invitest me to produce from the stones of the wilderness; and thou canst not hope to succeed in turning me out of the way of my mission, though it be dark and full of thorns." Yet Satan repeats the attempt in the second and third temptations. The miraculous spring from the Temple's summit, perhaps at the time of a feast, when the holy city was thronged with priests and scribes and pious pilgrims-wherefore should he not execute it? A visible descent from the abrupt hight of the pinnacle, and one made secure by divine promises, a safe arrival amid the wavering people, would instantaneously scatter all doubt as to the divine person of our Lord, and would extort from every one the confession, "This man must have come from heaven. The angels of God bear him on their hands. He must be the Messiah, and it be hooves us to pray to him, and to acknowledge him as our king." But Jesus knew that the Father's counsel to him had indicated a far different course in order to find faith on the earth. Like as Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so should he be lifted up, and thus draw all men unto him. To appropriate the promises of the Father to himself in another way than that indicated in the divine counsel, this he considered to be tempting God. Messiah should not, with a presumptuous confidence, support himself upon the miraculous assistance of divine power, in such perils. So, again, the devil, confounded, was compelled to ground his arms. Yet still, though in despair, he makes a last assault. Now it had been promised the Messiah that he should have, not only Israel, but also the heathen for an inheritance. Therefore Satan ventured to propose to the Messiah, to whom the Gentile world was promised as an inheritance, his coöperation in the conquest of the immeasurable heritage of the heathen. The thought of Satan expanded to its complete dimensions was this: "Grant me the honor to receive The at my hands the programme of the world's conquest. Confiding in me you will be able, without painful effort, to ground the new order of things upon the old, and to graft Christianity upon the stock of heathenism. By adopting a system of wise accommodation you can retain for your own kingdom much of the glory of heathenism, and the people will throng to you in multitudes, and themselves, together with their mighty, their noble, and their wise, will bow themselves with awe before thy scepter." The point of this last temptation is evidently a proud seeking of dominion. In it Satan displays himself as the "ruler of the whole world," who would make Jesus his organ-would make Christ the antichrist, by endeavoring to dazzle him through the promise of dominion over the world and the manifestation of its splendor. He carries also with his offer the covert insinuation that, as a consequence of his dominion in heathendom, he has the power to turn the whole world against Jesus if he presumes to resist the proposal. The tempter desires an act of homage. The outward ceremony, perhaps kneeling or prostration, would be a symbolical expression of Christ's consent and submission to the sovereignty of the Satanic will. In this temptation Satan appeared undisguised, and Christ addresses him as such. He tells the pretended ruler with the language of divine authority, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Against this last temptation the Redeemer wields that last command-Deut. iii, 13-which bears all others included in itself. Only the one, the true God of heaven and earth could be the object of worship. When the appropriation by another of this divine prerogative manifests itself, then is expressed that which is devilish-2 Thess. ii, 4. Through this conservation of the honor of God, not only this world, but the heavenly became the possession of Jesus. To him was given all power in heaven and in earth. Notes and Queries. CHARLES WESLEY AND YOUNG'S NIGHT THOUGHTS.Charles Wesley's hymn - Methodist Hymn-Book, number 1118, commencing "Stand the omnipotent decree," is justly regarded by the critics as the loftiest that he ever wrote. Others, as "Repentant Peter," or "Wrestling Jacob," may exhibit richer devotional feeling or more impassioned bursts of spirit, but none of them surpass this hymn in sustained elevation of thought or vigor of expression. Yet it is not generally known by the admirers of this hymn that it is but an amplification of a passage in Young's Night Thoughts, to which, moreover, Mr. Wesley is indebted for some of the most felicitous expressions in the hymn. His biographer tells us that "the sentiments contained in the Night Thoughts were exactly suited to Mr. Wesley's peculiar temperament and mental habits; he, therefore, esteemed this book next to the holy Scriptures. Yet could he, when occasion served, surpass Young himself in living energy, both of thought and expression. As his object in writing was not the establishment of his own reputation, but the advancement of Christian piety and the edification of the Church, he was not so solicitous for the originality of his thoughts, as for their truth and importance. Occasionally, therefore, he did not hesitate to borrow a thought from other men and cast it in his own mold-not because he was himself destitute of the inventive faculty; for his hymns which are perfectly original are far more numerous and embrace a wider range of subjects than those of any other writer in the English language." The hymn above mentioned illustrates the manner in which he availed himself of