tain them as workmen sent by Thee, with respect to their persons, and obedience to their words, and, according to our power, with a free supply of their necessities.-ID. To sacrifice disobediently is wilfully to mock GoD in honouring Him. -BISHOP HALL. Poetry. "FATHER AND CHILD." O FATHER, everlasting, From Laven's German Hymns SHELLS. Far out at sea, a tiny boat More bright than pen of mine can tell, Sailed on that little fearless shell. Deep in the chambers of the sea, And oh, what glorious hues were they, That struck upon my eye, Of blue, and green, and gold, and grey, That there unnoticed lie: As violets sweet, in loveliest dells, So blush unseen those beauteous shells. Thus, on the sea, and 'neath its waves, These painted sea-gems lie, As tombstones o'er the many graves Of low-born men and high; And when they rest upon the shore, In wealth's luxurious ease, They sound to us the solemn roar, They learned beneath the seas: As exiles, though afar they roam, Still sing the songs they learned at home. Miscellaneous. THE SWEDISH METROPOLIS.-In summer there is no night here: the invisible sun has left its light when its beams are withdrawn; but when we set out for the Djurgard, those glorious beams were not extinguished; and Stockholm, the bright Venice of the North, viewed from the western side, flashing its reflected light from the radiance of a sinking sun, appears to a dazzled stranger like some enchanted city of palaces rising from the waters, and illuminated by the many-coloured northern lights. The windows of the glittering white houses, six and eight stories high, being double, have the outer sash level with the walls, a circumstance which adds considerably to the effect; when mingled with the curious variety of colouring in the pale blue, and yellow wooden buildings, houses, steeples, and churches, throw back on the spectator the gorgeous tints of a richly setting sun. It was at such a moment that Stockholm presented to me an appearance of indescribable beauty and grandeur. The romantic aspect of the surrounding rocky and woody scenery gives it a charm, which the queen or rather the mournful widow of the Adriatic lacks. Rapidly rolling streams of fresh and salt water intersect the town, and throw up here and there broken waves, and light thin clouds of spray, which catching the prismatic rays of the evening, add their rainbow hues to the dazzling effects of the many-windowed and sparkling houses, and give to the whole scene, rising thus from the wooded lake on one side, and the ocean on the other, an aspect that to the eye of fancy is magical. On this occasion the Dalecarlian giantesses were in their holiday attire. These industrious creatures, the Dahkuller, or peasant women of Dalecarlia, as we name the province of Dalarne, gleaned some crumbs from his Majesty's supper in the shape of copper skillings. It would be a species of heresy to prefer their boats to the time and romance-honoured gondolas of Venice; I must not, therefore, say whether they are cleaner or prettier-let Venice keep, if she can, her gondolas, and Stockholm her paddle-boats.-Miss Bunbury's Journal from Stockholm to Rome. ERE yet this world was made, sin and temptation were suffered to pass the gates of light. Angels stumbled at the jewels and fine gold that line the streets of the Great City. They marvelled at their own exceeding glory, and forgot Him That made them. Then there was war in heaven,—“ Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels; and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven." (Rev. xii. 7.) Lucifer "fell like lightning" from his seraph's seat; "hell was moved to meet him at his coming." "Son of the morning," he said in his heart, "I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD;" "I will be like the Most High," and he was 66 brought down to hell." "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the Great Day." 66 66 They, who were found faithful in loyalty to their blessed King, remembered that they were by Him and for Him" created, the "invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers," and "by Him consist." So when the young earth, fresh from its Maker's hand, rising into light, beat back the subsiding waves, "the morning stars sang together, and the sons of GOD shouted together for joy," (Job xxxviii. 