divinities and sacred animals. We humiliating, are found in these rooms, have wooden figures dug out of their of which it would be not only tedious, tombs. We have their bronze offer- but disgusting, either to write or ings-objects of private devotion-speak. porcelain and small figures of stone, The sacred animals of Egypt are as perforated for net-work and for neck-curious, imaginative, and barbarous laces for mummies. First of their divinities stands Amen, or Amouenna, the Egyptian Jupiter on his throne, with his cynocephali and lotus sceptre. On his rear stands Amoun, between Rhons and Joh, another deity, in sandstone, 7 feet high. Of these gods we have many antique figures. Thoth, or Thout, walking in a boat; Rhem, the Pan of the Egyptians, and many others too tedious to tell. We have Net, or Neith, their Minerva; Sate, or Seti, their Juno. We have them in every position, and in every monstrous combination; their Chous, or Hercules, with a lunar disk—a mystic lock of hair; another standing on two crocodiles, with a jackall's and a ram's head, the back formed by the body and tail of a hawk; Athor, the Egyptian Venus, with head overshadowed by a vulture supporting the disk and horns; his body is a shrine placed upon a wheel of eight spokes, with a figure of her godship dancing. Athor stands cow-headed, with disk and plumes; Pasht, the Diana of Egypt, cat-headed, standing in a striated garment, with an ægis in her left hand. Again, we have this divinity standing, human and hawk-headed, holding two swords, reeds, or feathers, two hands passing from the mouth to the shoulders. Many of these are standing in porcelain, green, blue, grey, variegated. Taur, hippopotamus, standing on its hind legs, with pendant arms, and breasts of a female, back covered with the tail of a crocodile; a Pharaoh, too, standing, having on his forehead a place for the Uraeus. We have given but a specimen of these Egyptian superstitions and Pagan idolatries. Hundreds of these, and other fancies equally gross and as their deities. Among their sainted quadrupeds stand conspicuous the jackall, cynocephalus, or dog-headed baboon, decorated with a lunar disk ; a wolf, a shrew mouse, an apis, and an ibex on one knee; a gazelle and an ibex kneeling; lions couchant, a lion and a bull in one figure, sphinxes, monkeys, cats, rams, swine, hares, dogs, cows, mystic animals, head and neck of a viper, and the body of a quadruped. Household furniture and other large objects; stools inlaid with ivory, four-footed and three-footed; high-backed chairs, on lion-footed legs; others double-backed, with seats of platted cord; concave seats, formed of four flat bars; cushions, stuffed with feathers of water-fowl; three-legged tables or stands; model of a house, of a granary and yard, with a covered shed, in which a man is seated; in the yard a female making bread. There are also vases, ampullæ, mirrors, combs, shoes, and sandals, some with round and some with peaked toes; vases of all shapes and sizes, some conical, others resembling fruits, fish, lambs, gourds, &c.; spoons, chests, lamps, cups, baskets, knives, tools, nails, musical instruments, &c. To notice in detail a hundred other cases filled with various furniture, agricultural implements, weapons, fragments of tombs, coffins, boards, inscriptions, instruments of writing, painting, playthings, tools, weaving tools, mummies, animal and human ; sepulchral ornaments, amulets, &c. would be to write a volume; and but for the guide furnished us in making our too hasty tour through this miniature world, I could not, from either my notes or my recollections, have given so much as I have done in this letter with an accuracy to be relied on. I shall only add a few remarks on this grand national Museum, and dismiss the subject. But on opening another page of my memoranda I discover, to me, one of the most interesting departments of this grand repository of some of the remains of worlds passed away. There is the collection of organic remains in room first, wholly pretermitted. In this, too, because of its relation to the science of geology, I took more interest than in any of the treasures of the rooms already noted. I must state a few of its more prominent fossil treasures, vegetable and animal. And, first, of the vegetable. These are not so valuable as the animal. There are in room 1st fossils of submerged Algae, Tucoides, Conservites, &c. On some coal slate, in the same case, are displayed very striking impressions of plants with verticillated leaves, usually called asterophyllites annularia, &c. There are, besides these, some nondescripts, whose nature is yet mysterious. There are also calamites, of the species Equiseta. These come from the rocks of the coal formation of the highest antiquity. Ferns (filices) impressions on the clay state of the carboniferous strata, and some specimens of the Lepedodendron. There are also perfect specimens of the Clatharia Lyelli, from the Weldon, with some remains of real Palmae. There are many beautiful specimens of polished fossil wood, found in the red sandstone formations of Saxony. Greenfield, Massachusetts, has contributed some recent red sandstone formations, covered with very singular impressions of various dimensions, resembling the feet of birds, called Ornithichnites. There are sundry specimens in Room 2nd, not yet arranged. In Rooms 3rd and 4th are some very interesting osseous remains of reptiles. There are the Batrachian, the Chelonian, and Emydosaurian reptiles. The gigantic Salamander, of Scheuchzer's dissertation, belongs to the Batrachian race, first named. One whole case is filled with the bones of the Iquanodon. In these rooms are arranged the order Enaliosauria, or Sea Lizard, of which the genera Plesiosaurus and Ichthyosaurus are principal types. These, together with the casts of the Deinotherium, a most gigantic quadruped, found at Eppelsheim, including those of the Megatherium, are amongst the greatest curiosities in this Museum. In