than the place where we passed the night on our pre- | Only another icy plain was to be ascended, and at a quarter past three, on the 27th of September . S. 1829, we stood on the summit of Mount Ararat ! ["The Professor and his five companions, viz., the deacon, two Russian soldiers, and two Armenian peasants, having remained three quarters of an hour on the summit, commenced their descent, which was very fatiguing; but they hastened, as the sun was going down, and before they reached the place where the great cross was erected, it had already sunk below the horizon.] "It was a glorious sight,' says the traveller, 'to see the dark shadows which the mountains in the West cast upon the plain, and then the profound darkness which covered all the valleys, and gradually rose higher and higher on the sides of Ararat, whose icy summit was still illuminated by the beams of the setting sun. But the shadows soon passed over that also, and would have covered our path with a gloom that would have rendered our descent dangerous, had not the sacred lamp of night, opportunely rising above the Eastern horizon, cheered us with its welcome beams.' the Lord.] ["Having passed the night on the same spot as on their ascent, where they found their companions, they arrived the next day at noon at the convent of St. James, and on the following day, Sabbath the 28th of September, O. S., they offered their grateful thanksgiving to heaven for the success of their arduous enterprise, per"At day-break we rose, and began our journey at half-haps not far from the spot where Noah built an altar to past six. We crossed the last broken declivities in half an hour, and entered the boundary of eternal snow, nearly at the same place as in our preceding ascent. In consequence of the increased warmth of the weather, the new fallen snow, which had facilitated our progress on our previous ascent, had melted away, and again frozen, so that, in spite of the still inconsiderable slope, we were compelled to cut steps in the ice. This very much embarrassed our advance, and added greatly to our fatigue. One of the peasants had remained behind in our resting place, as he felt unwell. Two others became exhausted in ascending the side of the glacier. They at first lay down, but soon retreated to our quar ters. Without being disheartened by those difficulties, we proceeded, and soon reached the great cleft which marks the upper edge of the declivity of the large glacier, and at ten o'clock we arrived at the great plain of snow which marks the first break on the icy head of Ararat. At the distance of a verst we saw the cross which we had reared on the 19th of September, but it appeared to me so extremely small, probably on account of its black colour, that I almost doubted whether I should be able to find it again with an ordinary telescope from the plain of the Araxes. In the direction towards the summit, a shorter, but at the same time a steeper declivity than the one we had passed lay before us; and between this and the extreme summit, there appeared to be only one small hill. After a short repose we passed the first precipice, which was the steepest of all, by hewing out steps in the rock, and after this the next elevation. But here, instead of seeing the ultimate goal of all our difficulties, immediately before us appeared a series of hills, which even concealed the summit from our sight. This rather abated our courage, which had never yielded for a moment, so long as we had all our difficulties in view, and our strength, exhausted by the labour of hewing the rock, seemed scarcely commensurate with the attainment of the now invisible object of our wishes. But a review of what had been already accomplished, and of that which might still remain to be done, the proximity of the series of projecting elevations, and a glance at my brave companions, banished my fears, and we boldly advanced. We crossed two more hills, and the cold air of the summit blew towards us. I stepped from behind one of the glaciers, and the extreme cone of Ararat lay distinctly before my enraptured eyes. But one more effort was necessary. Mr "We have lately received (says the Quarterly Re view) an account of an ascent of Mount Ararat in the middle of August 1834, accomplished by a Mr Antonomoff, a young man holding an office in Armenia, who was induced to make the attempt, partly to satisfy his own curiosity, and partly out of regard for the reputation of Professor Parrot; whose having actually reached the summit of the mountain is still obstinately denied, particularly by the inmates of the convent, who fancy that the truth would lower the opinion of the people with regard to the sanctity of their mountain. Antonomoff succeeded in reaching the summit; the large cross set up by Dr Parrot was nearly covered with snow, the smaller cross, planted on the summit, was not to be found, and was probably buried in the snow. One of his guides, who had also accompanied Mr Parrot, shewed him the spot where it had been set up. He asked some persons to look while he was at the top and try if they could see him. On his coming down, however, nobody would admit having seen him there; they all affirmed, that to reach the summit was impossible; and though he and his guides agreed, the magistrates of the village refused not only to give him a certificate of his having ascended the mountain, but even of his guides having declared he had done so. "This disbelief of the assertion that the mountain has actually been ascended, is not confined to the people of the country, but is shared by the American missionaries, Messrs Smith and Dwight, (Researches in Armenia, p. 267, note,) who, in justification of their incredulity, say, that the report was not believed by many of the Russians, and hint that even the governor of the province was