"knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.” The sable-clad, scornful personage, stationed near Superstition, is Infidelity though so dissimilar, they are very nearly related, being twin brethren. The slave of the one cannot ensure himself not being also led captive by the other; like the fabled twins of antiquity, these gloomy tyrants are alternate sovereigns, though not unfrequently do they govern conjointly. His sable habit betokens the darkness that reigns within-"he walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth.' "If a man walk in the night he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." How many among professing Christians, if questioned as to their belief in the truths of Christianity, would say, "Of course I believe;" when these vital truths have never been made à matter of the heart and understanding. In which case is it surprising, that though flourishing outwardly, “making a fair show in the flesh," displaying an exuberance of foliage, thereby yielding a refreshing shade to the weary traveller, there should be no fruit on these barren fig trees? They may perform good works either to "have praise of men," or from native benevolence and kindliness of disposition, but alas! while benefiting their fellow-men, they are themselves scorched with drought, and therefore cannot bring forth that "fruit unto holiness, the end whereof is everlasting life." "Lo! I come, seeking fruit." How little, then, it would seem are we aware of the baleful presence, the near vicinity of this dark-browed enemy, who weaves around us "the spider's web," and instils his fatal poison into his heedless victims, unconscious of his approach! It was he who, to ensnare unsuspecting innocence, put the guileful question, "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden ?" The sad result we too well know. "Man disobeying, disloyal, broke his fealty," and thus "brought death into the world, and all our woe!" Credulity, the handmaiden of Superstition, slays her thousands, but does not Infidelity slay "his ten thousands?" Various are the wiles of this agent of Satan to withdraw man from his allegiance to his God; secret and tortuous are the paths which conduct to the more open and avowed blasphemy. So subtle is this spirit, it were easier to perceive the atmosphere that presses around us than to detect his presence. There are again those who deny the existence of a hell! -though perhaps self-love leads them to hope there may be a heavenfor them who give the lie to Omnipotence! Oh! the patience, the long-suffering of God, "who is provoked every day;" yet these, despite their boasting, would fain calm the unquiet conscience," that candle of the Lord," well nigh "put out in obscure darkness," by accrediting the father of lies, who said, "Ye shall not surely die." Like the ant-lion, who entraps his unwary prey by blinding him with sand, so did the arch enemy blind the minds of our first parents; and thus does he still seek to do with every descendant of Adam, by insinuating first a doubt, which implanted in so genial a soil as the heart of man, quickly germinates, (if there be no counteracting influence,) and yields a rank, luxuriant harvest. It was "while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat "they that sleep, sleep in the night," Satan's seed-time. Let us, then, "be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist, stedfast in the faith." The gaping few who forsook their former associates, and joined the majority, is the newly risen sect, who seeking to be "wise above what is written, have fallen into temptation and a snare :"-for wherewithal shall a man "cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word." This is the hand-post, the directions whereon are so plain, that "he may run that readeth ;" and none, by closely following them, ever missed salvation. Sufficient inducement surely, both for trial and perseverance, since "a wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein." But man will "be wise, though born like a wild ass's colt," yet is there a wisdom from beneath, as there is also another from above; and it were well to inquire which will best satisfy the cravings of an immortal spirit! Unsanctified wisdom is termed foolishness, it is the knowledge that "puffeth up;" ministers to man's natural vain-gloriousness, and leaves him utterly defenceless against the attacks of his spiritual enemies. Then being "vainly puffed up in his fleshly mind," he is ever seeking "to hear or tell of some new thing;" like a vitiated palate, to tempt which stimulants and provocatives are applied, which however only aggravate the disease, till at length the patient expires! and thus is it with the soul,fevered, parched, restless,—had she but come to the great Physician of souls, the fever would have "left her," she would "arise, and minister unto Him;" in other words, have been enabled to offer Him acceptable service; but no, the senses must be excited and gratified, while the soul, being fed only upon husks-starves; "for to be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded (only) is life and peace. The intoxicating liquor is flattery, "which, however enticing when it giveth its colour in the cup, at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." "Ye shall be as gods, knowing both good and evil!" In yielding to the Circean blandishments of flattery, we resemble the man who, in giving himself up to strong potations, is unable "to direct his steps," sees double; while the sorceress, who proffers the dazzling bait, exults at every stumble, and glories in his fall;-yet "he hasteth as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not it is for his life;"-though "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken' they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink." "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes." "They walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth;" having dropped the guide-book, and with it cast aside that 'anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, even the hope that is in Christ Jesus," they are tossed to and fro with every blast of vain doctrine;" then are their vacillating steps directed to another and most fallacious guide, the writings and traditions of frail, erring man! This falsified chart cannot but lead us astray. Lo! here a deep pit-there, "dark mountains," whereon our feet must assuredly stumble-beyond, a more than Egyptian darkness. It were attempting to explore the secrets of a vast subterranean cavern by the flickering light of an expiring taper; to adventure ourselves with our unaided reason, our obscured understanding, into such a labyrinth of shallow conceits and fancies, 66 66 66 There is but one clew that we can implicitly follow, would we securely thread its mazes, and escape being devoured by the hydra-headed monster-Error;-there is but one torch that nothing can or will extinguish, by whose blessed light we "see everything clearly," we thereby find "it is written." (Oh! may we "hear and fear," lest a judicial blindness fall also upon us!) "Wherefore the Lord said, As this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men; therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder: the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Despising "the simplicity that is in Christ," they seek to be clothed as their new friends, with the meritorious works of fallen man. "A covering too narrow for a man to wrap himself withal.” "They cover with a covering but not of my spirit." It is a polluted garment, infected with the "fretting leprosy" of original sin: can it be a fitting apparel wherein