fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me." Faith was triumphant-the gold had been tried and found pure; the father, tasked to the uttermost, had stood; and, lo! Isaac bounded from the altar, in all the joy of recovered freedom, and fell on his father's neck in passionate tears. Oh, did ever father and son bend in such overwhelming gratitude before an altar as they, or did the smoke of sacrifice ever go up over two more devoted hearts that then and there went up from the top of Moriah? Faith sublime, unequalled holy faith, consecrated that mountain for ever.

Years afterward the temple of Solomon threw the sunbeams upon it, and the children of Israel paid their vows there; but it has no memorial like that of the offering up of Isaac.

What a wonderful sight is here set before us! The long-expected seed, the son of joy, the child of promise, the well-beloved Isaac, now grown up to maturity, and entwining every day more closely round the tender affections of his parents, of which he was justly deserving; nay, the Church's hope, and the declared progenitor of Him "in whom all the families of the earth are blessed;" bound, laid upon the altar, and mildly expecting the fatal blow from the hand of his loving father; who, with collected firmness and intrepid resolution, takes the knife to shed his blood, and prepares immediately to kindle that fire which is to consume him to ashes!

For this singular conduct Abraham could render no other reason than the express command of God: nor was there any other principle of obedience to that extraordinary command (an obedience never equalled by mere man), but faith, an unshaken belief of the Lord's testimony, a firm expectation of the accomplishment of his promises, and a full confidence in his wisdom, power, and love. Though the command seemed to run counter to those promises, Abraham knew it only seemed to do so: obedience was his part, and the Lord would take care to glorify his own faithfulness. He had received Isaac from God, who had a right to dispose of him: honour and comfort were in his path; and, though untried before, with undaunted constancy he walked in it.-Hear this, ye inattentive objectors, who traduce the doctrine of salvation by faith, as inimical to practical godliness; go, and upon your principles equal and exceed this obedience: till then be dumb, or allow that, though you understand it not, this apparently weak principle produces effects beyond comparison prodigious. Hear this, likewise, ye abusers of this most holy faith, whose conduct merits still deeper indignation; who "say you have faith," yet cleave to your sins, renounce not the world, deny not your selves, refuse the cross, are lovers of your selves, of pleasure, of money, or of worldly

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honour, more than lovers of God; and instead of parting with a deservedly beloved Isaac at God's command, like Judas, kiss Christ, and sell him to his enemies for a few pieces of silver, or some vile sensual gratification! Here then compare your faith with Abraham's, and acknowledge that ye are no genuine sons of this "father of the faithful;" but that your faith is dead, your hope presumptuous, and that Abraham disowns and is ashamed of you. In plain language, nothing but faith will carry a man through with unreserved obedience in every possible trial; and that is no true faith, which perseveres in refusing to obey a plain command, in any case whatever. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." -In proportion as faith stands this test, when sharply and repeatedly tried, we may be assured that we are Abraham's children, interested in his covenant, and in the oath by which it was confirmed; and have a right to that strong consolation which by it God wills and intends for his people.-Scott.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATION.

THE SHOWER OF STONES.

"And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-heron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword."-Joshua x. 11.

IT is very doubtful whether a shower of hailstones, or of bodies actually stony, or at least mineral, is here intended. The text literally rendered is, "And Jehovah caused great stones to fall [or to be cast down] upon them, and many more died by the hailstones than by the sword." This would be clear enough were it not that the word rendered hail, in its proper bearing and connection here, seems less to state that the stones were actually hailstones than to express the vast quantity, the force, and execution of the stony shower; and the expression of flying, or falling, as thick as hail, is common in all ancient languages, and is retained in most of the modern. On this ground many interpreters, especially of late years, have been disposed to consider a shower of stones as the most obvious and natural explanation. This question has been argued without any wish to magnify or diminish the prodigy. nearly the same either way: for hailstones capable of killing men, are about as rare as showers of stone, while the latter are more capable, when they do occur, of producing serious effects. That the shower was timed so opportunely, and that it did not fall on the Israelites, but only on their enemies, are circumstances sufficient to refer the phenomenon to its true source, whether it were of stones or of hail. Either way, however, there is no doubt that a natural agency was employed. It was the time and the application that consti

