the locust is at hand, then falls the castle! But in the progress of the siege, the guards are enervated, the horses stagger, the centinels look through dark holes from the turrets, or shew themselves darkly, that is, scarcely dare to shew themselves: the doors are carefully shut against the enemy, and not opened to receive reinforcements of friends; the mill is removed to below ground, that what can be prepared for food may be done in safety, or its sound is scarcely heard, and those who used to sing while grinding the corn, are silent and sad, not now sitting, but prostrate. If a screaming ravenous bird clamour, that is immediately considered as an omen of evil. The heights seen from the fortress, appear full of enemies; the way-paths around it, thronged by foes. In the mean time, the cord which used to draw water up from the deep well, is rendered a mere thread— the bowl is worn thin and broken, through long use-the water pitcher has met with accidents, and the wheel with dislocation in its parts: what can the fortress do, but yield! Time and death rase its foundation to the dust.

But, though the general nature of this metaphor be as now stated, yet no doubt every one of its parts corresponds to a part of the human body, which it allegorises. The preacher probably begins with the infirmities of the mind: while the sun, &c. ver. 2. "The keepers," &c. are the arms-" the strong," &c. may be the legs— "the grinders," are the teeth-" the windows" are the eyes-" the doors," are the lips or mouth-the part alarmed at the croak of a bird, is the ear—"the daughters of," &c. are the voice or utterances of the tongue-" the almond tree," is understood of grey hairs"the grasshopper," or "locust," is the bending back-the "silver cord," is the spinal marrow- "the golden bowl," the container of the brain" the pitcher" is, perhaps, the stomach—and "the wheel," the heart, ceasing its circulations!

Where is the comparison to equal this, in energy and propriety? But, what sentiments are suggested by it? Especially, of "youth." 1. The only favourable period for actual improvement. These, indeed, are "the days" to be "chosen," most desirable for application and diligence and perfection in every work. It is the period before the luminaries of our intellectual character are "darkened;" and to these, we presume, the sun, &c. of ver. 2, have a special reference. O, what can be accomplished by an after period; with an unnerved arm, with paralysed limbs, a faultering speech, enfeebled eyes, grey hairs, and a dissolving frame! Now, youth, is yours the time for "choosing," exercising freedom, and commanding every enjoyment and pleasure: but at the superannuated age, "desire shall fail;" there seems to be no choice, and frequently how little enjoyment! He taketh away, &c. Job xii. 20. Employ, then, your powers for useful purposes-grow in grace, &c. 2 Pet. iii. 18. and mature for heaven. Uniformly have the eminent, in any pursuit, commenced when young-nor is there, on Scripture record, one instance of an aged person's conversion!

2. The only suitable time for real enjoyment.

Let the season of youth be contrasted with this picture of old age; and how impressive the comparison! Who can think of it, without feelings of concern and sorrow? The one, all vigorous, healthy, peaceful, promising, commanding, enviable: the other, debilitated, helpless, decaying, powerless, miserable! Enjoyment, where is it among the aged? The general mass of them in a second childhood -worse, however, than the first;-characterised by fretfulness, impatience, jealousy, wearisome disgust, and too often criminally tired out of life!

3. The certain prospect of death and judgment.

The conclusion of the whole is-Then shall, &c. ver. 7! Yes, this is echoed by the voice of universal Scripture. It is appointed unto man, &c. Heb. ix. 27. Fear God, &c. xiii. 14. O, let not youth forget this certain prospect, amidst the many uncertainties of human life. If a man live many, &c. xi. 8. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, &c. xi. 9. "Therefore, remember thy Creator," &c.

Application.

1. The importance of religious decision. How else shall we best appreciate our present time? He acts the wisest part, who makes sure for both worlds! A Christian has nothing to lose, every thing to gain, by affliction and death. To me to live is, &c. Phil. i. 21. Keep thy heart with, &c. Prov. iv. 23. O that you were wise, &c. Deut. xxii. 29. My Father, be thou, &c. Jer. iii. 4.

2. The necessity of immediate repentance and faith.-In affairs of this sort, delays are tremendously dangerous! Behold, now is the accepted time, &c. 2 Cor. vi. 2. Vanity of vanities, &c. Eccles. i. 1. Arise, then, for this is not, &c. Mic. ii. 10. Seek first the kingdom, &c. Matt. vi. 23.

