Earlier text: THE WHITE RAIMENT.ASHES FOR FOOD.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
Who could live on such diet? It is true that experience has shown that people can live a considerable length of time with some ashes or saleratus mixed with their food; but who could live on ashes alone? It is evident that those who undertake it must die. But this is the diet of those who openly violate and oppose the holy law of God; and it either induces insanity or else insanity is the cause of their choosing such a diet. It is probably like the unnatural and insane appetite for opium and tobacco: the eating creates the appetite, and the appetite continues the eating. “He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Isa xliv, 20. This was spoken of those who, rejecting the true God, worshiped wooden gods of their own making; and it is equally true of those who reject the Creator’s chosen memorial, and in its stead fall down to the Sunday god—a god that “came newly up,” with the great apostasy of the present dispensation. The insanity of those idolators was manifest from the fact that they would make a fire to cook their food and warm themselves by, from a part of the same tree of which they made a god, perhaps out of some knotty part that is not so easily split into fire-wood. “He falleth down unto it, and worshipeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my God. They have not known nor understood; for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down229 to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?”. It is just so in these days. Those who come out in open hostility and take the field against the law of God seem incapable of appreciating the force of an argument. They have a lie in their right hand, but they cannot discover it. If they would try their arguments against the Sabbath, by testing their force upon the other commandments of the decalogue, they might discover their fallacy, and learn that they were deceiving themselves. Not only does God withdraw his Holy Spirit from them, but seemingly deprives them of common sense. One of the latest illustrations of this is the case of Eld. T. M. Preble. He holds that the first-day of the week is the Christian Sabbath. And while he holds that the Seventh-day Sabbath cannot be universally observed, on account of the rotundity and revolution of the earth, so that time is lost or gained in traveling around the world east or west, he has recently made an attempt to prove that this objection does not lie at all against the first-day Sabbath—that that never gets out of place in traveling east or west! He has once seen the light on the Sabbath of the Lord and embraced it; but has since turned away from the “holy commandment;” and the consequence is, he is left to a blindness and want of common sense that is truly marvelous. And he is not an exception to a general rule. All that take the field against the law of God are equally incapable of discovering that they have a lie in their right hand. And now dear friend, whoever you are, that are searching for arguments to excuse yourself from keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, let me give you an infallible rule by which to test their soundness. When you light upon an argument which you think will answer your purpose, do not at once proclaim it, but try its force by applying it to some other commandment of the ten, such as Honor thy father and mother, Thou shalt not steal, &c., and its fallacy will be so obvious that you will be ashamed of it—you will wish to conceal, rather than reveal it. And when you have disposed of all your arguments and excuses in this way, obey the fourth commandment as it is written in God’s word. In so doing you will find that there is something better for you to feed on than ashes; and a deceived heart will no more prevent you from knowing your right hand from your left, or discerning between truth and falsehood. But those who reject God’s law will still feed on ashes, and will not have common sense enough to discern that they hold a lie in their right hand. Tell me the meaning of Scriptures. One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.—M'Cheyne. “By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true.” WILL some one please explain this text through the Review. E. W. C. ANS. The point which seems obscure to the mind of our correspondent is probably the latter clause of the text. Paul is describing the experience of the ministers of God; their difficulties, trials, perplexities and distresses, and especially the manner in which their testimony is regarded by those for whom they labor. Some honor them, others dishonor; some report evil of them, others report good. And the great majority regard them as deceivers, yet they are true; true to every principle of right, and true to their allegiance to the great Head of the church. W. C. G. Infidel Objections to the Bible Answered. No. 15.
