so is its encouragement. What Christianity teaches is not learnt in a moment, nor when learned is the power obtained to practice it, by controling the passions and desires under every trying circumstance of life. Christian men whose hearts are right with God, may, through ignorance, act unworthy of their calling, and be surprised or overtaken in any fault. These things considered, an individual may be a Christian, though he expose goods for sale by lottery. came upon them, and the lot fell upon Jonah-Acts i. 26, the apostles cast lots for the Lord to decide whether He had chosen Justus or Matthias in the place of Judas, praying, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew which of these Thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell." In Proverbs xvi. 33, it is written, "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord;" and xviii. 18, "The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty." These quotations lead us to the conclusion, that decision by lot is right, and an appointment of God, by which man appeals to Him. The established rules of propriety inform us, that it is right to accompany our appeals to rulers with a prayer: so the examples of Saul, King of Israel, and the apostles of our Lord, teach us, that our appeals to God should ever be accompanied by prayer. 2. But, as what is right in itself may be wrongly applied, we now inquire whether it is right to use the lot for such purposes as the disposing of goods for sale, amusements, &c. Revelation, nature, and the customs of nations, alike teach us that high courts are instituted for the settlement of difficult cases; and to appeal to them respecting matters of easy adjustment, is neither right nor proper, but to make amusement of their decisions is insult and mockery. Now if this be true as regards man, it is no less true with respect to God. Again, the weight and balance are the Lord's (Prov. xvi. 11) · a fair price for a just weight or measure, is what God has ap But W. M. inquires if all such are not gamblers? Yes, if they invite the unwary to gamble, and then cheat them. But it may happen that the party expo- | sing his goods for sale by lottery does not receive their value. The desire to obtain a market, and not any advantage, may move him to adopt such a course. The abuse of any custom is no argument against its proper observance. The practice in this respect, therefore, may be right, and the wrong remain with those who adopt unjust means to obtain advantage. If by gambling, W. M. mean holding forth an opportunity of deriving greater advantages than the amount paid entitles to, then the members of Assurance Companies and Benefit Societies are gamblers also: for it is the probability of obtaining advantages beyond the payment, that gain for such institutions public attention and support. True, the probabilities are those which arise out of sickness, accidents, and death; still, let us remember that the Disposer of the lot is also the Giver and withholder of life and breath. Benefit Societies then, though high in man's esteem, may be of no repute with God; and supposing lotteries to resem-pointed and approves (Prov. xi. 1, Deut. ble them in every feature, such resemblance does not establish their justice. The standard of our lives and actions is God's word; let us open its pages, and seek guidance concerning lotteries. 1. Are they right or wrong. In Numbers xxvi. 56, God appoints the land of Canaan to be divided by lot-Levit. xvi. 8-9, the Lord's and the scapegoat's to be decided by lot-Joshua vii. 14, himself to show who had wrought wickedness in Israel by lot-1 Saml. x. 20, Samuel chose a king from among the tribes by lot-xiv. 41, Saul decides who had transgressed his commandment by lot, praying God to give a perfect lot-Jonahi.7, the heathen mariners cast lots, that they might know on whose account the storm xxv. 13, &c.) We find no instance in Scripture of the disposal of goods by lot, and the application of it to such a purpose is a perversion of God's design in establishing it. So long as men pervert and neglect God's appointments, they can never expect to live in unity, peace, order, and happiness, the enjoyment of which spring out of a proper use of His gifts, and an observance of all His appointed institutions (Psalm cxix. 1-2.) The word of God is given to teach man the way of salvation, and to build up and give him an inheritance among the sanctified (Acts xx. 32.) To seek gain by lot, is tempting God as much as if Jesus had cast himself from the pinnacle of the temple. No 3. What, then, are right uses of the Scriptures to expect, that not only prolot. These the records of Scripture fane scoffers and pretenders to miracles must determine. From all the premises should arise to "assault our faith," but before us, we conclude that God did not that "wise men after the flesh," men of appoint it to decide what He had al- science, would be permitted seemingly ready made known by other means. to demonstrate, that matter was "in exBeing an appeal to God, human judg-istence for 'untold ages' prior to the ment confesses itself unable, with all creation