the sea shore. "When no other recreations were left him," says his biographer, "he diverted himself with sorting and shadowing cockle shells, which his wife and daughter gathered for him, with as much delight as he used to take in the richest agathes and onixes he could compass with the most artificial engravings, which were things when he recreated himself from more serious studies, he as much delighted in as any piece of art. These were but his trifling diversions, his businesse and his continual! study was the scripture, which the more he converst in, the more he delighted in; insomuch that his wife having brought downe some bookes to entertain him in his sollitude, he thank'd her, and told her, that if he should continue, as long as he lived, in prison, he would read nothing there but his BIBLE."—Vol. 2. p. 356. Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson, Governor of Nottingham Castle for the Parliament. I wished to have added here that every one is, or ought to be in some measure, an historian; that every one is bound to hand down to posterity a part of the knowledge or experience he has accumulated, either by precept, example, or admonition; that even the youngest are not excluded from this obligation, as out of the mouths of babes and sucklings strength has been ordained of old, and every Christian is called upon to become as it were a living epistle, to be read of all men, without fear of blush or comment. But as I was about to enlarge on these topics, my maid Bridget came up to inform me that the gardener had just waded through the snow to tell me that one of Miss Emma's pheasants had been caught in a snare, and was nearly dead with fright, and he does not know what to do with it.-Excuse therefore this hurried conclusion, and believe me, Mr. Editor, your faithful friend and servant, A COUNTRY CORRESPONDent. M. G. THE PASCHAL LAMB. No divinely appointed ordinance more strikingly represented the great and glorious salvation obtained by the Lord Jesus Christ, than the Passover Lamb, by which the rescue of the Israelites was effected from their cruel oppression in Egypt. If their bondage depicted the awful condition of our guilty race, as the slaves of sin and Satan, their deliverance no less exhibited our redemption by the blood of Jesus; their journeys through the wilderness repre- All the while they work alone; Soon dissolves a heart of stone. " The blood of the Paschal Lamb was typical of the blood of Jesus. It was a truth early declared, that without shedding of blood there could be no remission of sins; a truth doubtless revealed to our first parents and to their immediate posterity, for "by faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." This justifies the remark, that the Spirit of God revealed the way of salvation to Abel as marked by blood. And it is likewise confirmed by the nature of the different sacrifices antecedent to the giving of the law. The ceremonial economy constantly proclaimed the same truth, for "Fresh blood as constant as the day, Was on their altar spilt.'' The resemblance between the Paschal Lamb and Christ the New Testament Passover, appears in their respective qualities. As the former displayed innocence, so Christ was perfectly pure and harmless. Meekness and patience marked his whole deportment. "Behold thy King cometh unto thee meek and having salvation." Zech. ix. 9. and Matt. xxi. 5. 2. Cor. x. 1. The Paschal Lamb was chosen, so Christ was chosen of the Father for the great work of redemption. "Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth." Isa. xlii. 1. The Paschal Lamb was chosen for the particular purpose of procuring the deliverance of the Israelites from bondage, and their preservation from the destroying angel. So the blood of Jesus secures us from the wrath of God, and rescues us from sin, Satan, and the world. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." The efficacy of the blood of Christ then, consists in its pardoning and cleansing virtues. "It brings us nigh to God and reconciles us to him; it cleanses from all sin; it procures peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, and secures our final entrance into heaven, the holiest of all." Heb. x. 19. The directions respecting the application of the blood of the lamb were particular-“And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts." Mr. Henry makes the covenant the basin, and the bunch of hyssop to signify faith. It is certainly called the blood of the covenant, as in Exodus xxiv. 8. and Zech. ix. 11. "As for thee, also, by the blood of thy covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water." Heb. xiii. 20. The covenant is the great reservoir of all spiritual blessings. The blood was to be applied. It was to be sprinkled on the "two side posts and on the lintel," else it would have been unavailing. Thus Christ must be applied to us, and received by us. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” John vi. 53. In allusion to the sprinkling of the blood of the Passover Lamb, the Apostle Paul says of Moses, "By faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood." Heb. xi. 28. "We are come to the blood of sprinkling." Heb. xii. 24. So also, 1. Pet. i. 2. “The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus." The blood was not to be trampled upon-that is, despised, disesteemed, neglected. The remark of the Apostle is truly serious. "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the blood of the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace." Heb. x. 29. This text of scripture discovers at once their dreadful state, who treat with indifference the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, who having known the way of salvation, die neglecting it, for there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a fearful looking for of judgment, and of fiery indignation. See then, my dear readers, that you do not delay an application to the blood of Jesus. Whatever you possess without this, it will be insufficient. God regarded no other sign upon the door, but the blood of the Passover Lamb, and God will regard nothing at the day of judgment, but the heart sprinkled, purified, and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Remember, that merely to approve this, or to recommend it to others, is not sufficient; the blessing must be made yours. Seek then the evidences of the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. Are you made holy? Are you separate from sinners? Is Jesus your best beloved? Is the glory of God your constant aim? If so, rejoice in the mercy you have found. Acknowledge Christ openly; abide in Him; giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue (courage); to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, temperance; to temperance, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. "Jesus, our Passover, was slain, And has at length procured Freedom from Satan's heavy chain And God's avenging sword." Wakefield. R. C. THE PAST. "Be it a weakness it deserves some praise, Cowper. THERE are times when the mind loves to meditate and reflect on by-gone days and events-when busy memory recalls many a happy hour passed in the hey-day of boyhood, and all that association of circumstances which brightens the passing vision. But, alas! for one happy moment, how many there are of a different nature! How many that tell another tale! The mind, 'tis true, will linger, with that instinctive inclination which is peculiar to our nature, on the pleasing side; but yet the unbidden thought will steal upon us unawares-our very efforts to check it will only be the more effectual means of bringing it before our fancy, till the unwished-for image has been portrayed, and has left on the mind a tinge of melancholy and dejection. So it is with all human things-nothing is unmixed. There are moments when the man of the world, even while plunging with avidity and delight in the sea of pleasure, finds himself weary and sick of all this maddening round. In moments such as these he hears, or fancies he hears, a voice. Is it wafted on the breeze? Is it floating on the zephyr? It has struck his ear-what is it?—It is not a voice-it is his own musing. He regrets the past, and well he may. He is revelling amidst the recollection of the scenes of his youth-his companions, his games, his excursions, his rambles. He fancies himself there-he woos the happy moment. But it is no more. The scene is changed-he heaves a sigh-he turns a wistful but a useless look. All in vain-the vision is past, and leaves him to muse on his present condition. In the bustle and hurry of business and active life, it is even so. Who has not oftentimes cast a retrospective glance at the days of his youth. We carry with us every where a love for the haunts of our childhood, which nothing, no, nothing, can make us forget. -e, These reflections were suggested to me by a visit to Cin France, during the last year. The coast of France is about thirty miles distant from Jersey. We arrived within sight of land early in the morning, and I do not recollect having witnessed a more magnificent sight than I then beheld-it was the rising of the sun. The morning was beautiful and calm, "Jocund day Stood tip-toe on the misty mountain's top." nought was heard but the vessel ploughing its way through the briny sea. All at once the sun was seen emerging as it were from the depths of the ocean, and breaking the monotony of the scene it was a sight truly grand and imposing. My mind immediately recurred to the Psalmist's beautiful description of the works of God. I never was more forcibly struck with his delineation of them than at this moment. In France I had passed many years of my boyhood, and I of course, as soon as I got on terra firma, directed my steps to the town of C―e, where I had spent so many of my happiest days. On my way to that place, the recollections of that happy time crowded on my imagination. It would be difficult for me to retrace now the thousand and one thoughts that occupied my mind: but I remember very well that I busied and puzzled myself much, with what would be the nature of my sensations when I should behold the " scenes of my childhood" after such a lapse of time. All this working of my fancy urged my speed, or rather the abstraction of my thoughts from the objects around me beguiled the time. |