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the flood, doth also now keep the heavens and the earth in store, and reserve them unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, if you ask this question as persons who are truly desirous to know the things which belong to their peace, before they be for ever hid from your eyes, I answer, I cannot tell. "That day and hour knoweth no man": it is a secret which, in the exercise of his own power, the Father hath reserved to himself. But one thing we do know, namely, that, before the coming of Christ, there are certain things which are to happen-certain signs which shall go before, as forerunners or messengers announce the speedy arrival of him who is to be the Judge of quick and

to

dead.

Let me, then, call your attention to some of those signs which scripture assures us shall happen before the end of the world; and, at the same time, let me entreat you to consider whether or not these signs are taking place now; for, if they are, then as surely as the appearance of certain signs betokened the speedy destruction of Jerusalem, so sure it is that the time is not far distant when the Son of man shall be seen riding in the clouds of heaven to judge the world.

What, then, are some of the signs which indicate the approach of the almighty Judge? Our text says: "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." And there are other passages of scripture which tell us what those signs shall be: "The heavens shall shake, the sun and moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining" (Joel ii. 10). Again: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come;" and in the book of Revelation (vi. 12, 13) we read: "The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." The literal interpretation of these words is, that there shall be some wonderful eclipses of the heavenly bodies, such perhaps as took place at the crucifixion of Jesus, when the sun hid his face in obscurity; or else that so exceeding bright will be the glory of the coming Judge, that the beams of his light shall as far surpass the light of the sun as the light of the sun surpasses the light of a common candle. But there is also a moral interpretation of the text, by means of which the subject admits of being more closely applied to ourselves. In scripture the sun is often used to signify Jesus Christ: the moon represents the church; and the stars

represent the ministers and pastors of the church*.

1. In this point of view, Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness, the light of the world, is darkened, and the brightness of his glory is obscured by all who reject his gospel, by antichrist, and by every man who seeks for any other mediator between God and man, saving only Jesus Christ, and him crucified. The Sun is darkened also by those who, although they allow that Jesus died to save sinners, yet think that something else is necessary for our justification in the sight of God. Such persons do, indeed, grant that much is due to the Saviour's death; but they imagine that something more is requisite to purchase the favour of God. They fancy that, because they belong to a particular denomination of Christians, because they are not so bad as some of their neighbours, or because they perform certain self-imposed duties and penances, it would be unjust in God if he were not, on account of their merits, to look favourably upon them. The pride of their hearts will not permit them to receive salvation in the one only way of God's appointment, namely, through "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." They must have some peculiar and more philosophical remedy of their own devising for the evils of sin and death. If this be not derogating from the honour of Christ's sacrifice, if this be not eclipsing the beauty of his glory, what is? But in an especial manner the Sun is darkened by those who, though professing to be the servants of Christ, and to take him for their Lord and Master in every thing, yet in their hearts and in their lives deny him. Against all such a woe is denounced: "Woe unto them; for they say, and do not." They betray the Son of man with a kiss: they darken the Sun of righteousness, and so give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, and to speak evil of his name and of his gospel.

2. Now, as the sun represents Jesus Christ, so the moon represents the church. This you may gather from Psa. lxxxix. 37: "It shall be established for evermore as the moon"-where" it" clearly refers to the word "seed" going before; and that seed is the people, the church of God. The material moon has no inherent light, but shines solely by the light borrowed from the sun; and so of the church, which shines solely by reflected light from the "Sun of righteousness." And as the sun is always the same full orb, bright and glorious, but the moon is ever changing, waxing and waning, sometimes giving us the

* Some hints have here been taken from a sermon of archbishop Sandys.

full benefit of her light, and sometimes giv-, ing no light at all, so it is with Christ and his church. He is always the same, exceeding bright and glorious; but his church upon earth varies. At one time her praise and glory are in all the earth: at another she is minished and brought low, so that the eye of man can scarce discern her. And, when she is persecuted as she was by cruel princes in early times, and as she has often been since when her members are dragged to the faggot and the stake, to lay down their lives for the sake of Christ, then may the church be said to be bathed in blood. It may be said that the days of blood in which the first Christians lived have long since passed away. But there have been bloody times since then; and the time may come again when the blood of the church's members shall be "shed like water on every side of Jerusalem, and there be no man to bury them," and the church appear in the eyes of all that behold her like a garment dyed in blood. But, even if this should never come to pass, still, in one form or other, trial and suffering await the church. For, granting that she may not have to drink so deeply of the cup of suffering as her divine Head drank, nor be baptized with the same baptism of blood that he was baptized with, yet" all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Her enemies make a murmuring; and they that hate her have lift up their head against her. They have imagined craftily against God's people, and taken counsel against his secret ones. "They have said, Come, and let us root them out; that they be no more a people, and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." Prepare yourselves, then, for the day of trial and suffering. Christ himself has foretold that it shall come. The servant is not greater than his lord; and, if he was persecuted, can his followers expeot to escape, or need they be surprised that all manner of evil should be falsely spoken against them? But, for our consolation, let us remember that, just as Noah's ark, though tossed to and fro upon the troubled waters, was preserved in safety by the mighty hand of God, so shall the church at last obtain a glorious triumph over all the enemies of God. Pretended friends within her own bosom may betray her, and open enemies without may clamour with a loud voice like the roaring of the sea, "Down with it, down with it even to the ground;" but she still standeth secure. Against her (I am not speaking of the church of England, nor of any other particular or national church, but I am speaking of the church universal), against her the gates of hell may strive, but they cannot prevail. Her king will make haste to help her.

