The Goodly Mansion. ONE, O only mansion! Where tears are ever banish'd, All plants are, great and small The cedar of the forest, The hyssop of the wall. Thy ageless walls are bonded With amethyst unpriced, The saints build up its fabric, And the corner-stone is Christ. Thou hast no shore, fair ocean! To pilgrims far away! They raise thy holy power; Thine is the victor's laurel, And thine the golden dower. From St. Bernard's Poem, the "City of God." Peter. Jasper. Divine Mystery. “Which things the angels desire to look into.” HE JASPER is the precious stone of the first foundation of the Holy City, where it is engraven with the name of Peter. The jasper is a semi-transparent gem, of which there are specified fifteen distinct varieties, although the most valuable is a clear green with red veins. It is frequently beautifully and curiously variegated with rings, spots, and stripes; is very hard in substance, and is susceptible of a fine polish. Some translate this stone sapphire, and others, diamond. We read in the Apocalypse that, "He who sat upon the throne was to look upon, like jasper;" "which," says the learned author to whom I am chiefly indebted for these descriptions of gems, "signifies the stupendous and various excellences of the Divine attributes; and that as this stone is not transpa rent, so neither is it possible or lawful for any mortal to dive into such unspeakable mysteries." DIVINE MYSTERY, both from its own characteristics and the Evangelist's language, seems to be the fittest signification to attach to this stone, for it begins and completes the entire fabric, the first foundation and topmost wall being both of jasper. The skillful admixture and blending of colors, in the gems of the foundation, must awaken our liveliest admiration, if we give the subject a moment's consideration. No two are placed consecutively whose approximation of tone or hue might cloy on the sight, or whose incongruity might challenge the nicest artistic taste; but all evidence the matchless harmony and variety which is ever visible in the handi-work of the God of infinite love and power. An equal harmoniousness manifests itself in the setting of the priestly BreastPlate gems, although their order from these is different. The cause of the variation we cannot determine, but may not there be something significant in the fact that the last mentioned in the Old Testament list is the first in the New? Flavel beautifully says of the mystery of the Divine dealings with us: "Providence is like a curious piece of tapestry, made of a thousand shreds, which sin gle, appear useless, but put together, they represent a beautiful history to the eye." Upon St. Peter was conferred the honor of being the senior apostle of his Lord. Jesus, on his first interview with Simon Peter, called him a stone; and Christians in general are designated by St. Paul, "living stones"--that is to say, stones which are firmly placed and have not been disturbed from their original foundations. Peter, the ardent, enthusiastic disciple, in his impulses, his errors, his weaknesses, and his bitter repentance, touches and wins our warmest sympathies above any other of the chosen few; because that in temperament he is a type of a large portion of humanity. In direct contrast to the character of • Peter is the saintly sweetness of that of John, which, while all admire, very few are able to imitate. To natural disposition may justly be attributed many of the prominent characteristics of each. Peter seems of us; John far above us. The history of Peter is calculated to afford us consolation and hope. Were his restoration to Christ's favor not recorded for our encouragement and instruction, we would be apt to doubt it; for mere human judgment is little disposed to extend mercy to such fearful delinquency. His ill-regulated zeal continu ally led him into errors; and at times, his impetuosity drew upon him the gentle rebuke of his Master. It is difficult to trace a resemblance between the fiery adherent who wished to invoke vengeful fire from heaven to consume certain who declined to do him reverence, and the tender pastor who afterwards in his epistles bestows such affectionate greetings on his flock, and who joyfully hailed the bitter pangs of martyrdom. After such experience as was his—after such soul-discipline, well might Peter describe the angels as desirous of looking into the mysteries of redemption. He loved much because much he was forgiven. In our hour of most grievous sin, do Thou, O Lord, but turn and look upon us as thou didst upon derelict Peter, and by that glance, we, too, shall be melted into contrition! Thrice blessed apostle! who entered into the bright cloud with his Master, and witnessed the sublime mystery of His Transfiguration, full well might he, enrapt in the beatific vision, exclaim, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” A. B. G. |