sensualism, and cruelty will give up the ghost,-but not before. ness. devout Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor Very often the complaint is heard revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit in our churches of spiritual deadthe kingdom of God. And such were Were this complaint the some of you, but ye are washed, but ye language of deep humiliation, of are sanctified, but ye are justified in penitential sorrow, and the name of the Lord Jesus and by the longing after a higher conformity to the Holy One, the heart would Spirit of our God. Many of the soon be filled with joy and the mouth primitive Christians had but crude with praise. Unfortunately (while it and partial notions of Divine truth; is in almost all cases an announcebut the vital power of Christianity ment of personal guilt and shame) it entered their hearts, and produced is too frequently the utterance of unlives so elevated and superhuman as to fill with astonishment the happy, querulous, and disaffected keenest and most fastidious ob- for life on mere cordials and stimuspirits. Churches depend too much servers. Heaven's Spirit was in lants. Christ is our life. If we them, and it raised them above all live on Him we cannot but feel the earthly sorrows, and made them invigorating power of His grace. jubilant in the presence of the most Oh when shall we fully recognize cruel deaths. They rejoiced that they this momentous fact? Then and then were counted worthy to suffer for only shall we be able to march to the Christ's sake. To a very large conquest of the world. Equipment extent the virtues which appeared for the conflict can never be obwith such living power, in such men tained through any mechanism of as Paul, were reproduced in hun- external appliances; but by the indreds of others. Men of demon-dwelling of the Son of God. I can like passions were subdued and do all things through Christ who made to sit with teachable and strengtheneth me. loving hearts at the feet of Jesus. Wild barbarians were tamed, raised to the dignity of manhood, adorned with the graces of the Spirit. The history of Christianity in all ages and climes has been the history of power, and power ever opposed by all that is human and infernal, marching silently along and gaining victories, the full magnitude of which as to their moral and spiritual results, the records of eternity alone can unravel. The glory of the God of Israel has come from the way of the east, and the earth has shined with its effulgence. The tree of life is in our midst, and all we need is to partake of its fruit. It is this alone which can heal the maladies of the world. The development of intellect is good. Political reform may be good. Organizations for the suppression of vice are good. Nothing, however, but the life of God can emancipate humanity from its fetters. Let the heart beat in unison with God's heart, and selfishness, rapacity, in the soul on the present position The full bearing of the life of God and future destiny of man will appear first from the fact that it elevates our entire being. The intellect no longer fixes its eye on the visible, but raises it to the contemplation of Him who is all and in all. He becomes the chief good to the soul. The glory of all else is eclipsed by the inconceivable splendour of His nature. Faith lays hold on Him. Love clings to Him. Hope anticipates a nearer and brighter vision. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shines into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The union of the heart with the attributes of the Most High gives it a power it never felt before-the power of overcoming the world,— of ascending heavenward. We now yield our members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Now commences that mighty change in The Blessings of the Life of God in the Soul. the body which the resurrection is to consummate. The Redeemer dwelt in human flesh, and with a body hallowed by a life of spotless purity, ascended to His father and our father as the great pattern of what He intends us to be. The deliverance of the spirit from the deadly power of sin brings freedom to the bodily organization. The connection between body and mind is now so intimate that they necessarily act and re-act on each other. As the body is the medium of our acquaintance with all that is visible, the deliverance of this medium from what demoralizes and sensualizes it, must give clearness and purity to our mental perceptions. To say there are men who bear the Christian name, who know but little of this change, is, in point of fact, simply to say that they know but little of the regenerating power of Christianity. The universe assumes a different aspect to Him in whom the Divine Spirit is enthroned. Nature is the workmanship of His father. Providence is controlled by His father, who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will, and hastens the accomplishment of purposes the mightiest and noblest. The material organs become trained to watch the operations and obey the behests of God, and are gradually prepared for the final transformation, when the corruptible shall put on incorruption, and the mortal shall put on immortality. Life in Christ secures His ever constant presence. My presence shall go with thee, is a promise which every moment is being fulfilled. The light of His countenance irradiates the wilderness, and there have been seasons when we have seen heaven opened, and the Son of Man, our friend, our brother, our representative, our forerunner, sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Enemies we must have; but who or what can harm him whose God is the Lord? When He giveth quietness, who can cause trouble? Does He not teach our hands to 45 war and our fingers to fight? As our day so our strength is. The world is a scene of perpetual revolutions. Affliction and death are evermore invading our earthly homes; but He in whom we trust lives and changes not. Dark and mysterious as may be some of our sorrows, they are all visitations of mercy. Through suffering we are made perfect like the Captain of our salvation. We rise to a brighter atmosphere through our very trials, and are led to long for our home on high, where an eternity of peace and joy awaits us. The full development of spiritual life includes all which the heart and intellect can wish, both present and future. Because I live ye shall live also, is the language of the risen Saviour. We now feel that the problem of our being is to be solved in the upper sanctuary. When the cold hand of death is upon us, and when for a time we put off this our tabernacle, we shall shout the song of triumph, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Scenes of surpassing glory will rise on the vision. Beings of resplendent forms will accompany us home. Thoughts which no mortal tongue can utter will enchant the soul. