succession the thunder clap reverberates from hill to hill, and a flood is pouring from the skies. God is indeed on the mountains!

The tempest has exhausted its rage, the storm has passed by; what a helpless atom is man in the war of elements! yet here am I preserved. As a bubble on the face of the mighty ocean, as a grain of sand in the wide-spread desert, so am I; a speck, a point in the creation; yet the Father of mercies has regarded me. God is on the mountains, and his almighty hand has protected me. He who said, "Let there be light," and there was light, hath also said, "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee," Isa. liv. 10.

THE SHARK AND THE PILOT FISH.

THE average length of the pilot fish is about six inches; though we took one example, in the Pacific, which measured one foot two inches. The body is somewhat cylindrical, and neatly formed. The colour of the head and back is steel blue; abdomen silvery; sides marked with five broad black bands; fins mottled black and white, and mostly tipped with white; inner circle of the iris, hazle; outer, gold yellow. A single row of teeth in each jaw. Three short spines in front of the dorsal fin, and two in front of the anal. Lateral line is oblique, and terminates posteriorly in a semi-cartilaginous ridge, projecting from either side of the tail. The female is oviparous.

Pilot fish are almost invariably found in attendance upon the shark, though the nature of their connexion with that ferocious fish is somewhat mysterious. They will accompany ships for a considerable time, after their patron shark has been destroyed; but I am not aware that they have ever been seen, like the Remora, attending upon other large fish, whales, or miscellaneous floating bodies. The structure of their mouth and the contents of their stomach, which are usually small fish, denote that they are accustomed to seek their food in a very independent manner: we captured many of them, also, by hook and line, baited with flesh, nor did they refuse the bait, even when they were in company with a shark.

The reputation this fish has obtained, of being the shark's pilot, or provider, (and which has sanctioned its trivial name,) would appear to be groundless, were we guided only by the want of similar precedents in the animal kingdom. A fact, however, which came under my notice, during a voyage from India, in the year 1832, led me to believe, that there is some just foundation for this popular opinion. While we were becalmed in the Atlantic Ocean, a shark was seen close to the ship, and attended by two pilot fish, which generally swam one above and the other below him, and occasionally went off to some distance, as if to explore the surrounding sea; although it was seldom long before they returned, and resumed their former positions; the shark, in the meantime, by its unwieldy form, slow movements, and lethargic aspect, offering a strong contrast to the sprightliness and activity of his scouts. Á baited hook was lowered from the bow of the ship; but the shark, when alone, passed it several times without notice, and apparently without seeing it. One of the foraging pilot fish then approached the bait, and immediately swam off to where the shark was headed in a contrary direction; when the monster instantly turned and followed his informant, which now swam a-head of him, in a direct line towards the suspended bait. He did not then hesitate a moment, but seized it, and was captured. While the shark was being hauled on board, the pilot fish expressed the greatest concern, almost leaping out of the water, in their endeavours to follow him, and swimming near the surface, with every demonstration of anxiety. These faithful little fish were observed to attach themselves to the ship, but attracted little attention until some weeks afterwards, when we spoke the Thomas Grenville, East Indiaman, and lowered a boat to communicate with her. One of the fish was then seen to accompany the boat to and from the stranger ship; and so devotedly did it attend upon what it might have believed to be its lost shark, as to lead the officers of the Thomas Grenville to remark, that we had a pilot fish painted on the rudder of the boat.

Their attendance upon sharks is somewhat capricious. We have seen more than five associated with one shark, while many others of the latter tribe, and assembled in the water at the same time, have not been accompanied by one of

these fishes. They have evidently nothing to dread from the voracious companions they select, but swim around, and often a few inches a head of him, as either their convenience or caprice may dictate.-F. B. Bennett.

JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION.

It may serve to extricate some minds from confusion, if we give an axiomatic statement of the nature and relation of the two blessings in question.

Justification and sanctification agree in the following points:

They are both essential to our salvation from the state into which we are fallen, and from the dangers to which we are exposed.

Both are sovereign favours, bestowed on us by the God of salvation.

Both come to us through the redemption that is in Christ.

In both, the operation of the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ.

Both are designed to honour the law and government and grace of God.

Both are, therefore, enjoyed by all believers, and by believers only.

But the two blessings differ in various

ways.

Justification is specially related to the rectitude of God's government; sanctification relates to the holiness of God's nature.

Justification is an act; sanctification is a process.

Justification is the sentence of the Father as moral Governor on the throne grace; sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the temple of the heart.

of

Justification changes our state; sanctification is a change of our nature, or character.

In justification we are pronounced righteous; by sanctification we are made holy.

