Page images
PDF
EPUB

word. No one should ever make a promise, unless he looks well into the circumstances beforehand, and has every reason to believe, that it will be in his power to fulfil his promise. And whenever a promise has once been made, it should be his fixed determination to keep it, and with a particular reference to this, his subsequent conduct should be shaped. Were this course to be faithfully pursued, not only would the serious evils resulting from a disregard to one's word be avoided, but also the confidence of those around speedily gained and enjoyed, and a character thereby eventually established, of more value than "ermine, gold, or princely diadems."-Weekly Messenger.

LUTHER'S CHAPEL IN THE CASTLE OF
WARTBURG.

NOT far from the armoury is the castle chapel, where Luther so frequently preached during his stay here. The place is small and narrow, the vaulting simple, and the walls and pillars devoid of all ornament. The most unpretending church of the most insignificant village is larger and more splendid. But words were uttered here so powerful, that after three hundred years their echoes are still resounding; words which added other features, and gave a fresh impulse to the history of the world. The small pulpit from which they were spoken seems to have been at some time restored in the upper part. Though in its original design, equally simple with the other portions of the chapel, it has since been very much carved, for every visitor purloins a little piece of the wood, to carry away as a memento of the great Reformer! A small wooden staircase leads to the room where he resided when first conveyed hither, forcibly, and in secret, by the devices of his friend the Elector, from the dangers, hidden and open, which at that time, threatened his life. He called it his "Patmos," and here he wrote several works, and completed a great portion of his translation of the Bible. The room he occupied remains in all its principal features entirely unchanged. Whether a man is a Romanist or Protestant, whether he rejoice in the Re

formation or hate its memory, its historical importance no one can deny. There is, therefore, a deep feeling of interest awakened in visiting the chamber once occupied by this great man: there is something peculiarly gratifying in handling the furniture once used by him; in sitting down upon his three-legged stool; in looking at his inkstand; and reclining upon the old rough oaken table, where he once wrote those words of fire which provoked the greatest religious revolution the world has ever known: and all this at the hand, humanly speaking, of a single monk, who, in those dark and dangerous times dared to oppose and defy the collective powers of the Emperor and the whole Romish clergy-Bentley's Miscellany.

AMUSEMENTS IN COLOURS.

We have had sent to us a pasteboard box containing & large number of triangular cards of a great variety of colours, and two small sheets of patterns of beautiful figures, which may be made by properly placing the cards. It is very surprising to see the variety of forms into which these cards can be composed. The putting of them together, so as to produce the striking effects, in both form and colours, of which they are capable, must be a source of innocent amusement to young persons. It is a pleasing toy, and may be made useful for illustrating the laws of harmonious colouring. We understand that it may be obtained of Booksellers and Toy-dealers.

POETRY.

THE WIDOW OF NAIN.

They bare him forth, his mother's only joy,
For all her earthly hopes fled with her boy.
He who consoled her when her trouble came;
He who had always borne a spotless name;
He who had sooth'd her when her sickness prest,
He who had smooth'd her bed to give her rest.

Long had she watch'd him, as he grew more pale;
This made the mother's tender heart to quail;
She fear'd the grave, with all its death-like gloom,
For she had laid her husband in the tomb;
And knew full well what 'twas to lose a friend.
Hush! murmur not, for this is not the end!
They reach the city gates in silent awe,
The people stand with every head bent low;
But see, yon stranger coming up the hill,
With humble followers who attend him still;
"Ah!" one exclaims, "see what he will do;
I've heard of him, you say he cured you."

The stranger reach'd the crowd, and ask'd the cause;
Why need he ask, for he already knows!

He stopp'd the bier, and with a loud voice cried,
"Young man, I say unto thee, Arise."

The dead arose, the people stood amazed,
And Jesus Christ by every tongue was praised.
Carlisle.

J. T.

MEET ME IN HEAVEN.

(THE DYING SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHOLAR.) 8. M. Tune, RIPLEY.

"Meet me in heaven!" she said

Unto her parents dear,

"For on the wings of angels sped,
I quickly shall be there."
"Meet me in heaven!" she said.

How bright the Christian's hope,
She sorrow'd not as others did,
For Christ did lift her up.
"Meet me in heaven!" she said,
"You'll find me in the throng;
I go to meet my glorious Head,
And sing a grateful song."

Meet me in heaven!" she said.

66

We will," they both replied.

The heavens open'd o'er her head,
"Meet me!" she said, and died.

B. GLAZEBROOK,

[graphic]

THE BIRTH-PLACE OF JOHN LOCKE. WRINGTON, in Somersetshire, possesses the honour of having been the parish in which was born the celebrated John Locke. The house represented in our engraving is that in which he was born. His birth was on the 29th of August, 1632.

Although the house of the nativity of this celebrated man is only of humble appearance, his father was possessed of considerable property, and bestowed upon him a liberal education. He was a scholar at the Westminster School; and afterwards studied at Christchurch College, Oxford; where he received the degree of Master of Arts.

The high reputation of Mr. Locke is founded upon his writings. His most celebrated work is "An Essay concerning the Human Understanding." In this work he describes the powers and operations of the human mind. This work has been translated into the Latin, French, and other languages, and has been, and still is, extensively read in this country and throughout Europe. It has passed through numerous editions; and is still regarded as a work which proves its author to have been a very wise man.

Mr. Locke wrote and published several important treatises in defence of civil and religious freedom. He also published his "Thoughts concerning Education." A work on "The Reasonableness of Christianity as delivered in the Scriptures." "A Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of Saint Paul to the Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, and Ephesians." This is a very valuable work. He is also said to have been the author of "A Common-Place Book to the Holy Scriptures," in which a great number of passages from the Bible respecting doctrines, precepts, privileges, promises, and threatenings, are arranged in sections, under appropriate headings. He also wrote and published several other works of a minor character. The Common-Place Book is generally acknowledged as Mr. Locke's work; but the Rev. T. H. Horne, has represented this as not being quite certain.

Although some persons have endeavoured to make it appear, that Mr. Locke entertained erroneous opinions on an important Christian doctrine; there is not any evidence in his writings to sustain this opinion. On the contrary, he appears to have been a firm believer in Christ as the Saviour of men, and in all the vital truths of the Gospel. One of his relations asked him, what was the best way for a young gentleman to obtain true knowledge of the Christian religion? Mr. Locke gave him the following instructive and important reply. "Let him study the Holy Scriptures, especially in the New Testament. Therein are contained the words of eternal life. The Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter." These words we recommend our readers to impress on their memories.

In the summer of the year 1704, Mr. Locke's health greatly declined. He then became aware that he had not long to live. His mind, however, was supported with the hope of a blissful immortality. He took delight in conversing with his friends on God's goodness. His learning, experience, wisdom, piety, benevolence, and gentleness of behaviour, gained him the respect of the poor, the esteem of his equals, and the confidence of all who knew him. He died on the 28th of October, 1704, in the 73rd year of his age.

As Sir Isaac Newton is justly celebrated for his

« PreviousContinue »