That is

tuted the supernatural interposition. A shower of stones is as natural as a shower of hail, but it is certainly of far less frequent occurrence. Several instances of such showers, some of them extensively fatal to life, have been recorded by the most credible ancient historians, and some have occurred to modern observation. The countries in which the recorded instances have occurred the most frequently are Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor. The fact of such showers is now no longer doubted by any scientific man, although they account for them rather differently. So lately as 1803, and so near as L'Aigle in Normandy, there was a fall of several stones weighing from ten to seventeen pounds each. However remote the places in which they fall, these mineral bodies are always found to be distinguished by one remarkable similarity, namely, their containing an alloy of iron and nickel, generally with twentyfive of the former to six or eight of the latter. Yet that hailstones might be an adequate second cause of the described effect is proved by numerous examples of old and modern date. Such have indeed occurred in our own island. Dr. Halley describes two remarkable falls of hail which occurred in April and May, 1697. The latter was the most extraordinary. It occurred in Hertfordshire after a storm of thunder and lightning. Several persons were killed by the hail, their bodies being beaten black and blue: vast oaks were split by it, and fields of rye cut down as with a scythe. The stones measured from ten to thirteen or fourteen inches in circumference. Their figures were various, some angular, some oval, some flat. (Philosophical Transactions, No. 229). In the remarkable hail-fall, described by Dr. Neill (Edin. Philos. Trans. vol. ix.), which occurred during a thunder-storm in the Orkneys, 24th July, 1818, mingled with ordinary hail were enormous masses of ice, some as large as the egg of a goose, whereby animals were killed, and several persons wounded. An enormous hailstone is recorded to have fallen, among other large masses, at Handsworth House, near Birmingham, during a thunder-storm in July, 1811. It consisted of a cuboidal mass, six and a half inches in diameter, and resembled a congeries of frozen balls, about the size of walnuts. (Traill's Physical Geography, p. 192.)

One of the most striking recent illustrations of hailstones capable of producing such effects as are here indicated, occurred in the summer of 1831, at Constantinople, and is thus described by Commodore Porter, at that time the American Envoy at the Porte: "We had got perhaps a mile and a half on our way (down the Bosphorus), when a cloud rising in the west gave indication of an approaching rain. In a few minutes we discovered something falling from the heavens with a heavy splash, and of a whitish appearance. I could not conceive what it was, but observing some gulls near, I

supposed it to be them darting for fish; but soon after discovered that they were large balls of ice falling. Immediately we heard a sound like rumbling thunder, or ten thousand carriages rolling furiously over the pavement. The whole Bosphorus was in a foam, as though heaven's artillery had been discharged upon us and our frail machine. Our fate seemed inevitable; our umbrellas were raised to protect us, the lumps of ice stripped them into ribands. We fortunately had a bullock's hide in the boat, under which we crawled and saved ourselves from further injury. One man of the three oarsmen had his hand literally smashed; another much injured in the shoulder, and all more or less injured. A smaller kaick accompanied, with my two servants. They were both disabled, and are now in bed with their wounds; the kaick was terribly bruised. It was the most awful and terrific scene that I ever witnessed, and God forbid that I should ever be exposed to such another. Balls of ice as large as my two fists fell into the boat; and some of them came with such violence as certainly to have broken an arm or leg, had they struck us in those parts. One of them struck the blade of an oar and split it. The scene lasted may be five minutes; but it was five minutes of the most awful feeling that I ever experienced. When it passed over, we found the surrounding hills covered with masses of ice, I cannot call it hail; the trees stripped of their leaves and limbs, and everything looking desolate. We proceeded on our course, however, and arrived at our destination, drenched and awe-struck. The ruin had not extended so far as Candalie, and it was difficult to make them comprehend the cause of the nervous and agitated condition in which we arrived.

The Reis Effendi asked me if I was ever so agitated when in action? I answered, No; for then I had something to excite me, and only human means to oppose. He asked the Minister if he ever was so affected in a gale of wind at sea? He answered, No; for then he could exercise his skill to disarm or render harmless the elements. He asked him why he should be so affected now! He replied, "From the awful idea of being crushed to death by the hand of God with stones from heaven, when resistance would be vain, and when it would be impious to be brave.' He clasped his hands, raised his eyes to heaven, and exclaimed, 'God is great!'

"I returned to the beautiful village of Buyukdere. The sun was out in all its splendour; at a distance all looked smiling and charming; but a nearer approach discovered roofs covered with workmen repairing the broken tiles, desolated vineyards, and shattered windows. Two boatmen were killed in the upper part of the village, and I have heard of broken bones in abundance. Many of the thick brick tiles with which my roof is covered are smashed to atoms, and my house was inundated by the

rain that succeeded this visitation. It is impossible to convey an idea of what it was. Imagine to yourself, however, the heavens suddenly frozen over and as suddenly broken Ito pieces in irregular masses of from half a pound to a pound weight, and precipitated to the earth. My own servants weighed several pieces of three quarters of a pound; and many were found by others of upwards of a pound. There were many which fell around the boat in which I was, that appeared to me to be as large as the swell of a large-sized water decanter."-Pictorial Bible.