By Bible Triumphant
Christ ascended from Mount Olivet.—And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. . . . Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.—Acts i, 9, 12. Christ ascended from BETHANY.—And he led them out so far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.—And it came to pass that while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.—Luke xxiv, 50, 51. MODERN skeptics of small intellect, and less information, have said a great deal about the two texts above quoted. We have read about this “dreadful contradiction, so fatal to the veracity of the sacred writers,” and they ask, with all the sarcasm of conceited ignorance, “Which tells the truth? Shall we believe Luke, or the statement found in Acts?” To which we reply, believe them both. Allow us to state, for the information of this class of second-rate infidels, that Bethany was a village which was built on the south-east side of the mount of Olives. See Mark xi, 1, also Bible Dictionary, Encyclopedia, &c. Hence, the difficulty at once vanishes, and we find that a little knowledge of geography would not be out of place in the infidel’s brain. Suppose an author in writing the life of George Washington, should say in one place that he died at Mount Vernon, and again that he died in Virginia—if a man should attempt to prove that in making these two statements the author had contradicted himself, the civilized world would at once pronounce him either a lunatic or a fool, and yet in the above proposition, the compiler places himself in the same position.—Bible Triumphant. Praise is a debt we owe unto the virtues of others, and due unto our own from all whom malice hath not made mutes, or envy struck dumb. Whoever is courteous, honest, frank, sincere, truly honorable, generous and candid, is a true gentleman, whether rich, learned, or a laborer. Instead of casting stones at an individual, we would often, if we knew and felt as Jesus does, sympathizingly say to the erring, “Go and sin no more.” TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.
Since thy Father's arm sustains thee,
Peaceful be;
When a chastening hand restrains thee,
It is he.
Know his love in full completeness
Fills the measure of thy weakness;
If he wound thy spirit sore,
Trust him more. Without murmur uncomplaining,
In his hand
Lay whatever things thou canst not
Understand.
Though the world thy folly spurneth,
From thy faith in pity turneth,
Peace thy inmost soul shall fill,
Lying still. Like an infant, if thou thinkest
Thou canst stand;
Childlike, proudly pushing back
The offered hand,
Courage soon is changed to fear,
Strength doth feebleness appear.
In his love if thou abide
He will guide. Fearest sometimes that thy Father
Hath forgot?
When the clouds around thee gather,
Doubt him not.
Always hath the daylight broken,—
Always hath he comfort spoken,—
Better hath he been for years
Than thy fears. Therefore whatsoe'er betideth,
Night or day,—
Know his love for thee provideth
Good alway.
Crown of sorrow gladly take,
Grateful wear it for his sake,
Sweetly bending to his will,
Lying still. To his own thy Saviour giveth
Daily strength;
To each troubled soul that liveth
Peace at length.
Weakest lambs have largest share
Of this tender Shepherd's care;
Ask him not, then, “When?” or “How?”
Only bow.—Tract Journal. THE LOVE OF GOD.
By A. H. HULBERT
“BEHOLD what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” But how shall I speak of that infinite love which the Father hath bestowed upon us, wretched mortals that we are; what height, what depth, what power to save. Oh, that I could describe it, but language fails in the attempt. God saw the human family in one vast congregation, all sinners, entirely depraved, rebels against his throne, hateful and hating one another, whose thoughts and feelings were only evil continually. As transgressors of his holy law they deserved to die; they asked no favor, they expected none, and yet in all their untold depravity God loved them as his creatures, and in the exercise of his exceeding love, brought forth a ransom. With his Son’s consent, he stripped him for a time of his majesty and glory, took away his crown and scepter, and veiled his divinity in a body of flesh. God saw his Son for our sakes