(2 Chron. xxxiv, 14,) was so. It may have been the same book that was written by Moses. When Dr. Buchanan was in India, he found a very old copy of the law, written on a roll of leather about fifteen feet long. Many such rolls exist, some more than a hundred feet in length. It must have been very troublesome to read in such a book or roll, which was the general form of books in ancient times. The rolls were several feet long, but not very wide, generally about twelve or fourteen inches; the writing was in pages, beginning at one end of the roll, and so proceeding to the other. The ends of the roll were often fastened upon sticks; the roll was opened at the beginning enough to allow of a page or two being read. The ancient manuscripts were all written in capital letters, and without divisions of the words, so that the roll, when first opened, looked something like this:

NOW WHENJE

SUSWASBORN

INBETHLEHE

GBEHOLDTHE
RECAMEWISE
MENFROMTH

The part first opened, when read, was rolled up again, and more was opened: thus the whole book could be read without the difficulty which there must have been if the lines had gone all along, from one end to the other, so as to require the whole roll to be opened at once. Sometimes both sides of the roll were written upon, Ezek. ii, 10. Hartley describes a roll written on both sides, so that when the reader had read the page next the inner stick, he turned the parchment over and read the other side. This was written within and without.

The roll described, Zech. v, 1-3, was about thirty-five feet long. The description, Rev. vi, 14, strikingly represents the removal of a roll when rolled up. That seen by the evangelist seems to have had seven leaves or skins, with a pictorial representation on each: the whole being rolled up, the edge of each could be sealed separately, so as to allow of their being opened one after the other.

They were laid up in repositories especially for the purpose, as the house of the rolls, Ezra vi, 1.

The rolls, or books rolled up, are often mentioned or alluded to in the Bible, Ezra vi, 2; Isa. viii, 1; xxxiv, 4; Jer. xxxvi, 2; Ezek. ii, 9; Rev. vi, 14. The scribes, or persons employed in writing, were considered persons of importance. From Ezek. ix, 2, 3, 11, it appears that they wore their ink-bottles, or ink-horns, at their girdles. The prophecy of Jeremiah, sent to Jehoiakim, was written by Baruch, with ink, in the roll of a book: it is plain that this book was of some soft substance, as the king was able to cut it to pieces with a penknife, before he cast it into the fire, Jer. xxxvi, 23.

The word "scribe" requires explanation. It is used in the Bible for a secretary or clerk. These were persons of importance then, as in Europe during the Middle Ages, when but few persons could write. Such were those mentioned. Such an officer would keep the records mentioned Est. vi, 1-3.

A scribe, or secretary, also was an officer of considerable importance, having duties of moment in his charge: these were of different kinds, as the scribe of the host, or mustermaster of the army, 2 Kings xxv, 19. Such a list of names, kept by some official person, seems to illustrate the book of life, Phil. iv, 3; Rev. iii, 5; xx, 12; xxi, 27.

The scribes in the New Testament were doctors or learned men, skilled in the law: their business was to interpret it; but, as our blessed Lord said, they oftener made it void by their traditions, Matt. xxiii, 2.

In Persia, at the present day, the meerzas, or scribes, are of importance. Travelers state that the higher classes employ them through indolence, instead of writing letters themselves; and the lower classes cannot write. Lane described them in Egypt as sitting in the street, and writing for those who came to them.

Parchment is made of the skins of goats, sheep, or calves, prepared with care. It was known to the Jews, and being a later invention, and more valuable than skins of leather, was used for writings of the greatest importance. The apostle Paul, when writing to Timothy, desires him to bring the books he had left at Troas, but "especially the parchments," 2 Tim. iv, 13. The value and scarcity of parchment was so great, before the invention of paper, that the writing was frequently effaced from the rolls or books

