JOHN MILTON.

"In

In the life of Jesus we have a most pure and brilliant development of Jehovah's moral perfections. him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;" and in his face was seen the " light of the knowledge of the glory of God."

Holiness, love, goodness, justice, and compassion are perfections of Jehovah, and are the most interesting manifestations of his nature yet made to human beings. The contemplation of these attributes of God act as great moral levers to lift the pious meditant into a likeness of his Maker, and approximate him to the graces of heavenly beings. These attributes existed in absolute perfection in Jesus Christ; and, during his ministry on earth, were displayed in a form of purity and excellence never before witnessed. He lived to illustrate and declare them, though he died for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

Holiness is an attribute of God. "God is holy;" and where has there ever been a brighter exhibition of purity than we have in the life of the Son? His life, his words, his thoughts are a mirror of beauty and purity spread out to the gaze and admiration of fallen man. How sacred, and how lovely! What a perfect model for imitation!

Love is an attribute of God. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who

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around that habitation, we can witness the grief and desolation which had entered. Heart-broken and stricken, attended by a numerous company of friends and neighbors, endeavoring, but incapable of soothing her sorrows, and sympathizing with her in her grief, she is following her son to his last restingplace, to take the final adieu until the resurrection morn; and, if a Sadducee, for ever. But, happily for the sufferer, they meet the itinerating Son of God, and the heart-rending scene is soon changed. He witnesses the agony of the bereaved mother, and is moved with compassion at her distress. He bids her weep not, and in the next moment commands the dead son to arise, and restores him to life and to his mother's arms. What joy immediately possesses her poor stricken soul! and what wonder follows the Son of God as he pursues his journey! The multitude are astonished, and say one to another, "Surely a great prophet has risen up among us;" and that "God hath visited his people."

The justice of God against incorrigible wickedness is strikingly displayed in the thrilling and stern rebukes of the Scribes and Pharisees, and the woes denounced against the cities of Judea.

We might continue to develop these features of our Redeemer's character-features which give additional interest and charms to his already interest

soever believeth in him, should not perish, but haveing and mysterious personage-a personage whom everlasting life." And Jesus so manifested the Father's love in giving his life a ransom for the world, that it transcends every exhibition of uncreated love the human race, and, perhaps, angels have ever enjoyed. As thus exhibited, it so completely transcends every other display of infinite love, as to have caused inspiration to constitute it the leading motive to prompt man to the love of his fellow-man. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Goodness and compassion are attributes of God. We have, in the entire ministry of Jesus, exhibitions of these perfections of the Father; but for their illustration we will be confined to the character of his miracles. In every instance, their design was the removal of wretchedness and misery, and the production of happiness. How godlike, and what a display of Divine goodness we have in his feeding the five thousand, lest they should faint and perish by the way!

we admire and adore, because he concentrates all perfection, all goodness, all wisdom, all power within himself because he is the enshrinement of the Godhead, and in him dwells and is seen the beauty of the Lord of hosts. And we may cast our hopes above the bounds and visions of this present world, and take in the expectation that this Jesus, who has ascended on high, will remain the leader and head of the redeemed in heaven, and will constitute the medium through which the universal Spirit will be seen, and known, and studied for eternal ages.

JOHN MILTON.

JOHN MILTON was an obscure schoolmaster. When he had written and published his Paradise Lost, a poem unsurpassed in any language, the greatest critic of that age pronounced it "an idle tale," and the first edition hardly found a sale. Now the name of Milton is associated with that of Homer, Virgil, DryHis con

Again: what an exhibition of compassion is pre-den, and the most illustrious of every age. sented in his raising the son of the widow of Nain! How touching and tender the incidents! She was a widow, and the mother of an only son. Upon him her affections and hopes for this life were placed, and cherished with a mother's fondness. He was the stay and delight of her smitten and forsaken habitation. But death, ever ruthless, and never satisfied, entered this solitary and already smitten dwelling, and robbed it of its stay and staff, and left the widowed tenant to pine and die of grief. By hovering

{ceptions, his sentiments, his language, are now a part and parcel of the English and American mind. His works have made an impression which no conceivable event can efface. He is quoted on all occasions by the learned; and the common people speak his opinions, in their own words, when they imagine every thing to be original with themselves. No man of genius has effected more for succeeding generations, and no man has, at this moment, as a literary benefactor, a higher fame.

FRANK.

A SHORT RIDE.

BY A YANKEE.

THE reader must not suppose, from the title of the writer, that the little trip was taken in New England. Far from it. There are Yankees in almost every part of the world. Wherever they are, they are very likely to be riding, at least, if they are not walking, or running; for they are proverbially a busy, restless people. But to our trip.

flowers are the very emblems of good taste; and, by this rule, I would set down the present citizens as unsurpassed in this amiable quality. But taste is good morality. It is a teacher of morals; and Indianapolis is as green in its virtues as in its

trees.