the suggestions of other men; and shows how abundantly, while he borrowed the thought, he justifies the act by expanding and improving it. The author of the Night Thoughts exclaims, "Of man immortal! hear the lofty style; The Man emerges; mounts above the wreck, As tow'ring flame from nature's funeral pyre; O'er devastation, as a gainer, smiles; His charter, his inviolable rights; Well-pleased to learn from thunder's impotence, Death's pointless darts, and hell's defeated storms." Night vi, 743. Charles Wesley takes up the theme and rings in still loftier strains, and with a greater power of expression: "Stand the omnipotent decree! Jehovah's will be done! And hear her final groan: Rests secure the righteous man! And mount above the wreck. Lo! the heavenly spirit towers, Like flames 6'er nature's funeral pyre, Nothing hath the just to lose By worlds on worlds destroyed, With smiles, the flaming void; The grand millennial reign begun; Resting in this glorious hope, To earthquake, plague, or sword; List'ning for the call divine, The latest trumpet of the seven; Soon our soul and dust shall join, And both fly up to heaven." COURSE OF A SHIP.-Ansicer to Query in January Number.-If a ship, in north latitude 45°, start due west and sail in a right line, she will describe a great circle about the earth-crossing the equator at 90° of longitude from where she started-passing on to 45° south latitude, when she will have half circumnavigated the globe-recrossing the equator and making her original point of departure. If she sail west, by the north star, her course will see, hear, feel, help, let, etc., are followed by the infinitive mood without the sign to prefixed; and as the infinitive has but two forms, to fight, to have fought, the above sentence is manifestly incorrect. For a rule to guide in similar cases your correspondent is referred to the following: "Verbs of commanding, permitting, etc., refer to actions or events relatively present." We should, therefore, say, "I intended to do it," not "I intended to have done it." The sentence in question should therefore read, "Would you have let them fight?” W. T. C. The awkwardness and impropriety of this expression is exhibited by supplying the infinitive sign before the verb fought. Thus: "Would you have let them to fought?" If it be suggested to supply have also, and make the sentence read, "Would you have let them to have fought?" a close examination of the tenses will show the act of permission to be subsequent to that of fighting; which is, of course, not admissible. In English the leading verb often is allowed to attract the tense of its dependent infinitive, but I think we should be jealous of the license. W. H. Y. THE SUN AND EARTH.-July Repository, 1859.-The earth's being an oblate spheroid can not affect the theory of six months day and night at the poles, except to extend the zones of the six months illuminated and unilluminated surface. On the other hand also, if the earth were a prolate spheroid, the result would be a narrower zone of six months light and six months darkness: narrower in proportion as the polar should be increased beyond the equatorial diameter. No degree of oblateness nor prolateness would present more than half the earth's surface to the sun at one time, other causes being removed. W. H. Y. THUNDER-STORMS.-January Repository.-Mr. Wise's theory of a constant easterly current, in the higher atmosphere, will sufficiently account for the western origin of thunder-storms. W. H. Y. UP OR DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME." Up to the present time," or "down to the present time?" asks a September querist. My off-hand reply is: Each, either, and both. Perhaps the primary and most common meaning of "up to," is "even with." This is, no doubt, its be a true west course, which is called parallel sailing. general import in the phrase, "up to the present If she sail west, by the sun, making due allowance for the sun's constant change of relative position, her Course will still be a true west course. If she sail west, by the sun's apparent position, her path will be a "traverse," made up of a variety of "courses," depending on her velocity and the season of the year; but her general direction will be southward till she reach the equator, after which she will be alternately above and below the equator at no great distance on either side. W. H. Y. A PRINCIPLE IN GRAMMAR.-In the January number of the Repository I find this question: "Is the following sentence correct: Would you have let them fought? Give a rule that will guide in similar cases." | If your correspondent is familiar with English grammar he is aware that the verbs following, bid, dare, time," and it certainly seems entirely unobjectionable. Besides, this use of "up to" is explained and justified in a variety of connections by a kind of attraction of ideas; as when we say "from infaney"in some sense a lower state of existence-"up to manhood;" that is, up to the time of manhood. And so, "From my earliest childhood up to the present time." Also, we may say, "From the remote ages of heathen antiquity, when superstition held in bondage her blinded and fettered millions, up to the present period of light, liberty," etc., where the prominent idea is a contrast of lower and higher conditions; but the same sentiment, without this contrast, may read, "From the remote ages of antiquity down to the present period;" the mind being directed to the succession of ages, the-downward-flow of time. Again: when some kind of declination is implied, "down to" must be used; as "from manhood's prime down to the tottering years of aged helplessness," or "from the golden period of my highest prosperity down to the present moment of toil, suffering, and want." Often either expression may be used indifferently, while again neither is so good as the simple to. And, Finally, both are often desirable in the same proposition. I think the orthodoxy of the above usages must be admitted, and without any references to the "authorities," especially if we expect to meet the exigencies of an ornate style. W. H. Y. GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA.