ON a former occasion we were so incautious as to But to the moral point. Is the practice of animal say we owed our congregation a talk on animal mag-magnetism right? The general answer-the overnetism. Since then we have thought that it might be|whelming argument of its advocates here is, it is right dispensed with. But as some have, with Shylock voracity, pressed the demand, and have laid much stress on our confession of judgment, and as, moreover, an apostle has said, "Owe no man any thing," we will endeavor, in the fear of God, to discharge our debt. We would, however, premise that we are too modest to decide authoritatively the truth or falsehood of the science, so called, especially as some of our citizens, who are wise, and, what is far better, truly pious, have already pronounced on this point. The sole position that we will assume, is, whether true or false, the practice of it is abominably wicked. Were we to admit either its truth or falsehood, we might be laid under obligations to bring forth our argu. ments, pro or con; and so the hour might be wasted, without even touching the point which we are most anxious to grapple, to wit, the moral character of the thing. And we presume that no gentleman or lady in this assembly can be so deeply mesmerized by the charm as to deny that the minister of the Gospel has to do with moral questions. In this matter we act not without precedent. Holy and inspired men of old stopped not to argue concerning the truth of such things. You find no labored argument in the Bible against the pretensions of astrology; but, admitting that the conjurers of Egypt wrought miracles with Moses, day in and day out, yet the holy prophets denounce it all as an accursed thing. The law of God || does not stop to confirm or confute the claims of witchcraft, but simply says, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." We do not pretend to say that there is no science connected with these matters. None could successfully practice astrology but those who were deeply versed in the elevated science of astronomy. Nor do we believe that ancient witchcraft was that mean contemptible pretense that is practiced now by shriveled dames, who have long since dropped the last shred of character they ever wore, and with whom even the notoriety of witchcraft has become a desideratum devoutly to be sought for. No, those who practiced in days of yore were doubtless persons of superior knowledge, and well qualified to deceive. And they were applied to by to practice it, because it is a science. The destruction of human life is also a science. Military science has been studied by the nations of the earth time immemorial. And although it required wisdom almighty to make man, yet a child, with a bare bodkin, may dissolve the mysterious union of soul and body, and send his fellow into a world of spirits. But is it right to murder men, because we know how to do it? Men have also learned the cruel science of so torturing the richest bounties of Heaven, by chemical process, as to make a ruinous liquid that can madden human society. But shall we, because we understand the science of distillation, set the moral world on fire? On our part, we say that animal magnetism, taken as a whole, with all its prescience, prevision, and blasphemous claims, is desperately wicked. Even admitting that it can qualify a blind-folded fool to pry into the liver and lights of another-admitting that it can send one a thousand years into eternity, to feel his final state, as has been attempted here-admitting that it can ransack the bureau of heaven, and expose the secrets of God on earth-admitting it can do all this, yet is the practice of it wrong-morally wrong; because, 1. The will of God should be our chief rule. To be lost and swallowed up in the will of God is the highest climax of Christian perfection. How can he who prays daily, "Thy will be done," deliberately renounce God, by resigning his soul and body, for the time being, to the will of a wicked magnetizer? What is it that an unholy alien might not do with you? He might will you, for his own sport, to blaspheme the God who made you-to crucify the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. While your own will is thus enslaved, suppose death should come! A pious Christian once said that he would not apostatize one moment for all the treasures of earth; "for," said he, "who knows but that very moment might be the one that should determine the bounds of my habitation?" 