Bible and Christian soldiers in neighbouring countries by our smile, invoke Heaven's help in their behalf, and not be backward to aid them by individual contributions, or afraid to throw around them when rudely treated or ignominiously incarcerated, the potent protection of Great Britain's wing. The Alliance has already done much for the spread of the Protestant faith on the Continent of Europe; partly by the intelligence it has elicited and published, exciting sympathy; partly by its well-timed encouragements given to zealous workers in necessitous but discouraging fields of labour; but, particularly by the prompt and prudent interposition made in behalf of the incarcerated. It has succeeded in opening more than one prison door to the bound, and restoring the light of liberty to the enchained. In this it finds a legitimate sphere one which separate churches could not so easily, and by no means so effectually, occupy. It is to be hoped, that its influence in this department will become such a tower of strength, as to give shelter to every Christian labourer in every continental country; and that every-one will be embol dened to stand up for and be protected in the maintenance of his inalienable right to judge for himself in things which appertain to him and to his Maker.

The Alliance has just added materially to its strength, by the addition of a thoughtful and powerful ally. Germany and England, one in blood, the Teutonic; one in faith, the Protestant, should be one in heart as in head, and in hand as in heart. Moreover, each has to get and to give in such union. Germany is thoughtful, sometimes to heaviness; England is practical, sometimes precipitate; Germany multiplies students, England workers; Germany is a pillar of light, England one of fire. Would not mutual union in such case be mutual benefit? Intercourse would give knowledge, and knowledge would kindle emulation. Yet these two divisions of one great family have religiously kept too much apart, or had intercourse for

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sceptical and not evangelical ends. We of England did them, in all probability, as much harm last century by the works of our sceptical philosophers, as they have done us in this century by their rationalizing divines. But as we would not be judged by our metaphysical specu latists, so neither must they. They have men who have tried to damage -have damaged, in the estimation of many who are but superficial thinkers the Christian faith; but they have men not less able, and as pious as able, who have come forward to defend, and have really and triumphantly defended, the good cause. Ronge loses has lostwhat influence he wielded. Tholuck rises, and will rise. Strauss might affirm of Stier, as John of Jesus, "He must increase; I must decrease." There is a growing body, composed of both clergy and laity, who are alike opposel to the high churchism and low rationalism of sadly too many in Germany. The Alliance has admitted a considerable number of this body into its fellowship. Sir C. E. Eardley, who has contributed largely to its accomplishment, writes thus of it :-"The kingdom of Wurtemberg I found well prepared for Alliance principles. Though the clergy are Lutheran, they are, to a large extent, both evangelical and liberal. For nearly 260 years, an institution, if it may be called so, has existed in that country, which has been its great preservative from error. I allude to meetings of the laity, on the Sabbath and otherwise, for reading the Scriptures and prayer. I am told, that out of the thousand parishes into which Wurtemberg is divided, the large proportion have such meetings. In the city of Stuttgart there are three distinct assemblies. I was at one of these, where at least 200 persons were present. It was presided over by a venerable man of the middle class, who was surrounded, at a high table, by from fifteen to twenty of the most respected Christians of the meeting. The clergyman who conducted me took part in the meeting, not by right of office,

but as an honoured brother. He told me that the clergy, even where they are not evangelical, respect both the meetings and the men; and that one consequence is, that open rationalism cannot show itself in Wurtemberg. Indeed,' to speak plainly, he said, this is the Church, and the blessing of it to the country cannot be over-estimated.' At Stuttgart, the chief city in this kingdom, in an assembly of pastors, gathered October 1st, for the purpose, 152 out of 160 voted and settled the debated question of adhesion to the Alliance. This is a noble start in Germany, to be acclerated next year by the annual conference of the Alliance being held at Berlin, with the high and special sanction of His Majesty the King of Prussia. The prelate Kapff, who presided at the meeting when the cheering vote was given, in communicating the fact, writes as one who feels as well as knows the truth of the gospel,-'Christianity is to us more than churchdom, the regeneration of the Holy Spirit more than outward forms, brotherly love more than church fellowship.' With such a union of hearts, not less than of hands, what may we not anticipate as its legitimate and laudable results?"

With a largely augmented, and well-disciplined corps, then, the Alliance proposes to direct its special attention to aggressive efforts at home and abroad. It is not contented to exhibit the essential unity of the churches, but it aspires to bring into full and successful operation their latent activity. It has a special eye fixed upon the empire, for the independency and present perpetuity of which our death-defying soldiers scaled the heights of Alma, rushed into the ill-advised but heroic charge of Balaklava, fought with stubborn persistency, and at bayonet points, at Inkermann, and fell before the guns, but at length stood upon the shattered ramparts of the Redan. Unhappy, effete Turkey! What is to be thy future? This much is true, contrary to anticipations formed towards the close of the late war, that the Mussulman is not at liberty

