dren in every emergency, that

which is suited to their need: no disappointment awaiting those who apply to that fountain.

'He looked at me with a sadness which said, he knew of no such refuge. Six months passed away, and I saw no alteration in Mr. Elton, whenever he conversed with me, he constantly dwelt upon that which was his great stumblingblock, or rather I should say, the snare into which Satan had beguiled him, of believing himself a being separated from others by an impenetrable and unknown barrier, which must shut him out from sympathy and love.

'I am sure no one understands me,' he would say; they know not when I suffer, they cannot tell what would make me happy; if there are beings in the world сараble of friendship, why am I so desolate? Surely it is because I am constituted differently from my fellows. They do not comprehend my thoughts or feelings, neither can I enter into their delights, or suit myself to their fancies, therefore we repel each other, and must for ever remain apart.'

Not so, my friend, Isaid, "a new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another," "bear ye one another's burdens; "be pitiful, be courteous, be kindly affectioned one towards another, in honour preferring one another." Do you quote those words from Scripture,' said Mr. Elton?

I answered that I did, and before we parted on that day, I gained a promise from him, that he would himself read the New Testament through. I felt convinced, the more I conversed with him, that for the pride and hardness of heart which caused his misery, there was but one cure, the only cure for sin; even that love shed abroad in the heart, which transforms this barren rock into a well of true benevolence, whose streams can enrich and fertilize all around.

'Mr. Elton kept his word, and from that time studied the sacred volume daily there he read of a Saviour, and asked if he had any need of one. This self-examination was blessed to him. The Holy Spirit shewed him his sinfulness, and he felt that he had neither loved his God nor his neighbour. Then did he marvel at that love wherewith God had loved him, in sending his Son to save him.

But I cannot repeat the many conversations which passed between us, nor the regrets he now expressed for the sinful perversion of mind which had so long led him to view himself and his fellow-creatures, not as the children of one common Father, who wills that all should be holy and happy, but as creatures who could only torment and hate each other. The change must be described in the words of the apostle, "Old things had passed away, all things had become new." He now began to live in the love of God and man, and his heart expanded in the warm sunshine of generous and benevolent affections.

'Desirous of others' happiness he went about like his Saviour doing good, and very shortly there was not even a child to be found on his estate, with whom he had not made acquaintance. He sought out those in distress to comfort them, fed the needy, and induced the ignorant to apply for instruction; he became interested in their concerns, and was ever at hand to administer succour to all in difficulty; advice to all who required it, and with the truest kindness to encourage all who deserved it. The schools and societies of the parish likewise experienced his care, and his time and thoughts were so fully occupied, that the days were not long enough for the various duties which crowded upon him. Do not suppose, Ellen, that this change was produced in a day, a week, or a month. No, it

was gradual, but it was abiding. He had mourned over his iniquity, and now he daily prayed, and watched, and struggled against the sin which so easily beset him.

There were moments when his previous disgust and disappointment returned upon him, the recollection that all have sinned, and that Christ died for all, was the never-failing medicine for the disease of bis mind, restoring to him the power of bearing with, and loving like his heavenly master, even the unthankful and unholy, the selfish and the unfeeling. His sister and her family now found their due places in his regard, and ' dear uncle Elton' became the favourite instructor and play-fellow of the little ones. His servants were not forgotten either, but received all the care and attention which a Christian master can bestow upon those, of whom he knows he must hereafter render an account.

Grateful for that love which had saved him from temporal and eternal misery, he was constantly solicitous that others should partake of it, and as a faithful steward of the many talents he had hitherto neglected, he now dedicated his influence, his property, his time, and all his mental and bodily powers, to the service of his forgiving Father, and the benefit of his fellow-creatures.

And now my dear Ellen, I can only stop to tell you, that after living many years the beloved and honoured head of this village, my valued assistant in every work

of love, the spiritual as well as temporal benefactor of numbers, it was my painful duty about eight years since, to commit to the grave this dear and lamented friend. This is my history of a misanthrope. St. John says, " He who loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen." And again, "He who loveth God, will love his brother also." Charity never faileth." "Above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness," and the peace of God shall rule in your hearts.

One word more, and I have done. Let me warn you, my dear child, against the first rising of any mistrust in your mind. "Charity believeth all things; " believe that those around you love you, and if in some instances which may arise as you pass through life, you should find yourself mistaken, and meet only coldness where you expected friendship, still will you be happier than if you thought the contrary. "Love is born of love," and while you encourage the sentiment in your own breast, you must in some degree excite it in others: assuredly a benevolent regard for the happiness of others, will ever bring its own reward; and as one of the followers of the blessed Saviour, should you ever experience real injuries, a prayer for the forgiveness of your enemies, will be your only revenge; for "Charity endureth all things." L. C.