On the Sabbath, I visited both of the Methodist churches. Their congregations are large and highly intelligent. In the afternoon, on going into the vestry of the eastern church, I saw a sight that gave me sincere pleasure. It was the governor of the state instructing a Sabbath school class of little boys. The boys seemed to be as easy in his company, as if he had been the father of them all. No doubt they thought it mighty nice to have a governor for their teacher; and the teacher seemed to be as well pleased as they. I was also informed that the governor's lady-a recent acquisition to her husband, as well as to the statewas at the same time performing the same office for a class of young ladies at the central charge. The governor and his lady, both endowed with rare ac

experience and training, make very acceptable teachers in the school; and this is saying something, when we consider that that school is commonly regarded as the best in the state.

On Saturday of a certain week in June last, I left a little town, situated on a branch of the Wabash river, to make a winding tour through the country to the great Queen City of the west. The first day's ride brought me to Indianapolis. This, as all the world knows, is the capital of the state of Indiana. But there is one fact which all the world does not know; and that is, that that same city of Indianapolis is one of the most beautiful places in existence. Its streets are very broad, and the side pavements are wider than I ever saw them any-complishments of mind, will, no doubt, with a little where else. Besides, every thing looks clean and cheerful. The public buildings are large, and make a splendid appearance. The two banks are among the finest in the west, if not in the country. And then, there is the great Capitol, or State House, standing up amidst the green trees in architectural grandeur. Its colonnades are very imposing; and its whole aspect is truly magnificent. The Governor's Circle is another place of great natural beauty. It is adorned with a large mansion, spacious enough for any governor and his familiy. But, singular as it may seem, the present chief magistrate, having been till recently a single man, has had no need for so big a house; and the building has been occupied by clerks, and lawyers, and judges, and I know not what.

The different churches of Indianapolis are quite elegant. They are also sufficiently numerous. The best of them are those belonging to the two Presbyterian societies, and those in course of construction and completion for the Methodist charges, eastern and central. Roberts chapel, belonging to the eastern charge, is nearly finished, and is an honor to that intelligent, tasteful, and enterprising parish. The central house is now on its second year, and will be, perhaps, ready for use by next autumn. It bears a great resemblance to the Union church of Philadelphia. It may be regarded as a model. Societies in its vicinity, which are about to build, { would do well to look at it before drafting their plans. They will certainly get new ideas by so doing.

From May till October, Indianapolis is almost completely concealed by the thick foliage of its trees. There must have been an extraordinary degree of good taste in its earliest inhabitants; for men without taste never set out trees. Trees, shrubbery, and

Now, will the reader go with me along the great National Road? By the way-for I now suppose we are riding-that road is now any thing but a national one. It has been absolutely abandoned by the nation, and looks all along like a splendid failure. At this season of the year you can travel on it very well; but it is none the better for being national. It would be about as good if it were natural. In fact, a natural road through the same tract of country would be quite as passable; and then the nation would not have to suffer the disgrace of it. If a man wishes to know what he is made of, or whether his skull can be cracked by good hard thumping, let him take stage from Indianapolis to Dayton. If he have left five sound bones in his body, he may know he is not made of pipe metal.

The country between Indianapolis-which I will call the Embowered City-and Cambridge, is very rich and fertile. The towns, however, are not very ornamental to the nation's big road, till you get to Dublin. That is a beautiful place. The others are quite sorry in their general aspect, excepting, of course, many fine houses in them all. I saw less shrubbery in every one of them than I expected. Most of the buildings in some of them are old and shabby. Many of them looked as if they had been shaking for about four or five seasons with the ague; and it almost brought the paroxysms upon me to look at them. Every thing seemed to be shaking off from them. The shingles on the roofs were all out of joint; and many a poor son of a weatherboard hung dangling by one nail.

There was one in particular that gave me great

thoughts to the far west; and you may imagine my feelings, when, about noon one day, being somewhat tired and careless in my driving, I ran against a large granite bowlder, which was lying in the road. "Sure enough," said I to myself, "here is a stubborn old Yankee, who, true to national character, seems to have stationed himself here to disputeto dispute the road-with any who may chance to run against him." But I was too well acquainted with his Yankeeship to argue the question long with him; so, as all persons should do when they meet these Yankee characters, I prudently turned aside, and went on my way, thinking how the old gray rock could have found its way there. Perhaps the old rock was thinking the same thing of me.

