But

go to the last chapter, and quote a passage, 'If you add one word to, or diminish,'—you know the rest. Paul never recommended Timothy to take wine; he simply recommended him to use a little for his peculiar infirmity. Using in emergency and taking habitually are very different things. yet, in order to see the full meaning of the apostle's advice, we must go back to the time when the recommendation was given. At that time, there were wines nearly solid, and that were for outward application. There were wines to be rubbed into the skin, and there were wines that were taken like jam, and not in liquid. You may say, That is another teetotal evasion; that is begging the question.' That I deny. It is you who strain the texts of Scripture to suit your perverted appetites and tastes. You may say, "Give me an instance of an outward application." We have all read of the man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves; and how, being left wounded, the priest and the Levite passed by on the other side; and how the Samaritan pitied and relieved him. How did he do this? The good Samaritan poured oil and wine into his wounds, not down his throat. Bear that in mind, and study it out to its legitimate conclusion; and remember that by the researches of Dr. Lees we have learned that the wine recommended to Timothy by Paul was almost a solid substance. Then, again, before you take wine on this account, you must prove to me that you are in the same state that Timothy was. We have no proof that Timothy took Paul's advice; nor have we any account that Timothy became a wine-bibber. You who cannot take a meal without having a glass of wine, must prove to me that Timothy became like you, that wherever he went, he carried Paul's advice with him, and persistently and continuously drank wine for his stomach's sake and his often infirmities. But you say, 'Didn't our Saviour turn water into wine?' True; but have we not the testimony of the governor of the feast that it was better than the wine which had

been used previously? "Thou hast kept the good wine until now.' What

is it we teetotalers want? The good wine! But there is so much bad that we wish to exterminate. Would to God the wine of the present day was as good and pure in its nature as that which Christ made at the feast of Cana of Galilee. I cannot imagine that the Saviour who came as a ransom for fallen man, who left His Father's throne to become a pilgrim on earth, who left glory to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and who had nowhere to lay His head, who had nothing in the shape of luxury, and who came to teach man the great lesson of self-denialI cannot believe that that is a man who would supply persons who had been feasting and drinking for some days previously with a liquid which would make them still more drunk. My Christianity cannot allow me for a moment to entertain such an idea. I cannot make my Saviour into a wine merchant, whatever you can do with yours. I can do the reverse,

and I can say that His life, character, teachings, and actions, from the manger to the cross, teach me that he would not do such an action as that at which I have hinted, and if you have one spark of true Christian love it is the conclusion you must come to. Let us bear this in mind, whatever may have been the state in early Christian times, the Bible should not be quoted in support of the greatest evil of the day-an evil that is blighting every moral and religious effort that is put forth. There never was a time when this evil was greater. He who runs may read that. That which is ruining men for time and for eternity is intoxicating drink. Go where you will, everywhere men are being cursed by it, homes are being made miserable, churches are being decimated, our pulpits are being deprived of some of their brightest ornaments, our schools are ill-attended, and, in short, in any attempt we make, drink starts up and stops the way. Surely all this teaches us, whatever flimsy objections we may have to Teetotalism, there is this truth that outweighs all that can be put against it, that those who wish to do right must live right, and that those that wish to do good, must take care to put away that

vain, nor spend our strength for nought; only let us act our part, and God will do his. But some one may say, I have tried every means, and it has been a failure. Never mind; try again. It may be some of your scholars have shown signs of contrition, but your hopes of them have been again blasted. Then hope again. Others have walked with you some distance in the heavenly journey, but have fallen; then help them up again. And although you may be disappointed in some instances, your own soul will be the more blessed.

But before I conclude, I would direct my reader's mind to the future reward, which is certain-perfect-permanent. The summit will soon be gained, and we shall be landed safe. Then" they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever," Dan. xii. 3. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. XV. 58. D. BURGESS.

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Temperance.

