the temple of Zerubbabel was pulled down B. c. 17. The temple of Herod was considerably larger than that of Zerubbabel. The courts of this temple were similar, with very little variation, to those of Solomon's temple already described. This splendid building, however, which was once the admiration and envy of world, has for ever passed away-According to our blessed Lord's prediction, that "there should not be left one stone upon another that should not be thrown down." (Mark xiii. 2.) It was completely demolished by the Roman Soldiers, under Titus, a. D. 70, on the same month and on the same day of the month, on which Solomon's Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. Of the destruction of Jerusalem we hope to give an interesting account in another chapter.

A MEDITATION FOR SUNDAY MORNING.

THROUGH the tender mercy of our God, the day-spring from on high hath visited us. (Luke i. 78.)

Glory be to Thee, O Lord, all glory be to Thee, who didst, as on this day, create the light, and command it to shine upon the face of the deep. (Gen. i. 3, 4.)

How glorious is that light which affects our senses, the rays of the sun, the flame of fire, the day divided from the night, the evening and the morning.

How much more glorious is that light which shines upon our minds, by the examples of patriarchs, the revelations of prophets, the sweet solace of holy psalms, the instruction of wise proverbs, the profit and experience of faithful histories.

Blessed be Thy name for this light, which no darkness ever overspreads; this sun, which never goes down! (Ps. cxviii. 27.) God is the Lord, who hath shewed us such light; bind ye the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar.

O Thou, who on this day didst rise again, raise up our souls unto newness of life; (Rom. vi. 4, 5.) granting us repentance from dead works, and planting us in the likeness of Thy resurrection.

And Thou, O Father and God of peace, who didst bring again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; (Heb. xiii. 20, 21.) make us perfect in every good work to do Thy will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in Thy sight, through Jesus Christ.

O Thou, who didst also on this day of the week send down on Thy Apostles Thy most Holy Spirit; take not the same Spirit away from us, but grant to all Thy servants who ask it of Thee, that they may be daily renewed, aud more plentifully enriched in the same.

O Lord, who, by choosing this day for these most important, most beneficial events, didst direct Thy Apostles full of the Holy Ghost, to call it, and to make it be Thy day, by translating it to the sacred rest of the sabbath; (Heb. iv. 5,9.) to make this day of the Lord a refreshment after labour, an interval of recruit to our feeble and wearied bodies; a merciful cessation to servants and beasts; our fellow-labourers; a constant return of Thy solemn worship, by prayers and praises, by hearing Thy word, and administration of Thy sacraments in the public assemblies of the saints, and the house where Thy honour dwelleth; and a figure and a pledge of that better rest hereafter, which still remaineth for the people of God: O grant me so to use these days of rest, and of public worship in this life, that I fail not of a part in Thy eternal rest, and in the continual hymns of angels and blessed spirits in the life to come.-Bishop Andrews.

SCRIPTURE NOTES.-No. 1.

THE GENTILES.

THE Hebrews gave the name of Gentiles to all those who had not received the law. Those who were converted and embraced the Jewish religion were called Proselytes. Since the first preaching of the gospel the true religion has been extended to all nations. God, who had promised by his prophets to call the Gentiles to the faith, with the fulness of divine grace, having fulfilled His promise; so that the Christian Church is composed principally of Gentile converts; the Jews being too proud of their privileges to acknowledge Christ as their Messiah and Redeemer. In the writings of St. Paul, the Gentiles are generally called Greeks; (Rom. i. 14, 16.; ii. 9, 10.; x. 12.; 1 Cor. i. 22, 24; Gal. iii. 28.) and St. Luke, in the Acts, expresses himself in the same manner, (chap. vi. 1.; xi. 20.; xviii. 4.) St. Paul is commonly called the Apostle of the Gentiles, (1 Tim. ii. 7.) or Greeks, because he, principally, preached Christ to them; whereas Peter and the Apostles, preached generally to the Jews, and are called Apostles of the circumcision. (Gal ii. 8.) The prophets declared very particularly the calling of the Gentiles. Jacob foretold that the Messiah, He who was to be sent, the Shiloh, should be the expectation of the Gentiles: and Solomon, at the dedication of his temple, prayed for the stranger who should there entreat God. The Psalmist says, (Psalm ii. 8.) that the Lord shall give the Gentiles to the Messiah for His inheritance: that Egypt and Babylon shall know him: (Psalm lxxxvii. 4.) that Ethiopia shall hasten to bring Him presents: (Psalm lxxii. 9, 10.) and that the kings of Tarshish and of the Isles, the kings of Arabia and Seba shall be tributary to Him. Isaiah abounds with prophecies of a similar nature, on which account he has justly been described as the prophet of the Gentiles.

