and others which have been worn out in the service, to be repaired; he directs them to be furnished with great guns and other arms, with ammunition, and with provisions. He appoints officers to command them, and causes seamen to be enlisted to navigate them; and then sends them abroad to cruise upon the ocean, and to visit foreign countries, for the purpose of protecting our merchant ships from pirates and other enemies. The Secretary of War has the direction of our army, and of all our forts, arsenals, and armories. He causes troops to be stationed along our frontiers, and in the seaports, to be ready to defend our country from any enemy who might be disposed to invade it. Under his direction the forts are kept in repair, muskets, swords, pistols, and other weapons are made at the armories; and these arms, together with gunpowder, balls, flints, and other munitions are kept safely in the arsenals. The academy at West Point, is under his direction; and he manages all the concerns of our government with the Indians. The Postmaster General manages all the affairs of the post offices and mails. He appoints postmasters at all the post offices, and employs persons to carry the mail to every part of the United States. The Attorney General is the law officer of the government. He is generally an able lawyer, and his business is to conduct the law-suits of the United States, and to give advice in writing to any officer of the government, who is doubtful about any duty required of him by law. LESSON XCV. The Miracles of Christ.-BISHOP MCILVAINE. 1. THE miracles of Christ were performed for the most part, in the most public manner. 2. It is the detracting circumstance of all the most plausible pretensions to miracles, exclusive of those of the scriptures, that they were done in a corner, or in the presence only of those already inclined to believe them, or under the form of circumstances calculated to prevent a free examination. 3. Just the contrary is the fact with regard to a great portion of the wonderful works of Christ. Not only were they accessible to the senses of the witnesses; but to the senses of multitudes of witnesses, of witnesses of the most eager and violent enmity to the claims of Jesus; witnesses of all ranks and classes in society—the learned and mighty, as well as the ignorant and feeble—the Scribes and Pharisees, the priest and the centurion, as well as the publicans and beggars. 4. It was in the Synagogues, in the streets, in the open fields, surrounded by thousands-in the midst of Jerusalem, and at the time of the great annual festivals, when an immense concourse of Jews, from all parts of the world, crowded the holy city, that almost all of the mighty works of Jesus were performed. In this way, as in other ways, he could say to his persecutors, "I spake openly to the world." 5. His miracles were wrought upon subjects so numerous, in so many places, and in such circumstances, that none could suspect the cases to have been previously selected and prepared. What the condition of the subject had been before the miracle, thousands knew, and all could easily ascertain. What it was, for a long time after the miracle, was equally notorious. 6. Those who were cured of blindness, or leprosy, or lameness, or palsy, or who had been raised from the dead, did not die immediately after, nor hide themselves from public inspection; but continued to go in and out among the people, as living examples of the power of Christ. 7. The grave of Lazarus was surrounded with unbelieving Jews. They saw him come forth. They had as much opportunity as disposition, to find out whether it was Lazarus, or some one else; whether the man was alive, or only pretending to be alive. 8. Instead of being immediately snatched from their view, he was seated some time after as one of the guests at a supper in Bethany; and so well known was the fact, that "much people of the Jews" came to the place to have a sight of one who had been raised from the dead. 9. "The chief priests consulted that they might put him to death, because that, by reason of him, many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus.” LESSON XCVI. The Same Subject Continued.-BISHOP MCILVAINE. 1. THE miracles of Christ and his apostles were very numerous, and of great variety. 2. It has been characteristic of all cases of imposture, that the wonderful works pretended to were but few in number, and of great sameness. 3. The sect of the Jansenists, in the church of Rome, pretended to miracles at the tomb, and by the posthumous intercessions of the Abbe Paris. But besides the want of evidence that any of the facts recorded were miraculous, they were neither numerous nor various. 4. Could this be said of the works of Christ, it would deprive them of one of the most palpable evidences of the fearless integrity in which they were wrought. But his history is full of miraculous works. 5. Besides about forty that are related at large, we frequently meet with such accounts as this: "His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those which had the palsy, and he healed them." 6. Similar declarations are made as to the miracles of the apostles. As for example in Acts v. 16: "There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one." 7. But the miracles of the Savior and his apostles were also of great variety. It was not disease of one or two classes only that Jesus removed, but disease of all kinds. Not diseases only, but all kinds of human calamity, departed at his will. Even death surrendered his captives at his will. 8. The blind from their birth; the hopeless leper; those that were lame from the womb; those that had long been bowed down with infirmity; the withered, the palsied, the insane all were alike delivered of their afflictions. 9. On two occasions, thousands were fed with a mere pittance of food. Thrice, besides the instance of his own resurrection, did Jesus raise the dead. A corresponding variety characterises the works of his apostles. 10. It is a matter of great importance to remark, that amidst all this variety, the success in every instance was instantaneous and complete. The sick were perfectly healed. The deaf, and blind, and lame, were perfectly delivered from their infirmities; the leper was entirely cleansed; the dead arose, not merely to life, but to health, and strength. 11. These effects were immediate as they were perfect. No sooner was the voice spoken, or the thing done, that was required of the applicant, than all was finished. Did Jesus say 'Let there be light?' there was light; let there be health? there was health. He left no time for second causes to operate-no room for human means to intervene. "He spake, and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast." LESSON XCVII. The Star of Bethlehem.-J. G. PERCIVAL. When the sun of glory shines; On the guilty world below, The Star that rose in Bethlehem. When our eyes are dimmed with tears, Grief's dark clouds may o'er us roll, And sorrow's tears in torrents flow; Still, through all these clouds and storms The Star that rose in Bethlehem. When we cross the roaring wave And wander through this world no more. Let the world be sunk in sorrow, This, her beacon, Hope displays; The Star that rose in Bethlehem. When this gloomy life is o'er, LESSON XCVIII. A Chapter on Loungers.-NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 1. ONE lounger takes up more room than two laborers. 2. Loungers are always unhappy themselves, and their presence makes others so. |