bert H. Inglis; sir Claudius Hunter; and the rev. Dr. Abeken, chaplain to the king of Prussia. But more touching far to every churchman was the thought that our beloved | church appeared as a missionary church. Cheermg has been the display of life and energy in her domestic operations the last few years; hopeful the exertions called forth and directed by the bishop of this diocese for the extension of churchroom, the promotion of education, and the improvement of the parochial system. But still some of the most dutiful of her children earnestly desired that she should also appear in her missionary character; and as such she now stood forth. Å few Sundays before, an apostle to the Gentiles had been consecrated in the same place; and now, the first time after the lapse of many, many centuries, an apostle to the circumcision, himself a Hebrew of the Hebrews, destined for the land of Israel, and appointed to the holy city, received his commission. It is true that the elevation of a believing Jew to the episcopate is nothing new in the church of Christ. Paul of Burgos, and his two sons, remind us of three bishops in one Jewish family. But the consecration of a Jewish Christian to be a shepherd unto Israel, is an event unheard of since the day that Jerusalem was delivered to be trodden down of the Gentiles, and forms an era in the history both of the Jewish

nation and the Christian church."

On the following morning the bishop administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper to a number of Jewish converts, and on the evening of the same day preached his farewell sermon, in the same chapel, before the society.

In the absence of the president, who was prevented from attending by indisposition, his chair was occupied by lord Ashley, whom God has especially honoured as one of the chief instruments for the accomplishment of this great and holy object. There was a large attendance of the committee; and the chapel was so crowded that many could not get in. A most touching sermon was preached by the bishop, from the text, Acts xx. 22-24: "And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that

the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." It is needless to say that the congregation partook of the deep emotion by which the bishop was evidently overwhelmed. Many a prayer was offered up that God would bless and prosper him, bring him and his in peace to the land of Israel, make him a blessing to Jew and Gentile and the church of God, and enable him to finish his course with joy. And, doubtless, the church at large, as well as his private friends, would humbly comply with his wish, so appropriately expressed in the words of the apostle: "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judæa; and that my service which I

have for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed" (Rom. xv. 30-32).

THE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST:

A Sermon,

BY THE REV. W. H. BRETT, M.A.,

Perpetual Curate of Trinity Church, Kirkcublain,

Downshire.

2 Cor. v. 20.

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

WHEN we contemplate Almighty God as the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the universe, and man, the creature of a day, whose time passeth away like a shadow, we may well exclaim, with the psalmist, "Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" But the condescension of God is more clearly manifested, and his distinguishing grace more fully established, when we consider the means employed by our heavenly Father for the recovery of man from a state of sin, misery, and alienation.

I shall, on the present occasion, allude to three facts, deeply mysterious in the plan of the gospel, which may serve, under the blessing of God, to enlighten your minds and to affect your hearts.

I. We are informed in the holy scriptures that a portion of a higher order of creatures, the angels, rebelled against their all-wise Creator, and were, in consequence, dismissed from the presence of the Lord; but, having fallen, in that state they continue: a Saviour, so far as the word of God teaches us, made not a sacrifice for them. For "the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, God hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of of the great day."

II. When man had fallen, it pleased God, of his tender mercy, not only to offer him pardon, but to send him the message of his love in a manner calculated to touch and affect his heart. He employed, not an angel of the most exalted order, but his own, his only, his well-beloved Son.

The Son of God, when he came on this errand of mercy, did not assume the form of an angel, but veiled himself in our nature, and took upon him the form of a servant, and be

came subject to the privations and sorrows of our nature: For, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same:" "Verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham;" and, in so doing, the promise given to Abraham was fulfilled: "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

III. When God had redeemed man, by his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, it pleased our most gracious Redeemer to employ, not angels to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation, but mere frail, weak, and fallible men.

Thus, from age to age, have sinners been called to preach the gospel to their fellowsinners, partakers of the same passions as those to whom they are sent. Thus, by the appointment of God, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Hence, the gospel is designed to stain all the pride of human glory, so that "he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." For, though a Paul should plant, or an Apollos water, or a Timothy be sent, whose youth may be despised, yet in every case it is God alone that giveth the increase; as it is written: "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase" (1 Cor. iii. 7).