already written, and other works more desired were written instead. Some of the most ancient manuscripts of the Bible now known, have been written over in this manner; but the first writing can still be made out, though with difficulty. Another substance much used for writing upon, was a kind of paper made from the thin skin or film which covers a sort of bulrush that grows in Egypt, and is called papyrus, or biblos. It was found in abundance on the banks of the Nile and other streams, Isa. xix, 7. Among these reeds or bulrushes Moses was placed, when his parents dared not to keep him any longer. The daughter of the king found him there, as is related in Exod. ii, 5. These bulrushes are also mentioned in Isa. xviii, 2. This sort of paper was much used by the Romans and Greeks. The manuscripts or books found in Herculaneum-the city that was buried under the ashes and lava from Mount Vesuvius, A. D. 79, and which remained unknown until about a hundred years ago—are all written on this sort of paper. They are rolls, or long slips, of different lengths, about twelve inches wide; but, from the heat of the lava, and the many centuries they remained untouched, it is very difficult to unroll or open them.

Different sorts of paper have lately been made of bark of trees, cotton, silk, straw, and many other substances; but these, as well as the paper now made of linen rags, were unknown to the ancient Jews. The paper mentioned 2 John 12, was made of papyrus.

The ancients wrote upon these substances with ink. The first mention of ink is in the writing of the prophecy of Jeremiah by Baruch, which we find was written "with ink in a book," or roll, Jer. xxxvi, 18. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of a writer's ink-horn. Lane describes the literary men, and those who are writers by profession, in Egypt, as wearing a silver, brass, or copper case at their girdle, with a receptacle for ink and pens. Other travelers describe secretaries wearing this for a mark of their office. The apostle John mentions writing with ink and pen, 2 John 12; 3 John 13. Also the Apostle Paul, 2 Cor. iii, 3; from which it appears that the Epistles were written with ink upon paper or parchment. The pens were not of quills, like ours, but of reeds, which are still used by Eastern nations. Persons could write quicker with them than with the iron pens or bodkins, which engraved

or scratched the writing: this is alluded to, Psa. xlv, 1, where the pen of a ready writer is mentioned.

There were pens in some ink-horns found in Herculaneum, but they were merely pointed sticks, like skewers.

Printing was not discovered till about the year 1450: before that time books were but few in number, and cost much money. Yet, even in his own time, Solomon could say, Of making many books there is no end," Eccl. xii, 12. How much more is this the case now! and how many vain, trifling, silly, and even wicked and profane books there are! Beware of bad books. We read (1 Cor. xv, 33) that "evil communications corrupt good manners;" and, as the writer of the Book of Ecclesiasticus has well observed, as "a man cannot touch pitch without being defiled," be assured that you cannot read bad books without injury. Flee the temptation; and if a bad book comes into your possession, as soon as you are aware of its contents, commit it to the flames. You would not drink a cup of poison because it was offered to you; why then take a bad book if offered to you? Remember what is said of the heavenly Jerusalem: "There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life," Rev. xxi, 27.

CHAPTER XII.

POETRY, MUSIC, DANCING, AND PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.

POETRY.

THE Eastern nations have always been remarkable for the excellence of their poetry: the Jews, in particular, were much distinguished in this respect. Many parts of the Old Testament are in verse. Learned men have examined this subject very carefully, and have said much about the different sorts of verse in the original Hebrew. They especially notice the manner in which different things are contrasted with each other. This is very common in the Hebrew poetry, and adds much to the impression that it produces. Thus, in Luke i, 53, Mary contrasts the mighty with them of low degree; and the hungry being filled with good things,

ANCIENT LYRES, CYMBALS, AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

while those who were rich (in their own opinion) were sent away empty. This text shows very strongly, that all the blessings we enjoy come from the Lord.

The excellence of the Hebrew poetry is owing to its having been employed on religious subjects. When persons who understand the ancient languages, compare the poetical parts of the Bible with the best poetry of nations that knew not the Lord, they are struck with the superior excellence of the poetry of the Bible. This arises from its being written about those things which relate to the good of our souls, by men inspired or taught of God.

In the Bible are a great many songs, or psalms, which were written to praise the Lord, to offer thanks for mercies received, or to implore his help under every circumstance