it in Koarta, Ludamar, and all the northern parts of Barbary.

The fruit is eaten both in a fresh and dried state; in some cases it is allowed to hang and dry on the trees, it has then a delicious flavour, and is formed into a nutritious paste. Generally, however, the fruit is gathered when ripe, and afterwards dried in the sun; the mode of collecting it is to spread a cloth beneath the trees, and then beat the branches with a stick. When dried, it is pounded in a mortar until the stones are separated from the farinaceous matter; this is moistened with water and formed into cakes, which when baked in the sun are equal to the best gingerbread. The natives of Ludamar also macerate the stones in water until the farina which adheres to them is entirely separated; and this water, when boiled and thickened with millet, makes a delightful gruel called "fondi," much esteemed for breakfast. The refuse fruit is given to cattle, which soon fatten upon it. The plant has been grown in the greenhouses of this country since 1751.

The Awrog (lotos) of Homer, who is supposed to have lived about 900 years before the Christian era, and that of Dioscorides, who flourished about 600 years later, is a bird's-foot trefoil (lotus Dioscorides, fig. 3 b), and a very different plant from the lotus of Lotophagi.

The lotus of Hippocrates is the nettle tree (celtis occidentalis, fig. 3 c) of our European forests, where it grows to a large size, with very hard and tough

Caspian Sea, Italy, and the Mauritius; the fruit grows to the size of a cherry.

None of these are, however, the lotuslily of Scripture, which is a kind of water-plant; but the name does not appear to have been confined to one species of water-lily; for, according to Herodotus and Theophrastus, the nelumbo, or sacred bean of India (nelumbium speciosum, fig. 5 a), was called lotus, and was once common both in Egypt and

Fig. 4.

Calodium Colocassia.

the neighbouring countries, although there are no traces of its existence there in a wild state at the present time; probably it never was indigenous, but was partially naturalised at its introduction. The ancient preparation called "colocassia" was supposed to be made from the farinaceous roots and seeds of the nelumbo; Dr. Patrick Brown has proved that it consisted for the most part of the powdered fleshy roots of a very different plant (cdlodium colocassia, fig. 4), mixed with only a few of the nelumbo seeds to give it a flavour.

but

timber, used for a variety of domestic purposes; the fruit is about the size of a wild cherry, of a glossy black colour when ripe, and tolerably sweet and palatable.

The lotos of Italy is one of the ebony trees (diospyros lotus), and grows wild in the western parts of the Caucasus, the woods of Hyrcania, the coast of the

Another water-lily (nymphaea lotus, fig. 5 b), a true native of Egypt, is probably the original "lotus" of the ancients; it grows at the present day in the greatest abundance both in the Nile, the neighbourhood of Rosetta, Damietta, in ricefields, during the time they are under water, and in almost every slow-running

stream in the country. This is doubtless the plant mentioned by Hosea, xiv. 5, where the Hebrew word is rendered by our translators "lily;" and in Isaiah xix. 6, where the same word in its plural form is translated "flags." This plant was dedicated by the Egyptians to their goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris, one of their kings, who was assassinated by his own brother.

As the season for maturing the growth of the lotus-lily in its native habitats is very short, the leaves and every other part of the plant are constructed so as to facilitate the most rapid development of their parts. On this account the flowers appear, and the seeds ripen and are shed before the waters of the rice-fields, brooks, and ditches, become dried up by the hot weather; after which, the leaves die down to the fleshy roots, and the plants remain torpid until the following

season.

How beautiful is the allusion made to this rapid and perfect growth in the prophecy by Hosea, xiv. 5, when, speaking of the return of Israel to the Lord, the prophet exclaims, "He shall grow as a lily, and cast forth his roots like Lebanon"-a striking and comprehensive figure! And what can effect so rapid a development of heavenly perfection? The reception of the gospel-that sweet message of peace, of mercy, of heaven!brought home to hearts crushed beneath a weight of sin, and enslaved by the bondage of hell-it is the gospel, bright herald of a Saviour's love, which shows us how the conscience may be relieved of its fearful burden, and inherit "joys unutterable and full of glory." Science has conferred on suffering humanity unnumbered benefits; civilisation has called forth energies and awakened interests which, but for its influence, would have remained for ever inactive; commerce has opened fields of communication betwixt the most dissimilar and distant nations, and their manufactures and products are sold or exchanged to their mutual advantage; but it is the gospel alone, the word of life, which exhibits in the clearest light Him who can change the disposition, dispel the gloom of sin from the world, plant the rose of Sharon in the wildest desert, spread a carpet of lilies over the waste and howling wilderness, and open springs of living water in the dry and thirsty land. It is through the Holy Spirit's heavenly influence which accompanies the preaching of the gospel, that the indications of a coming gracious shower are becoming daily more and more visible amidst the rocky hills of Derbyshire, where I write. The reception of the gospel insures the assistance, the protection, the companionship of