2. The Christian is represented as the temple of God-"know ye not that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost? If any man pollute the temple of God, him will God destroy." What Christian can give his body and soul into the hands of an unprincipled buffoon, to be made to act the elephant, the dog, the monkey, for the sport of a mixed multitude of uncircumcised Philistines? Can you expect that you will still be the habitation of the Spirit while you thus de "The kings and awful fathers of mankind." It is well known that the mysterious influence of the load-stone, which has, in modern times, been so successfully applied to navigation, and other useful purposes, was once basely perverted by jugglers and wiz-grade yourselves beyond all that is called human? ards. They made artificial ducks and geese, with metallic points concealed in their bosoms; and placing * A lecture in "Aubarn." 3. We should glorify God in all that we do. Can any man show that the practice of this thing can glorify God? We are aware that those who would impose on you profess a high regard for religion. And, 3 horse, hoof and mane." We did not intend this to apply to all who have witnessed its exhibitions; for the public were moved by various motives. We did mean that those who believed it, with all its presumptuous claims of clairvoyance, prescience, and prevision, had swallowed the whole horse, hoof and mane; and we now add, by way of apology, collar and harness, roughshod and steel-toed; for he who has a credulity that can digest it, might well thrive and fatten on aqua fortis soup seasoned with scupper-nails. truly, a man would be a very fool to attempt to blindfold, or ensnare the pious citizens of sweet Aubarn, without bringing some religion with him. Who does not know that your faith, as a Church, is spoken of throughout our state? Do you not recollect that a few months since the famous conjurer and fortune-teller, Dr. J., came along? and you know he had a little relig-, ion. He was a church-going man. He was deeply imbued with that popular kind of charity which loves all Churches alike. He would attend the Presbyterian church on one Sabbath, and the Methodist church on Finally. We will say, if this science-here let us the next, because he could tell the fortunes of all. He pause while we exclaim, WONDERFUL SCIENCE! for M. had gathered up between four and five hundred dollars Deluce, one of its ablest advocates, says, "The way to in these "diggins;" and his confessional was crowded. understand it is to magnetize;" and he charges us parYou remember the last Sabbath he worshiped with us, ticularly not to reason for three weeks before we underand what particular attention we paid him, while we take the study-wonderful study! All other sciences preached, "The works of the flesh are these-WITCH- call into operation the whole mental laboratory of hu CRAFT." On Monday his office was abandoned. On manity; but THE SCIENCE claps a sovereign quietus—a Tuesday, seeing that the hope of his gains was gone, royal gag on the whole posse comitatus of man-the he took the northern stage, and away he went, cursing soul! But to resume-if this science be true, it is a and swearing, lakeward, as though hell sent him on more fearful prognostic of the world's end than all the end. Alas! alas! His religion was like the morning premonitory signs and symptoms of Millerism; for if cloud, and the early dew. Those transient visitors of it has come to this, that ungodly men can elude the vigours commonly bring some religion with them, but al-'ilance of heaven, and pass unseen the angelic guards, ways carry off more of the Dei Gratia in their pockets than the grace of God in their hearts. works! And well may we exclaim, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" but animal magnetism is powerfully great! and traverse a thousand years into futurity-if blindfolded villains may lurk through the aromatic groves of Again, you remember a few weeks since we were paradise, yea, eve-drop around the throne of the Etervisited by a horse-thief. And he brought a glorious nal, surely the earth is groaning for her final torch. plenitude of religion along with him. Religion! yes, The post-diluvian fathers, it is true, aspired to heaven. indeed, they must have religion before they can even The thought itself was unmixed blasphemy. The steal horses in sweet Aubarn. Yes, he came limping means, however, which they proposed was sterling inalong the road, until overtaken by a traveler, who was dustry. They attempted to build a stair-way of brick riding one horse and leading another. He told his sor- and mortar. But animal magnetism, the most accomrowful tale-he had an appointment to preach in town plished Ginney Quockison that ever figured in the that night, but was so lame he was afraid the congre- nineteenth century, presumes to rush to heaven withgation would be disappointed. The unsuspicious trav-out a rope or rat-line, foot-hold or hand-hold, faith or eler gave him a lift. Who would not? He must be an irreclaimable infidel, indeed, who would not help a preacher on, especially to preach to the church-going people of Aubarn. The preacher was well pleased with the gait of the horses, and pre-determined that they should be his before the rising of another sun. Arriving early in town, and finding there was no particular appointment out, he visited the jail and devout-periods. The oppressed Israelites were highly elated ly prayed, and exhorted the prisoners, telling them, as he retired, that he might probably return in a few days, which promise he did most sacredly keep; for in a few days he was safely anchored in limbo; and he is now a stationed preacher; and although only a yearling, he has a fair prospect of being stationed soon in the capital, with the extra privilege of three years. 