-A celebrated city of the Levant, which was highly extolled by the ancients on account of its beautiful works of art and great overflow of wealth. It has been overthrown at least six times by earthquakes, lost six thousand inhabitants by the plague of 1814, and suffered severely from the cholera in 1831. It now presents but few of its ancient characteristics. (The above is to be solved by identifying the subjoined places, whose initials supply the consecutive letters of the name required.) 1. The birthplace of Diogenes. 2. The place where Lord Byron died. 3. An English town of great importance, where several Parliaments have been held since the time of Henry II. 4. A town in France, the siege of which resulted in the downfall of the Huguenot party during the reign of Louis XIII. 5. The scene of a great naval conflict between three of the principal European powers. 6. A dilapidated city, once the residence of the Syrian kings. W. T. C. MINOR QUERY.-Why do the fixed stars twinkle while the planets do not? W. B. Children's Corner. A TRUE HERO; OR, PAUL AND JAMES.-Paul and James were brothers, one nine and the other twelve years of age. They attended the same school. James, the youngest, was ill-tempered and obstinate, but much beloved by Paul. The teacher one day was about to punish James, when Paul stepped up and said to him "I wish you would punish me and save my little brother." “My dear Paul,” said the teacher in surprise, "you are one of my best boys. You have done nothing to deserve punishment. I can not punish you, my boy." "But," said Paul, "I shall suffer more to see my brother's disgrace and punishment than I should from any thing you can do to me." "Why, Paul," said the teacher, "what do you mean? I can not punish you." pun "My brother is a little boy, younger than I am," said Paul. "Pray, sir, allow me to take all the ishment: I can bear any thing from you, sir. Do take me and let my little brother go." "Well, James," said the teacher, "what do you say to this noble offer of Paul?" James looked at his brother and said nothing. "Do let me be punished, and let my brother go," urged Paul. "Why, Paul," said the teacher, "do you wish to receive stripes instead of James?" "Jesus gave his back to the smiters," said Paul, "and received stripes for the good of his enemies. James is my brother. O, sir, do forgive him and let me be punished." "But James does not wish me to forgive him," said the teacher. "Why should you feel so anxious about it? Does he not deserve correction?" "O yes, sir," said Paul, "he has broken the rules and is sullen, and willful, and some body must suffer. Do take me and spare my brother." Paul threw his arms around his brother's neck and wept as if his heart would break! This was more than James could bear. His tears began to flow, and he embraced his generous brother. The teacher clasped both in his arms and forgave James, for he was more sorry for his conduct than if he had been punished ten times. CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.-Children have rights-inal- ienable and God-given rights; and chief among these are the rights to laugh when they are happy, and to break things generally. A healthy child must of cry when they are unhappy, and to make a noise and necessity be an incessant tiddle-toddle, a perpetual jumping-jack, an inevitable teetotum. and jump, and scream, and upset the table, and bump its head, and cry, and go at it again. It only flourishes in activity, and to it confinement is stagnation and death. It must run, Give your children free scope, therefore, to develop their "manifest destiny," and overcloud not their youthful horizon with angry eyes and lowering brows, nor turn their joyous notes to discord by your harsh and fretful tones. Said a little boy one morning, "0, mamma! I had such a beautiful dream last night! I dreamed that we were all up in heaven, and were so happy. But by and by grandpa said, 'Can't these children stop their noise?' and then came in looking cross, just as he always does, and we all run away and were not happy any more; and so my pretty dream about heaven was spoiled." philosophy of family government. The cross face In that childish dream it shadowed forth the whole and the "Can't these children stop their noise?" tell the whole story. How FRED LEARNED TO GET UP EARLY.