despised and persecuted, and cast out by the Jews; yet his infinite love endured it. He beheld him in his bloody agony in the garden, and saw him betrayed by a disciple, forsaken by his friends, and arrested by a band of soldiers; he heard him reviled and falsely accused at the bar of Pilate, and saw the Jews spit in his face, and in derision smite him with the palms of their hands, and his love for us endured it. He saw him bearing his cross to the place of execution and consent to be nailed to it by his merciless oppressors. Oh, it was love to sinners which Heaven could not contain, nor earth comprehend, that enabled him to sustain the awful pressure of a world’s iniquities until he bowed his head in death, and gave up the ghost. This was love at which the sun hid his face in midnight darkness, the earth quaked, the rocks were rent, the graves were opened, and darkness covered the land at noon-day. Oh, dear reader, I am speaking to you of the dying love of Jesus, and can you not feel it? It dimmed the blessed light of the sun, and can you gaze upon it without emotion? It shook the earth to its center, and will not your spirit tremble and bow before it? It rent asunder the flinty rocks of Judea, and will not your heart yield to its mighty power? It wakened to life the sleeping saints, and will you not receive from it the impulses of spiritual life? It covered the land with mourning, and have you no tears to shed, no heart to mourn for those sins which crucified the Son of God? Look upon Jesus in his dying agony; what sympathy, what melting tenderness, are there. The Son of God in tears, in death. Here is love that melts and moves the soul; love that wept, and bled, and died, to save the lost. Here is love that invites the guilty: Look unto me and be ye saved; Come unto me and I will give you rest. Here is love that expostulates with the wanderer: Behold my hands and my feet; Turn ye, for why will ye die. Here is love that heals the wounded, pouring in the oil and the wine, binding up the broken in heart. Here is love that proclaims liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prisons to them that are bound. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to die, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “Oh, for such love, let rocks and hills,
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Saviour’s praises speak.”
Dear brethren and sisters, in view of the solemn and momentous scenes through which we shall soon be called to pass, it is of the utmost importance that we should have our lamps trimmed and burning that we may all be ready to meet the Lord in peace. Keep the day of Judgment, and the glorious and fearful realities of eternity steadily in view, and I pray God that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. CRAWFORD CO., ILL.
By Jesse Hirstand
As many brethren have requested me to give a description of the part of the country in which I am located, Palestine, Crawford Co., Ill., as regards health and fruit growing, I take this method of answering their inquiries. We enjoy good health, especially since we have adopted the Health Reform. We consider this climate healthy. I think this as good a fruit-growing country as can be found in the United States. We raise good winter and spring wheat, and corn in abundance. Peaches grow here as naturally as crab apples, and are now worth 25 cts. per bushel. Blackberries grow without cultivation, and in such abundance that we gather them by tubfuls and wagon-loads. Strawberries grow to great perfection. Plums grow in large quantities wild, and of excellent quality. Fruits of every description can be raised here, and even cotton. The climate is pleasant, about the same as that of Cincinnati. The soil is sandy loam, very pleasant to farm. Face of country, rolling prairie. Timber is very plenty, and of the best kind. Prairie land, improved, is worth from $20 to $40 per acre. Timber land, from $10 to $20 per acre. Water is soft, and nearly as good as rain water. This country is called Egypt, I do not know why, unless it is because it is such a fine climate for corn-raising; or perhaps it is so called on account of the moral darkness and pro-slavery proclivities of some of the people. PUTTING ON THE HARNESS.