CUMBRIAN.

Biblical Translations.

CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT.

LUKE i. 46-55.'

He hath filled the hungry with good He filleth the hungry with good things;

JAMES i. 25-27.

Poetry.

THE LYRE OF PALESTINE.

NO. I.

FAMED land of the olive, the fig-tree, and vine,
Loved home of the Patriarch, fair Palestine !

We mourn for that greatness-departed how soon!
Which erst mid the nations upbore thee,

Since the blast of the dreadful and deadly Simoon
Hath swept with its pestilence o'er thee;

And left thee a wilderness dreary and still,
For the wandering Arab to roam at his will.

Thy cities which tower'd mid the landscape to view,
Once crowded and many, are lonesome and few!
Desolation and ruin have past in their march,
O'er the scenes of thy primitive glory,
And broken the column and shatter'd the arch,
And destroyed each memorial of story.

Thy cisterns are useless-thy fountains are dry-
And the graves of thy princes are bared to the sky!

Can this be the land for which nations of old
Unsparingly lavish'd their blood and their gold?
Which fired with ambition the children of fame-
The chivalrous, dauntless crusaders?
The land where the terror-crown'd Saladin came,
To cope with his country's invaders ?
Yes, this is the land for which Europe's red cross
Contended so long, and so vainly, alas!

But, 'tis not the warrior's blood-crimson sign,
That hallows the land of the fig-tree and vine;
Nor the deeds of great Richard or Godfrey, howe'er
The wild charms of romance are flung o'er them:
No; a greater than Richard or Godfrey was there,
And had hallowed the country before them.

"Twas He, who unmindful of shame or disgrace,
Trod the wine-press alone for earth's reprobate race.

Characteristic Notices of Biblical Publications.

THE NEW TESTAMENT, arranged in Chronological and Historical order, with copious Notes on the principal subjects in Theology. The Gospels on the basis of the Harmonies of Lightfoot, Doddridge, Pilkington, Newcome, and Michaelis; the account of the Resurrection, on the authorities of West, Townson, and Cranfield: the Epistles are inserted in their places, and divided according to the Apostles' arguments. By the Rev. GEORGE TOWNSEND, M. A. &c. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 1476. Rivingtons, 1825. £2, boards.

THE publication of these volumes has completed Mr. Townsend's very laborious and important undertaking, in the historical and chronological arrangement of the whole Scriptures, "so that they may be read as one entire and connected history." Of the former part of his labours we have already spoken in terms of approbation; and we are of opinion, that the volumes before us will materially add to the reputation which he had previously acquired. We have on various occasions expressed a wish to see the historical arrangement of the various parts of Scripture more generally adopted, from a conviction that such a method of studying these invaluable writings, is best calculated to fix their primary and literal meaning, and afford a guide to all secondary interpretations. One of the most fruitful causes of religious error, is the neglect of this mode of viewing and interpreting Scripture, which has been considerably aided by the arbitrary and unmeaning divisions occasioned by chapter and verse. The Bible has been regarded too much as a collection of aphorisms, which might be used as occasion or caprice required; and every monstrous opinion which has been broached in theology, has been surrounded and supported by a multiplicity of TEXTS. Thus has the Bible itself been made the source of delusion, and the revelations of heaven been rendered subservient to the spread of error.— The enemies of Christianity, as might have been expected, have taken advantage of the mode of proceeding adopted by the friends of religion; and—either from incapacity or indisposition of mind, to trace out the specific object of each inspired writer, and then collect and arrange the scattered details of all,—they have assailed the temple of truth, for the supposed want of harmony and uniformity of its parts.. To correct the evils of the one, and silence the cavils of the other, various harmonies of the New Testament have been constructed and given to the world. These have been formed upon different plans or hypotheses. Bishop Marsh has divided them into two classes. "Harmonies, of which the authors have taken it for granted that all the Evangelists have written in chronological order; and Harmonies, of which the authors have admitted that in one or more of the four Gospels, chronological order has been more or less neglected." To these, Mr. Townsend has properly added a third class, in which the Harmonisers have supposed, that the chronology has been neglected by all the four Evangelists. In the valuable Introduction to the work under

'Michaëlis' Introduct. vol. iii. p. ii. p. 44.