To the realms of perfect bliss
Or the fathomless abyss?

Death, I'm not afraid of thee,
Jesus bore the curse for me;
Christ for me was crucified,
I through Him am justified;
Jesus took thy sting away,

I shall live in endless day.

J. S. HARVEY.

LINES

Addressed to a travelling Friend, engaged in promoting the spread of the Gospel.

THE

YOUTHS' MAGAZINE;

OR

Evangelical Miscellany.

JULY, 1832.

CAVE OF ELEPHANTA.

Ir is extremely probable that for many years immediately succeeding the flood, man continued to lead a wandering life, moving from place to place, and pitching his tent where he thought he could find rich and abundant pasturage for his cattle, and a plentiful supply of clear water; his wants were few, his manners simple, and the mildness of an Eastern clime precluded the necessity of a more substantial shelter than his tent afforded. In this state the only monuments erected would be, the rough stone as the token of a covenant-the heap raised, as a memorial of the departed-and the altar of rude workmanship, upon which the sacrifice was offered, the smoke of which ascended to heaven with the prayers of the faithful, without any of that pomp and splendor which disgraced the more heartless worship which unhappily succeeded it.

But as the wickedness of man became great upon the earth, they were compelled to associate together for mutual defence, and choosing generally the summit of a lofty rock, they surrounded it with VOL. V. 3d SERIES.

T

walls, and within the fortress thus erected, the inhabitants of the neighbouring country found shelter when danger threatened. Such was *Jerusalem, Athens, Argos, Corinth, Troy, and many other cities of antiquity.†

But as we find recorded in the Old Testament, the "City and the Tower" were generally erected at the same time. The Tower of Babel there mentioned, was undoubtedly intended as a Temple, probably to the honor of the host of heaven.

What was the style of the earlier temples we have no means of judging, but many think that they were built on the plan of the British Temple at Stonehenge, circular and without roofs. Others again think that temples hewn in the rock were the most ancient, and of this species of architecture the cavern temples in India are the earliest and most remarkable specimens.

One of these, Elephanta, is represented in the engraving annexed; it is situated on an island, near Bombay, and has been described as 120 feet long, and as many wide, cut out of the solid rock, and supported by numerous pillars, variously ornamented. The sides of this temple are very thickly covered with sculptures, among which are some colossal figures fourteen feet in height, executed with great taste; these figures are said to be more beautiful than those found in Egypt, though inferior in elegance to Grecian statues. No date has been fixed with certainty for the excavation of this temple. The Hindoos themselves, however, say, that it was made by their God about 6000 years ago!

It is a most remarkable fact, that the temples of Egypt bear a great resemblance to those of India; and Burchardt,

* Clarke's Travels, Vol. 2-4to.

+ See Youths' Magazine for May, which contains a British fortress of this kind.

Asiatic Researches, Vol. 3.