By S. S. Bartlett
“Let not him that girdeth on the harness, boast himself as he that putteth it off.” 1 Kings xx, 11. At no time, and in no sense are these words of Israel’s ancient king, more true and appropriate than at the present time, and as regards “present truth.” When the light upon God’s holy law first dawned upon us, and when, perhaps after a severe struggle, we turned our willing feet into his testimonies, we fondly imagined that the great battle was won, and henceforth the way to eternal life would be comparatively easy; for were we not now keeping all the commandments? How great the mistake! The work was but just commenced; the harness scarcely put on; and since that time our onward course has been a constant warfare. “Foes without and foes within” have combined to obstruct our way. Difficulties have been met and overcome, steep after steep has arisen before us, and been ascended, each succeeding one more difficult of ascent than the former; yet through the grace of God we have thus far attained. And now comes the last and most difficult consummation of this most glorious work, the work of preparation for our Saviour’s coming, the “Health Reform.” How it looms before us, mountain high! How we shrink and fear; yet oh! how we long to bask in the calm sunshine of perfect purity and holiness which rests like a halo of glory upon its summit. Is it inaccessible? What saith the “faithful and true Witness?” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne.” The prize therefore may be obtained; we may overcome. Let us then set about the work with a will, and resolve that in the strength of the Lord we will overcome; and the work is more than half accomplished. Let us also gird on the whole armor; for Satan and his legions will confront us at every step. Ah! the wily foe! Well he knows that when once the summit is gained, his power over us is at an end. Therefore he will marshal all his forces. We must labor with our weapons in our hand, as did the Jews of old while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Neb. iv, 17, never for a moment laying down our arms, for in that moment the enemy has an advantage over us. Seasons of depression and discouragement will often be ours: evil angels will press their darkness upon us, striving to shut out the light thereby causing us to lose our way. Oh! for Heavenly wisdom! Oh! for the Spirit’s aid, and the constant watchcare of holy angels to guide us over the perilous paths. And these blessings can be obtained for the asking. “If any lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” James i, 5. “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John xiv, 14. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Ps. cxxi, 3. Precious promises, now doubly dear! We need also great faith; great clearness of mental vision to enable us to pierce the gloom which surrounds us, and fix our gaze with earnest hope and trust, upon the heavenly radiance which lies beyond. And this also we shall gain at every step. And when, at length, we reach the eternal sunshine and cast a backward glance at the ragged path over which our feet are now so wearily treading, how will our hearts swell with joy and gratitude over one more victory won, and every trial endured, every struggle gone through, and every temptation overcome, will change itself into a blessing and descend in sweet refreshings upon our heads. And onward, yet a little farther, dark and thorny we know the way will be, but very short. Our longing eyes shall see the King in his beauty; our tears shall be wiped away, and our conflicts cease. Oh! joy upon joy! Then can the tired soldier throw off the harness and shout in the joy of his heart; “The battle is ended and the victory won?” Oh! with what songs of praise and victory will Heaven’s arches then ring! May you and I, dear reader, be there to swell the chorus. God travels to satisfy our comfort, but not our curiosity.—Lord John Napier. Prophecy is History in Advance.
[We give the following article, both for the historical associations connected with it, and the beautiful moral lesson drawn by its writer.] The fifteenth century was an era remarkable for great inventions and discoveries. It is a striking fact that this epoch so wonderful for mental energy, should have been preceded by one in which intellect seemed in a state of lethargy—a long and gloomy period which has most appropriately received the name of the “Dark Ages;” for the radiance of truth seemed banished from the earth, and darkness like a pall enshrouded the human mind. It was a period that seemed almost a blank in the history of intellect; standing out in strange contrast to the splendor of the ancient civilization, and the refinement and elegance of the modern. Strange that in the chain of years it should have formed the connecting link between them! Sad age! when men seemed scarcely raised above the brutes that perish. The great problems of existence remained unsolved; for from this deep debasement of his nature man could not rise to forge true spiritual weapons, to wage any just intellectual warfare, or to assert his high prerogatives. His spiritual comprehension was too