of the present earth." the appliances in its possession, satis- doubt, if men will not believe what God factorily to decide that which it appeals says, and thereby be made wise, (Psalm to God to do. If not in letter, yet in xix. 7.) they are, by appearances, led to spirit, it is in the name of God; and, draw conclusions subversive of the dias He has declared that He will not vine testimonies; and the fact itself turns hold him guiltless who taketh His name to believers for a testimony, "Thus it in vain, we conclude that God will not is written, and thus it must be." No hold him guiltless who appeals to Him one believes the account of the creation in vain. by Moses no one believes that the same creation shall be destroyed, who is not subject to God's word in its integrity. The one and the other rest wholly on the testimony of God, and whatever we know by sensation, the deductions of reason, or by experience, is not, properly speaking, the object of faith. Faith is a conviction of the truth and certainty of things which are knowable only by revelation, and is grounded on the authority of that revelation considered as the word of God. When God discovers himself to be the speaker, his character and perfections afford the highest reasons for giving the most unlimited credit to every thing he says, however far it may transcend our natural conceptions, or the established course of nature. 66 But," says the geologist, If any person calling himself a Christian, either exposes goods for sale or obtains them by lottery, it is high time he were better instructed, as such practices proclaim a want of the knowledge of the truth as loudly as the neglect of the fellowship, or any other institution of God; and as great a distrust of God as being employed in the plain of Shinar, building cities and towers to which they might resort if God should afflict them, thereby exhibiting their want of faith in God's promise: for the bow reflected from the Sun of Righteousness, is still in the cloud they dread, (Rom. viii. 22) to show that God will be true. P. B. REVELATION AND GEOLOGY. THE questions put by Mr. Hamilton in the July number, are gendered by bold sayings of "science, so called"-not that truth of any kind is to be despised -but if the Scriptures are admitted to be the word of God at all, they cannot be superseded by any other revelation; for, as the word of God, they have already the authority of God-they are in possession of a prior claim to be heard, and are a standard of truth by which all after-pretensions must be tried, whether laid before us in the shape of "new Scriptures," or "the discoveries of modern science." It is unquestionable that God, in all ages of the world, has permitted certain "signs and wonders" to arise, both natural and supernatural, which should determine whether men have "implicit faith" in his testimony or not; that if they receive not "the truth," they might "believe a lie" (Deut. xiii. 1-5; 2 Thess. ii. 9-12.) We are certainly taught in the 66 we have evidence before our eyes that matter did exist before the Mosaic account of the creation." Vain man! what knowest thou that God did not so form the earth that appearances might seem to be contradictions to his word, that it might be known, on this ground, who among men would believe him, and who would not. For as God can only be glorified by faith, and "faith is the evidence of things not seen," it follows, that the assumptions of geologists against Moses are the spirit of unbelief, and tend to the overthrow of the truth of God itself. Now we believe, that "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is," (Exod. xv. 11;) or through faith we understand when, in what time, and by whose word, the worlds were framed (Heb. xi. 3;) and by faith only can we know that by the same word they shall be destroyed (2 Pet. iii.) What sign is there of this? None whatever. The heaven and the earth bear on. no marks of age or dissolution coming The sea and the dry land, the sun and the moon, the planets and the fixed stars, are just as new, and as apparently made but yesterday, as if just brought into being by their Creator. Neither will they ever wear out. Yet "all these things shall be dissolved," "shall be burned up," ""shall pass away" "The great globe itself, Yea, all that it inherits, shall dissolve, But who believes these testimonies, and is moved accordingly (2 Pet. iii. 10-14?) This is not an answer to Mr. Hamilton's "Queries on the subject," but "a reason" or two for believing God's word, against "the inferences of geology," from A FOOL (1 Cor. iii. 18.) LITERARY NOTICE. OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE OF ISRAEL'S FUTURE RESTORATION TO PALESTINE, NATIONAL PRE-EMINENCE, &c. with an Appendix on the Ten Tribes, and the Future Destinies of the World and the Church. By EDWARD SWAINE. Second Edition. (Jackson and Walford, London.) Such is the title of a small volume which we notice with pleasure. On the first page appears, very appropriately, the following extract from the writings of Fleury: "It is mere equivocation to call Palestine the Lord's heritage, and the land