DIVINE PROVIDENCE ILLUSTRATED. "THE GREAT STORM" IN 1703. MR. EDITOR.-Your truly "Christian Magazine," ought by no means to omit all allusion to the recent destructive gales on Tuesday, Nov. 29, by which we have had such awakening manifestations of Divine Providence. Isaiah declared, in the spirit of elevated devotion, addressing himself to God Almighty, "When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabi tants of the world will learn righteousness" (Isai. xxvi. 9). There is reason to believe that, according to the design of these indications of the supremacy of Almighty God, that not a few have been led to contemplate his righteous tribunal and, by faith in Christ, to seck his face and favour. However, your instructive work ought, in my opinion, to contain some record of the recent alarming visitation-and I therefore send you some particulars in addition, of the "Great Storm" in 1703, which was far more terrible and destructive than that which we have recently witnessed. At the same time, it is proper to remark that all natural evil or suffering, must arise under the administration of God, who is infinitely righteous and benevolent-from the existence of moral evil-or sin. The following particulars I have gleaned from several sources, and I have no doubt but they will be read with much interest. And praying for the increasing success and usefulness of your Christian periodical, which I rejoice to learn will be continued, I remain, your friend, PHILANTHROPOS. "THE GREAT STORM IN 1703." This tremendous hurricane in 1703, is spoken of as the GREAT STORM; and it is remarkable that our recent visitation, like that, occurred in the month of November; the Great Storm was at its height on the 27th, the late gales on the 29th, and in both the wind blew from the same quarter. The fearful tempest of 1703 was preceded by a strong west wind, which set in about the middle of the month; and every day, and almost every hour, increased in force until the 24th, when it blew furiously, occasioned much alarm, and some damage was sustained. On the 25th, and through the night following, it continued with unusual violence. On the morning of Friday, the 26th, it raged so fearfully, that only few people had courage to venture abroad. Towards evening it rose still higher; the night setting in with excessive darkness added general horror to the scene, and prevented any from seeking security abroad from their homes, had that been possible. The extraordinary power of the wind created a noise, hoarse and dreadful, like thunder, which carried terror to every ear, and appalled every heart. There were also appearances in the heavens that resembled lightning. "The air," says a writer at the time, was full of meteors and fiery vapours;" yet, he adds, "I am of opinion, that there was really no lightning, in the common acceptation of the term; for the clouds, that flew with such violence through the air, were not, to my observation, such as are usually freighted with thunder and lightning; the hurries nature was then in do not consist with the system of thunder." Some imagined the tempest was accompanied with an earthquake. "Horror and confusion seized upon all, whether on shore or at sea; no pen can describe it, no tongue can express it, no thought can conceive it, unless theirs who were in the extremity of it; and who, being touched with a due sense of the sparing mercy of their Maker, retain the deep impressions of his goodness One upon their minds, though the danger be pas. To venture abroad was to rush into instant death, and to stay within afforded no other prospect than that of being buried under the ruins of a falling habitation. Some in their distraction did the former, and met death in the streets; others the latter, and in their own houses received their final doom." hundred and twenty-three persons were killed by the falling of dwellings; amongst these were the bishop of Bath and Wells (Dr. Richard Kidder) and his lady, by the fall of part of the episcopal palace of Wells, and lady Penelope Nicholas, sister to the bishop of London, at Horsley, in Sussex. Those who perished in the waters, in the floods of the Severn and the Thames, on the coast of Holland, and in ships blown away and never heard of afterwards, are computed to have amounted to 8000. All ranks and degrees were affected by this amazing tempest, for every family that had any thing to lose lost something: land, houses, churches, corn, trees, rivers, all were disturbed or damaged by its fury; small buildings were for the most part wholly swept away, "as chaff before the wind." Above 800 dwelling-houses were laid in ruins. Few of those that resisted escaped from being unroofed, which is clear from the prodigious increase in the price of tiles, which rose from 21s. to 67. the thousand. About 2000 stacks of chimneys were blown down in and about London. When the day broke, the houses were mostly stripped, and appeared like so many skeletons. The consternation was so great that trade and business were suspended, for the first occupation of the mind was to repair the houses that families might be preserved from the inclemency of the weather in the rigorous season. The streets were covered with