Through reproach he will bring her to honour, through suffering and death to endless happiness and life. The moon shall indeed be turned into blood; but her restoration shall be glorious.

3. There shall be signs also in the stars. Stars, as I have already said, represent the pastors of the church. They are set as lights and guides to the people; and, if they use their office well, they shall hereafter "shine as the brightness of the firmament," and "as the stars, for ever and ever." Now there are two senses in which I conceive the stars may be said to withdraw their shining, and to fall from heaven. The pastors of the church are appointed as lights to guide the people in the right way that leadeth to everlasting life. Their office is always an arduous, and often a thankless one; yet surely the least that men can do is to respect them for their work's sake. "Let a man so account of us," says St. Paul, "as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." But when men who despise dominions, and fear not to speak evil of dignities, treat us with disrespect and contempt, what is this but darkening our light and weakening our usefulness among the people committed to our charge? Is it not extinguishing the lights which have been appointed to impart knowledge and guidance to the pilgrim in his journey through the wilderness of the world? But, further, the stars may be said to "withdraw their shining, and to fall from heaven, when those, who are appointed to teach others, are themselves led astray by error and false doctrine. They no longer reflect "the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." From light they become darkness: for truth they embrace error. They are fallen from heaven, and are become of the earth, earthly. They are like wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever; for how seldom are they recovered from their error! When they fall, they generally fall like Lucifer, never to rise again. Better were it, indeed, for such "that they had never known the blessed way, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."

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But this is not all. A pastor may be perfectly orthodox in his creed, and the doctrines which he promulgates may be such as no man can reasonably find fault with; yet, if his life do not correspond with his preaching, he withdraws his shining; he does not exhibit the light of good works, to entice men by the practice of all that is pure, lovely, and of good report, to glorify their Father who is in heaven. "Thou, therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou

that preachest a man should not steal, dost | find him; for it will be too late to knock thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should when the door is for ever shut, too late to cry not commit adultery, dost thou commit adul- for mercy, when it is the time for justice-too tery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou late to seek the Saviour, when the Judge is commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy coming in the clouds of heaven. The time of boast of the law, through breaking the law, judgment it is true, may be yet afar off; but dishonourest thou God?" Example is always the hour of death is to us for all practical purthe most powerful preacher; but he whose poses the day of judgment; and, if death fix conversation is not in heaven, but on earth; he our eternal portion, what will it matter to us who is greedy of gain, and who is filled with how many ages have yet to roll away before the love of this world; he who teaches others, the great and terrible day of the Lord come. and not himself, falls from his high dignity," Seeing then that all these things shall be and has his light eclipsed and darkened. Do dissolved, what manner of persons ought we you then, brethren, beseech the good Lord to be in all holy conversation and godliness, "that it may please him to illuminate all looking for and hasting unto the coming of bishops, priests, and deacons with true know- the day of God!" Our Lord himself tells us ledge and understanding of his word, and in this chapter what we are to do. "Take that both by their preaching and living they heed to yourselves, lest at any time your may set it forth, and shew it accordingly" hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and and God forbid that they, in their turn, should drunkenness and cares for this life, and so that so far sin against the Lord as to cease to pray day come upon you unawares; for as a snare for you. Before leaving this part of the sub- shall it come on all them that dwell on the ject, I must, however, caution you against face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore supposing that the pastor's sins will be ac- and pray always that ye may be accounted cepted as an excuse for yours. The world is worthy to escape all those things that shall always very ready to discover the sins of come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Christ's ministers; but it should also remem- man." "Blessed is that servant, whom his ber that, though the faithless pastor perish in Lord when he cometh shall find watching." his iniquity, the people who forget God, and" What then I say unto you, I say unto all, follow his evil example, shall all perish with watch." him.

