and chiefest place, and then some works of a simple religious and devotional nature; next endeavour to find some which will exercise and strengthen the mind, and can be only understood with some thought and difficulty. The works of some of the greatest minds that ever existed may be well understood by any sensible studious man, who will take the pains. And the more pains he takes, the more of the worth of his pains he will get, in real knowledge and improvement. For instance, there are no books which would be more entirely useful in the hand of any sensible man, who can read with ease, and has learned to think, than Bishop Butler's immortal work the "Analogy;" which, although it contains the deepest reflections that ever proceeded from the human mind, is yet written in plain and easy language. So are the interesting and beautiful works of Paley, two of which will greatly improve and amuse every intelligent person, I mean that called "Natural Theology" and the "Horæ Paulina*" In fact, many of the very best books in our language are suited not only to the learned reader, but also to the unlearned; but it is quite a mistake to choose light and trifling reading, under the idea that it is best suited for common persons. Equally mistaken it is to choose only those written in the present day, because they are often short,, and profess to be adapted to the common reader. The best for the common reader are the really great standard authors of former times, who are the sources and fountains of knowledge; just as it would be better to go and dig for ourselves in a rich mine of precious metal, than to trust to picking up the little scattered pieces which others hew out for us. These few words of advice have been offered to those who may happen to fall in with them, and who may be glad of a hint to assist them in their employment of leisure: and perhaps the subject may be again taken up on a future occasion, and somewhat more enlarged on.

E.

This, although it sounds a hard word, is not to be taken as a reason for thinking the book too hard for a person of good sense to comprehend.

BEDDGELERT CHURCH, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

THE village of Beddgelert is situated in one of the most beautiful spots in North Wales, at the junction of two rivers, the Gwynant and the Colwyn; lofty mountains, among which Snowdon is conspicuous, rise around it, and three lovely vales here form a junction.

The name "Beddgelert" signifies in the Welsh language "the grave of Gelert," and is given to this place on account of the following tradition :-It is said that, during the hunting season, Llewellyn the Great, prince of the country, came to reside at Beddgelert with his family, and that upon one occasion, when he was absent, a wolf came into his house. When he was returning home, his greyhound Gelert came to meet him, wagging his tail, but covered with blood. The prince, being alarmed, hastened to the nursery, and found the cradle of his infant child overturned and the floor smeared with blood.

In his rage and grief, he drew his sword, and slew his greyhound, thinking that he had killed the child; but when he turned up the cradle, to his astonishment he found the child alive and the wolf dead. The prince was so much affected by this, that he erected a tomb over the grave of the faithful Gelert, where the parish church, the east end of which is represented in the engraving, was afterwards built.

The church was formerly of some consequence, and belonged to a priory of Augustinian monks, founded by Bishop Anian in the thirteenth century. Some of its original portions are still remaining and are very beautiful, particularly the east window, an elegant triple lancet of the early English period. It is, however, very much filled up, and much of its beauty hidden, by slating and brickwork, as is the case with many other fine architectural remains; there is, however, fortunately at this time so great a desire prevalent for restoring these to their original beauty, that it may be hoped that but few of such fine specimens of the original decorations of our churches will be suffered to remain in a dilapidated state.-O. W. D.

VOL. XXVI.

X

PROVERB.-No. 7.

"The fear of the Lord prolongeth days:

But the years of the wicked shall be shortened."

Prov. x. 27.

WHEN any one fears the Lord he trembles at His word: (Isaiah lxvi. 2)—the thought of offending such a Master is very painful, because of the love that master has shown to him; and it is also very alarming, because of the power which that Master possesses. The Lord requires us to be temperate in all things, and to avoid excess. He who fears the Lord strives therefore after temperance, and shuns excess. Temperance and moderation make a man's body healthy, and his mind calm—and so, the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's days. The Lord requires us to be content with such things as we have. He that fears the Lord knows that he had better be quiet and contented, wherever God has placed him; this content does a man more good than riches, and makes his life run smoothly and regularly;—and so, the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's days. The Lord requires us to live peaceably one with another, and not to revenge ourselves when any offend us, but to leave vengeance to him. To do this keeps a man out of mischief and quarrels, which fret his temper and might shorten his life— and so, the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's days. The Lord requires us not to be angry; passionate anger makes the heart beat quickly; and, when often repeated, brings on diseases of the heart. He that fears the Lord prays for His grace to subdue all angry feelings—and so the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's days. Lord gives HIS PEACE to them that fear Him-a peace that supports those who have it under all inward trials, where others would sink-and so, the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's days. The Lord has given many promises of providential protection to those that fear Himand so the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's days. The Lord will call all who fear Him to partake of eternal life, whenever they pass out of this world-and so, the fear of the Lord prolongs a man's life to eternity.

The

A wicked man is one who has not the fear of the

Lord; he loves indulgence, and gives way to lusts-no fear of the Lord restrains him-he ruins his health, and his years are shortened. If he has little in this world, he knows of nothing beyond it, and he is discontented and frets; he does not enjoy the little he has; he unfits his mind and his body for work, and so shortens his years. He envies those above him, and quarrels with those whom he dislikes; he seeks for revenge of injuries; he gets into mischief and danger; and so shortens his years. He gives way to his angry passions often; makes his blood run twice as fast as it ought— brings on spasms and apoplexy-and so shortens his years. He has no peace within him, for "there is no peace, saith God, to the wicked” (Isaiah lvii. 21); he sinks under troubles and misfortunes-and so shortens his years. He has no promise of providential protection, and therefore no comfortable dependence and security; the fear of danger alarms him-and so shortens his years. And when eternity comes, cast out of the presence of God, left to a stinging conscience, and a selfupbraiding heart, during his everlasting state, how short, how very short, will seem to have been the few years of his wickedness and folly on earth.-REV. A. D.

OBSERVATIONS ON ANECDOTES OF SEWARD, EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

"In

IT is related of this very brave man, who lived in an early age, that when his death approached he ordered himself to be clothed in a suit of complete armour, and sat erect on a couch, with a spear in his hand. this posture," said he, "the only one worthy of a warrior, I will meet the tyrant; if I cannot conquer, I shall at least face my enemy."

How different is this from the death-bed of a Christian, he is able not only "to face," but to "conquer the enemy," not indeed with carnal weapons, but with those which are mighty through God. He too is clothed with armour; but it is with the "whole armour of God;" he meets the enemy with his "loins girt about with truth, having on the breast-plate of righteousness," with "the