luminary from a higher sphere. No star-beam stammers out the doctrine of an atonement, and no zephyr whispers of eternal love. Nor is the creation able, with all its fiery syllables, to write out before us, in bold, clear characters, the one blessed word, Father.-Gilfillan.

GOD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE.

WE spoke of a father's responsibilities and duties. The God of nature is bound by neither the one nor the other. Those, for instance, who follow His example in His natural laws, would soon put themselves out of the pale of humanity, and find in it an excuse for iniquity and crime. God slays the innocent with the guilty- why should not they? God kills infantswhy should not they? God sets fire to forests, and mountains, and worldswhy should not they to houses and to cities? God sends the miasma of pestilence-why should not they circulate it to their neighbours? The works of some celebrated writers of the present day are pervaded by a modified form of this monstrous error. Because there are destructive energies in nature, we should destroy one another. Because lions, and tigers, and sharks, prey on men, they should bite and devour and hang each other. Because God often leaves those who have erred to the full consequences of their guilt and folly, men are bound, even at an earlier stage, to give them up too! In short, God's mysteries must become our duties-the apparent spots and shadows on his great disk must be copied into our character and life! Again, we say, in reference to the author of the "Model Prisons," as we have said about Emerson, that on his own principles he is right. If there be no God but the God of nature, then nature is God; and if nature is God, then our duty is to do whatever nature has done before, or is doing around us. But how can this consist with the blessed thought of a good and universal Father? Some have maintained that the grand object of God in nature is education. All the mysterious proceedings and fearful phe

nomena of the universe are intended— as well as its milder and gentler aspects

to instruct us. Earthquakes, plagues, and all similar calamities, are, they hint, just severe teachers, caring not whether we hear or whether we forbear-tossing us truth through thunder or in flame, through misery or death. A ship on fire, with its hundreds of shrieking wretches, is just the sparkle of the lightning-rod held in our great Teacher's hand, as it descends on his pupils. Spenser's house burning, with his tender little ones enclosed, was simply a lesson from Heaven. Savannah-la-Mar, taken down at once by earthquake into the depths of the sea, where it lies, seen, it is said, at times through the crystal medium of the clear hyaline-and Pompeii and Herculaneum sunk in a storm of fire-snow-were just tremendous readings with the Sovereign Tutor. The true sage, according to these views, consequently, is the man who, after any calamity, cries out, not "God is good, notwithstanding," or "God is just,"but simply, with the Mahometans, "God is great."-Gilfillan's Fatherhood of God.

WHAT ARE INTELLECT AND SCIENCE DOING? Look to man's intellect and intellectual achievements. Take first his science, that proudest and most pompous of the pillars he has raised to his own aggrandizement, and let us see what it has told us on this all-important theme? The answer lies in a word-it has told us a great deal about law, but nothing whatever about the lawgiver. It were amusing, were it not unspeakably melancholy, to witness from year to year the meetings of clever and accomplished men, who periodically come together, and in their associations contribute their fractions toward some wonderful future whole of truth-some bringing in new asteroids, others a few antediluvian fossils; one or two heaving under the weight of an unregistered comet, some less heavily budened below a theory about the origin of language, or about God's method of making stars; great in grasses many

-greater in gases some, all aspiring to build up a universal system or a God, by a scheme as hopeful as were the payment of the national debt by Irish pennies, or the building of a palace by the piling up of the pebbles that lie on the wayside. Honour to their industry and perseverance in sowing the wind! But have they ever been able to answer the question proposed long ago by one they profess now to admire (most disinterestedly, since he has all along despised and reviled them)-it is in reference to electricity" whence comes it-what is it-whither goes it?" Science hitherto has merely been scratching at, or scrabbling on the door of nature-nature, we mean as viewed in its grander and more spiritual references; and all we can say at present is, let it scratch and scrabble on! Even Hugh Miller's attempt to reconcile our present stage of scientific inquiry with the old Hebrew infuitions of moral and spiritual truth, seems generally admitted to be an eloquent failure.-Gilfillan.