We are told in the book of Judges (vii. 2, &c.), that, when Gideon was sent by God to destroy the host of the Midianites, "the Lord said, The people are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now, therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many: bring them down unto the water; and I will try them for thee there; and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and, of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go." And the number so chosen were three hundred men. "And the Lord said unto Gideon, By these three hundred men will I save you; and let all the other people go every man unto his place." Now "the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea-side for multitude." Against this host were these three hundred men sent as a test of their faith;

for, as it was said by Jonathan, "there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." To prove the faith of these three hundred men still further, they were armed only with a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And at midnight they came to the camp of the enemy; "and they blew their trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands." And they stood every man in his place round about the camp. And the three hundred blew the trumpets; and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow throughout all the host; and they ran, and cried, and fled. The event of which was, that not a man of the people of Israel was lost, while all the Midianites were overthrown.

Thus, as ministers of Christ, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds," "for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." Thus it is proved, continually, that "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Thus it is our duty, like the people of Israel under Gideon, to stand in our place, with our trumpet in our hand; to cry aloud, and not to spare; to lift up the voice like a trumpet, and to show the people their transgressions and sins:" "For we," saith the apostle, "are ambassadors for Christ."

Now, it is required in ambassadors, as well as in stewards, that a man be found faithful; "not handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." The first object of an ambassador should be to maintain, so far as in him lies, the honour and dignity of him by whom he is sent. His second object is, the success of his embassy. If a prince send a special messenger to his subjects in rebellion, with offers of pardon, he will not require of that messenger, whether they received and approved his message or not. The question will be, "Did you deliver my message, as one that believed it yourself, as one in earnest?" If, then, the minister of Christ deliver faithfully the message with which he is charged, he may stand, as one on a rock looking down on the waves dashing below, unmoved either by the praise or by the frown, by the applause or by the contempt of man. These can afford no solid ground for judgment. Judge nothing," saith our apostle, "before the time." Be it

then remembered, my brethren, that neither talents, natural or improved, nor the applause of the multitude, nor even the apparent success of a minister, are tests of his faithfulness. This must be proved by his declaring the whole counsel of God, neither adding to it, nor diminishing from it; turning aside neither to the right hand nor to the left. "Thy Lord," saith Leighton, "is a discreet Lord: he hath not put events in thy hand, so neither will he require them of thee."

Consider, further, that he acts by commission-"As though God did beseech you by us." His voice must be the echo of the word of God. In himself he is nothing; but in the Lord hath he righteousness and strength. He is the earthen pitcher, bearing the lamp of divine grace; and so his business is not with the earthly, but with the spiritual concerns of man. He may say, "O man, I have an errand to thee from God." It is the voice of God in its most attractive tone, as being the echo of the voice of Christ; God manifest in the flesh; so that the feeblest, the humblest of the labourers in his vineyard, while commending that gospel to sinners, is entitled to say, "As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead." Let, then, the minister declare simply the message intrusted to him, and it then becomes the prayer of Christ that is urged.

Consider, further, the subject of his embassy the reconciliation of a sinner: "We pray you, be ye reconciled to God." Reconciliation implies previous alienation: for "how can two walk together," saith the prophet, "except they be agreed?" Such is the character and condition of man with respect to God: as a sinner by nature and by practice, he could not be at peace. His bosom must be like the troubled seas, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

But now,

God, the party sinned against, first offers reconciliation through Christ. He himself provided a sacrifice: he hath prepared the offering for sin, which he himself hath promised to accept. We are commanded to invite you to ask for that repentance and that faith which, as a Father reconciled in Christ, he is ready to bestow. We do not ask you to reconcile God to you, for that hath been already accomplished by Christ; so that now God can be "just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." We say, embrace the offer; accept the boon: "be ye reconciled to God:" accept the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; and reconciliation, peace and life eternal are yours. It is, then, the most momentous question which a man can

propose to his own conscience, "Am I reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, or am I not?" May God enable each of us to answer it faithfully to himself! If you are reconciled to God, then "all things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." To you "to live is Christ, but to die is gain." But, if you are not reconciled to God through Christ, you are yet in your sins, and at enmity with him. O then be so no longer. Say, "It is enough: I will arise, and go to my Father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.'

Finally, brethren, despise not this message, remembering from whom it comes. May God, then, of his infinite mercy grant that this message of reconciliation may not be heard by you in vain. But, whatever be the result, the message must be delivered. Daties are ours: events are God's. Once more, then, let the trumpet of the gospel be sounded in your ears: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

FLOWERS.

No. III.

THE PRIMROSE.

(Primula).