promised to his people. These expressions belong to the Old Testament, in the proper and literal sense, and can be applied to the New only in a figurative sense. The heritage which Christ purchased with his blood is his church, collected from all nations, and the land which is promised is the heavenly country." The work consists of twelve letters addressed to a friend, in which the subject is discussed in a clear and candid manner. The fifth letter comprehends observations upon particular phrases, such as mountain, all nations, no more, for ever. The price of the volume places it within the reach of nearly all. We have space for only a brief extract; but we recommend a perusal of the work to those who desire to enlarge their information respecting the limited character of many of the prophecies found in the Old Testament Scriptures. "NO MORE"- -" FOR EVER." Much stress has also been laid on these and like expressions, as conveying the notion of perpetuity; but with how little reason the following will prove : Hosea i. 6, "I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but will utterly take them away." Amos v. 2, "The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise." Zech. xi. 6, "For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them." A literal and unqualified interpretation of any one of these passages destroys the doctrine of a literal restoration at once; but as the subsequent verses prove that the two first passages must not be taken literally, I shall only observe, that as the third seems to have been uttered in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem and the present dispersion, it affords presumptive evidence, in connection with other circumstances, that a literal interpretation would be a correct one; and that, consequently, the Jews will never be restored again to their receive a caution from these passages when they own land. Literal interpreters may, at least, are considering Zech. xiv 10-11, and similar declarations, "All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's wine-presses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." Exod. xii. 24, The Jews are commanded to observe the passover "for ever." 1 Kings viii. 13, Solomon says, "I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever." But the close of the Jewish economy put an end to the duty of observing the passover, and witnessed the departure of the Lord from Jerusalem as His peculiar dwelling-place. Had dence in Palestine, to literal Israel, the same not the promises of perpetual peace and resi limitation? See also Isa. xxxii. 13-14. OBITUARY. WHEN I take a retrospect of the past, I cannot but feel grateful to our Heavenly Father, that the truth was ever made known in Loughborough, and that myself and others were led to embrace the offered blessings promised in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Praised for ever be the name of our God: He doeth all things well. I now send you a few lines respecting one who was very dear to me and all as a sister in Christ, Selina Taylor. Being of consumptive habit, she lingered for some time, and then calmly and peacefully fell asleep in Jesus on the 6th of last month, in the 22nd year of her age. She was one of three children left in early life to the care of a kind and affectionate aunt, who, I believe, has fulfilled to the letter the promise made to the mother of our deceased sister, when on her dying bed, that she would be a mother to them all. Many a time has the kind aunt sighed over the children entrusted to her care, expressing a desire, if it was the will of God, that she might live to smoothen their passage through this vale of tears; and so it has been ordered, God having given her the desire of her heart, for all three now lie side by side in the cold embrace of death, and none remain of the family. The first, a girl about 16, died of decline -the second, a boy aged 17, whom Selina was the honored instrument in the hand of God of bringing to a knowledge of the truth, died rejoicing in the Lord. Our deceased sister, since that event, appeared to be fast ripening for heaven; indeed she seemed deeply impressed with the conviction, that she should not long survive. not identified themselves with the cause And by the Lord himself received." "We weep when a friend shuts her eyes on the world, And life's partnership is with the dearest dis- But the soul has escaped from the evil to come, Bless the Lord who has given, and taken Who knows but the friend we sincerely lament, won, And the race she so eagerly ran in is run- We would not again she was sorrowing here, obtain A part in the first resurrection's bright reign." Her aunt having been a partaker of the truth for many years, Selina was by her led to hear the gospel, which is spirit and life to all who believe it. Having received the truth, she obeyed its requirements, becoming a Christian indeed. Being of a meek and humble mind, she gained the respect and esteem of all who knew her. It may be truly said, that she walked in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless. After giving up her work through illness, she lingered for three months, the greater part of which time she passed in bed. At first she expressed a wish that she might recover, if the Lord so willed it, to be useful in PAY ATTENTION TO CHARACTER.