of individuality. Each believer in Christ | comforted them, converted them, and being bound to love God supremely, then commanded his followers to do the must do his will with an independence of same: "I have given you an example, thought and action, with which no rival that you should do as I have done to authority must be permitted in the small- you.' This love to our neighbour comest degree to interfere. When once this prehends the very highest exercises of love to God is obtained by any one justice and humanity: "Love worketh through faith, whether he be rich or no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is poor, young or old, he must thenceforth the fulfilling of the law." Every disciple act with indestructible, unconquerable of Christ becomes thus a brother to every freedom for God,-Fashion, authority, other disciple, and a friend to all mannumbers, interests, can no more hinder kind. All social improvement would the development of right principles in follow at once from universal obedience him, than the swarms of summer-flies to this command. And as all Christ's buzzing round its branches can hinder disciples do obey it, a nation of Christians the oak from spreading out its gigantic would be a society incomparably more arms, and lifting up its head to the skies. perfect than has ever yet been seen on Each Christian loves God, and therefore the earth. In such a nation of brothers, obeys him: his course is fixed. If others slavery would be impossible, and unjust will go with him to heaven along the legislation would cease. The rich would path of duty, so much the better: if not, not oppress the poor, nor the poor envy he goes alone. the rich. There industry would have its rights; there property, the fruit of industry, would be secure. The rich would be beneficent, the poor would find many friends; all would wish well to all. There fraud, branded with disgrace, would be banished from business. There temperance would give vigour to the form, and purity would add strength to the affections. There truth and rectitude would inspire all with confidence in one another. The gaol and the policeman would be superseded by the school; factions would cease. And while such a nation would be the best prepared of all nations for war-because its men would be athletic in form and brave in heart, intelligent and well instructed-because it would abound in wealth, be strong in justice, and prepared for patriotic sacrifices; yet of all nations it would also be the most peaceable, because it would be the most inspired with horror at the crimes and miseries which are the accompaniments of war. But while these commands involve an indomitable individuality, they no less develop a brotherhood of feeling towards the race. Since the Christian's first rule is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart," all the world would solicit him in vain to turn away from the law of God: but since his second rule is, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," the law of God leads him to become the brother of every other man. Governed by this law, he can no longer violate the rights of his fellow-creatures, nor disregard their happiness, nor despise them for their failings. Since he is called to love them as himself, how sincere, how active, how beneficent, how forgiving, how inexhaustible, how indestructible his kindness ought to be to all; for such is his love to himself. Of both these principles each Christian can find an illustration, in the life of the Redeemer, well adapted to humble and improve him. Never was there on earth a life of such perfect individuality. In There is no such nation on the earth; the midst of all corruption he lived apart the youngest here may not live to see from it, and took his own solitary road such; but the gospel will eventually through the world with unfaltering accomplish this transformation of all the fidelity to God. Misled by no pre-nations-every Christian in every land judice, and enslaved by no fashion, he saw the will of God, and did it, though the world hated him for so doing. Yet was he our Brother; he came for us, lived for us, laboured for us, suffered for us, and died for us. Through a whole life of suffering he steadily pursued our salvation and our happiness; with a view to which he lived with men, taught them, healed them, fed them, does something towards the accomplishment, and every new convert helps it on. Rejoice, then, my young friends, everywhere and always, if you have received grace to believe in Christ. Rejoice in God, who has created, preserved, and pardoned you; rejoice in Christ, who has redeemed you, loves you, and reigns for you: rejoice in the Holy Spirit, who is your guide and comforter; rejoice in the Bible, your chosen rule of life,-the wisest and holiest book in the world; in which God your Father reveals to you all his will; rejoice in the thought of heaven as your own everlasting home; rejoice in the church of Christ, of which you have become members by faith, as the purest, wisest, noblest, and happiest of all societies; rejoice in the age and country in which you live, where knowledge and liberty, being founded on religious principle, are likely to endure and grow; rejoice in the privileges which you possess as Christians, and in the honourable and ennobling duties which in that character you are called to fulfil. Labour wisely for happiness, and you