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Grovelling in the dust, its petals would be trampled under every hoof, and its beauty become defilement. But, supported by the firmness, nourished by the life of the solid stem, it lifts its head aloft, rejoicing in the beam, quaffing the dew, and exhaling in fragrance the secret spirit derived from its all-sufficient stay.

them he had ever one argument to oppose: and that one was the union which bound him to Christ, as a member of his body, a partaker of his life. "I cannot," he said, "of my own will and choice, sit down among those who if I spoke to them of Jesus would receive the mention of that adorable name with scorn, dislike, or suspicion who expect, as a matter of course, The spot where the Rose-tree grows is that I should lay aside what they are almost a central point in Ireland: and it pleased to call the peculiarities of my re-affords a pleasing type of the comparative ligious opinions, and become as them-unity subsisting among those who worship selves, at least so long as they do not out- one God, through the one Mediator Christ rage the rules of decency and morality. Jesus, in sincerity and truth, though differThey demand from me a tacit acknow-ing as to the most expedient mode of conledgment that the truths which I hold are unsuited for the ears of polite society; they require that I should hide God's righteousness within my heart, and forbear to tell them of the salvation which I have found, and to which they are yet strangers. Oh, how weak must be the constraining love of Christ within my soul, when I can so lightly put him aside, so wantonly trifle with the eternal welfare of my fellow-sinners!"

ducting that worship, or on the peculiar forms of church government. I do not say that there is not a great diversity! or even that they do not sometimes point against each other the thorns given for mutual defence; but compared with the spirit of dissension too often manifested on the other side of the water, there is much pleasing unanimity, and brotherly love. Assailed externally by a common foe, they can better appreciate the value of a bond which knits them together while uniting each to the great Head of the church; and how lovely it is to see brethren dwelling in peace together-how unnatural the appearance of division and strife! The aspect of a flower-garden is such, that even the heedless child is arrested to gaze on it, the most untutored clown acknowledges the charm of beauty and grace pervading it. Why is it so attractive? Because while every individual of its countless tribes retains a distinctive character of form, tint, and fabric, they all harmonize in peaceful association-all bear the evident impress of a divine hand; all reflect, in smiling gladness, the light of that daybeam which reveals them to us. I am not partial to the modern plan of planting in masses: it is one of man's supposed improvements on the design of God. The

I have found it of great use, in many a perplexing juncture, to refer practically and experimentally to what we all in words confess the abiding of the believer in Christ, and of Christ in the believer: and not one of my many many falls, and wicked inconsistencies, but I can trace at once to the neglect or forgetfulness of this privilege. I should not dare to be a partaker in other men's sins if I bore in mind that by so doing I allow the member to war against the head. I should not despise a weak brother, nor stumble at a strong one, if I considered the various offices of the hand, eye, foot, and that all are employed respectively for the advantage of the body. I should not flinch from a hard duty, if I remembered the sufficiency of Christ, enabling me to do all things by his strengthening power; nor shrink from a painful trial, if I could always real-transition from a mass perhaps of cold, ize the fact conveyed in that striking expostulation, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?" I may be called to many a hard and seemingly a doubtful contest; but Christ has already won the victory; and if I be in him, that victory, through his conquest, is mine. What would a poor Rose do, if it had only its own weak stalk to bear it up to its appointed height?

dark, purple flowers, to one of glaring scarlet, or unmixed pink or yellow, offends the eye. We do, indeed, discover many instances of such planting in natural scenery, but these are carried on upon a grand scale, not parcelled out in small knots, with the studied contrast that usually pervades the fashionable array of a modern garden. Nothing can be more beautiful

than the long line of white hawthorn flow- | longing to Christ: it shows an abiding in ers extending through a luxuriant hedgerow, or the deep rich purple of the heather drapery that decks some frowning rock, some lofty mountain, or wild track of uncultivated hills-the gay gold trappings of the abundant furze, the delicate blue of the flax, or showy blossom of the despised but beautiful potatoe plant. In all these instances, and many others, we have, I confess, a precedent for planting in masses; but then there is a breadth and a continuance in the picture, unlike the broken fragments of such a splendid whole, stuck in various quarters of a narrow parterre. Yet I do not advocate the system of budding, though in the present instance it afforded a type of what I dearly love to realize: and what ought to be much more frequently brought before the Christian's mind by those whose office it is to teach and to build up. Would that, like the flowers, we could agree to differ on minor points, and heartily rejoice together in the gifts so freely bestowed upon all!

