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fired, he thought of nothing but his immediate gratification. But passion cannot be lasting, and the most rash, reckless actions are always succeeded by moments of calmness and reflection. To him that moment arrived, and it came laden with terrors! Unable to bear himself, he spoke as we have seen, and meeting with no sympathy, he did all that remained; he took the pieces of silver which he held in his hand, and "cast them down in the Temple." The language is true to nature, and remarkably affecting. The act and the manner of its performance were in harmony with the tempest that raged within. If he could not disburden himself of the guilt, he could at least divest himself of the price of blood, and even that seemed a consolation, however mitigated, and insufficient to meet the case.

Amongst all this terror there seems to have been no tenderness— no melting before the remembered compassion and mercy of his Lord. The case of Judas differs materially from that of Peter: "he went out and wept bitterly." His penitence was clearly of a spiritual and evangelical character. While he thought of his own guilt, he remembered his Lord's mercy, and clearly confided in that compassion which never failed those that trusted in it. Not so Judas. He thought only of his Master's innocence, and his own wickedness; of his Master's justice, and his own deserts; and, as if in anticipation of Divine punishment, he went out and laid violent hands upon himself! Self-murder is terrible, however alleviated by circumstances. When the object is most indisputably berest of reason, before the perpetration of the dreadful deed, it considerably softens the horrors of the spectacle; but when a man in perfect soundness, as was the case with Judas, is driven by a sense of his guilt, and an inability longer to endure the sight or the society of his fellow-creatures, to terminate his own existence, it acquires a character which must go without a name. Language has nothing adequately to describe it! The circumstances attending this act of self-destruction added exceedingly to its horrors. He would seem to have suspended himself from a place of considerable elevation, and the rope with which the deed was done, although it sufficed to effect his destruction, yet gave way when that was accomplished, as if in obedience to a higher command, that a further indignity might be added to the body of the malefactor! It broke, in consequence of which he was dashed to the earth, and an event of a character unprecedented took place-his body burst asunder! There is something in this inconceivably awful, and which was calculated to add ten-fold to

warehouse, or the factory, where, surrounded by a hundred vicious examples, and encompassed with an atmosphere of immorality and impiety, he begins a new study of the world and its ways. How rapidly and how effectually the good results of his Sundayschool training disappear under the influence of his new sphere of life, let

his former teachers declare. For a few months, perhaps, he may continue his Sabbath attendance at the school; but in the large majority of cases he soon gives it up altogether, falls into the beaten track of folly and irreligion, and becomes eventually the very model and counterpart of those amidst whom he drags on his daily life.

The Counsel Chamber.

INTOXICATING DRINKS.

A BOOK has just appeared, which we cordially commend to the attention of our Young Men, entitled, "Elementary Anatomy and Physiology, for Schools and Private Instruction; with Lessons on Diet, Intoxicating Drinks, Tobacco, and Diseases. By WILLIAM LOVETT. Darton and Co." The Work is one of very considerable interest, as being the result of self-instruction in such matters, by a man of a clear and vigorous understanding, who, although he has not received a professional education, has contrived to make himself master of the combined store of professional literature already within reach on the subjects in hand. It is to be noticed also, that the book has been prepared to supply a defect with which Mr. Lovett met in the prosecution of his studies. Notwithstanding the variety and abundance of existing works, he found none adapted to his objectcommunicating knowledge in the lesson form; and hence he has laboured to effect a digest on that principle, presenting to the public, within very limited dimensions, the results of the labours of Jones, Quain, Wilson, South, Elliotson, Southwood Smith, Andrew and George Coombe, Carpenter, Paris, Thompson, and Magendie.

Mr. Lovett, after a long series of lessons, gives four additional disserta-. tions on Diet, Drink, Tobacco, and Diseases. That on drinks is so interesting and important, that we have great pleasure in setting part of it before our Young Men, by whom it may be read with the utmost advantage; and if they possess only a portion of the philanthropy for which we give them credit, they will lend the Magazine, on every hand, to individuals to whom such instructions may be seasonable and important:

INTOXICATING DRINKS.

The intoxicating principle in all liquors is ALCOHOL; a limpid colourless fluid, of a strong pungent nature, obtained from various substances by the processes of fermentation and distillation.

By fermentation is meant the peculiar change which all vegetable matter undergoes in a state of decay; which in the making of wines, cider, perry, and other fruit liquors, spontaneously takes place, and being checked at a particular point forms the liquor; but other grain liquors, the fermentation in the making of beer, ale, porter, and is artificially produced by the process of brewing.

