in whose very core he aimed to plant the barbed arrows of conviction.

5. There was that multitude, so acute, so inquisitive, so polished, so athirst for novelty, and so impressible by eloquence; yet with whom a barbarian accent might break the charm of the most persuasive tongue; over whom their own oligarchy of orators would soon re-assert their dominion, in spite of the invasion of a stranger; and with whom sense, feeling, and habit would throw up all their barriers against the eloquence of Christianity.

6. There would be the priest, astonished at an attempt so daring; and as the speaker's design opened on his mind, anxiously, and with alternate contempt and rage, measuring the strength of the Samson who thus grasped the pillars of his temple, threatening to whelm him, his altars, and his gods, beneath their ruins. There would be the stoic, in the coldness of his pride, looking sedately down, as on a child playing with children, to see what new game was afloat, and what trick or toy was now produced for wonderment.

7. There would be the epicurean, tasting, as it were, the preacher's doctrine, to see if it promised aught of merriment; just lending enough of idle attention not to lose amusement should it offer, and venting the full explosion of his ridicule on the resurrection of the dead. There the sophist, won, perhaps, into something of an approving and complacent smile by the dexterity of Paul's introduction, but finding, as he proceeded, that this was no mere show of art, or war of words, and vibrating between the habitual love of entangling, bewildering, and insulting an opponent, and the repulsiveness which there always is to such men in the language of honest and zealous conviction.

8. There the slave, timidly crouching at a distance to

catch what stray sounds the winds might waft to him, after they had reached his master's ears, of that doctrine, so strange and blessed, of man's fraternity. And there the young and noble Roman, who had come to Athens for education, not to sit like a humble scholar at a master's feet, but, with all the pride of Rome upon his brow, to accept what artists, poets, and philosophers could offer as their homage to the lords of earth.

9. If for a moment Paul felt as one would think man must feel at being the central object of such a scene and such an assemblage, there would rush upon his mind the majesty of Jehovah; and the words of the glorified Jesus; and the thunders that struck him to the earth on the road to Damascus; and the sense of former efforts, conflicts, and successes; and the approach of that judgment to come, whose righteousness and universality it was now his duty to announce.

10. Unappalled and collected, he began:-"Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you. God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing; seeing He giveth, to all, life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.”*

*Acts 17th chap., 22-26th verses.

1.

LESSON CL.

TRUTH AND FREEDOM.

WILLIAM D. GALLAGHER.

ON the the brilliant promise see:

the page that is immortal,

"Ye shall know the truth, my people, And its might shall make you free!"

2. For the truth, then, let us battle,
Whatsoever fate betide:

Long the boast that we are freemen
We have made, and published wide.

8. He who has the truth, and keeps it, Keeps what not to him belongs, But performs a selfish action,

That his fellow-mortal wrongs.

4. He who seeks the truth, and trembles At the dangers he must brave,

Is not fit to be a freeman :
He, at best, is but a slave.

5. He who hears the truth, and places
Its high promptings under ban,
Loud may boast of all that's manly,
But can never be a man.

6. Friend, this simple lay who readest,
Be not thou like either them,

But to truth give utmost freedom;
And the tide it raises, stem.

7. Bold in speech, and bold in action,
Be forever! Time will test,

Of the free-souled and the slavish,

Which fulfills life's mission best.

8. Be thou like the noble ancient,

Scorn the threat that bids thee fear:

Speak! no matter what betide thee;

Let them strike, but make them hear!

9. Be thou like the first apostles,
Be thou like heroic Paul:
If a free thought seeks expression,
Speak it boldly, speak it all!

10. Face thine enemies accusers;
Scorn the prison, rack, or rod;
And, if thou hast truth to utter,
Speak, and leave the rest to God!

1.

(pl.)

LESSON CLI.

NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPING.

H. A. GERE.

E is not dead; he is but sleeping;

HE

The cold, cold grave is only keeping
The dust to dust returning:

Death could not claim the soul immortal;

For angels from the heavenly portal

Bent o'er with eager yearning.

2. They saw the failing life-blood quiver,

As soul and flesh neared Death's dark river,
And at its billows parted;

Then bore to Heaven with holy voicings
The ransomed spirit amid rejoicings,-
The youthful, noble-hearted.

3. They left within the house of mourning
The casket, robbed of its adorning, —
The soul that never slumbers:
All beauteous was it yet in seeming,
As one who sleeps in quiet dreaming,
Or lists to pleasant numbers.

4. And it was strange to see him lying
Arrayed in vestments of the dying;
Oh, it was sad and dreary!

For he was young, and bright, and blooming,
With ardent hopes before him looming,
And heart that ne'er was weary.

5. The good and right with boldness doing,
The better path in all pursuing,
And faithful in each duty,

His life was one harmonious blending,
To all a gracious influence lending,
So full of truth and beauty.

6. But all is o'er: each young ambition
Burned brightly till his youthful mission
Drew near its final closing;

Then, unto God his spirit giving,
He ceased to labor with the living,
And slept in sweet reposing.