THE name is aptly given to this charming flower, as the first offspring (Lat. primus) of the spring. This character it maintains in our woods and copses, and on sheltered banks, where its blossoms may be seen struggling through the snow. They love to group themselves under ancient trees in tolerably thick woods, and among the underwood. They blow with us in England in March, but blossom in profusion in April and May. Linnæus reckons up seven or eight species, all hardy, and radical; the flower-stalks radical, for the perennial, herbaceous. The leaves are simple most part umbellate; flowers red, purple, or a tender yellow; the latter the most common, and admired; but these colours vary in some species from one hue to another, and are frequently sweetscented. Four species are natives of Great Bri

tain.

flower, and the more valuable from its appearance The primrose is very ornamental as a border so early in the year.

The evening primrose (Enothera biennis) derives its name from two Greek words; one signifying wine, the other imbued with; the root having a vinous scent when dried. It opens at sunset, and closes at five or six in the morning. flower is abridged from "Flowers of the Matin The following account of this interesting and Even Song; or, Thoughts for those who Rise Early." By Mary Roberts; (London: Grant and Griffiths. 1845) which is really a most ele

gant volume: the plates, which are coloured, are very good, and the descriptions not mere dry statements to be found in every gardening book. The title may appear somewhat strange. Let the authoress give her own. remarks: "Nothing more remains to be observed concerning this small volume, except as regards its title. To those who appreciate the book of common prayer, I need scarcely mention that the terms 'matin' and 'even-song are used in reference to the time appropriated for reading such lessons as are appointed for the daily services. When considering the regular opening and closing of those flowers which Linnæus termed solar, because rejoicing, as it were, when the sun arises, throwing wide their petals to his beams, and closing them at even-tide, as if to guard their tiny households from the dangers of the night, I have thought what a theme for meditation to the passer-by! and thus thinking, I have given to such flowers a more appropriate designation, as it seems, than that assigned by Linnæus, by calling them 'flowers of matin and even-song."

"Abroad, when evening has closed in, and giant trees, shone on by the bright moon, cast their strange, mysterious-looking shadows on the grass-when the bat is wheeling by, and the glowworm, with her tiny lamp, is seen progressing through the grass-abroad at such an hour, who could recognize in the deep glen or quiet valley, in the still meadow or healthy moor, those bright scenes which delighted him but a short time before? How still, how solemn, and yet how peaceful is the witching hour of deep midnight, when the glorious stars are keeping their watch on high, and when the earth is covered as with a mantle of silence and of obscurity! I have often looked within the garden range, for flowers that grew there in all their fragrance and their beauty before the sun had set, but have not found them. And so it is in the green meadow, or beside the road: you may not see a daisy in the grass, nor yet a single hawk-weed on the bank: the brilliant goat's-beard has folded up its petals; and the

dandelion, that loves to coyer the interstices o broken pavements with its ample disks, is no longer visible. Night, with her broad shadows, has not veiled them; for there are flowers which yet look the pale moon in her face; and some few there are that open only when the day has closed in. They open, that such insects as love the night, warmly-coated moths and ephemera, may drink, and be refreshed, when all other vegetable fountains have ceased to flow, or when the guardian petals by which they are surrounded have folded up, to keep them safe from all intruders. I have seen the evening primrose, or the evening-star,' as the plant is sometimes called, gradually expand her primrose-tinted leaves, looking fairer, and becoming larger, and perfuming the vagrant breezes as they passed, while other flowers were closing; till, at length, when the moon had risen, or perhaps only stars had looked down from their high stations in the heavens, this fragrant flower had thrown open all her stores, and busy creatures might be seen repairing thither as to a nightly banquet; dusky-looking, yet beautiful and evanescent creatures, often the birth of the noon-day, attaining their full maturity at that still hour when the evening primrose opens her yellow-tinted petals as if to welcome back the twilight-a star of earth, shining alone for them, and guiding their insect steps or wings, when other flowers have folded up their petals, and are gone to rest. She awaits the moment when the sun withdraws his beams-for the sinking of his orb behind the hills, while yet a golden light is seen to linger on their heights, and gorgeous clouds are waiting in the place of his withdrawing: the sinking of that orb is a sure signal for the opening of her fragrant corolla. Unlike all others that watch for his arising, or seem to follow his goings in the heavens with devoted fondness, this nun-like flower opens not till he is gone. * When

all other eyes, save those of him who made her, are closed in sleep, she gives both food and a sweet nectareous juice to many weary ones who