Him who is capable of effecting all the world can want. "The gospel is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth;" it has raised up our country from a state of barbarism and degrading ignorance and superstition to what we now are; its light has penetrated some of the darkest places of the earth; dens of cruelty, where the wretched victims are called by the demon they worship to celebrate rites at which humanity shudders; it has shone into the wigwams of North America, the Southern States of bondage and slavery, the burning sands of Africa, the vast dominions of Asia, and the despotic empires of Europe. The Saviour's glorious name is already engraven on the dark and swarthy countenances of the poor oppressed Negroes, the Caffres, the Bechuanas, the Bushmen, the Hottentots, the natives of Cassina, Burmah, Thibet, China, the red men of the West, the pale faces of temperate lands, and the fur-clad Esquimaux amongst the mountains of perpetual ice. Jehovah has already brought many of his sons from afar, and his daughters from the ends of the earth and the present is not the age to pause in a work so great and glorious as the proclamation of this heavenly gospel. The time has even arrived when numbers of the once-highly favoured sons and daughters of Abraham have begun to hear this blessed Word; and hearing, have received life. By unity of effort and continued perseverance, the heavenly beauty of unnumbered lilies shall glitter with a splendour never before witnessed amidst the thorns of heathenism and idolatry, until the world becomes a carpet of glory and beauty, diffusing a rich and enlivening fragrance, and rendering the dreary waste gladsome and happy. He who feeds amongst the lilies, and spreads a rich banquet for the perishing children of Adam, will surely, at no distant day, cause the dew to descend upon these scattered ones, and they shall "grow as a lily, and cast forth their roots like Lebanon." Before, however, the Spirit of Grace can be poured out in such streams as will meet the

world's wants, a more earnest and agonising spirit of supplication must be put forth by the people of God: unholy zeal, party spirit, bickerings, strife, and ambition to be great amongst the Redeemer's followers, must give place to humility and brotherly union. If this spirit is cultivated, and urgent, persevering prayer is carried out, wonders will be effected; the chariot of Jehovah will roll onwards, onwards, onwards, till priesteraft, tyranny, persecution, war and bloodshed shall cease, and Christ shall be all in all.

Authors and Books.

Secular Tracts. By John Howard Hinton, M.A. Nos. 1, 2, and 3. London: Houlston and Stoneman.

THE first of these tracts is a lecture delivered at Cowper Street, on the conclusion of the discussion between Mr. G. J. Holyoake and Brewin Grant. The second bears the title of "The Reasonableness of Prayer Vindicated," and the third is on "Godliness Profitable for all Things."

The author merits the approval of all lovers of truth for the publication of his views on these important subjects. We confess that when we saw the account (having neither the time nor the inclination to attend the discussion) of the meetings, over which Mr Hinton presided as umpire, we wondered how a man of his "many calls" and such arduous and multiplied labours could take so much interest in the procedure as to induce him to attend and listen week after week to the monstrosities which were uttered by the professed infidel, although met by the clever and witty retorts of his opponent; but now we rejoice that he was there, and sincerely thank him for the felicitous use he has made of what he heard. The lecture is an able exposé of the fallacy of the system, if anything so incoherent can be called a system, as propounded by its chief apostle. The poor fellow is dealt with in a way that only a man of such calm temper, dry humour, and clear perceptions as our author could deal with him. But not only is "the refuge of lies," in which men have been called to trust, swept away: there is much positive truth enunciated; and although we should demur to the mode in which some of the opinions are put, even if we found ourselves at one with the author on the opinions themselves, yet, as a whole, we commend the lecture, and trust that our friends who come in contact with any of the disciples of this "new school" of destroyers, yclept Secularists, will abundantly supply themselves with this ready antidote.