4, 7,) for the good GOD had pronounced that all was very good." Spirits, immaterial and intellectual, pure as the heavens which they inhabit, most perfect of all creatures, excelling in strength, incapable of corruption or death save at the will of Him Who framed them,-doubtless they came as visitants of good, to behold the innocence of man "created in the image of GOD." Perfect in obedience, "hearkening unto the voice of His Word," sad must have been their mission when "He drove out the man, and placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims and a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life." As in the heavenly FATHER's house, there are many mansions -the sacred palaces full of light, and immortality, and peace, without a shadow of ill, or tears, or annoy,-so there are divers orders and degrees among their blessed inhabitants, as in a royal army. (1 S. Peter iii. 22, &c.)* They stand in the courts of the great King, as Isaiah beheld "the LORD sitting upon His throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple:" (Isaiah vi. 1; 1 Kings xxii. 19.) And the Apostle in the unveiled vision saw "the angels falling before the throne on their faces, and worshipping GOD:" (Rev. vii. 11.) And Daniel, "The Ancient of days, sitting upon His throne, thousand thousands ministering unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before them." (Daniel vii. 9, 10.) Some awful power seems to be committed to their dispensation; some 66 contention with the devil for the bodies" (S. Jude 9) of men; some mission to fill the hearts of saints with holy thoughts, as spirits of evil possess the demoniac and the wicked (S. John xiii. 27; Acts v. 3; Eph. ii. 2); now filling the soul with solemn warnings, suggesting holy thoughts, monitors interposing in danger; now arresting, by remarkable presentiment of ill or death; now in dreams and visions visiting the heart, working with mysterious energy when men speak only of happy chance, or the motion of their mind, or contingency of good. From time to time throughout the Old Testament, we discern the outskirts of these blessed companies coming to succour and defend. The fugitive Jacob, in his night-dream in the desert, beholds the stair of heaven, and "the angels of GOD ascending and descending on it," the hosts that met him on his way as he returned to Canaan; from out of the guilty city of the plain two angels lead forth righteous Lot and his daughters beyond the fiery shower; the trembling attendant cries to Elisha, and is taught that "they that be with him are more than they that be with the enemy," and, his 66 eyes being opened," he sees "the mountain full of horses, and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings vi. 16.) They are the "Eyes of the LORD running to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show themselves strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him." (2 Chron. xvi. 9.) There can, therefore, be no wild so desolate, no solitude so remote, but that we may have consolation, when we remember that we are in the midst of that heavenly society, that they are sympathising in our distress, and ready to smite the oppressor, as "the destroyer" smote Egypt and Judah, and Herod, and the host of Sennacherib. These good spirits are revealed to us as specially watching over and ministering to individual Christians, as it were, as personal guardians of the baptized; they "receive men into the everlasting * Nine orders of angels have been enumerated; Angels, Archangels, Mights, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. So in the Te Deum we name four of these orders; (Eph. i. 21; Col. i. 16; Isai. vi. 2.) Michael means "Who is as GOD?" Gabriel, "the strength of GOD." Raphael, "the spirit of GOD." Seraphim, "burning" with love. Cherubim, "full of knowledge." Archangel, "a chief among angels." Angels, "messengers."— S. Jerome, Op. tom. ii. pp. 114, 115. Ed. Bened. habitations;" ." 66 carry Lazarus into Abraham's bosom." (S. Luke xvi. 22.) It is said of "the little ones of CHRIST," that “their angels always behold the face" of GOD. (S. Matt. xviii. 10.) The disciples believe it is S. Peter's angel that knocks at the door. (Acts xii. 12-16.) Angels commission Gideon, (Judg. vi. 12,) feed Elijah, (1 Kings xix. 5,) deliver Daniel, (Dan. iii. 28,) deliver S. Peter, direct S. Philip, comfort Cornelius; (Acts x. 4;) angels commune with Joseph, and, thronging about the sepulchre, speak good and comfortable words to the weeping women at the tomb. All this assures us of the nearness and the reality of the unseen world. We are surrounded on all sides by awful watchers and anxious witnesses of all that we speak and do; we are 66 a spectacle to angels;" S. Timothy is "adjured before the elect angels," by his holy ordainer; (1 Tim. v. 21 ;) the Judge will deny the impenitent "before His holy angels." So "the mighty angels" (2 Thess. i. 7) will appear at the day of doom, as they who have known how GOD has employed them to preside over kingdoms (Dan. x. 13) and guide men, (Heb. i. 14,) and a sinful world has rejected Him and all His love. They perchance shall form the clouds and great glory, since the chariots of GoD are thousands of angels. (Acts i. 10, 11; Ps. lxviii. 