terms as we deemed inappropriate applied to the blessed Saviour. The etymological meaning attributed to the name of Matthew is different from what we have ever before seen, and we doubt its accuracy. "Gift of Jehovah," says our author. But other authors say, "given, a reward." The name does not contain a distinct syllable of the name Jehovah, nor even a single letter of the name. It is only by the constructional transmutation of one letter into another, such as sometimes occurs, that the terminal syllable could be even supposed to represent that name; and then the punctuation is not in accordance with the supposition. We hold the other meanings, therefore, to be nearer the mark than that given by Dr. Morison. This is of small importance, we admit; but it were better to abide by long-accepted renderings of words and names, than to lay down disputable or inaccurate new ones.

We could make many quotations of precious truth, that are like pictures of grace in frames of gold, if we had space for them in this department of our serial. Here is a sample on the text, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Chap. viii. 17.

"The Messiah is in our room, and he is bearing what is our due for our sins. That is the inner court of the representation, veiled in part by the materialisms of the outer court. How, then, comes it that the evangelist, in the passage before us, represents the prophecy as fulfilled in the miraculous cures of the Saviour? Has He misapplied the prophet's expressions? Far from that. He has only taken, as He was entitled to do, one step up toward the summit of their full interpretation. It was indeed but one step. Yet, in taking it, He has taught a profound lesson. Our Lord's manifold works, when viewed from the elevation of this step, are seen to be, not disconnected fragments of things scattered at random up and down the line of His terrestrial career, hither and thither. They are parts of a magnificent whole. His works are His work. There is plurality in the unity of His work. There is unity in the plurality of His works. The life's

labour of our Lord was a complex unit-like an unbroken sphere. In the centre of the whole was the great propitiation. On the superfices were the termini of innumerable radii, which touched humanity all through and through, and round and round. When the Saviour healed diseases and cast out demons, He was acting on the superfices of things. But still He was acting, even then, as the Great Saviour. And He had reference in every particular act, in detail, to the great centre of the work which He had undertaken to accomplish. Hence the words of the prophet were fulfilled by the curative work of our Saviour, though they were still farther and more gloriously fulfilled by His Great Atoning Work."

Judging from these three parts of Dr. Morison's Commentary, it seems likely to be the most exhaustive work of the kind that has yet made its appearance in the English language.

ROME'S TACTICS; or, A LESSON FOR ENGLAND FROM THE PAST. BY THE VERY REV. WILLIAM GOODE, D.D., F.S.A., LATE DEAN OF RIPON. THIS is a cheap edition of a very valuable tractate, that clearly exposes the policy followed by the church of Rome, from the time of the Reformation to the present day, for the subversion and destruction of the Protestant churches and states. Documentary and historical evidence is adduced to show that the mode by which Rome has sought to upset Protestantism has been by commissioning her agents to work their way into every stratum of society, and into institutions of all kinds, civil and religious, under any and every possible disguise; and by stirring up controversy, exciting jealousy and distrust, insinuating sedition, propounding popish principles and doctrines cautiously and by little and little, or by any practicable means whatsoever, to bring states and churches into convulsion and anarchy, and then to point to Rome as the only haven of rest and peace.

The author adds to his general argument the admission or the allegation-whichever be the light in which we take the matter-that there are Rome's allies in the Church of

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England." Indeed we recollect hearing a venerable clergyman of the Church of England, nearly twenty years ago, express his solemn and unhesitating belief that there were disguised Jesuits then at work in the English Universities. The fact is now as certain as any fact of the kind can be; and it ought to be known by all who love pure and undefiled religion, and hate hypocrisy.

The

The historian, Hallam, is quoted in reference to what was done by Anglican clergy-that is, by some of them -two centuries ago. We allude to it because of its exact parallel in the facts of the last thirty years. action taken by an organised body of nonconformists for effecting a severance of the church from the state, so alarmed some of the clergy that they looked about for defence and refuge, and fell back upon those "Church principles which the late Isaac Taylor predicted, in his "Ancient Christianity," would inevitably lead them to Rome. Many of the Anglicans, in abhorrence of Protestant Nonconformists, played into the hands of the common enemy." This sentence might have been penned by some historian of the last twenty or twenty-five years, instead of by one who writes of 1660 to 1670.