Of the other two we can speak in the same commendatory terms. The reasonableness of prayer is put in an intelligible form, and the pretended philosophy of some, and the open infidelity of others, are equally met and set aside The last of the three was delivered to the people of his charge in Devonshire Square Chapel, and most sincerely do we wish that the subject of which it treats was more frequently the theme of public discourse. It ought to stand as an axiom, which has been demonstrated by facts, that "godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of the life that now

is, as well as of that which is to come." But then it should be remembered that it is not true of mere profession, even though the professor have itching ears and a prating tongue, however sanctimonious he may look. Nor is godliness so profitable as it might be, if every one enjoying its saving power determined that every man with whom he came in contact should have proof of its beneficial influence. When preachers of the gospel take such subjects, let them be able to point to an active, industrious, thriving, intelligent, brother-loving, soul-seeking class of individuals, and boldly challenge investigation when he exclaims, "These are our epistles, read and known of all men." Again we say, let our friends provide themselves with large numbers of these tracts for distribution. They will find in them much of that "wisdom which is profitable to direct."

Mr. G. J. Holyoake Refuted in his own Words. Nos. 1 to 5. By Sanders J. Chewe. London: Houlston and Stoneman. Leicester: S. G. Chewe.

QUOTATIONS are presented from the writings of the infidel, by which it is seen that he is "everything by turns, and nothing long." Mr. Chewe gives his statements with perfect fairness, and then, in short and conclusive reasoning, sets the author against himself, and shows that no dependence can be placed upon him. To those who have leisure and inclination, or who expect to come in contact with those who have given heed to the "vain philosophy" of which Mr. Holyoake is the redoubtable champion, these tracts may be useful; but we believe that there is a "more excellent way" of preventing the spread of these pernicious doctrines. Let the believers in Christ with untiring activity seek out the poor and helpless, and show that Christianity does not consist in long faces, demure looks, attending places of worship, or

repeating paternosters, but in bringing peace, and joy, and salvation to every soul of man, and chasing every impurity, filth, and wretchedness from every lane and alley. Let them, in fact, in imitation of its Author, "go about doing good" to the bodies as well as the souls of men, and secularism will soon have neither a name nor place among us. Christianity is not only a good thing, or the best thing, but the only thing suited to heal the moral maladies of mankind, and confer a larger amount of physical and social advantage than all other appliances put together.

Nineveh: Its Rise and Ruin, as illustrated by Ancient Scriptures and Modern Discoveries. A new edition, revised and enlarged, with supplementary notes. By Rev. John Blackburn. London: Partridge and Oakey.

DR. LAYARD has pronounced this the best book he knows to show the connection between recent discoveries and the prophetical writings of Holy Scripture. This is a high compliment to our author, and one which ought to secure for his work an extensive circulation.

The volume consists of a series of lectures delivered by Mr. Blackburn to his congregation at Claremont, Pentonville. The new edition is published at half the original price, and is thus placed within the reach of a larger number of readers. Any work that tends to inform the mind on events referred to in the Word of God, and which are calculated to strengthen our faith in its inspiration, ought to be read with attention, and we therefore recommend the purchase and careful perusal of this volume.

Prisoners of Hope: being letters from Florence relating to the persecution of Francesco and Rosa Madiai. Edited, with an introduction, by S. P. Tregelles, LL.D. Second edition, with an appendix of recent information. London: Partridge and Oakey. THE Madiai are no longer prisoners. Little praise, however, is due to the barbarians who govern in Tuscany. Pretending not to yield to foreign influence, and to uphold a show of independence, there can be no doubt but that the voices of England and Prussia have been disturbing the slumbers of the Grand Duke, who has at last relented and thrown open the prison doors, that the servants of Christ might be numbered among the banished ones. The case of these tried Christians will always possess interest, and we are glad that it has been presented to us in such an interesting form. In this volume is given a clear and connected account of the arrest, accusation, trial, vindication, and sentence of

the sufferers, in a series of letters from the scene of action. There is also an able introduction by Dr. Tregelles, and an appendix, containing letters from the Evangelical Alliance at Geneva and Lord Roden to the Earl of Shaftesbury, and an account of the proceedings of the deputation to the Grand Duke. It should be bought and read as a record of suffering for conscience' sake, and with prayer that, if unhappily any of us should ever have to bear persecution, we may be sustained by "the like precious faith," of which the Madiai so evidently manifested themselves the professors.