4. God has forbidden us to attempt to pry into futurity by any unnatural and ungracious means. He has forbidden it, because all such pretenses are productive of evil practices. If animal magnetism were true, in all its claims, what an awful auxiliary of crime would it be! What frauds, what murders, what extensive robberies might be committed through it! Some have been a little hurt by a former expression which we made in regard to those who had swallowed "the whole | Some who are deeply pious have been afflicted to see the works of darkness triumph; but, brethren, be not dismayed. There hath no temptation befallen you, but what has been common to the Church at sundry when they heard that Moses had confirmed his mission before the court of Egypt by signs, and wonders, and mighty miracles. But they were much depressed again when their sneering masters answered, "Our magicians did the same." However, patience had her perfect work. Moses carried them all beyond their soundings. Egypt acknowledged the finger of God, and Israel triumphed. In the days of Saul, the pious of his army were afflicted and greatly dismayed to hear that their apostolic king had sought for information at the mouth of a witch, and sought successfully. But, at the same time, the devoted David, their future sovereign, sought legitimately at the hand of God, and received the most direct oral answers. Let nothing shake you from your steadfastness. If one should come, and, in our public square, should bring 376 SCRIPTURAL PORTRAITURES OF WOMAN. down fire from heaven, in the sight of all the people, re- || unto him but a few days for the love he had unto her." member it is nothing more than what God has foreseen- What female reader, in the perusal of those significant nothing more than what God foretold in the isle of Pat-words, does not exclaim, in reference to Rachel, “Hapmos. Religion is unalterably the same, and the saints py woman, to have been the object of such unmeasured of God shall live, and sing, and shine, and shout, while the devil and all his works shall welter in the blackness of darkness for ever and ever. Original. Amen. affection!" And, after such an annunciation, who can restrain his anger toward the culpable Laban at the imposition practiced on an attachment so disinterested and enduring, in the substitution of Leah for his promised bride? The part that the sisters took in the deception has always been a subject of perplexity to my SCRIPTURAL PORTRAITURES OF WOMAN.* mind. I cannot suppose that Leah was a willing part BY MRS. L. F. MORGAN. THE RIVAL SISTERS. YEARS had passed away since Rebekah went forth from her native Haran with tabret, song, harp, and train befitting the betrothed bride of Abraham's heir. The simplicity which characterized the manners of the inhabitants in her girlhood's days still reigned there, and the Syrian maidens yet watered the flocks of their sires beside the well at evening tide. Laban, the son of Bethuel, was now the father of a family, and his younger daughter, Rachel, kept his sheep. Again a traveler approaches the place where the shepherds were gathered together; but he comes not attended by a lordly escort. An exile from the house of his parents, bearing with him the curse of an offended brother, from whose vengeance he flees, a solitary pilgrim, is that wearied youth. He introduces himself to Rachel as Rebekah's son, and the varied emotions of his heart, as he reflects upon the endearments of his forsaken home, his recent lonely wanderings, and his present meeting with one of his mother's kindred, seek relief in tears. His cousin hastens home to inform her father of the professed claims of the young stranger to his hospitality, and Laban goes eagerly to meet him. Well might his affections yearn toward the child of his long parted sister; and, doubtless, his tenderness triumphed over his avarice when, on being informed by Jacob of the cause of his removal from his own country, he said, "Surely thou art my bone and my flesh;" thus intimating his willingness to receive him as a resident in his house. But ere the lapse of a month he discovers that the services of his nephew exceeded the