UR morning portions in the Scripture Reading Union this month are the history of the Promised Land possessed, and our evening portions are part of the history of our Lord's ministry in that same Land. Let us get out our maps again this month and see what more we may learn from studying them along with God's Word.

The third special "region" into which Palestine is divided is that of "the hill countries" or table lands (Jos. xiii. 6; Lu. i. 65), which are

from 2,000 to 3,000 feet high, and extend from north to south on both sides of the deep valley of the Jordan. These high "table-lands" on the east of Jordan were the possession of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh (Num. xxxii. and Josh. xiii.). Here there are lofty mountains and wooded hills, "while deep valleys, filled with murmuring streams and verdant meadows, offer all the luxuriance of vegetation, and herds and flocks give life and animation to the scene." On the west side of Jordan these "hill countries" contained the greater part of the population of Palestine in its cities, which were so often situated on eminences (see Matt. v. 14). "Here the physical part of the country precluded for the most part the corn-farms of the plain, and induced the careful terracing of the hills where the vine, the fig-tree, and the olive were the staple products" (Deut. viii. 7, 9). Below Hebron, the "south country" (Jos. xii. 8) was especially pasture land.

Most of the historical sites of Palestine are included in this third "region" to the west of Jordan. Here is Jerusalem, with its sacred solemn history (Jos. xviii. 28; 1 Kings xi. 13; Rev. xi. 8), and Bethlehem, "the house of bread," first mentioned in Gen. xxxv. 19. The history of this home of several ancestors of our Lord, and His own birth-place (Ruth iv. 2; Matt. ii. 6), is of peculiar interest. Further south is Hebron, one of the oldest cities of the world (Gen. xxiii. 2; Jos. xiv. 14), and the royal city, until the citadel of Jebus was taken by Joab, and Jerusalem became the city of David. North of Jerusalem is Bethel, which also has a very special history throughout the Old Testament (Gen. xxviii. 19; Jos. xvi. 2). Further north in this "hill-country region" is Shechem or Sychar, first mentioned in Gen. xii. 6. We shall be reading of it and Hebron in Joshua as two of "the cities of refuge." It seems to have been the rallying point of the nation in several instances (Jos. xxiv. 1, 25; 1 Kings xii. 1). And then our thoughts go so gladly to John iv. 3.

Several of the mountains in this region of Palestine have also very special histories, which would be well worth studying also. There are Tabor and the Mount of Olives, Ebal and Gerizim (Jos. xix. 22; 1 Kings xi. 7; Jos. viii. 33). On the northern frontier of Palestine stand Lebanon and also Hermon, more to the east, like grand guarding sentinels with their snowy summits.

"The variety of geography, natural appearances, and climate, to be found within the limits of this narrow country, are indeed extraordinary. There is the variety caused by the encroaching desert on the

one side, and by the eternal freshness of the sea on the other. There the variety caused by the hot wind, or sirroco, the east wind of Seri ture, scorching vegetation on the one hand, and by the cold breez from the mountain ranges on the other; but above all, there is t variety caused by the enormous difference of level in the various par of the land. There is the tropical Jordan valley, 1,300 feet beneath th sea line; there are the rich maritime plains; there are the hill-countr regions, and there are the northern mountains, 10,000 feet high, covere by an almost perpetual snow, and under which, the climate approache that of regions much further north.”

There is the same glorious variety in the spiritual Land of God's pro mises to us to-day; shall we go forward and possess? believing Hi Word, "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon have I given you" (Jes. i. 3; xi. 16).

GOSPEL TEMPERANCE PAGES.

BY FREDERIC T. GAMMON.

CORRESPONDENT, writing to the Times, furnishes some figures, showing that while abstaining members of a life assurance society lived much longer in the aggregate than they were computed by the actuaries, not a single non-abstainer in the same society exceeded the computations of mathematicians. That is to say, while the total abstainers surprised the scientists by their longevity, not one non-abstainer lived longer than he had been computed.

Among the many other temperance measures to be introduced into the House of Commons during the present Session, is one for the purpose of rescinding the existing privileges extending to grocers and shopkeepers for the retail sale of spirits.

