one time rejoice, and at another time weep. I think I see it now, as it lay gleaming in the morning sunlight, where, from a rising ground on the road to Damascus, I turned my horse, and took a long, last, lingering farewell-almost sorrowing that I should behold it no more. But I shall not forget that I have been there. Its central spots of interest are now often before my eyes; and the pictures thereof have engraved themselves deep on the tablets of my memory. A word is sufficient to summon up scenes of surpassing solemnity, or objects that have belonging to them, tales of touching tenderness; and until I reach the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God above, whose foundations shall never be moved, I shall esteem it to have been one of His choicest favours-a favour that brought with it no slight responsibility and obligation-that once, in the course of my earthly history, I had seen the city of David; had stood within its gates, and had worshipped on Zion; had mused on the Mount of Olives, and had wept in Gethsemane; and there, with my own lips, had breathed my heart's holiest and tenderest wishes for my family, my flock, and the Church of God. "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning." -From "Voices of Many Waters."

GENESARETH (BY REV. A. P. STANLEY).

When I thought of the parable of the sower, I answered that here, at least (on the shore of the lake of Genesareth), was nothing on which the Divine teaching could fasten. It must have been the distant cornfields of Samaria or Isdraelon on which His mind was dwelling. The thought had hardly occurred to me, when a slight recess in the hill-side, close upon the plain, disclosed at once, in detail, and with a conjuncture which I remember nowhere else in Palestine, every feature of the great parable. There was the undulating cornfield, descending to the water's edge; there was the trodden pathway, running through the midst of it, with no hedge or fence to prevent the seed falling here and there, on either side of it on upon it, itself hard with the constant tramp of horse, and mule, and human feet. There was the "good" rich soil, which distinguishes the whole of that plain and neighbourhood from the bare hills elsewhere descending into the lake, and which, where there is no interruption, produces one vast mass of corn. There was the rocky ground of the hill-side protruding here and there through the cornfields, as elsewhere through the grassy slope. There were the large bushes of thorn, "the nable," that kind of which tradition says that the crown of thorns was woven-springing up, like the fruit-trees of the more inland parts, in the very midst of the waving wheat.-From "Sinai and Palestine in Connexion with their History."

THE HOLY LAND.

The East is connected, in every cultivated mind, with many bright pictures of imagination, with splendid and wonderful events, with visions of beauty and witchery of song; but, of all its vast territories, the Holy Land is the most interesting, for that small spot has been the theatre of the grandest events recorded in the annals of mankind. The mention of Palestine immediately recals to the Christian the image of his Saviour, the "Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; he follows Him in His wanderings through that land-gazes on the bright star of Bethlehem, which led the eastern sages to His feet, listens to the sayings of Him who

"spake as never man spake," by the sea of Tiberias, on the Mount of Olives, or in the temple at Jerusalem,-he contemplates the gloom of Gethsemane, and the cross of Calvary,-treads with awe the plains, ascends with delight the mountains, once gazed on by those eyes which beamed Divine love and mercy, which shed tears at the grave of Lazarus, and over the devoted city. In that land flourished the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, there the temple was erected by Solomon, there the inspired Scriptures were written, and there, in "the fulness of time," He arose, who accomplished the work of redemption. The Holy Land witnessed His ministry, His obedience for man, His death, resurrection, and glorious ascension. There are the hallowed Nazareth, and Tabor, the scene of the transfiguration; Cana of Galilee, Emmaus, the brook Kedron, the Sinai and Horeb of the old dispensation, the destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, the captured Jericho, and the humble Bethany ;-Samaria, whose daughter received the word of life at Jacob's well; and Sarepta, whose widow entertained Elijah, the man of God;-Zion, where dwelt the "sweet singer of Israel;" and Jerusalem, "the city of the great King."

To this interesting country, then, is it becoming to direct our attention; the land given for a possession to the peculiar people of God, the land of prophecy and miracle; a land which, as the dwelling of the visible presence of God under the Old Testament economy, and the sojourn of Jesus Christ, "God manifest in the flesh," under that of the New, possesses a pre-eminence before which Greece, Rome, and even more ancient countries, with all their classical and splendid associations, are felt to be as nothing. We do not see in this land the ruins of the ancient temple,that has been swept away by God's vengeance,-but we have the ruins of the city, where once stood that temple, which alone was hallowed by the presence of Jehovah: we see here no triumphal arches, through which the victor's train advanced, but we behold the scene of that triumphal entry into Jerusalem, made by Him who is "King of kings, and Lord of lords." Here no classic Olympus pierces the sky,-no Tiber pours its stream, renowned by ancient bards, but here is the mountain that burned with fire at the presence of God, and here the river Jordan, whose waters stood still until the children of Israel had passed over, and the Dead Sea, whose sullen waves rest upon the cities of the plain.