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Romish progress in Protestant countries and communities, is traced to a variety of causes. Among others indicated is this: "Another cause why Protestants are always at a disadvantage when opposed by Romanists, and especially Jesuits, is, that their comparative independence of one another, and their not being united under one directing head, prevent their combination even for the defence of their own principles." This is shown to be especially the case with an established church, whose "official leaders are not real leaders, and practically prevent others from acting as such." This is an undeniable allegation; and being so, what can be alleged more strongly in condemnation of state churchism?

The present Romeward movement in the Church of England is declared to be "a revival of a movement, the fruit of Romish intrigue, which is only part of a conspiracy against our Church as the chief bulwark of the Refor

mation, having its root and centre of operations at Rome, and its ramifications, consisting of agencies of various kinds and descriptions, pervading the land-a conspiracy that has been in existence almost from the Reformation to the present day, varying in activity and strength according as the circumstances of the times favoured or not its development."

But the curtain is drawn aside to reveal what ought to arouse the blood and soul and spirit of Protestantism in every section of society and every church in the land. Read this:"The subtle influences that are at work in our church in all directions to effect a change in its doctrine and worship, are more dangerous enemies to its welfare than even the operations, open or secret, of the Papists. And the public little know how wily and indefatigable are the efforts of many influential parties in high position, apparently keeping themselves aloof from the Tractarian movement, and even administering occasionally to its partisans certain prudent and harmless reproofs, to undo the work of the Reformation and re-found our church on what Dr. Pusey would call the 'Catholic scheme of doctrine."

We strongly sympathise with the evangelically godly part of the Church of England. Their position must make them often very unhappy and sorrowful. But we submit to them, with all love and kindly feeling, whether the whole position of things in their church does not demonstrate the necessity of a severance of that bond between the church and the state which they have clung to as tenaciously as they cling to life itself?

The author of this pamphlet is no more in the church militant. His successor in the Deanery of Ripon, Dr. McNeile, late of Liverpool, has written a preface to it. The Christian Book Society publishes this edition of more than a hundred octavo pages on fine paper, at 8d the copy, or forty copies for a sovereign. We hope it will be circulated by thousands, and that it will be read by all who wish to investigate the present development of Popery in the Established Church of these realms, and the progress of Popery in England.

CLAYTON versus MITCHELL; or, EVERLASTING RETRIBUTION; or, ORTHODOXY VINDICATED. By the Rev. Alfred Clayton, Primitive Methodist Minister. London, William Lister, Sutton Street, Commercial Road; and T. Church, 10, Bolt Court, Fleet Street.

THIS pamphlet is the fruit of local controversy, on the most awful of all revealed truths. A gentleman who has taken up the office of the public ministry, has delivered a series of "Lectures on Eternal Punishment," in the lower room of the Temperance Hall, Leicester, taking the sceptical side of the argument. The vindicator of revealed truth, after having waited in vain for some other hand to appear against the denyer of truth, has come forth in the interests of orthodoxy. He uses 66 great plainness of speech,' and vindicates the doctrine eternal punishment by appeals to Holy Scripture, and to theological authorities of reputable standing, as well as by forcible reasoning. We do not think, however, that the pamphlet is of such characteristics as to create more than a local interest, or to command a wide circulation.

Choice Selections.

A GERMAN EMIGRANT SERVICE AT PLYMOUTH.

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A LITTLE more than two centuries ago, the Mayflower, bearing from Holland the families that colonised America, put into Plymouth, under stress, and remained there awhile. On one of the sabbaths of their sojourn they assembled for the public worship of God. In remembrance of their place of shelter from storm and tempest, and of the attentions paid to them there, they called their settlement in America, New Plymouth.

In the months of November and December last, similar events to the foregoing again occurred at Plymouth. A large ship load of emigrants from Pomerania, a German country bordering upon the Baltic, after having made about 700 miles of sailing, met with such rough weather that the ship had to be put back for repairs in a leaky condition. She made for Plymouth harbour, and had to remain some time

to be made fit for the voyage. When nearly ready to sail again, the passengers wished to worship God in one of the churches or chapels of the town; and arrangements were made by the Wesleyan authorities to meet their desire.