to follow his religious convictions were they to lead him to Christ. If, within any part of the Turkish or Mohammedan rule, such a change were made, its subjects would be liable to capital punishment. This state of the Mohammedan law, too well authenticated by recent disclosures, must operate detrimentally against missions, directly sent to the Turks. Their labour would be in vain. But Dr. Hamlin, supported in the belief by Col. Rawlinson, K.C.B., who has spent twenty-two years in the East, believes that the Turks are accessible through the Armenians. There are three millions of these in the empire. Could they be led from their nominal and idolatrous form of Christianity, to a scriptural and spiritual one, their influence would be powerfully felt by the Mohammedans all around them. already largely realized. Despite the anathemas of the patriarchs, the Scriptures are numerously circulated in the Armenian tongue, and ardently read by the Armenian people. The consequence is, that Protestant churches are being extensively formed, and the Mussulmans around them are encouragingly attracted to them and their religion. "Wherever," says Dr. H., "there is a missionary station, or wherever there is a Protestant Armenian church, there the Mussulman population are seeking for copies of the Bible." The American Board of Missions have many agents engaged there; they are liberally supported by some English Christians; and we wish them God-speed in their hard but heroic work.

This is

our beloved and venerable friend, the Rev. T. Allin, as a sequel to his article on "The Universal Duty of Labouring for the Good of Man," which appeared in our last number:

A tradesman once told the celebrated John Newton, rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, that he was about to retire from business, as he had gained enough for himself and family. Why then," said Mr. Newton, 66 now be the Lord's journeyman, and carry on business for him."

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Many professing Christians engaged in business are looking forward to the time when they may give up business, having acquired enough for themselves and families. Several things are to be remarked respecting this class of men. In the first place, the sum which is to be deemed and taken as enough for themselves and their families is very indefinite and unfixed. One thinks that twenty thousand dollars would be enough, but as he approximates to that sum he finds it insufficient, and the goal of acquisition is placed at a greater distance. This process is repeated from time to time, till old age comes on, and he finds that the point has not yet been reached. "I once thought," said a wealthy business man, "that if ever I got ten thousand dollars I should be content; but a man wants increase with his property." That man is still accumulating. He has not enough yet. He is not ready to "carry on business for the Lord."

In the next place, it may be remarked that men of this class are apt to look forward to retirement from business as to a season of rest. When the proposed sufficiency shall be gained life's work will, in their view, be accomplished. They would seem to act upon the assumption that they were sent into this world to make money for themselves and families. When that money is made, they propose to retire into the country, build a beautiful residence, and lead a life of ease. They must read the Bible carelessly, or they will notice that God does "Work till thou hast made

not say,

a fortune," but "Work while the day lasts."

Those of this class who succeed in reaching the point of sufficiency, and go into retirement, meet with disappointment in regard to their expectations of happiness. They find that God's law, which commands man to work, cannot be violated with impunity. They find that habits which have been years in forming, cannot suddenly be chained. They find that energies trained to exertion can endure only temporary repose.

What course should these men pursue? Should they, like the person alluded to at the head of this article, first acquire enough for themselves, and then become the Lord's journeyman? Or, should they become the Lord's journeyman from the outset? This is plainly the Bible plan. From the outset, they should carry on business for the Lord. This does not, as some suppose, require that a man should cast all his yearly gains into the treasury of benevolence. It requires him to employ his gains as God would have him employ them. There is every reason to believe that it is the will of God, that the labouring man should reap in his own person the fruits of his labours so far as those fruits contribute to his real well-being. A man is not robbing God when he is adding to his capital, and making a reasonable provision for his family. A man is not robbing God when he employs a portion of his gains in gratifying a taste for the beautiful implanted by his Maker. What is required is, that he consult the will of God in every expenditure, whether for himself or for others. A man may do wrong by expending money upon himself. He may do wrong by giving it to others. It is possible for him to do wrong by giving to the cause of benevolence that which is due to his family. He is to use his property just as God would have him use it. He who has, in this matter, a truly willing obedient heart, will seldom fail to decide aright as to duty.

BABYLONIAN MONUMENTS.

On the evening of January 8th, we attended a most interesting lecture delivered by Col. Rawlinson at St. Martin's Hall, London. Among the important statements which the lecturer made there was one which will overturn a current and very ancient opinion-namely that the mound and heap of ruins called the Birs Nimroud at Babylon were the remains of the Tower of Babel. Col. Rawlinson stated that, not long ago, when carrying on his excavations on the site where the supposed tower stood, and having caused much rubbish to be removed, he perceived the foundations of a large building, consisting of an immense quadrangular platform, with each course of masonry diminishing as it ascended, and presenting the appearance of a flight of steps on each of the four sides. On the platform being cleared, Col. Rawlinson directed the workmen to begin at one corner and cut right into the masonry of the foundation, knowing from his former experience in excavating Assyrian monuments, that it was very probable some records would be found in a corner of the foundation. The work men had not dug long before they discovered something, which on being taken out, verified the colonel's expectation and amply rewarded his toil. What was it? A cylinder of pottery or burned clay, covered with inscriptions in the cuneiform character, quite perfect, and giving a full statement of the monarch who erected the building, and of the purpose for which it was built, &c. It

was, in fact, the same kind of record. that we usually deposit in the foundations of chapels and public buildings at the present day, when we perform the ceremony of laying the corner stone of such an erection, only the materials in this case were different. In our day we use parchment or paper for the inscription, and preserve it by enclosing it in a bottle, the same being carefully sealed; but in the age of the Babylonian structure, paper not having been invented, the inscription was made on a cylinder of pottery or burnt clay. The colonel held up before the audience the identical cylinder, which appeared to be about eighteen inches long, and about six in diameter, quite perfect, and the inscriptions as fresh as when first written.

