Levell'd its portals with the ground, And what a contrast, I again thought, there is between the former and the present age! The warm imagination of youth may, at times, dwell with fondness on the by-gone scenes, and regret that the days of chivalry and romance, knights and adventures, and tilts and tournaments, are past; but it is surely without reflecting that those were the days of barbarity, moral darkness, superstition, and bigotry, and without considering and duly appreciating the superior advantages of our own times. In the "olden time," learning was confined to the few, but now it may be acquired by all. Religion was then secluded in abbeys and monasteries, and was defiled with idolatry and superstition; but now churches and chapels are scattered all over the land, and we have the Gospel preached in its purity at our very doors. The Bible was, in those days, a sealed book; but in these days England is become a land of Bibles, and is supplying the whole world with the Gospel of CHRIST. How has our country emerged from the darkness in which she was enveloped! How thankful we ought to be, that we were born in this christian age! England is a land of light, a land of Bibles, and of civil and religious liberty. Here learning is diffused, the arts and sciences flourish, and commerce has fixed her throne. Shall we then look back on the days of darkness with a sigh of regret? No ;-whenever our thoughts are recalled to distant ages by any of their remaining monuments, let us reflect, with gratitude, on the superiority of the present, and on our own transcendent privileges. Occupied with such reflections, I remained among the broken walls, dilapidated arches, and grass-grown aisles, until it was almost dark; when, starting from my reverie, I soon re-crossed the wooden bridge, leaving behind me the venerable ruins; and, quickening my step over the meadows, in a few minutes entered the low portals of the village-inn. C. C. PRODIGY OF MEMORY. (From "Illustrations of Biblical Literature, by the REV. JAMES TOWNLEY," vol. i. p. 128.) THE late REV. THOMAS THRELKELD, of Rochdale, Lancashire, was a perfect living Concordance to the English Scriptures. If three words only were mentioned, except perhaps those words of mere connexion, which occur in hundreds of passages, he could immediately, without hesitation, assign the chapter and verse where they were to be found. And, inversely, upon mentioning the chapter and verse, he could repeat the words. The power of retention enabled him, with ease, "to make himself master of many languages. Nine or ten, it is certainly known that he read, not merely without difficulty, but with profound and critical skill. It is affirmed, by a friend who lived near him, and who was in habits of inti macy with him, that he was familiarly acquainted with every language in which he had a Bible, or New Testament." After his decease I had an opportunity of examining his library, and noticed Bibles, or New Testaments, in English, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Welch, Dutch, Swedish, Gaelic, and Manks; besides Grammars, &c. in other languages. In the Greek Testament, his powers of immediate reference and quotation were similar to those he possessed in the English translation; since he could in a moment produce every place in which the same word occurred, in any of its forms, or affinities. In the Hebrew, with its several dialects, he was equally, that is, most profoundly skilled; and it is believed, that his talent of immediate reference was as great here, as in the Greek, or even in the English. HONESTY REWARDED. THE official Gazette of St. Petersburgh contains the following paragraph :-A soldier of a regiment of Carbineers, going to Kamenei-Ostriff to work, found a gold-watch, with a seal and chain also of gold. Some persons offered him 400 roubles for it, which he reVOL. VI. K fused, and deposited the watch in the hands of his captain, to be restored to the owner. When the Emperor was informed of the circumstance, he ordered the brave soldier a present of 800 roubles, as a reward for his integrity. SAGACITY OF A HORSE. (From the Cheltenham Chronicle.) "A FEW days since, Mr. J. LANE, of Frescombe, in the parish of Ashelworth, Gloucestershire, on his return home, turned his horse into a field in which it had been accustomed to graze. A few days before this, the horse had been shod, all fours, but unluckily, had been pinched in the shoeing of one foot. In the morning, MR. LANE missed the horse, and caused an active search to be made in the vicinity, when the following singular circumstances transpired :-The animal, as it may be supposed, feeling lame, made his way out of the field by unhanging the gate with his mouth, and went straight to the same farrier's shop, a distance of a mile and a half. The farrier had no sooner opened his shed, than the horse, which had evidently been standing there some time, advanced to the forge and held up the ailing foot; the farrier instantly began to examine the hoof, discovered the injury, took off the shoe, and replaced it more carefully, on which the horse immediately turned about, and set off at a merry pace for his well-known pasture. Whilst MR. LANE's servants were on the search, they chanced to pass by the forge, and on mentioning their supposed loss, the farrier replied, O, he has been here, and shod, and is gone home again,' which on their return they found to be actually the case." OBITUARY, 1. WILLIAM TAYLOR died March 18, 1821, at Shiney-Row, in the county of Durham, in the fourteenth year of his age.