— the church and the world, but entirely Character will always operate. There placed herself in the hands of Him who may be little culture, slender abilities, had done so much for her. "When I no property, no position in society; think of Jesus," she would say, "and still, if there be a character of sterling of seeing him too, I long to depart and excellence, it will command influence be with my Lord, which is far better."-it will secure respect, and produce imWhen any persons visited her who had pression. Besides, who knows in what FAMILY CIRCLE. it may result? Therefore, let all pay the utmost attention to character; nothing is more important.—We never injure our own characters so much as when we attack those of others.-When a man has the approbation of his own mind, the forms of the world, like the pressure of an arch, only serve to strengthen him in his position. As snow is of itself cold, yet warms and refreshes the earth, so afflictions, though in themselves grievous, yet warm the heart of the Christian and make it fruitful.-Many friends are lost by illtimed jests; rather lose your best jest than your worst friend.—He who would have friends, must show himself friendly. True-and when a man complains of having no friends, he ought to ask himself the question, whether he is a friend to any one.— -All people find fault with their memory, but few accuse their judgment. THE TEAR OF SYMPATHY.-How softly the tear of sympathy falls on the heart bruised and broken with sorrow! It assures the sad and weeping soul that it is not alone in a wilderness of cold hearts that there are those who can feel for the troubles of others; and oh! what is more cheering to an aching heart than such a thought? The desire to be loved is human nature in its purity. It is the first impulse of the opening heart—and it lives and breathes in the bosom of all until the hour of death. A look of love, a word of kindness, a tear of sympathy, cost us nothing why, then, withhold them from those who would prize them as blessings winged with the fragrant dews of heaven? To give them costs us nothingbut it often costs us an effort-a silent pang of the heart, did we but confess it -to withhold them: for he must indeed be a misanthrope whose heart does not delight in going forth to bless and be blessed. The tear of sympathy never falls in vain. It waters and fertilizes the soil of the most sterile heart, and causes it to flourish with the beautiful flowers of gratitude and love. And as the Summer clouds weep refreshment on the parched earth, and leave the skies more beautiful than before, with the rainbow of promise arching in the cerulean dome, so the tear of sympathy not only refreshes the heart on which it drops, but it elevates and beautifies the nature of him from whom it springs. A sympathizing heart is a spring of pure water bursting forth from the mountain side. Ever pure and sweet in itself, it carries gladness and joy on every ripple of its sparkling current. EDUCATION.-Did our young ladies understand the great moral position which they are to occupy in societydid they fully realize the influence which they must exert over othersthey would be inspired with a laudable zeal to qualify themselves for their high destination. True, they are not called to wrangle in debate, nor contend upon the political arena, nor plead at the bar, nor minister at the altartheir influence is noiseless and unseen, yet all pervading as the sunlight. They may wield a moral power that will tell on a nation's destinies and a nation's hopes. They may send out from the quietudes of home a secret influence. that shall be felt in our halls of legislation, in our courts of justice, and indeed in every department of human pursuits -female education! an education that disciplines the mind and the heart. How infinitely does it surpass those petty and outward accomplishments so eargerly sought and so highly prized. Beauty alone can never secure the permanent eespect of a discerning man. A woman admired for her beauty, either real or artificial, may charm and amuse for a time-she may draw crowds of admirers around her, who, like the stupid butterfly, light on flowers without fragrance or perfume, rather than on such as yield delicious honey. But beauty is frail and fleeting as the flower that blooms but for a day. An educated mind, on the contrary, is like the towering oak that defies the tempests of years. Beauty, riches, friends may forsake us, but an educated mind will live when all things else have expired. I would then urge our young females to think less of pleasing the other sex by what is called beauty of person or of dress, and seek to adorn the mind-the INNER TEMPLE-with attractions which will never decay. "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." DISCOVERIES OF THE LAST HALF CENTURY.-There has been no period since the commencement of the world in which so many important discoveries, |