and a little more earnestness of purpose, you might find a most appropriate and interesting sphere of duty. Only strive try in the Lord's strength to rise to the blessedness of being a blessing, and then remember for your comfort, that good as well as evil is diffusive. The servant, converted by the blessing of God under your roof, may afterwards shine as a light in some godless household. The single poor family into which you have been the honoured instrument of introducing the truth of Jesus, may spread that truth in many a rough scene in their own rank, where you would not have ventured. When we look down the narrow alleys of Gray'sinn-lane, or hear of the Wynds of Edinburgh, and the cellars of Liverpool, there seems little hope of moving such a mass of misery and corruption: but other thoughts crowd on us as we emerge from these dreary neighbourhoods to the broad-paved streets, the open squares, the cheerful terraces, where we know that each house is inhabited by those enjoying competence, if not affluence, and where education has, in a measure, spread its elevating influence over every circle. Surely here is wealth enough-here is intelligence enough, to cope with the mighty evils seething below, if there is but love enough, love to God and to man. Christians, we are commanded to be as lights shining in a dark place, holding forth the word of life; it is for us to lead the way. If others neglect the sacred task, they leave only the more for us to do. If but a few men are wakened and called to the shore by the signal guns of a ship in distress, they stand not looking on idly, because they are few, but each strives to be a host in himself, and even if the ship, for want of more aid, must perish, thinks himself happy if he succeed in rescuing some of the perishing crew.

THE

CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE.

MAY, 1847.

THE TREASURES OF WISDOM.

No. VIII.

WE may now return in thought, like our great poet, from regions of darkness, and the gloomy and unknown abysses of primeval worlds, that our spirit may once more bask in the sunlight, and bathe itself in that "pure ethereal stream," which rejoices the whole universe, while its nature and fountain are alike secret and unknown. Here also there are fresh treasures of deep and hidden wisdom, stored up in Christ Jesus our Lord. His wonders are concealed beneath us, in the deepest caverns of earth and ocean; and they are spread above. us and around us, in every ray of sunshine that glances through the heavens. "He revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness and the light."

Here, then, in this purer and brighter field of thought, the words of the apostle will receive a fresh illustration.

Wherever we turn, with a thoughtful and reverent spirit, the glory of Emmanuel meets us on every side. Whether we consider the actual discoveries of optical science, or the natural mysteries which it still hides from our view, or the deep moral significance which runs through all its laws, sometimes revealing itself clearly, at other times shrouding itself in a brightness inaccessible to our worldly minds, we may gain fuller views of His excellent majesty, who is the true light of the world, the word and the wisdom of the everlasting God.

If we except physical astronomy, perhaps the science of Optics is the one, above all others, where the progress of modern discovery is the most conspicuous, and its triumphs over the secrets of nature the most decisive and beautiful. Newton, who first opened the wonders of the firmament, led the way also in this kindred branch of natural philosophy, but not with equal success ; and though he added many facts of deep interest, and enriched the treasury of the science with valuable and lasting discoveries, the theory which he embraced was rather a hindrance, than a help, to the progress of real and full insight into its laws. It is only within the last forty or fifty years, that the theory of undulations, revived by Young and Fresnel, has proved the key to unexpected and surprising discoveries, and opened a new pathway, rich with promise, to all those whose gifts enable them to search out the wonderful works of God.

Two main properties of light, reflection and refraction, were known many ages ago, and the laws which regulate them, in their simplest form, had been discovered long before the time of Newton. His researches, besides their other fruits, added that remarkable result, the analyze of pure solar light into its different elements;

and the prism, in his hands, became a powerful talisman, to detect the latent beauty with which our God has filled this universe, ready to unfold itself either into the transient colours that sparkle in the rainbow or the dew-drop, or to paint every flower of the early spring. But of late, we seem to come at least one step nearer to the natural cause, out of which all these various phenomena may be seen to flow. Light is viewed no longer as a substance emitted with amazing velocity, from every luminous body. It is proved, by experiments and reasonings that appear decisive, to consist in the waves of a subtle and elastic ether, that pervades all space, and serves to communicate every impulse, with a speed almost inconceivable, from one part of the universe to another. The analogy between light and sound is thus completely restored. We hear by means of the air that surrounds, and its elastic vibrations, which generally, but not always, escape the notice of our other senses. We see, in like manner, by means of an ether far more subtle and elastic, that pervades all space, even to the remotest star of the firmament; and our eye is curiously fashioned to detect and receive these delicate impulses, these waves of the luminous ether, that travel on with amazing speed, from every corner of the universe, and cross and recross, with an infinite complexity, yet without confusion, till a whole landscape, by their means, paints itself on the retina of the human eyes. By delicate and ingenious experiments, the length of these waves has been measured, the nature and direction of their vibrations determined, and every wave analyzed into two different parts, which complete each other, and which, while separate, are endued with peculiar properties, to which the name of polarity, borrowed from an early hypothesis of their

nature, is still applied. A thousand experiments, invented to test the theory, have lent a thousand confirmations of its truth. It would result from it that two rays of light following at a certain distance, must produce darkness, and darkness has been really produced. Combined in a different manner, they would produce one particular series of colours, and this series on trial has actually appeared. When reflected twice, under particular conditions, the theory teaches that the light will entirely disappear, and it does disappear under those very circumstances and in those only.

The theory has thus been confirmed by a countless variety of experiments, beautiful in themselves, and still more beautiful and fascinating from the key which they have supplied, to unlock some of the deepest mysteries of the natural universe.

Enriched with these discoveries of science, let us now return to meditate on the work of Creation, and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, hidden in Christ, which are implied in the first and simplest messages of inspired truth. "God said, Let there be light, and there was light." These words of power were uttered, in the birthday of time, by the everlasting Son of God. "For by Him were all things created, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him." The laws, which science has discovered, slowly and painfully, lay open to His view from the first, and could never have existed, unless His wisdom had ordained them. At His command that subtle ether rose into being, and was spread throughout the universe, and perhaps might sleep on for years and ages, in calm and still magnificence, before those eyes were formed which could receive its influence, or those pulses awoke,