (Josh. xxiv. 27); and were, further, marks of the Divine vengeance (Gen. xix. 26). They remind us also of the remark of the wise man, in treating of the doctrine of wisdom, who has beautifully observed, that in building her house she hath hewn out her own pillars (Prov. ix. 1); also of Joash, king of Judah, standing by a pillar, when admitted to the throne of his ancestors (2 Kings, xi. 14); and of one of his successors, when he made a covenant before the Lord.- Travels in Egypt, by W. Rae Wilson, Esq.

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THE BELIEVER'S PEACE.

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II.

THE Scriptures abound with many instances of the operation of the peace occasioned by the felt presence of God in individual cases. It was shewn by the three Israelites, when threatened by the king of Babylon that they should" be cast into a burning fiery furnace," in case they refused to "fall down and worship the golden image that the king had set up." The language of their faith was-"We are not careful to answer thee in this matter; our God whom we serve is able, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king." David is an example of one in whose heart this peace ruled. Those that troubled him were increased. Many are they," he says, "that rise up against me." But God is a "shield for him," the strength of his life." In this he is confident, and so he exultingly exclaims -"I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about" (Ps. iii.). It appears from the 11th Psalm, that in some season of imminent peril, the friends of David advised him to fly, or to retire from the scene of danger; they describe his situation, and the probable effect of the exertions of his enemies. We here again trace the operation of the peace produced by confidence in God. "In the Lord put I my trust: if he be for me, who can be against me?" And he looks from the dark and tumultuous occurrences around him to that God who would maintain his cause, and would order all things for his good. "The Lord is in his holy temple: the Lord's seat is in heaven." We may see the peace which confidence in God inspires, in Psalm

VOL. VII.-NO. CXC.

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PRICE 1d.

Ivi. 4-11. The Psalmist expresses his trust in God, and he immediately assures us that he will not fear what man could do unto him. And on another occasion of alarm, the same tranquillity of mind is beautifully evident; his peace arises from the same cause, namely, trust in God. And here we see that this peace cannot belong to any other but to those who are the children of God in sincerity and truth; for how can the wicked and ungodly call upon God as their "refuge and strength," as a very present help in trouble?" Such language, adopt it as they may "in the time of wealth" and prosperity, can never be experimentally enjoyed by them "in the time of tribulation, in the hour of death, or in the day of judgment." It will then be seen, that the faith and confidence of professors, "having no root, will wither away." This, however, was not the case with the Psalmist; for it was "out of the depths that he cried unto" God: he realised the truth that God was his "refuge;" and this is the reason why he so confidently asserts, that "though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, and though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, yet we will not fear: the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (Ps. xlvi.). We have also another instance in the conduct of Joshua and Caleb (Num. xiv.). They must have been fully aware of the obstacles that lay in their road; they must have anticipated the opposition they would probably experience from the inhabitants of those lands through which they would pass,-a difficulty which must have been more apparent

U

when they contrasted the situation of their enemies with their own. The sanguine expectations which the very murmurers had formed of a land flowing with milk and honey were indeed realised: such were their representations to Moses; but they could not proceed very far in the description of their search, without employing the aid of nature's vocabulary; and thus they add another instance to their frequent lack of faith. "Nevertheless," say they," the people be strong; the cities are walled, and very great; and, moreover, we saw the children of Anak there a people so great, that we were in their sight as grasshoppers." Now Joshua and Caleb were exposed to the contaminating influence of the faithless conversation of their companions; but they were not made "afraid" by their "evil tidings, for their hearts stood fast and believed in the Lord." "The Lord," they said at the close of their remonstrance, "is with us: fear not." St. Paul too, "not knowing the things that would befall him, save that in every city bonds and afflictions abided him," could yet say, "none of these things move me" (Acts, xx. 24).

From a review, then, of a few of the individual instances which the Scriptures exhibit of this peace, "which passeth all understanding," we may see the truth; and God grant that we may each experience, that "they that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as Mount Sion, which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever" (Ps. cxxv. 1).

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Peace is enumerated among the fruits of the Spirit; it comes from God, and therefore we can never obtain it, unless we seek it in the appointed way, to which a promise of success is prefixed. The duty is, a firm reliance upon God; and the promise is, that he will be kept in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on God, because he trusteth in him" (Is. xxvi. 3). The Psalmist tells us, that "great is the peace they have who love God's law;" for it is by searching the Scriptures that we become acquainted with our own history and condition, and with the character and attributes of Him, whom to know is life eternal. It is through the Bible alone, that we can obtain that "knowledge of God and of Jesus," which "multiplies peace." And while we behold the dismay of the ungodly in the day of visitation and desolation, not knowing what to "do," or to whom "to flee" for help, we may also see and take comfort from the position of the righteous. They too are represented as neglected, having no man that would know them-their refuge failing them, and having no man to care for their souls: but here we see the contrast; for the Christian feels the comfort of that "knowledge" by which he cries unto