brickbats, broken tiles, signs, bulks, and penthouses. The lead which covered 100 churches, and many public buildings, was rolled up, and hurled in prodigious quantities to distances almost incredible; spires and turrets of many others were thrown down. Innumerable stacks of corn and hay were blown away, or so torn and scattered as to receive great damage. Multitudes of cattle were lost. In one level in Gloucestershire, on the banks of the Severn, 15,000. sheep were drowned. Innumerable trees were torn up by the roots; one writer says that he himself numbered 17,000 in part of the county of Kent alone, and that, tired with counting, he left off reckoning. The damage in the city of London only, was computed at near 2,000,000. At Bristol it was 200,000. In the whole, it was supposed that the loss was greater than that produced by the great fire of London, 1666, which was estimated at 4,000,000l. The greater part of the navy was at sea, and if the storm had not been at its height at full flood, and in spring-tide, the loss might have been nearly fatal to the nation. It was so considerable that fifteen or sixteen men of war were cast away, and more than 2000 seamen perished. Few merchantmen were lost; for most of those that were driven to sea were safe. The rear-admiral of the blue, in the ship called the Mary, sunk with admiral Beaumont, and above five hundred men drowned. The ship called the Northumberland, about five hundred men, all sunk and drowned. The ship called the Stirling Castle, all sunk and drowned, above five hundred souls; and the ship called the Restoration, all sunk and drowned. These ships were all close by us, which I saw; they fired their guns all night and day for help, but the storm being so fierce and raging, could have none to save them. A man belonging to the Mary, all the ship's company but himself being lost, by the help of a piece of the broken ship, got on board the Northumberland; but the violence of the storm continuing, the Northumberland ran the same fate with the Mary, and was split to pieces; yet this person, by a singular providence, was one of sixty-four that were delivered out of that ship, all the rest perishing in the sea. A ship, homeward bound from the West Indies, was in the utmost danger of foundering, when the captain saw all, as he thought, lost, and expecting every moment to sink, he calls to him the surgeon of the ship, and by a fatal contract, as soon made as hastily executed, they resolved to prevent the death they feared by one more certain, and, going into the cabin, they both shot themselves. It pleased God the ship recovered the distress, and the captain just lived to see the desperate course he took might have been spared. The surgeon died immediately. The ships lost by the storm were estimated at 300. In the river Thames only four ships remained between London-bridge and Limehouse, the rest being driven below, and lying there miserably beating against one another. 500 wherries, 300 ship-boats, and 100 lighters and barges, were entirely lost; and a much greater number received considerable damage. The wind blew from the western seas, which preventing many ships from putting to sea, and driving others into harbour, occasioned great numbers to escape destruction. The Eddystone lighthouse, near Plymouth, was precipitated in the surrounding ocean, and with it Mr. Winstanley, the architect by whom it was contrived, and the people who were with him.-"Having been frequently told that the edifice was too slight to withstand the fury of the winds and waves, he was accustomed to reply contemptuously, that he only wished to be in it when a storm should happen. Unfortunately his desire was gratified. Signals of distress were made, but in so tremendous a sea no vessel could live, or would venture to put off for their relief." 66 So awful a visitation produced serious impressions on the government, and a day of fasting and humiliation was appointed by authority. The introductory part of the proclamation issued by queen Anne for that purpose claims attention from its solemn import: “ Whereas, by the late most terrible and dreadful | storms of wind, with which it hath pleased Almighty God to afflict the greatest part of this our kingdom on Friday and Saturday, the twenty-sixth and twentyseventh days of November last, some of our ships of war, and many ships of our loving subjects, have been destroyed and lost at sea, and great numbers of our subjects serving on board the same have perished, and many houses and other buildings of our good subjects have been either wholly thrown down and demolished, or very much damnified and defaced, and thereby several persons have been killed, and many stacks of corn and hay thrown down and scattered abroad, to the great damage and impoverishment of many others, especially the poorer sort, and great numbers of timber and other trees have by the said storm been torn up by the roots in many parts of this our kingdom; a calamity of this sort so dreadful and astonishing, that the like hath not been seen or felt in the memory of any person living in this our kingdom, and which loudly calls for the deepest and most solemn humiliation of us and our people: therefore, out of a deep