find themselves safe and happy in the caresses of admiring thousands. How enviable they! Who would not desire and seek their happy lot? Contrast it with that of yonder small company in a little bark, toiling against wind and current, ascending the rapid stream of vulgar applause. How imperceptible their advances.-After whole nights and days of toilsome rowing, they appear not to have distanced the shadow of a man of tall stature. No cheers nor congratulations from the spectators who chance to cast an eye upon them from the bank, except now and then a solitary "God speed" from some obscure one perched upon some rock or island, who has himself been buffeted with hardships.

Such was the prospect before me while I viewed the landscape with the wrong end of the telescope next my eye; but all of a sudden I turned the other end, and strange indeed was the change in the scenery. I now could read the inscription on the colours of the descending barge and that on the ascending skiff. I could see all devoted to present happiness, and those too who sought happiness in both worlds, on the side of those descending, but not one of the admirers of their course, nor of those embarked on that voyage, had yet died. I looked up the stream, and found, from the inscription and other hieroglyphics-upon the skiff, that their destiny was not to any port on earth, and that their eye was fixed upon some invisible and distant good, of such charms as to make them sing and triumph at every pull they gave the oar. A small company of the living and all that had ever died looked upon them either with perfect complacency with a wishful, or a envious eye. In presenting the two rival courses of the whole humans race thus to the eye of my mind, I could better appreciate the wisdom and happiness which distinguish the respective courses of the sons of But am I not, said I, thus confounding my own reflections with a descriptive and symbolic representation of things addressed to the consideration of others? True, it appears so. But if I gain my end this way more readily, what is the difference?

men.

O my soul, do you not know that every good effort of yours, were it only to subdue one evil inclination, is witnessed with admiration by all. the excellent that ever lived. Do you not remember that the Saviour said there is joy in heaven over one reforming sinner, and even too amongst the angels of God; and can you think that one good deed of yours is viewed with indifference by any of the exalted dignitaries of the heavens! When you make one righteous effort to promote goodness in yourself, or in any human being, know that every good man on earth approves your course, and is upon your side; yes, and all the spirits of the dead. The wicked spirits know that you are wise, and cannot but approve your way; and all the holy and happy from righteous Abel, look down upon you with delight, and congratulate you on every advance you can make in goodness. Stronger and more numerous are

there are thousands of such. The major part of the world is such; and still they are citizens, husbands, fathers. Can we wonder, then, that the world should be so confused, while Error sits upon the throne of an almost universal empire, and, Pandora-like, distributes nothing but darkness and despair?

But this state of things may be altered. The dawn of a glorious day is upon us. Truth is nearer to us than we think of; and the lamp to light us on the way, may be said to be burning at every man's door. Books, with their soothing influence, go like messengers of mercy to the cottage, dispersing the darkness and bringing forth new life, and, like a great and mighty cause, their effects soon follow; for some who were deemed too dull to learn, have already gone forth to teach. Hope on, for hope will labour, will overcome the difficulty. Ye who can read

have this intellectual world open to you. You are on the threshold ; walk forward, and ye will find riches worth possessing; and when ye have received, give unto others; for it will in no way impoverish you. Like the stone in the hands of the lapidary, the more it gives, the more it shines.

I

Let us remember a mighty reformation has begun; and we who have stepped out from the crowd, and have acquired some portion of its influence, are individually reformers. Let each mau consider himself as a worker; for if one man learns another, that other in his turn will teach again, and so the work will go on with strength and power. would make a suggestion, which if carried out would be highly philanthropic, and would show the world, that the power of knowledge engenders noble sentiments and brotherly love. In many parts of the country, particularly the manufacturing, which are by far the most numerous, bodies of toiling men, who have felt the impulse of the mighty movement, have united themselves in classes for the acquirement of various branches of science; and also, for the discussion of literary and other topics. They have found the advantages resulting therefrom, and have proved that knowledge is a soothing companion, and that it is worth possessing for its end as well as its means. Such classes have proved highly beneficial, as the improvement of their self-taught students testify; for they reason more clearly and correctly, and some speak as though Mercury himself had taught them eloquence. Yet it is a fact, and one to be much lamented, that there are many who cannot join these bodies, who might be inclined to improve their minds, had they the facility. They have no knowledge, for they cannot even read, and so are like children playing at blind man's buff, and placed in an unknown locality, where, if they move at all, they may move wrong. I would sug gest that the more favoured ones should devote a portion of their leisure, say one evening in the week, and establish a kind of mutual evening school, to teach their fellow-labourers to read, that they might after

wards participate in their more exalted attainments. They might, also, by force of argument and kind words, persuade others who can read, but yet do not think; and thus sow the good seed along the path. Kindness from one workman to another will effect much good. Books will do their work ;-still there is a subduing power in advice warm from the heart.

Brethren, let us press ONWARD! We have high and holy deeds to perform; duties to ourselves, and duties to the world. We are endowed with minds capable of infinite intelligence, and have no need to group our way through the world, as though we were only made for it, and not it for us. We have happy things to cheer us on the way; new light, new thoughts, and new feelings. Every step we take furnishes us with fresh associations. Old haunts, and familiar scenes, present beauties which we never perceived before. Even the birds cannot sing, but what we may imagine a host of lovely things connected with them. One thought lifts another, and each has life and animation; and thus we go on, till the mind shall become like a vast continent, peopled with myriads of undying gems. Having thus learned wisdom, let us reduce it to practice,-forgetting past differences, destroying petty jealousies, sympathising one with another; and so fulfil that new commandment, which will eventually become the regenerator of the world.-The People's Press.