HOW A MAN MADE A HORSE.

THERE is in the city of Washington a fine equestrian statue of General Jackson, that is, a statue that represents him on horseback. It is made of bronze, a combination of metals resembling brass, and shows the old hero in his military dress, even to the very sword which he wore. The horse on which he is mounted

is

on all points, but are vexed at not being able to drive their own tastes and opinions into those they live with. Diversities distress them. They will not see that there are many forms of virtue and wisdom. Yet we might as well say, "Why all these stars; why this difference; why not all one star ?" Many of the rules for people living in peace follow from this idea. For instance, not to interfere unreasonably with others, nor to question and requestion their resolves, not to indulge in perpetual comment on their proceedings, and to delight in their having other pursuits than ours, are all based upon a thorough reception of the simple fact that they are not we.

THE STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH.

"AWAKE, put on thy strength, O Zion." The church then has strength. Wherein

does it consist?

Not in age. It may have lived through the lapse of centuries. It may have outstood revolutions which buried empires. It may have witnessed the setting up and throwing down of many successive thrones. It may have connection sure and unbroken with the first church which the Redeemer planted on the plains of Judea, and yet not be strong.

Not in wealth. I care not how boundless that wealth-how exhaustless its treasures. It may gather into itself all the discovered and the undiscovered wealth of all worlds, and yet be weak.

Not in numbers. We like to have a

large church. We believe that it will eventually become coextensive with the world. This consummation of the church's hopes and prayers might, how ever, be realized, and yet the church not be strong.

Not in the earthly dignity and rank of its members. The names of kings, and courts, and cabinets might have a place upon its roll. Men of honour and influence-all the dignitaries of the earth might be, nominally, sons of the church, and yet it have no strength.

Not in temporal prosperity. There may be no open foes, internal or ex

ternal-no fires of persecution, or floods of opposition-no discordant views and aims, and no straitened circumstances whatever-all this, and yet no strength.

But a church's strength does consist, in the living, growing, shining, active piety of those who compose it. Here is the hiding of its strength-the secret of its might. It may have lived but a single year. It may be absolutely in poverty in respect of this world's goods. It may number scarcely a score of souls, and these the obscurest in the community. It may scarcely have been once gladdened by the sunshine of earthly prosperity, and yet be strong. If those few obscure and possibly despised Christians but be faithful to duty, if theirs be the prayer of penitence and the life of faith continually, if they have a zeal and devotedness corresponding with their obligations and professions, that church cannot help being strong— strong in God, and in the power of his might, valiant for the truth, and wise to win souls unto Christ.

HOW TO DO GOOD.

THE affection and confidence of those we would benefit must first be gained, otherwise we can make nothing of them. Christ knew this; for he knew human nature, being himself a partaker of that nature. He knew the way to the human heart, having a human heart of his own. He looked upon the woman as she stood by the well, and he said within himself, This woman has a heart; if I can gain her heart, if I can only engage her attention, and enlist her sympathies, she is mine. And there was no less wisdom than kindness in his manner of dealing; for had he looked sternly upon her-had he spoken severely to her at this stage of the interview-had he doubted and suspected her kindness-had he done this, she would have been lost for ever. But he pursued-the mild and gentle Saviour pursued a very different course; and it is not too much to say, that from the moment Jesus said, "Give me to drink," the woman of Samaria was won!

And thus must we act too, if we would benefit those of the class to which this

woman belonged. We must cease to act on the principle of "the Jews having no dealings with the Samaritans;" that is, the rich having no dealings with the poor-the religious with the depraved and worthless; and Christians of all ranks and sects must go forth, as their Divine Master did, and, bringing themselves into personal contact with the careless and the outcast, must seek to gain their confidence and affection. This is the first step to their recovery Till this is done, nothing is done. Kind words, kind looks, kind actions, kind visits, will accomplish this. O! there is a magic in such kindness that no human being can resist. If we would gain persons, we must get in the first instance at their hearts; and there is a way, if we but knew it, to every heart. Conscience may