Justification is the acceptance of our persons into God's favour; sanctification is the renewal of our hearts into God's image.

Justification, therefore, is a forensic term, expressive of God's jurisdiction over us; sanctification is catharistic, expressing God's moral influence over us.

In justification the guilt of sin is remitted; in sanctification its defilement is cleansed.

Justification gives a title to heaven; sanctification a fitness for it.

Justification is by union to Christ, as the law Fulfiller; sanctification by union to him as the Purifier.

Justification comes by uniting us to Christ as our legal Head; sanctification by uniting us to him as our vital Head.

Justification is by faith only on our part; sanctification is by many means, chiefly the word and prayer; but also by ordinances and afflictions, under the influence of the Spirit.

Justification is complete as soon as we believe; sanctification then commences amid great imperfections.

Justification may be referred to a known definite time; sanctification is spread over the whole of life.

In justification there is no difference among believers; in sanctification there are great varieties.

Justification comes first as the root; sanctification follows as the fruit.

Justification, therefore, may be known by sanctification.

Justification pronouncing our title to the enjoyment of heaven, sanctification is given to fulfil the sentence.

Many more points of distinction might be shown; but these may suffice to assist such as wish to pursue the subject to greater lengths.-Dr. Bennett.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE LAW
AND THE GOSPEL.

THE Contrast between the law and the gospel evidently shows the superexcellency of the latter above the former. The glory of the ceremonial law was typical; but the glory of the gospel is the substance. The glory of the moral law kills the sinner; the glory of the gospel quickens him: the former kills him with terror, the latter sweetly and powerfully draws him by the cords of love to God, that he might enjoy his smile, which is life, and be prepared for his more immediate presence in glory, where there is fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore. All the glory of the law can throw no light on the gospel; but the gospel, like the sun in the firmament, shineth most brilliantly on the Divine character, the fall of man, and all over mount Sinai, and removes the thick veils that were between us and the eternal God. Christ Jesus is the sum and substance of the gospel, the founda. tion of our hope, the object of our faith, and the centre of our affections. We

are determined not to know any thing | among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. It is by him alone we can be reconciled to God. The Moravian missionaries preached three years in Greenland, on the being of God, and the nature, excellency, and requirements of the moral law without doing any good in the conversion of sinners,-not one sinner brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus; but the first sermon in which they exhibited Christ crucified, as the only Saviour of lost and perishing sinners, the doctrine became the power of God for the salvation of one of the heathens. Let ministers of the gospel, at home and abroad, recollect this, Christ crucified, the marrow and fatness of the gospel, is the glorious subject that God has owned and blessed for the conversion of sinners every where, and at all times. Christmas Evans.

THE VALLEY OF THE RHONE.

THE situation of this canton, the character of the people, and the productions of its soil, distinguish it from every other branch of the confederation, and demand a few general observations, as we pass through its interesting territory. Placed in the centre of the Alps, it is surrounded on every side by those enormous barriers, and traversed through its whole extent by the Rhone. It is the longest and most considerable of all the valleys of Switzerland, being thirty-six leagues in length, but of a breadth seldom exceeding one league. It has, however, numerous lateral valleys, which run into the interior of the Alps; and of thirteen that are inhabited, four are ten leagues in extent. St. Maurice is the only gate by which it can be entered on level ground; and this key of the canton is turned every night, like that of a gaol upon its prisoners. In the lower Vallais no branch of industry has hitherto been introduced. In the management of their flocks, and in the cultivation of their vineyards, they are still, as compared with their neighbours, the Vaudois and Bernese, in a state of barbarism. It is remarkable, that, with the most powerful stimulus of good example constantly before them, their indolence remains unexcited, their prejudices unshaken; and the shackles of superstition as strongly riveted upon them as ever. They are the slaves of their priests, and victims of their own unconquerable

indolence. The Catholic religion is exclusively professed, and education neglected; and thus ignorance and fanaticism, left with the controlling influence of the one, or the enlightening power of the other, are every where apparent, and excite in the observer mingled feelings of disgust and commiseration. With all its moral disadvantages, the valley of the Rhone, nevertheless, is a charmingly diversified country, presenting physically the most beautiful and sublime features, and producing, from an exuberant soil, every variety of fruit, abundant harvests, and a successful vintage. In some districts the corn is cut down in May, in others, it does not ripen till October. In one place, the fruit never ripens; in another, the almond, fig, and pomegranate, arrive at perfection. Such is the climate; so various as to furnish the hardy productions of the north with the delicate luxuries of the tropics. In one day we may collect the common productions of Spitzbergen, and the high-flavoured growth of the Caribbees. In a few hours we pass from the shivering skies of Iceland to the glowing sun of Africa; and by the simple process of ascending the mountains, or retiring into the valley, we enjoy nature in her most delicious prospects, or contemplate her features in their most appalling form.-Beattie.