The Life and Times of Howel Harris, Esq., the First Itinerant Preacher in Wales, whose labours were very extraordinary and successful. By the Rev. Edward Morgan, M.A., Vicar of Syston, Leicestershire. London: Hughes and Butler. THE founder of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Societies was indeed an extraordinary character, and it is evident that God wrought mightily by him for the advantage of the principality. This devoted man commenced the formation of his societies some four years earlier than Wesley, and gave as much evidence that he was raised up of God for the work in Wales as did the founder of Methodism in reference to his labours in this country. He was a layman, so called; but neither Whitfield, the Wesleys, nor the other regularly-ordained clergy of his day, who were desirous of saving souls, were ashamed to be associated with him in the proclamation of mercy to lost man; and now, after the lapse of nearly a century and a quarter, we find a minister of the Establishment becoming his biographer, and acknowledging his call by God to the ministry of the Word.

We fear that the same amount of liberality does not pervade every mind belonging to our own ministry, and that if one with equal zeal were now to start up from among our ranks, those in authority would be ready to command that he "be a keeper at home," and not go forth beyond his own circuit. But the want of the times now is an earnest, zealous, pains-taking, devoted, evangelistic ministry: men coming fresh from the people, knowing their wants, sympathising with them in their sufferings, and yearning with pity for their spiritual destitution -men who, with loving hearts, could go forth, not "shunning to declare the whole counsel of God." Where shall we look for such men? Brethren, we are asking for "old times," for primitive simplicity, for a return of something like the early successes of Methodism. Are we willing to be baptized for the dead? Can we drink into their spirit, and go forth

enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ? We cannot have a return of primitive times and blessings, without a return to primitive self-devotedness and abundant labour. Let a remembrance of what such men as Howel Harris were enabled to accomplish stimulate us to action, so that we may go forth valiant for the truth, from conquering to conquer, cheered even amidst persecution, if we are called to bear it, by the consolations which abounded in them; and, above all, considering "Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds."

commend it to the late Premier, or produce his conversion. As Mr. Parsons is fond of quoting Latin, we may observe that a little more of the suaviter in modo, with the fortiter in re, would have been an improvement in his very important letter.

He

In the second, Mr. Hall repudiates the charge, that those who wish to retain the Sabbath are opposed to the enjoyments of the poor and working-classes. also deals some heavy blows on Mr. Mayhew; and shows that Christianity confers infinitely more lasting benefit on all classes, who are sought to be united by it, than the pseudo-liberality of all pretenders for the liberty of the poor and oppressed artisans.

Mr. Conder's is a reprint of articles which originally appeared in the "Eclectic Review" when he was the editor of that periodical. But it is quite suited to the times; and is an able exposé of the folly and infatuation of those who pretend that the Sabbath, as a divine institution, was abolished by the gospel. The arguments of Dr. Whateley, and men of his views on the subject, are handled in a masterly manner. We are not sure that we could go the "full length" with the author, but we would rather do so a thousand times than give way to the spirit of latitudinarianism which some liberty-loving advocates recommend.

TESTIMONIES OF THE DEPARTED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF TEMPERANCE.

LAST month (February) it pleased the Head of the Church to remove from this sinful world to a far better three members of the Methodist Society, all of whom were members of the Temperance or Total Abstinence Society. Respecting them a few remarks may he made, which, by God's blessing, may be useful to others. The first that died was William Smith, on the 6th, at midnight; and the second, his wife, Ann Smith, who departed on the 8th, at noon, about thirty-six hours after her husband. They were carried side by side to their long home, and deposited there in the same position.

Previous to his conversion William Smith was a great drinker. We well recollect the occasion of his conviction, when, at the prayer-meeting, the friends besieged his pew, so that he could not retire, and wrestled with God till he professed to obtain the forgiveness of sins. He joined the church, appeared to be

zealous in the cause of God, but before many weeks had elapsed, his old besetting sin returned, and fought against and overcame him. In this affair he had well-nigh lost his life by drowning. He often adverted to it afterwards. His sun was about to set in darkness; Satan had gained one triumph, and would be likely to gain others through the same means. It was a mercy for the subject of these remarks that about that period a beautiful star had arisen in the west, and its brightness had been seen in the east. Without advising with flesh and blood, which would have given a verdict adverse to the interests of our friend, he started to another village, where lived a local preacher, who had become somewhat notorious for his adoption of the teetotal pledge, and his zealous and unflinching advocacy of its adoption by others, especially the followers of the self-denying Jesus. There, in the strength of divine grace, he vowed to abstain from all kinds of alcoholic drinks, a pledge he maintained inviolate to his dying day-a