last mite in purchasing a chaplet of flowers, or a I was an infant, and I do not even know what were waxen heart, for her brow or bosom.

Protestants often smile at what they term Roman Catholic credulity-yet it is a blessed thing to possess such ardor and faith, as we daily observed among the lowest ranks, producing content and cheerfulness, although common sense and industry were the consequent sacrifice. But that such was not always the result, the following incident will prove. I learnt it from Mrs. -, and detail it as nearly as I can in her own words:

"While travelling through Tuscany, we were attracted one day by the interesting appearance of a young peasant, who diligently whirled her spindle as she presided over a flock of goats. Her garments were coarse and much worn, but clean, and the countenance of the blooming girl so intelligent and prepossessing, that we were induced to bestow on her a trifle and enquire about her parentage and situation. They call me Teresa,' she replied, and the Madonna takes care of me, for I have neither father nor mother. They died while

their names. A poor woman had charge of me, but she treated me cruelly, and as soon as I was old enough to work, I ran away from her. In my distress, I prayed fervently to the Madonna: she heard me and moved the heart of a lady, to have pity on my forlorn condition and give me a home and employment. I still live with her, for she is a good mistress-gives me plenty of bread and grapes to eat, and never beats me. At night I sleep in her barn, and in the day I tend her goats and spin flax.'

"After hearing this recital, we offered her more money-she was in raptures-kissed our hands as we cast it into her apron, and exclaimed, 'never did I expect to be so rich! Now, I can buy a crown for the Madonna, and go to mass and pray for blessings on my generous benefactresses.' Happy Teresa! the Madonna did not forsake her. Years afterwards, we met her in the same neighborhood, neatly dressed and the picture of contentment and health."

LAYS OF COURAGE.

BY THE STRANGER.

V.

WE ARE BROTHERS.

We are brothers! King and peasant,
Formed by the same hand divine,
Through the past, as in the present,

Boast the same exalted line.
Prophets, heroes, saints and sages,
Trace their blood to every heart,
And the lineal tide of ages

In despised bosoms start.
But the blood of saints and sages,

Coursing 'neath a kingly breast,
Where the storm of passion rages,

Cannot elevate and bless.
"Tis the work of our probation,

Not the merit of our sires,
That must win the glorious station
Which the thirsting soul desires;
"Tis by deeds of moral daring,-

Deeds approving angels own,
For truth, the world's derision bearing,
We must win the crown and throne.
And, of earth's one-band of brothers,
He's the noblest, kingliest soul,
Who within his bosom smothers

Lusts, that baser hearts control,—
From the purest motives, living

In a light from heaven revealed,
Unto Love a tribute giving,—
Wounded bosoms soothed and healed.
Upon this broad field of labor,

Rank and wealth no pref'rence claim.
Side by side, the king and beggar
Struggle for the peerless name:
Not a name, or title given

By a sov'reign to his slave;
But a claim, writ out in heaven,

To estates beyond the grave.
Thus, a brother here neglected,

Spurned in anguish, mock'd in pain,-
Shunned, as one with plague infected,

In the better world shall reign.
Thus, as the rich man faring sumptuous,
Many a titled Croesus here,

At the feet of a crowned Lazarus,
There a suppliant shall appear.
Then, my brother, wherefore grieving,
Languish ye through life's short span !
Courage thou'rt thyself deceiving,

Thou art peer to any man!
Outward circumstance here giveth

Rank nor honor, worth nor fame;
'Neath the rag-clad bosom liveth,

Heaven-baptized, a deathless name.
When the book, for judgment sealed,
Before the world shall op'n lay,
Glory to that name revealed-
"Blessed," shall the Saviour say.
As, amid the sons of morning,
Its bright seat it takes in heaven,

may be handed down from sire to son, kindling alike his | then, which compose the Jewish canon, have the filial reverence and his piety. It seems peculiarly adapted concurrence of all antiquity in their favor.

