as Joseph, His reputed Father; or the Virgin Mary. The spirit of the passage appears to be this-that as Christ died for all, we are not to range ourselves under the banners of party, making Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or even Christ Himself, our leader; since the gospel, by whoever taught, preaches the same great truths. In one word, the instrument is to be nothing, and the Great End, everything. 2. The conservative or antiseptic properties of salt, are occasionally recognized in Scripture. It is also regarded as a type of perpetuity. Thus Christians are called the salt of the earth and the phrase "a covenant of salt,' implies a perpetual covenant. We, therefore, understand the text to be an iteration or parallelism, completing the preceding verse. 'The fire is not quenched For every one shall be salted with fire.'. So far from being destroyed by it, they shall be, as it were, salted or preserved; for unlike the natural element of fire, it has no tendency to consume its victims, but possesses, on the contrary, that perpetuating efficacy which shall render their pains eternal. SIR:-Will you favor me with a meaning of 1st Corinthians xvi. 22. Your's respectfully, CYRIL. "Let him be accursed-the Lord cometh." The apostle is apparently writing under a deep consciousness of the awful nature of the doom awaiting those who love not the Lord Jesus whilst at the same time sensible that he has no right to pronounce sentence. The words seem to imply that although the sinner's fate is certain, the Lord only, at his coming, is to take the case in hand. The Penitent Thief. DEAR SIR:-Two of the Evangelists, Matthew (xxvii. 44,) and Mark (xv. 32,) describing the crucifixion of our Lord, state that both of the thieves reviled him. St. Luke (xxiii. 39-42,) states that one did so, for which he was reproved by the other. apparent discrepancy be reconciled? I am, Dear Sir, How may this Yours very respectfully, E. A. S. Mark, after narrating the fact that the thieves who were crucified with Christ reviled him, proceeds to say, "and when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour." It was therefore before the sixth hour, that both the malefactors spoke against Him. It appears that the conversion of the penitent thief took place at an after period, which Luke describes as "about the sixth hour." So far, therefore, from the narratives being at variance with each other, there is a most perfect harmony observable between them, Concerts. Is it inconsistent in a Christian professor, occasionally to attend a concert? Yours respectfully, Y. Z. Much depends on the nature of the assembly, the character of the parties officiating, and the motives and spirit which actuate ourselves. Music purports to be an expression of passion, sentiment, and feeling. When therefore, the feeling itself is absent, or what amounts to the same thing, is purchased for a given sum, there seems to be an unreality about it, inconsistent with the honesty of a christian profession. The same reasons which would prevent our attendance at a place of worship, where the pulpit was occupied by a worthless, immoral, worldly minded man, however eloquent or talented, would keep us away from a concert, where hired singers were engaged to give effect to emotions they never felt. On the other hand, where the heart and understanding are engaged, as in Congregational Psalmody, we know of few exercises more delightful or improving. As a general rule, we should recommend every Christian professor severely to scrutinize his motives, and weigh the probable influence of his conduct, before countenancing a practice, at the best, but questionable. 45 SORROW UPON THE SEA.* "There is sorrow on the Sea; it cannot be quiet."-Jer. xlix. 25. Sorrow upon the sea, It cannot rest: It mourneth long over the weight of cares, Which, like the conscience-stricken heart, it bears That heart even yet may hear the words of peace; It is not weary, though It has grown old, In pouring forth in one mysterious tone The woe its countless ages have made known; In those stranger moanings of the mighty deep It lowly breathes the wail The last sad wail Of drowning men battling with the strong sea, And e'en might quail As it pours forth the great and bitter cry And mingling with these sounds And over all Ocean's unwearied dirge for her vast dead, A mighty pall, With its dark centre, its white edge of foam * From Fulcher's Lady's Memorandum Book,' for 1848; one of our best Pocket Books, though issued from a country press. Yet thou hast other tones, Thou changeful Sea! But to the young alone, whose joyous ear And thou dost seem in wildest joy to leap, As thou in tune with their glad hearts would keep. And oh it is not till They tread thy shore With fainting step and weary heart, they know Shalt be no more, When thine unrest shall be for ever stilled, And theirs with Jesu's presence shall be filled. Sudbury. "GOD IS LOVE." "GOD is Love," the Bible says, Mercy governs all His ways, Greater is His clemency; Every page His goodness shews, God is Love, all nature cries; God is Love, the warblers sing, L. E. F. Think no more of want and sorrow, Who feeds to-day will feed to-morrow, Join the chorus, God is Love. God is Love, each flowret cries, God is Love, my comforts say, Food and knowledge, friends and home, All from my Creator come; Blessings I each hour receive, God is Love: lo Calvary's hill, Here its fullest truth we prove Glorious knowledge! God is Love. From 'Important Truths in Simple Verse,' 2nd Edition. MOURN NOT THE DEAD. Mourn not the dead! earth's best and brightest flowers In Heaven's eternal amaranthine bowers, Far from this world of woe, and want, and pain. Mourn not the dead. |