EXTRACT FROM MR. T. HEYWOOD'S LECTURE ON TEMPERANCE, AT PENTONVILLE, MARCH 11, 1869. MR. HEYWOOD then argued in favour of the Temperance movement from a scriptural basis. He said: "I am sorry to have to state that we have Christian men, Christian women, and even ministers of religion who put forward a plea for these drinks, because they can't find anything about Teetotalism in the Bible. Now, I say the very opposite of that (hear, hear). I say that the grand old Book, from the first chapter in Genesis to the last in Revelation, wherever it touches this question, it teaches us to 'cease to do evil, and learn to do well.' The spirit of the Bible's teaching with regard to our question, is to show those who take alcoholic drinks, whenever and wherever it may be, that however righteous or high in position they may be in other respects, they are liable to fall into

the sin of drunkenness. As regards texts, I will say this, that if you allow me time for preparation, I will preach you a Temperance sermon from any text in the Bible you may choose to select, and would preach according to the true spirit and teaching, not only of the text itself. but of the whole revealed Word. True it is that we have instances in which these drinks were partaken of by the best men who ever lived; but the results were not satisfactory: it is so in our own day. Just in proportion as a minister dabbles with strong drink, just so will his work be neutralised and his example pernicious. Then again, we have religious people who tell us, that if intoxicating drinks were not intended for the use of man, God would never have sent them. I deny that God did send them as firmly as I declare that they are the fiendish invention of man. The drinks of God are free from any intoxicating properties whatever, from the ripe, clustering fruit to pure and sparkling water. You may search heaven and earth, and you will not find in all creation one single particle of alcohol in a natural state. Nature has to die and become decomposed before alcohol comes into existence. We have, in the Scripture, wine recommended to make glad the heart of man. So also have we other prescriptions. If you take the one I have mentioned, you must take the other contained in the same verse, viz., oil to make his face to shine' (laughter). Prove to me that that wine which makes glad the heart of man, does not make the heart of man sorrowful. Then, I know there are some of you who have a stock argument, and it has been so often answered that I am almost ashamed to allude to it. St. Paul was, though the last, yet the greatest of the apostles. He was a splendid teacher, great in intellect and thought; and Paul, you say, recommended Timothy to take a little wine: and if Paul, the apostle and great divine, did this, surely I am justified in taking wine. I am about to make a bold statement, and it is this-Paul never did recommend Timothy to take wine; never! It is not in the Book. I will

great object of meeting with joy the favoured happy beings, whom his fidelity has instrumentally saved.

Thoughts like these will prevent us from being proud of our gifts, and cause us to use them with a trembling anxiety to do our best for the honour of God and the welfare of souls.Dr. Daniel Danna, on the "Importance of Seriousness to the Christian Minister."

BE NOT DECEIVED, OR BE

CONSISTENT.

IF "honesty, which is the best policy," were universally practised, we should not have so many bankruptcies, and religion would not have its character so awfully tarnished. Preachers would render an untold benefit to the cause of truth and righteousness, if they would speak clearly, lovingly, pointedly, and faithfully on this highly-important, but much neglected duty; they would thus awaken many slumbering debtors. "I thank God," said one of this class once at a love feast, that my name is in the Lamb's book of life." "And I can bear testimony," said one who followed, "that our brother's name is in my book also." He had not paid his debts. We pity those who, like pious Job, are suddenly brought into poverty and trouble; but what apology can be made for those who are false, idle, or extravagant? (Rom. xiii. 8.)

DESPONDENCY.

WHAT right has any person, endowed with an ordinary share of intellect, and blessed with a respectable share of good health, to despond? What is the cause of despondency? What is the meaning of it? The cause is a weak mind, and the meaning is sin. Providence never intended that one of his creatures should be the victim of a desire to feel and look the gloom of the thunder cloud. Never despond, friendly reader; for one of the first entrances of vice to the heart is made through the instrumentality of despondency. Although we cannot expect all our days and hours to be gilded by sunshine, we must not, for mere momentary griefs, suppose that they are to be en

shrouded in the mists of misery, or clouded by the opacity of sorrow and misfortune.

GREAT MEN.

ALMOST all great men who have performed or who are destined to perform great things, are sparing of words. Their communing is with themselves rather than with others. They feed upon their own thoughts, and in these inward musings, brace those intellectual and active energies, the development of which constitutes the great character. Napoleon became a babbler only when his fate was accomplished, and his fortune on the decline.

Phenomena of the Months.

JUNE.