the Lord, and claims him as his " refuge," his "portion," and his "strong-hold, whereunto he may always resort." "The Scriptures," moreover, "testify of Jesus;" of Him who has broken down the wall of partition, and thus making peace with God, and bestowing it on all those that believe and look unto him, that their sins may be forgiven and blotted out. The feeling of our corruption, and inability to please God, is removed by the righteousness which Christ has brought in by the Gospel, and by which we have peace, quietness, and assurance for ever." The Christian knows his own weakness, and is conscious that he is not able even to think aright; and therefore, if he has been led in any measure to see "the exceeding sinfulness of sin;" if he feel in the least degree his infinite obligations to the Redeemer; if he possess the slightest portion of love and gratitude, he is convinced that it is of God, and he also knows that God does not give these feelings without intending to cherish them; he does not cause a "desire," without a design to "fulfil" it; he does not create a hunger, without being willing also to satisfy it; he does not implant hopes, merely to dazzle or to tantalise; he does not set us to run a race, and hold a glorious prize to our view, and then mock us by not imparting strength and ability to run; he does not place us in the battle, and expect us to fight manfully, without providing armour and weapons for our use. No; the light he gives will "shine more and more;" the trees he plants "will bring forth more fruit in their age;" for as in creation "a regular gradation was observed-God proceeding from the less noble to the more noble animals-from fishes to birds-from birds to beasts-from beasts to the master-piece of creation;" so also in the kingdom of grace, the Christian "will go from strength to strength;" the fruits of the Spirit will be gradually matured, and be more and more developed the first appearance of life may be but "the blade," but

unto us, not unto us, but unto God be the praise."

Can any one, then, be surprised, that they that possess the carnal mind know not the way of peace? And is not the cause sufficiently shewn why the heart of the one is faint, so that "the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them, that they shall flee and fall when none pursueth," even because "there is no fear of God before their eyes?" while "the righteous are bold as a lion," because God hath "given them strength and the blessing of peace?"

May we become more and more convinced of the uncertainty of the happiness of earth, whose pleasures "wither even before they be grown up;" but which the world, nevertheless, would tempt us to embrace: "let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." But "the friendship of the world is enmity to God;" and we know that "there is no peace to the wicked." May we, therefore, seek to obtain that "peace of God which passeth all understanding," and may we feel the power of it in every time of need. May we turn our eyes to "the Book :" upon its eternal contents may we build our faith; for it will tend, with the blessing of the Holy Spirit, not only to our present, but also to our everlasting peace. And may God grant, that the truth of this blessed book may so inflame our love and gratitude, as to "constrain us to live no longer unto ourselves, but unto Him who died for us, and has reconciled us unto God by his blood."

In the last place, let us remember, that if we "love God, we must see that we love our brother also." It is, indeed, "a good and pleasant thing to dwell together in unity;" to "be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;" to esteem other better than ourselves;" to "be of one mind;" to "live in peace;" for then we may rest assured, on that "word" which "shall not pass away," that the God of love and peace will be ever with us. S. S.

A CHILD OF LIGHT.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE SMUGGLER," 66 THE OLD HALL," &c. "Eternal summer lights the heart

Where Jesus deigns to shine."

delightful village, in a northern county, where he was familiar with every face, and tolerably acquainted with every character. The death of the incumbent had, to the regret of his parishioners, caused his removal to another sphere of usefulness; and he had exchanged the fields and the woods of R——, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, with its picturesque scenery, and smoothly gliding stream, and rural cottages, for almost interminable rows of meanly built houses, in many of which misery dwelt, and, in not a few, vice in its most revolting forms. His was, in fact, a missionary station. He was called on to minister amongst heathens in a Christian land. Perhaps there is no situation in the Church more

fearfully responsible, or more depressing at times to the spirits, than the cure of a large suburban population. To the mere Sunday observer all appears carried on as a clergyman would wish. The well-conditioned and elegantly furnished church; the services conducted in the most solemn manner; an overflowing and attentive congregation; the thrilling peals of the organ,-all tend to foster the supposition that the situation of a town minister is most enviable. Alas, this is not always the case; and should these remarks meet the eye of any one who conceives himself to be buried, because his is the rustic congregation and his the village-church, and is pining, because, as he conceives, his talents are wasted, let him be assured that the situation of a country parochial minister, if he has with him the hearts of his people-and he will, generally speaking, have their hearts with him, if he preach fully and faithfully the great doctrines of the Gospel, and does not by his own conduct cause his sincerity to be questioned-is one of the most important and enviable in the Church. There is the homely bow, the respectful salutation, the kind greeting, which awaits the faithful minister as he walks along the path leading to the church-porch, which are infinitely more gratifying than the most splendid pomp of divine worship, or the flocking together of excited and too often captious hearers.

Rev. H. F. Lyte. It was a thick foggy evening, in the month of November, when the curate of one of the overwhelming parishes in the outskirts of London received information from the visitor of a district-society, that in a certain alley there was a person dangerously ill, who would be glad to see him. The scene in which this excellent young man was now called to labour was widely different from that which he had recently left. His first cure had been that of a

With a very heavy heart, though fully desirous of fulfilling his office, and ministering to the comfort of the invalid, the curate found his way to the alley to which he was directed. Vice presented itself at the entrance on one side of which there was a gin-shop, on the other a pawnbroker's. Misery was apparent at every step; but at length he found the number to which he was directed, and he was informed that there was a man on the second floor of the name for which he inquired. He knew nothing of the character of the individual whom he was about to visit, and dark forebodings crossed his mind. The place was peculiarly lonely, in a certain sense. It was not that in which a man of common moral decency would wish to be found. He ascended the staircase, and entered into the sick man's chamber, where he found him sitting by the dying embers of a fire in a most emaciated state, attended by an old nurse.

"Ah, sir, I am glad to see you," was the old man's salutation; "I think you are the clergyman. The visitor said that you should be informed how ill I was; and I thought you would come some fine day, but not on such a night as this. I thank you for your kindness."