I SHALL NEVER GET BEYOND THAT
PRAYER.

THE result of a long life spent in the service of God, will necessarily bring every man to the conclusion, that there is no worth nor worthiness in himself, and that, if saved at all, he must be saved wholly by grace. When the venerable Mr. Wilkinson had reached nearly the close of his life, he said, to a relative who came to visit him, and who attempted to cheer him by referring to his Christian character, "Ah, you cannot see my heart. It has always been my endeavour not only to abstain from evil, but from all appearance of evil; but I would be jealous of my own heart. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?' Jer. xvii. 9. Well, I must do as I have ten thousand times before under such feelings, cast myself entirely on the mercy of God. 'God be merciful to me a sinner,' the vilest of sinners! and after all that I have received, a most ungrateful sinner! I shall never get beyond that prayer,"

to be cleared of strangers, and then, with many insincere expressions of respect to the king, he denounced evil advisers, expressly pointing to the earl as an apostate, and the greatest promoter of tyranny that ever lived. The earl was impeached directly, and the charge lodged at once with the House of Lords; the leaders fearing that if the king knew of their design, the parliament would be immediately dissolved. Strafford heard something of these proceedings while with the king, and hastened to take his place, but was ordered to withdraw, and committed to the Tower; many who did not fully approve of the designs of Pym and his associates, were not displeased to unite against a minister so unpopular in his conduct, and who was the object of general hatred from his haughty behaviour. He now was a sufferer, by the same course which he had formerly urged against the duke of Buckingham.

The leaders of the opposition to the court, in the House of Commons, were Pym, Hampden, and St. John: for a time these were supported by many individuals of talent and moderation, who saw the necessity for directing the affairs of government in a less arbitrary course than that pursued by Strafford and Laud. Among these were Holles, Falkland, and Vane, Hyde, Selden, and Digby, of whom some continued to act with the parliament after open hostilities took place; others became supporters of the king, when his opponents extended their encroachments to his legitimate authority.

Having thus deprived the king of the support of his most able, as well as most arbitrary minister, the popular leaders pursued their victory. Secretary Windebank had been the prominent instrument in protecting the Romish priests: he found it necessary to retire to France. Thus the ministers of the king learned that it was no longer safe for them to act by the directions of their royal

master.

We must not be surprised at the extent to which the fears respecting Popery were then carried. As already observed, the atrocities perpetrated in the reign of Mary, less than a century before, were still fresh in the minds of the nation: the whole course of intermediate events, especially the efforts in behalf of Mary Stuart, the Spanish armada, the gunpowder plot, and the continual machinations of the Jeuits, were enough to keep

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Nor

alive that fear. The proceedings of Laud and his followers, in restoring many rites and ceremonials identified with Popery, were before the eyes of the people, while many were persecuted for opposing them. It was notorious, that several individuals of rank and influence had become converts to the church of Rome; and though Laud did not hesitate to oppose that church in controversy, it was evident that, in many essentials of doctrine and rites, he adopted its worst errors. was this course pursued merely by a party in the church, in many respects truly eminent but devoid of actual power. That stage of affairs was passed. These views were not only held, but enforced by the king and the archbishop, the chief individuals in the church and in the state. Even reflecting minds apprehended, that the re-establishment of the horrors of Popery was at hand, when so many of its essentials were restored, and the language of strong affection to the church of Rome was generally used by leading churchmen; while any affection for other Protestant churches, or even for the leaders of the English reformation, at once rendered a man obnoxious to those in power.

Laud was the next object of attack: the late proceedings of the convocation were made the grounds for impeaching him. A general charge of attempts to subvert the laws and constitution, in church and state, was also alleged, while the Scottish commissioners gave aid, by requiring justice upon the two great incendiaries, as they termed them, Strafford and Laud. On the impeachment being presented to the Lords, the archbishop was ordered into the custody of the usher of the black rod, and six weeks afterwards he was sent to the Tower. Finch, who, when chief justice, had urged the decision in favour of the king's right to collect ship money, was the next impeached. After a vain attempt to excuse his conduct before the House of Commons, he fled to Holland. The king suffered this storm to burst upon his principal supporters, with apparent indifference or apathy. He felt his weakness, and shrunk from the contest with the popular voice, doubtless hoping to regain his power, when the Scottish question was settled, and the army disbanded; the existence of which encouraged the leaders in parliament to the bold and decisive measures they pursued. It is now well known, that the Scottish com