The Bible is true. Yes: for it teaches us that men have no fear of God before their eyes; and the parliamentary elections have proved that they have none. When Moses was advised by his father-in-law to look out men to rule the people under him, Jethro directed him to choose "such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness." Does the character of the majority of the newly-elected Members of Parliament answer to this description? Are not some the open and avowed deniers of the Divinity of our Lord? Are not some idolators, while they practically deny the Great God, even our Saviour, by placing a woman in authority over him? Are not some, Sabbath-breakers, swearers, profaners of the Name that is above every name, despisers of God's will, rejectors of his authority? Are not some ambitious, place-seeking men, quite forgetful of the responsibility they incur? Are not the outwardly religious comparatively few? Are not the men after God's own heart, the men of prayer and faith, the men of vital heart-religion, fewer still? If such be the component parts of an assembly chosen expressly to represent the nation, what must that nation be?

What folly did it appear to many to make religion a chief and prominent matter in a parliamentary contest, yea, even to bring it forward at all. Religion at the hustings was quite out of place; nay, it was such an unimportant matter, that it should not be brought to bear at all in the struggle, nor should any elector suffer himself to be influenced by religious considerations. Free trade, protection, navigation laws, game laws, taxes, &c., these were things of weighty moment, and big with important consequences to the nation. Compared with his opinion on these matters, it was a light thing whether a candidate believed in a God or not;

and if he believed, whether he worshipped him or not ; and if he worshipped him, whether it were according to the rites of Judaism, Socinianism, Popery, or Protestantism; yea, I may add, it was counted a matter of no consequence whether he was a man of common morality or not. If he agreed with his constituents politically, it was a matter of indifference to the majority of them whether he would support blasphemous idolatries or discountenance them; whether he would promote the observance of the Sabbath, or discourage it; whether he would grant the people scriptural instruction, or deprive them of it; and whether he would advise his Sovereign to break her coronation oath, or warn her of the consequences of doing so.

O England! England! thou art indeed gone away backward, thou hast departed from thy God. Yet return to him from whom thou hast greatly revolted ; for though thou hast destroyed thyself, yet in him is thy help found.

The Bible is true. Yes, for it instructs us that man is by nature totally unable to comprehend or to discern the things of the Spirit of God, and the recent elections have proved it. The practical belief then manifested that all religions are alike; the avowed belief (for this was actually asserted) that it is impossible for man to find out "the truth;" the declaration that because all men are not agreed on the subject of religion, therefore a faith, which for three centuries has been professed by the English Church and State, must be departed from and discouraged, and a faith which for three centuries has been denounced by the English Church and State must be favored and encouraged, gross though the inconsistency be ;-all these things attest the truth of the Divine word, and evidence the

short-sightedness of man. O how different is the course which the humble Christian pursues! With his Bible in his hand, and prayer in his heart, he searches into the will of God, and enquires into the mind of the Spirit; and he finds the promise true," they that seek shall find." Yes, if we knock at wisdom's door it shall be opened, and her treasures unfolded to our view. God has said, "I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way in which thou shouldest go."

But equally was this truth manifested in the deplorable ignorance then displayed as to the true source and spring of national prosperity. If certain measures were carried, and certain men returned, it was thought by each party that all things would go right again, trade would flourish, commerce be extended, riches flow in, and happiness and honour follow in the train. But amid all, God was forgotten, no allowance was made for the bestowal or withdrawal of God's blessing, there was no reference to his will, and no remembrance of his power. They thought not of Him who sitteth in the heavens, laughing to scorn the counsels of the wise men of the earth, and having in derision the plans of the mighty ones of this world. They thought not of the Israelites, of their conduct towards God, of God's dealings with them, they took not warning by their history, though it was written for our admonition. No, they thought scorn of the help afforded them in God's word ;-the Bible had nothing to do with statesmen and rulers, the Bible was the book for the clergy; their business was with foreign alliances, and treaties, and wars, and domestic government, and in such things alone they need concern themselves. Ah, they saw not the misery which their unbelief and ungodliness are bringing on their country, and the wrath which (if they

repent not) they are treasuring up for themselves; for their eyes are thickly blinded by the prince of darkness. O my country! dost thou not hear the lingering sounds of Judah's knell yet echoing in thy ears: “If thou wilt walk contrary unto me, I also will walk contrary to you, in anger and in fury, and I will punish you seven times for your sins?" O that thy sons would learn the close connection between sin and sorrow, duty and prosperity. O that my voice could warn every Englishman, no longer to trust in men and measures, but in the living God ;-no longer to lean on an arm of flesh, but on the mighty strength of Jehovah; -no longer to follow the counsels of Ahithophel, when he has begun to fight against the Lord's Anointed. Think, O my countrymen! what dreadful words those would be!" England is joined to idols, let her alone." By the late famine, and by the present plenty, God has shewn us that he has not yet forsaken us. He still lingers about us; his mercy hovers over us; he is slow in taking vengeance; he waits for our return. O let us return to our God, to our prosperity; our duty; let us cleave to the Lord, and put every idol away from the midst of us; let us keep the commandments of the Lord," Cease to do evil, and learn to do well ;—then shall our land yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing."

LAMED.

THE

CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1847.

THE TREASURES OF WISDOM.

No. XV.

THERE is a strong tendency, in the present day, to magnify the discoveries of human science. And certainly it is not surprising that such feelings should prevail, even in the heart of the Christian, or that they should degenerate into vain boasting in the lips of worldly men. When we contrast its actual progress with its infancy in former ages, the busy activity of scientific research, with long intervals, in former time, of sluggish indolence, the difference may well be thought immense and wonderful. Yet, amidst the sounds of exultation, we must remember how vast a range is still before us, unknown and almost unexplored. To borrow the words of Newton, the greatest of modern discoverers, we are only children, gathering up a few pebbles on the shore of a wide ocean of truth. To be proud of our attainments would be one of the plainest signs of DECEMBER, 1847.

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