sceptical. But the idea that a man of Dr Parrot's scientific character could either be deceived himself, or could procure the men of his party to join with him in propagating a deliberate falsehood, presents too improbable a supposition to be for a moment admitted. The repeated ascents of Mont Blanc and other mountains, nearly as elevated, and in a much colder latitude, render Parrot's account perfectly credible. "The incredulity of the Armenians, as to the possibility of ascending to the top of Ararat, is based on their superstition. They are firmly persuaded that Noah's ark exists to the present day on the summit of the mountain, and that, in order to preserve it, no person is permitted to approach it. We learn the grounds of this tradition from the Armenian chronicles, in the king, while it enabled him to perform essenthe legend of a monk of the name of James, who was tial services to his brethren of the captivity. After afterwards patriarch of Nesibis, and a cotemporary and the return of the Jews from Chaldea, he succeedrelative of St. Gregory. It is said that this monk, in ordered Zerubbabel as the governor of those who, from to settle the disputes which had arisen with respect to the Scriptural accounts of Noah, resolved to ascend to the top of Ararat to convince himself of the existence of the ark. At the declivity of the mountain, however, he had several times fallen asleep from exhaustion, and found, on awaking, that he had been unconsciously carried down to the point from which he first set out. God at length had compassion on his unwearied though fruitless exertions, and during his sleep sent an angel with the message, that his exertions were unavailing, but as a reward for his indefatigable zeal, he sent him a piece of the ark, the very same which is now preserved as the most valuable relic in the cathedral of Etschmi adzen. The belief in the impossibility of ascending Mount Ararat has, in consequence of this tradition, which is sanctioned by the Church, almost become an article of faith, which an Armenian would not renounce, even if he were placed in his own proper person upon the summit of the mountain.' DISCOURSE. BY THE REV. ROBERT BURNS, D.D., Minister of St. George's Parish, Paisley. "Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof."NEHEMIAH xiii. 14. PAUL assures the believing Hebrews, that the Lord will not forget "their work of faith and labour of love;" and the prayer of Nehemiah, in our text, amounts to nothing more than a petition, that God will be pleased to fulfil his own promise regarding him. It was not the dictate of a self-righteous spirit; for surely Nehemiah did not imagine that any good deeds of his, however valuable, could possess merit in the eye of that God, in whose sight the heavens themselves are not clean. He presumes not surely to bargain the matter with God, as if his civil and religious services could lay the Almighty under any obligation to remunerate him for his deeds; or, as if, independently altogether of recompense, he were not bound to consecrate himself wholly to the Lord. But surely there is no self-righteousness in the humble prayer, that God would look upon him in love; that he would deign to accept of his feeble services as proofs and evidences of a religious spirit; that he would be pleased to verify his gracious promise, that "it shall be well with them that fear the Lord," and that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come." I. Nehemiah, one of the children of the captivity in Babylon, was the son of Hachaliah, and a descendant from the royal line of David. Though his early years were spent in a heathen land, and amidst many powerful snares, he held fast the principles of his fathers, and gave decisive evidence of the sincerity of his piety. By the special Providence of God he was raised to the honourable office of cupbearer to the Persian monarch, and this situation gave him easy access to the various connections they had formed, chose rather to remain in Babylon; and to them he became the object of reverence and esteem. But he had not forgotten Jerusalem. His affections gathered around its hallowed precincts, and the interests of Zion lay near his heart. An occasion soon offered to prove all the ardour of his patriotic and religious attachments. Having received information that Jerusalem still remained in ruins, and that the slow progress of the builders had behe betook himself to fasting and prayer, and imcome an object of derision to the nations around, plored the direction of God in the painful exigency. King Artaxerxes, observing him to be sad and dejected in his countenance, asked of him the reason. With some hesitation, and with a heart devoutly lifted up to God, he told him the cause of it; and the king instantly issued an edict, empowering him to go and rebuild Jerusalem. He ordered him to receive from the keeper of the forest of Lebanon the quantity of wood that might be required; and he furnished him with all the facilities in his power for the successful execution of his commission. Arrived at Jerusalem, he, with his servant, surveyed the ruins by night, assembled forthwith the chief men among the Jews for consultation, informed them of his powers and of his intentions, and with promptitude and skill set about the execution of the great work. By a judicious division of labour, the work proceeded with speed. Thirty-two of the principal men had the charge of so many departments upon the wall. Weapons of war were furnished to the workmen to defend themselves against the malicious assaults of Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem, who, with their adherents, proceeded from scoffs and taunts to deeds of assault and of murder. Defeated in their schemes, they had recourse to a vile stratagem; and under the pretext of inviting Nehemiah to