Every spot is connected with some interesting or miraculous event. "God Himself has spoken in these regions, dried up the rivers, rent the rocks, and opened the grave." There are ample materials at hand for the gratification of our curiosity respecting this wondrous country; for it has ever been an especial object of investigation to the Christian traveller.From The Holy Land."

Special Prayer for the Jews.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."-Psalm cxxii. 6.

Ar a period when the condition of the Jews is awakening such universal attention, is it not desirable for the friends who are so deeply interested in their spiritual welfare to set apart, during the week, a portion of time for special prayer on their behalf? Let the evening of every Friday be fixed on for this purpose, between the hours of seven and eight. What a spectacle will

be presented, for the thousands who mourn over Zion's desolation, to meet together for one common object at the throne of grace, supplicating the Divine mercy, and entreating the outpouring of His blessed Spirit on the scattered tribes of Israel! The hour thus appropriated will indeed be hallowed; and if we are to expect great things from the return of Israel to their God and Saviour, we must be prepared to give more time to prayer and supplication. Great events, and revivals in the Church of Christ, have been always preceded by earnest prayer, and importunity to God; and it must not be forgotten that the awakening and conversion of thousands under apostolic preaching followed immediately after the day of Pentecost. The coming together for prayer on a particular and specified hour in the week, for the conversion of the Jews, and for the power of the Holy Spirit to be given to the ministration of the word, cannot fail to ensure the Divine blessing. Individual Christians do not forget the descendants of the once chosen People of God, as they bend at the family altar, or in the secret closet; but how much more effectual will be the united, the simultaneous cry to God on behalf of the perishing, and ignorant, and prejudiced among them, to take away the dark veil which for so many centuries has overshadowed and blinded their understanding! It is, indeed, a solemn and painful fact that they have not received that amount of thought and consideration to which they are entitled. It is through our mercy that they are to obtain mercy; and if this is the divine revelation, written by the finger of God, how great must be our culpability, remissness, and neglect, if we fail to put forth our efforts to bring about a blessed and glorious change in their spiritual condition! We cannot stand still with our arms folded, and see them perish, without subjecting ourselves to rebuke for not dispensing to them the blessing which we so freely enjoy. We are stewards for God, and as such we are accountable for our privileges and duties. Does any one ask, Am I my brother's keeper? Yes, verily; and having freely received, let us freely give of our time, our property, our influence, our prayers, to gather them into the fold of Christ, and to restore the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

If there was a greater amount of labour and thought expended for the prosperity of Zion, and more untiring zeal and energy put forth to bring the Jews to the knowledge of the truth, we may rest assured that it would give an impetus to the missionary enterprise generally. The Christian Church is slow to believe her influence and power, and the lack of union and of concentrated energy is the main cause why she has so feebly accomplished her high and special destiny. "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them which curse thee," is a word full of meaning. The Lord will have us to remember that He has not forgotten Israel-that He is not unmindful of the seed of Abraham-that He still watches over the remnant of His people. "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me; my repentings are kindled together" (Hosea xi. 8). We have therefore most distinctly, most clearly, the assurance of the Divine blessing on all who remember Zion in her woe and sorrow. Shall we be indifferent to the blessing of the God of Israel? Shall we withhold the sympathy, the compassion, the mercy of which they stand in need? Shall we be recreant to our principles, and lavish of our wealth on fading objects, when the cry of the children of Israel is, Come over and help us? If prayer had not been

restrained before God for their spiritual and eternal welfare, would not greater exertions have been made to sustain the Society, and to have enabled the committee, instead of withdrawing some of its agents and closing its college, to have doubled and trebled their number? Would there be financial difficulties if all Christians felt it their solemn duty and obligation to contribute of their substance to the furtherance of its great object? It is time to awake and to inquire, What shall be done for the future? What shall be done to increase the funds of the Society, and to enlarge the missionary sphere? The fields are white unto the harvest, but the labourers are few; a feeble number to go forth to show the men of Israel their transgressions. Ought these things to be so? Is it right? Is it safe? Is it Christ-like to be dormant and supine, when the voice of the great Master is heard, "to give Him no rest until He shall make Jerusalem a praise in the earth?" We see men every where putting forth all the power they possess to obtain what they may lose in a day. We see mercantile enterprise carried on with determination, with redoubled and untiring zeal; and if the children of this world are wise in their generation, and ensure success by dint of persevering industry, what a shame is it for the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, to look on, and see the desolations of Zion, without making an effort to gather the wanderers into the fold of the great and good Shepherd!

