1834.] A HYMN. 337 Messiah, the Jews should be dispersed into all countries; yet that they should not be swallowed up and lost among their conquerors, but should still subsist, to latest times, a distinct people. By Jeremiah, God declared,—“ He would make an end of the nations" their oppressors, "but He would not make an end of them." It cannot be said this prediction was written since the event: and certainly an occurrence more singular, or improbable could not have been predicted. In the course of human affairs, who hath heard such a thing? Yet, so it is. The mighty Monarchies of Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome, are vanished like the shadows of the evening, or the phantoms of the night. Their places know them no more. Nothing remains of them but their names: whilst this little despised people, strangely secure, without a friend or protector amidst the wreck of empires, oppressed, persecuted, harassed always, by edicts and executioners, by murders, and massacres, hath outlived the very ruins of them all. "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." Behold then a sign, and a wonder; the accomplishment of prophecy in a standing miracle. Contemplate the sight as it deserves; and be not faithless, but believing. Bp. Horne. A HYMN. Lo, my Shepherd's hand divine! 2. When I faint with summer's heat, To the streams that, still and slow, 3. He, my soul anew shall frame, When through devious path I stray, 4. Through the dreary vale I tread, 5. Thou, my plenteous board has spread, 6. Constant to my latest end, This my footsteps shall attend; And shall bid Thy hallow'd dome Yield me an eternal home. Sent by M. J. D. SINGING IN CHURCHES. "LORD Stowell has decided that the right of directing the service is in the minister, and that the obstructing him in the exercise of that right is an offence which may be proceeded against in the Ecclesiastical courts. He has consequently the right of control over the singers." An authority like that of lord Stowell settles a question, which, in country parishes, is often a subject of much dispute. It seems strange that there ever should be a dispute between the minister and the singers on this point, as the minister can only wish to have the singing in the church such as it ought to be; and one should naturally suppose that the singers would wish the same. The state of things is, however, often very different from this. The proper sort of singing is when the congregation all join in it: they are called upon, " to sing to the praise and glory of God:" the whole congregation should therefore join, it is, "Let us sing," not " let us listen to the singing of others." When, therefore, a few only are engaged in this service, the object of singing "Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual songs," in public worship is altogether lost sight of. It is to be also, "to the praise and glory of God." But how is it to God's praise and His Glory, when a few men who have learned a little music, are indulging their own pride, and singing to their own praise and glory, and generally choosing such tunes as they know the congregation cannot join in? it is often an anthem, which they have practised together, which indeed is difficult and requires practice, but which they, in general, perform in a miserable manner, and which, even if well performed, does not at all answer the pur- 1834.] ANSWERS TO HISTORICAL QUESTIONS. 339 pose of congregational devotion and praise. The singing makes a beautiful, and interesting, and edifying part of the service, when plain and simple tunes are used, such as all the people can join in, and when they do join,-as singers, to the best of their power, and as Christians, with all their hearts. V. ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH HISTORY. (In the last number, p. 305.) Answer 1. Henry, duke of Richmond, was not the rightful heir to the throne of England. A. 2. The proper person to have sat on the throne of England, was the princess Elizabeth, the sister of the two young princes who were killed in the tower, and the daughter of king Edward the Fourth. A. 3. The duke of Richmond having got the crown by conquest, married this princess Elizabeth; and this gave great satisfaction to the people, as the rightful heiress thus became Queen. A. 4. The king belonged to the house of Lancaster, and the queen to the house of York; and this union put an end to the wars between the two families. A. 5. There were several rebellions during this reign. A. 6. One Lambert Simnel pretended that he was the son of that duke of Clarence who was drowned in a butt of Malmsey in the Tower. A. 7. The king did not think it worth while to punish. Simnel, as he was a weak young man, only led on by others; but he was employed as a scullion in the king's kitchen, and afterwards raised to be the keeper of the hawks, in which employment he died. A. 8. There was another pretender to the throne, named Perkin Warbeck. A. 9. He pretended to be the younger of the two children who were said to have been murdered in the Tower; and some persons believe this, even at the present day. A. 10. King Henry the Seventh died in the year 1509. ར. QUESTIONS FOR THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. (To be answered in our next number.) Question 1. In what year did Henry the Eighth begin to reign? Q. 2. What great change was made in the state of religion during his reign? Q. 3. What is meant by the "Reformation" of religion? Q. 4. Who was considered as the head of the Church, before the Reformation? Q. 5. Where does the pope live? Q. 6. Was the art of printing books known in the reign of Henry the Eighth? Q. 7. Had it been long known? Q. 8. In what language were the Bibles and PrayerBooks written, before the Reformation? Q. 9. Who was Henry's chief minister and adviser? Q. 10. What was Wolsey's character? Q. 11. Who was the king's first wife? Q. 12. When the king wished to get rid of his wife, did Wolsey encourage and assist him in his plan? Q. 13. How was Wolsey treated? Q. 14. Where did he die? Q. 15. Had the king any children by his first wife? Q. 17. What became of Anna Bullen? Q. 21. Who was the king's fourth wife? Q. 22. What title was given to king Henry the Eighth by the pope, and why was it given? Q. 23. Did the king marry another wife, and who was she? Q. 24. What became of her? Q. 25. Had he one more wife? Q. 26. Who was she, and did she outlive the king? Q. 27. In what year did the king die? 1834.] ON PSALM IV. 341 THE JUST KING. ONE of the kings of Persia, who is famous in history for his exact justice, was once out hunting, when, finding himself hungry, he ordered the people to dress a deer that they had just taken. When all was nearly ready, they found that they had forgotten to bring any salt with them; so they sent a lad off to fetch some from a village at a little distance. The King overheard them, and calling to the boy, said, " And mind you take money to pay for it." The attendants expressed their surprise at his thinking of such trifles, and asked what harm there could be in taking a handful of salt. The King replied, " All the evil that now troubles the earth first began in such trifles, till, by degrees, it grew to its present height; and if I take the salt, my officers will perhaps seize the cow." There are many people, who do not think it worth while to attend to what they are doing, except upon great and important occasions; forgetting that happiness and virtue consist in those trifling occurrences of which human life is made up."-Persian Fables. By the Rev. H. G. Keene. PSALM IV. THE Psalms of David show forth those feelings which the true servants of God, in every age of the Church, will understand. The meditations of David are such as the Christian can make his own. The manner in which Christ is here set forth, the Lord of David, and the descendant of David, makes these psalms Christian hymns. Bishop Horne's work on the Psalms is full of beautiful and profitable meditation for the Christian. The "Explanation of the Psalms," by the Rev. James Slade is upon a smaller scale, and therefore more within the reach of general readers, it gives, in a very clear manner, and in very few words, the meaning of those parts which principally require explanation, and each psalm is concluded with a devout meditation, suggested by the psalm which has been read, with a set of questions to show whether the subject has been understood. The work is |