be seared as with a red-hot iron-the understanding may be dark as midnight the will may be bound with the chain of sin; but if there be a heart, but half a heart-ay, the veriest fraction of a heart remaining there is hope for that person. There is something yet to lay hold of; there is some chord of sensibility, which, if we could but touch it, would vibrate in unison with our own. There is some memory of former and better days, sadly blurred over, but not blotted out, which, if we could only awaken it, would arise with power, and assert its dominion over the soul. Alas! multitudes are lost for want of this wisdom and this kindness. When will the wall of separation between our modern Jews and Samaritans be taken down? Friendly visits to the houses of the poor and outcast-considerate interest shown in their sufferings -wise counsel afforded them in their difficulties—the kindly greeting, the warm pressure of the hand-the restoration of Christian and affectionate intercourse all this will do more to overcome prejudice against Christianity and its professors, and win over to the truth those who now despise it, than any other expedient, or all other expedients combined.

O, at how cheap a rate might the hearts of those poor outcasts be gained! But we know not human nature; and

until we know it and treat it aright, Christianity has not fair play. The Saviour knew it; and what was human Chrisnature in his day is so in ours. tianity is adapted to it; it takes for granted the genuineness and power, the indestructibility and universality, of its great intuitions. Human nature is the lyre of Memnon; Christianity is the sun, whose rising beams, touching its manifold chords, awaken all the delicious music that slumbers there!

ONE THING IS NEEDFUL.

GRACIOUS LORD, when once thou hast taken possession of the human heart how do the natural powers which thou hast granted to us sweetly and gracefully unfold themselves, so that even earthly occupations thrive beautifully under the influence of the sun of thy grace! O, if those who strive after prosperity in earthly things were only aware of this, how would they take to heart what thy Word says, that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." O, if all the wise men and artificers of this world were but truly warmed and enlightened by the sun of thy grace, how would the sciences and arts of earthly life prosper under this influence, and bring forth fruits of yet more glowing colours and delicious odours! Yes, one thing is needful!

THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.

A BEGGER boy stood at the rich man's door-
"I am houseless and friendless and faint and poor,''
Said the beggar boy, as a tear-drop rolled
Down his thin cheek, blanched with want and cold.
"Oh! give me a crust from your board to-day,
To help the beggar boy on his way!"
"Not a crust, nor a crumb," the rich man said,
"Be off, and work for your daily bread!"
The rich man went to the parish church-
His face grew grave as he trod the porch-
And the thronging poor, the untaught mass,
Drew back to let the rich man pass.
The service began the choral hymn
Arose and swelled through the long aisles dim;

Then the rich man knelt, and the words he said
Were, "Give us this day our daily bread!"

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

WE pass through much of our Christian life without being conscious of what we truly possess in the Lord's Prayer. At first, it seems to us as if the requests were not so lofty as they might be. We suppose that the innermost desires of the soul cannot be expressed by them, and at length we see that it is in this very prayer that we must first learn to pray! Dr. Luther truly said that there is no greater martyr in the world than the

W. R. M Phun.

MANY works have lately appeared exposing the system of Popery, some of them of great merit. The work before us has been published as it came before the adjudicators of the Prize Essays called forth by the liberality of the Evangelical Alliance. The prize was assigned to the Rev. J. Wylie, and Mr. Gault was declared the second competitor. This circumstance of itself is a recommendation of the work before us. We can do little more than give the contents of the work, which is divided into four books, and these again are subdivided into the following chapters:The Origin and Progress of Popery Prophecies-History of Popery-Principles of Popery-Tradition-the Church the Interpreter of Scripture-the Seven Sacraments-Original Sin-Justification -The Sacrifice of the Mass-Purgatory -Invocation of Saints-Image Worship-The Worship of the Virgin Mary -Indulgences-The true Church and Papal supremacy-The Worship of the Church of Rome-The Government of the Church of Rome-The Discipline of the Church of Rome The Spirit of Popery-Popery is Unscriptural-is Superstitious and Idolatrous--Essentially Intolerant-is Ruinous, Temporally and Spiritually-And the Present State of Popery.