We read next that "Moses brought Israel out of the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur:" the wilderness of Shur here spoken of being thought to be part of the same called elsewhere the wilderness of Etham. This wilderness denotes in Scripture all the western part of stony Arabia, and it has been thus described: "We proceeded for three hours over the desert, sandy and stony alternately, the Red Sea of the deepest blue on the right, and the chain of the Gebel Tih (mountains) on the left. The country beyond it is called by the Arabs El Tih, 'the desert of the wandering Israelites.' Between the third and fourth hour, we entered a boundless plain of desert, white and painfully glaring to the eye; the wind too began to blow from the south, and rendered the heat very oppressive." [To be continued.] THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH OF THE Rev. John Kettlewell (one of the great ornaments of our Church in the 17th century) was born at Brompton, in the parish of Northallerton, Yorkshire, in 1653. His father was a merchant; his mother a very religious lady of an old and distinguished family. Their eldest son had died an infant; and from a sense of thankfulness to God for sparing to them their second son, they early resolved to devote him to God's special service in the ministry, if he should prove fit for and capable of it. This purpose was soon confirmed by his disposition and promising genius; and, withdrawing him from the occupation of his ancestors, they, like Elkanah and Hannah of old, "lent him unto the Lord all the days of his life." The father, however, was not allowed to see even the beginning of what his soul desired. He died when John was only six years old, leaving another son and one daughter. As soon as he was fit for the rudiments of Latin he was sent to the free grammarschool at Northallerton, then in great repute for the learning and diligence of the master. Here he was distinguished by kindness towards his schoolfellows. The master appears to have been very severe towards his pupils, often punishing the dull and willing as much as the idle or careless. This excited the pity of young Kettlewell, who shewed his kind and excellent disposition in assisting the former in their exercises and lessons, while other boys as able as himself, regardless of their sufferings, left them to their fate. Even at an early period of life God's grace planted in him such an hatred of sin, and of the very appearance of evil, that, to prevent it, he watched over not only himself, but all he loved and could be familiar with. Hence it was his practice to tell his schoolfellows of their faults, and set before them the sinfulness and dangerous consequences of any vices to which he saw them inclined. He did this in so kind and happy a manner as generally to give none offence, while it was the means of reforming many, and even of endearing him to them; a proof that while tender he was also faithful, and had already attained some proficiency in that excellent art of reproving which he exercised with so much usefulness in after-life. It was a practice so much above his years, and beyond what is natural, as to leave decided and pleasing evidence of a heavenly disposition. This appeared in another Christian practice of his school-days. From a child he shewed a very devout mind, and would frequently retire to pray by himself. Not content with this, he would often endeavour to make his schoolfellows sensible of the great duty and benefit of constant prayer to God. No son could be more dutiful and obedient than he was to his mother. To her, under God, he appears have been indebted for his early piety. "She," says Dr. Hicks, “travailed with him in birth again that the heavenly life might be formed in him by the operation of the Divine Spirit in his soul." It was through her that, like Timothy, from a child he knew the holy Scriptures; and, through her nurture and admonition, he learnt a sweet, childlike confidence towards God as a Father; insomuch that he was not only unwilling and afraid to offend God, as such, but, even at this early period of his life, he would, when in any trouble or under any disappointment, betake himself to God by humble and fervent prayer, resting in Him for the event,-"because," ," he would say, "as He pleaseth, so things come to pass." When ready for the university, and expecting to proceed thither, the friend on whom he had relied failed him, and his going thither was in consequence postponed. This was the greatest trouble he had ever yet known; but on finding his mother much afflicted by the disappointment, he forgot his own sorrow, and wrote to her almost inimitable letters of comfort, telling her he was sure God never failed them who put their trust in Him; and that he was therefore fully persuaded God would raise him up some other friend, though he knew not whom. God remembered this simple and happy faith; for some person who had heard of his disappointment recommended him to Dr. Thomas Tully, then Dean of Ripon and Principal of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford. The doctor sent for him; and, after examining him, was so pleased with him that he took him to his own rooms, and treated him with such care and tenderness as if he had been his own child; and on leaving residence, committed him as a special trust to his Vice-Principal, the Rev. John Marsh, under whom, as his tutor, he went through the usual course of studies, making proficiency above his equals in years. This is the first instance, but by no means the last, in the life of Mr. Kettlewell, on the one hand exhibiting in him a singularly simple and firm reliance in Divine Providence, without the least corroding anxiety about the future, and, on the other hand, proving the special goodness with which God answered and honoured his plain and stedfast trust. He cast his care upon God; God cared for him. He committed his way unto the Lord; and the Lord brought it to pass. Abridged from the British Magazine. THE words commonly used to signify play, are these four : relaxation, diversion, amusement, and recreation. The idea of relaxation is taken from a bow, which must be unbent when it is not wanted, to keep up the spring. Diversion signifies a turning aside from the main purpose of a journey, to see something that is curious and out of the way. Amusement means an occasional forsaking of the Muses, when a student lays aside his books. Recreation is the refreshing of the spirits when they are exhausted by labour, so that they may be ready in due time to resume it again. From these considerations it follows that the idle man, who has no work, can have no play; for how can he be relaxed who is never bent? How can he turn out of the road who is never in it? How can he leave the Muses who is never with them? How can play refresh him who is never exhausted with business?-Jones of Nayland. POETRY. HE COMES. ALL praise, O Jesus Christ, to Thee! To praise which all the angels join. Th' eternal Father's only Child, Of all the circling world possest, Thence did the Light eternal stream, Son of the Father, God alone, A guest in His own world was known; Poor on the earth He did remain, All this He did to us to prove For this let Christendom shew joy, And praise eternity employ. From the German. BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD. O THOU my Saviour, who dost not What earnest longings rise! I would with all subjection learn Oh, give me at Thy feet a place, Ever replying unto Thee, "Behold Thy handmaid, Lord!" |