trifling donation of his board; and, in order to be just to him, as well as to insure continued emolument to himself, he proposes a bargain of mutual interest. A transient association had sufficed to render the abode of Laban attractive to Jacob. He loved Rachel, and in the fervor of his devotion, exclaimed, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter." Nor did the rate at which he valued her ever appear, to his cooler judgment, as exorbitant. Although, as we learn from his subsequent indignant and eloquent appeal to his dishonest and penurious father-in-law, the period of his service was one of surpassing toil and hardship, we are told, also, by the inspired penman, that it "seemed *Continued from page 304. ner in her father's fraud. I have rather imagined her expostulating with him on the reprehensibleness of his purpose, and the victim, not the abettor of his unjustifiable duplicity. I have marveled that Rachel, on being made acquainted with the intention of her father, did not devise some means of informing her lover of it, and thus guarding him against its accomplishment. But the distinguishing characteristic of woman, in that age, appears to have been submission, and Laban's daughters were probably condemned to silent acquiescence. Even if we suppose that Leah was not reluctant to avoid the disgrace which the custom of the country seems to have attached to the elder sister if the younger were given in marriage before her-even if we regard her as voluntarily acceding to the request of her father, yet her subsequent afflictions must excite our sympathy. The indifference of her husband, though a just punishment of her dissimulation, must have made her life a very sad one. How often must her heart have been pierced and wounded by his neglect; and if he refrained from direct upbraidings, we must give him credit for remarkable forbearance. Her most rigid censurer can scarcely fail to be touched by her reproachful remonstrance with her sister—" Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband?" Nor was Rachel much happier than herself. Though blessed with the love of her husband, she envied her sister the title of mother, a relation particularly coveted by the matrons of Abraham's race. And when we consider the dim, yet darling hope they cherished of giving to a ruined world its expected Savior, we are prepared to commiserate the feelings of Rachel, and to rejoice with her when she acknowledged the goodness of God in the birth of Joseph. Little, indeed, could her brightest and most sanguine anticipations have predicted the illustrious destiny of her son; yet we may almost fancy some vague token of his future greatness haunted her vision, and created her eager yearning for the epithet of mother. But she lived not to witness the dawning of his after glory. Who can ponder, without emotion, the brief recital of Rachel's death and burial? During the progress of a long and tedious journey, while "there was yet but a little way to come to Ephrath," a town afterward so renowned in the history of her posterity, the beloved wife of Jacob breathes her last; and he who had so tenderly regarded her, and purchased her of her father at the price of fourteen years' servitude, "set a pillar upon her grave," a memorial of his affection, and of the spot where her form was left to molder DOMESTIC HAPPINESS. And modern travelers tell us that pillar still remains. Thousands of years have gone by, commotions innumerable have rocked the world, and hardly a trace can be found of the proud cities and nations which have since sprung into existence and passed away for ever; yet is the eye of the pilgrim through Palestine directed to the tomb of Rachel, designated by the simple stone erected by a husband's love. And how perseveringly was that love exemplified through the successive years of Jacob's after career in the preference at all times bestowed on the children of Rachel. The sons of Leah wore well acquainted with this fact, and Judah urged it in behalf of Benjamin, when pleading for his life with the unknown governor of Egypt. "His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him." Leah seems to have survived her sister some years, but we have no farther history of her, except that she was buried in the cave of Machpelah. LOVE. 377 DOMESTIC HAPPINESS. АH! what so refreshing, so soothing, so satisfying as the placid joys at home! See the traveler-does duty call him for a season to leave his beloved circle! The image of his earthly happiness continues vivid in his remembrance, it quickens him to diligence, it makes him hail the hour which sees his purpose accomplished, and his face turned toward home; it communes with him as he journeys, and he hears the promise which causes him to hope, Thou shalt know also, that the tabernacle shall be in peace, and