never

to such a holy purpose; for whilst it is not too costly for 2. The Bible is a book of facts, the most imporlarge numbers to possess it, its value will ensure its preservation. Its internal excellence and beauty can not be tant that ever happened, and in which, all mankind enhanced; but its rich embellishments, without detracting are deeply and eternally interested. "There, from these, make it an ornament and a delight.-Ed. Mess. stand recorded the creation of the world and its The intellectual powers of man can inhabitants; the fall of our first parents from their fully develop themselves, without a proper and ac- state of innocence and happiness, and their subsecurate knowledge of the existence and attributes quent banishment from the garden of Eden; the of Deity. For this we are indebted to revelation repeated and signal promises of a future restorer alone, inasmuch, as in the nature of things, it is of the lost blessings of mankind; the history of impossible, by "searching to find out God." The the patriarchs, seers and prophets of Israel, honman who has been aided by the light and influence ored by the special revelations of Jehovah; the of the Bible, is necessarily a man of more mind, description of the general deluge, and the wonderof more systematic thought and better judgment, ful preservation of righteous Noah and his family; than the one who has never had such assistance. the dispersion of the progenitors of the human If this remark be correct, which we presume will race over all the earth; the adoption of a particunot be questioned, none can fail to discover the lar family to perpetuate the remembrance, and esimportant position the Bible ought to assume in all tablish the worship of the true God; and their our studies. It demands our special attention. final and prosperous settlement in the land of 1. Because, it is by far the most ancient Book. Egypt." Here, we are favored with History, auIn the Holy Scriptures, we are furnished with a thentic, minute, and comprehensive. Natural Scicorrect knowledge of events, far more remote than ence shines "like apples of gold set in pictures of silin any other history in the world. The first in- ver." Here, is Geography enlivened and beautified stance of a revelation committed to writing, is that with scenes of breathless wonder; here, is Biogra of the decalogue, or ten commandments, which phy with every light and shadow, delineating huwere written on tables of stone by the finger of man character in all its changeful phases; here, God (see, Exodus, xxxi c. 18 v.) The Lord gave too, is Poetry of every description-sweet, tender, to mankind, in every successive age, such portions majestic, awful, and sublime here, is Prophecy, of the sacred canon as their capacities and circum-like the benignant spirit of another world, holding stances called for. The Jewish histories are by the brilliant star of hope, to light up the deep darkfar the most ancient of any that have been handed ness of the unexplored future; here, too, may be down to us, and will be found the most rational found true delineations of other worlds-of happiand probable. They record a series of transac-ness or woe; here, are grand revelations of the tions and events the most curious and interesting; divine character; and here, too, are the grand and give us the only reasonable account of the principles of his government, reaching through creation of the world, and the beginning of things; every age of time, and stretching onward, and still the dispersion of mankind, and the origin of an- onward, through the countless ages of Eternity. cient nations. There, we have an authentic chain of history, beginning with the birth of time, and stretching onward through a period of nineteen hundred years. There are no writings of any other nation, which will bear comparison in respect of antiquity with those of the Jews. In proof of this remark, it may be observed, that Moses lived more than a thousand years before the age of He

These are some of the facts found on record in the
Sacred Scriptures-that blessed Book which teach-
es us the way to the kngdom of grace and glory.
"This Book, this holy Book, on every line
Marked with the seal of high divinity,
On every leaf bedewed with drops of love
Divine, and with the eternal heraldry
And signature of GOD ALMIGHTY stamped
From first to last,"

rodotus, who is universally acknowledged to be is received by the reformed religious world, not

the father of Grecian history. As further proof only as a book of facts, important and interesting, of the priority of the literature of the Jews to that but, as "the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of the Greeks, it appears, that many of the Greek of faith and practice." It is just and proper that writers themselves confess, that they received the it should be so, for," the law of the Lord is perletters of their alphabet from the Phoenicians; and fect, converting the soul; the testimony of the we have very sufficient grounds to believe, that the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statPhoenicians obtained the art of writing from the utes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; Jews. Porphyry, who was an avowed enemy both the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightento Jews and Christians, and strongly attached to ing the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enthe literature of Greece, frankly confessed, that during forever; the judgments of the Lord are Moses and the Prophets, who immediately succeed-true and righteous, altogether. More to be desired ed him, flourished nearly a thousand years before are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; any of the Grecian philosophers. The books, sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb."

them, in the mind, nor can its sublime and holy doctrines lose their interest, or slacken their claims upon the faith and practice of men, as long as the world stands.

thought, which is most strikingly expressed in the plainest and most energetic language. In the writings of the prophets, the greatest splendor and sublimity of composition are every where con

