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THE PRIMITIVE SETTLEMENTS OF THE DESCENDANTS

OF NOAH.

(With a Map.)

WE purpose, during this and succeeding volume, presenting our readers with a series of Scripture Maps. We begin with the annexed, which points out, as nearly as can now be ascertained, the probable settlements of Noah's immediate descendants. The situation in which Noah and his children were placed was very central, and there was ample scope, as their descendants multiplied, to extend their settlements on every side. Mankind rapidly increased after the flood. Our readers will find in the tenth and eleventh chapters of Genesis, various particulars of the "families of the sons of Noah after their generations, in their nations; and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood." Genesis x. 32.

MUSIC AND SINGING.
A Dialogue.

Father.-A long exercise of your vocal and musical powers this morning, my dear Mary. I fear too much of your precious time is sacrificed to this amusement.

Mary.-I was reading, yesterday, a quotation from Luther, who says that music is next to divinity; it imparts what otherwise religion only can, a quiet and happy frame of mind.

Father. You are not very fortunate in your citation, my daughter; among various compositions I certainly heard you sing some foolish and trifling songs. If my ears did not deceive me, such words reached them as certainly the venerated Luther would not eulogize, and how my simple and modest daughter could allow them to proceed from her lips, is surprising to me.

Mary. Really, father, I never think of the words, but the air is so very beautiful. I must relinquish the pleasure of taking parts with my cousins, or indeed singing or playing at all, if I pay attention to the words which the composer chooses to affix to his melodies.

Father. And so, Mary, because your ear is gratified by pleasing modulations, you infringe the rules of propriety, and, consequently, render it uncertain whether you have any claim to the christian character.

Mary.-Oh! father, how seriously you treat the subject: how do you wish me to act?

Father. I wish your own conscience to dictate. Is it not inconsistent for a christian female to make that the subject of her songs, which she would blush to expatiate upon before her friends and companions?

Mary. But, father, the most excellent people do not see any such impropriety, even Mrs. C., whom you so much admire for sense and piety, allows her daughters to be familiar with these compositions.

Father.-Oh! Mary, I am concerned to hear such arguments from you. Are we to examine ourselves by the standard of our fellow creatures, or of the Searcher of hearts?

Mary.--Father, I confess I am wrong, but it is so difficult to relinquish that which is a source of so much delight.

Father.-Examine your own heart, my dear girl, and find out what causes such exquisite pleasure. Tell me what it is that charms you so very much?

Mary.-Why, father, you must allow the melody of sweet sounds is very fascinating.

Father. Certainly. Is that all that renders the amusement so attractive?

Mary.-There is a great satisfaction in pleasing my friends.
Father. Is there no other accompaniment?

Mary.-Oh! father, you allude to the praises I receive. Yes, they are very gratifying.

Father. If you scrutinize your heart, you will find a large portion of your delight arises from the compliments which are paid to your taste and execution. The hearts of mature christians are often, alas! greatly injured by the plaudits of their fellow mortals; but to a youthful mind, I believe such excitements to be very dangerous.

Mary.-Indeed, father, I see the justice of your remarks, and I will relinquish the amusement so far as it is incompatible with interests of higher importance.

Father. My dear, I wish you to act from the conviction of your own conscience, and not merely from regard to my opinion. Mary. These thoughts have often passed my mind, but self has

pleaded that they were matters of small importance. I hope I have

tasted of nobler enjoyments than those which arise from the "harmony of sweet sounds," and I should be grieved if this beguiling amusement should lead me to act inconsistently with my holy profession.

Father. The latitude which many pious persons allow, has often disturbed my mind, but never so much impressed it as last evening, when reading the remarks of that lovely character, the Rev. Legh Richmond-this is the passage: "Love songs, with various other sorts, resound from house to house, in public and in private. What a profanation of an holy act! What a degradation of a noble science! I am persuaded that music is designed to prepare for heaven; to educate for the choral enjoyment of Paradise; to form the mind to virtue and devotion; to charın away evil, and sanctify the heart to God. A christian musician is one who has a harp in her affections, which she daily tunes to the angelic host, and with which she makes melody unto the Lord. Does she strike the chords with her hands, it is to bid lute and harp awake to the glory of God. The hand, the tongue, and the ear, form a kind of triple chord not to be broken." With this admirable man I would echo, " Bring music, my beloved Mary, to this test, and your vocal hours will not be spent in vain. Sing the songs of Zion, and amidst the vibration of the air may true prayer and praise ascend to heaven, and enter into the ears of the Lord God of your salvation.

Mary.-Father, my heart responds to this interesting quotation, may my hand and harp, and voice, be more employed for the glory of God. I fear I cannot persuade my friends to join me, but better will it be to remain mute than act against the dictates of my conscience.

Father.-Far better, my daughter; but as I have intimated before, it may not be necessary to confine your attention to sacred music. There are many pleasing compositions which do not bear a devotional character, and whatever you can dilate upon in the social circle, cannot be improper for the subject of your song: at the same time, the noblest employment of our talents is evidently to consecrate them to the glory of God, and I do not see why the adoption of sacred harmonies should not be a favorite subject with those who are candidates for a glorious immortality. There are many precedents in holy writ. It is supposed that Jubal's lyre was

consecrated to religion, and we know that the sweet Singer of Israel employed his "harp of solemn sound," while chanting his anthems of praise. The best engagement of our blessed Lord with his disciples, was an act of praise. Paul and Silas forgot their fetters and their chains, and the solitary dungeon became the gate of heaven, while they sang the praises of God. St. Paul thus displaying a practical commentary on his own exhortation to the Ephesians, and the injunction of St. James, who says, "If any are cheerful let them sing Psalms."

Mary.-Yes, certainly, dear father; and I do indeed desire that my heart may accompany my voice; but I much fear that should I be applauded, the vanity of my mind would be still excited even while pursuing this holy employment.

Father.-Satan,transformed into an angel of light, obtrudes upon our most sacred hours; but there is this difference, my dear: before uttering these sacred melodies to heaven, you can lift up your heart and say, "Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer," which you could not follow by singing the words like these to which I alluded. If now your heart be in tune to accompany some sacred and beautiful symphonies, surely there will be less danger from false excitements. O may you so use all your powers to the glory of God, that through his grace you may at last exchange the sacred songs of earth for the triumphant praise of heaven.

Mary. Thank you, dearest father, for your kind wishes and admonitions, I hope they will not be in vain.

Clapton.

M.W.

OBITUARY OF MISS BAYMAN.

IN the month of March last, Louisa, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Bayman, was seized with typhus fever. For several weeks there was scarcely a gleam of hope as to her recovery. Her general state of mind was such as her best friends, who were concerned for her soul, wished it to be. A good preparative for this had recently taken place, in the benefit she derived from a sermon in Kingston Church, preached by the Rev. Mr. Gaultry. God rebuked the fever, and Louisa is now at the sea side for the recovery of strength. But He "which doeth great things past finding out," saw fit that the next elder daughter, familiarly called Letty, should, from her very assiduous and unwearied attention to her dear sister, catch the fever. Thus were both sisters placed in

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