But what was the nature of the inscription? What fact did it state? It stated that the building was erected as a temple to a certain godBelus, I think, was the name. But who was the founder of the temple? Why, that very Nebuchadnezzar spoken of so frequently in the Sacred Scriptures. Now the Bible represents Nebuchadnezzar as boasting that he had built the Great Babylon; but admitting that this was an exaggeration, yet it implies that he had doubtless built it in part, that he had erected great public buildings therein, and adorned it as the city of his imperial residence. See Daniel iv. 30. This fact is also abundantly stated in ancient profane history. Here, then, we have a cylinder dug up from the foundation of the building at least 2,400 years after its erection, to confirm the testimony of the Sacred Scriptures and confront the sceptic and the infidel by the unexpected evidence of fact. Col. Rawlinson gave numerous other corroborations of the historical records of the Sacred Volume, which we brought before our readers before, at the time of their discovery. He further states, so numerous are the ancient monuments now discovered, that when all are deciphered, it is likely we shall have a considerable portion of the Assyrian history re

stored, and numerous facts attested which will further demonstrate the records of Sacred Scripture.

GOOD NEWS

FROM MADAGASCAR. OUR readers are no doubt informed of the sanguinary persecution which a few years ago raged in the island of Madagascar, when the missionaries were driven from their posts, and some of the native Christians were cruelly martyred. Now the scene is changed.

How gratifying it is to find that persecution has not been permitted to gain its object in the far-off island; but that it has, on the contrary, served to call forth into ac tion those blessed principles which are peculiar to Christianity. The little church in that island, first formed by the labours of Christian missionaries, still survives, and its members are more numerous than at any former period. Truly it has been a burning bush, and, through the "good will" of heaven, it remains unconsumed. Left without missionaries, with closed chapels and schools, the native believers have increased in numbers and influence, sustained and comforted by those portions of Holy Scripture left with them when the persecutions commenced, and the additional copies which in various ways have been transmitted to them since that period. In the good providence of God, the queen's own son has been brought to the knowledge of the truth, and, as might have been expected, he has shielded the poor Christians from open and violent persecution. There are reasons to believe that missionary work will, at no distant period, be resumed amongst the people. In the meantime the Bible Society is preparing the Scriptures in a revised form for their use, so that whenever the happy day shall arrive, when missionaries shall again go forth, it is to be hoped that they will be furnished not only with copies of the New Testament, but also with the entire Bible in the Malagassy language. The Rev. D. Griffiths, for many

years a missionary in Madagascar, has been engaged on a revised translation under the direction, and with the able assistance of the Rev. T. W. Meller, rector of Woodbridge, Superintendent of the Translating and Editorial department in the Bible Society. Mr. Griffiths has for some years past kept up a correspondence with the native Christians, and with the Prince of Madagascar. He has received recently two letters, of which the following is a translation:

FROM THE THREE NATIVE CHRISTIANS.

Antananarivo, October 11th, 1855.

TO DAVID GRIFFITHS.

I have received your letter written on the 3rd of April, 1855, saying I have written a letter to you August, 1854, and have received an answer to

it. As to the things that arrived with the "Grammar," and the letter to Rakoton D. Radama, the prince, 13th honour officer of the palace, chief secretary, and Ramonja, 13th honour officer of the palace, they have arrived safely. The razors, the spectacles, penknives, white paper, envelopes, and ink, &c. &c., for we had not received the paper, as it did not arrive till June. We could not answer your letter, as we had not received the paper for Rakoton D. Radama, the prince, and Ramonja, but at last we received them in September. The Testament, bound in morocco, to Rakoton D. Radama, the prince, and Ramonja prince, and four Testaments also for the preachers, and the razors, spectacles, penknives, &c., arrived safely in the paper in which they were wrapt; and when Rakoton D. Radama, the prince, and Ramonja prince, and we, all saw the things, we rejoiced exceedingly, and joined in blessing God. And we greatly desire the arrival of the Bibles. We indeed thank you, brethren, for translating and revising the Malagassy Bible.

May you live and be blessed of God, and all the friends in your country that so pity and commiserate the people that are miserable in the land of darkness-read Psalm xli. 1, Mat. v., and Heb. vi. 10. And as to our state, we are very well, through the blessing of God. The people of God are increas ing and multiplying through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, for there has been no persecution since the year 1848;