3. The Bible is a book of literature, the most remarkable the world ever saw, if we consider it merely as a human composition. Its histories and biographies are remarkable for their conciseness, perspicuity and interest; its narratives and descrip- The Scripture history is every where marked tions are true to nature, full of life and animation; with the purest simplicity of ideas, and is occaits poetry is sublime and beautiful beyond a paral-sionally raised to a tone of high elevation. In lel; its eloquence is powerful and persuasive; its the works of Moses there is found a majesty of style is infinitely varied and inimitable; its pathos is most affecting; and its devotional strains gently waft the mind above the trifles and vanities of this world to the contemplation of God, and eternity. We discover in all the books of the sacred history spicuous. They are enriched with such glowing an impartiality of narrative, which may be strictly images, and elevated by such grandeur of diction, regarded as an undoubted characteristic of truth. as at once to captivate the classic reader; and will If we peruse the lives of Plutarch, or other writers compare well with the most admired productions of profane history, we shall very soon be led to of Greece and Rome. "The sweet Psalmist of see, that these authors wrote with many prejudices Israel" is eloquent, dignified and pathetic. His in regard to their peculiar country. Efforts are harp is always happily strung, and sends forth the studiously made to cast a veil over the faults and sweetest strains of music, that ever fell upon morimperfections of their heroes, whilst their virtues tal ear. Isaiah unites in his style all the beauties are set forth in the strongest light, and painted in of composition. There is a majesty in his ideas; the most brilliant colors. On the contrary, in the a propriety, beauty and fertility of imagery, and Sacred Scriptures, both of the Old and New Tes- an elegance of language, which are unsurpassed, tament, the strictest impartiality is every where to employed as they are upon the noblest subjects be seen. The gross wickedness and apostacy of that could possibly engage our attention. The David, Solomon, and their successors, are neither chief excellence of Jeremiah consists in those exobscured nor palliated in the least degree. There pressions of tenderness, which excite, with the is no effort on the part of the writer to make a dis- most pleasing enthusiasm, the feelings of compasplay-no parade of panegyric ;-virtue is presented sion in the human bosom. These peculiar beauin her most attractive dress, and captivates by the ties of composition are used, in order to recommend simplicity of native beauty; and sin finds no mask to mankind the most interesting details of events, to disguise her hideous deformity. The sketches and the most faithful delineations of human charof individual character, and the effects of human acter. passion, are given without the least reserve or concealment. The low and degraded condition of the Jewish people, when they were denied the use of the implements of warfare by the victorious Philistines; their sad relapses into wickedness and idol worship; their perverse and rebellious disposition; their various defeats and captivities, with every circumstance of private as well as public disgrace, are faithfully recorded for our instruction. These writers have no disposition to violate the purity, or degrade the majesty of truth; but they seem always to have had one object in view, and that was to show the different expedients, by which the providence of God had carried and would carry into effect his gracious purposes; and how good was often made to come out of evil, to the astonishment and admiration of the world.

The mind of man is always in search of something new. The books that were read and studied in youth, do not afford sufficient satisfaction in mature age. And even the most elaborate work of general science will lose its interest, at least comparatively, when it becomes familiar. It is not so with the Bible; it is ever new, and may always be read with interest and profit. The subjects never become so familiar as to produce a disrelish for

4. The Bible is a book of philosophy. It is not a book of mere definitions and theories, but of practical and experimental philosophy. This fact will not be questioned by any one, who is capable of appreciating the sacred volume. The Bible knows what is in man, enters into his inmost soulprobes the heart thoroughly, and searches him out. In this precious volume, we find a code of laws, every way adapted to the wants and woes of the world: a system of philosophy of the purest and most elevated kind, and which suits well the abject condition of degenerate man. These laws show forth the character of God in a way most reasonable, and describe the state of the whole human family, in strict harmony with our experience of its truth. Religion is spoken of in a manner that will satisfy the most inquisitive mind, upon the most anxious and intricate questions;-the doctrine of future rewards and punishments; the forgiveness of sin by a Mediator; the means of grace, in the exercise of which, our fallen nature may be restored and created anew. These are subjects, with regard to which natural religion can never furnish us with satisfactory information. Philosophers may describe the beauties of godliness, and tell us what is the duty of man; but how to make