thou shalt visit thy tabernacle, and not sin." O! the joyful re-union of a divided family—the pleasures of renewed interview and conversation after days of absence. Behold the man of science-he drops the laborious and painful research-closes his volume-smooths his wrinkled brow-leaves his study, and unbending himself, stoops to the capacities, yields to the wishes, and And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed mingles with the diversions of his children. unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her," Genesis. Twice seven years that suitor wrought, To win that maiden's hand, And yet to his impassioned thought Consum'd by drought throughout the day,* While others wrapt in slumber lay, He chas'd his weariness away, And watch'd till morning light. Her covetous exacting sire, Sordid and selfish too, Ten several times had chang'd his hire,t And robbed him of his due. Yet patiently he bore each whim, And when deception came to cheat Hath such a love its radiance thrown, I would not yield the priceless sign Of love as strong as this, In barter for Golconda's mine, Or brightest crown that fame could twine; "He will not blush that hath a father's heart, That youth takes pleasure in, to please his boy." Take the man of trade-what reconciles him to the toil of business? What enables him to endure the fastidiousness and impertinence of customers? What rewards him for so many hours of tedious confinement? By and by the season of intercourse will behold the desire of his eyes and the children of his love, by whom he resigns his ears; and in their welfare and smiles he will find his recompense. Yonder comes the laborer-he has borne the burden and heat of the day; the descending sun has released him of his toil; and he is hastening home to enjoy repose. Half way down the lane, by the side of which stands his cottage, his children run to meet him. One he carries and one he leads. The companion of his humble life is ready to furnish him with his plain repast. See his toil-worn countenance assume an air of cheerfulness! his hardships are forgotten; fatigue vanishes; he eats and is satisfied. The evening fair, he walks with uncovered head around his garden-enters again, and retires to rest! and, "the rest of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much." Inhabitant of this lowly dwelling! who can be indifferent to thy comfort? Peace be to this house!-Rev. Wm. Jay. How many persons spend their time and strength in obtaining something in the prospective, which when in their possession but poorly repays them for their trouble. See Genesis xxxi, 40. + See Genesis xxxi, 41. LUTHER. In a collection of autographs at Vienna, which was sold in the year 1838, there was a letter of six pages quarto addressed by Martin Luther to the Elector John, and dated July 9th, 1530. This bijou was bought for two hundred florins by the Grand Duke of Lucca. A letter from Swedenborg, written with his blood in his prison at Dresden, was also purchased by the Grand Duke for fifty florins. 'Tis Autumn, the wither'd leaves are spread All o'er the desolate plain, But I never shall walk through the cooling shade I no more shall see the green grass spring, But the birds of the snowy time shall sing O dark would it be to my spirit to know To a country I know not where. But I go not to visit a stranger land, I shall clasp a departed brother's hand And well-known faces shall meet mine eyes, For I know they are there on Elysian plain Are lost in a Sabbath of rest. And the leaves wither not on that summer shore, And the flowers are always fair, For the blight of the chilling wind is o'er, And Autumn comes never there. Original. THE LOST IS FOUND. WHY echo now the harps of heav'n Unto a sweeter strain? A wand'ring sinner has return'd; The lost is found again. Fall from the rebel's eye, And now they tune their harps of gold- They cry, "a wanderer returns Harp, raise thy voice, prolong the strain! Casting the joys of earth away Who wash'd them in the crimson flood, Our God receives him for his son, His sins are all forgiv❜n, He longs to pass from earth away, And join our songs in heav'n. Original. OBLIVION. BY MRS. M. B. HARLAN. OBLIVION! Come like some dark blast, Bend here thy sway and sweep Remembrance of the gloomy past To thy unfathomn'd deep. O there are scenes for ever flown For there were partings, not to meet Yes, broken ties, and 'twould be sweet And the false friends that I have met, Have worship'd, lov'd the most, And O the suffering and the grief But there were scenes too bright to last, Could I forget the soothing tone That whisper'd bliss when I was lone, Could I forget the friend so true, Could I forget the face so fair Of her who pass'd away- Could I forget the days that were, When gladness deck'd my brow, No, brilliant scenes, though pass'd away |