Budden bereavement fell upon me. "Oh, ken. It was a striking incident, rendered

indelible by the subsequent removal of that faithful servant from the vineyard below to the resting-place above. Once more I visited, for a few hours, the mansion of hospitality and love: the tulip-trees were in full beauty, the lawn was soft and verdant as ever, the vine mantled richly over the windows, and flowers in gay profusion breathed their sweet perfume through the closed shutters. I could not look out upon what was so fair: a glance toward the one object that lay concealed beneath a black pall, never more to be unveiled to mortal eye, filled my heart, to the exclusion of earth's brightest beauties. I thought on the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah:-I thought, how often had those lips breathed the

my sister, our God is all-powerful; even the Lord save me' of drowning Peter was enough." There was a fitness in the application, ignorant as we then were of the state of that beloved object's mind, which met the case exactly, and proved a word in due season to a fainting heart. My last visit was made in a wintry season, and under circumstances of peculiar desolation. He, who brightened us all by his sunshiny presence, had long been laid beneath the sod; it was not yet green over the dumb boy's grave; and other circumstances combined to depress me unusually. My friend also was declining in health, and sorely exercised in mind by the perplexities recently introduced into the church by his most beloved associate-the brilliant, but sadly deluded and deluding language, "Turn ye, turn ye; why will Irving. He was absorbed in many anxious thoughts, and the presence of Mr. Simeon proved most cheering to us all. The glorious subject of Israel's redemption occupied each heart, and dwelt on every tongue and truly I can say, that, like the Amaranthus, my valued friend shone in bright contrast to the winter around him, while dwelling on that "everlasting love" which is pledged to accomplish the deliverance of God's people.

ye die, O house of Israel?"-how frequently those lifeless hands had dispensed the water of baptism, and the consecrated elements of the Lord's supper, to such as obeyed the call: and how high that heart had beat in holy exultation over the lost sheep so gathered back into the fold. One short sentence of inspiration expressed what no tongue of man or angel could otherwise have uttered, "Blessed is he that blesseth Thee."

Sitting down to supper with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God, is our Lord's own description of the privileges reserved for such as be Abraham's children by faith ; and, blessed be His holy

The hours were dearly prized by me, little as I anticipated a speedy separation of the parent from his children, the husband from his partner, and the pastor from his flock. I saw him but once again, and that was upon the platform of a densely-name!-there is no difference of Jew or crowded meeting, when, unexpectedly, he Gentile in that consummation of eternal rose for a few moments, to avow himself felicity. But I cannot imagine with what the author of a testimony against the eye or with what understanding those withering and blasting influence of Socin-persons read the bible, who see there no ianism, in a society to which he was especial reference to the continued elderwarmly attached. He rose, indeed, like brotherhood of the literal Israelite, even to an apparition; and if I was pained at the the end of the world: or who consider emaciated figure and pallid aspect-so that in the wide promulgation of the goschanged from what he had even a few pel, for which we are taught to look and weeks before appeared-still more did I to pray, the converted Jew will not be rejoice and glory in the steadfast though made a chosen and peculiarly honoured meek determination with which the disci-instrument in the Lord's hands. Not that ple voluntarily stood forth to acknowledge I expect the kingdoms of this world to behow zealously he was affected in a good come the kingdom of our God and of his thing-how jealous of the least possible Christ, by a quiet extension of the truth. taint on the doctrine of the great God, his | No, I believe that the wine press of wrath Saviour. He made his avowal, looked must first be trodden, and the enemies of calmly around upon a thousand frowning the Son be broken to pieces-dashed brows, and resumed his seat, beyond my asunder like the shreds of a potter's vessel.

I believe that Great Babylon, papal Rome, must come in remembrance before him, and receive the cup of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God, in recompense for the wine of the wrath of her fornications, wherewith she has seduced the kings of the earth and blasphemed the Most High. I believe that the whole company of Antichrist, papal and infidel, must be violently overthrown, and the day of vengeance usher in the year of the redeemed of the Lord. It is in combination with all this, that I look for the full ingathering of God's ancient people, their re-establishment in the land which he gave unto their fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever, the restoration of that land to more than its pristine fertility, and the abundant going forth of the law of the Lord from Jerusalem; by means of his own reconciled Israel-once more, and in a higher sense than ever, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, a blessing to the uttermost ends of the earth.

perennial, destined to bloom again in the multitude of its blossoms, and to send forth many an off-set to other gardens, where the Lord shall plant them, and keep them, and water them every moment.

