66 Spiritual fruitfulness in grace divine, is illustrated by the fertility and fragrance of the vine. Hos. xiv. 7: They that dwell under his shadow shall return: they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon." How are holy children fruitful like the vine, and its bunches of delicious grapes? It is, when their graces are lively, and active, and strong. It is, when they are abundant in good works. It is, when they are most diligent and spiritual in the observance of the ordinances of religion. Then young saints are like fruitful vines, bearing goodly clusters of spiritual grapes. In Rev. xiv. 18-20, the gathering of the ripe clusters of the vine, is employed to point out the awful and overwhelming judgments which God will bring down on the heads of those, who have attempted to corrupt the Church, and to ensnare the souls of men by destroying errors; and who have persecuted to the death those, who would not be carried away by their false doctrines and idolatrous superstitions. "And another angel cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God. And the wine-press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine-press, even unto the horses' bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." Come, and see the fruitful clusters which grow on Christ, the Vine. John xv. 1, Jesus says, "I am the true Vine." The clusters of the graces grow on Christ; and believers pluck these clusters, and receive from Jesus "grace for grace." Clusters of pardoning mercy grow on this Vine. By faith, the young saint plucks these clusters, and then sings, "Bless the Lord, who forgiveth all mine iniquities." He plucks the clusters FIGURATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 125 of comforting mercy, and then sings, in ecstasies of holy joy "Awake, my heart, arise, my tongue, Prepare a tuneful voice, In Christ, the life of all my joys, Aloud will I rejoice."-WATTS, Book I. H. xx. ver. 1. FIGURATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BIBLE, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. It is my intention, from time to time, to present in this work the excellences of the Bible. These excellences are numerous, various, and striking. I shall introduce them in alphabetical order. Young friends, when you read them with the eye of your body, may you see them with the eye of your mind! May you admire them, believe them, and enjoy them! Oh! may you be able to say, with pious Cowper, "A glory gilds the sacred page, It gives a light to every age A. Under words beginning with the letter A, the Bible may be described as an Adamantine Rock, as Apparel, as an Appeal from God to man, as an Apple Tree, as an Armoury, as an Arrow, as Artillery, and as our Assurance of God's mercy and truth. ADAMANTINE ROCK.-The adamant is the diamond, the hardest, the brightest, and the most valuable of precious stones. The word adamantine is taken from the word adamant. The Bible is a hard rock, which no power can break. It is an adamantine rock, which no earthquake can tear asunder. Satan, and infidels, and wicked men, have long tried to shake and overturn this rock. But all in vain. It is firm, and sure as God's throne. Dear young friends, build your hopes on this glorious adamantine Rock of truth divine. Isa. xliv. 8: "The word of our God shall stand for ever." "Pass away this earth and heaven! This WORD can ne'er be overthrown; Firm as his eternal throne."- C. WESLEY. APPAREL.-The soul needs apparel as well as the body. Clothing, or apparel, is found in the word of God suited for the soul. The apparel of the body does three things. It protects, it comforts, it adorns. So does spiritual apparel to the soul. But what apparel is found in God's word suited to the soul? When the word of God is blessed by the Spirit of God, it furnishes the following beautiful garments-Divine knowledge, wisdom, and grace. Oh, what comely apparel is this! When the soul receives this apparel, it is defended, it is comforted, it is adorned. Dear young friends, may this comely apparel be yours! This apparel is white and glorious. If it is yours, you "shall shine like the stars for ever and ever." xii. 3. "Dan. APPEAL.-What is an appeal? It is this: when you call upon a person's judgment or conscience to witness to the truth of what you say. Now, the Bible is God's appeal to our judgment, our heart, and our conscience, as to the truth of what he says. The Bible is full of God's solemn, just, and merciful appeals. Observe the following: He appeals to us, as to our disobedience and rebellion. He says, (Isa. i. 2,) “I have brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." He appeals to us, as to his willingness to save, and wash away the sins of repenting sinners. He says, (Isa. i. 18,) "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." My young friends, offer up to Jesus the following prayer: "Jesus, to thy wounds I fly, Wash away my crimson stain !"-C. WESLEY. APPLE TREE.-What precious apples! what delicious fruits grow on this majestic tree, the Word of God! Here are to be gathered the fruits of knowledge, and wisdom, and hope, and purity, and consolation, and peace. What goodly, what precious apples are these! Long this stately tree has stood. It has never shown one withered branch; no, nor one withered leaf. Many hundreds of years it has stood the storms of time, and it is as fruitful as ever. My young friends, love this tree. Rest under its shady branches. Oh, pluck its precious fruit! Happy, happy is that youth, who can say respecting this stately, this noble tree, "I have often sat down under its shadow with great delight, and its fruit was sweet to my taste." Song ii. 3. "See, how this tree of knowledge grows, 66 MISSIONARY FACTS. MADAGASCAR. It is only a few years since many native Christians in Madagascar were cruelly put to death by the order of the idolatrous queen. Others were successful in escaping from the island, and visiting Great Britain. Blessed changes have taken place since the martyrs' blood has been shed. The queen's son, and the heir apparent to the throne, has shown evidence that divine grace has reached his heart. He worships with the Christians of the island; and he has been instrumental in preserving their lives, when idolatrous priests wished the queen to give orders for putting them to death. Soon we may learn, that those who left the island are active missionaries in their native land. We may soon hear of the banners of salvation waving on the summit of the mountains, and on the pinnacles of the palaces and temples. Oh, may we live to hear that the pagan queen has become a follower of Jesus, the King of kings, and Lord of lords! My young friends, unite with me in uttering your hearty AMEN! “Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel, Win and conquer, never cease!" NEW CHAPEL AT HONG-KONG. HONG-KONG is a small island, given by treaty to the British Government by the Emperor of China. It is situated very near the main land, and it is most admirably fitted for a missionary station. The best Missionary Societies, of this and other countries, have sent missionaries to that island. There the London Missionary Society have a college, in which native Chinese are trained for preaching the Gospel in that vast empire to which they belong. Lately, the missionaries of this much honoured Society have erected, and opened a chapel, in the town of Victoria, in this island. It was opened on the first Thursday of last May. It seats about 300 persons. It was crowded at the opening to excess, and multitudes assembled on the outside. What is considered not only wonderful, but hopeful, upwards of twenty Chinese women were present. Such a circumstance was never witnessed before in any Christian assembly in China. great part of the service was conducted by native Chinese Christians. How encouraging! CHIN SEEN delivered a most animating, scriptural, and striking address. May we not look on this, as the first fruits of a glorious harvest? Oh, what splendid prospects open to our view! The time will come, when the hundreds of millions of China's inhabitants shall pay their homage at Immanuel's feet! INDIA AND ORPHANS. A THERE is a town in our East Indian dominions called Agra One of the most interesting spectacles in this town is a Christian Orphan School. This has been formed for the benefit of native pagan orphans. Both male and female orphans are brought under the roof of this building of mercy. They receive a good education, and they are taught trades and useful employments. More especially they are trained up in the knowledge of God, and the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. At present, there are ten hopeful youths in a course of preparation for being Christian missionaries, to preach in these heathen regions "the unsearchable riches of Christ." Such an institution is a bright sun shining in the dark firmament of heathenism. By the blessing of God, this sun will be instrumental in speedily dispelling the gloomy clouds of pagan ignorance, idolatry, and wretchedness. "God of salvation, bless the dear orphans, make them thy children, and out of their mouths do Thou perfect |