open before your view; suppose, that from what of your prophetic history you had seen already fulfilled to the very letter, you were completely convinced that all the rest of it must be correct; and suppose, that by turning over another leaf, you had it in your power to know all the future events of your life, and all the circumstances of your latter end, I would advise you not to turn the leaf. The experiment would be too hazardous. You might learn what would elate you with selfconfidence and pride; or, catching a glimpse of scenes too painful for flesh and blood, your heart might never again know the buoyant feeling of pleasure, and your countenance never again be lighted up with a smile. It is true that no such information is within your reach; but beware of indulging a frame of mind which has a tendency to produce, in some measure, these baneful effects. Leave your future history under that cloud with which divine wisdom and goodness have covered and let it be your leading principle to attend to the present. By habitually following this principle, you will be always safe and always improving, and when what is the future shall come to be the present, that present will still find you with God.

it;

On a review of the whole of these observations, is it not clear that we ought not to waste time, or perplex ourselves about things which either cannot be positively settled at all, or, if they can, are of no practical utility? It is especially important that this should be attended to by those who profess to teach practical religion, from the pulpit or from the press. Though they ought, generally speaking, to make up their mind and to give a decided opinion on the topics which they discuss, yet they ought neither to pretend, nor be expected, to pronounce positively on every questionable point which may lie in their way; on the contrary, it is true wisdom to be silent when the Bible does not speak out. It is right, too, that they should themselves be acquainted with what has been written critically, or controversially, or even captiously; but, in many cases they ought give the result of their researches, and a brief account the ground on which their opinion rests, rather than y minute account of all the steps by which they have rived at that result. Nor ought they to spend time any such arguments or disquisitions, as are not easily pable of being profitably applied. "Neither give heed," says Paul to Timothy," to fables, and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying." To be thus "doting about questions and strifes of words," is virtually, when their hearers or readers are asking for bread, to give them a stone. Christian teachers ought to be occupied in illustrating and

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enforcing the great truths of faith and holiness; they ought to dwell on whatever is most conducive to the conversion of sinners, and the edification of believers; they ought to be perpetually urging the grand business of personal religion.

spiritual and practical. "Should a wise man," asks Eliphaz, "utter vain knowledge, and be filled with the east wind? Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?" Christians should clearly endeavour to have what they call their religious conversation truly edifying.

Finally, In reference to the words of our Lord, formerly quoted, and which we have had frequently in view, "What is that to thee? Follow thou me;" the other lesson taught is, that every man ought to make it his great business to follow Christ. All other pursuits, however important, must yield to this. This is the one thing needful. This is for a man to mind his own affairs indeed.

But the same lesson is here also substantially read to all professing Christians. They have here the rule of their private study. They are here reminded that it is of little consequence how deeply they study, and how much they know, if they are not following after the knowledge of God in Christ, so as to be led to evangelical faith and love. They are told that "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth;" that they may understand, as far as is possible, all mysteries and all knowledge, and yet be nothing; and that, therefore, if they would be truly wise, they must sedulously cultivate true practical holiness. There is here, too, the rule o their religious conversation. Much time is often all but lost, even in Christian society, in conce of an unwise choice of subjects for remark. they often fix on whatever may have been curious or debateable in the last sermon they have heard, or in the last book they have read, rather than on what may have been of unquestionable importance, and truly

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The things of God, of Christ, and of salvation, are every individual's own personal concern; they are "the things which belong to his peace." To those who neglect this essential point, we would say, O ye who can, without concern, hear urged upon you the duty of immediate attention to your own salvation, and who habitually feel and act as if you would say, "What is that to us?" is this really a thing foreign to you? Is this an affair which you can safely neglect for some sinful pursuit, or for an inquiry into a secret or a trifle? No, You will have to answer for this, whether it be your pleasure to think of it or not. It will be impossible for you to shift off this concern for ever. Suffer it now to come home to your consciences, and be entreated, without farther evasion, to mind your own momentous business, and to go and follow Christ. And to those who, not turned aside by trifles, are indeed following Christ, we would say, continue to follow on. Follow him openly, and not as if you were ashamed to be seen in his train. Follow him cheerfully, and not as if you were dragged whither your heart does not lead you. Follow him steadily, and neither stop nor stray on account of amusing vanities which may meet your eye as you pass along "Turn not aside from following the Lord; for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain." Follow the Lord fully, like faithful Caleb of old. "Follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth:" Thus following him through the world, you shall also follow him into heaven, where you shall hear the voice of the harpers, and sing the new song, and where many things which it would have been hurtful or useless for you to know on earth, shall, to your unspeakable advantage and delight, be clearly and fully revealed.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF

DAMASCUS.