By distillation is meant the separation of the alcohol contained in fermented vegetable substances, by the agency of heat; with the aid of an

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apparatus for collecting the alcoholized vapour which arises from them in the process of boiling.

The effects of alcohol on the stomach is first to irritate its mucous lining, and over excite its nerves and secretory vessels, so as to create a morbid appetite for food beyond the wants of the system; causing the bloated and inflamed appearance we see in many persons. If the stimulant is continued, inflammatory patches and ulcerous spots break out in the interior of the stomach, accompanied by a vitiated state of the gastric juice, and a diminished appetite and power of digestion. If the habit is persevered in this is followed by a still more diseased state of the stomach; such as inflammation, dyspeptic spasms, morning vomiting, spitting of blood, and ulcerated states of its interior.

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In hot weather, and in hot countries, all these diseases are aggravated; by reason of the atmosphere being 80 rarified that the same volume of air does not contain the same quantity of oxygen to burn off the excess of carbon which intoxicating drink occasions.

The kidneys, being like the liver depurating organs, are subject to similar inflammatory and degenerating diseases, from the use of intoxicating drinks; such as enlargement and change of structure, granular deposit, and general derangement. From their impaired functions, as well as from mineral and acid substances combined in different drinks, serious diseases of another description arise, such as gravelly deposits, and stony concretions in the bladder,-diseases exceedingly dangerous, and accompanied with pain of the most intense nature. These last diseases are common among wine and porter drinkers.

The bowels are not only affected by this inflamed and diseased state of the stomach, but they are otherwise injured; first, by the alcohol weakening the fibres of the pylorus it permits the undigested food to pass out and irritate them; secondly, by its coagulating and fermenting the food in the stomach it also tends to disorder them; thirdly, by its rendering the bile less alkaline it ceases to be a proper stimulant for promoting the healthy action of the bowels, which leads to a costive habit of body, and that state too frequently to other diseases. It also often brings on (more especially in females) such an irritable state of the intestines, as to produce an almost constant state of diarrhoea. Diseases of the liver are commoned circulation of the blood; such as and notorious among those who indulge in the use of intoxicating drinks; and more especially among those of sedentary habits, or who work in-doors. The alcoholized blood, being almost immediately conveyed to the liver, tends to inflammatory disease, in consequence of the excess of carbon to be removed, as well as from the acrid nature of the alcohol.

The liver thus constantly over-gorged with venous blood, and inflamed by over-exertion, becomes at last soft and flaccid in its texture, and weak and torpid in its functions. The disease sometimes causing it to expand to

Diseases of the lungs, both acute and chronic, are also prevalent among those who indulge in intoxicating drinks. Consumptive disease is induced by a vitiated state and obstruct

is produced by strong drinks. An inflammatory state of the lungs is frequently occasioned by the acrid nature of the blood, and the fumes of the drink, irritating the delicate lining of the air-vesicles and bronchial tubes; rendering the whole organs highly susceptible of changes of temperature, and consequent disease. And nervous affection, and diminished action of the lungs, are produced by the pernicious effect of alcohol on the nerves of respiration.

The heart and blood-vessels are also liable to disease from the use of those drinks. The irregular circulation caused

by the alcohol, and its effects on their interior producing frequent inflammation, tends to weaken the elasticity of the arteries, and to ossify the valves of the heart; giving rise to palpitations, aneurisms, and other maladies.

American report on idiocy, one-half of these unfortunate beings have been proved to be the children of drunken parents.

Seeing, then, that the use of intoxicating drink tends to inflame, corrupt, The secretory glands, nerves, and and disease the whole bodily structure, vessels of the skin, have their func--that every moderate indulgence of tions also impaired by alcohol, which it serves to create a morbid appetite in prevents noxious matter from escaping, its favour, and step by step to weaken and renders the skin more susceptible the power of self-control,-that the of cold; thus producing eruptive and strong and the weak have equally becutaneous disorders, the evidences of come its victims,--that it forms the which are frequently seen in the prolific source of most of the diseases blotched face and pimpled red nose of that afflict us,-that half of the crimes the sot. committed can be traced to the love of drink,-that it dries up, or poisons the fount of education,-that it saps the mental and moral stamina of our people, and forms the great barrier to all social and political progress,-perceiving all this, are we not morally bound, not only to avoid the temptation ourselves, but by precept and example to dissuade others against so insiduous an enemy.