would perish but for her timely aid. He who watches by the evening primrose, when the night is dark and sultry, when neither moon nor stars are visible, and wayfaring creatures could not find their way to her hospitable petals, may see a phosphoric light gleaming from this favourite flower. When not a tree nor rock can be discerned, nor yet the road, though known, might be safely travelled, she emits a pale light from all her hundred flowers, and looks as if illuminated for a holiday. You may then see, more clearly than even in the bright moonshine, how the stem and leaves and petals are covered with grateful creatures; some returning from the lighted petals, where they have fed, or been refreshed at the vegetable fountains, to take their rest among the leaves; others hurrying up the stems; and others again assembled in the carollas: all and each are either thickly coated, or else enwrapped in down or feathers, the better to resist the heavy dews of night. I have looked on those insects, either winged or footed, when, in the early morning, they have been found asleep among the grass and shrubs; and while looking at them I have thought, though man cares not for such feeble creatures, and might crush them as the moth, their Maker cares for them. He has made them perfect in all their parts: it may be to teach us, that he, who thus provides for the wandering night ephemera, giving to them a fountain and a light when the sun withdraws his rays, watches over even the minutest concerns of life.

"O, the Spirit of Christ is grieved,
When man doth take no heed
Of the wild, yet wondrous things
Which he giveth for an hour of need.
"Let the lone and weary wanderer,
Who hath no dwelling nigh,
Gaze on this nightly flower,

While the stars keep watch on high.
"Mark well each brimming fountain,
The light in each fairy hall,
The joyous things that hasten

To the banquet spread out for all.
"Let him ask if indeed it can be

That the Power, whom none may scan,
Careth more for these feeble beings

Than his trusting creature, man?"

THE BRITISH HOSPITAL, DAMASCUS. WE are in great distress here: food and firing scarcely to be had. I was actually very ill for three days from bad bread. We could only get Indian-corn flour and the worst brown flour mixed for bread. What the people will do, the Lord only knows. The country is peaceable at present: God grant it may continue so. The mountaineers are now all disarmed; but from what quarter food is to be supplied for the additional population in the towns and cities, who came in after the last summer disturbances, no one can at present surmise. Corn is dear in Egypt.

"Our numbers in this hospital are comparatively fewer; the cry being for bread, and not for medicine. The Lord preserve us from famine and disease! I took in one poor family for a month; but they, like most of the paupers here, were so filthy in their habits that I had to discharge them and allow them a weekly sum at their own homes. When there is fever or contagious diseases amongst them, it is not safe to be under the same roof

with them. You cannot impress upon them th necessity and vital importance of cleanliness.

Our winter has set in early: the mountains are now thickly capped with snow; and we have had much more rain in the plains already than we had during the whole of last winter; so that, if we could only get over the next few months, we shall, I hope, have a fine spring, and be able to rejoice in the prospect of a good harvest. We must live in hopes; but I trust it will not be "hope deferred" with the poor, for they are truly in a deplorable state of destitution. To see the scramble for bread at the bake-houses here, is very distressing; and how many are not even able to buy any!

1510

I send you an abstract of my medical report, and of the different sects relieved for the year ending July, 1845:— Syrian moslems Turkish moslems Greek catholics Greek orthodox Jews

Syrian catholics

Maronites and Druses

Latins

710

1254

825

1242

407

784

368

837

200

8137

You will see that we have prescribed for Koords, Armenians, and Nestorians, fire-worshippers, and worshippers of Satan. Some of these are now to be found at the village of Lallaheigh, about half an hour's ride from this city. It is curious to remark that they imagine by thus worshipping him they conciliate the evil spirit. This proves, at the same time, that they admit the existence of a Good Spirit, to whom they say it is unnecessary to pay any mark of adoration or regard, as his duty is to save and protect them, and thereby make their Satan-worship effectual and preservative here and hereafter. There are many traces throughout Syria, to this day, of the former existence of a large number of the sect of fireworshippers, &c.

The numbers relieved and prescribed for up to Christmas next will average about 12,000 patients, of all sects and classes.

I have also received the box from the "Ladies' Association," containing bibles, testaments, &c., some of which I have already disposed of to persons who are, I sincerely hope, desirous of making a proper use of them. To such persons, when poor, I give them gratis: to others, in better circumstances, I charge from 1s. to 28., so as to guard against the practice that was pursued here lately, when books were given out indiscrimately, and persons took them to sell in the bazaar at the price of waste paper, and a little more for the binding. Some of the Turks, Persians, and moslems evince a desire to possess bibles and testaments; and the Jews are anxious for the Hebrew bibles and psalters.

Assure our friends, that, had I been able to go on for a year or two longer in this city, I should