man inwardly good, and outwardly virtuous;-how | by the Holy Ghost. "It is the spirit that quickto bring him to love the truth which condemns his eneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that natural propensities, and to practice the duties I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are which his nature dislikes, is a problem they pre- life." (John, vi. c., 63 v.) The Sacred Scriptures tend not to solve. are not only to be received as perfectly authentic and credible, but also, as containing the revealed will of God, or in other words, as divinely inspired writings. “By inspiration, we mean simply, such a full and direct communication from the Holy Spirit to the minds of the sacred writers, of those particular facts, which could not otherwise have been known; and such an effectual superintendence and guidance, as to those subjects concerning which they might otherwise obtain information, as was amply sufficient to enable them to communicate religious knowledge to others, without any error or mistake, that might, in the least possible way, affect any of the doctrines or precepts contained in their writings, or mislead any person, who considered them as a divine and infallible standard of truth and duty. According to this view, every sentence must be considered as 'the sure testimony of God,' in that sense in which it is proposed as truth." Facts occurred, and words were spoken as to the import of them, and the instruction contained in them, exactly as they are here recorded; but the morality of words and actions, recorded merely as done and spoken, must be judged of by the doctrinal and preceptive parts of the same book. The sacred writers, indeed, wrote in such language, as their different talents, tempers, educations, habits and associations rendered natural and easy to them; but the Holy Spirit so entirely superintended them when writing, as to exclude every error, and every unsuitable expression, and to guide them to all those views which best suited their several subjects: they are indeed the voice, but the Divine Spirit is the speaker.

Natural religion never was able to teach mankind, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that there was a state of future rewards and punishments, it never led us to expect the expiation of sin by a Divine Redeemer; it knows not that there are spiritual influences with God, by which our fallen and sinful nature may be restored to rectitude and holiness. If the upward burnings of immortality stir within, and I ask, what lies beyond the grave, is there any response from reason's oracle?

If a man feel himself to be a sinner before his Maker, and dreads the infliction of some severe punishment, he knows not what, who can tell how sin may be pardoned, the sinner reconciled to God, and the threatened vengeance appeased, but he who has learned it from the Book of God? Is there a mysterious power of evil abroad in the world, what shield shall cover me in temptation's hour, what armor defend me from the fiery shafts, but the immutable truth of God? These are some of the things which are brought clearly to light in the Sacred Scriptures; and if they teach us our duty to God, our fellow-men, and ourselves, should they not "be taken as the man of our counsel, and our guide in all things." The following confession of a noted infidel, has been often referred to, and may be repeated here :-"I will confess," said Rousseau, "that the majesty of the Scriptures strikes me with admiration, as the purity of the Gospel hath its influence on my heart. Peruse the works of our philosophers, with all their pomp of diction; how mean, how contemptible are they, compared with the Scriptures! Is it possible, that a book, at once so simple and sublime, should be merely the work of man?" The celebrated Erasmus, and the judicious Locke, after having ranged the circle of the sciences, and passed through the whole extent of human literature, finally betook themselves solely to the study of the Bible, in order that their minds might be thoroughly imbued with its spirit, and replenished with its incomparable truths. Sir Walter Scott said, in his dying hours" give me a book;" and when asked what book:- 66 can you hesitate," said he, “to give me the Bible!"

All the sacred writers claim for themselves divine inspiration, and assert, without fear or shame, that the Scriptures are the infallible word of God. All the prophets, under the Old Testament dispensation, speak in the most decided terms of themselves and their predecessors, as declaring not their own words, but the word of God.-(See 2 Samuel, xxii c., 1, 2 v. Nehemiah, ix c., 30 v. Psalms, xix c., 7-11 verses. Isaiah, viii c.. 20 v. Jeremiah, xx c., 7-9 v. Ezekiel, i c., 1-3 v. Daniel, ix c., 12-13 v., &c., &c.) They propose

"And what," says the Rev. Mr. Henry, 66 can things not as matters for consideration, but for the fables of Grecian song, or the finest pages of Roman eloquence-what can they exhibit in any degree comparable to the matchless prerogatives of revelation! Though I should not dislike to visit my heathen masters, I would live with the prophets and apostles."

adoption and practice: we are not left to the alternative of receiving or rejecting; they do not present us with their own thoughts, but exclaim, “Thus saith the Lord," and on that ground, claim our assent. The apostles and New Testament writers, also speak with regard to the prophets of the 5. The Bible is a book of the Spirit. The Old Testament, as "holy men of God; who wrote books which compose the sacred canon were in- as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."-(Rodicted, and the authors were moved and controlled mans iii c., 2 v.,) And it is also declared, that