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may be also. The budding of the flower but partially reveals its full beauty. It does not yet appear what we shall be. Think of the mental powers rising higher and higher in their contemplation of the Infinite One. Think of the immensity, the magnitude of the objects which will stand before their gaze. Think of the information which beings of higher intelligence may communicate to us. Think of our entire and eternal freedom from sin, and from all which can distress the mind. Think of our associates, the nobility of the creation. Think of the august presence in which we shall dwell. For ever with the Lord. The last enemy shall have been swallowed up in victory. The mediatorial scheme shall have unfolded its full splendour, and the myriads of the redeemed shall have been gathered from all lands and ages. Oh is not the anticipation enough to ravish the mind, and quell every fear! Let us struggle on. The morning star is risen. The day will soon dawn-the bright and cloadless day of eternity! MASSACRE OF JEWS IN THEIR SYNAGOGUE AT PRAGUE.* A GLIMPSE AT MIDDLE-AGE PERSECUTIONS. IT happened in the days of Wenceslaus the Slothful, that a Knight was inflamed with lust for a Jewish maiden. She repelled his shameful proposals with virtuous indignation. The arts of seduction were foiled by the maiden's steadfast determination. The Knight, therefore, resolved to attain his purpose by violence. The day of the Feast of the Atonement seemed to him the best suited for the accomplishment of his plan. He knew that Judith-so the maiden was named-would on that day be staying at home with her blind mother, while all the other members of the family were detained by prayer and pious exercises in the house of God. On the evening of that day Judith was softly praying by the bed-side of her slumbering mother. The door of her chamber opened, and her detested persecutor entered with sparkling eyes. Unmoved by her prayers, or tears, he already held Judith fast embraced in his powerful arms, when a lucky chance brought her brother home to enquire after the health of his mother and sister. The terrible unutterable wrath that took possession of the brother gave him, naturally a powerful man, the strength of a giant. He wrenched the sword out of the villian's hand, who had only the women to thank that he did not pay for the attempted infamy with the forfeit of his life. With kicks and grim mockery the outraged brother drove the dissolute fellow from the house. The Knight, exposed to the scorn of the people who had assembled in considerable numbers, swore a bloody deadly revenge against the Jews. He kept his word. Long ago expelled from the ranks of the nobility on account of his worthless behaviour, the Knight had cultivated a connexion with some discontented idle burghers of the city, and these he hoped to make the ministers of his cruel vengeance. Some short time afterwards he put himself at the head of a mob, wrought up by frivolous pretexts to a frenzy of fanaticism, to murder the Jews, and plunder their town. The Jews who, frightened out of their peaceful dwellings, went to meet the robbers, were cut down. Determined as they were, the rest were overwhelmed by a superior force, and being unarmed were compelled, after a heroic struggle, to take refuge in the synagogue, which was already crowded with old men, women, and children. Mighty blows sounded heavily on the closed doors of the synagogue. Open, and give yourselves up,' yelled the Knight from outside. After a short pause of consultation, answer was made that the Jews would deliver over their property to the mutineers, would draw up a deed of gift of it, and only reserve for themselves absolute necessaries. They also promised to make no complaint to king or states, in exchange for which the honour of their wives and daughters was to be preserved, and Pascheles, a learned modern Jew of Prague, *The above is given by Dr. Wolf in his recent work, entitled 'Sippurim." -ED. Rather Death than Dishonour. no one compelled to change his religion. 'It is not your business,' a voice from outside again resounded, 'it is ours to dictate conditions. If you desire life, and not a wretched death, open at once, and abjure your faith. I grant but short delay for reflection: let the time of grace pass by, and you are one and all given over to destruction.' No answer followed. Further resistance could not be thought of; and a hope that the king would at length put a stop to this unheard of, unparalleled iniquity, grew every moment less. The battle in the street if the desperate resistance of a few unarmed men against an armed superior force could be called by that name-had lasted long enough to have enabled King Wenceslaus to send to their assistance. As no help came, the Jews were at length constrained to admit that he did not trouble himself about their fate. A silence as of death reigned in the synagogue. Only here and there a suppressed sobbing, only here and there an infant at the breast that reminded its mother of her sweetest duty, was heard. Once more the voice of the Knight thundered rough and wild, I demand of you for the last time, which do you choose-the new faith or death?' There was a momentary silence, then a cry of thousands, 'Death!' broke with a dull sound against the roof of the house that was consecrated to God. The rioters now began to demolish the doors with axes and hatchets. But the besieged, in their deadly agony, lifted up their voice in wonderful accord, and sang in solemn chorus the glorious verse of the Psalmist :'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear the crafty wiliness of the evil-doer; For Thou art with me! Thou art in all my ways; The firm staff of faith is my confidence.' The aged Rabbi had sunk upon his knees in prayer upon the steps that led up to the tabernacle. 