THE declaration to which I have already referred, that all nations of men have their times and babitations appointed, "that they should seek the Lord," was made, in the first instance, in reference to the heathen world; and to heathens it was addressed (see Acts xvii. 16-34), who had never seen the bible, nor heard the word of God before. But this is not your case. In this Christian land--this land of bibles-God has graciously put within your reach (if the book be not already in your house, and in your hands) "the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. iii. 17). And the Lord himself says: "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me" (John v. 39). We have, moreover, a high commendation of the Jews of Berea: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed" (Acts xvii. 11, 12). go home, and prove a comfort to your friends?" | THE PRIVILEGES OF A CHRISTIAN LAND*. "Yes, I will," said he. He then turned round to the other, and said, "William, will you also go home?" "No! I will not, sir: I won't be kept under by my father, and made to go to church, and say my prayers by my mother, as I have been: I wish to enjoy myself, and see the world a little." The clergyman again remonstrated with him, and pointed out the judgments of God that frequently attended such undutiful conduct; but the young man remained obstinate and resolute. Finding no impression could be made on him, he said, “It appears, my young friend, you are determined to pursue your own evil course; but I request you will remember what I now say to you, and, depend upon it, your sins will find you out." He retired with a scornful look; and nothing was heard of him for several years; till one night, after the same clergyman had gone to rest, a sailor came to his gate with a very urgent message from a young man under sentence of death, on board a ship at S--d, who wished most anxiously to see him. He took his staff in his hand, and went down through the fleet, and soon perceived, by the melancholy signal, the ship in which the unfortunate youth was to suffer. He went on board, and was received with much politeness by the captain, who told him he would desire the youth to be brought up to his own cabin, where he might have a better opportunity of speaking with him than in the dungeon where he lay. In a short time the rattling of chains and heavy groans indicated his approach; and, no sooner did he behold the countenance of his former monitor, than he exclaimed, "Ah! you are the person I want: had I attended to your admonitions, I would not have been in this awful situation to-day." He was so worn down and emaciated that the clergyman did not recognize him, but asked what was his inducement to send for him, as he had no recollection of him? "Ah!" replied the young man, " do you not remember the two unfortunate youths that left their parents' house, and entered on board the navy, and to whom you showed so much kind ness. Ah! do you not recollect, sir, the one you used so many entreaties with to return, but who would not, and to whom you said that the judgments of God would follow him, and sooner or later his sins would find him out? They have done so, sir; for I am that unfortunate youth. I have been led from sin to sin, till I have committed that for which I must give up my life. O, sir, if no respite can be procured for nie, pray, do pray, I beseech you, to God, for my immortal soul, that it perish not." Thus you see, my young friends, the judgments of God frequently attend such undutiful conduct to parents, even in this life. But there may be some young persons who are so unhappy as to have parents who disregard religion, and discover unkindness to them for their attachment to it. But does this absolve them from their duty? By no means: it rather adds to it; and young persons thus situated should show that their religion has made them more dutiful, more affectionate, more ready to sacrifice their own happiness to that of their parents; and that it is only when obedience to parents comes in contact with obedience to God that they are warranted to disobey them. Now do you read and search the scriptures daily? Have you ever read the whole bible through? Do you make conscience of reading it through and through, again and again, from beginning to end? Again, God has given you his sabbaths; as it is written: "Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy." "Moreover, also, I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them" (Exod. xx. 8; Ezek. xx. 12). And of this day, in a prophecy which refers more especially to the period of the gospel dispensation, it is written: "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isa. Iviii. 