It is a better ingredient in the overflowering curse of Rome, that pagan or papal, she has ever persecuted the Jews. That brand is imprinted so deeply, that the fires now kindling for her will not burn it out: -"Cursed is he that curseth thee." It is the singular privilege of poor Ireland that she is totally free from this stigma, so widely extended over Europe; and it is well known how, in her deep poverty, the riches of her liberality have abounded towards the missionary work now carried on among the Hebrew people; and shall not poor Ireland one day set her seal, despised and forsaken as she now is, to the equally sure record, "Blessed is he that blesseth Thee." God's blaspheming enemy is still permitted, to a great extent, to trample down one who never set her foot upon the When it first pleased God, by his Spirit, neck of God's prostrate people: but all to open my understanding to those things these things are had in remembrance bewhich are foolishness to the natural man, fore him, and when he maketh inquisition and before I enjoyed the privilege of com- for blood he will not forget it. The Amamunion, by word or letter, with any of his ranthus is a treasury of precious thought, people, I was so powerfully struck by the recollections, promises, and hopes-condistinctness of the promises given to the nected with the most glorious subject that literal seed of Abraham, that I often de- can possibly occupy the mind of manvised plans for sending forth fishers to the coming, kingdom, and glory of the fish, and hunters to hunt for them; often Messiah. Oh, that he would shortly acprayed over the ninth chapter of Daniel; complish the number of his elect, and hasand longed to proclaim to others, which I ten that hour! The world is lying dead supposed a new discovery--that Israel around; the torpor of indifference is only should again blossom, and bud, and fill varied by the tumult of tempestuous the world with fruit. I know not whether strife. The pleasures of earth, like the my surprise or my joy was the greater, on gay flowers that fell before the frost, perbeing told, after a long while, that an ex-ish in the using, and thorns stand out in natensive and increasing society was in ac- ked savageness to mock the eye that tual operation to this very end: and how seeks for the fair mantle that once conever slightly I may have seemed to re- cealed them. Benumbed or torn away, gard the subject, under the conviction all has so eluded my grasp, that while that my own line of service was marked casting a glance around, I am tempted to in a different path, I think there is no pros- inquire, Did flowers ever bloom here; or pect of spiritual blessedness, or temporal can they again make bright this desolated prosperity for Christ's church, presented ground? But the lovely Amaranthus to my mind, wherein "THE JEW FIRST" is smiles an answer, conveying to my soul not recognized. Yes, like my winter that sublime word, "I am the Lord; I nosegay, so bright in death, the several change not." Yea, and while humbly shoots of that venerable stem, which have pleading the privilege of an ingrafted yet a name to live and are dead, speak Gentile branch, partaking of the root and the language of assured promise to me. fatness of the parent tree, I am enabled to The root that bore them still survives, a receive, on behalf of the literal Israel, the

full pledge, the immutable promise founded on the immutability of Him who has spoken it :-"I am the Lord; I change not: therefore YE SONS OF JACOB are not consumed."

CHAPTER III.

THE VIOLET.

pleasure in the ramble of which the professed object was to pick violets. With small baskets pendant from our hands, often have we, as a lively troop of youngsters, sallied forth along the lane, over the meadow, and down by the long narrow channel that separated the road from its tall hedge-row fence, where ran a shallow stream of tolerably pure water, supplied by a neighbouring spring. This stream rose among the pebbles, under a footbridge of light planks, and after spreading around, in different directions, as if uncer

How sweet is the promise of an ap-tain which way to shape its future course, proaching spring, when winter has firmly it finally settled to divide itself, and replenestablished his severe dominion! Light ished the excavations on either side the is always lovely; but never so precious as afore-mentioned hedge. Perhaps it was when shining in a dark place; a star, the abundant moisture thus supplied that "distinct though distant," bearing witness caused the vegetation of the bank to shoot that we are on the right track to "the so high and spread so luxuriantly. Certain haven where we would be." Such a light it is that, what with the bright holly and we are told, is the sure word of prophecy, its ruby berries throughout winter, the itself an earnest of what it promises, even sweet hawthorn flower in May, the briar as the pole-star in the midnight sky is of rose and straggling honey-suckle in the the day-beam that shall break in the east, summer months, and the overhanging whither it enables us by its bearing, to di- mass of bramble, festooned with the wild rect our watchful gaze. A promise too, vine, to autumn's close, this was a very and an earnest, of a more genial season, king of hedges. Here and there, a stout are united in the lovely little flower that is knotted oak threw out its capacious, breathing its rich perfume around me now. though not lofty trunk, seeking, as it were, The Russian Violet, formed to retain both to hide the wounds inflicted on its head by tint and fragrance through the most biting a superabundance of foliage: while, beseverity of weather, gives me this lesson neath the shelter of these various guarof hope; bringing also in its train many a dians appeared a succession of wild flowrecollection no less dear than are the anti-ers, so numerous, so abundant, that one cipations it numbers.