will, with the blessing of God, secure it. Do as much good as you can, in your short lives, to as many as possible of your fellow-creatures. Honour your Redeemer by your excellent conduct and high principles. Make all the good esteem you, and bear manfully the dislike of the wicked. Do not be conquered by adverse circumstances, but conquer them. By faith in Christ, by prayer, by prudence, and by energy, make difficulties brace you to greater force of character; and sorrow, like the ancient rock of Horeb, pour forth for you a tide of joy. Seize every opportunity of mental and moral improvement. Waste not, by any carelessness, your strength of mind and body; but improve both for the service of God and man. And may you live so wisely, that, after much enjoyment of this fleeting life, you may sink to the grave in a good old age, beloved and honoured by all who knew your piety and shared in your friendship, with few regrets for the past, and with triumphant hopes, for eternity!-Hon. and Rev. B. Noel's Lecture to Young Men. HURRICANES IN THE WEST INDIES. WINTER is the season of storms in Europe, but it is a peculiarity of West India hurricanes that they occur in the three hottest months of the year, and are preceded generally by much calm weather. They may, perhaps, be accounted for by the theory, that in those latitudes the great heat has so rarefied the air, as to cause a vacuum into which the cold and heavier air rushes from the north or north-west. This idea appears to be supported by the fact that the force of the hurricanes are less felt in proportion as the islands extend to the south, while Trinidad, which is the most southern one, is supposed to be out of the hurricane latitude altogether. The "hurricane season is commonly dated by the English from the 25th of July to the 25th of October; though the French calculate from the full moon of the former to the full moon of the latter month; while, however, the higher rate of insurance on ships during those months commences from the 1st of August. When the vessels are seen to be hurrying off, and leaving the harbours empty, from that day the idea is suggested that they are making their escape from dangers to which the inhabitants on shore are left exposed. The season is always a time of apprehension, though several successive years may pass round without one of these fearful visitations taking place; and when one does occur, many of the islands may altogether escape its violence. The great hurricane which devastated Barbadoes in 1831, passed through the channel between St. Lucia and St. Vincent, sweeping in its rage the south end of one, and the north end of the other, while the opposite extremities of each were happily exempted. The hurricane is generally announced several hours before it sets in with violence, by a concurrence of circumstances such as successive sudden gusts of wind, attended with showers, each one increasing in violence, and the rapid flight of the clouds, while a thick haze gathers over the sea, and the waves display their angry agitation, as far as they can be seen, by the white foam of their crests; and should these indications be confirmed by the state of the barometer, the coming event is looked for with a fearful certainty. Almost every planter and respectable inhabitant provides himself with a barometer, as an important article of furniture, to which he can refer with much confidence in these seasons of alarm; and the nature of the approaching visit may be generally ascertained by the movements of the mercury in the glass. If the descent be slow and only a few lines, there does not appear cause for any great apprehension; but if the fall be rapid and considerable, the anticipations are proportionably gloomy. So, during the violence of the storm, the glass may be referred to with equal certainty, to ascertain the duration of the time of danger; and it is a remarkable circumstance that the mercury begins to rise some time before the storm abates; so that, from this cheering intimation, it is often the case that the inhabitants feel the animation of hope at the time that the blasts are most terrific without. The devastating hurricane which swept the island of Barbadoes was preceded by a day more or less rainy, though, as evening closed in, the showers were more frequent, and the wind accompanying them became stronger; but while this state of the weather would not have excited any apprehensions at another time of the year, yet it being August, several persons were induced to look at the barometer, when they were fully confirmed in their alarm. As it was about fifty years since the island had been exposed to any really fearful visitation, and some of the inhabitants had never witnessed any alarming one, the "hurricane season" had long been regarded with very little dread in that colony; consequently, on this occasion, many retired to their beds for the night, without supposing there could be any cause for fear. our retreat, as we had to pass my chamber-door, I remembered that my watch lay exposed on the dressing-table, when I rushed in and secured it; but the attempt was made at serious risk, for the wind having shifted round towards the south, blew with great rage directly into the room, and, as I was hurrying out, so forced the door from my command, as to wedge me by one arm against the doorframe, when for some seconds I found that my efforts to extricate