uneasiness. There it hung, just under a high gable-dispel the illusion, and bring me back again in my end window, swinging, clattering, clapping, in a most uncertain predicament. It seemed just ready to fall, and yet it may have been dangling there a twelvemonth. As I sat watching it from the verandah of a little rickety hotel where I dined, I could hear it creak, as it swung on the nail; and then it would become more excited by the passing wind, and set out into a most lamentable rattle. It made me really nervous. I thought it talked, and I seemed to know what it said. It appeared to be calling most pitifully for a nail. Sometimes slow, then more rapid in its speech, I imagined it endowed with sense and passion. Now hear it moan: "A n-a-i-l— n-a-i-l-give me a n-a-i-l!" Then it gets a little impatient, and speaks promptly: "Give me a nail, sir, a nail, a nail!" Now it bursts into a passion, and clatters away as fast as you can speak thenersville, and several smaller towns, to Brookville. words: "Give-give-give-give me a nail-a nail, a nail, sir, a nail. Why should I clap, clatter, and clap, clap, rattle, clapper, and clap, so long, so long, clatter and clap? O, give me a nail!" Poor thing! I would not have been that weatherboard for all the world. But I hope it will haunt its lord, both by day and by night, make him dream of house-breaking and robbers, and turn his wits all out doors, until he gets the miserable, creaking, gibbeted weatherboard the nail.

Dublin is a very beautiful town, high and healthy. It is just two miles from Cambridge City, a place of much business importance. At Cambridge you strike the White Water Canal. This is well made, but rather narrow. It has become quite a thorough- { fare for travelers and trade. It has a daily packet from Cambridge to Cincinnati.

From Cambridge I passed through Milton, Con

All

These are all beautiful places; but Brookville is the
place for a Yankee. There is nothing like it in the
whole west. Like old Nazareth, in Palestine, it is
both in a valley and on a hill. If any reader doubts
it, let him go there and see; and, besides proving my
description true, he will be abundantly paid for his
trouble. The scenery is truly magnificent. Those
big, rough hills had a powerful effect on me.
my life came rushing back upon me in a moment.
It seemed as if I had been suddenly let down, as if
by enchantment, into the midst of the home scenes
of my boyhood. And then, most unexpectedly,.I
met there an old friend, who gave me a truly Yankee
reception. I thought he would shake the very limbs
off of me. I may justly say, that his was a friend-
ship that maketh the arms sore.

Brookville is also the residence of one of our old veteran clergymen, whose head is as well stored with oriental learning as his heart is with sincerity and kindness. A thousand blessings on the venerable pioneer!

From Brookville to Harrison we have the same kind of scenery as before; but here the scene changes. Harrison is the terminus of a fine turnpike, run

The White Water valley is splendid, especially to an eastern man. The soil, the scenery, every thing reminds him of his dear New England. This is the only place I have seen in the west which looks exactly like home. Here you have the same high hills, the same sloping and well cultivated sides, the same long-drawn valleys, the same ups and downs in the road, the same cliffy, rocky, and yet thrifty appear-ning down from the great city. It carries you over ance all around. You wind along the serpentine a rolling, beautiful country, but rather sandy, and banks of the river, cross the frequent mountain tor- not very productive. The valley of the Miami, rents which rush into it, and occasionally run up which you cross, is, of course, a signal exception. and along a hill-side, which slopes down to the very This is as fertile, and as splendid, in every respect, water's edge. All the way, you seem to be riding as any thing in the world. Now you go on and in the midst of a broad panorama, bordered by hills, away, the farms and fences improving in neatness skirted with timber, intersected by streams, and va- and order as you proceed, until, about sunset, you riegated with every species of mountain scenery. look down, from a dizzy height, upon the glorious The gorges, the gaps, the narrows, the defiles, and Queen City, itself situated on high ground. You passes, all remind the eastern man of the unforgot- are in the suburbs. How pretty are these white cotten scenes and sports of his childhood. There is tages along the road. What a world of shrubbery nothing to make him think of the west, but the is growing most luxuriantly all around them. Those character of the rocks. They are totally different. latticed piazzas are completely covered with mountSandstone, a little slate here and there, and a speciesing eglantine roses, honeysuckles, and all manner of of porous-I had almost said worm-eaten-lime rock, flowering vines and creeping beauties. For all the are everywhere seen. These would occasionally { world, give me a cottage in the country. But it

THE LAWS AND ORDER OF CREATION.

must be near a town or city. The advantages of the city are very great to a man who wishes to keep up with his generation. In the country, he is apt to let his energies run down. He needs winding up as often as his clock.

But here we are in the thronged thoroughfare of the great emporium of the west. Look out! I have run against a cart, and must back out, or be crushed. Here they come! cabs, drays, wagons, omnibuses, stages, and all sorts of vehicles. I am pressing my way to the Galt House, but scarcely know whether I shall get there. Yes; here I am at last. My poor old nag is put up into good quarters; I have a snug little room for myself; and now I go out, and lose both the reader and myself in the ceaseless whirl of business and of men.