From "Carne's Letters from the East." London, Colburn, 1826. THE city of Damascus is seven miles in circumference; the width is quite disproportioned to the length, which is above two miles. The walls of this, the most ancient city in the world, are low, and do not enclose it more than two-thirds round. The street still called Straight, and where St. Paul is, with reason, said to have lived, is entered by the road from Jerusalem. It is as straight as an arrow, a mile in length, broad, and well paved. A lofty window in one of the towers to the east, is shown us as the place where the Apostle was let down in a basket. In the way to Jerusalem is the spot where his course was arrested by the light from Heaven. A Christian is not allowed to reside here, except in a Turkish dress: the Turks of Damascus, the most bigoted to their religion, are less strict than in other parts in some of their customs. The women are allowed a great deal of liberty, and are met with every evening in the beautiful promenades around the city, walking in parties, or seated by the river side. The women of the higher orders, however, keep more aloof, and form parties beneath the trees, and attended by one or two of their guardians, listen to the sound of

music. Most of them wore a loose white veil, but this was often turned aside, either for coolness, or to indulge a passenger with a glimpse of their features. They had oftentimes fair and ruddy complexions, with dark eyes and hair, but were not remarkable for their beauty. The fruits of the plain are of various kinds, and of excellent flavour. Provisions are cheap: the bread is the finest to be found in the East; it is sold every morning in small light cakes, perfectly white, and surpasses in quality even that of Paris. These cakes, with clouted cream, sold in the streets fresh every morning, the most delicious honey, and Arabian coffee, formed our daily breakfast.

This luxurious city is no place to perform penance in; the paths around, winding through the mass of woods and fruit-trees, invite you daily to the most delightful rides and walks. Summer-houses are found in profusion; some of the latter may be hired for a day's use, or are open for rest and refreshment, and you sit beneath the fruit-trees, or on the divan which opens into the garden. If you feel at any time satiated, you have only to advance out of the canopy of woods, and mount the naked and romantic heights of some of the mountains around, amidst the sultry beams of the sun, and you will soon return to the shades and waters beneath, with fresh delight.

Among the fruits produced in Damascus are oranges, citrons, and apricots of various kinds. The most exquisite conserves of fruits are made here, amongst which are dried cakes of roses. The celebrated plain of roses, from the produce of which the rich perfume is obtained, is about three miles from the town; it is a part of the great plain, and its entire area is thickly planted with rose trees, in the cultivation of which great care is taken. One of the best tarts we ever tasted was composed of nothing but rose leaves.

There are several extensive cemeteries around the city here the women often repair in the morning to mourn over the dead. Their various ways of manifesting their grief were striking, and some of them very affecting one widow was accompanied by her little daughter; they knelt before the tomb, when both wept | long and bitterly. Others were clamorous in their laments, but the wailing of this mother was low and heart-breaking; some threw themselves prostrate with shrill cries, and others bent over the sepulchres without uttering a word. In some of the cemeteries we often observed flowers and pieces of bread laid on the tombs, beside which the relations sat in silence.

The great bazaar for the reception of the caravans at Damascus, is a noble building: the roof is very lofty, and supported by pillars; in the midst is a large dome. An immense fountain adorns the stone floor beneath, around which are the warehouses for the various merchandize the circular gallery above opens into a number of chambers for the lodging of the merchants.