MY BELOVED IS MINE.

" I

In the time of the Marian persecution, there was a gracious woman, who being convened before bloody Bonner (then bishop of London), upon the trial of religion, he threatened her that he would take away her husband from her. Saith she, “Christ is my husband." "I will take away thy child." "Christ," saith she, "is better to me than ten sons." will strip thee," saith he, "of all thy outward comforts." "Yea, but Christ is mine," saith she, "and you cannot strip me of him." Oh! the assurance that Christ was hers bore up her heart, and quieted her spirit under all. "You may take away my life," saith Basil, "but you cannot take away my comfort; my head, but not my crown; yea," said he, "had I thousand lives, I would lay them all down for my Saviour's sake,who hath done abundantly more for me?" John Ardly professed to Bonner, when he told him of burning, and how ill he could endure it, "That if he had as many lives, as he had hairs on his head, he would lose them all in the fire before he would lose his Christ." Assurance will keep a man from muttering and murmuring under the sorest afflictions. Henry and John (two Augustine monks), being the first that were burnt in Germany, and Mr. Rogers, the first that was burnt in queen Mary's day, did all sing in the flames. A soul that lives in the assurance of divine favour, and in its title to glory, cannot but bear up patiently and quietly under the greatest sufferings that possibly can befall it in this world. That scripture is worth its weight in gold, Isa. xxxiii. 24: "The inhabitants of Sion shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." It is not said, they were not sick, no, but though they were sick, yet they should not say they were sick; but why should they forget their sorrows, and not remember their pains, nor be sensible of their sickness? Why, the reason is, because the Lord hath forgiven them their iniquities; the sense of pardon took away the sense of pain, the sense of forgiveness took away the sense of sickness. Assurance of pardon will take away the pain, the sting, the trouble of every trouble and affliction that a Christian meets with; no affliction will daunt, startle, or stagger an assured Christian. Assured Christians will be patient and silent under all. Ps. xxiii. 1, 4-7. Melancthon makes mention of a godly woman who having upon her death-bed been in much conflict, and afterwards much comforted, brake out on

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these words, "Now, and not till now, I understand the meaning of these words, thy sins are forgiven;" the sense of which did mightily cheer and quiet her. He that hath got this jewel of assurance in his bosom, will be far enough off from vexing or fretting under the saddest dispensations that he meets with in this world.-Brooks.

THE SHORT CANDLE.

As I sat in my chamber, I saw a little girl working by the light of a candle. It was burnt down almost to the socket. I perceived that she plied her needle very fast, and at length I overheard her saying to herself," I must be very industrious; for this is the only candle I have, and it is almost gone."

What a lesson there is, thought I, in the words of Life is but a short candle. It is almost gone, and I this child! Surely I may learn wisdom from it. have no other. How earnestly engaged should I then be in every duty of life. While I have the light of life, how careful should I be to perform everything enjoined by my heavenly Master!

1. I ought to be in haste to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that, when this light is extinguished, there is no other allowed to mortals for preparation.

2. I ought to be alive to the immortal interests of my fellow-creatures; working while it is called today; striving to bring sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ; for my brief candle is soon to go out: and there can be no conversion of sinners in another world.

3. I ought to be unceasingly active in every act of benevolence, making as many happy as I can; relieving the miserable, and doing good to all within my the other world the miserable and suffering will be reach; for this light is soon to be put out; and in beyond my reach.

4. I ought to use every talent for the glory of God and the kingdom of Christ; working the works of Him that sent me while it is day, because the night cometh in which no man can work.

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest."-Eccles. ix. 10.-Children's Friend.

SPIRITUAL PRESERVES.

IT is rather fashionable for congregations now to take "districts;" though, unfortunately,it is not the fashion to work them thoroughly. We have heard of congregations in our large towns, who could not find a district, though the half of the children were untaught; and we have heard of others, that will not permit any one to meddle with their "district," though it is not half-wrought. Now, when any district is not pervaded with Christian instruction; when children are untaught, families unvisited and uncared for; we think all connected with such a congregation should ask any one who they think could help them. "Why do you not come into our district? we do need you." If a congregation of 1000 members cannot furnish 40 individuals to work a district of 400 families-and we know many such useless masses-then let it take 100 families, or 50; but let it see to it that every individual, old and young, is plied with all the means of Christian influence, and let none dare to

exclude-as a poacher on their preserve-any one who loves to do the work they are leaving undone. If any act thus, their district is virtually preserved for the arch-enemy, that he may destroy souls undisturbed. "Woe unto you that take away the key of knowledge; for you neither enter in yourselves, nor will you suffer they that would, to enter in."

