as it is called, and this year falls on the NINTH DAY OF APRIL. It is designed to commemorate the triumphant entry of our Saviour into Jerusalem, when the multitude who attended him strewed his way with branches of palm trees. The palm displays its blossoms earlier than its leaves, and is usually fully budded by the time of Easter. This festival was observed in England in Catholic times with great solemnity, and the people, formed into long processions, carried with them boughs of the blossoming willow, and decked their houses with them. Palm-Sunday is still a high day in the Romish Church. The third hour of the day being completed, and the sprinkling of water being observed after the usual manner, the priest, having put on his violet pluvial, with or without the chasuble, with the attendants clothed in like manner, proceeds to bless the branches of palms and olives, or other trees placed before the middle of the altar, or at the epistle corner of it. At Rome, the Pope in person reads the prayers over the palms, sprinkles them with holy water and incenses them. An embroidered apron is placed on his knees, and the cardinals in turn receive a palm from him, kissing the palm, his right hand, and knee. The bishops kiss the palm which they receive and his right knee. The mitred abbots kiss the palm and his foot. On Palm-Sunday, the priest, after reading Matthew xxi. 1-9, repeats the following interpretation from St. Ambrose:" According to Matthew, we read of an ass and a colt, because that as by two of mankind each sex was expelled from paradise, in the two animals each sex was recalled. Here, therefore, in the ass he signified as it were Eve, the mother of error; but in the foal is expressed the Gentiles; and therefore he is said to sit upon the foal of the ass. And well it was said, 'On whom no man sat,' because no one before Christ called the Gentiles to the church." A curious inquirer will naturally ask how Ambrose or the Church of Rome came to find out the gender of the colt ? Was it by tradition, that FALL OF THE FATHER OF EXPERIMENTAL THERE is no name which sheds more gate on THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL, 1026. At the age of twenty-six, when a student at Gray's Inn, he planned that noble work, the Norum Organum, on Wish his literary fame rests, and accompushed the plan amid the pressure of heavy duties which subsequently devolved upon him. Previous to his day, philosophy was under the dominion of certain preconceived opinions, partly true and partly false; but the evidence by which such opinions were either supported or refuted was seldom sought for in the guarter where it might be found-the facts of nature. Philosophers may have been observers, but they were not experimenters, and, moreover, there had been next to nothing done in the way of collecting and arranging facts, that conclusions might be drawn from them and truth arrived at. Bacon set out with this principle, that nothing pretending to the character of human knowledge could be considered as ascertained till it had been subjected to the test of experiment. The philosophy of Bacon has been called the philosophy of induction; but induction is not one of its objects; it is only one of its instruments-not its end, but its beginning. The fundamental tenet of his philosophy is announced in the opening sentence of the Novum Organum:— "Man, the servant and interpreter of nature, understands and reduces to practice just so much as he has actually experienced of nature's laws; more he can neither know nor achieve." FOX, THE MARTYROLOGIST, JOHN Fox, the eminent martyrologiat, author of The Acts and Monuments of the Church, commonly called The Book of Martyrs, was born in Linolnshire in 1517, the year in which Lauthor commenced his attacks on the Papacy, He studied at Oxford, where ho displayed a considerable amount of pootio talent, which he exercised in Composing plays founded on sacred autycots, this principal studies, how ever, were in theology. As yet, he was a staunch Fans; beamination of the princtus of the Reformers led to his covers Earing adopted these principles, he began to act upon them. He absented Limself from the public worship of his college, and for this offence was expelled. This was a mark of infamy with which it was thought proper to brand im His friends forsook him as a beretit, and on this ground be was deprived of his patrimony. Reduced to poverty, he betook himself to private teaching. Bishop Gardiner looked on him with a malignant eye; and, having taken steps to entrap him, Fox had to seek safety in a foreign land. He first settled in Flanders, afterwards in Antwerp, and ultimately at Basle. In this city he employed himself as a corrector of the press, and projected his great work on martyrology. It was first published in 1563, in one volume folio, and before twenty years, had passed through