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belonged rather to the solitary desert. But when they reached the river and crossed it, upon a rude wooden bridge at a little distance from the point where it issued from the lake, they seemed to have entered upon a more fertile district. The banks of the stream on either side were clothed with trees, shrubs, and flowers, or were green with fresh grass, and enlivened by the movement of cattle, sheep, and goats, which were feeding on the rich pasture. The bright waters of the river were rushing on, as if rejoicing to be once more upon their way southwards. They were of the purest blue, and so clear that the stones and water plants at the bottom could be distinctly seen and they pursued their joyous course among the trees and long grass which clothed the banks on either side, and hung over, so as in some places almost to hide them from the sun's rays. From a little elevation the travellers passed over near this spot, they could see to a considerable distance in a southerly direc tion, and if this had been the first time they had visited the neighbourhood, or if their minds had been less occupied with other thoughts, they would have looked with no small interest upon the singular formation of the country that lay before them. As far as the eye could reach, looking southwards, there was an immense plain, perhaps ten or twelve miles wide, and bounded on either side by variously shaped mountains,-not indeed forming a continued chain, but here retiring and there advancing, so as to give greater or less width to the plain they bounded.-Among those on the left were the mountains of Gilead, abounding in rich pasture, and enclosing several very fertile districts, and where water, trees, and flowers, and rocks, and valleys, and all that in these climates is wanting to make nature put on her loveliest dress, were to be found in abundance. On the right were Mount Hermon, with its dews, and the dry and barren Gilboa, where Saul and Jonathan had been slain in their last battle with the Philistines.

Through this plain the river rolled in another lesser plain, or valley, of its own. A hollow way, almost as distinct and regular as the empty bed of some broad river, was sunk as it were, or hollowed out of this wider plain. This lower valley, about a mile wide, was clothed every where with the most luxurious vegetation. Among the trees, thickets, and long grass that abounded there, numbers of wild animals made their habitation. The ounce, the lynx, the wolf, the jackal, and every variety of antelope, were to be found here.— During the month of March the river generally overflowed its banks, and the whole of this lower valley was covered with its waters. This inundation, would, of course, drive out all the animals that were lurking there, which would then roam over the adjacent plains,

and some of the beasts of prey, perhaps, would become dangerous to the flocks and herds which pastured freely there. The knowledge of this fact gives significance at once to that expression of the prophet Jeremiah," Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan, against the habitation of the strong."-In the distance, as far as the eye could reach, quite on the southern horizon, the wide plain we have been speaking of, seemed to open still farther to the right and left, and stretch away till its boundaries were lost to view. Most of this vast plain appeared now brown and bare, but here and there a line of green crossing its surface, and seeming to connect the mountains on either side with the Jordan, showed where some little stream, or more considerable river, was winding its solitary way, and spreading life and fertility along its course.

Such was the view presented to the eyes of our travellers as they paused to look over the district they were now going to journey through for their course day directly southwards, and the river on whose banks they now stood was to be the guide and director of their way.

The length of the journey before them was perhaps about eighty miles, and they expected to occupy about five days upon the route. They journeyed on cheerily till nightfall, and then found lodging in a village that lay at a little distance from their track. They were following the road that the people of Galilee very often took when they wont up to the feasts at Jerusalem, in order that they might avoid going through Samaria, and escape the inhospitable treatment of the people of that country. It was called the way beyond Jordan, and at the times of the feasts was frequented by many passing pilgrims. Our travellers now, however, seemed the only ones upon the road. They generally were able to find some village where to pass the night but once they were obliged to bivouac in the woods. This was on the banks of the river Jabboth, a stream which rushes down from the mountains of Gilead on the eastward, and flows into the Jordan about fifteen or sixteen miles above the village of Succoth. In the rainy season it is a deep and rapid torrent, but at this time its waters were low, and easily fordable. They made this their resting place, because they were too far from Saccoth to reach it that evening, and there was no other village for some distance on their track. Here too they could find wood and water, and some tolerable shelter among the rocks and thickets. They soon lighted a fire, and made themselves a sort of but or rude shed of the branches of trees, and having cooked and eaten their simple supper, they lay down upon the river bank to rest after their day's journey. The spot which they had chosen for their resting place was one of great interest to

every Jewish pilgrim who passed it in his frequent journeys to and from Jerusalem. It was the spot where their great patriarch Jacob had passed a night during his journey from the north to meet his brother Esau, after their long estrangement and separation-and here it was that, according to the tradition among them, he had wrestled with an angel during the long hours of that night-a strange story that seems to us to be, and one that we cannot pretend to understand. The same we may say of many of the stories that we read in the Old Testament. Indeed it would be stranger still, if this were not so when we consider the wide interval of time, distance, race, and circumstance, that separate us from the people to whose history these tales belong.

(To be continued.)

THE SONG OF PRAISE:

A DREAM.