Thus have I endeavoured to show you how the sun is darkened by infidelity and false religion; how the moon-the church-is made black and bloody by reproach and persecution; and how the stars-the ministers of the church-lose their brightness when they are treated with disrespect and contempt by the people, or when they themselves fall into error of doctrine, or into dissolute conduct from the shining beauty of a heavenly life. But I do not wish you to take these things on my bare word, "I speak as unto wise men : judge ye what I say." Search the scriptures Search the scriptures daily to see whether these things are so as I have represented them to be. Consider also with yourselves whether or not these signs are at present taking place in the world. When ye see the trees putting forth their leaves, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is nigh at hand; so likewise, when ye see all these signs coming to pass, know ye that the day of the Lord is nigh at hand. Then the time is not far distant when there shall be upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; when the hypocrites and all unbelievers shall quake, and their hearts shall fail them for fear, and their cries and bitter wailings shall be like the roaring of the sea. Then shall they call upon God, but he will not hear, they shall seek him, but they shall not

Jubenile Reading.

ADVENTURES OF MADAME GODIN IN THE

COUNTRY OF THE AMAZONS*.
MADAME Godin was the wife of one of the French

mathematicians who were sent to Peru, in South
America, about the middle of the last century, for
the purpose of making some observations there,
which should improve our knowledge of geogra-
phy. She set out from Rio-bamba, the place of
her residence, with the design of joining her hus-
band at Cayenne, a distance of thirteen or fourteen
hundred leagues.
hundred leagues. The thought of such a long
journey, dangerous and fatiguing as she knew it
must be, did not frighten this courageous woman.
She was accompanied by two of her brothers, and
by a physician, who proposed to travel the same
road: she had also a male negro servant, several
mulatto and Indian women, and a band of thirty-
one Indians for carrying her baggage. With this
company she arrived at the village of Cannellos,
situated on the banks of a small river that falls
into the river of the Amazons. This place she
found almost deserted; for the small-pox, a very
fatal disease among the Indians, had made its a-
pearance, and carried off great numbers of the in-
habitants, while those who escaped the infection
had removed from the place. At that time the
mode of preventing this disorder, by scratching
the arm with a sharp instrument previously dipped

From "Amusing Stories." Christian Knowledge Society,
London.

in the matter of a cow-pock sore, which is communicated from the udder of the cow, was not known.

Here the Indians of the escort, who had been paid in advance, left her, and returned. What was to be done in this unfortunate situation? To return without a body of men to defend her was impossible; and, even had it been possible, yet the hope of reaching the river of the Amazons, where she might find a vessel to convey her to her husband, whom she had not seen for many years, encouraged her to brave all dangers; and she resolved, as did also her companions, to continue the journey.

Only two Indians remained in the village. They had not a canoe, but offered to make one, and conduct the travellers in it to the settlement of Andoas, a hundred and fifty leagues farther down the river. In a short time the canoe was finished, and they embarked; but, after sailing two days, having gone ashore to pass the night, the two Indians, who had received their payment before they set out, abandoned the enterprise like the others. In the morning the unfortunate company re-embarked; and, though without a pilot, the first day passed over without any accident. Next day, towards noon, they fell in with a canoe, in which was an Indian who had just recovered from a severe disorder, and who consented to serve them as a pilot; but this poor man, endeavouring to pick up the doctor's hat, which had fallen into the water, fell overboard; and, his late malady having left him in a very weak state, he was unable to swim, and soon went to the bottom. The canoe, being now in the hands of people who could not manage it, soon filled with water; and the travellers were compelled to land, where they built a small rude hut, to shelter them from the weather. They were now about six days' journey from Andoas, and the doctor offered to go thither and procure assistance. He accordingly set off, accompanied by a French servant belonging to himself, and madame Godin's faithful negro.

After waiting upwards of three weeks, no tidings of the doctor were heard, and the lady and her brothers gave up every hope of succour from that quarter. But, being still resolved to proceed, they constructed a raft upon the river, on which they embarked with some provisions and effects, intending to prosecute their journey by water, because they were afraid of losing themselves in the woods. The raft, however, being ill conducted, struck against the sunken branch of a tree, overset, and plunged the whole cargo into the river; but, as this accident happened close to the bank, no person perished.

Madame Godin, deprived of all her effects by this sort of shipwreek, now found herself in a more melancholy situation than ever she had been before. The company now determined to travel on foot along the banks of the river; and they returned to the hut, took the provisions they had left in it, and departed. They had not gone far, when they found that the windings of the river lengthened their road very much; and, to avoid this, they endeavoured to find a passage through the woods, but soon lost their way. Fatigued with so long a march, their feet bruised, their clothes and bodies torn with the briars and thorns, their provisions exhausted, and nothing to allay

their hunger and thirst but some wild fruits, their strength failed, and they sat down on the ground, looking for nothing but death. Their expectations were realized; and in a few days they expired one after another, leaving madame Godin the sole survivor.