a conference, had resolved to waylay and assassinate him. Aware of their intentions, or at least distrusting the sincerity of their proposals, he told them that the work in which he was engaged, was too important to admit of his absence from it even for a limited time. The enemy, again disappointed, tried to spread reports unfavourable to the character of Nehemiah. They charged him with selfish and ambitious designs, and attempted to excite prejudices against him, both in the breast of Artaxerxes and in the minds of his own countrymen the Jews. These surmises Nehemiah treated with a noble disdain, and went on with calm intrepidity in the work of rebuilding the wall. In the short space of fifty-two days was it finished, and within a year afterwards, it was dedicated with solemn sacrifice and thanksgiving to the Lord, whose special providence had crowned the undertaking with unlooked-for success. But the building of the city and its walls was not the only work in which Nehemiah was en gaged. He curbed the inhumanity of the nobles | we admire the grace of God in the display, and we and rich men who grinded the faces of the poor; are compelled to acknowledge that there is a reaand he gave to the children of depression and of lity in religion. With comparatively few advanwant all the advantages which the year of jubilee tages of a religious nature, and dwelling amid was designed to secure to them. He observed, scenes very uncongenial to the progress of piety and caused to be observed, with greater exactness in the heart, Nehemiah displayed a firmness of than had been known since the days of Joshua, principle and an ardour of religious feeling, truly the feasts of trumpets and of tabernacles, and admirable. The early lessons of his parents he on these occasions was the law publicly read duly prized and improved. Attachment to the and expounded to the people. The regulations God of his fathers he fondly cherished. Love to regarding marriage, and the due observance of the Jerusalem and its worship was in him no feeling Sabbath, he punctually enforced; and renewed, of common patriotism merely, but the dictate of a with solemn fasting and prayer, the national cove- heart dedicated to God. Amidst the enticements nant with God. The order of Levites and other of a splendid and licentious court, he sought the attendants on the temple was rectified and esta- glory of his heavenly father, and not the grablished; and due provision made for the regular tification of vanity, ambition, or carnal desire. observance of the worship of the sanctuary. Suit- Surrounded by the ensigns of a gross and imable precautions were taken for securing the de- pious superstition, he reared a standard for the fence of the city, and its civil government settled true God, and stood forth as a witness for him, in on judicious and patriotic principles. the midst of his enemies. Like Daniel, he held fast his integrity. Neither the blandishments of court favour at one period of his life, nor the bitter assaults of his foes at another, could tempt him to swerve from the good path. And why? because by the grace of God holy principles had been implanted in his mind; because these principles were well understood and practically felt; because love to God was enthroned in his heart; and because a sense of God, on his mind, led him to stand habitually in awe, and not to sin. "Shall such a man as I flee?" was his bold and impassioned After Nehemiah had governed the Jews for twelve years, he returned to Artaxerxes; but soon did he find that his presence and authority were necessary in Judea, to reform abuses that had begun to creep in, as well as to give vigour and stability to the state. Partly by expostulation, and partly by force, he succeeded in rectifying these disorders. The noted enemies of the Jews, who, in his absence, had presumed, for treasonable ends, to take up their residence within the city, and even within the precincts of the temple, he instantly expelled. The civil and ecclesiastical sta-reply, when assailed by temptation. Confidence tutes of God's own appointment, he rigidly and in God kept him steady in the scene of danger; righteously enforced. Religion, morality, and ge- and the lofty aims of a devoted spirit raised him nuine patriotism he cherished by his own exam- above the grovelling pursuits of sense. In the ple; and after a faithful and prosperous govern- circumstances in which Nehemiah stood, grace, of ment of Judea for the space of thirty-six years, he no common degree, was necessary to produce such gave up the ghost, and was gathered to his fathers. steady piety. And his example is an affecting reIt is worthy of remark, that as from Ezra's com- proof to those, who, in situations much more favourmission to rectify the affairs of Judea to the year able, and with all the advantages of a finished in which Nehemiah died, is exactly forty-nine Revelation, satisfy themselves with a form of godyears, this may correspond to the seven weeks of liness while they deny its power. It speaks to the Daniel, in which the city and wall of Jerusalem guardians of youth a lesson of instruction, while were to be built in troublous times, (Dan. ix. 25.) it demonstrates the high value of systematic knowSo minutely is God's predictive word accomplish-ledge of God, early and devoutly imparted to the ed, and so satisfying is the evidence from histori- youthful mind. It speaks to the young, while it cal fact, that "prophecy came not of old time by proves the importance of steady principles in rethe will of man, but holy men of God spake assisting temptations. It reproves and admonishes they were moved by the Holy Ghost." II. Character of Nehemiah. all, by exhibiting a practical illustration of the comprehensive proverb of the wise man, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." 