It has often been a question with me whether hope or faith is the more vividly depicted in this flower: but they are inseparable, or, at least, they ought to be so. "Hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, how doth he yet hope for ?" and again, Faith is "the evidence of things not seen." Each has its eye fixed on what the flesh cannot behold: each is in itself an invisible good, yet diffusing by its presence such sweets as nothing else can shed. This is the property of the violet; it droops its head, and hides beneath the foliage of a bank, and makes itself known, not through the medium of our sight, but by the sense of delicious enjoyment, when we pass by its fragrancebreathing covert. To most minds there is something attractive in the mysterious; and from childhood I have taken special

wondered how they found room to grow, or left space sufficient to exhibit the peculiarly cool and refreshing green that formed the ground-work of the enchanting tapestry.

Here it was that the violet loved to hide its head: not growing on the bank beyond, but lurking under a sort of projecting shelf on our side of the channel. No dusty road was bordered by the little stream: the carriage-way was unfrequented, except by the vehicles employed in agricultural operations on the property; a well-fastened gate at the end excluding all others. Accordingly, the grass sprang up at will, save only in the track of the horses and wheels, and a broad border of dwarf furze, intermingled with fern and stately thistles, separated this road from the high verdant footpath that strag gled in unequal width nearest the edge.

Here we roamed, together or apart, whe- its course. They rather seem to afford a

ther in quest of wild flowers, or merely for a stroll: but I soon discovered a more tempting track, and many a time did I steal through a gap, close beside one of the stunted oaks to enjoy the solitude that few others cared to court.

sort of foretaste, a faint specimen of what the human mind is capable of enjoying, when relieved alike from cares for the present and from fears for the future. Faint, indeed, is the shadow so long past of the substance that is yet to come: but self The interior side of the hedge was far appears to vanish from the picture when 1 less gay, but to me more attractive; the contemplate the delights reserved for, perchannel there was so narrow as to be haps, a future race of earth's inhabitants, hardly perceptible, while the bank was when the glorious day of her promised smoother, more abrupt, and bearing only renovation dawns, and the great enemy of such flowers as love the shade. Violets their peace is chained, and the kingdoms there were in unsuspected profusion, for I of this world openly become what in realnever told how rich a store I had disco-ity they never ceased to be-the kingdom vered, neither did I gather them. Their of our God and of his Christ. That such a fragrance satisfied me as I slowly wan- period of blessedness is in store for the dered along, peering over the fair pas-church, no reader of scripture thinks of turage that stretched northward, and lift- denying: that the period draws rapidly ing many a look to the line of distant hills, basking in the sunshine from which I was screened by that tall fence. My violet bank was like a miser's hoard, guarded from other hands, and untouched by my own. It seemed so in keeping with the innocent, shy-looking lambs that, at the same season, were trying their limbs on the grass, that I never wished to rob the landscape of its fanciful association. Oh the light, the beauty of tender spring, as it meets a youthful spirit, contemplative, but still unclouded with the cares of life! The Violets before me are violets also, as beautiful, as odorous, as any that ever sweetened my path; but the external scenery of chill, confirmed winter that surrounds me is not more dissimilar from the budding luxuriance of the sunshiny landscape, instinct with life and motion, than are the inward cogitations that accompany my present employment from the dreams of that period. The flower is the same, and the flower only; I can bend over it until,The past returns, the present flies" -until the frost and snow of cheerless winter are replaced in my thoughts by the budding graces of advanced spring; and the turmoil, the anxieties, the disappointments, the perplexities of every day give place to the placid flow of feeling that rolled along so softly, yet so brightly, as I rambled beside the violet bank."