47 'Lord,' he implored, 'I suffer infinite sorrow. Yet, oh that we might fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is boundlessonly not into the hand of man-Ah! we know not what to do: to Thee alone we look for succour. Call to remembrance Thy mercy and gracious favour, which has been ever of old; in anger be mindful of compassion; let Thy goodness be shown unto us, as we put our trust in Thee.' But God at this season did not succour His children: in His unsearchable counsels it was otherwise ordained. The first door was burst open; the mob pressed into the vestibule of God's house. A single frail barrier separated oppressed and oppressors.Lord,' cried the Rabbi, in accents of deepest despair, 'Lord, grant that the walls of this house, in which we and our fathers with songs of praise have glorified and blessed Thy name, that the walls of this Thy temple may fall together, and that we may find a grave under their ruins! But let us not fall alive into the hands of the barbarians. Let not our wives and maidens become a living prey to the wicked.' 'No!' now exclaimed a powerful voice, 'that shall they not, Rabbi. Wives and maidens, do you prefer death at the hands of your fathers, husbands, brothers, death at your own hands, to shame and dishonour? Would you appear pure and innocent before the throne of the Almighty, instead of falling living victims into the hands of these blood-thirsty, inhuman men outside; would you? Speak! time presses.' And again resounded from a hundred women's lips, Rather death than dishonour. His lovely blooming wife pressed up close to the side of the man who had thus spoken, her baby at her breast. Let me be the first; let me receive my death at thy loved hands,' she murmured, softly. With the deepest emotion of which a human soul is capable, he clasped her to his breast. It must be done quickly,' he said, with hollow, trembling voice. The separation | battle-axe in hand, stood on the must be speedy. I never thought to part from you thus. Lord, most merciful, forgive us. We do it for Thy holy name's sake alone. Art thou ready?' 'I am,' she said; 'let me only once more, but once more, for the last time, kiss my sweet, my innocent child. God bless thee, poor orphan; God suffer thee to find compassion in the eyes of our murderers * * God help thee! We, dear friend, we part but for a short time; thou wilt follow me soon; thou true-hearted.' With the most infinite sorrow that can thrill a man's heart, the husband pressed a fervent parting kiss, a last touch of the hand upon the loved infant, that absolutely refused to leave its mother, and her bared and heaving breast. One stroke of the knife, and a jet of blood sprinkled the child's face, and spouted up against the walls of God's house. The woman sank with a cry of 'Hear, oh Israel, the Everlasting, our God is God alone!' and fell lifeless on the ground. All the other women, including Judith, followed the brave and gallant example. Many died by Many died by their own hands; many received their death strokes from their husbands, fathers, brothers; but all of them without a murmur, silent and resigned to God's will. They had to tear away tender children, who, weeping and wringing their hands, climbed on to their father's knees, and piteously implored them not to hurt their mothers. It was a scene horrible and heartrending; a scene than which the history of the Jews, the history of mankind, knows none more agonizing. It was accomplished: no woman might fall alive into the hands of the persecutors. The last death-sigh was breathed, and the few stout men, who had desired to defend the inner door only till then, stepped backward. A fearful blow, and the door, the last bulwark, fell in, sending clouds of dust whirling over it. The Knight, brandishing steps that led up to the house of prayer. His countenance was disfigured by fury. Behind him crowded an immeasurable mass of people, armed with spits, and clubs, and iron flails. Yield your women and children!' he shouted, in a voice of thunder, at length betraying his real intention;- and abjure your faith!' 'Look at these blood-dripping, steaming corpses,' said a man who stood nearest the door; 'they are women and maidens; they have all preferred death to dishonour Do you think that we men fear death at thy hands and the hands of thy murderous associates? Murder me, monster, and be accursed here and hereafter, in this world and the next, for ever and ever!' A moment afterwards the bold speaker lay on the ground weltering in his blood. At the sight of the countless corpses of the women, the beastly rage of the populace, that saw itself thus cheated, mounted to absolute madness. Hyænas drunk with blood would have behaved with greater humanity. Not a life was spared; and even infants were slaughtered over the bodies of their mothers. Blood flowed in streams. One boy alone was later on dragged still living from under the heaps of dead. As they approached the tabernacle, in order to inflict the death-stroke on the Rabbi, who was kneeling on the steps before it, they found him lifeless, his head turned upwards in the direction of the East, a soft smile upon his death-like features. Death had anticipated them. His pure soul had passed away in fervent prayer. The The mob surveyed the work that had been accomplished; and now that the thirst for blood was stilled, shrunk in terror before the crime that had been perpetrated. tabernacle remained untouched, the house of God unplundered. Discharging oaths and curses on the Knight, their ringleader, the wild troop dispersed in apprehensive awe of the Divine and human judge. |