The brain, however, the most important of all the organs of the body, is most seriously affected by intoxicating drink; its indulgence not only tending to undermine the strongest constitution, but to destroy, mentally and morally, the most highly gifted of

mankind.

The immediate effect of alcohol on the brain is to excite the passions into activity, and weaken the power of selfcontrol; while every subsequent indulgence gives the morbid craving for drink a gradual ascendency till it has acquired a mastery, and too often prostrated the nobler powers of the man below the level of the brute.

Alcohol being conveyed to the brain, in the current of the blood, the character of which it alters by its poisonous nature, causes the serous, or watery, portion to penetrate the sides of the vessels into the surrounding tissues. This, combined with alcohol, operating on the delicate membranes, vessels, and medullary matter of the brain, irritates, hardens, and injures them; and eventually destroys their functions. Moreover, as every operation of the brain is accompanied by waste, it needs pure blood to nourish and repair it, instead of the poisonous fluid described; which pure blood not being afforded, the brain consequently suffers. Hence by these joint effects the brain is gradually impaired; and imbecility, insanity, delirum tremens, and other mental diseases induced. Upwards of one-seventh of the lunatics in the asylums of the United Kingdom alone are proved to be the victims of intoxicating drink; and, from a recent

But we are told, by the interested and the unreflecting, that drink will the better help us to perform labour, sustain fatigue, endure cold, and help us to withstand the world's hardships and man's oppression !-assertions having no foundation in fact, and disproved by abundant evidence.

That it cannot give us strength to labour is proved by the fact, that alcohol does not only not contain any element that can be converted into blood, but that it always injures the blood's nutritious properties.

That so far from helping us to endure fatigue, the poisonous effect of alcohol in the blood prevents the nourishment of the muscle; while its stimulating effect on the brain leaves the body in a state of greater depression.

That instead of drink keeping out cold it lowers respiration, and consequently prevents the usual supply of oxygen, the great essential for keeping up animal heat; thus it rather diminishes the power of resisting cold, and for that reason is frequently eschewed in frozen regions.

That a sound mind, a healthy constitution, a comfortable home, and an earnest resolution to perform our mission bravely, are great essentials for

enabling us to withstand the hardships,

are found in intoxicating drink, and in difficulties, and oppressions we may the cheerless misery of the drunkard's meet with in our journey through life; | home. poor and paltry substitutes for which

The Fragment Basket.

LABOURS OF LOVE.

The

ADAGES are often full of philosophy, and among them there is not one which contains a greater truth than that "Love overcomes all things." The principle, as thus put, is the most general. It may be the love of self, of the love of another, the love of evil, or the love of good-whatever be its object or its source, it is nevertheless a power; and unless its empire be divided by hatred, it is the most potent connected with the passions. brilliant, sophistical, and occasionally fantastic author of the "Characteristics," spoke with a derisive sneer of "the heroic passion of saving souls," which shows that his attention was caught, and his mind fixed on the fact, that no class of men had displayed so much moral heroism as those bent on the promotion of the Gospel, or of something which they deemed the Gospel; for Popish Missionaries, in some cases, have been not less zealous in diffusing error than Apostles, or Protestant Missionaries in spreading the truth. This love is inventive; where it does not find, it will make a way to accomplish its object, and the paths are innumerable in which the footsteps of Christian philanthropy may still move without obstruction. Ten thousand ways are open for sowing the seeds of good principles in the hearts

by the excellent example of a tradesman-a tea-dealer and grocer, we believe in one of our great towns, who instead of the usual nonsense, has printed useful things upon the bags and papers used to convey his goods, of which the following are a sample: EPITAPH ON A SLEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.

HERE lies a man who every Sabbath day,

In public worship slept his time away. He might have heard of heav'nly rest; but chose

In his pew rather to indulge repose. The scene is alter'd now-in vain he tries,

In easy slumbers, once to close his eyes;

For God insulted, doth in anger swear, "He who despised my rest, shall never enter there."

OPPORTUNITY

is the golden spot of time. Then "work while it is called to-day." "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." Sinners know not the value of those precious never-return

ing hours which they quaff, and revel, and trifle away: remember the recovery of one hour is not to be purchased with all the Persian treasures, or the

mines of both the Indies.-Dr. South.

THE PIOUS NEGRO. A CERTAIN American planter had a favourite domestic negro, who always stood opposite to him when waiting at the table. His master often took the name of God in vain, when the negro immediately made a low and solemn bow. On being asked why he did so, We have been led to these reflections he replied, that he never heard that

of the millions.

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