darkened for him to grasp the Infinite and the Eternal, and hence with his God-like powers he groveled in the dust. It was an age of confusion, experiments, and blind groping; society was in a state of chaos, and government of insecurity, anarchy and feudalism reigned triumphant, while the spirit of true Christianity had fled before the increasing corruptions of the apostate church. Religion consisted in externals, and the gorgeous mockery of its worship proved but too plainly that “Antichrist” had arisen in bold and defiant blasphemy. Such was the mental and spiritual gloom that enshrouded Europe for nine centuries. But at the beginning of the fifteenth century a better state of things was at hand. Light began to dawn on the far horizon, heralding the brilliant sun that in a coming era should arise to dispel the shades of superstition—an era, when the human mind, awakened from its long slumber, should open more and more to the rays of the advancing luminary. Truly prophetic was this early dawn, even though it shadowed forth but faintly the heaven-born radiance which in a subsequent century pierced the depths of papal darkness, scattered the shades of night, and revealed the transcendent beauty of truth in glorious contrast to error. This time of wonderful awakening was also an age of discovery. Intellect, no longer dormant, not only made new inventions, but applied the knowledge inherited from past ages, to wise and practical purposes. Bursting the shackles of ignorance thrown round it during the “Dark Ages,” it seemed to have received a mighty impetus, and a spirit of discovery arose that would brook no obstacles in its pursuit. Science made rapid strides, great minds, inflamed with a thirst for knowledge, penetrated into the secrets of nature, and by their resources were enabled to substitute facts for false and improbable theories. It was an age of activity such as the world had never seen. The exploration of unknown oceans, the discovery of new continents, the invention of moveable types, which resulted in the art of printing; the application of gunpowder to the art of war, the revival of letters and of learning in all its departments, the rapid development of music, painting, sculpture, and architecture, make this one of the most wonderful eras in the history of the human intellect. One of the most important inventions of this period was that of the “Mariner’s Compass.” The exact date of the discovery of this wonderful instrument is very uncertain. Magnetism, on which the principle of the compass depends, is among the most remarkable phenomena of nature. It has but recently taken its place among the physical sciences, and notwithstanding numerous discoveries, this branch of electricity is still in its infancy. Magnetism involves the conception of polarity—or opposite properties on opposite sides—which has become a fundamental idea in the later philosophy of forces. The researches of science prove clearly the extent and influence of polar forces throughout nature. It has demonstrated that this is the grand principle which, by a mysterious chain of influences, takes effect throughout the universe. This great doctrine of polarity has drawn off the exclusive attention which was once given to the “play of central attractions” throughout the universe, as taught by Newton, and fixed it upon the fact, that this widely different kind of force plays also an important part in the mechanism of nature. In the intimate connection of the radiant forces, and the beautiful chain of magnetic, electric, chemical, crystalline, optical and thermal polarities, each of which forms a link in the polar series, is shown a sublime and simple unity of cause. Thus has the stand-point of the philosopher been changed, and in this favored and intellectual age, the great lesson of the unity of the universe has been taught, and also the “brotherhood of the agencies which govern it.” The property of “polarity” is displayed very strikingly in the magnet or “loadstone.” According to scientific definition, a magnet is a body which attracts iron and steel, and which, when freely suspended, has the power of taking a direction toward the poles of the earth. The natural magnet is an oxide of iron, found in beds of iron ore, and has received its name from the circumstance of its having been discovered in the province of Magnesia in Asia Minor. The magnetic needle is a bar of steel which has been magnetized artificially, and is used in the compass. Various suppositions have been made to account for that property of the magnet which causes it to point toward the poles. Why the insensible metal should invariably point in the same direction, was long a perplexing problem. The earliest hypothesis was that the earth itself is a great magnet and attracts the needle toward its poles because there the magnetic influence is concentrated. The magnetic poles of the earth were supposed to coincide very nearly with the North and South poles. But two north magnetic poles have recently been discovered—one in Hudson’s Bay, the other, to the north of Siberia—places where the equal magnetic intensities are arranged in regular order. Since from this