But retrospections of past happiness do not produce this tranquillity of spirit; though divested by distance and time of the little inequalities that even then ruffled

near, no observer of passing signs can doubt. I am not going to enter upon the difficult ground of millennarian doctrine : my own views are fixed and settled, so far as I can trace the sure word of prophecy : and that is, perhaps, a little farther than I am in the habit of proclaiming. It is a subject better suited for private meditation than for the noisy, and sometimes unfriendly discussions that result from forcing it into notice. Nothing can be more sweet, more profitable, than to exchange thoughts upon it with one who sympathizes in our views and hopes: few things more ungracious than to parade it before the unwilling eyes of a brother or sister who beholds it through a different medium: but this I will say, that the violet— and above all the Russian violet-is identified in my mind with a hope that will not make ashamed, because it is founded on what the Lord hath spoken concerning the world and the church in the latter-day glory.

By the world I do not mean that which hateth Christ and his people, but the material world, which he formed at the first so very good, to be the habitation of an obedient, happy race of beings-the original regalia, whereof some scattered and broken gems lie around us, go where we will, bespeaking what must have been the grandeur of the combination that once existed; what will be the magnificence of its future display. The earth, perhaps, will even then require the hand of labour and of skill to direct its abundant produc

dear little store on the north side of the hedge experienced.

I have named Das taking delight in this subject: in reality, he was most stiffly opposed to what are called the modern millennarian views, including a personal reign of Christ for a thousand years on this visible earth. I well remember his answer to a friend, who, in trying to combat his objections said, "Suppose a person were to exclaim to you, Yonder is the Lord, sitting in that cloud, coming in glory towards us, would you not look up?" D- briskly replied, "No, I would not: for it is written, 'If they say unto you, lo here is Christ, or lo there, believe them not.'" The subject was, of course, a personal pre-millennial advent; and when in more familiar discourse, we have talked over the matter, he has often said to me,

tions: it may be once more a garden of Eden, and man will be set in it to dress and to keep it, as of old: for a state of inactivity is incompatible with a state of perfect enjoyment. But the foot will not then be torn by thorns and briars, nor the spirit wounded by unkindness: the hand will not know the sting of venomous plant or reptile, neither will the conscience be stung by virulent passions, or unavailing remorse. The strong will not oppress the weak, nor the mighty prey on the helpless. Imperfection and infirmity must needs cleave to humanity, in that which is not destined to be its final state of being; but when all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest, when none shall hurt nor destroy in all his holy mountain, when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of his glory, and the accuser of the brethren cast down, the roaring and devour-“Never mind, dear friend, let him now fix ing lion chained, and the corrupt principle in man, restrained by victorious grace, find no tempting fiend to urge it into rebellious action,-oh it will be a joyous thing to look abroad upon a renovated creation, and to hold sweet communion with the Most High, in the midst of His shining handy-work!

his throne in our hearts; and whensoever and whersoever he appears to reign, you and I shall reign with him." I did not so far differ from him, nor do I now, as to excite any debate: and very delightful were the walks that we have taken, amid wild but beautiful scenery, anticipating the destruction of all that could harm, and the re-establishment of all that could rejoice the eye and heart of man, when the promised period should arrive of the Lord's

I cannot attach individual biography to this sweet flower, the Violet; for I have confined the record of these associations to the departed, and of those only Dreign-be it of what nature it might. and the dumb boy took delight in the subject; though, blessed be God! I have many dear living friends with whom to hold sweet converse upon it. Nay, the violet has an antitype too; but long, very long may it be ere that beloved individual's name shall appear in any record of the departed! Still, amid "a multitude of thoughts"—they might safely be varied like the psalm, and translated "sorrows" too---that I have in my mind, it may be forgiven if I welcome the refreshment breathed on my soul by this gentle little visiter, the soft, sweet Violet, with its serious, yet cheerful countenance, its tranquillizing influence, and its promise of happier days. The individual referred to, will probably read these pages: but will be the last to suspect the identity: and that which has never been spoken cannot be betrayed. Therefore, of all my Violetnatured friends, none need be apprehensive of any farther publication than my

The Russian Violet, springing from the frozen ground, amid storms and every mark of devastation, presents also a more exact type of what I conceive will be the circumstances of that period. That the world will be converted by the preaching of the gospel, I have not the slightest expectation. Judgments most terrible, such a blasting of the breath of divine displeasure as shall wither the nations, such a breaking to pieces under the rod of his wrath as the rending of the wildest tempest never inflicted on the shrivelled leaves of the frost-nipped forest, are what I look for, as the sure precursors of that glowing spring. I know that the great papal Babylon, and the blasphemy-branded beast of infidelity which she is even now bestriding, shall be destroyed by the brightness of the Lord's coming: I know that the princes and mighty men, and all the host of their antichristian alliance, shall vainly cry to the mountains to fall on them and