the reason of your conduct. captain did, for he tells Paul Thus acting, you will honour God, preserve yourself from contamination, and perhaps your decision may be blessed to the young man himself, and lead to his restoration. QUERY 2.-ON PAUL AS A DEAR SIR, Will you be so kind as to furnish in your valuable little work, the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR, an explanation of Acts xxii. 3, 25. It is stated in verse 3, that Paul was a Jew, born in the city of Tarsus, in Cilicia, and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel. But verse 25, Paul asks, “Is it lawful to scourge a man that is a Roman and uncondemned?" I wish to know how Paul was both a Jew and a Roman at the same time. I remain, Yours, A JUVENILE READER. that he had obtained it with a great sum. Others acquired i by rendering some great and important service to the Roman empire; and others obtained it, as Paul did, by being born in a city on which the Romans, by some special favour, had conferred the privilege. QUERY 3-ON NAAMAN'S RE- REV. DEAR SIR,-Having read with great satisfaction and delight, the explanations of various passages of Scriptures kindly given by you in our excellent Periodical, the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR, I beg an explanation of the passage in 2 Kings v. 17, "And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth?" Yours truly, J. TILLEY. ANSWER,-Paul was a Jew by Darby Hand, Oct. 12, 1853. his descent, or parentage, for as he tells us he was of the tribe of Benjamin; but he was a Roman citizen from the place of his birth; for he was born at Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, on which city the Romans had conferred the privilege of freedom; and the natives of that city were accounted citizens of Rome. Thus Paul was both a Jew by his descent, and a Roman by the privilege conferred on the city of his nativity. There were various ways in which men obtained the privilege of Roman citizenship. Some obtained it naturally, being descended from one of the tribes of the city of Rome, others bought it with money, as Lysias the chief ANSWER. This text has greatly perplexed commentators. To me it appears simply a request for a quantity of material from the land of Judea, wherewith to build himself an altar, at which he might henceforth worship the true God. But why, you may perhaps inquire, did he want to take the materials all the way from Judea to Syria, when he had plenty of the same sort in his own country? Simply for this reason. He seemed to consider Judea as a country blessed of God above all places in the earth. He had just experienced the wonderful efficacy of the water of Jordan above all other water, and amid the wonder and gratitude excited by his cure, he thought the land of Judea was blessed as well as the water; and that it would be a privilege to take away with him a portion of the blessed land, that he might build an altar therewith, and when at a distance from Judea, in his own country, he might have the satisfaction of bowing before an altar formed of the very material of the country so wonderfully blessed by the only true God. Hence, when he made the request for the two mules' burden of earth, he said "For thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto Jehovah. QUERY 4.-ON THE SEA OF GLASS? MY DEAR SIR, I cannot understand what it means in Revelation iv. 6. How a sea of glass could be before a throne: would not the sea be too big? It has always puzzled me, and I should be obliged if you would tell me, in an early number of your JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR, from which I have derived much pleasure and instruction. I am, yours truly, EMILY KAYE. St. John's Wood Park, ANSWER. My dear little girl, I am glad to find you studying the Holy Scriptures. Persevere; read your Bible with seriousness and prayer, and as you grow older you will get to understand much of God's blessed word. If my young friend will read in I Kings vii. 23, &c., she will find that there was a sea even in the temple built by Solomon that is, a very large vessel made of brass, to contain a great quantity of water; and as such a vessel full of water was called a sea, she will perceive that the word sea does not always mean a vast and extended surface like the ocean, but applies sometimes to a much smaller quantity. The sea is a frequent emblem of trouble, calamity, and tumult, because its waters, roused by tempests, present a wild and restless aspect. But a sea of glass is one which cannot be disturbed by tempests. It is smooth, calm, unruffled, and clear as crystal. Such a sea, then, represents the peace, the harmony, and the happiness of heaven as different from earth, as a sea of glass is different from a sea of water. [We have yet many other questions in hand, but we must defer them all until a future period.] MISCELLANEA. JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. SUNNY BROW.-On November and eloquent addresses were 19th, 1853, the first juvenile missionary meeting was held in the Chapel at Sunny Brow, when our respected friend Mr. John Lambert took the chair, delivered by the Rev. T. Cartwright, and Messrs. Andrew and Robert Young, Pieces were also recited on the occasion by some of the scholars, whose names are as follow:- manner. A spirit of missionary W. Robson, W. Manuel, J. Wilkinson, C. Rutherford, W. Gott, Elizabeth Hewison, E. J. Soulsby, Sarah Gott, Jane Elliott, and Jane Bailey, who reflected credit on their teachers and superintendents. Others, who did not recite pieces, requested cards, in order to gather for the missions. The sums raised by the cards, collection, &c., make the amount of £2 6s., besides £1 for the Australian Mission. Great credit, I think, is due to the children who have so earnestly laboured in behalf of the Mission cause. May the Lord prosper the little Zion at Sunny Brow. R. BAILEY, JUN., Sec. zeal appears to have sprung up Total ... ... ... 