Ebenezer chapel was fixed upon as the place, and the afternoon of Sunday, December 13th, as the time for this service. About 200 emigrants assembled, an equal number remaining aboard, unable to attend. Seventeen of their number had departed this life since their having left their native country. Most of the men were of the artisan class, generally in the periods of early manhood and of middle life. With them were some women and children. The women were without bonnets, having on their heads either caps or handkerchiefs, after the general fashion of their class on the continent. They were brought by a steamer from their ship in the Catwater, into Plymouth. They entered the chapel, and it was soon filled in every part. So novel a service was a charming attraction to not a few religious people, who took a deep interest in the strangers.

A German hymn was sung. The Confession and Litany, with some of the prayers, were read in German by a gentleman of the name of Doidge. The fourteenth chapter of John's Gospel was then read in German, and another hymn in the same language sung. Prayer was offered by the Rev. S. F. Balch, interpreted sentence by sentence by a lady, Madame Gabbis. Mr. Balch then delivered an address, which was interpreted as the prayer had been. During its delivery many of the Germans were much affected, some of them shedding tears.

At the close of the address the superintendent minister of the circuit, the Rev. C. Haydon, gave out the hymn

"Rock of ages, cleft for me," &c. which was sung by the whole congregation. The sacramental service followed, the prayers being read by the superintendent, and interpreted by the lady before mentioned, who also repeated in German the words spoken at the distribution of the elements, after they had been pronounced in

English to each company approaching the table of the Lord. About eighty of the emigrants communicated. In this part of the service the Revs. John Brewster, and Jas. R. Webb assisted.

The English congregation, on retiring, ranged themselves in two lines, forming an avenue in the chapel yard, through which the Germans passed; and many affectionate salutations were exchanged on their departure. The foreigners who attended the service appeared deeply interested, devout, and thankful.

We congratulate the Plymouth Methodists on this manifestation of

Christian love to strangers. It was well and worthily done. Will not the Lord Jesus say, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto these, ye did it unto Me?" We commend their example to all who may have opportunity to bless and benefit strangers, and especially emigrants to a distant land.

THE LATE W. M. THACKERAY ON CONVENTS.

IN Thackeray's "Irish Sketch Book" is the following on Convents. His views of Conventual Sisterhood are so original and unlike anything ever before written on the subject, we give them insertion. He had been describing an Ursuline Convent at Blackrock, near Cork, and describes the interior:

"In the grille is a little wicket and a ledge before it. It is to this wicket that women are brought to kneel; and a bishop is in a chapel on the other side, and takes their hands in his, and receives their vows. I had never seen the like before, and felt a sort of shudder in looking at the place. There rest the girl's knees as she offers herself up, and forswears the sacred affections which God gave her; there she kneels and denies for ever the beautiful duties of her being-no tender maternal yearnings-no gentle attachments are to be had for her or from her-there she kneels and commits suicide upon her heart. O, honest Martin Luther! thank God you came to pull that infernal, wicked, unnatural altar down-that cursed Paganism! Let people, solitary, worn out with sorrow or oppressed with

extreme remorse, retire to such places; fly and beat your breasts in caverns and wildernesses, O women, if you will, but be Magdalenes first. It is shameful that any young girl, with any vocation however seemingly strong, should be allowed to bury herself in this small tomb of a few acres. Look at yonder nun-pretty, smiling, graceful, and young-what has God's world done to her that she should run from it, or she done to the world that she should avoid it? What call has she to give up all her duties and affections; and would she not be best serving God, with a husband at her side, and a child on her knee?

Turning into a narrow gate with the nun at our head, we found ourselves in a little green, quiet enclosure -it was the burial ground of the con

vent. The poor things know the places where they are to lie; she who was with us talked smilingly of being stretched there one day, and pointed out the resting place of a favourite old sister who had died three months back, and being buried in the very midst of the little ground. And here they come to live and die. The gates are open, but they never go out. All their world lies in a dozen acres of ground; and they sacrifice their lives in early youth, many of them passing from the grave up stairs in the house to the one scarcely narrower in the church yard here, and are seemingly not unhappy.