four editions. The Protestants, as might have been expected, valued it very highly, while the Papists, calumniating it for its violent language, sought to prevent its circulation. The language of Fox may at times be coarse to our taste, while it was bitter to the Papists; but it must be taken into account, that language of the characteristics referred of the period. to pervaded all the controversial writings Burnet and Strype, however, have established his character for accuracy and impartiality. Conscience Upon the accession of Elizabeth, Fox returned to England, and was appointed to be a prebend in Salisbury. He would his partialities for the system taught have obtained higher honours but for and practised at Geneva. was to him more precious than the most splendid emoluments. When told that he must subscribe the canons, he refused, saying, "I have nothing but a prebend at Salisbury, and if you choose to take it away, much good may it do you." He died on THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF APRIL, 1587, universally esteemed for his humility, vast learning, and sincere piety. The Family Monitor. FOUR YEARS IN HEAVEN. ANNIVERSARIES are interesting occasions. They are frequently big with associations of a sad or joyous character. Our birthdays are celebrated with festivities, and marriage anniversaries too, are observed with mirth and glad ness. Not so, however, an anniversary that returns to many a parent's heart-the recurrence of the birth-day of the dead! Ay, how many stricken bosoms will heave at the recollection of such a season. The following reflections suggested themselves on the anniversary of the departure from earth to heaven of a beloved child; to some they may appear trite, because so often made the theme of composition, but not so to those who have parted with loved ones. Alluding to the subject touches a responsive chord, which will vibrate until the heartstrings break, or memory dies. We can dwell with rapture upon the subject before us, but we cannot comprehend it in its full extent; for eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath man conceived, the things that God hath prepared for those who dwell in his presence in heaven. FOUR YEARS IN HEAVEN!—Our child is not now a mere babe. He was just beginning to lisp the language of infancy, when he left us, and went to speak the language of the New Jerusalem. His step on earth was tottering when he gave up his life to ransom sinners, and he is clothed in the white robe of the righteousness of Christ. He suffered here. He lingered in pain and anguish for three long weeks. He moaned-he died. Although very much reduced by disease, the soul and body retained their hold with great tenacity, and struggled hard before they would be surrendered. But for four years he has been free from pain. No sorrow has clouded his angelic countenance; no grief has disturbed him. His sighs and moans have given place to hallelujahs and anthems. Could we for a moment listen to the music of heaven, and witness the ectasies of the redeemed, we would understand why for the ransomed to die is gain. Here our babe knew nothing of God. He was too young to be taught even the existence of the great I AM. But there, he looks in the face of the Eternal. He bows in His presence; he casts his crown at his feet. He unites with the myriads who compose the blood-bought throng our fathers and mothers, our sisters and brothers, our husbands and wives and children in the song of Moses and the Lamb. His song is not now the feeble wail of infancy; it is the voice of an angel; ay, of an angel matured and strengthened by four years' practice in the choir of heaven. "Ye who mourn and unsteady, for he had not strength Whene'er yon vacant cradle, or the robes for a firmer tread; but he left us, and went to walk with immortal strength the golden pavements of the celestial city. Our babe, although too young to have been guilty of actual sin, was nevertheless sinful, for he inherited from his parents the fallen nature which descended to them from their great progenitor. But now he is washed from the pollutions of his nature. His soul has been bathed in the fountain that Jesus opened That decked the lost one's form, call back a tide Of alienated joy, can ye not trust Your treasure to His arms, whose changeless care Passeth a mother's love? Can ye not hope, When a few wasting years their course have run, To go to him, though he no more on earth Returns to you?" -The Presbyterian Magazine. THE CROW'S NEST FOR CHILDREN. ANSWERS TO QUERIES PROPOSED LAST MONTH. WE have been very much gratified by a variety of answers forwarded in reply to the queries proposed last month. We particularly notice those forwarded from Dunse, and from a "Sabbath Scholar" in Crieff. They indicate how extensively an interest is taken in the queries, and how well adapted they are