contemplating these huge lizards, inhabitants of climes that have been, but are not, and the casts of those huge animals already named, to which may be added the skeleton of the American Mastodon, we cannot but assent to the revelations of geology, and admit those deductions which assert the long series of ages that passed away during the preparation of the materials of our terraqueous domicile, which were at the commencement of the present epoch, in a single week, new modified, developed, and replenished for the comfortable residence of man. I fear that these details will be rather tiresome than edifying to yourself and others. My apology for them is the large space that Egypt holds in sacred and profane history; indeed, in the history of the literature, science, art, and religion of the world. It was once the greatest, the most learned, and the most admired nation in the world. The place which it occupies in the Louvre in Paris, and in the British Museum, is in good keeping with the large space it once occupied in the esteem and admiration of mankind. In the arts of architecture, sculpture, painting-in mathematics, astronomy, and hieroglyphics—in all that pertains to the science of numbers, magnitude, and proportion, they stand out upon the canvass of time the most prominent and remarkable people of all antiquity. Even the present re- pleased with high relief, and painted mains of their ancient greatness are all their works, whether of architecstill the wonder and the admiration ture or sculpture, with simple colors of the most enlightened of the human-white, black, red, blue, or yellow, race. The impression made by them as might please their tastes. on the family of Abraham-the long continuance of the charms of their greatness-the bewitchery of their arts and idolatries on that wonderful people, are amongst the most striking evidences of their former grandeur and magnificence, and of the transcendent influence of national greatness which can be adduced; indeed, they are altogether unparalleled in the history of the world. "The churches" called St. Paul's, St. Peter's, and St. Germain's, are much more Egyptian than Christian, so far as we can learn from the British Museum, and from what is visible to those who visit them. In many respects we may be indebted to Egypt for her lessons in husbandry, general agriculture, architecture, sculpture, and painting; but certainly she is no model for us either in the object, So early as the Pyramids of the the manner, or the places of Christian fourth dynasty, beyond which we worship. When we look at her idols know little or nothing of architectural and her idolatries, but a meagre porart, and have no reliable record, the tion of which is found even in this Egyptians had attained a degree of most extensive and varied collection, perfection which has long been, and we can see nothing in them indicative yet is, the wonder of the world. In of any claim she can have upon our these most ancient pyramids our pre- admiration or imitation. On the sent distinguished architects discover contrary, she exhibits more than any evidences of an art exhibiting forms other nation the need of a divine of vast magnitude and of the most revelation. Egypt was at best the delicate and minute finish. They hot-bed of idols and idolatries, and see in the colossal proportions and therefore teaches a lesson which almagnificence of their plans the pri- most all mankind are slow to learn— mordial elements of classic taste, and that the most gigantic strides and of those great achievements which advances in science and learning, and were the pride of Greece and Rome. in all arts both useful and ornamental, In the Egyptian columns of the 12th are quite impossible, without a single dynasty, they see the Doric architec- perception of a spiritual system or a ture in embryo development, and the spiritual religion. Men have meacapitals of the columns of the 18th sured the heavens a-la-mode de La dynasty are seen breaking forth in Place, or according to the pyramidal the lotus buds and flowers with which philosophers of Egypt: they have the architects of Egypt adorned their erected pyramids of art, temples, alfirst efforts. tars, and divinities; still they have worshipped a crocodile, a sphinx, a gryphon, a frog, an onion, or a fly. Their temples were rectangular, with gateways and doors tapering to their summit. Their walls were covered with sculpture, and their approaches were filled with sphinxes or divinities. Both temples and sepulchres were frequently cut out of solid rock, having their sides adorned with paintings and sculpture, indicative of events religious or historical, as it happened to suit their taste. In sculpture, they were most We ought not, then, to imagine that there is any necessary connection between genius and religion, the fine arts and morality, philosophy and theology, national greatness and national goodness. There may be a good taste without good sense, a religion without piety, and a refinement without morality. But true piety and true humanity will always tion to the Father by one Spirit. Now, then, ye are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, having been built upon the THE COMMUNION OF SISTER foundation of the apostles and pro CHURCHES. THE term "sister churches" is intended to signify a number of communities of the same faith and order, each brought into avowed subjection to one common Lord, and to each other in his fear. The churches planted by the Apostles, the ambassadors of Jesus, were, for some considerable time, of this character. Begotten by the truth, they were espoused to one husband, and became one body, possessing one spirit, and inspired by one hope that of being collected together by a resurrection from the dead into one body, and presented as a chaste virgin to Christ, to live and reign with him for ever. phets, Jesus Christ himself being the foundation corner-stone, by which the whole building being fitly compacted