1. Nehemiah was characterized by well-grounded and steady religious principle. We do not 2. Nehemiah was distinguished by his selfwonder at finding that the children and the do- denial. One of the best evidences of sound relimestics of a truly pious family are generally pious gious principle is self-denial. When the will is and sober-minded; we rather wonder that our subjugated to the will of God; when the mind reasonable expectations, in this respect, should feels itself completely satisfied with the wisdom so frequently be disappointed. But when, as and goodness of the divine economy; when self is in the case of the corrupt house of Rehoboam, thrown into the back-ground, and a noble disinwe find a young Abijah in whom "there was terestedness of feeling gives its tone to the chasome good thing towards the Lord God of Is-racter, then have we some good proof that our rerael;" and when, as in the case of Nehemiah, we find the vigour of holy principles bidding defiance to all the suares of a wicked court, and rising superior to all the enticements of idolatry, ligion is sincere. Nehemiah dwelt in the court of Artaxerxes, where he might have lived in ease and splendour, and where his ready access to the powerful monarch of Persia gave him many opportunities and who "turneth them as the rivers of water." The favourable answer from Artaxerxes came to him with a singular relish, because it came under the character of an answer to prayer, and the language of his grateful acknowledgment is thus expressed: "The king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." This consideration gave a new vigour to his movements. He felt himself to be called of God to the undertaking, and he went in the strength of the Lord his God. In this part of Nehemiah's character we are taught that in all our undertakings, whether of private business or of public interest, we should not depend on our own wisdom and skill, but imthings according to the counsel of his own will.” Moreover we are taught that no elevation of rank, and no public and official station, ought to excuse a man in the neglect of the duties of piety and devotion. Nehemiah maintained his devotional spirit through life. He acknowledged the Lord in all his ways. The stated exercises of devotion received from him a regular and punctual performance, while the pious ejaculations which, amid the hurry of business and the cares of government, were darted up from his soul to heaven, proved the habitual seriousness of his mind. "I have set the Lord always before me." of aggrandizing himself and his family. But he was willing to surrender all private considerations, when a sense of duty demanded it. He improved his advantages, not for his individual good, but for the good of his countrymen. Their depressed circumstances gave a wound to his heart, which all the splendours and gaieties of a court could not heal, and imprinted a gloom on his countenance which all the favour of Artaxerxes and of Esther, could not remove. Regardless of the difficulties of the undertaking, he left the court of Babylon, and undertook a wearisome and dangerous journey, animated with this one desire "to seek the welfare of the children of Israel." Nor did the difficulties he encountered, and the malignant opposi-plore the direction of Him who worketh all tion of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem of Arabia, and the bitter taunts of scoffers around him, weaken the strength of his resolution. When charges of a a very gross nature were advanced against him, and when there was at least a fear lest the minds of his own people and of his patron Artaxerxes might have been poisoned with jealousy and suspicion of his integrity, he nobly rises above the gathering storm, and appeals to a higher tribunal than that of man, satisfied that God would "bring forth his righteousness as the light." Nor in prosecuting his plans, did he impose a burden on others to which he would not himself submit. He shared with the humblest in the labours of the wall, while he bore alone the responsible charge of superintending the whole and conducting the measures of defence. There is in this the sublime of practical self-denial; the pattern of holy, disinterested, persevering activity in a good cause. He was at once "diligent in business, and fervent in spirit." He lost sight of selfish considerations; and feeling for the humblest of the people, he gave them the full value of his labours and his influence without the smallest remuneration. That which he asked not from man, he knew God would bestow; and hence the prayer in our text. "He had respect to the recompense of the reward;" and this good hope triumphed over the secularising influence of worldly attachments. What a reproof to the selfishness of professing Christians! the cold indifference and criminal indolence of some,the carnal, temporizing, and crooked policy of others. It administers a pointed rebuke to the votaries of pride, vain-glory, ambition, and selfinterest. It draws to the life the striking contrast between all these claims and those of the Saviour, while it presses on us, with double force, the words of Him who sought not his own will, but the will of Him that sent him." "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself." 3. Nehemiah was distinguished by his zeal for the worship and the ordinances of God. In circumstances of difficulty, Nehemiah committed his way unto the Lord. Before telling the king of Persia the causes of his grief, he makes a direct appeal to Him who is higher than the highest; and in the hope of obtaining a favourable answer from man, he darted up an earnest supplication to Him who hath "the hearts of kings in his hands," Nehemiah's zeal for the glory of God is specially displayed in his anxiety to vindicate God's ordinances from abuse, and