In the New Testament we see that Gentiles came to Jerusalem to worship. Some of these, a little before the death of our Saviour addressed themselves to Philip, desiring him to shew them Jesus (John xii. 20, 21.)

Many of the ancient Fathers believed that Gentiles who lived in a laudable manner, and observed the law of nature were saved; and St. Paul (Rom. ii.) assigns "glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles." To bring the Gentiles into the fold of Christ is the office of God's holy church; and that pure branch of it to which we belong—the Church of England-has ever zealously laboured in the promotion of this blessed work: let then our constant prayer to God be, that He would "make His ways known unto men, His saving health among all nations."

ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE.

It is not good to speak evil of all whom we know to be bad: it is worse to judge evil of any who may prove good. To speak ill upon knowledge, shews a want of charity: to speak ill upon suspicion, shews a want of honesty. I will not speak so bad as

I know of many: I will not speak worse than I know of any. To know evil by others, and not to speak of it, is sometimes discretion to speak evil by others and not know it, is always dishonesty. He may be evil himself who speaks good of others upon knowledge; but he can never be good who speaks evil upon suspicion.

THE speech of the tongue is best known to men: God best understands the language of the heart: the heart without the tongue may pierce the ears of heaven, the tongue without the heart speaks an unknown language. No marvel then if the desires of the poor are heard, when the prayers of the wicked are unregarded. I had rather speak three words in a speech which God understands than pray three hours in a language He understands not.

Warwick.

QUESTIONS ON HOLY SCRIPTURE.

History of Joseph, continued. Gen. xliii-xlix.

the truth of their statement?

How many of Joseph's brethren went to Egypt the first time? Which was left at home? What was Jacob's reason for not sending him? (Gen. xlii. 5.) How did Joseph receive his brethren? What did he charge them with? How did he propose to prove What is meant by being "put in ward"? How long were they confined? What proposal did Joseph make on the third day? What effect had this upon their consciences? Why has God given us a conscience? Which of the brethren was kept in prison? What did Joseph command

returned and told their

respecting their money ? When they story, what was the effect upon Jacob? How did he express his sorrow? How did Reuben answer him? What was Jacob's blessing on his sons when they started on their second journey? (Gen. xliii. 13.) Who received them the second time? (xliii. 19.) How did he receive them? To speak particularly, how did he shew his gentleness? His thoughtfulness? His hospitality? Why is much attention paid in Eastern countries to washing the feet? Mention other instances in the Old Testament of water being provided for the feet. Give instances from the New Testament. One signal instance. (John xiii. 5.) What lesson did our Lord thus design to teach? How did Joseph receive his brethren? Mention some marks of kindness which he displayed. How did he shew his love for Benjamin? What did he command respecting the filling of the sacks? What about Benjamin's in particular? When was this discovered? Which of the brethren interceeded with Joseph? What effect had this upon Joseph ? What was Joseph's next act? How did he shew his affection for his father? Did Jacob go down into Egypt? How many souls with him? In what part of Egypt were they placed? (Gen.xlvi-ii.). How long did Jacob live after this? How old was he at his death? What oath did he require of Joseph before his death? (Gen. xlvii. 29-31.) What act of kindness did he shew to Joseph's sons? (xlviii. 9.) Which was the elder of the two? Which of them received the greater blessing? What was Jacob's last act before he died? (xlix. 1-2.)