visible universe. We look at Jupiter, for instance, or at Venus. We look to-night; then to-morrow night; and then again the next night. We see plainly that they have changed their position. They are wandering stars. They do not wander irregularly, indeed; their motions are most orderly; but still, move they do. But look at the other stars in the firmament. They always keep in the same places in reference to each other. They are fixed stars. Their distance is amazing. What it actually is we know not. But we do

know that it is such that two hundred millions of miles are but a mere point compared to it. We know this. Whenever we look at one object, and mark its position in relation to another, we are aware that if we change our position, the apparent position of the objects is changed also. We look at the candle on the table. It appears in a certain position in reference to some mark on the wall beyond. We go more to one side of the room; or more to the other. The candle, and the mark on the wall, though they move not, have their apparent relative position altered by our motion. Now, on a certain day we look at two stars. They occupy a certain position in regard to each other. Six months hence we look at them. The motion of the Earth has placed us two hundred millions of miles distant from the point from which we viewed the two stars. Yet their relative position is unchanged. The clusters of stars, larger or smaller, called constellations, are always seen in the same order, from whatever points of the Earth's orbit they are observed. What must that distance be to which a base-line of two hundred millions of miles is as nothing! The mind is lost in the contemplation. And yet there is a greater subject still, and one full of solemn significance for our conscience: "Can himself in secret places, that I should not see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?" O wonderful, yet blessed thought! So great is He that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him; and yet He condescends to dwell with him that is of a contrite spirit.

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May this God be our God for ever and for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

POETRY.

Amen.

CHRISTMAS-DAY.

N. H.

BY THE EARL OF CRAWFORD: WITH SOME ADDITIONAL LINES.

As Judah's shepherds watch'd by night their sheep,
While all the careless world were wrapt in sleep,
The glory of the Lord shone all around,

And, "sore afraid," they trembled on the ground.
But soon an angel's voice dispell'd their fears,
And sweetly ravish'd their attentive ears,
Saying, "A Saviour on this hallow'd morn,
In David's town, of David's line, is born:
There ye may find him now with glad surprise;
The sacred infant in a manger lies."
And, lo! a host of the celestial train

With their blest voices cheer'd each humble swain,
Singing, "Be glory given to God above,
And upon earth to man be boundless love."
The' astonish'd shepherds unto Bethlehem went,
With rough, unpolish'd minds, but innocent;
Where in a manger the blest mother-maid
The wondrous child with tender care had laid.
And, praising God for Him they thus had found,
Returning, spread the tale the country round.

The Babe of Bethlehem? Sound his praise abroad.
'Tis Christ, -the Wisdom and the Power of God.
Yes; this poor infant in the manger laid,
With but the oxen's straw to form his bed,
Shall sit, exalted high, on God's right hand:
Before him, as their Judge, the dead shall stand;
His voice shall tell their everlasting place,—
Driven from his presence,-brought to see his face.
O ancient mystery! theme ever new!
While angels gaze, transported at the view,
May we, whose nature he assumed to save,
The fulness of his great salvation have;
And while we prove the virtue of his name,
The Babe of Bethlehem, Son of God, proclaim.

ROCHE, PRINTER, 25, HOXTON-SQUARE, LONDON.

SEELEY, BURNSIDE AND SEELEY.

J. STANFIELD, WAKEFIELD.