The large mosque is a fine and spacious building; but no traveller is permitted more than to gaze through the door as he passes by. Its beautiful and lofty dome and minaret form a conspicuous object in every view of the town. Many of the private houses have a splendid interior; but there is nothing sightly in the part that fronts the street. The passage of two or three of the rivers through the town, is a singular luxury, their banks being in general lined with trees, and crossed by light bridges, where seats and cushions are laid out for the passengers. The bazaars are the most agreeable and airy in the East, where the richest silks and brocades of the East, sabres, balsam of Mecca, and the produce of India and Persia are to be found. But one luxury, which Wortley Montague declared only was wanting to make the Mussulman life delightful, is scarcely to be found in Damascus-good wine. monks of the convent have strong and excellent white wine; but a traveller must be indebted to their kind

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ness, or go without. The numerous sherbet shops in the streets are a welcome resource in the sultry weather. The sellers are well dressed, clean, and remarkably civil. Two or three large vessels are con stantly full of this beverage, beside which is kept a quantity of ice. The seller fills a vase with the sherbet, that is coloured by some fruit, strikes a piece of ice or snow into it, and directly presents it to your lips

Our abode was not far from the gate that conducted to the most frequented and charming walks around the city. Here four or five of the rivers meet, and form a large and foaming cataract, a short distance from the walls. In this spot it was pleasant to sit or walk beneath the trees; for the exciting sounds and sights of nature are doubly welcome near an eastern city to reneve the languor and stillness that prevail. A few outfee. sellers took their stand here, and, placing small seats in the shade, served you with their beverage and the chibouque.

We often went to the pleasant village at the foot of the mountain Salehiéh. One of the streams passed through it: almost every house had its garden; and above the mass of foliage, in the midst of them rose the dome and minaret of the mosque, and just beyond the grey and naked cliffs. The finest view of the city is to the right of this place: a light kiosque stands partiy up the ascent of the mountain, into which adinission is afforded, and from its cool and upper apartment, the prospect of the city, its woods, plain, and mountains is indescribably rich and delightful. The plain in frest is unenclosed, and its level extent stretches to the east as far as the eye can reach.

The place called the "Meeting of the Waters" is about five miles to the north-west of the city. Here the river Barrady, which may be the ancient Abaza, being enlarged by another river that falls into it s two miles off, is divided into several streams, which tow through the plain. The separation is the result of art, and takes place at the foot of one or two rocky and the scene is altogether very picturesque. Is streams, six or seven in number, are some of them ca• ried to water the orchards and gardens of the higher grounds, others into the lower, but all meet at last clas to the city, and form the fine cataract.

The streets of Damascus, except that called Straizi, are narrow; they are all paved, and the road leakala out for some miles to the village of Salehieh, is .. neatly paved with flat smooth stones, and possessed à good footpath. Small rivulets of water run on esca side, and beside these are rows of trees, with bencies occasionally for the accommodation of passengers; which is sometimes found a moveable coffee-seller, that ease and refreshment are instantly obtained. Tie houses of the city are built, for a few feet of the lower part, with stone, the rest is of brick.

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The inhabitants dress more richly than in any other Turkish city, and more warmly than to the south, Į the climate is often cold in winter and the streams of water, however rich the fertility they pr duce, are said to give too great a humidity to the f It would be a good situation for an European physic and Monsieur Chaboiceau, a Frenchman, who has sided here forty years, being now eighty years ** appears to live in comfort and affluence, Las good pr tice, and is much esteemed. The Great Sheik tain, crowned with snow, is a fine and refreshing de from the city; and large quantities of snow are of brought from it for the use of the sherbet shops, ** the luxury of the more affluent inhabitants. private house of any respectability is supple fountains, and in some of the coffee-houses a d rises to the height of five or six feet, around whe seats and cushions.

We passed our time very agrecably here. the evening some of the friends of our host came to si

SACRED POETRY.

"THOU ART BUT A POOR PILGRIM HERE."

STANZAS SUGGESTED BY THE FALL OF THE LEAF.

BY SIR WHITELAW AINSLIE, M.D.,

Author of “Observations on the Introduction of Christianity into Eastern Countries."