and pious sense of what we and all our people have suffered by the said dreadful wind and storms (which we most humbly acknowledge to be a token of the divine displeasure, and that it was the infinite mercy of God that we and our people were not thereby wholly destroyed), we have resolved, and do hereby command, that a general public fast be observed," &c. This public fast was accordingly observed throughout England, on the 19th of January following, with great seriousness and devotion by all orders and denominations. The Protestant Dissenters, notwithstanding their objections to the civil magistrate in matters of religion, deeming this to be an occasion wherein they might unite with their countrymen in openly bewailing the general calamity, rendered the supplication universal, by opening their places of worship, and every church and meeting-house was crowded. GUIDE TO THE BIBLE CLASS. 66 BY THE AUTHOR OF THE COMPANION TO THE BIBLE. " Continued from page 398. CHAPTER XI.-Religion of the Bible. Levitical Dispensation, (continued.) Teacher. I hope you are desirous of continuing our conversations on the Levitical dispensation of religion. Scholar. O yes; I have read again the first twelve chapters of Exodus; and I want to know all about the Israelites. Teacher. Your diligence and wishes afford me much pleasure: and I hope while you read and inquire about these things, you will pray that your mind may be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Scholar. What ceremonies were observed in the daily sacrifice of the Israelites ? Teacher. The daily sacrifice was a lamb, presented to God as a burnt-offering, both morning and evening : one about nine o'clock in the morning, as an atonement for the sins of the people during the night, and the other about three o'clock, for their sins in the day. This sacrifice was doubled on the Sabbath, two lambs being offered at each service. While the sacrifice was on the fire, the people worshipped in the court of the tabernacle, and the priests burnt incense on the golden altar, praying for the people. Scholar. I do not recollect reading about this in Bible. Teacher. Many who have grown old never read it in their Bibles; such is their neglect of the holy Scriptures. Read now these marked verses : "Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even and with the one lamb a tenth-deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drinkoffering. And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meatoffering of the morning, and according to the drinkoffering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD. This shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD; where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee" (Exod. xxix. 38—42). Scholar. What was the annual sacrifice of the Israelites ? Teacher. The annual sacrifice was a solemn national festival, at which first, the high-priest offered a bullock, as an atonement for himself and his family, and afterwards two goats, as an atone ment for the sins of the whole nation of Israel, and in the presence of a great concourse of people from various parts of the nation. Scholar. Then I suppose that the annual sacrifice would be a very affecting service. Teacher. To pious persons it must have been very affecting for after the high-priest had confessed the sins of the nation over the heads of the animals, one was slain, and offered by fire, after the manner of the daily sacrifice, while the other was led, bearing the sins of the people, into the wilderness to be seen no more. Read now the verses marked in my Bible, which relate to the manner and ceremonies of the annual sacrifice. Scholar. "And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one for the LORD, and the other for the scape-goat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sinoffering: but the goat on which the lot fell to be the scape-goat, shall be presented alive before the LORD to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scape-goat into the wilderness. And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar; and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins, once a year" (Lev. xv. 7-10, 21, 33, 34). Teacher. You should read over the whole chapter carefully that you may understand the whole service of the annual sacrifice of the Israelites. Scholar. What were the duties of the priests of the Israelites ? Teacher. Their duties related to all the services of the tabernacle, especially the offering of the various sacrifices, the burning of incense, and the making of intercession for the people: the duties of the highpriest were peculiarly significant and solemn. Scholar. I wish you would inform me all about the duties of the priests of Israel. Teacher. Our short conversation would not allow an explanation of every thing relating to the priests of Israel; but you will find them prescribed in the books of Moses, and expressed generally in a few words by the apostle in the epistle to the Hebrews. Read now the former part of the ninth chapter, which is a commentary to explain the design of the Levitical dispensation. Scholar. "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made, the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shew-bread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we