THORNS AND THISTLES.

DR.KITTO remarks

that there are a

menon si considerable number of words in

wati Scripture which dos have been considered to indicate

brambles, briers, thorns, thistles. JusRabbinical writers

state that there

bazen etata are no less than are twenty-two words edi v in the Bible sigesnifying thorny and prickly plants; but some of these are

afforded the crown of thorns put upon the head of Christ. It is very common in the East, and is very fit for the purpose, for it has many small and sharp spines, which are well adapted to give pain: the crown might easily be made of these soft, round, and pliant branches; and what in my opinion seems to be the greater proof is, that the leaves very much resemble those of ivy, as they are of a very deep glossy green. Perhaps the enemies of Christ would have a plant somewhat resembling that with which emperors and generals were crowned, that there might be a calumny even in the punishment.".

We are not told whether there were thorns and thistles in that lovely Garden of Eden in which the Great Creator placed our first parents, but we are told that "the LORD GOD took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." It might be one of his daily happy and harmless employments to cultivate the flowers and fruits, and keep them clear of weeds. Whether it was so, or whether they were created after man had sinned, as a curse on the earth which he was to clear away by continued industry, we are not told. But in the condemnation of Adam, the LORD GOD said, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

And now we find thorns and thistles all over the earth, which increase rapidly, and require perpetual care and labour to keep down or clear away, that both grass for cattle and corn for the service of man may grow without being choked or obstructed by these troublesome weeds and plants.

Thistles are found in great variety. The common thistle of England is well known. What is called the "sow-thistle" is useful for the food of swine-hence its name-and rabbits are very fond of it. In Scotland there is a thistle which grows to a noble size, and as a plant is beautiful when set in gardens. (See the picture.) Indeed so proud are the Scotch of their thistle that they have adopted it as their national emblem; and so we have on the Royal Arms of the British Empire-the rose for England, the leek for Wales, the shamrock for Ireland, and the thistle for Scotland. As there will be nothing offensive or troublesome in that heavenly paradise, where

"everlasting spring abides,

And never withering flowers,"

we believe there will be no thistles there. That glorious land has never, and will never be cursed for the sin of its inhabitants. To be a happy tenant for ever of one of its mansions should be, my young friend, the great business of your life.

"Nothing is worth a thought beneath,

But how you may escape the death

That never, never dies;

How make your own election sure,

And when you fail on earth secure
A mansion in the skies."

Jesus Christ has gone to prepare these mansions for all his faithful followers. Just before he returned back to heaven from whence he came, he said to his sorrowing disciples :-"Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Go to him; give him your heart now; love and serve him all your days; and then he will give you an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Now is the time, by the grace of God, to secure it.

THE BOOK OF GOD.

AN EXERCISE.

THE Bible is the book of God. A book written by God, a book about God, and a book intended to make us like God, and to lead us to the enjoyment of God for ever. My object is to impress your minds with the fact of the divinity of this wonderful book, and to show you how you ought to act towards it. You are aware that many millions of your fellow-creatures have no Bible,—many who have one, do not believe it,and many who have it, and profess to believe it, do not act upon it. There are others who believe it, and love it; who receive the Saviour it reveals, seek the glory it makes known, and endeavour to do what it commands. These are the only happy and wise people in the world; we wish you, dear youths, to be among the number, that of you may be said, as of Timothy, "that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus."

Now, I will imagine you are ready to ask me the following questions :-first, What kind of a book is the Bible ? secondly, What is its design? and, thirdly, What is our duty with reference to it? I will endeavour to answer these questions in a way which I hope you will understand and remember. You all know that the word Serip. tures signifies writings, and hence the Bible is called the Holy Scriptures; as I wish you with every letter of this word to learn something concerning what the Word of God is, what it is designed to do, and how you should act towards it, I will give you three acrostics on the word Scriptures, as an exercise, and I hope you will find out and read the texts referred to.

THE PROPERTIES OF THE SCRIPTURES ARE

SUPERIOR (Psalms cxxxviii. 2). The Hindoos have their Shaster, and the Mohammedans their Koran, but the Bible is as far above them as heaven is above earth.