TIME has been term'd an arrant thief,
Which steals our brightest gems away;
Which turns our very joys to grief,
And clouds the evening of our day.
Sure 'twere more justly call'd a friend,
That whispers in our watchful ear,
While cheerless howls the midnight wind,
Thou art but a poor pilgrim here.
In youth's gay season of delight,
When all around seems fresh and fair,
We reck not of its rapid flight,
It costs us not a single care.
The little ills one sometimes meets,
E'en in the blush of early spring,
We laugh through, trusting to the sweets
The hastening summer's sun will bring.
Soon manhood's graver duties call,
And lovely woman weds, and mourns;
And beauties at the birth-day ball
Find, midst the fragrant roses, thorns!
And grey hairs come, and wrinkles too,
And many a scene that makes us sad;
Ah! then we feel how fast they flew,
The few short years that made us glad!
Then memory, which erst had prov'd
Our pride-our very boast-will fail,
Forget the names we dearly lov'd,

Twice told, ay! thrice, the self same tale!
Ere long, though late, we pause and think,
And ponder on the pleasures past;
And, as we count each broken link,
Exclaim, this vision cannot last!

Have not these yellow leaves a tongue,
By which they can, untutor'd, tell
That we, like them, or old or young,
Must fall, when tolls the awful knell?
How wise were those who feel and know
When they, with reason, should retire,
Before has fled each graceful glow,
The last bright spark of kindling fire!
Ere that the tottering step betrays
The failing of the mortal frame,
Or mind, or memory decays,

And leads, if not to shame, to blame!
Thrice happy they,-nor vague nor vain,—-
Who, in some sweet, some tranquil glen,
No longer seek for worldly gain,
Nor mingle more with worldly men!
Leave then, Oh! leave the noise and strife,
Which ill become a fading form;
Hast thou not had full share of life,-
A child of sunshine more than storm?

What is it that can best secure
A better state, that will not fly?
A state, at once serene and pure,
Unscath'd by pain or misery?
It is, that trusting to our God,

And grateful for the good that's given,
We so may use this low abode
But as a stage to happier heaven'

Then let us list the faithful friend,
That whispers in our watchful ear,
While cheerless howls the midnight wind,
Thou art but a poor pilgrim here!

MISCELLANEOUS.

Obookiah. The ways of Jehovah in making some preparing others for the full discharge of Christian duties, persons the partakers of his spiritual favours, and in are frequently very remarkable. When the late Rev. S. J. Mills, a truly valuable labourer in the missionary cause in America, and afterwards himself a missionary to the heathen, first went to New Haven in Connecticut, to study theology, he became acquainted with a heathen youth, from the Sandwich islands, named Obookiah, who had been very remarkably saved from death, when his parents and others were killed, and who was now ardently desirous of instruction. He became the setvant, the pupil, the companion of Mr Mills, was subsequently called by the grace of God, and furnished the occasion of establishing a prosperous school in connec tion with the American Board of Commissioners for foreign missions.

The Success of the Gospel.-When Mr Whitfield was preaching at Exeter, there was a man in the congregation, who had filled his pockets with stones in order to hurl them at the speaker. He heard his prayer with patience, but no sooner had he named his text, than the man pulled a stone out of his pocket, and held it in his hand, waiting for a fair opportunity to throw it. After the sermon he gave the following account of himself: "God took away the stone from my heart, and the other stone soon fell from my hand." The man proved to be a sound convert, and lived an ornament to the Gospel.

Galen, the Anatomist.-The celebrated physician, Galen, had been disposed to atheism. But when he examined the human body, when he perceived the wo derful adaptation of its members, and the utility of every muscle, of every bone, of every fibre, and of every vein, he rose from his employment in a rapture of devotion, and composed a hymn in the honour of his Creator and preserver.

A Female Cottager.-Soon after the late excellent Mr Robinson of Leicester, commenced his ministry in the Isle of Ely, he was driven, by tempestuous weather, into a house near the village of Coveney. He endea voured, according to his usual custom, to improve the incident to the spiritual advantage of those among whom he had fallen. Enjoying a singular felicity in aval himself of passing events, and being always on the watch to speak for God, he could make the occasion preach for him, by eliciting the most affecting truths from the simplest occurrences. A poor woman ba pened to be in the cottage into which he was the driven, who afterwards confessed that she had be for some time meditating to destroy herself, but so in pressive was his conversation, that she was divertel from her purpose, embraced new views and principles, and became an eminent Christian.

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