The Lancet, in commenting upon this proposal, and for the encouragement which is given to drinking amongst women by the present facilities for obtaining intoxicants, says: "Women who would on no account be seen going into a public house, and who could not obtain wine and spirits unknown to their husbands if they were only procurable through a wine merchant, now find it quite easy to supply their dressing cases and wardrobes from the grocer's store. To sweep away this scandal and put an end to a secret vice, the grocer's license must be abolished."

GOSPEL TEMPERANCE PAGES.

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A temperance contemporary states that a doctor who was charged with the duty of examining the applicants for insurance on behalf of a certain office, happened one day to see two gentlemen in succession, who owned to taking spirits before luncheon. The first comer said he drank in accordance with medical advice; and the second did so because he felt he wanted an appetiser. Both proposals were declined, and when the doctor was questioned on the subject, he said he felt both lives must be risky. The one who had been ordered stimulants must be out of health to require them; and he who drank simply because he felt he wanted something, would be likely to be out of sorts before long, if he did not happen to be so then.

A gratifying announcement is made that the Queen's guests are under no compulsion to take wine when they dine at the Royal table.

Dr. Norman Kerr in a speech recently delivered deprecated what he called "the temperance hysterics of sensationalism" at present so much in fashion. He condemned "the boasting of fabulous numbers and the existence of a most reprehensible self-righteousness, which looks askance upon the so-called irreligious and low advocacy of temperance by the early pioneers." We fear there is too much ground for Dr. Kerr's reprimand. While we rejoice in the unparalleled success which has attended the Gospel Temperance movement during the past two or three years, we must not forget the self-denying labours of the workers of forty or fifty years ago, who had to endure the bitter persecution and calumny which invariably attend the early history of any movement which has for its object the welfare of the people.

Dr. Richardson accounts, to a certain extent, for the variations in the revenue from drink, by contending that alcoholic poisoning is more prevalent when the air is dry, warm, and heated. At such times the evaporation from the body is very great, causing much thirst, and people who indulge in alcohol drink more, and thus increase both the revenue of the nation and the revenue of death..

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Fresh proof of the growing temperance of the people is afforded by the Census returns. On the day of the Census, the purveyors of spirituous drinks, including 438 hop dealers, 9,531 maltsters, 24,567 brewers, 86,689 inn-keepers, publicans, and beer-sellers, together with 7,889 wine and spirit merchants, and 6,044 cellarmen, numbered

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DAILY BIBLE thoughTS FOR THE MONTH.

135,158, and showed, as compared with the corrected total for 1871, a decline of 5.8 per cent.

An eminent Scotch physician, Dr. Clouston, says he has little doubt that out of the 1,600 suicides that take place in England every year, probably half are due to alcoholic insanity.

1 A

DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH ON THE UNION NEW TESTAMENT READINGS.

"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory" (John i. 14).

A

· MATT. xxvi. 36 to MARk ix. 30.

ARCH 1.-Matt. xxvi. 42. "If this cup may not pass away, except I drink it." "That bitter cup, love drank it up," that He might put into our hands "the cup of salvation” (Ps. cxvi. 13; Ps. xxiii. 5).

Mar. 2.-Ch. xxvi. 56. "Then all the disciples forsook him and fled." Well might He say, "I have trodden the winepress alone." See Ps. lxix. 20; and contrast His faithfulness, Heb. xiii. 5.

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Mar. 3.—Ch. xxvi. 70. Mark the steps that led to Peter's fallself-confidence (verse 33), neglect of watchfulness and prayer (Mark xiv. 37), "sitting down with the enemies of Jesus" (verse 69), fear of consequences (see 1 Cor. x. 12).

Mar. 4.-Ch. xxvii. 12. "When He was accused He answerednothing." We learn the secret of His silence in 1 Pet. ii. 23.

Mar. 5.-Ch. xxvii. 29. "A crown of thorns." Fitting symbol of the curse He endured for us (see Gen. iii. 17, 18). Contrast the “many crowns" of Rev. xix. 12.

Mar. 6. Ch. xxvii. 51. "And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain." Thus showing that the way into "the Holiest " was now "made manifest," giving us the liberty to enter (Heb. ix. 7, 8; x. 19. 20).

... watching Jesus," The one resulted in added to their con

Mar. 7.-Ch. xxvii. 54. "The Centurion eto. Contrast the watch of His enemies (verse 36). faith (Truly this was the Son of God!), the other demnation.

Mar. 8. Ch. xxviii. 19. "Go ye, therefore." Mark the twofold

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