THE LAWS AND ORDER OF CREATION.

This does not lead to a belief in the eternity of matter; for we are confined, in this explanation, by the word beginning, to the commencement of the present order of things on the earth. There probably was a time, far, very far back, when God spoke matter itself into existence.

This apparent discrepancy being reconciled, what scope for a fervid imagination is opened! what a splendid scheme of progressive creation! what a succession of grand and awful revolutions, each approaching nearer perfection, each adapting the earth better and better for the happiness of animal existences, and for the final abode of man!

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the earth allowed water to distil from the canopy of clouds, and the earth was covered with an uninterrupted ocean of hot water. This gradually became cool, and the lowest grades of animal life appeared in it.

Next, we find some slight appearances of marine vegetation. But this pent up world of liquid fire was not subdued. The crust was broken-some portions elevated, others depressed; and dry land vegetables appeared. After another apparent revolution, land and fresh water animals were added to the works of creation; and at every advancing step in the age of the world, their number greatly increased, until, in a subsequent period, we behold the whole emerged earth, covered with an immense growth of lowland vegetation, and with swarming myriads of reptiles, serpents, and saurians of enormous size, filling these dark, wet forests.

Are the labors of a self-existent and eternal God confined to a period of six thousand years? Have his goodness and wisdom slept until near this time in the bosom of eternity? Have his power and skill been for ever there, with no objects upon which to be exercised? Have no sentient beings, prior to this, ever tasted his kindness, or basked in the sunbeams of his mercy? Have yon distant, glittering suns, the light of some of which, it has been estimated, would require at least twenty-five thousand years to travel over the immense distance and reach the earth-have they shone only since man was created? If longer, { have they shone to wake into freshness no germ of vegetable life? Have they poured their heat upon surrounding spheres, to minister to the wants, warmth, and happiness of no living beings? Undoubtedly, matter, brilliant worlds, and sentient beings have been, and will continue to be, in some form, as long as God delights to impart happiness-caves of England, and the mastodon and elephant as long as eternity endures.

Another revolution, and this mighty field of moving life was buried beneath the ocean, and there laid for centuries, while minute animalculæ were piling up thousands of feet of depth of submarine rock. Again the land peered through the depth of the ocean wave, and a higher order of animals, composed of a greater variety, was created to grace the new-born earth. A warm, genial climate-a climate almost uniform from pole to polefacilitated their growth and multiplication, till every tree, hill, vale, and mountain teemed with animal life. The lion and tiger laid their lair in the mountains of Siberia; the hyena made his home in the

browsed the prairies and woodland heights of our own glorious west.

Let us, then, glance a moment at the order of creation, as brought to light by geological investiga- Now, another revolution-a sudden fall in the tions. The form that characterized matter, when temperature of the earth. The elephant was bound first created, is a subject of conjecture only. Wheth- in the ruthless arms of the everlasting ice hills of er it was created with the elements already combined, the frigid zone. Bears in great numbers were driven but possessing so great a degree of heat as to be in into the caves of Germany, and hyenas into the dens a melted state, or whether the simple elements were of Britain, to fatten on each other's blood, till all created in an uncombined state, and then, coming were consumed. The low temperature of the earth together, produced, by their chemical union, so great closed in universal death the life-throes of all organic heat, as to resolve every substance into a liquid, mat- existences. Mountains of ice straggled over the now ters not to science or our present purpose. Geology { uninhabited world. No smiling vegetation decked leads us back only to that time when the earth was the gloomy scenery-no animal life breathed, enin a state of igneous fluidity, surrounded by im-joyed, or adored. The only organic remains of this mense clouds of vapor in a constant state of com- period are a few arctic mosses and shells. The cirmotion. Every substance, capable of being vapor

cumstances of this period seemed not designed to

ized, must have existed in a state of vapor, at a de-impart enjoyment, but to prepare the earth better gree of heat far exceeding that of ordinary melted for the use and happiness of a still higher order of rock. beings yet to come.

Probably, at this period, no sun shed its benign influence over the desolate earth. "It was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep." "The Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters" that enveloped the earth. "And God said, let there be light, and there was light," and the

At first, then, we behold the earth a sphere of molten rock-an ocean of liquid fire-boiling, roaring, and dashing its angry surges amid the dark and murky atmosphere of vapor. After probably a great length of time, the earth cooled by radiation, the hardened rock formed a crust over its surface, and the vaporized substances, successively condensing, glorious sun for the first time, probably, threw its mingled with the rock. Finally, the temperature of { illuminating rays over the benighted waste. "And VOL. VI.-32