called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place."-2 Sam. xviii. 18. JOSEPHUS says there was in his time, about two furlongs from Jerusalem, a marble pillar called Absalom's hand, as it is in the Hebrew; and there is one shewn to the present day, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which, though comparatively a modern structure, probably occupies the site of the original one set up by Absalom.-Bagster's Comp. Bib. CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE.- "Among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life"-Phil. ii. 15, 16. M. Saurin renders the terms here employed, "elevated lights." The word rendered "lights" is the name given to the two great luminaries—the sun and moon-by the LXX., Gen. i. 16. Beza thinks this is an allusion to those towers which were built at the entrance of harbours, and on which fires were kept burning, to direct ships into port; the most illustrious of which was raised in the island of Pharos, where Ptolemy Philadelphus built that celebrated tower on which a bright flame was always kept burning in the night, that mariners might perfectly see their way, and be in no danger of suffering shipwreck upon the rocks which they were to pass in their entrance into the haven at Alexandria. Thus understood, the allusion is beautiful. For the doctrine and holy lives of the faithful must in those early ages have had a great influence on unbelievers, to direct them into the safe harbour of the gospel.Doddridge and Macknight. PRIVATE MESSAGES. THERE is a circumstance in the history of Ehud (Judges, iii. 15, &c.), which is well illustrated by an occurrence noticed by Mr. Bruce:- "Ehud said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from before him. And Ehud came unto him," &c. This seems to imply, that the delivery of messages announced as secret was nothing uncommon, but that the king's people knew their duty, and, on the mention of such a thing, quitted the presence of their own accord, as good manners directed them. This idea of the frequency of such messages accounts also for the non-suspicion of King Eglon, or of his attendants, respecting this communication of Ehud: in fact, this part of the history assumes much more the air of an ordinary occurrence, after having read the passage from Mr. Bruce, which renders the whole action so much the easier; as there can be no doubt that Ehud laid his plan with strict attention to the manners of the times, and conducted it in correct conformity to the modes prevalent in the king's court; as might best ensure his purpose, might prevent suspicion of his design, and might most effectually render detection of it unavailing. "I drank a dish of coffee, (says Bruce,) and told him that I was bearer of a confidential message from Ali Bey, of Cairo, and wished to deliver it to him without witnesses, whenever he pleased. The room was accordingly cleared without delay, excepting his secretary, who was also going away, when I pulled him back by the clothes, saying, 'Stay, if you please; we shall need you to write the answer.' We were no sooner left alone than I told the Aga that I wished to put it in his power (as he pleased or not) to have witnesses of delivering the small present I brought him from Cairo," &c.-Calmet's Dic. Frag. by Taylor. BONES UNBURIED. A REMARKABLE expression of the psalmist David, (Ps. cxli. 7,) appears to have much poetical heightening in it, which even its author, in all probability, did not mean should be accepted literally; while, nevertheless, it might be susceptible of a literal acceptation, and is sometimes a fact. The psalmist says, "Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth." This seems to be strong Eastern painting, and almost figurative language; but, that it may be strictly true, the following extract demonstrates :-" At five o'clock we left Garigana, our journey still to the eastward of north; and, at a quarter past six in the evening, arrived at the village of that name, whose inhabitants had all perished with hunger the year before, their wretched bones being all unburied and scattered upon the surface of the ground, where the village formerly stood. We encamped among the bones of the dead; no space could be found free from them; and on the twenty-third, at six in the morning, full of horror at this miserable spectacle, we set out for Teawa. This was the seventh day from Ras el Feel. After an hour's travelling, we came to a small river, which still had water standing in some considerable pools, although its banks were destitute of any kind of shade."-Bruce's Travels. The reading of this account thrills us with horror; what then must have been the sufferings of the ancient Jews at such a sight?—when to have no burial was reckoned among the greatest calamities; when their land was thought to be polluted, in which the dead (even criminals) were in any manner exposed to view; and to whom the very touch of a dead body, or part of it, or of anything that had touched a dead body, was esteemed a defilement, and required a ceremonial ablution.-Calmet's Dic. Frag. by Taylor. VISIT TO BETHLEHEM. It is known to travellers who have seen the wells of Greece and of the Holy Land, that there exists no monument of ancient times more permanent than even an artificial well: that vases of terra VISIT TO BETHLEHEM. 