to exercise and benefit the young mind. We offer a remark on a few, while giving the answer to each which we prefer. I. All the answers returned to this question are good. Some of them particularly so. The answer which we prefer is contained in Exod. xvii. 14; Job xix. 23, 24. The earliest materials employed for writing upon were stone, the skins of animals, linen, and the leaves of the papyrus plant, the ancient material from which paper was made. II. All the answers which we have received say that Cain was the first murderer. By referring to John viii. 44, our young friends will find mention of an earlier murderer. III. The answers to this question are very full and minute. We select the following passages, Gen. iii. 6, and xix. 26; Exod. xix. 21; 1 Sam. vi. 19-21. The most complete list which has been sent us, contains the case of Saul consulting the witch of Endor. IV. The answers are all good. Our young friend's in Crieff particularly so. We give Noah, Lot, David, Solomon, and Hezekiah. V. All the answers are very good. We give the following-Samuel, Josiah, Daniel and his three companions, Jeremiah, and Timothy. VI. This query has obviously excited a considerable amount of the spirit of investigation. Seven lists forwarded from Dunse give the same answer, and it is the answer which we prefer, as the birds are mentioned in Jeremiah viii. 7. VII. All the answers are correct. Joseph was the person. See Gen. 1. 24-26; Heb. xi. 22. VIII. In answer to this question, "Enoch and Elijah" is given in eight lists. The "rich man and Lazarus," "Moses and John the Baptist," "Moses "Moses and Samuel." and Lazarus,” The answer which we prefer is contained in Luke ix. 30. QUERIES TO BE ANSWERED NEXT MONTH. We think it right to encourage our young friends, by submitting to them the following queries: I. In the concluding exhortation of Moses to the children of Israel, he mentions a miracle of which there is no account in the history of the forty years' wanderings. Which is it? II. Two Old Testament worthies were types of Christ-fasted forty days—suffered perils for the glory of God-divided the waters-were messengers of God to kings-and were both remarkable in the manner of their departure out of this world. Who were they? III. Mention a passage from Scripture containing the most distinct and definite account of the state and happiness of believers in heaven. IV. Mention a Scripture expression which is descriptive of the death of believers only. V. Mention five cases from Scripture where the youngest son is placed before the oldest, contrary to the usual practice. VI. Mention three occasions on which a voice from heaven was heard bearing testimony to our Saviour. VII. Mention the passages where Paul displays his acquaintance with the writings of heathen authors. VIII. As the present war with Russia has occasioned the calling out of the militia in Britain, mention the first notice of a standing militia in Scripture. Mention, from the New Testament, a saying and an act of Moses, neither of which are to be found recorded in the Old Testament. Extracts from the ages of the Lining and the Dead. WHAT DO WE LEARN OF GOD FROM THE HEAVENS? Ir is recorded of David Hume, that on one occasion, looking at the heavens in a clear and starry night, he said to his friend, Adam Ferguson, "O Adam! can any one contemplate the wonders of that firmament, and not believe that there is a God?" On his way to Egypt, Napoleon cried out to his atheistic savans, as on a fine evening at sea they were denying their Maker, "This is all very well, gentlemen, but," pointing to the stars, "who made all that?" This instinctive reasoning, so far as the existence of a Creator is concerned, seems unanswerable; but in reference to His character, and especially His relation to our race, it is extremely uncertain and weak. It is distance that makes these orbs glorious to us. Closer at hand, we might find them either, as in the case of the moon, vast, shapeless, wrinkled masses; or, as in the case of the fixed stars, burning continents of vacancy, which we can now "look upon and live," only because they are far away, but which, approached more nearly, would consume us as a moth is consumed. It is true that "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." But let us look more narrowly, and see what it is that they do, and then, what they do not, and cannot declare. They declare, as we have just seen, God's being. The construction of the human eye has often been appealed to, as itself a sufficient proof of the existence of God. It is certainly so; but as this kind of proof is necessarily cumulative, how much do we add to it when we bring in the "thousand eyes" of heaven as witnesses to their Maker; the sun coming out daily from his chamber, an old, unwearied Titanthe strong slave of light and fire, and of their mysterious Author; the moon, |