can not now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high-priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come a high-priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. ix. 1-12). Teacher. This explanation of the Levitical ceremonies, by an inspired apostle, shews that they were intended as "figures," to represent the perfect blessings of Christianity, preparing the Israelites for the coming of Christ. Scholar. All this surprises me, because I did not know what the Levitical ceremonies were intended for, much less that they were designed to prepare the Israelites for Christianity. Teacher. That, nevertheless, was the design of God; and you will be surprised still more, and filled with admiration, as you grow older and understand more clearly the meaning of the Scriptures, particularly the Epistle to the Hebrews: you will find, indeed, that the principal design of God, in the ministry and writings of his holy prophets, was to prepare the people of Israel to receive the long expected Messiah. To be continued. PARAPHRASE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER. MR. EDITOR.-Perceiving your willingness and readiness to gratify your readers in complying with their wishes on particular subjects, I shall be greatly obliged by your giving a "Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer," in an early number of your Magazine. In doing this I believe you would gratify and benefit many others besides, PARVULUS. "Parvulus" is not the only one who has desired this service; and we have, therefore, the greater pleasure in complying with his wishes. "The Lord's Prayer" consists of three parts; a most instructive preface-six comprehensive petitions and a sublime conclusion in a lofty doxology. The preface, Our Father, who art in heaven, lays a general foundation for prayer, comprising what we must first know of God, before we can pray in confidence of being heard. It likewise points out to us that faith, humility, love of God and man, with which we are to approach God in prayer. I. Our Father-Who art good and gracious to all, our Creator, our Preserver; the Father of our Lord, and of us in him, thy children by adoption and grace; not my father only, who now cry unto thee, but the Father of the universe, of angels and men. Who art in heaven-Beholding all things both in heaven and earth, knowing every creature, and all the works of every creature, and every possible event from everlasting to everlasting; the Almighty Lord and Ruler of all, superintending and disposing of all things. In heaven-Eminently there, but not there alone, seeing thou fillest heaven and earth. II. 1. Hallowed be thy name-Mayest thou, O Father, be truly known by all intelligent beings, and with affections suitable to that knowledge: mayest thon be duly honoured, loved, feared, by all in heaven and in earth, by all angels and all men. 2. Thy kingdom come-May thy kingdom of grace come quickly, and swallow up all the kingdoms of the earth: may all mankind, receiving thee, Ŏ Christ, for their king, truly believing in thy name, be filled with righteousness, and peace, and joy; with holiness and happiness, till they are removed hence into thy kingdom of glory, to reign with thee for ever and ever. 3. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heavenMay all the inhabitants of the earth do thy will as willingly as the holy angels: may these do it contitinually even as they, without any interruption of their willing service; yea and perfectly as they. Mayest thou, O Spirit of grace, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make them perfect in every good work to do thy will, and work in them all that is well-pleasing in thy sight. 4. Give us, O Father, (for we claim nothing of right, but only of thy free mercy) this day (for we take no thought for the morrow) our daily breadAll things needful for our souls and bodies: not only the meat that perisheth, but the sacramental bread, and thy grace, the food which endureth to eternal life. 5. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors-Give us, O Lord, redemption in thy blood, even the forgiveness of sin; as thou enablest us freely and fully to forgive every man, so do thou forgive all our trespasses. 6. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil-Whenever we are tempted, O thou that helpest our infirmities, suffer us not to enter into temptation-To be overcome or suffer loss thereby; be but make a way for us to escape, so that we may more than conquerors, through thy love, over sin and all the consequences of it. Now the principal desire of a Christian's heart being the glory of God (ver. 9, 10), and all he wants for himself or his brethren being the daily bread of soul and body (or the support of life, animal and spiritual), pardon of sin, and deliverance from the power of it and of the devil (ver. Il-13); there is nothing besides that a Christian can wish for: therefore this prayer comprehends all desires. Eternal life is the certain consequence, or rather completion of holiness. III. For thine is the kingdom-The sovereign right of all things that are or ever were created. The power-The executive power, whereby thou governest all things in thine everlasting kingdom. And the glory-The praise due from every creature, for thy power, and all thy wondrous works, and the mightiness of thy kingdom, which endureth through all ages, even for ever and ever-It is observable, that though the doxology, as well as the petitions of this prayer is threefold, and is directed to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, distinctly, yet is the whole fully applicable, both to every person, and to the ever-blessed and undivided Trinity. EPITOME OP WAR.