-Little Fred had a strong repugnance to early rising, though he saw very well how much time he lost by lying in bed, and often intended to cure himself of the fault; yet this intention was not carried into effect, because he had not resolution to conquer his disinclination to do right. It was now summer; and one morning he woke about five o'clock. Suddenly his intention occurred to him, and he thought within himself, "I must once for all make a beginning." With this thought he sprung out of bed, but a shiver ran through his whole body, so strongly did his indolence rebel against his determination. He dressed himself quickly, but it seemed to him all the time as if he could not help lying down again. Once or twice he was on the point of it, but happily he resisted. After he had clothed and washed himself, and offered his morning prayer, he sat down and prepared himself in his lessons, and he observed with pleasure that every thing went better with him than usual. His teacher was uncommonly well satisfied with him through the day, and his parents, who heard of this, loaded him with caresses. He was himself cheerful and happy. It seemed to him as if he had begun a new life. Then he bethought him, the trifling self-conquest which early rising cost me to-day, has brought its own reward. I should be a fool indeed if I did not do the same other days. So he did; and every morning it was easier to him to rise early. At last it became so much his habit that he could not have remained in bed and slept, even if he had wished it. It is just so with every thing that is hard to us at the outset. Right at it, young friends, and conquer the difficulty; and I'll be bound it will come easier to you every day, and at last yield you pleasure. CREEP BEFORE YOU WALK.-This exquisite gem is from the Nursery Songs of Scotland, by Willie Winkie: "Creep away, my bairnieCreep before you gang; Listen with both ears To your old granny's sang. If you go as far as I, You will think the road lang. Creep away, my bairnie Creep before you gang. You 're too young to learn Than falling with a bang, Creep away, my bairnie Creep before you gang." TOLLING THE BELL FOR OLD MOSES.-One evening when our parents were absent, a little brother of mine was seated near me. I was attracted by hearing him say, "I wonder how long they were tolling the bell when Old Moses died? [The bell in our village tolls the age of the deceased person.] I'll bet they tolled it all day. I pity the man who had to toll it, for his arms must have got real tired." Then, after remaining silent a short time, he said, "I wonder if he is in heaven yet? I should think he would have a good talk with God. I wonder if he will always stay there; and I wonder if, when he went up to heaven, he asked God if he might stay there. O! I'd like to see him! How long his hair must have been!" I now disturbed his reverie by saying, "You must learn to read so that you will know all about the good old patriarchs." Then he said, “I do n't want to live so long as he did." Then suddenly seeming to awaken he exclaimed, "O! Methusely was the oldest man, for he was nine hundred and sixty-nine years old! I do n't want to live as long as he did, for I 'd get tired and want to go and sing with the angels." J. THUNDER PEEPING OUT.-One morning while the family were at breakfast there came a succession of flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. For a moment our little Willie was at first frightened, but recovering himself he said, "See it? mamma, sunder peeping out-sunder playing peep." Then at each successive flash he would say, "Peep, sunder! peep, sunder!" W. W. M. M. THE MOON'S MENDED.-Our little Herbert, just turned of three, has often noticed the moon when a crescent, and called it a "broken moon" and "piece of a moon." On the eve of the 7th of February he got sight of it through the window as he was running about the room and exclaimed, "O, there's the moon, grandpa!" then regarding it thoughtfully a few seconds he shouted out joyfully, "The moon 's mended!" We wondered greatly what he meant, but on looking at it found it was partially eclipsed. M. J. R. I WILL TELL GOD ON YOU.-In reading the pretty little sayings, contained in your Sideboard for Children, I was reminded of a circumstance which was related to me a short time since of a little boy. It contains a thought for mothers. This boy, when about to retire for the night, said to his mother, " Ma, hear me say my prayers;" but she being engaged said that she had not time just then; but he still persisted and finally said, "If you do not hear me say my prayers I will tell on you." She then inquired, "Who will you tell?" He answered, "When I die and go to heaven I will tell God on you." H. J. M. Too SLIPPERY TO GO TO HEAVEN.-Our next-door neighbor has a bright little three-year-old boy. During the extremely cold weather in January he was out one day, and the ground being covered with ice and snow, our little hero fell. On returning to the house he seemed unusually serious and thoughtful. Looking into his mother's face he inquired with much gravity, "Ma, would you kie if Eddie should die?” The mother replied, "Certainly I would." Whereupon he responded rather apologetically, "It's too 'ippy [slippery] to go to heaven to-day." J. W. S. JACK FROST KICKS.-Our little Willie is now four years old. One evening last winter Willie heard the sudden starting of a nail in the house by the frost. "What's that?" said he. "Jack Frost," was replied. "He kicks," said Willie. When little Frank was two or three years old, "Mother," said he, "where does the fire go, when it goes out?" Wayside Gleanings. THE SEWING CIRCLE AND THE PRAYER MEETING. | Islands, and he was one of the few who escaped a watery No one has failed to notice the slight pretext that will answer for an excuse for not going where we have no particular interest in going. The following will serve as an illustration: The sewing circle connected with one of the Churches in a neighboring city met recently, and there was the usual full attendance. Contrary to his custom, the pastor was not present, and in the evening he was sent for. Entering the room, he looked around upon the large company, and with a good-natured smile addressed his parishioners as follows: "I did not come out to-night, my friends, till sent for, because I did not suppose there would be any meeting. I am truly amazed to find so goodly a number assembled, despite the severe storm. Last Sunday, when the weather was not one quarter so bad as now, but very few of you were at Church. I suppose I must attribute your presence to-night, however, to the interest you take in the approaching fair." It AN ADDRESS TO LAKE ERY.