NOTHING can be more delightful than to witness the amount of Christian exertion in the present day, from which we may expect beneficial results. "Go into all the world, and preach the gos

pel," was the command of him who spake as never man spake,

and no Christian can look back upon the amount of good effected in the last fifty years, without finding much occasion for thanks

DEAR SIR,-I have heretofore dealt with the Papal system in detail, discussing point by point, of the multifarious aggregate, and disproving the unscriptural and unreasonable assumptions of that domineering church. I have reserved (to the close one great argument, both because to have adduced it at the opening of the discussion might have seemed to betoken a wish to close up the question, and to avoid the consideration of the several points therein contained; and also because, from its awful and momentary character, it leaves nothing to

be said in addition.

COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES.

SHE SHALL BE UTTERLY BURNED WITH FIRE: FOR STRONG IS THE LORD GOD WHO JUDGETH HER. (Rev. xviii. 4, 8.)

Protestants hold that these words relate to the Church of Rome. If they are right in this view, then not another word need be said. But if they are wrong, or even if they have taken up this idea on insufficient grounds, then it is high time that their error should be admitted, and repented of. Let us, with all seriousness, and looking up for divine direction, enter upon the consideration of this most solemn question.

A most clear and emphatic exhortation is here given to God's people, to come out from some city called Babylon, and thus to save themselves from the terrible judgments which God purposes to bring upon her. The main ques

tion then is, What is denoted or set forth by this "city," typically called BABYLON ?

66

Some superficial or cursory readers of the prophetical parts of God's word, have supposed that the term "Babylon" is synonimous with "the world," against which our Lord often warned his disciples. So that when Christ says, If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you; (John xv. 19.)—he expresses very nearly the same kind of separation and deadness to temporal things, which is enjoined in the call, "Come out of her, my people."

But the least consideration of the context puts an end to this view. The preceding chapter, the xviith, gives a particular description of Babylon, which proves beyond all question, that under this name is described, not the general mass of mankind, but a particular state, or power, either civil or ecclesiastical, which should be situated in a particular part of the earth, and should rule over other and subordinate dominions.

"I saw a woman sit on a scarlet-coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." (Rev. xvii. 3.)

"And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth, and there are seven kings; five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come." (Rev. xvii. 9, 10.)

"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have

received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast." (Rev. xvii. 12.)

These few passages, selected out of many, at once dispose of the supposition, that " Babylon" in this place, means only the same with the world" in our Lord's own discourses.

BABYLON, then, denotes а power, civil or ecclesiastical; visible in some particular part of the globe, and exercising there, according to the description given, very great and extraordinary authority. The first question that occurs, is, whether it describes a civil, or an ecclesiastical power?

The answer to this will immediately occur to all students of prophecy. In the language of the prophetical parts of Holy Scripture, an earthly kingdom is usually typified by a beast; a church, or ecclesiastical dominion, by a woman.

In his

Daniel, in his seventh chapter, sees the rise of the four great universal empires. They appear in the forms of four beasts. eighth chapter he has a particular vision of the events concerning Persia and Greece. Two beasts, again,—a ram, and he-goat, are the figures presented to his mind. And in like manner, in the chapter now under consideration, the 17th of Revelations, we find a beast, which, upon examination, find to be the same as Daniel's fourth beast; but it is not this beast that is called " Babylon," but a woman who is seen riding upon it. "I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast."

we

can have no converse, or union, or connection; those communities to whom God has made himself known, and has graciously revealed his character and purposes in the gospel, are described under the form of reasonable beings, human beings, and female beings, because, as a man is the head of his wife, so Christ is the head of his church.

Thus, throughout the prophecies, is this symbol always adopted. Judah, faithful to God under Hezekiah, is called, "the virgin, the daughter of Zion." (Isa. xxxvii. 22.) The church, in her future glories, is described as "Zion travailing." And it is said, "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her." "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the gentiles like a flowing stream : then shall ye suck: ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled on her knees." (Isa. lxvi. 8, 10, 12.) Again it is said, "Thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name: The Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit." (Isa. liv. 5, 6.) In strict consistency, when Judah fell into idolatry, she is addressed under the figure of an adulteress, and God says, "I will judge thee

as women that break wedlock are judged." (Ezek. xvi. 38.) And this is the figure adopted in the passage before us. Upon the beast, which symbolizes a mere earthly power, there rides a harlot,"the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." The object hereby set forth, evidently is, a Church, or ecclesiastical body, in a state of apostacy, but governing, or directing, or exercising authority, over the earthly power denoted by

the beast.

Having arrived at this conclusion,-from premises which no student of the prophetical parts of God's word will dispute, the next point is to ascertain, what particular ecclesiastical body it is that is thus pointed out?