-The history of every war is very like a scene I once saw in Niths-dale: two boys from different schools met one fine day upon the ice. They eyed each other with rather jealous and indignant looks, and with defiance on each brow. "What's that to "What are ye glowrin' at, Billy?" you? I'll look where I have a mind, an' hinder me if ye daur." A hearty blow was the return to this, and there such a battle began! It being Saturday, all the boys of both schools were on the ice, and the fight instantly became general and desperate. At one time they fought with missile weapons, such as stones and snow-balls; but at length they coped in a rage, and many bloody wraps were liberally given and received. I went up to try if I could pacify them; for by this time a number of little girls had joined the affray, and I was afraid they would be killed; so, addressing the one party, I asked what they were pelting the others for? What had they done to them? 'O, naething at a' man; we just want to gie them a good thrashin'." After fighting till they were quite exhausted, one of the principal heroes stepped forth between, covered with blood, and his clothes torn in tatters, addressed the belligerent parties thus: "Weel, I'll tell you what we'll do wi' ye, if ye'll let us alone, we'll let you alone." There was no more of it; the war was at an end, and the boys scattered away to their play. I thought at the time, and have often thought since, that that trivial affray was the best epitome of war in general that I had ever seen. Kings and ministers of state are just a set of grown up children, exactly like the children I speak of, with only this material difference, that instead of fighting out the needless quarrels they have raised, they sit in safety and look on, hound out their innocent but servile subjects to battle, and then, after a waste of blood and treasure, are glad to make the boy's condition, "If ye'll let us alone, we'll let you alone."-Ettrick Shepherd. REVIEW. The Young Christian's Pocket-Book; or, Counsels, THERE is a mass of practical wisdom in this minia- While it may be difficult to describe what this work contains, we give one page as a specimen :— "Flesh and blood will be sure to oppose you in spiritual services; Paul would not consult them. "Are you in danger? Repair to God, and say to him, with David, 'I flee unto thee to hide me.' "God makes a way for his people where they cannot find one : He that hath mercy on them will lead them.' "Jesus Christ possesses all we can want, all we can as Christians wish, and all we can possibly enjoy. "We should cultivate friendship with all who are in friendship with God: See that ye love one another.' "God pardons great sins, bestows great favours, and so gets great glory. "If you see any thing your duty, the sooner you attend to it the better; David says, ' I made haste and delayed not that I might keep thy testimonies.' Follow his example." (P. 84.) THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. Continued from page 392. PROMPTLY obedient to the voice divine, Queen, Candace, the keeper of her wealth, Of his appointment, were daily offered, For guilty men of ev'ry tribe and clime. And his redemption, "Dost thou understand "Should guide me? Thou canst give me, I perceive, "Thou man of God, th' instruction that I need"Sit with me and say, of whom the prophet Speaks." Then Philip, with joyful heart and tongue, Began at the text propos'd, and Jesus Preach'd, as by the prophet declar'd, slaughter'd Divine illumination fill'd his mind : Faithful Philip, by his noble convert Needed no more, by the Spirit of the Lord Caught away, was found at Ashdod, passing * Psal. Iviii. 3; Zeph. iii. 10. Through all the cities, he preach'd salvation By Jesus Christ, and dwelt at Cæsarea, Blessed for many years, and made a blessing †. To be continued. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ILLS OF LIFE. "If every man's internal care "The fatal secret when revealed "Of every aching breast, "Would prove that only while concealed, The above anonymous lines, copied from a friend's album, suggested the following. "If every man's internal care" Is Self-which oft when most conceal'd, Unnumbered blessings every hour Our thankless souls forget; Nor value as we ought the dower, What, though some light affliction bends Of meek obedience; meekness lends What, though some heavier woes oppress, What, though we're plunged in deep distress, Is there no balm to mitigate The sufferings we endure; No means of ease or cure? And help us bear our load; Is there no life beyond the grave? Is there no power in Truth to save O! there is life, and light, and heaven, |