-The subjoined "pome" is attributed to "the Buffalo Republican man." is as quaint as amusing: Mity stream. How your bosom swells and pants, I should think you would catch cold, bein' made Who are you, any how What 's going to come of you? You'r found out- That's it! You need n't be uppish 'cause you'r A ROMANTIC EPISODE IN LIFE.-A daily journal of this city gives the following singularly-romantic episode in life: About six years since, a lady named Mrs. Martha Wood, accompanied by her son, his wife, and a couple of children, arrived in this city from New Bedford, Massachusetts. She stated that she was a widow of some twenty-four years' standing, her husband having been mate of a whaler which had been lost at sea. The family have resided for a greater portion of the time on Liberty-street, Mr. Wood, the son, working at his trade, which is that of a cooper. Yesterday morning a gray-headed and toil-worn man called at the residence of the family, and seeing Mr. Wood, inquired for the widow, who, being called into the room, while gazing intently at the stranger, whose eyes were fixed mournfully upon her, requested to know his business. "Do you not know me, Martha?" said he, and as the sound of his voice, like the memory of an olden melody, met her ear, she gave vent to a hysterical cry, and fainted in the arms which were open to receive her. The tale is soon told. The ship in which he had made his last voyage from Now Bedford was cast away in the South Sea grave. After enduring almost unheard-of privations, he succeeded, after thirty years' absence, in reaching his native land. From a brother of his wife he learned their present location, and arrived here to find her whom he had left a young and blooming bride far advanced in the evening of life, while the infant upon whose lips, when last he saw him, he had imprinted a father's kiss, and who could scarcely lisp his name, was now a stalwart man and the head of a family. How many hopes and fears must have agitated the heart of the old mariner as he again set foot, after his long pilgrimage, upon his native soil! ONE OF THE NAUGHTS.-Douglas Jerrold began as a reformer and philanthropist, but ended as a wit. The following incident will illustrate how the philanthropist succumbed to the wit: A gentleman waited upon Jerrold one morning to enlist his sympathies in behalf of a mutual friend who was in want of a round sum of money, but this mutual friend had already sent his hat about among his literary brethren on more than one occasion. Mr.'s hat was becoming an institution; and the friends were grieved at the indelicacy of the proceeding. On the occasion to which we now refer, the bearer of the hat was received by Jerrold with evident dissatisfaction. "Well," said Jerrold, "how much does time?" want this "Why, just a four and two naughts will, I think, put him straight," the bearer of the hat replied. JERROLD." Well, put me down for one of the naughts." WE HAVE GOT A BABY AT OUR HOUSE.-The Boston Post is the author of a good story of a bachelor friend: Our friend was riding a day or two ago through Athol, in this state, when he overtook a little girl and boy apparently on their way to school. The little girl appeared to be five or six years old, and was as beautiful as a fairy. Her eyes were lit up with a gleam of intense happiness, and her cheeks glowed with the hues of health. Our bachelor looked at her for a moment admiringly. She met his glance with a smile, and with an eager voice saluted with, "Have you got a baby?" He was struck aback by the question, and something like a regret stole over his mind as he looked upon the animated and beautiful little face before him. "No," he answered. "Well," she replied, drawing her tiny form proudly up, "we have," and passed on, still smiling, to tell the joyous news to the next one she might meet. What a world of happiness to her was concentrated in that one idea-the baby! And in her joy she felt as if all must have the same delight as herself; and it was a matter of affectionate pride to her that lifted her little heart above the reach of ordinary envy, for in the baby was her world, and what else had she to crave? Such was the reflection of our friend, and he remembered it long enough to tell it yesterday in State-street. A YANKEE ANSWERING A QUESTION.-The following anecdote illustrates a well-known trait of the Yankee. In giving it place we do not indorse the wager part of it: A wager was laid on the Yankee peculiarity of answering one question by asking another. To decide the bet a downeaster was interrogated: "I want you," said the better, "to give me a straightforward answer to a plain question." "I kin du it, mister," said the Yankee. "Then, why is it New Englanders always answer a question by asking one in return?" "Du they?" was Jonathan's reply. |