analogy will prove just nothing at all, if we can produce any instance of seven different lavas, with interjacent strata of vegetable earth, which have flowed from Mount Vesuvius within the space, not of fourteen thousand, but of somewhat less than one thousand seven hundred years; for then, according to our analogy, a stratum of lava may be covered with vegetable soil in about two hundred and fifty years, instead of requiring two thousand for that purpose.

"The eruption of Vesuvius, which destroyed Herculaneum and Pompeii, is recorded by Pliny's nephew in his letter to Tacitus-this event happened A.D. 79; but we are informed by unquestionable authority, namely, 'Remarks on the Nature of the Soil of Naples and its Vicinity,' by Sir William Hamilton, ‘Philosophical Transactions,' vol. lxi. p. 7, that the matter which covers the ancient town of Herculaneum, is not the produce of one eruption only, for there are evident marks that the matter of six eruptions has taken its course over that which lies immediately over the town, and was the cause of its destruction. These strata are either of lava or burnt matter, with veins of good soil between them."

I have been induced to give this objection and its reply at length, referred to by a poor mechanic, as a sample of very many. I think it illustrates the importance of all Christians paying some attention to Biblical criticism.* A minister of very high standing in the Church of Christ, and to whom I cannot but defer-Dr. Morison of Chelsea-was one of the six clerical examiners

* Horne's "Introduction to the Critical Study of the Holy Scriptures," is the work to be named to those whose leisure for study is limited.

by whom I had the honour of being examined, according to the Rule of the Society-previous to being accepted for the work of the City Mission. After examining and giving me much sage counsel, with the kindness of a father-and it is not every one who will take so much pains with a stranger the conversation turned upon infidelity, and I well remember that my studies of objective infidelity received considerable stimulus from a saying of Dr. Morison's,-" Not," said he, "that we expect to convert them by answering their objections; that must be effected by the operation of Divine grace; but we like to silence them, to let them see we know as much as they do."

This is, doubtless, the philosophy of the matter. The real objection to Christianity in the case of infidels, does not, after all, lay so much in the head as in the heart. Accordingly, whilst the herald of the Cross is able and willing to defend the Book of his God from every species of assault, he must be careful to follow up the advantage of silencing his opponent, by direct appeals to his heart and conscience, and by a clear exhibition of the redeeming love of God in Christ.

The infidel will never see his path to Mount

Zion, save from Mount Calvary. He will never have believed to the saving of his soul, until he

can say:

"In His blest life

I see the path; and in His death the price ;
And in His great ascent, the proofs supreme
Of immortality."

May the Holy Spirit breathe this knowledge on every unbelieving soul!

The argument in proof of Christianity derived from the Jews, is, if properly studied, capable of silencing where other arguments fail.

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I had on one occasion been arguing with an Atheist, a Socialist Lecturer, who has since, I am informed, become a Mormon elder-and I well recollect the effect produced upon him by a detail of the Jewish argument, as I have noticed in very many cases. His reply was perfectly absurd, and I think he felt it to be so. I can recognise," said he, "in the preservation of the Jews as a distinct people, no greater marvel than the preservation of the Egyptians; therefore, I cannot accept that preservation as a proof of what you are pleased to term the truth of prophecy." On the whole case, however, being brought forward, he was compelled Ito admit that the case of the Jews was dissimilar to any known case of national preservation. On being pressed with the consequences of this admission, he evaded them by shirking the question, and turning to some presumed objections to avoid the subject. The argument in favour of the Divine

L

records, to be deduced from the prophecies respecting the Jews, from the Pentateuch to the Gospels, and the fulfilment of those prophecies as matter of history, is, if properly studied, one of which the infidel especially dislikes the introduction.*

The present chapter will now conclude with some details of a very interesting case of the hopeful conversion of another infidel upon my district.

Mr. was, when first I visited him, a very strong professor of infidelity, and his wife also. They were formerly attendants at the Rotunda, in the Blackfriars Road, where an infidel lecturer, the Rev. Robert Taylor, formerly a clergyman of the Church of England, made himself ridiculous in attempting to ridicule the Christian religion, styling himself the devil's chaplain, and enacting blasphemies to which it does not seem necessary further to allude in this place. My instructions to these people did not appear to be productive of

immediate effect, and I have repeatedly been much discouraged respecting them; but as afterwards transpired, my endeavours to enlighten their minds were producing a much more pleasing effect than appeared upon the surface. Whilst he was at his work, and Mrs. also, (they were skin-dressers,)

*I do not remember to have seen this argument more lucidly presented anywhere than in Dr. Keith's "Evidence of Prophecy." The shilling abridgment of the larger work, by the Religious Tract Society, is a very admirable condensation.

I would take up some line of Scriptural evidence, prophecy, internal evidence, etc., and lecture perhaps for an hour, meeting any objections brought forward. After the lapse of some considerable period of time, the family removed away from my district, and I lost sight of them for several years. They then returned again to the neighbourhood, and I recommenced visiting them. Mr. B

became seriously ill, the effect it is believed of his unhealthy occupation; so much dust, and dirt, and hair, find their way down the throat. His lungs became affected. He suffered exceedingly mentally, and did not find infidelity capable of supporting his mind in affliction-this he owned.

"The men of Grace have found,

Glory begun below:

Celestial fruits on earthly ground,
From faith and hope do grow.

"The hill of Zion yields

A thousand sacred sweets,

Before we reach the heavenly fields,

Or walk the golden streets."

But it is not so with the infidel. Affliction with him has no rainbow painted on the cloud; it is, indeed, " a day of darkness and of gloominess."

His sentiments underwent a great change, and whilst I was praying for him, he would frequently be affected even to tears, pressing my hand earnestly, and thanking me. He found a consolation in prayer that he never found in infidelity, and became very anxious to be visited frequently, sending for me if I was absent longer than usual. When in health, he would not even permit his children to attend a school where Scriptural instruction was imparted-now they were regularly