would none of me; so I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own counsels." (Ps. lxxxi. 11-12.)

In the same manner God is said to have hardened Pharaoh's heart, (Exod. vii. 13, &c. &c.) when he only allowed it to take its natural course.

No manifestation of God's displeasure can be more dreadful than his non-interference. "Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone!" A similar course to that mentioned in the text quoted by our correspondent, was pursued towards Israel when they asked flesh in the wilderness, and subsequently demanded a king. In the first case, God might be said to have given them "food that was not good, and meat whereby their souls should become lean;" and in the second, to have set up a form of government opposed to his all-wise intentions.

Exaltation of Christ.

DEAR SIR,-In John viii. 28, it is recorded that Jesus said to the Jews, "When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things."

What could this mean, for the Jews to this very day believe not that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, but look for another?

I remain, Dear Sir,
Yours much obliged,

JULIA MARY.

We understand our Saviour to be referring to those evident tokens of His Godhead which accompanied and followed His crucifixion; and which, though not convincing to the Jews as a body, were sufficient to prove that He was

very Christ."

Erratum.

In our last number, page 40, line 7, the last reference should be to

1 Cor. xvi. 20.

POETRY.

THE ANGEL-CHILD.

A CHILD sat down at a cottage door,

When the Sabbath light was nearly o'er;
The eve was fading in the west,

And the lengthening shades betokened rest;
The stars in the sky with glory stood,

And looked on the child in his thoughtful mood;
He counted their host as they onward came,
Till they shewed too many to tell their name.
Yet o'er the heavens his eye would rove,
And watch, absorbed, the fair worlds above;
Till his mother spoke with an accent mild,
"What are you thinking of my child?"

He started, as if from sleep, and said

"I am thinking, dear mother "-and turned his head:

"But of what, are you thinking?"—she said again,

And his bright eyes sparkled like summer rain.

'An angel," he said, "I wish to be,

An angel in heaven's eternity."

"But why shouldst thou be an angel, love, So far away in the skies above?"

"Oh, mother-is it not heaven up there,
And do not the holy angels wear
The garments of love, and life, and bliss,
Where God with His light and glory is ?
I wish I were good, His love to share,
I wish He would send and take me there!
I'd wait on Him always, and do His will,
All free from sorrow, and free from ill."

Then his mother called him to her knee,
And he leaned and wept on her bosom free,
And she wept too, and smoothed his hair,
And kissed his forehead while sitting there.

91

She told him if he would give his heart,
And choose, while young, the better part,"
That Jesus would pardon his sins, and then
Take him to heaven to live again;

Then he would dwell with God, and be
An angel to all eternity.

He went to his chamber and fell asleep,
And saw fair angels their vigils keep,
And heaven-but sickness came about,
And the light of that mother's heart went out.
He breathed his last in her arms and said,

As he kissed her lips, ere the spirit fled,

THE future! oh what thrilling anxious fears
These simple words awaken in my mind;
Down the long vista of approaching years,
I look with feverish gaze, but cannot find
One verdant spot, where I may calmly rest,
And soothe the wild emotions of my breast.

For all is shrouded in a deeper gloom

Than that which veils at night, the azure sky;
Like the recesses of the rayless tomb,

Impenetrable unto mortal eye;
Nor can the brightest intellect reveal
The fearful destinies time may conceal.

The future! Yet it is not that I dread
The sorrow which perchance is gathering there;
If bitter trials are before me spread,

I would not shrink from mine appointed share :
Who would expect upon this sin-stained earth
Perpetual joy, and never-fading mirth?

But ah! it is the strange uncertainty

That folds itself round life's untrodden way,
The dark suspense the fearful mystery,

That cast their shadows o'er each coming day,

Which makes me tremble-would that I could scan
The future, and unravel all its plan!

It cannot be! Oh, hush my throbbing heart,

Say to each rising murmur, peace, be still;
Act now a wiser and a lovelier part

In calmly bending to thy Maker's will,
For he has hidden in his tender care

The prospect, which He knew man could not bear.

Each dark event is clearly seen by Him,

And regulated by His kind decree;

Then let not faithless tears His promise dim,
Then all shall surely work for good to me;
Through every peril He has been my guide,
Then should I not still in his love confide!

Just as the child, clasping his father's hand,
Walks on with fearless step and sunny brow;
So would I tread the path to that bright land
Where no forebodings shall the spirit bow ;-
Faith, her soft halo o'er the future throws,
And fear is changed to trust, and sweet repose.
Brighton.

H. M. W.

ALL'S FOR THE BEST.

(From the German of Herder.)

'Twas night, when a traveller came to a town, To seek admittance there;

But the gates were closed, and the guards refused

To listen to his prayer.

"All's for the best," he meekly said,

And wearied, sought a rest ;

On the open plain he laid his head

With God's protection blessed.

A storm arose, and quenched the light
That in his lantern blazed;

And a lion from the woods destroyed,
His beast that near him grazed.

Awoke, he found himself alone,
But God was with him still;
"All's for the best" said he, "I yield
To God, my Father's will."

Calmly he waited till the morn
Should brighten all the scene;
And then approached the massive gates
With mind and look serene.

He looked the gates were open wide,
The town a desert stands ;

Pillaged and sacked, and captives made
By fierce, marauding bands!

With grateful heart, and eyes upraised,
"All's for the best," he cried;