CONSISTENT (Psalm xii. 6). Think how long it was writing, and how many people were employed about it, and this will at once prove that God was its author.

RELIGIOUS (2 Timothy iii. 15), and so it is suited for man as a rational, guilty, and immortal being. It is better than all books of science or history, better even than God's other books of nature and providence.

INTERESTING (Heb. i. 1, 2). Consider the events it records,-the history of remarkable persons it contains,-the beautiful and sublime passages there are in it; but, above all, that it reveals eternity, and concerns ourselves.

POWERFUL (Psalm xix. 7). It does, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, what nothing else can do, changes the heart of man. Has it changed yours?

TERRIBLE (John xii. 48). It torments those who know its contents, but act contrary to its commands; it arms conscience with its keenest sting, and will lay open on the judgment-seat, and bear testimony against all who neglect it (Rev. xx. 12).

USEFUL (Rom. xv. 4). Compare countries which have the Bible, and those which have it not. Do the same with families and individuals, who love or hate the Bible, and then judge of its usefulness. RENOWNED (1 Peter i. 11, 12). No book beside can compare with it. Angels study its great theme-redemption. All wise men have valued it, and only fools despise it.

ENDURING (1 Peter i. 24, 25). It will survive the last judgment. Saints will remember its contents in Heaven, and sinners will do the same in Hell.

SEALED. Satan hides its glory from the unbeliever (2 Cor. iv. 4); its blessings are all secured to Christ's disciples (Isaiah lv. 10, 11).

THE DESIGN OF THE SCRIPTURES.

To bring five blessings, and save from five evils,SANCTIFICATION, or to make holy (John xvii. 17). COMFORT, or making happy (Psalm cxix. 50, 54).

RELEASE, or making free (John viii. 32).

INSTRUCTION, or making wise (Psalm cxix. 98, 99, 104).

PREPARATION for Heaven, or making rich in grace (2 Peter i. 4). Surely these are five great blessings.

The Scriptures are also designed to

TRY us, that we may not deceive ourselves (Psalms cxix. 59).
UPHOLD US,
that we may not despond (Psalms cxvi. 6).
RENEW US, that we may not faint (Isaiah xl. 31).
EMPLOY US, that we may not be idle (Prov. ii. i—5).
SECURE US, that we may not be lost (John viii. 51).

OUR DUTY WITH REFERENCE TO THE SCRIPTURES.

SEEK the Spirit's influences, for they are good (Psalm cxliii. 10). CONFIDE in them, for they are sure (Num. xxiii. 19).

RECEIVE them, for they are very valuable (John iii. 32, 33). IMPROVE by them, for you are responsible (Prov. xiii. 13). PLEAD them in prayer, for you need all they contain (Hosea xiv. 2). TAKE HEED to all they say, for the Bible is your best friend (Psalm cxix. 165).

USE them as a preservative from sin. (Psalm cxix. 11.)

RENOUNCE all they condemn,-Sin, Pride, Passion (Psalm xix. 11). ESTEEM whatever they commend (Job xxiii. 12).

SPREAD them as widely as you can, for they are the only guide to glory (Mark xvi. 15).

Listen to, and pray over, the kind advice of the Saviour. "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, for they are they which testify of me."

J. C.

ON EARLY DECISION FOR CHRIST.

AMONG the many facilities for doing good to others which an active young christian may now adopt for the spiritual benefit of his kindred and acquaintance, few are more available and efficient than epistolatory writing. The writer sits down alone, and calmly tells all he wishes to say; and what he writes is read alone and thoughtfully pondered, no disturbing circumstances interrupting. We were lately favoured with the sight of a letter, written in the month of May of the present year, from a younger brother to an elder; the former yet in his teens, the latter closely verging on manhood; from which, for the benefit, we hope, of many who may never know the parties, we make the extracts which follow.

"I have you hourly in my thoughts, and constantly in my prayers, as I am very anxious for your spiritual welfare. This is the subject of very anxious thought with me, whether you are yet truly saved by grace, and enjoying the blessings of salvation.