13, 14). Accordingly, in this Christian land, one day in seven is peculiarly set apart for the worship of God. The sabbath bell sounds in your ears, to summon you to his house, that you may worship him, and hear his gospel preached. turn Do you observe his sabbaths? Do you endeayou vour to keep the Lord's day holy? Do away your heart and mind from worldly things, to consecrate that day unto the Lord? Do you improve it for special prayer and searching of the the house of God, to unite with his people in bible at home? Do you go with your family to prayer and praise, and that you and they may hear "the glorious gospel of the blessed God"? (1 Tim. i. 11). For shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: Once more: the Lord has said, “Ask, and it knock, and it shall be opened unto you. every one that asketh receiveth; and he that * From "To my Neighbour." By a converted infidel. seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke xi. 9, 10). You have, therefore, plain direction, and abundant encouragement to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. v. 17). Do you make use of this privilege which is so graciously vouchsafed you? Are you waiting God with humble and earnest prayerupon prayer for those blessings which God alone can give? Are you waiting upon him with prayer for the pardon of your sins? "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities" (Ps. li. 9), -for the cleansing and renewal of your heart? "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. li. 10)-for the gift of the Holy Ghost? "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ?" (Luke xi. 13). If you are not diligent in searching the scriptures, careful in hallowing the sabbath, and earnest and persevering in prayer, is it not evident that you are neglecting and despising both God and your own soul? Is it wise, is it right, can it be safe to go on in such a course? Do the scriptures sanction it? Can reason or common sense defend it or excuse it? Does conscience approve it? Are you prepared to answer for it, and to defend it, before the judgment-seat of Christ? Poetry. A PRAYER FOR THE LAND. BY THE AUTHOR OF "PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY." ALMIGHTY Father, hearken, Forgive, and help, and bless, Nor let thine anger darken As sin and shame and weakness We turn to thee in meekness, And trust on thee alone. O God, remember Zion, To rein thy vengeance in: And that shall cleanse the guilt. In whom we live and move, Thy tender word, "Draw near," Thou knowest, Lord, the peril If earth for us is sterile And all our labour nought. Are famine, plague, and sword, For lo! we know thy terrors Truth, Lord, we are unworthy, Turn us, that we may fear thee, Be with us in all trouble, And, as our Saviour still, Lord, recompense us double With good for all our ill. Though we deserve not pity, Yet, Lord, all bounty yieldAll blessings in the city And blessings in the field, On folded flocks and cattle, On basket and on store, All blessings evermore- August 6, 1848. LAYS OF A PILGRIM. BY MRS. H. W. RICHTER. M. F. T. (For the Church of England Magazine.) No. XL. THE ROMAN ARCH*, NEWPORT, LINCOLN. THOU lingering relic of the Roman name, Of thy departed compeers strongest, last : All, all are gone; and time has brought sad change And bring each shadowy pageant back to view; shore! *This, the most perfect relic of Roman art now remaining in the kingdom, is supposed to have been erected during the reign of the emperor Claudius, A.D. 45. When the proud legions pass'd beneath thy shade, Or Norman William seiz'd the vacant throne; Ere yon fair minster and its subject fanes, Thou wast-now left in crumbling age alone. From buried years what changes couldst thou trace, Thou silent relic of the ghostly past! But age hath marr'd thee, and upon thy face Oblivion hath a cloudy mantle cast; Tell us of glories gone, when kings uprear'd Their banners on the walls, by ancient deeds dear'd How once around thee flew the arrowy shower, When the fierce war-cry thro' the tumult rose, And the rude Saxons in their day of power, en And Danish chiefs, were thy beleaguring foes; And still thou wast, when to the bickering flame In the lone goatherd's hut the royal Alfred cameWhen widowed Maude from fierce contention fled, And Stephen's daring hand the sceptre sway'd, Perchance his warrior train beneath thee led, While the sear'd citizens his rule obey'd. Time roll'd his onward course; and thou hast known Yon palace ruins in their pristine grace, Now where the ivy clings, and flowers have grown, Decking with varied beauty time's deep trace: The long procession and the priestly throng Have issued from those gates, or spread the lofty halls among. And thou couldst tell when through that mental night Religion's day-star shot athwart the gloom; When far and wide, in her effulgence bright, Her path shed cheering light beyond the tomb; But centuries fled; and then did sad remorse, The royal Charles slept on a bloody bier. Dost thou arch o'er, while generations new New arts, new science rare, 'tis thine to view, Miscellaneous. ENCROACHMENT OF THE SEA.-The slow and unnoticed, but gradual variation which is continually taking place on our coast, is truly surprising. According to Mr. Lyall, when the inn at Sheringham, in Norfolk, was built in 1805, the spot chosen was at a distance of fifty yards from the sea, which was, from previous observation of its rate of encroachment, calculated to take seventy years to reach it. No allowance was made for the slope of ground being from the sea, in consequence of which the waste was naturally accelerated every year as the cliff grew lower, there being at every successive period less matter to remove, as portions of equal area fell down. Between the years 1824 and 1829 no less than seventeen yards were swept away; and there is now a depth of twenty feet, sufficient to float a frigate, at one point of the harbour, where, fortycight years ago, there stood a cliff fifty feet high. THE RESIDENCE OF A BISHOP.