I have made but slight mention of L., though the recollection of his calm consistency, and thankful appropriation of all that Christ offers to his believing servants, often refreshes my spirit, stimulating me to follow his course. He crossed my path like the evening star, first appearing in a full blaze of light, and almost immediately sinking beneath the horizon: but there are some characters that may be read as it were at a glance, and such was his. A single rose upon the tree, he was one of the brightest, yet lowly and simple as the primrose on the bank; ever delighted to discover in his fellow-Christians whatever might lead him to esteem them better than himself; faithful in necessary rebuke: rich in heavenly consolations to those under the chastening rod; but using in each and every occasion the strong plea of perfect union with Christ, as alike a motive of action and the principle of spiritual life. Who could ever explore the depths of that Scripture, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me?" There is something in this beyond the mere be

him of the same nature as that so clearly set forth in his own parable of the branch in the vine. It is such a partaking in his fulness as cannot be known but by being really grafted into him, and living by his life. We wrong ourselves, and frustrate the grace of God, if we stop short of this. Actually united to Christ, every real believer is as the members to the head, and the stalk to the stem: but to attain to an experimental knowledge and enjoyment of this union seems to be the aim only of a few among many. "Christ in you the hope of glory," is a mystery that some do not seem to realize. "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus," is a similar testimony, full of hope, joy, and peace in believing, if we will believe it. We take too low and dishonouring a view of our privileges; we stand afar off, in our own conceit, while acknowledged by him as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. We know not what it is to rejoice in the Lord alway; to glory in the Lord; to confess his strength in our weakness; to feel his power resting upon us, in the moment of depressing infirmity. When the rain beats hard on the poor frail flower, and the stormy wind has bent its head almost to the earth, what principle of elasticity enables it once more to rise, to shake off the dripping moisture, and smile anew in renovated vigor? Surely it is the nourishing power of the deep-rooted stem circulating through its slender frame that strengthens it to look up and meet the sunbeam from above, which but for that, would only hasten its decay. The very shining of God's countenance would destroy us, if Christ did not strengthen us to find refreshment in it.

I have met with not a few believers who are fearful of dwelling too much on this point, lest it may lead to presumption and indolence; but of this there is no danger while we follow out the lesson conveyed in God's word, and exemplified in his works. The branch, we are told, does not bear fruit of itself; yet we being addressed as branches, are exhorted to bring forth much fruit, that God may be glorified. If we can imagine the branch of a tree endued with sense and reason, we may easily conceive how, while putting forth its blossoms, and moulding its

fruit, it must depend on the continual sup- | flowers of autumn, beautiful in their soply derived from its stem: drawing freely bered tints, are proffering their gentle from an inexhaustible source, in propor- farewell. But so it is: I have looked upon tion to its present need. This is what the them all, tracing many a similitude enbeliever should feel; he has much work deared by recollection, but again attracted to do, but Christ supplies both means and to the object before me with a force of skill to accomplish it: and if that supply pathetic appeal which it is impossible to should cease, he and his work must perish resist. My kind readers must bear with together. He has many trials to encoun- me, as they have often done; and now they ter: but whatever storm may assail him, must strive to accompany me, in thought Christ is the lifter up of his drooping and spirit, to the scene whither I am wanhead, imparting strength to resist, pa- dering: for it is one of deep and solemn tience to endure, and in due time joy to interest to those who contemplate it revive his spirit. And this he is pledged aright. to do: the act of ingrafting makes all the treasures of Christ the property of each poor believer, in the emphatic words of inspiration, "All things are yours."

But what bright importation from a distant land is this, to which all our world of native flowers is to give place? Indeed, it is no exotic, no stranger from a And oh, what a constraining power foreign shore; it is as simple a Buttercup ought we not to find in this contemplation, as ever bent beneath your tread in a urging, yea, compelling us to impart to sunny meadow with its broad, downy leaf, others the rich gift so freely bestowed on and attended by one little half expanded ourselves! Can we revel in such abun-blossom. It was the only flower I could dance, and take no thought for the destitution of the perishing souls around us? Can we refuse to tell them what a Saviour we have found, nor invite them also to taste and see how gracious he is? "How dwelleth the love of Christ in them?" is a question closely applicable to such. As loyal subjects, we must desire the extension of our Master's kingdom; as rescued victims we must long to see others partaking in the same deliverance. Indifference to the spiritual welfare of others is an awful symptom of decay in godliness; and they who feel it have need to be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, lest their neglected privileges be withdrawn, and the compassion which they show not to their fellow-servants no longer be shown to them.