together, rises into a holy temple of the Lord, in which ye also are builded together for a habitation of God by the Spirit. The Most High dwells not in temples made with hands: He is a Spirit, and has chosen the hearts of his people for his dwelling-place. Man is the temple of God, wherein the perfections of Deity, in their beauty, greatness, and glory will be intelligently exhibited for ever. Thus saith the Lord: heaven is my throne, the earth is my footstool-what house will ye build for me? hath not my hand made all these things? Unto that man will I look, and with him will I dwell. who is poor, of a broken and contrite heart, and who trembleth at my word. Yes, the renewed, pardoned, and justified, are now the temple of God. "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; they shall be my people, and I will be their God." These parties, while in their pilgrimage state, are addressed as in the dispersion-scattered in the east, in the west, in the north, and in the south. The territory of Christ's kingdom is now as extensive as that of Satan, embracing the whole world. Still the members are one body under Christ, brethren of the same family, and shall finally be presented a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, defilement or deformity, or any such thing. This body, in the apostolic age, consisted of Jews and Gentiles, the former being a typical people, placed under typical institutions, dwelling in a typical land, and becoming the channel of divine communication to a dark and benighted world-while the latter existed for ages without the truth, strangers to the covenants of promise made with Abraham and with David, having no hope and without God in the world. But now, in the gospel age, those who were afar off are brought nigh by the blood of Christ, for he is our peace who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished by his flesh the enmity, (the law of commandments concerning ordinances) that he might make the two into one new man under himself, making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. And having come, he brought good news of peace to you (Gentiles) the far-off-to us, the nigh; that through him we both have introduc-sponding with the nature of that truth If such be the present relationship and future prospects of the body of Christ, surely there ought to be in existence a union, and co-operation in righteousness, purity, and peace, among the disciples of Jesus, corre 66 ments, is a liar, and the truth is not in this man. But whoever keeps his word, truly in this man is the love of God perfected. By this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him, ought himself so to walk even as he walked.” That there was constant intercommunion and co-operation, as well as personal attachment, among the first congregations, must be apparent to all who are acquainted with the New Testament, and the history of the churches for the first century. There existed a sisterhood of churches which corresponded, though not perfectly, with the united relationship into which the disciples had been brought by the gospel. This communion, or brotherhood of saints, was manifested by Jesus and his apostles, and is one of the legitimate fruits of the Holy Spirit. This unity of spirit is to be kept by the bond of peacethe Bible. by which they have been called out | him, and does not keep his commandof darkness into this marvellous light. The apostles, when writing the different epistles to the churches, never failed to recognize one common brotherhood in the body of Christ. The instructions thus imparted to an individual community were intended for the good of all. Hence, observe the following testimonies :-" For as in one body we have many members, so we, the many, are one body under Christ, and individually members of one another." Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth, sanctified by Christ Jesus, called saints, with all in every place who invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in all Achaia," &c. "And when this epistle has been read to you, cause that it be read also in the congregation of the Laodiceans, and that ye read the one from Laodicea," &c. Without multiplying quotations, it must be obvious to all, that in the primitive churches there was, for a time at least, a mutual confidence, union, love, and co-operation, with submission one to another in the fear of God, of which we know but little in the present day. When divisions took place among them, the causes were the same as at the present time. It was something pleaded for contrary to, or not embodied in, the doctrine received from the apostles. The fountain-head of this is ignorance and unbelief-then follow carnality of mind, unrighteousness of principle, disaffection of heart, and disobedience to divine commands, when separation becomes inevitable. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth The great and almost insurmountable difficulty with which the apostles had to contend, was that of bringing Jews and Gentiles, of every name and class, into a mutual state of unanimity and love; indeed, we have sometimes questioned if, at any period of the church's history, this unanimity has been realized in a manner, or to the extent, contemplated by the Spirit of God in the Christian system. Jesus came to reconcile the world to the love of God, as well as to reconcile man to man. But where must we look for a perfect picture, a full exhibition, of this love among men? Certainly it was not realized, in the fullest sense, on the Day of Pentecost, nor at any subsequent period in the city of Jerusalem, inasmuch as none but Jews and Jewish proselytes were then admitted into the congregation of disciples. All was not then developed in this new creation: it was By this we know that we have but the commencement, the infancy known him, if we keep his command- of the kingdom of heaven. The sysments. He who says, I have known | tem was subsequently perfected, em me. |