-He was sent to the Sunday-school as soon as he could be regularly admitted. He was exemplary for his constant and early attendance; and OBITUARY OF WILLIAM TAYLOR. 99 would rather go without his breakfast, than be too late. Whilst in school, his diligence soon enabled him to read well in the Bible. He was also a constant attendant on the means of grace ; and, when at home, was particularly thoughtful and steady. He appears to have been the subject of serious impressions for a considerable time; and would frequently ask his father and mother very deep questions respecting Gon, and the soul of man. His employment being in the coal-pit, when an opportunity occurred, he was wont to retire from his companions, and converse on serious subjects with a pious old man, who took much delight in talking with him. When at home he would not unite with wicked children; but with a few of his young friends retired often into private to read the Bible, and other good books. The circumstance which occasioned his death was truly affecting. The horse, of which he was the driver, drawing four waggons after it, ran away. He was thrown from his seat, and the whole of the waggons passed over his body. It was surprising that he was able to speak at all, after the accident. Medical aid was procured immediately; but without effect. He lived, however, so long as to testify that he was going to a better world. During this period, not a murmuring word was heard from his lips. When his medicine. was administered, he always asked the LORD to give his blessing with it. On the Saturday before his death, his old friend called to see him, to whom he said, "I am very ill, but I hope you and I shall soon meet in heaven.” About midnight, he was very restless; but to the astonishment of all present, he engaged in fervent supplication, and prayed, not only for himself, but that the LORD would pour out his SPIRIT on all people. In the morning of the day on which he died, he inquired for his father, and requested that they might have a prayer-meeting by themselves; after which he said, “O father! I am going to heaven; the LORD has pardoned all my sins, through the merits of JESUS CHRIST." Shortly after this he expired. May Sunday Scholars follow him, so far as he followed CHRIST. May Teachers never become weary in well doing; but "in the morning sow their seed, and in the evening not withhold their hand; for they know not which will prosper, this or that." W. ALLAN, jun. She 2. MARY ANN FOSTER, of Keighley, Yorkshire, died Sept. 25, 1821, aged 16. Her father gives the following account of her. She was a delicate, but lovely child. With paternal solicitude I watched the openings of her mind, and endeavoured, as soon as possible, to inform her of the being of a GOD, and of her obligation to love and fear him; to which things she gave some attention. The indigence of our circumstances obliged us to send her early to the factory; but while thus employed, I taught her lessons, so that, when old enough, she was admitted into the Temple-Row Sunday-School, and in the second quarter obtained a place in the Bible-class. She now began more particularly to notice what she read and heard, frequently asking questions on the most important matters of religion, which I endeavoured to answer. From this time there was an evident change in her conduct, and she appeared most happy when she could do any thing that was pleasing to us. had a great aversion to vain and trifling company. Her chief delight was at school, or at the lectures in the vestry. She was diligent in attending the means of grace; and often retired to read her Bible, her Hymn. Book, and other religious Publications; in such engagements her most pleasing hours were spent. Though she was naturally of a warm temper, yet I saw that she strove to govern herself, at least in my presence. In the winter of 1817 she became the subject of much affliction; yet she attended to her work and her books as usual. About a year ago, she expressed to me a particular desire to be religious, and asked me the meaning of a “Class-Meeting:" I told her that class-meetings could not of themselves make people religious, but were designed to help such as wished to be so, and that they were often blessed to that purpose. I said, if she desired to be truly good, she must pray that God would give her to see and feel that she was by nature bad, and needed a |