The heroic lady lay for forty-eight hours in the midst of the dead bodies, stupified with grief, and in a state of insensibility. At last she recovered her senses, and found herself tormented with an ardent thirst. Providence, however, gave her strength to make another effort to extricate herself from this terrible situation; but she found herself without shoes, and her clothes were torn in rags. She proceeded forward with all the speed her weak state would admit; and in a short time, to her great joy, she found a spring of water. For eight days she wandered in the woods, living upon wild fruits, and the eggs of wild fowls; but her throat was so contracted by the want of food, that she could scarcely swallow anything. The agitation of her mind had such an effect on her body, that her hair became gray.

If a person were to read in a story-book written to amuse, that a delicate woman, accustomed to the enjoyment of all the luxuries of life, had been plunged into a river, and drawn out half drownedthat she had entered into a wood, with seven other persons, without a road to conduct her, and travelled in it for several weeks-that she had lost her way, had endured hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and had seen her two brothers and all her attendants, who were much stronger than herself, expire before her eyes-that she had survived all these misfortunes, regained her strength, and travelled in the woods, covered with rags, till Providence sent her unexpected assistance--the author of such a tale would be accused of describing impossibilities. Here, however, is such an account literally and exactly true.

On the morning of the ninth day, madame Godin found herself on the banks of the river Bobonasa; and she was immediately alarmed by a noise, apparently at a small distance from her. In the first emotion of her fear she fled back into the wood to conceal herself; but, soon considering that nothing worse could happen to her than she had already experienced, she regained the riverside, and perceived two Indians pushing a canoe into the water. She went up to them, and implored their assistance in conducting her to Andoas. The humane Indians, touched with her situation, offered to take her into their canoe; and she soon arrived at the place of her destination, where she found the relief she expected: her health was soon restored, and she easily found means to join her husband.

1 campion, wild campion, meadow campion, wild william, meadow-pink, crow-flower, cuckooflower, marsh gilliflower, and gardener's delight, or gardener's eye. It is the wild simple-flowered variety of the garden lychnis, so called from the Greek lychnos, a torch: the Latin name is chalcedonica; Italian, croce di cavaliere (knight's cross); French, croix de Malthe (Maltese cross), croix de Jerusalem, &c. The wild lychnis, or ragged robin, is generally of a bright rose colour, but sometimes white. It is found in abundance in the ditch-sides and other moist places of our meadows. It is called "ragged" from the careless and uneven look of the petals, compared with those of its cultivated brethren, and is a favourite with all who admire the profuse beauties of nature, however humble may be the places in which they are found. One species-the bladder campion-has been used as food; and the young shoots, when dressed as asparagus, are deemed an excellent substitute.

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FLOWERS.

No. XII.

THE RAGGED ROBIN.

(Lychnis flos cuculi.)

THE ragged robin possesses a vast variety of names, according to its different species-rose

The scarlet lychnis (the handsomest of the cultivated species) has also many names. It is called by the old writers, flower of Constantinople, and flower of Bristow, campion of Constantinople, and nonsuch. This species does not thrive well in a common pot, because the roots naturally spread to a great distance, and are injured by confinement. It may, however, be grown in a very large pot. It is increased by cuttings, which, however, are very uncertain, and frequently fail. The cuttings should be taken from the young side shoots, without flowers. They should have three or four joints, and be inserted to a depth half-way between the second and third. A hand-glass will facilitate their rooting.

Poetry.

MISSIONARY LAYS.

No. I.

HOMEWARD LOOKS.

BY MISS M. A. S. BARBER.

(For the Church of England Magazine.)

WHERE shall we meet again? Where glows
Round our own home, our own red rose?-
Where softly sounds the healthful breeze,
Through the green orchard's blooming trees,
And the sweet freshness of the spring,
Greets the pale lilac's flowering ?-
Where, o'er the fields of waving grass,

Deep shadows from the clouds may pass,

And faintly on the horizon lie,

The cool grey tints of England's sky?
Say, does each eye still homewards turn?
Say, does each heart still hourly burn,
The loved, the left, once more to greet?
And pines the ear for tones as sweet
As those with fondness deeply fraught,
By which our earliest prayer was taught-
Our mother's voice? Each gentle face
Holds in our heart its wonted place:
A blessing on each household name
Still in our prayers is asked the same

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