THE average temperature of each day in the month of June during fifty years shows a variation of only five degrees during the whole month, namely, from 57 to 62 degrees, the latter figure being only one degree less than the highest average of any day in our English summer, and the former figure representing the lowest average of daily temperature we ordinarily experience from the beginning of June to the middle of September-more than fifteen weeks. Seven days in June have an average temperature of 57 degrees; six days an average of 58 degrees; six days 59 degrees; four days 60 degrees; four days 61 degrees; and three days 62 degrees. The rainfall in June, 1868, was two and a quarter inches less than the average of the preceding seven years—an exceptionally dry season.

The sun rises on the 1st at nine minutes before four, and sets at four minutes after eight; on the 15th it rises at sixteen minutes before four, and sets at sixteen minutes after eight; and on the 30th it rises at eleven minutes before four, and sets at eighteen minutes after eight. The total variation in the length of daylight is about eight minutes in the mornings, and fifteen minutes in the evenings; from the 19th to the 23rd the variation is only a few seconds daily.

The moon is new on the 10th at eight minutes before four in the morning, and full on the 24th at twentyone minutes before two in the morning. On the first Sunday it sets before four in the afternoon; on the second Sunday it sets at three minutes before eleven at night; on the third Sunday it is four hours high at sunset, and sets before two in the morning; and on the fourth Sunday it rises a little after half-past ten at night. The

moon is near to Jupiter on the 6th; Venus on the 10th; to Mercury on the 11th; to Uranus on the 12th; to Regulus in Leo on the 14th; to Mars on the 15th; and to Saturn on the 22nd.

Mercury on the 1st sets two hours after the sun; but so rapidly does this interval decrease that on the 21st they set within two minutes of each other. Mercury is in conjunction with Venus on the afternoon of the 17th.

Venus is an evening star, setting thirty-four minutes after the sun on the 1st, and nearly an hour after it on the 30th.

Mars sets an hour after midnight on the 1st, and at sixteen minutes after eleven at night on the 30th.

Jupiter rises about half-past two in the morning on the 1st, and at fortynine minutes after midnight on the 30th.

Saturn is visible all night, rising a little before sunset, and setting after sunrise, until the 10th. It sets at twenty-two minutes after two in the morning of the 30th.

Passing Events.

MAY meetings, as they are now called, have some of them come and gone since we last addressed our readers. "May Meeting Guide Lists," are abundant, but to our mind, the Messrs. Bagster's have this year exceeded all previous attempts, as well as the present year's issues of any of their competitors. There is a fulness and a completeness about their publication. It carries us back to April 12th, 'The Bishop of London's Fund," meeting in Willis's Rooms,— The Bishop being the chairman-and forward to July: "British Orphan Asylum Election," City Terminus

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Hotel, Cannon Street, Lord Mayor, chairman.

There are no less than 103 meetings published in this guide, and thirty-six special sermons by great preachers. The United Methodist Free Churches had sermons in most of the London chapels, on Sunday, April 25th, on behalf of their "Home and Foreign Missions:" and the Wesleyans for their foreign missions, in their principal chapels, on Sunday, May 2nd. The London Missionary Society, in many chapels, Sunday, May 16th. Several churches were opened for collections, on Sundays, May 2nd and 9th, for the Bishop of London's Fund.

The philanthropic Earl of Shaftesbury, we find from this guide book, occupies the chair at no less than eleven meetings. The see of Canterbury, it is evident, is now filled by an active man, for we find the Archbishop of Canterbury preaching sermons, or occupying the chair, six times at these special gatherings.

Meetings for religious and other good purposes, have been held in various places. EXETER HALL," however, with its world-wide fame, has been as usual the great centre for these gatherings. "THE UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCHES" led off here in the mission work, by a good meeting held on the evening of April 26th, followed by the "BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY" on the 29th; "THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY on May the 3rd; CUURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY on the 4th; "THE LONDON CITY MISSION on the 6th; "LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY" on the 13th. These great missionary societies have done and are still doing a great work. Whether the work done is at all in proportion to the means used and the agents employed is a question.

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On Wednesday, May the 5th, "THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY" held its meeting. Whatever doubt there may be in some minds respecting the utility of missionary and other as it societies, there can be none regards this noble institution. In a Protestant country, he would be bold indeed who should object to the circulation of the Bible. If the gift of tongues has ceased, God has supplied