Right motives in taking charge of a district, would prevent any such jealousy. Were the things sought those of Christ, and not our own, all would be well. -Sabbath School Teacher's Magazine.

THE TWO SPRINGS.

Two springs which issued from the same mountain began their course together; one of them took her way in a silent and gentle flowing stream, while the other rushed along with a noisy and rapid current. "Sister," said the latter, "at the rate you move, you will probably be dried up before you advance much farther; whereas, for myself, I shall probably become navigable within two or three hundred furlongs, and, after distributing commerce and wealth wherever I flow, I shall majestically proceed to pay my tribute to the ocean. So farewell, and patiently submit yourself to your fate." Her quiet sister made no reply; but, calmly descended to the meadow below, and patiently proceeding on her way, she increased her strength by numberless little rills, which she collected in her progress, till, at length, she was enabled to rise into a considerable river; while the proud stream, who had the vanity to depend solely upon her own sufficiency, continued a shallow brook; and was glad, at last, to be helped forward, by throwing herself into the arms of her despised sister.

AN UNFAITHFUL MOTHER.

own declarations, every man confesses himself a guilty sinner, in danger of eternal ruin.-Venn.

Generally speaking, those that have the most grace and the greatest gifts, and are of the greatest usefulness, are the most humble, and think the most meanly of themselves. So those boughs and branches of trees which are most richly laden with fruit bend downwards and hang lowest.-Gill.

The nettle mounteth on high, while the violet shrouds itself under its own leaves, and is chiefly found out by its fragrance. Let Christians be satisfied with the honour that cometh from God only.--Manton.

JOY.

THE common proverb is most certainly true in a spiritual sense: "Some men for joy do weep, others for sorrow sing." Believers weep for joy, and never mourn more kindly than when they taste the joy of the Holy Ghost, in the freeness and fulness of the Lord Christ poured out upon them. There is never a more kindly mourning for sin than when the soul, is satisfied of forgiveness.

There is more joy in the penitential mournings of a believer than in all the mirth of a wicked man. I

appeal to you that have melted hearts, whether you have not found a secret content and sweetness in your mourning? So far from wishing to be rid of your meltings, you rather fear the removal of them. -Crisp.

NO MERIT IN FAITH.

A BELIEVER has not so much to boast of as a common beggar. He that gives to a beggar gives him a bare, alms only; whereas God gives his people both Christ's faith by which they receive it.-Parr.

tian friend. Considerations drawn from time and eternity, from heaven and hell, failed to reach her conscience, which seemed to be encased in a triple shield of adamant, until, as he arose to depart, he exclaimed, "Well, madam, if you, a mother, be indifferent to the welfare of your children, and do not pray for them, who will?" The right key was touched. "Very true," said she, her eyes filled with tears, "if mothers prove monsters, what can be expected from others! " By her request he was detained to address the throne of grace on behalf of her family. "Remember my children," said she, "and, oh! remember their unfaithful mother! "

HUMILITY.

EVER carry self-loathing about thee, and regard thyself as one fit to be trampled on by all saints. Saints increase in humility as they draw nearer to heaven. "Unworthy to be called an apostle," said Paul concerning himself some years after his conversion. As he advanced still farther in years, he cried out, "Less than the least of all saints." A little before his martyrdom, his cry is, "The chief of sinners."-Watts.

As soon as pride is humbled enough not to enter into controversy with God about the justice of his

God can give us no greater gift than himself. We may say, as one said to Cæsar, "This is too great a gift for me to receive." "But it is not too great for me to give," answered Cæsar.-Dyer.

CONVICTION.

HAPPY Conviction of guilt! which performs the same benficent office the Baptist discharged of old. It prepares the way of the Lord, and renders his salvation inestimably precious to the soul.-Venn.

The greatness of Christ's merit is not known but to a poor soul at the greatest loss. Slight convictions: will occasion but slight prizings of Christ's blood and righteousness.-Anon.

CHILDREN.

I WRITE my blessing to your child. You have borrowed him from God; for he is no heritage to you, but a loan. Love him as folks do borrowed things. Rutherford.

ford writes:To one who had lost several children, Mr. Ruther

They are brought into the lee of the harbour before the storm comes on. They are not lost to you, but laid up in Christ's treasury above. You shall meet them again. They are not sent away, but sent before.