17.) S. Michael, captain of the host of GOD, is called by Daniel "the great Prince ;" an archangel, he, like Raphael, is "one of the seven holy angels, which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One;" (Tobit xii. 15;) one of the seven spirits of the Revelations, (Rev. v. 6,) like Gabriel, who came with glad tidings to "Zachary, the Priest," and the glorious annunciation of the ever blessed Virgin, he too stands in the presence of God; (S. Luke i. 19;) and it is his, perchance, "the voice of the archangel and the trump," which is the harbinger of the Second Advent. (Dan. xii. 1.) From beholding" Him as He is," they burn with ineffable love and unalterable fidelity, and desire to do all good to the children of men, His creatures as themselves. In some marvellous manner they evince their sympathy with the Church militant, and mingle with a tremendous presence at her solemn services as the covered head of woman, in obedience to apostolic teaching, is the standing witness in the great congregation, (1 Cor. xi. 10,) we are bidden not to speak unadvisedly "before the angel;" (Eccles. v. 4, 5;) as the Psalmist says, "before the gods (i.e., angels) he will sing praises" unto God; and S. Paul declares that we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the innumerable company of angels." (Heb. xiii. 22.) In the Book of Zechariah the angel says, "O LORD of hosts, how long wilt Thou not have mercy on Jerusalem ?" (Zech. i. 12, 13.) At the fall of Jerusalem, the Priests of the temple told, that as they went up to minister they felt an earthquake, and heard an awful voice, as of a great multi 66 tude, saying, “Let us depart." (Joseph. Bell. Jud. Lib. vi. c. 5.) So the angels forsook their stations, since God had already departed from His holy House. On the morn of the Nativity they appear singing "peace on earth, and good will to man;" they desire to "look into the mysteries" of salvation; (1 S. Pet. i. 12;) they are ever ready "to rejoice over one sinner that repenteth ;" (S. Luke xv. 10;) to them, "by the Church, is made known the manifold wisdom of God;" (Eph. iii. 10; Gal. iii. 19;) therein is the Incarnate Son "seen of angels;” (1 Tim.iii. 16;) and it is they who offer the prayers of saints in golden censers; (Tobit xii. 12; Rev. viii. 3, 4;) they who show to the Apostle "whom JESUS loved " the glories of the new Jerusalem. (Rev. xxi. 9.) So now we call upon them, "O ye angels of the LORD, bless ye the LORD; praise Him, and magnify Him for ever." With them mingle our praises in the Te Deum; and in the highest service that man may offer to the awful Deity, "with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven,” we laud and praise His glorious Name. 66 In the Collect for this Festival we pray that, by GoD's appointment, they who do Him service in heaven in a wonderful order, would succour and defend us on earth. It is as the Son of GOD is King of angels, that they are given charge over the elect, (Psalm xci. 10,) and therefore encamp about those who love Him, (Ps. xxxiv. 7,) and bear His servants in their hands. (Tob. i. 9, 10.) It is that they who ministered unto Him after His temptation, (S. Matt. iv. 11,) strengthened Him in His agony, (S. Luke xxii. 43,) stood over with twelve legions ready at hand, had He permitted them to bare their flaming swords, ascending and descending upon His Nativity, His glorious Resurrection, and Ascension,-behold in them who are signed with His Cross, and war beneath His banner, still traces of His likeness; some far-off resemblance to "the First-born among brethren,” Who is now set over all the "powers in the heavenly places." They come, because "sent forth by Him as ministering spirits to minister unto them that shall be heirs of salvation,” and now “made a little lower than they," shall be "crowned with glory and worship," being like them in the great regeneration. They follow in affection to man, because GOD first loves us; they are but the shadows that accompany that perfect Light, they abhor all worship; (Col. ii. 18;) they are but our "fellow-servants;" (Rev. xix. 10;) they are but messengers of grace, companying with us as we go. (Tob. v. 16.) Happy spirits! we cannot partake of their bliss, who with pure eyes are suffered to dwell before the beatific vision—the open sight of the glory, the goodness, and the power of God; but we may imitate their meekness and charity, (S. Jude 9,) their reverence when they veil their faces as they adore. We may strive, in the thought of the dying Hooker, to follow the example of their lovely obedience; for the SAVIOUR bids us only desire and pray that |