EDUCATION.

THIS, of all earthly objects, is the chief concern. "'Tis education makes the man "intellectually, morally, religiously, eternally: I mean education in its true and proper, and all-comprehensive import. The world has been, till lately, asleep upon this mightiest of living interests. It is awaking, and only yet awaking, to the reality of the thing. It is a sovereign antidote against many moral evils, an effectual preventive of many of the natural, and a cure for most of the mixed evils of human kind. With the general diffusion of its influences, families, states, nations, and empires, rise in genius, character, prosperity, power, and social happiness. Those who plead its cause, elevate its character, and practically diffuse its blessings among society, are the best benefactors of mankind. They are worthy of a people's gratitude-of a nation's honour, who distinguish themselves in this practical philanthropy.

AWFUL CALCULATION.

A. C.

AN ingenious, authentic, and valuable statistical work, published a few years since, calculates that the number of inhabitants who have lived on the earth amount to about 36,627,843,275,075,846. This

sum, the writer says, when divided by 3,096,000, the number of square leagues on the surface of the globe, leaves 11,830,698,732 persons to each square league. There are 27,864,000 square miles of land, which being divided as above, give about 1,314,522,076 persons to each square mile. Let the miles be reduced to square rods, and the number, he says, will be 2,853,273,600,000, which being divided as above, gives 1283 inhabitants to each square rod, which rod being reduced to feet and divided as above, it will give about 5 persons to each square foot of terra firma on the globe. Let the earth be supposed to be one vast burying ground, and, according to the above statement, there will be 1283 persons to be buried on each square rod; and a rod being capable of being divided into 12 graves, it appears that each grave must have contained 100 persons, and the whole earth have been one hundred times dug over to bury its inhabitants, supposing they had been equally distributed! What a lesson to human pride, vanity, and ambition!

Essays on Man in his Primitive State, and under the Patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian Dispensations.-No. II.

PRIMITIVE STATE.-No. II.

[CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9.]

In the close of our former essay we left the progenitors of the human race in the full possession and enjoyment of paradisiacal bliss. Their Creator conversed with them viva voce, and they heard his voice without a tremor or a fear. They saw him, and were glad-they heard him, and rejoiced. All was calm and serene within-all was cheerful and joyous without. So rapid was their progress in this school, that Adam was soon able to give suitable names to all the animals around him; and when his acquaintance with language was thus tested by his Creator, not an imperfection or defect was found: for "whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." His happiness consisted in the perfect subordination of his passions and appetites to reason, and of his reason to the character and will of his Creator. Conscious of the perfect approbation of his God, he had nothing to fear; and all his capacities for enjoyment being gratified, he had nothing to desire. In the full zenith of his enjoyment, he had not a wish uncrowned, nor a desire ungratified.

But some tenure of his enjoyment must be granted, and a test of his loyalty must be instituted. This is the reason, as it was the basis, of the promise and law promulged to him. How long he was to be possessed of this felicity was not yet defined, and on what terms he was to continue in friendly intercourse with his Creator had not yet been stated. This gave rise to the law under which he was placed. This arrangement reminded him of his origin, of his dependance, and

accountability; as well as anticipated any inquiry respecting the tenure of his enjoyments, or his destiny. But the nature of the law and of the promise, or the design of the trial under which he was placed, is all that interests us in reference to our design.

However we may understand the terms or description of his arrangement, whether as literal or symbolic, one thing is obvious, and that is all and alone important to know, and that is the nature of the trial, viz. whether his spirit or his soul, his understanding or his passions, shall control his actions. In one sentence, whether his spirit shall retain the sovereignty with which God had invested it, or his passions, usurp the government. Reason was already enthroned, and had full command of all his passions, affections, and propensities; and so long as it continued at the helm, perfect subordination was to be expected and enjoyed. But if, by any means, his passions should gain the ascendant, and dethrone his reason, then disorder, confusion, and an awful reverse of circumstances, must inevitably ensue. Such was the nature of the trial. The law and promise promulged to him were predicated upon his nature and addressed to his reason, and could not fail to engage all his powers. The trial was made as easy as the nature of his relations to heaven and earth could admit, and was, therefore, the best possible test of his loyalty.

The temptation, artful as it may be supposed, was evidently addressed to the soul or passions of the woman, and of the same character was that offered to the man. It addressed the understanding through the medium of the passions; and thus the sad catastrophe was accomplished. Man fell through the triumph of passion. His reason was dethroned by the usurpation of passion, and the harmony and subordination before existing within were now destroyed. From being the son of reason, he became a child of passion, and the slave of appetite. Guilt, shame, fear, and all their horrible retinue, now invade his peace and overwhelm him in ruin and despair. There is no regaining his former standing; the controlling power is lost. In this miserable plight he was called to judgment, and the sentence was executed. Exiled from Eden, and from the approbation of heaven, he, by an act of mercy, is respited, and becomes a pensioner under a small annuity, until his physical energies should be worn out by the conflicts of reason and passion upon his animal life. This was the necessary result of his preternatural condition. So that by a law of nature death became necessary.

The change which now had taken place in Adam is difficult to be conceived of, as we can have but a very imperfect idea of his former moral and intellectual grandeur. But the best illustration we can conceive of, as it is the only analogical one we know any think of, is a second fall of man, which sometimes takes place. When we have seen