CHAPTER XXVII.

DERRY.

find upon the spot, and I gathered it half
reluctantly, for the place seemed almost
too sacred to be robbed of the simple or-
nament. Man had raised no trophy there,
no cenotaph, no tomb, no slab; but this
flower, uncommonly rich in the depth of
its golden tint, reposed upon the mount
which had gradually swelled with the
heaps of mortality deposited below,
it concealed in that particular place, six
or eight feet of the wall beyond it: the
memorable, the monumental wall of Derry
Cathedral.

until

It had for a series of years been one of the dearest wishes of my very heart to visit this spot: but familiarized as I was with the tale of 1688, I had never looked upon Derry, nor approached within a hundred miles of its proud old wall. With what feelings, then, did I at last behold the beauteous Foyle, lying in rich repose beneath the bold magnificent chain of Ennishowen mountains, its full tide shining under a calm evening sky, with here and there a pleasure boat or fishingsmack spreading its sails to the light zephyr of July. Our approach was from the Coleraine road; and for a full hour I gazed upon Lough Foyle, and the swel

Ir may appear strange that one whose delight is in the free fresh air of the gar-ling line of the graceful mountain tops beden, and among the living glories of its bright progeny, should have recourse to a hortus siccus for a subject, when all the

yond, ere, rising to the left, appeared the lofty and substantial spire of Derry; while, by slow degrees, the maiden city

herself became distinctly visible, seated army, which, with the exception of the as a queen upon her hilly throne, and open course of Lough Foyle towards the forming altogether an object as beautiful sea, completely surrounded the town, rento the eye as the associations connected dering the approach of succours from any with it were thrilling to the heart. At landward quarter morally impossible; least to my heart, which throbbed even to while across the channel, within a short aching with the excess of joyous emotion, distance, and distinctly visible to the naas I passed-oh how warm a friend! un-ked eye, where the Foyle is narrowed for der the gateway, where hosts of enemies the space of a few yards by the approxithundered in vain for admittance during mation of two opposite points of land, the dreadful siege of nearly eight months. was placed a boom of solid timber, the Many pleasant days I have spent at va- thickness of a horse's body, bound with rious places, the remembrance of which iron chains, and made fast to either bank. will be cherished while I live; but of the It never entered into the calculation of days that I passed in Derry no hour can friend or foe that any vessel would make be forgotten. Whatever gifts the Lord in head against this barrier; and General his wisdom may have withheld from me, Kirke, on the mere report of it, relinone, in rich mercy he certainly has be- quished all thought of attempting to restowed: and that is a clear view of the lieve the garrison. privileges, an earnest desire to fulfil the duties, annexed to the sacred name of Protestant. I know what Popery is: I can discern the fearful names of blasphemy that cover it from the tips of its crowned horns to the cleft of its bloodstained hoofs, and the abject extremity of its scorpion tail. Within and without I behold the brand of antichrist; and equally in its lamb-like bleat and its dragon roar, I recognize the hateful strain, "dishonour to God in the highest; on earth desolation; perdition to men." And in my soul I believe, that to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," can only be effectual, yea, can only be sincere, as it is indissolubly united to the firmest mental determination of holding "no peace with Rome."

And with these feelings I entered Derry, where I then thought, and am now most fully convinced, that an actual miracle had been wrought for the preservation of these realms from the hovering curse of Popery. I speak it deliberately, from a careful and leisurely survey of the ground occupied by the assailants, of the citadel defended by the assailed, and of the forces respectively employed. From the highest point of the steeple, which itself crowns the summit of the hill, and to which the spire has recently been superadded, I looked round, having in my hand a plan, drawn and attested by those engaged in the conflict, by means of which I could point out the precise station of every troop, every fort, every gun almost of the

I dwelt long, and with intense emotion, upon the surrounding scenery: in point of mere natural loveliness, I should think it has no fellow; for that noble water, after flowing within its mountain bound to the foot almost of Ship-quay Gate, takes a graceful bend, roving round two-thirds more of the city, in the form of a very broad majestic river: while, beyond it, and on the western side, rise the most beautiful slopes, richly cultivated, adding as much to the picturesque grace of the peaceful landscape now, as they formerly did to the terrible advantages of the assailants, to whom they afforded such a commanding position, that the little city lay seemingly at their mercy, even as a weak lamb within a ring of butchers. But the Lord spread an invisible shield of miraculous protection over her, on which, while striking at the victim, they did but blunt their whetted knives. "Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness; and declare his wonderful doings to the children of men."