-The foundation of a diocese is said to have followed a certain law, upon the attempt to convert a nation to Christianity. A bishop, attended by his presbyters and deacons, established himself in some town or place of general resort, where the preaching of the gospel by their mouths might have been received gratefully and zealously. There the mother church was built, and the "cathedra," or throne of the bishop, set up: there this apostolical body of holy men served God in the beauty of his sanctuary day by day, and pushed forward the work of conversion in the neighbouring villages and towns. Thus station after station was occupied, and parishes were formed, each with its priest and deacon, in a circle widening and widening through successive years by radii drawn from the cathedral-city, as from a centre. Thus the country presbyters, sent forth by the bishop, and settled under his authority, depended upon his spiritual jurisdiction, and were held together in one bond of union with their head. Their daily prayer in the church was a universal custom; and neither bishop nor priest would dare to be absent, for conscience' sake. Thus an identity was observed between the bishop and his cathedral church, just as now between the country parson and the village church: the two could not be separated in idea, they were married together by popular opinion; as the mother church was the type of the harmony subsisting between herself and her children, so the bishop, standing within her sacred precincts, represented the concord of the several degrees in the ministry. Much of public convenience also followed this arrangement. The city of nevertheless always a place of chief importance, easy the diocese, if not always the geographical centre, is of access, and much frequented. The clergy, when summoned or resorting to their diocesan, enjoyed the privilege of a choral service, and might revel in that sweet harmony of sound denied to them in their remote and undowered districts, which uplifts the soul to heaven's gates, and reflects the employments of blessed angels before the throne of God himself. Ether the regulations for the observance of daily service, as enjoined by the church, are useful for edification, or they are not: if they are, then the bishop of the diocese ought to be the last person to violate them; if they are not, why are they retained so conspicuously and emphatically in the prayerbook? "All priests and deacons are to say daily the morning and evening prayer, either privately or openly, not being let [hindered] by sickness or some other urgent cause." Then follows a more stringent clause: "And the curate that ministereth in every parish-church or chapel, being at home, and not being otherwise reasonably hindered, shall say the same in the parish-church or chapel where he ministereth." Surely, in such an important matter as the public worship of Almighty God, lemnize daily, which is a standing witness against which no true church has ever yet refused to soworldly-mindedness, and no inconsiderable part of a soul's discipline for heaven, the chief pastor of a diocese, who has promised, "the Lord being his helper," "to show himself in all things an example of good works unto others, that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing to say against him," should beware of giving a handle to the adversary by his own indifference or neglect, for impugning not only the discipline and ordinances, but even the legitimate character of the church itself.-The Mirror of a Bishop. .... London: Published for the Proprietors, by EDWARDS and HUGHES, 12, Ave-Maria Lane, St. Paul's; and to be procured, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country. PRINTED BY JOSEPH ROGERSON, 24, NORFOLK-STREET, STRAND, LONDON. JOSEPH. No. II. than his brethren: he proposed that Joseph should be let down into some pit, rather than that his blood should be violently shed; and to this REUBEN appears to have been less hard-hearted the rest consented. Reuben's object was the VOL, XXV. T of his youthful gladness, and longed to be delivered from his present bondage. deliverance of the youth: he had not the courage boldly to remonstrate against the wickedness intended he thought that he could come afterwards There were two officers of the court who were when none was by, take up Joseph secretly from placed in that prison, whose dreams Joseph was the pit, and restore him, unobserved, to his father, supernaturally enabled to interpret. One was to His plan shared the fate so general with deceitful be restored to his office; and him Joseph intreated propositions; for, when he was out of the way, a to represent his hard case to the king. But the company of Ishmaelites passed by; and Judah, unthankful butler, when delivered, forgot him; who had no mind to shed blood if gain could be and it was not till two years after, that, on otherwise got, proposed to sell Joseph to these Pharaoh's dreaming two remarkable dreams, migratory merchants. They might make a profit-Joseph was thought of, and brought to stand able bargain, and with equal certainty, it seemed, before the king. frustrate Joseph's prognostications. To this proposal all agreed. Their brother was lifted from the pit, and sold for twenty pieces of silver. Again we see in Joseph a type of Christ: Christ was sold, and at the instigation of a Judas -sold into the hands of strangers; his nearest kinsman, according to the flesh, abetting the deed. THOUGHTS ON THE OMNIPRESENCE OF BY THE REV. BEAVER H. BLACKER, M.A. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost right hand shall hold me."-Ps. cxxxix. 7-10. When Reuben returned and found Joseph gone, his grief was bitter. "He returned unto his brethren, and said: The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?" But his character was unstable as water; and he weakly yielded to the purpose of the rest to deceive their father. He had not the moral courage to tell the truth; else search might IT is evident that this psalm was composed at a have been made, and Joseph ransomed and restored time when David was greatly persecuted and to his home. A long tissue of evil consequences calumniated by his enemies. For, if you are acthus resulted to himself and to his father's house. quainted with its contents, or if you read it Let us learn that honest frankness and bold deter-through, you will at once perceive that his distress mination in the straight path is the course which alone befits the professing servant of God. When Jacob's sons returned to him, they exhibited Joseph's garment of many colours steeped in blood, and pretended that they had found it. This seemed convincing proof that his beloved child was devoured by some evil beast; and the affectionate parent grieved deeply for his lose. Perhaps he yielded too much to the affliction which oppressed him; for he refused, we are told, all comfort, and seemed to "sorrow as those that have no hope." Religion does not forbid our tears to flow; but it will check an exuberant grief: i must testify that God, even when he smites, is very merciful: it will teach us to lay our griefs before his throne, and humbly submit to his chastening hand. Meanwhile Joseph had been carried into Egypt, where he was sold again to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. He entered that land a captive, which he was afterwards to rule. God had humbled him, but intended to exalt him in due time. His conduct in his new situation was so praiseworthy that his master distinguished him with special favour, and placed him over his household. There, too, his behaviour was unexceptionable. He had learned in the school of affliction, and was profited thereby. But his trials were not at an end: a sore one still awaited him. Pleasure spread her snares for him; and sin allured him by sensual enjoyment. But Joseph was sustained by divine grace: "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" His refusal exposed him to calumnious accusation; and his master, too easily believing the charge, cast him into prison. Here, too, he found favour with the keeper, and was entrusted with a kind of authority. But his soul yearned for freedom: he thought of the days of mind was unusually severe. Yet observe, his sorrows did not assume the character of despair. On what, then, did he found his hope? Where did he repose his grief? Whence did he draw comfort to his soul in this season of deep affliction? It was on the fixed belief that the God whom he loved and served was every where, was omnipresent, "beholding the evil and the good;" that in vain will man seek a spot in the whole creation, where the divine protection is not felt, or whither the divine anger does not follow; that heaven is the seat of God's glory; that this world, in all its wide extent, is the scene of his providence; and that even hell (i. e., the grave) must at his command give up its dead, and, consequently, is the theatre of his power, and under his absolute control. Thus did the psalmist declare his belief in God's omnipresence. And this doctrine is as clearly taught in other parts of scripture. For example, we read in the Proverbs of Solomon, "Hell and destruction are before the Lord; how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" (xv. 11). The prophet Jeremiah likewise asked whether any man can hide himself in secret places that God shall not see him; adding, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord" (xxiii. 24). And St. Paul declares that "neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb. iv.). Conceiving it unnecessary to multiply passages of similar import, I shall merely remind my readers of that encouraging promise given to the faithful of every age and nation, that "where two or three are gathered together" to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, there in the midst of them is the Saviour of the world, to hear and answer their supplications. |