to present themselves before a pure and holy God? Should we not rather imitate him, who casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus ;" and cast away "the garment spotted by the flesh ?" then washed in the "fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness,"-submit to be arrayed in the robe of our Saviour's righteousness? He will then, and then only, graciously accept the good works He enables us to perform; the "myrrh, aloes, and cassia," of His merits, His allsufficient atonement, will render them an acceptable sacrifice; as the "first fruits" we offer to God in evidence of 66 a true and lively faith," a renewed and sanctified heart. We must "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him;" but, oh! let no child of Adam talk of meriting the heaven he has forfeited! The thick woods are the perverse wills and wild imaginations of men; "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth," the approaching night is the mental darkness that will most assuredly overtake every man "who maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." Being out of "the way" and thereby "having the understanding darkened," "they err in vision, they stumble in judgment;" then does "pride compass them about as a chain, violence covers them as a garment;" so that those who "trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not unto their own understanding," "become a reproach, a scorn, and a derision unto them." The book that changes into a two-edged sword is of course "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"-" Holding forth the word of life." "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." "For the word is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow;" My sword shall be bathed in heaven;"" If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to mine enemies." The trees and rocks are the schemes and devices of men, "Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up;' 66 They may build, but I will throw down, saith the Lord." The tall shadowy form is Time, as my readers VOL. IX.-April, 1847. New Series, No. 16. دو I have doubtless guessed: "yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry." The dark stagnant river is death. "The night cometh when no man can work." As time conducts to darkness and silence, he has the wings of a bat, and as that creature loves to skim over streams, so Time is represented as hovering over the river of death, which deepens the gloom of his departing aspect to those whose misspent hours, and neglected opportunities and means of grace, fill them with darkness and dismay; "This shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow;" but to those "whom when the Lord cometh he finds watching," Time, as he recedes from their view, wears only a brighter semblance than before, the gate of death is to them but the porch of life! having "fought the good fight," they know," there is a crown of glory laid up for them.' The barge with gold-tipped oars is-Purgatory! It is they who before their final summons are purged from "the old leaven," and "sleep in Christ," that shall "awake to everlasting joy." The branch-is Christ, "He shall raise up before Him a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper," "Whose dominion shall be, from everlasting to everlasting:" and as the olive is the symbol of peace, so His gracious promise, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, through the rivers they shall not overflow thee," shall "speak peace" to the soul of the departing believer, while underneath him shall be "the everlasting arms ;" and thus, دو When heart and flesh alike shall fail, To stay the fleeting breath; Can to the struggling soul" speak peace," What though life's tide be ebbing fast? She soars,-to meet her God! H. A PLEA FOR IRELAND. AN ADDRESS TO THE CHRISTIAN LADIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. DAUGHTERS OF ENGLAND,-Permit a friend, in the spirit of affectionate humility, to address you at the present season; a season of no ordinary calamity,-a season when the cries of our fellow-creatures, perishing from famine, call aloud not only for the sympathy, but the aid, the self-denying aid, of all who have hearts to feel for the sufferings of others. There needs no lengthened argument to prove the reality of the miseries of unhappy Ireland, or to convince the public mind of the melancholy fact that hundreds of our race are continually swept off by the hand of famine, and hurried to that eternity for which it is to be feared too few of them are prepared. No, the reality of this sad truth is too well attested; and it is not to raise the tear of useless pity, or wring the heart with unavailing sorrow, that this appeal is made to the ladies of Christian Britain, but it is to urge them to prompt, to energetic, to self-denying exertion, to exertions, the reward of which will be felt in the secret approval of their own conscience, and the smile of Him who shall, before an assembled world of men and angels, say unto them, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.' But does the heart of one who may read these lines reply, I grieve for Ireland, but I have done all I can-gladly would I relieve the distress for which I mourn, but my means are inadequate. But is it so? is it so indeed with the vast majority of British ladies? can they not spare from the sums they annually expend in dress, in amusement, in a variety of trifles, what would dry the orphan's tear, and cause the widow's fainting heart to sing for joy? Oh, could they but be eyewitness of the harrowing scenes of deep distress, which mock the feeble powers of description, they would return from the heartrending spectacle with a keener and more enduring conviction, that a season like the present demands, imperatively demands, more than ordinary self-denial. The writer of this address, though she would grieve to incur the displeasure of any, feels compelled to ask whether the general style of dress among professing Christians is in accordance with the simplicity of the Gospel standard; whether there be not too much conformity to the world in its habits, its maxims, its opinions; and whether an unscriptural dread of being accounted singular, leads them not to shrink from that honourable appellation, bestowed by the pen of inspiration on the chosen generation-" a peculiar people ;” and if it be true that the Gospel requires of its followers simplicity and self-denial in every age, and under all circumstances, how much greater need is there for them in the present distress, when what if not absolutely unlawful before but only not expedient, now becomes absolutely criminal. But we would fain hope, yes, and we know, that many will readily come forward and gladly from their abundance contribute to the relief of the distressed. There have also been examples bright, noble, though humble examples of self-denying charity among the poorer class, which should shame the selfishness of those who spend, to pamper pride and vanity, those riches intrusted to them by their Maker as talents to be employed to His glory, and to be accounted for hereafter. But we leave such characters; we know of no arguments sufficiently powerful to warm the hearts of those whom pride and selfishness have frozen, we gladly leave them (rejoicing they form not the majority of the daughters of our Isle), and turn to those who know what it is to be actuated by the constraining influence of the love of Christ, that strongest, sweetest, most powerful incentive to self-denying exertion; oh, can they reflect on that Lord and Master, who though He was rich, for their sakes became poor, that they |