is often done in the east at the present day, and all who pass are invited to partake. The angels sat under a tree while they ate the food which Abraham prepared for them. The regular meals among the Jews were, dinner a little before noon, and supper in the evening. That the latter was the principal meal, appears from the following circumstances:Herod on his birth day, made a supper to his lords and high captains; Martha and Mary's entertainment to Jesus was a supper; our Lord's intercourse with those who love him, is described as a supper; and the feast of the passover was observed in the evening.

The Hebrews did not eat with the neighbouring nations. We are not told in the Bible when they began to separate themselves in his manner; but it was their custom in Joseph's time, although in that instance, it appears to have arisen from objections on the part of the Egyptians. The Jews, in our Saviour's time, did not eat with the Samaritans, and they objected to his eating with publicans and sinners. This custom of not eating with those of another nation, was so strictly observed, that, when the Lord was about to extend his church to the Gentiles, he sent an especial vision to the apostle Peter, to show, that it might be discontinued. Peter was blamed by the other apostles, for eating with Cornelius the centurion: and from several passsages in the epistles, we find that the early Christians abstained from meat offered unto idols. As these sacrifices were offered at all solemn feasts, and on many occasions of less importance, they were separated from eating with the heathens in general.

The following custom, observed by the modern Jews, after the practice of their forefathers, strongly reminds us of what passed at the last supper. Before they sit down, they wash their hands very carefully, like the Pharisees of old, and say

"Let us bless

The company

that it is necessary to do so. A blessing is then asked by the master or chief person, who takes a loaf, and breaking it, says, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who producest bread out of the earth." The guests answer, "Amen," and the bread is distributed to them. He then takes the vessel which holds the wine, in his right hand, and says, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the world, who hast created the fruit of the vine," The twentythird Psalm is then repeated. When the meal is finished, the master takes a piece of bread which has been left on purpose, and, filling a glass or cup of wine, says, Him, of whose benefits we have partaken. reply, "Blessed be he, who has heaped his favours on us, and has now fed us on his goodness." The master then repeats a prayer, thanking God for his many benefits granted Israel, entreating him to have pity upon Jerusalem and the temple, to restore the throne of David, to send Elias and the Messiah, and to deliver them from their low state. The guests all answer, "Amen," and repeat the ninth and tenth verses of the thirty-fourth Psalm, after which, each of them drinks a little of the wine that is left, and goes from the table. These customs are appointed to be observed by modern Jews, as well as those of old; but, like asking a blessing, among those who are called Christians, are often forgotten. An author well observes, "that a graceless meal cannot be expected to prove a wholesome one.”

It is still usual among eastern nations to break their bread into small pieces, and dip them into such dishes as contain liquids. The Israelites used to do this. Boaz told Ruth to dip her morsel in the vinegar; and, by giving a sop to Judas, our Lord pointed him out, as the person, who would betray Manners and Customs of the Jews.

him.

medius cir-cu-la'tion, course,
ferol carrying round

}

circulus

Flee'cy, woolly; sur-charged', overcharged; va-ri'e-ty, diversity; stream'lets, little streams; con-tri'vance, scheme; re-flec'tions.*

FROM the surface of the sea, and of lakes, and from every collection of water exposed to the air, there is always a great quantity of vapour proceeding, which mounts into the atmosphere, and receives the name of clouds. Clouds then are only vapours, whatever be their form or colour. When clouds are of a light fleecy appearance, they hold only a small quantity of water in solution; but when dark and gloomy, they are surcharged with water, and ready for being dissolved into showers. From the motions of the clouds, we often observe that the air moves in different directions at the same time, at different heights; and sometimes we see clouds moving from opposite quarters of the sky, and meeting. If a stream of air that is cold, meet one that is hot, being charged with vapour, then, the cold air abstracts from the cloud, the heat by which the water is held in solution, the vapour is immediately condensed, forms itself into drops, which becoming too heavy for the atmosphere to sustain, descend to the earth in the form of rain. Vapour, during the winter season, is often suddenly cooled, so far as to be frozen, and it then falls in the form of Snow; and rain is often frozen, as it falls, and forms Hail-stones."

* Reflection of the rays of light, is a motion of the rays, by which, after striking on a body, or after a near approach to it, they are driven back. R. H. Black.

The height of the clouds, is supposed to be, from about a quarter of a mile, to a mile. It is common for persons, by climbing very high mountains, to get above the clouds, and see them swim beneath them. The wonderful variety in the colour of the clouds, is owing to their particular situation with regard to the sun, and the different reflections of his light. Clouds have two distinct uses: first, they serve as shades against the sun's rays, and so prevent the solar heat from scorching up the produce of the earth; and, second, they act as bags of water to irrigate the ground, and strengthen vegetation. The rain which falls from them, sinks into the earth, and gives nourishment to the roots of vegetables. It makes its way through the chinks of rocks, and rises again out of the sides of hills, and out of the valleys, forming springs. The water of springs forms streamlets; and these gradually collecting, at length form rivers, which empty themselves into the sea. Thus we see a most beautiful and beneficent contrivance of the Deity, in the constant circulation of water. It rises from the sea into the atmosphere, is there collected in clouds, from them it descends in the form of rain, and, after supplying the wants of animals and vegetables, returns again into the sea.

21.-A Dying Christian's Prayer.

Trem'u-lous, shaking

ad-just'ing, setting in order

jus'ti-fied, cleared

Various.

from guilt

in'fi-del, unbeliever

im-pre-ca'tions, curses

com-mend'ing, intrusting
im-mor'tal, never dying

fides an-ni-hi-la'tion, destruction nihil precor re-gen'cr-a-ted, made new

genus

Fac'ul-ties, powers; af-fec'tion-ate-ly, fondly; sul'len-ness, gloominess; blas 'phe-mies, wicked expressions; a-tone'ment, sacrifice; Vol-taire' and Paine, infidel writers.

"RECEIVE my spirit," was the prayer of Stephen to Jesus Christ, to receive his departing soul; and, brethren, I think you will feel in a dying hour, that your departing soul needs a Divine Saviour. You have one in Jesus Christ. You may call upon him then, even as now. His ear will not be heavy, though yours may, when death is sealing up your faculties. His eye will not have lost its power of gazing affectionately on you, when yours is becoming dim and closed. His hand will not be shortened, in the hour when yours will have become tremulous and feeble. But lift up the hand, the heart, the eye, the soul, in prayer to him then, and you will find him a very near and present help in that your time of trouble.

Brethren, a Christian should die praying. Other men die in different ways, according to their character and temper. Julius Cesar died adjusting his robes, that he might fall gracefully. Voltaire, with mingled inprecations and supplications; Paine, with shrieks of agonizing remorse. Multitudes die with sullenness, some with blasphemies faltering on their tongue. But, brethren, the humble Christian would Well says the poet:

die praying.

"Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

The Christian's native air;

His watch-word at the gates of death,
He enters heaven with prayer!"

But, observe for what Stephen prayed. "Lord Jesus receive my spirit!" This is the prayer of faith, commending the immortal spirit to the covenant care of Jesus. The spirit does not die with the body. None but God, who gave, can take away the soul's existence, and he has declared that he never, will. Would that bad men would think on that! You cannot get rid of your soul's existence, you cannot cease to be: you may wish it; though the wish is monstrous and unnatural.