myself were vain, until the occurrence of one of those ominous "lulls" which are the sure precursors of increased violence of the storm. It just gave me time, however, to escape with my life; for the renewed fury of the wind bore off the roof, carrying one side wall with it, and heaping on the bedstead fragments of other walls. On joining the family below, all was activity to remove some valuable books and pictures, which were exposed to the torrents of rain, streaming in at the demolished windows and flying through the south rooms. But these efforts were Such was the impression of the family in whose circle the writer was a visitor at the time. Shortly after midnight, how-cut short by the necessity of fleeing for ever, we were sufficiently roused to the fearfulness of our situation. The stormy blasts at first came raging from the north, and though my bed-room was on the south side of the house, the glass of the windows was soon dashed to fragments by the swinging of the heavy jalousy blinds hung on the outside. Still supposing myself safe in a strongly-built house, I felt no serious apprehensions awakened until I found an alarm was given to secure the window-shutters in a more exposed part of the house, when I rushed out of my chamber to render my assistance. In the islands more to the north, the shutters are made very strong for the purpose, and placed on the outside of the windows, so as to be readily closed at such a time, and well secured within; but this precaution had been overlooked at Barbadoes, so that it was a more difficult task to close the shutters against the wind. At the same time the shutters themselves were so frail, that while two of us were pressing with all our might at one window, the panels were blown in over our heads. But we immediately had additional cause for alarm, on perceiving a movement in the ceiling, from which we concluded that the wind had forced its way into the roof, and would soon bear it away. We then hastily sought safety in the apartments below. On making our own safety; and having gained an - we side of the room in which we had been sitting-mercifully falling from us, or we must have been buried in the ruins! Our only hope of safety now seemed to be the open air- a "forlorn hope," indeed! as it would have been only changing the nature of the dangerescaping from the falling ruins, to encounter flying fragments of timber and other articles, winged missiles which carried death to many victims during that terrific night. We had providentially been able to preserve our shaded nightlamps, without being extinguished, and before we ventured to leave the house, one of the party ran into a large diningroom, into which, at one end, the rain was streaming, though it was ascertained that the other end was dry, and not yet exposed to the violence of the wind here we found our last retreat, and sat down anxiously "wishing for the day." That the thunder rolled its majestic peals at the time, there is no doubt, as it always accompanies the hurricane; and on that night the lightning flashed around with an incessant glare, but every other sound was lost in the one overpowering roar of the wind. Of this some idea may be formed from the circumstance that we heard nothing of the falling crash, even when the whole end of the house was at once thrown down, while we were within a few feet of it. It was only after we had been some time in our final retreat, that we were made acquainted in some degree with the extent of the ruin, and that was by the sound of the bells, wrung by the stormy blasts; for we knew that they were hung in such a position, that the wind must have been most destructive in its course before it could reach them. About daybreak the wind began to moderate; when several poor negroes, with their children, from the adjoining estate, applied for permission to share our shelter, as their own cottages and all the larger buildings were thrown down, the rain still pouring in drenching torrents. This room, in which we had found a safe retreat, was a recent erection, as an addition to the main part of the house; and the preservation of its roof seemed to arise from its protected position, and the circumstance of being on the ground-floor, without any story above. Some of us had been several times so exposed to the driving rain as to be completely wet, without any means of changing our clothes, as all, but those on our persons, were either buried in the ruins, or scattered by the winds; and in this condition we had to lie down at night. In the course of a few days, we obtained two or three sofas from the wreck of the house, for the accommodation of the ladies; but, with these exceptions, the bare floor was our bed for some weeks, and this one room the dormitory for all the family, including the female domestics, while the men-servants slept in an adjoining passage. At the same time this apartment was the only receptacle for such furniture, books, and other articles, as were occacionally extracted from the ruins; so that, as these accumulated, our accommodations became so contracted, that we had scarcely room to move by day, or lie down at night: yet our situation was superior to that of thousands around us; for while the houses were standing, the roofs were so far open as to afford them no dry spot during the rains which occasionally fell for some weeks after, and many families had nothing to screen them