"I came out of the place quite sick; and looking before me, there, thank God! was the blue spire of Monkstown church, soaring up into the free sky-a river in front rolling away to the sea-liberty, sunshine, all sorts of glad life and motion, round about; and I couldn't but thank Heaven for it, and the Being whose service is freedom, and who has given us affections that we may use them-not smother and kill them; and a noble world to live in, that we may admire it and Him who made it-not shrink from it, as though we dared not live there, but must turn our backs upon it and its bountiful Provider.

"I declare I think, for my part, that we have as much right to permit Sutteeism in India as to allow women in the United Kingdom to take these

wicked vows, or Catholic bishops to receive them, and that Government has as good a right to interpose in such cases as the police have to prevent a man from hanging himself, or the doctor to refuse a glass of prussic acid to any one who may have a wish to go out of the world."

CAPERNAUM.

A THRIVING town in our Lord's day, but not mentioned in the Old Testament. It is supposed to have been built after the exile. It has for long passed away, and its very site is now matter of dispute. "It is gone," says Dean Stanley. (Sinai and Palestine, chap. x.) The question, says Ritter, regarding its site, "can scarcely be determined with certainty." "As for traces of Capernaum," says Fergus Ferguson, we could find none." (Notes of Travel in Egypt and the Holy Land, chap. xiii.) Dr. Robinson supposed that Khân Minyeh at 'Ain et Tiny is the spot on which it stood. (Researches, § 15, vol. iii. p. 293.) But it is more likely that Tell Hum is the spot; and that in the word Hûm we have the concluding syllable of the ancient name Kefr-na-hum.

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So thinks Dr. William Thompson. (The Land and the Book, chap. xxiv. p. 354.) And the Palestine Exploration Society has come to the same conclusion. Which is upon the sea coast. The town evidently lay on the western margin, toward the north, of the beautiful lake or "loch," called the Sea of Galilee, or, the Sea of Tiberias, or, the Lake of Gennesaret.-Dr. Morison's note.

The Rev. J. L. Porter says, "A few minutes more, and I reached the brow of a bluff promontory, which dips into the bosom of the lake. Before me now opened the fertile plain of Gennesaret. At my feet, beneath the western brow of the cliff, a little fountain burst from a rocky basin. A fig tree spreads its branches over it, and gives it a name,-Ain-et-Tin, 'The fountain of the fig.' Beside it are some massive foundations, scarcely distinguishable amid the rank weeds, and away beyond it, almost covered with thickets of thorns, briars, and gigantic thistles, I saw large heaps of ruins and rubbish. These are all that now mark the site

of Capernaum. Christ's words are fulfilled to the letter: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell.' (Matt. xi. 23.)"-The Giant Cities of Bashan ; and Syria's Holy Places, page 107.

AFRICAN CROCODILES.

A HIPPOPOTAMUS was shot two miles above a bank on which the ship lay a fortnight: it floated in three hours. As the boat was towing it down, the crocodiles were attracted by the dead beast, and several shots had to be fired to keep them off. The bullet had not entered the brain of the animal, but driven a splinter of bone into it. A little moisture with some gas issued from the wound, and this was all that could tell the crocodiles down the stream of a dead hippopotamus; and yet they came up from miles below. Their sense of smell must be as acute as their hearing; both are quite extraordinary. Dozens fed on the meat we left. Our Krooman, Jumbo, used to assert, that the crocodile never eats fresh meat, but always keeps it till it is high and tenderand the stronger it smells, the better he likes it. There seems to be some truth in this. They can swallow but small pieces at a time, and find it difficult to tear fresh meat. In the act of swallowing, which is like that of a dog, the head is raised out of the water. We tried to catch some, and one was soon hooked; it required half a dozen hands to haul him up the river, and the shark-hook straightened, and he got away. A large iron hook was next made, but, as the creatures could not swallow it, their jaws soon pressed it straight-and our crocodile-fishing was a failure. As one might expect, from the power even of a salmon,-the tug of a crocodile was terribly strong.

The corpse of a boy floated past the ship; a monstrous crocodile rushed at it with the speed of a greyhound, caught it and shook it, as a terrier dog does a rat. Others dashed at the prey, each with his powerful tail causing the water to churn and froth, as he furiously tore off a piece. In a few seconds it was all gone. The sight was frightful to behold. The Shire swarmed with crocodiles; we