is implied the existence of four magnetic poles of the earth, it is not reconcilable with the old and generally-received supposition. Others think magnetism is caused by the action of the solar rays upon the earth’s surface. But the opinion advanced by the learned Riott—that “terrestrial magnetism is the aggregate or resultant of the individual, magnetic forces residing in different parts of the earth,”—is not an improbable supposition since it accords with the general doctrine of the “composition of forces.” All the phenomena of magnetism can be explained, on the hypothesis of two fluids residing naturally in all ferruginous bodies. When united, they appear to neutralize each other’s effects; when separated they exhibit opposite properties. The peculiar properties of the magnet had long been known before they were applied to nautical purposes. Its attractive powers have been known from a high antiquity, and are mentioned by Homer, Pythagoras, and Aristotle. Its directive powers remained to be discovered by the researches of a later period. When mankind first noticed the curious properties of iron ore, they regarded it as valuable only so far as it served to amuse; for they were not sufficiently enlightened to avail themselves of its polarity. The incident related of Ptolemy Philadelphus—that he caused a statue and arch of magnetic iron to be made in memory of his queen—affords historical proof that magnetism was known to the ancients. But though we thus find that its existence was no secret, of what avail was the bare knowledge! Striking illustration of the truth that it is the practical use we make of our knowledge, which renders it valuable! In those early ages, men dreamed not that this seemingly mysterious magnetism could be made subservient to their interests. The untutored intellect of that day knew not that the mighty agencies of nature could be employed by humanity. It dreamed not of an age to come, when the elements should call man master, and obediently execute his bidding. It saw in no prophetic vision this grandest of ages—this epoch of intellectual supremacy and of the revelations and triumphs of science. An age when fuel, air, water, and the metals should act together in that marvel of mechanism—the steam engine—when the sunbeam should leave mysterious impressions of the objects it illuminates; when the lightning, “that lawless and rollicking spirit of the skies,” should be impressed into human service, and transmitting messages with its wonderful rapidity, annihilate the barriers of time and space! And this age is our own! Such a harvest long awaited the reapers; strange that only in the later centuries were the reapers found! In the words of an eloquent writer, “Can there be any doubt, that other forces equally marvelous await the discipline of human genius? Not in vain was man called upon at the very morning of creation ‘to subdue the earth.’ Already has he justified the bestowment of the vice-royal honor; who shall speak of the possibilities that await him in the future?” The honor of first rendering magnetism useful is attributed to John de Gioja, a handicraft of Naples. He noticed with peculiar attention the attraction of metals toward masses of rude ore. He first made experiments which satisfied him that the magnetic influence was universal. He then gave it a trial on the surface of the water. A vessel was moored at sea in a direction corresponding with that of the magnet, and a boat which had a magnet equipoised at its centre, was sent out at night in the exact line indicated. This was followed, and carried the boat to the vessel. In process of time, the magnet was fixed to a card, marked with thirty-two points known as the “direction of the winds.” This was the first form in which the mariner’s compass was presented to the world, and was of course, extremely imperfect. It is the mariner’s compass that has attached to magnetism its chief importance, for it was the first practical use to which the polarity of the magnet was applied. The compass consists of a magnetic needle, enclosed in a brass box covered with glass. The needle is freely suspended, and provided with a conical cap of brass, which rests on a perpendicular pin. To lessen friction, the point which rests on the extremity of this pin, is made of agate. The compass box has a circular card graduated into a scale of degrees and minutes, and also into thirty-two equal parts called “Rhumbs.” This card turns with the needle which is so suspended as to retain a horizontal position even during the most unsteady motions of a ship. This is effected by contrivances called “Gimbals,” which cause all the motions of the compass box to be performed around two axes that intersect each other at right angles. The compass thus completed is fixed in the binnacle of the vessel, and there the helmsman takes his place, directing its course by means of this wonderful and unerring guide. We cannot sufficiently estimate the value of the compass till we realize the almost miraculous changes it has effected in navigation. Prior to the discovery of the compass, the science of navigation had been in its infancy. It was so imperfectly