ONE hot summer's day in the month of July, returning with a friend from the town of S, where we had been attending the morning service, we left the high road for the field path which led through a plantation, or small wood, to the village whither we were bound. Instinctively upon entering that wood, we slackened our pace; the cool shade was delicious-doubly delicious from its contrast to the dusty road and noon-day glare of the burning sun. We seated ourselves on the bank which rises on one side of the foot-path, and which, with its soft covering of moss and fine grass, seemed to invite the weary pedestrian to rest. Our conversation naturally turned upon the service in which we had just been engaged. It had been a deeply interesting one. It was the first time we had listened to the celebrated Dr.; and, in addition to the pleasure of hearing him, the sight of the vast concourse of people, all engaged in the same heart-starring exercise, was in itself deeply impressive. And now, in the quiet of that sweet wood, we seemed to hear again the powerful, deep-toned organ, the well trained and numerous choir, and the magnificent song of praise which had burst forth, as if with one voice, from the people, who had filled every gallery, pew, and aisle in that fine old church. "How grandly," I exclaimed, "that fine psalm was sung!--and the Amen was it not one hearty response from the whole body of assembled worshippers ?"

"I would pray to God that all such songs may indeed be the heart's true response," answered my friend, "but there is great need that we be careful in this world, that in this our imperfect state, we

mistake not shadow for substance, or sound for something higher and better. Did I ever tell you a dream I once had? Dream though it was, it struck me forcibly at the time, and suggested some very serious thoughts."

felt

I had never heard my friend speak of it, and immediately expressed a wish that he would relate it to me, which he accordingly did, in nearly the following words:-"The thoughts to which you have just given utterance were very much the same as those in which I myself indulged some short time since, after hearing a similar service. It was evening, and, in the quiet of my own little parlour, I was recalling just such a fine chorus of voices as that we have this morning listened to. I exclaimed to myself-How glorious! this praise on earth. Oh! that it could be given to us mortals to hear how these songs sound in heaven! Scarcely had the thought passed through my mind, for my voice gave it no utterance, when a dreamy unconsciousness stole over me: I felt in a state of strange, wondering amazement: it was as though the tie that bound me to earth was broken, and I was borne aloft, at first slowly, painfully, but soon I ascended swiftly, higher and still higher, till the green earth vanished from my sight, and myself alone in infinite space, the thick-coming glories of which sodazzled me that I saw not, heard not, and felt nought but awe indescribable ! I know not how long this upward flight continued, for I had a strange impression that Time with me was ended—and still was I ascending, when I became conscious of the presence of a kindly spirit who led me on,-a spirit which it gladdened me to feel was not too bright for mortal eyes to look upon. And now I heard in angel tones, such tones as I had never heard on earth, these words,- -Fear not, mortal. Thy wish is granted. Thou art permitted to hear from one of the outer courts of heaven, that song of praise thou hast gloried in on earth. Open thine eyes and look downwards, open thine ears,—and may thy heart understand the meaning thereof.' Then, trembling, I obeyed. I looked below. and saw the green earth as if from a distance immeasurable, yet clear and distinct to my vision, as though I was still near to it. Then I beheld the church, with its assembled congregation, just as I had seen them one short hour before; and presently all stood up, apparently engaged in singing the joyful song of praise. I behold the church, and I see its many worshippers,' said I, in a low, awestruck voice, to the attendant spirit. I see it all, but I hear nothing. Oh! is it indeed thus ? I exclaimed, grief taking place of the awe I had hitherto felt, 'Is the earth indeed too distant for its most magnificent songs of praise to reach even to this outer court of Heaven?"

Not so," answered the angel: the faintest whisper of song which is borne aloft upon the heart's true aspirations, hath power to penetrate from the remotest corner of the vast universe, even to the foot of the throne eternal.'

Bewildered and perplexed, again I turned my eyes upon that assembled congregation of earth's worshippers: and I saw the organist with his hands upon the keys of the organ; the choristers were there with their music books before them, the people all standing, their psalm books in their hands, yet there was a stillness that astonished me; at last, as I listened with the most fixed attention, I could distinguish some voices that sounded most exquisitely sweet, that uttered most melodious praise, and amongst this number I especially notice one aged man, a sickly invalid, and two or three and bell-like

children, all of whose voices came sounding two or three

through the regions of space. But of the deep tones of the organ not the faintest sound was perceptible, and of the choir only a few notes could occasionally be distinguished, whilst some voices which I know were on earth accounted unmusical and harsh, here became transformed into tones more refined and sweet than the noble tenor, the beautiful treble, the fine bass voices, and the magnificent contralto, so much vaunted by their compeers on earth.

"

Alas! alas! I exclaimed, What is the meaning of this?" And I turned to the kindly spirit before me for explanation..

But the angel only drooped his wings, as if in pity for my distress and disappointment.

Then I again looked downward, and cast my tearful eyes upon the place which I myself had occupied during that morning's service, but a few disjointed words were all that I could hear of that psalm which I had joined in singing so heartily.

And still was the angel silent, except that he repeated these words taken from our own Holy Book. God is a Spirit,' said he, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth." And nowI comprehended that mysterious silence which prevailed, for I recalled to mind with sadness and grief how I had suffered my attention to wander, and my delight to rest in the pleasures of the ear and of the imagination, instead of singing spiritual songs to Him who sitteth on the throne, and who reigneth for ever and ever; and the power was given me to understand, with a force I had never felt, how poor and feeble and worthless are the praises and the prayers of earth's children, unless the heart dictates the songs the lips utter; and so, though that fine instrument sounded grandly in the church on earth, yet could not its tones penetrate beyond, and of that trained band of singing men and singing women, and of that

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