4 14 8 1 13 11 2013 £8 8 8 ON Saturday evening, Nov. 29th, a Juvenile Missionary Meeting was held in connection with our Willington Sabbathschool. Mr. J. Lambert presided, and addresses were de STALEYBRIDGE.-On Sunday, Dec. 25th, 1853, the annual meeting of Bennett Street and Chapel Street Schools was held in Grosvenor Street Chapel. After singing and prayer, one livered by the Rev. T. of our superintendents, Mr. Cartwright, and Messrs. A. John Ridgway, was called upon and R. Young, and J. Lambert. to preside; who, after a suitable A number of the scholars address, called upon the secre- likewise recited appropriate tary, Mr. James Moore, to read pieces. The collection amounted the reports. Suitable addresses to £2 6s., in addition to which and recitations were then de- £1 has been raised for the livered by some of the teachers Australian Mission, as also £1 and scholars, who acquitted by the neighbouring_school at themselves in a very creditable Brancepeth. DO YOU LOVE JESUS? A LITTLE boy was once asked this question; and with bright eyes, and cheerful voice he replied, Yes, I do love Jesus, because he first loved me. Why, how has he shown his love to you? Immediately he answered, He came from heaven to this world, and taught us the way to heaven; afterwards he died on the cross to secure Durham. heaven for us; and he rose again from the dead, and went to heaven to prepare mansions of glory for us; and he has promised to come again to receive us unto himself, that we may live and be happy with him for ever. Therefore, I do love Jesus, and should like all people to love him too. Do you love him? MARTHA CHADWICK, OF STALEYBRIDGE. SOME years ago, Martha Chadwick became a scholar in our Bennett Street Sunday School. Her mother says, that ever since she was able to read she was fond of reading the Bible. She was very diligent in her attendance at the School, and respectful in her behaviour to her teachers, and early she became the subject of serious impressions. She was often seen to weep during the addresses that were delivered in the School; and these good impressions became so powerful, that Martha felt herself a guilty sinner, and the language of her heart was, "What must I do to be saved?" She went to Sister Sutcliffe's Class, and her leader says, "the first time she came to my class, she said, she felt herself to be a sinner, and wished to be instructed in the way of salvation." ineness of her conversion, her experience and triumph over death gave ample proof. Early in 1853, she began to be afflicted, and was soon confined to her bed and her room. The first time Mrs. Sutcliffe visited her, she found her very happy, and able to testify that Jesus had pardoned her sins. She had very clear and scriptural views of the way of salvation, and appeared to enjoy much of the divine presence. To Mrs. Lynn she said, she was not afraid to die; she knew that to die would be gain; that she should be happy with Jesus for ever. She was often visited by Miss Cheetham, the daughter of our esteemed townsman, John Cheetham, Esq., M.P. for South Lancashire; and she often spoke of being much edified, and profited by the visits of that pious young lady. About five weeks before she She appears to have been died, she wished Mrs. Sutcliffe's gradually and gently drawn to class to meet at her mother's the Saviour; but of the genu-house: it did so, and Martha was greatly blessed by once After the service in the even more enjoying communion with her class-mates; and while nearly all the members engaged in prayer, her hearty responses and tears of joy mingled with theirs, and all were led to exclaim, "It is good to be here.' On the 4th of September, Brother Ridgway, in company with Brother Worth, went to visit her, and found her resting her hopes on the atonement of Jesus. She seemed immoveably fixed on the Rock of Ages, and expressed a strong desire to depart and be with Jesus. She repeated the promises with great readiness, shewing that she had not only read her Bible, but had treasured up its sweet promises in her memory and her heart. On the 11th, Mrs. Sutcliffe visited her early in the morning, when she said, "I shall not be here long "Yonder's my house and portion fair, And Jesus bids me come.' During the day she called her mother to her, and putting her arms round her neck, she embraced her affectionately, saying, "O, my dear mother, what should I have done without you. She then called Mrs. Sutcliffe, and embracing her, said, "Kiss me," which Mrs. S. having done, she said, You have been my leader, and you have led me in the way to heaven, bless you, bless you." During the day, she told her friends, that if, when dying, she was unable to speak, and was happy, she would raise her hand as a testimony that all was well. 66 ing, Brothers Stanfield and Worth visited her again. She appeared to be sinking into the arms of death; the clammy sweat of death was on her brow, and ran down her ghastly cheeks, while she was supported in her brother's arms; but though she knew the hand of death was upon her, she was composed and happy; and said, “Though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, and thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me." It was said to her"Jesus can make the dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are." She repeated the verse with strong feeling, and applied the language to herself in a way that was deeply affecting. On the Monday morning, Mrs. Sutcliffe visited her about nine o'clock. After sitting a few minutes, Martha requested her to pray. She did so, and prayed that the Saviour would come to her release, when Martha exclaimed, "He is come, He is come, Glory, glory." The room i was a little heaven, the divine glory seemed to fill it. For a few minutes after this she seemed to be speechless, and though in a state of great weakness, she lifted both her hands above her head in token of triumph. After a short time her power to speak. returned, she partially lifted her hands and shouted, 66 Glory, fell asleep in Jesus, in the 17th glory, hallelujah!" and sweetly year of her age. "O, may I triumph so, When all my warfare's past; |