grievously sinned against the Indian tribes, be they of what descent they may: and the supposition that they are of that seed on whom the Lord ever looks with jealous observation, invests with a deeper interest the inquiry as to how far this sin may have provoked the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, to smite our boasted empire in that quarter of the world. An avenger of blood seems treading close upon our path, but we know him not, nor inquire wherefore the drawn sword flashes in our sight. Popery, doomed to speedy destruction, is now on the stage, and like her author and prototype, the devil, has great rage because her time is short. Through the unthinking neglect of succeeding Protestant generations, she has been permitted to retain in her grasp these descendants of Israel; and now she turns the ready weapon upon us, exulting in the permitted power to execute on us the mandates of divine displeasure. Taking for our guide the sure, though, alas! too often the despised word of unfulfilled prophecy, in conjunction with that which by past fulfilment has become history, we are enabled to see on all sides the ripening of this earth for that vintage of wrath which will precede the glorious coming in of Christ's kingdom; while the monuments of our national sins, exhibited in every direction, preclude a hope of our being spared from a full participation in the cup of trembling, speedily to be held to the lips of offending kingdoms. Yet there is a special distinction, a preserving dispensation, held out to the view of such as, unable perhaps to stay the full tide of iniquity, are enabled to protest against it-to sigh and to cry for the abominations that be done. How important is the acquisition of

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the mark (Ezek. ix.) that they shall bear upon their foreheads! It may not be ours, individually, to aid in the ingathering of God's dear ancient people; but we have an encouraging word still. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." We trifle with God's gifts, and despise his revelations, when allowing our selfishness so to prevail as to cloud our sight, or close our hearts against what concerns our elder brethren: neither can we possibly discern aright the signs of the times, while neglecting the means provided to bring us acquainted with their bearing. Assuredly the set time is well nigh come, when the Lord will set his hand again to recover the remnant of his people, as he did of old; and Israel will be gathered, whether or no we put forth an effort to hasten the glorious work. The Arm that cut Rahab and wounded the dragon, needs not our puny aid to uphold or to direct it; but deeply shall we need its overshadowing defence when the Lord arises to shake terribly the nations, to fulfil the day of vengeance, and to perfect the year of his redeemed. We dream of peace, but war is at the gate; we flatter ourselves with the hope of a world peacefully converted, while flames are kindling to purify it in the furnace of wrath. We slight the prophets, we despise the Jew, we close our eyes upon abounding evil, and complacently say, "Good: it

shall be peace and truth in our days."

C. E.

IT was morning-it was spring-it was sabbath. The way was long that led to the woodland sanctuary, and there was leisure to enjoy this delightful combination of time, of season, and of circumstance.

The road to the house of prayer led through a district of great natural beauty, in the very heart of the country; and neither the busy hum of labour nor the sound of footsteps was heard, to interrupt the stillness of a sabbath morning. Nothing but the sighing of the breeze, as it stirred the aspen-branches, or the loud carol of the birds, chanting their native hymns. Loudest of all the songsters, till earth and sky seemed to be filled with its melody, was the voice of the skylark, and most welcome on that holy day were those thrilling notes; for the song of this bird has in it something sabbatical-soaring as it sings, and singing as it soars; something at once triumphant and extatic, a strain which is all joy, and with which no shadow of alloy can ever blend; it is an embodied spirit of praise, and harmonizes well with the day of triumph and repose. The expanding blossoms in the hedge-rows; the gay insects fluttering into life from their deserted sepulchres; the lofty mountains resting with their broad shadows in the full sunshine, emblems of strength and repose, of the

might of the Creator's power, and the rest of his finished work—all, all spoke a language intelligible to the heart, when the voice of revelation had interpreted its utterance.

We left the sheltered orchards and verdant cornfields, to enter upon a beautiful domain, the property of a nobleman, within the precincts of whose highly cultivated grounds the church was situated. The scene was now changed. A wide expanse of velvet green everywhere surrounded us, with groups of stately trees rising majestically above the greensward, and herds of deer grazing quietly in the more remote and least-frequented spots. A short avenue of beautiful trees led to the nearer and more ornamented portion of the park, and suddenly gave to view the family mansion and the church, both hitherto partially concealed by the towering elms and cedars, which here flourished gigantic in size and luxuriance. A silver stream that issued from a lake, half-concealed by a thickly planted shrubbery, wound its peaceful way through the lowlands. A great variety of aquatic birds were pursuing their sports or their prey above and around its margin, and screaming with wild delight, as they alternately soared aloft, or descended to dip their wing in the translucent waters; while, lower down the stream, the solitary heron stood motionless among the sedges, or rose slowly upon her broad pinions, as some young sabbath-breaker broke in upon these secluded haunts, in his way to plunder the treasures of the woods.

The church, a structure of great architectural beauty, stood upon a gentle slope, a short distance from the mansion, and had a rich background of

forest trees fringing that and all the neighbouring heights. The view from this eminence was rich and varied. A bold range of hills, running from north to south, shut in the landscape on the western side, and the eye rested on a beautiful and fertile champaign at the foot of the mountains, save only where the prospect was agreeably broken by groves and woods of the park in the foreground. So skilfully had the hand of art disposed each opening, that every obstacle not in keeping with the lovely retreat was carefully excluded. No trace of human dwellings could be seen : none, except the solitary mansion, now deserted and tenantless, and rendered doubly gloomy by the recollection of the young heir of this fair domain, cut off in the bloom of manhood, and gone down to the bourne of the dead. Parties of villagers were seen crossing the park in various directions, towards the house of prayer. The sound of the church-going bell fell sweetly upon the ear in these solitudes, and blended harmoniously with the voices which were uniting in psalmody within the walls, and with the choral strain of innumerable warblers without. The stillness and beauty of the scene brought to mind that sweet song of the Christian poet

'The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree,

And seem by thy sweet bounty made
For those who follow thee.'

The interior of the church corresponded with its external beauty, and was, moreover, adorned with many stately monuments. None of these sarcophagi, however, afforded any interest to the stranger, with one exception only. Upon the flat surface of this