We may think as we will of personal obligation and responsibility, but we may depend on it that we have much to answer for, on account of our neglect of the spiritual condition of the Jews. There has been, and now is, a retributive Providence, and we cannot but notice that nations which have dealt kindly and honourably with the Jewish people have enjoyed great prosperity and distinguished privileges, socially, religiously, and politically, while the reverse has happened wherever governments have trodden them under foot, and treated them with merciless persecution. "Oh, that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad" (Psalm xiv. 7). Let us adopt, as our rule and practice, the language of the royal Psalmist, steadily and perseveringly: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee." Who will be on the Lord's side, and come forth cheerfully, cordially, and willingly to do this great work, and "to give Him no rest, until He shall make Jerusalem a praise in the earth?" We may do to-day what we cannot accomplish to-morrow; and if we refuse our aid, our labour, our co-operation to bring about the salvation of Israel, God may confer this high and holy duty on others. F. S. GERVIS.

Notice of Books.

The Lamps of the Temple; Crayon Sketches of the Men of the Modern Pulpit. Third Edition, revised and greatly enlarged. London: Snow.

We have not the slightest idea who is the author of this volume, but assuredly the anonymous character need not have been assumed from any

apprehension of the charge of feebleness in the execution of the literary task which is here undertaken. There is a power and splendour about these sketches that would make the reputation of half a dozen writers. They are "Studies" of the highest order, claiming and deserving the attention of every thoughtful mind. As far as our own acquaintance with most of the "burning and shining lights" that are here held up to our view enables us to judge of the merits of these sketches, we can say that they appear, for the most part, to be characterised by a remarkable fidelity and discriminativeness. The portraits are chiefly "taken from life," and the artist has, in most instances, evidently been favoured with many sittings. Where the subject has been one with whom the author's own soul thoroughly sympathised, the delineations, as might naturally be expected, are more complete; but even of those whom he has sketched merely to hold up to indignation or scorn-as was the case with Michael Angelo, when, in his fresco of the Last Judgment, he painted a cardinal who had offended him with asses' ears-the resemblance is not less.

There are scores of pages of this book to which he who has read them once will turn again and again, attracted by the accuracy of the delineations, the poetry of the conceptions, or the summer gorgeousness of the drapery with which the subjects are clothed. We should have ascribed the paternity of the volume to George Gilfillan, if that writer had not been so terribly—and, we venture to think, with somewhat unjust severity -criticised in it, and if other indications did not point to an Englishman, rather than a Scotchman.

But whoever the writer may be, we again record our conviction that the book is pre-eminently worthy of perusal-aye, of study; and, what is more, is sure to receive it, and will be found productive of pleasure and profit, whether it be read by the occupants of our pulpits or pews.

Missionary Intelligence, &c.

BEYROUT.

K.

Mr. MANNING has been enabled to resume his position, and rejoices to find an increased demand for the Holy Scriptures, the people being willing to pay for them according to their ability.

"I am happy to announce to you the joyful intelligence, that the cholera has at length left us, and clean bills of health are now supplied to the vessels leaving this port; but the ravages that it committed whilst it was here (for about four months) were truly awful, especially among the Turks, and owing no doubt, in a great measure, to their mode of life, and peculiar belief in the doctrine of fatality. Amongst the Druses also, a people inhabiting a point of land called Bass Beyrout, whole fami lies were swept away at once, and with them, the keeper of the hotel in that direction, who, in less than forty-eight hours from the time of the attack, was in his

grave, as well as the whole of his family, consisting of three children.

"Providentially, in this visitation, Sidon has been spared-the place to which the Jews fled for refuge, though not one of their holy cities; but they are now mostly all of them returned, and manifesting the same desire to possess the Scriptures as formerly. Yesterday a Jewish merchant called on me, and requested to have fifty Bibles to send to some schools that had applied to him for them, and he says that this desire seems to be very general throughout the country. Since the return of the Jews, and the re-opening of the school in the large synagogue, I have paid them a