31 cotta, of the highest antiquity, have been found in cleansing the wells of Athens; and if they be natural sources, springing from cavities in the limestone rocks of a country where a well is the most important possession of the people, (in which number this well of Bethlehem may be classed,) there seems no reason to doubt the possibility of its existence in the remote ages to which a reference is now made. The tradition respecting the Cave of the Nativity seems so well authenticated as hardly to admit of dispute. Having been always held in veneration, the oratory established there by the first Christians attracted the notice and indignation of the heathens so early as the time of Adrian, who ordered it to be demolished, and the place to be set apart for the rites of Adonis. This happened in the second century, and at a period in Adrian's life when the Cave of the Nativity was as well known in Bethlehem as the circumstance to which it owed its celebrity. In the fourth, or in the beginning of the fifth century, we accordingly find this fact appealed to by St. Jerom as a notorious testimony by which the Cave itself had been identified. Upon this subject there does not seem to be the slightest ground for scepticism; and the evidence afforded by such a writer as Jerom, VIR IN SÆCULARIBUS VALDE ERUDITUS, IN DIVINIS SCRIPTURIS INTER OMNES DOCTORES ERUDITISSIMUS, will be deemed a sufficient authority for believing that the monastery erected over the spot, and where he resided himself, does at this day point out the place of our SAVIOUR'S birth. The situation of the town upon the narrow ridge of a long and lofty hill, surrounded on all sides by valleys, is particularly described by the Abbot of Iona.-Dr. E. D. Clarke's Travels. MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS. EXCELLENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.-I have regularly and attentively read the Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independent of its divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains both of poetry and eloquence, than could be collected within the same compass, from all other books that were ever composed in any age or nation. The antiquity of those compositions no man doubts, and the unstrained application of them to events long subsequent to their publication, is a solid ground of belief that they were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired. -Sir William Jones. Indited under the influence of Him, to whom all hearts are known, and all secrets foreknown, they (the Psalms) suit mankind in all situations, grateful as the manna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of human 32 MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS. art, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers, wither in our hands, and lose their fragrancy; but these unfading plants of paradise become, as we are accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily heightened, fresh odours are emitted, and new sweets are extracted from them. He who hath once tasted their excellences will desire to taste them yet again; and he who tastes them oftenest will relish them best.-Bp. Horne. FRAGMENTS. The faith to which the Scriptures attach such momentous consequences, and ascribe such glorious exploits, is a practical habit, which, like every other, is strengthened and increased by continual exercise.-Rev. R. Hall. Men will have the same veneration for a person who suffers adversity without dejection, as for demolished temples, the very ruins whereof are reverenced and adored.-Fenton. When a scar cannot be taken away, the next kind office is to hide it.-South. They who have a violent desire to be rich are very seldom honest; but the pursuit of wealth is laudable, when the intention is virtuous; and the neglect of it is weakness, when honourable opportunities offer; because riches and power are the most effectual instruments of the greatest virtues and the most heroic actions.Wilkes. The Bible must be our sole guide in seeking an acquaintance with Divine truth. The sun is seen only by his own light; and God is known only by his own revelation.-Reed. THE LOCAL PREACHER'S JOURNAL will be charged Four Shillings per annum, if transmitted by post (in an envelope) prepaid. Those who desire it to be forwarded by that medium, are respectfully directed to address their orders to the EDITOR, enclosing their Annual Subscription, or an order on the General Post-office for the amount. Money Orders must be made payable to MESSRS. WARD & Co. Copies of the Journal for transmission by post will, of course, be printed on lighter paper. The EDITOR'S address is 27, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. All communications to him must be post-paid. Any person who shall transmit to the Editor, orders and Annual Subscriptions for FIVE Copies of the Journal, will be presented with a sixth Copy gratis. T. C. Savill, Printer, 107, St. Martin's Lane. THE LOCAL PREACHER'S JOURNAL. LONDON: T. WARD & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW; 66 BUY THE TRUTH, AND SELL IT NOT."-Prov. xxiii. 23. INFATUATED by the deadly delusions of error, man presumptuously and ungratefully wanders from God. He acts a benevolent part, therefore, who, "zealous for his God," endeavours, by means of judicious counsels-by "the words of truth and soberness"-to persuade men to pursue that path which leads to the temple of Divine wisdom, from whose holy oracle issues a voice, crying to every child of Adam-"I COUNSEL THEE TO BUY OF ME GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE RICH ;”—“ BUY THE TRUTH, AND SELL IT NOT." Consider we the superlative value of the Truth—the means of its procurement-and the necessity of its retention. Observe,— I. ITS SUPERLATIVE Value. 66 We shall consider the term "truth" in its evangelical import, as denoting the doctrines of Divine wisdom and love, and those spiritual D |