My first act had been to attend the morning week-day worship in the fine, but simple church. It is a cathedral: but the service performed there is that of a parish church. I am not ashamed to own that I took with me the remains of a cannon ball, broken in half by coming in contact with some more stubborn substance, in the bombardment of the devoted town; and laying it on the bench I acknowledged, with tears and thanksgivings, the great and marvellous work by which,

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within those walls, God had preserved down was frequently displaced by the the gospel to these realms: for all must enemy's shot, and the lifeless bodies themknow, who do but glance at the map, that selves torn up by bursting bombs, preDerry once secured, such aid would have senting to their heart-sick survivors the been thence poured into Scotland, already horrible spectacle, and detaining them, as armed and disciplined in formidable in- they left the house of prayer, to re-inter surrection, as must have terminated in the those ghastly mutilated fragments of what re-establishment of James on his abdi- had been so dear to their bosoms. I could cated throne. Surely, he in whose sight not but feel that this spot where I stood, a thousand years are but as one day, be- when I had slowly mounted the hill of the holds the hardness of their forgetful slain, had a voice in every blade of grass hearts, who come to worship in that tem- that sprung from its surface, asking the ple, and praise him not for the deliver- careless Protestants of this generation as they pass by, "Have these suffered so many things in vain?" On one side an open iron railing alone separates the church-yard from the broad terrace of the rampart wall; and a fine old bastion lies beyond it, which covered Ferry-quay gate, the first that the intrepid apprentices closed in the enemy's face. Such a mul

ance.

with sad forebodings of what is to come, crowded on my mind, that I cannot analyze or arrange my thoughts: I can but look on the little yellow Buttercup, carefully preserved, and summon to my view the scene where I gathered it; then glancing at a grape-shot and a small cannonball, which were dug from those graves at the interments of a later generation, beseech the Lord to awaken from their perilous lethargy the slumbering Protestants of this deluding day.

But the flower:-I descended from the roof where the crimson flag had waved by day, and the signal fires had blazed by night, to move the heart of the pusillanimous Kirke in his distant anchorage, to attempt the succour; and where many a tearful look explored the bending line at Culmore, in longing expectation of aptitude of exciting recollections, mingled proaching aid; while two cannons stood as sentinels over the sacred edifice, to cover the defenceless worshippers below. I went to the burying-ground that encircles the noble church, and there pondered over the results of eight months' mortality within the walls; the circuit of which is so incredibly narrow, that had I not paced them many times about, upon the broad and beautiful path that lies between the outer and the inner barrier-full sixteen feet in width, I could not have believed the statement made by the historians of the siege. Within this space, measuring 1500 feet in the longest, and 900 in the broadest part of the town, no less than thirty-seven thousand human beings were enclosed, of whom seven thousand were military, and the rest inhabitants, and persecuted Protestants who had fled there for shelter. Of these a poor remnant alone was left, to welcome the long-deferred succour; and I pressed, not with a careless or unthinking tread, the graves of the many many thousands who had there found a resting-place for their weary bones, racked as they had been with pain, and laid bare by the extremity of famine. There was, at the time of the siege of There was no room for imagination to Derry, a gentleman whose family poswork: no thought could embellish the na- sessed, and do yet possess, local imporked fact, for thought itself could scarcely tance and political influence in the neighgrasp the awful reality. So thickly had bourhood. His name was David Cairns: the dead been crowded there, that the he rendered most invaluable services to light covering of earth left to press them the afflicted Protestants, was one of the

But is there no individual recollection combined with this little flower? There is one, strictly appertaining to the scene, which illustrates the indifference of modern Protestantism. I am no advocate for expending sums on the vain records of mortality; and a commemorative column or costly monument, is grievous rather than gratifying to me. Why should we give the dead a stone, while the living members of Christ want bread? Yet where gratitude has fixed a memorial of great national services, I am not one who, to save a few shillings, would let it moulder into oblivion.

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