understood by the early voyagers that they dared to cruise only along the shores, lest out of sight of land, they should lose themselves on the waste of waters. The means of crossing wide oceans seemed involved in hopeless mystery. It was an enigma which puzzled the shrewdest brains, and baffled the profoundest thinkers. Once out on the watery expanse how could they tell the cardinal points? North, south, east, west, would be alike indistinguishable on the monotonous sea level. So we read of but few voyages performed by water in those days; the great routes of travel being on the land. But in a subsequent century, how was the whole art of navigation changed by the discovery of the compass! A wonderful impetus was given to commerce, and the explorations of the day resulted in great discoveries. This practical application of the power of the magnet led to that important event of the fifteenth century—the discovery of America. The mariner no longer without231 a guide, steered boldly through pathless seas; and a zest before unknown was given to travel by water. Exultantly watching the course of his vessel as its prow parted the billows, the hardy seaman bade his bosom be a stranger to fear, and hailed the advent of the mariner’s compass! The English, Portuguese, French, Spaniards and Dutch, vied with each other in voyages of discovery; the world was circumnavigated, the antipodes were brought into communication, the wealth of the Indies was opened to Europe, and the means of refinement and luxury greatly increased. As the world opened to the east and west, the horizon of knowledge was also extended, and the treasures of the intellectual kingdom were enlarged and enriched. And these were some of the results that arose from a frail needle pointing unerringly to its pole! Astonishing achievement of science, splendid triumph of human research and ingenuity! The importance of the compass to the mariner cannot be over-estimated. Far out on the trackless deep, sundered from home and friends he loves, the compass is his most valued possession, the only clue that can lead him out of the labyrinth of waters, back to kindred and native land. Day and night with sleepless eye he watches that mystic needle pointing ever to the pole. He knows that if he neglects its friendly guidance he is inevitably lost! Turned out of his course, he would be quickly benighted upon the mighty waters, were it not for this mysterious monitor, in accordance with whose pointings he turns the rudder of his vessel. Ah! lone watcher on the deep, science hath entered the laboratory of nature, and compounded for thee in those rich store-houses a gem, more precious than any the bold diver hath brought up from ocean’s bed. She hath nobly wrested for thee this jewel of purer grace, and more radiant sheen, than aught that have sparkled in kingly diadems. Hail the priceless boon, use it gladly, for it is thine. Cling to thy compass, mariner; it is thy all on the wide waters. Obey thy compass, mariner; it will lead thee to thy desired haven. Though tempests rage and winds howl fiercely round thee, even ’mid the fury of conflicting elements, it will guide thee to the port of peace. Speed thy bark, mariner; only the loss of thy good ship can deprive thee of the faithful friend, which poised so exquisitely in its stern, points as truly on the most stormy waters, as on the most tranquil sea. And thou, frail needle, why dost thou point with such constancy to the pole? We can almost imagine thee to be endowed with some life-giving principle—animated by some mysterious and invisible presence enshrined within thee! Thou art a beautiful emblem of the life-long devotion with which our heart’s best affections should be directed to Christ and Heaven! Let us list to thy voiceless lessons, and with untiring gaze, look from the “changing up to the changeless.” This subject has a deep spiritual significance and application. For life may be compared to an ocean, and our earthly pilgrimage to a voyage on its surface. It is an ocean full of rocks and quicksands, breakers foam on every side, and tempests often lash its billows to fury. Hidden whirlpools sparkle brightly in the sunlight, luring many a gallant bark to an unlooked-for grave. Danger and death are on every side, threatening destruction to all who sail upon this troubled ocean. Has man been left in this uncertainty and peril? Has he no guide by whose assistance to steer safely through? Yes, the Bible is our compass on this the broad ocean of life. What the faithful needle is to the mariner, the book of divine revelation is to the soul. Through all the changing scenes of existence, it points unchanged to Heaven, and bids us steer our vessels thither, telling us how to gain that land of light and love and joy eternal. If we fail to follow its guidance, we shall be lost eternally. Let us, then, steer our life-barks by this priceless compass, following ever where it points. Then at the close of time’s weary voyage we shall enter into peaceful waters, a radiant shore shall dawn upon our vision, and with unutterable joy we shall cast anchor in the heavenly harbor, beyond the reach of winds and tempests forever!