to enforce their punctual observance. The public reading and expounding of the law, for the edification of the people, testified his regard for God's Holy Word. The exactness with which the appointed rites in the feasts of trumpets and of tabernacles were gone about, under his superintendence, testified his reverence for the law, in all the comprehensiveness, and in all the minuteness of its requisitions. His zeal for the sanctification of the Sabbath, proved the high sense he entertained of the value of that holy institution, and its direct subserviency to the religious and civil interests of the community at large. He checked the public abuses of it, by the bearing of burdens, the performance of servile work of any kind, the buying and selling of commodities, and the neglect of public worship. Like a true patriot, and like a good man, he held the purity of Sabbath sanctification to be a matter of paramount importance to all others; and, by influence, precept and example, he recommended and enforced it upon all. Does not this speak volumes of reproof to modern professors? Does it not teach us the duty of sanctifying the name, the day, the altar, and the ordinances of our God? And does it not call upon all, whatever their station or office may be, to consecrate themselves to the Lord, and to lay themselves out for the service of Religion? Keep my ordinances. Hallow my Sabbaths. I am the Lord." Lastly. Nehemiah was distinguished by enlightened and consistent perseverance in the discharge of personal and official duty. How often are difficulties pleaded in excuse for the neglect of duty, or of perseverance in a good cause? | Had Nehemiah been disposed to plead such an apology, he had never left the Palace at Shushan, to embark in the mighty undertaking he had in view. Or, if he had embarked in it, would not the obstacles which open foes and false friends threw in his way, have compelled him to desist? But Nehemiah persevered, in spite of opposition, and he triumphed over it all. Even at that trying moment, when the very persons on whom he chiefly relied were dispirited, and, from excess of fatigue, were ready to retire from the wall in disgust, he remains unshaken and undaunted; and by his zealous perseverance he roused their drooping courage. In this we have an eminent example of active diligence in duty; of fortitude in resisting all temptations to apostasy; of prudent circumspection, in giving no cause to the enemy to speak reproachfully; of habitual dependence on God, and undeviating perseverance in the path of duty. "Be not weary in well-doing." He Those who are engaged in the discharge of public official duty, may find much in the character of Nehemiah to guide and to encourage them. Nehemiah was an enlightened, and firm, and merciful governor. He rectified prevailing abuses. checked tyrannical usurpations of the rich and powerful over the poor and weak, and addressed to the party accused this pointed interrogatory:-" It is not good that ye do: Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen, our enemies?" As a righteous magistrate, he held the reins of government with a steady and impartial hand; executed the laws without respect of persons; vindicated the civil and religious institutions of his country; patronized Religion by his official influence and example; and habitually acted on the great principle, that he was "the minister of God for good." In him we have a practical illustration of the truth, that an upright, and pious, and enlightened magistrate is a public blessing. By the impartial execution of law; by encouraging and patronizing Religion and sound morals; by checking vice and promoting public virtue; by a conscientious regard to all the claims of moral and religious obligation, he becomes a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well; and thus, in him, is it substantially demonstrated, that "righteousness exalteth a people," Nehemiah, in his private and in his official character, was zealous for the public interests of Religion. He loved Zion ;" he desired its prosperity; he prayed for it; and he did much to promote it. Like him, we may reverence God's Sabbaths, and promote their better observance in our own families, and in our own community. Like him, we may encourage our religious institutions, our holy ordinances, our charitable foundations. Like him, we may build up the walls of Jerusalem, by countenancing the preaching of the Gospel; by spreading abroad the lively oracles of God; by encouraging seminaries for religious education; by sending the heralds of life and peace to the darker 66 parts of our own, and of foreign lands; by strengthening the hands of faithful labourers in the vineyard; and, above all, by the sweetly persuasive charm of a godly, and righteous, and consistent deportment. In these "works of faith and labours of love," let not difficulties alarm us; let not the hostility of some, and the apathy of others, turn us aside from duty; let us say with Nehemiah, "we are engaged in a great work, and we cannot come down ;" and, like him also, let us persevere with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Be ye "living epistles of Christ, known and read of all The cause of Christ is embarked in us, its professors. The interests of the kingdom of heaven are linked with us, its subjects. The honours of the cross may rise or fall in our hands. "Be thou faithful unto death," and, "when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of life, which fadeth not away." men." THE KINGSWOOD COLLIERS; OR, THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL WHEN This pleasing instance of the effect of divine truth in civilizing and first step, and says, in his journal, Blessed be God, the ice is now broken, and I have taken the field. Oliphant and Son, Edinburgh, 1836. |