from the sun, or shelter them from the rain, but a temporary shed, hastily constructed with a few boards. The ruins from which we had escaped presented a fearful scene of desolation. One end of the house was entirely down, in other parts the upper story was broken away, and all the roofs scattered on the ground in broken fragments. And on looking over the country, similar heaps of ruin were seen in every direction. But the most awful consideration is, that more than eighteen hundred souls were that night hurried into eternity! Several thousand people likewise were great sufferers from fractured limbs, and other bruises, a great proportion of whom also died. Let the inhabitants of "happy England" be thankful for their exemptions from such visitations; while they are reminded of a coming event more awful, more sudden, more important in its consequences, and to which all will be exposed! B. L. PRAYER. of the heavenly state. To what high | querors, through him that loved us.” honours are they raised, to be thus united Such is the effect of redeeming love and to the Son of God, not only as the Man mercy.—Dr. Dewar. of sorrows, but as the Lord of glory, advanced to his throne, and possessing all authority and power. If Christ has entered into heaven as the forerunner, it SIR WALTER RALEIGH, one day asking was for them, and to appear in the presence of God for them. If he has ascended said to him, "Raleigh, when will you a favour from queen Elizabeth, the latter up on high as a conqueror, it was to show leave off begging?" to which he anthat all their enemies were subdued, and swered, "When your Majesty leaves off that they would be made more than congiving!” But think how much more querors through him that loved them. bountiful God is, who did not give over If he has taken possession of that joy granting Abraham his requests for Sodom which was set before him, for which he till he left off asking. And who can tell endured the cross, and despised the but that if he had gone on, and prayed shame, it was as their Saviour and repre- that if five righteous persons had been sentative. In him they have already found in Sodom, the city might have taken possession of the heavenly manbeen spared for their sakes, according to sions, and enjoy the incorruptible inherit- his request. Can we think that God will ance. They have not more surely entered hear the young ravens when they cry, into glory as united to Christ, than they and neglect the doves that mourn in the will all in reality soon enter the place valleys?-that he will hear the young where he is, and so be for ever with the lions when they roar, and forget the Lord! The same promise which secured lambs that bleat after the sheep?-that to him a glorious reward, after he had he will hear Hagar and her Ishmael, finished his work, is not entirely fulfilled that cry unto him in their extremities, till all his members are glorified together and will yet turn his back upon the tears, with him. It is not till they all surround or stop his ears to the prayers of his own his throne, out of every kindred, and lan- children that cry unto him daily in the guage, and tongue, never more to think name of his dear Son, Christ Jesus? of sin or sorrow, but in songs of deliver-Undoubtedly not. St. Ambrose was wont ance, that his mediatorial glory is complete and in the full certainty that this event will be accomplished, his disciples, till the end of time, are said to have sat down with Christ in heavenly places. If we are of the number, the place of our eternal residence, the work in which we are engaged, our society, our enjoyment, our very names are in heaven and though the enemies which impede our progress thither be numerous and mighty, and though our own weakness and fears may suggest to us that we shall never reach that happy land, we are sure, through our ever-living Lord, to prevail. The least spiritual blessing is an earnest and a pledge of all spiritual fulness. Grace, however weak, will certainly lead to glory. The objects of the Saviour's intercession may be perplexed, may, in this life, be afflicted, tormented; but they are on the way to a crown and a kingdom, and no intervening power of earth or of hell can prevent them from reaching their high destination: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or persecution, or famine, or peril, or nakedness, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than con : to say, the better to comfort Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, who prayed much for him, "It is impossible that a son of so many prayers and tears should gives us a heart to pray for any mercy, perish." As long, therefore, as God let us not be out of heart. And why so? Because then we beg no more than what God hath commanded us to ask; and we ask no more than what he hath promised to give; and he hath promised no more than what he is able to perform; and he will perform no more than what he shall have glory for, and we know that his glory is dear unto him!—Beadle. THE GRAND DISCOVERY. A MAN may find much amusement in the Bible; variety of prudential instruction; abundance of sublimity and poetry; but if he stops there, he stops short of its great end; for "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The grand secret in the study of the Scriptures is, to discover Jesus Christ therein, "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."Cecil. |