a person of what is now called good moral character, and high intellectual endowments, by some sudden gust of passion, or by the ravage of some nervous disease, fall into a state of insanity, we have in his former and present character a partial representation of the nature and consequences of the fall of Adam. This we conceive to be, in many respects, a good analogical picture of the first fall of man, though we do not recollect of ever having heard it so used. Persons of good moral and intellectual standing, have fallen into fits and into habitual states of insanity, in which they neither morally nor intellectually exhibit a single trace of their former character. Yet these have all the faculties and powers which they once had, but in such a state of derangement as almost to obscure every spark of intellectual ability they once exhibited; and the balance being lost in the intellectual powers, actions foolish and wicked, mad and desperate, frequently characterize such unhappy beings. A restoration of such to reason and goodness is as great a change as that of a sinner from ignorance and wickedness to the knowledge, the fear and the love of God. Idiots and madmen have sometimes, however, their lucid intervals, in which they seem to think and act like their former selves; but these are not often of long continuance. So fallen man seems, at times, in point of moral government and intellectual displays, to equal our highest conceptions of man's primitive standing: but these are often followed up by strong and long continued exhibitions of the triumphs of passions and prostration of reason and goodness. But we may have better means of illustrating the nature of "the fall" when we contemplate man as he now appears as a fallen being. He is from his birth subjected to the control of appetite and passion. Adam begat a son in his own likeness, immediately after "the Fall." This child was born in the likeness of fallen Adam-not in the likeness of Adam in Eden. Its misfortune is, that it is now necessarily a child of appetite and passion before it can exercise reason at all. This gives a mastery to its passions, which no education, intellectual or moral, can perfectly subdue. The grand difference betwixt Adam in Eden and any of his sons, is comprehended in this one fact, viz. His reason first controlled his actions-passion first controls theirs. The appetites and passions of children govern all their actions for a time; we may say, for years, before reason at all developes itself. And what we call reason, is rather the shattered remains of reason warped by passion and appetite, than that which is worthy of the name. Thus every child of Adam begins its career, impelled and prompted by its appetites and passions, for a long time unchecked by reason; and when reason at length appears, it is so weak and incapable of government, and so unaccustomed to control, that it is continually baffled by the fearful odds against it; and can never, by any effort of its own, gain the ascendancy. But this is not all. The objects presented to the new born infant are so different from those which surrounded Adam in Eden, as of themselves, were there no other cause, to effect a wonderful change in its character and destiny. For an illustration, let us suppose that a prince and a princess, educated in the most courtly and magnificent style, surrounded with all the grandeur and majesty of an eastern palace, were immediately after their marriage to commit some crime worthy of imprisonment in some dreary dungeon; and while in this wretched confinement their first child is born, and confined to the scenery around it until it has arrived at manhood; what a difference in its views, feelings, and character, compared with the views, feelings, and character of its parents at its age; and is not this difference, of whatever nature and extent it may be, chiefly owing to the difference of objects or of scenery which surrounded it in prison, contrasted with those objects of contemplation which environed its parents from their birth to the moment of their imprisonment. This but imperfectly illustrates the essential difference in the circumstances of all human beings, compared with those of our progenitors in Eden. When we maturely reflect upon these two causes of human degradation, viz. The control of appetite and passion, and the sad reverse of circumstances surrounding the progeny of Adam, we shall find that in all their ramifications they are sufficient to constitute beings of a very different character from that which adorned our common father during his abode in Paradise. Not prosecuting this inquiry any farther at present, we shall leave our readers engrossed in these reflections till our next. THE JOYS OF PRAYER. A. C. EVEN in those parts of prayer, that might seem only painful, there is a pleasure that would be ill-exchanged for this world's most boasted bliss. In the bitterness of repentant sorrow for sin, there is a sweetness; in the agony of fervent supplication for pardon, there is a joy, as much superior to the best the world can boast, as the heavens are higher than the earth The broadest smile unfeeling folly wears, Less pleasing far than prayer's repentant tears. Oh! what a happy, heaven-foretasting life might the children of God enjoy on earth, if they would live a life of prayer! How calm might they be in the midst of the wildest storms. How joyful in the midst of the deepest tribulations. How composed and cheerful, while all around was agitation and alarm-the smile of heaven sparkling around their path, the peace of heaven dwelling within their hearts. They say that travellers in Alpine regions are encompassed with a clear atmosphere, and cloudless sunshine, while traversing the summits of those lofty mountains, at the very time that the world below them is all wrapt in mists and darkness, and thunder clouds are bursting at their feet. Even thus does prayer lift the believer to a loftier and serener region, far, far above the clouds and storms, that darken and distract the world below. In that region of purity and peace, the atmosphere is clear and calm; and the light of God's countenance shines brightly on the believer's soul, while he sees the thunder-clouds of earthly care and sorrow rolling beneath his feet; thus realizing the beautiful illustration of the poet : "As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, JOHN WESLEY ON CHURCH AND STATE. "I HAVE long been convinced, from the whole tenor of ancient history, that this very event, Constantine's calling himself a Christian, and pouring the flood of wealth and honour on the Christian church, the clergy in particular, was productive of more evil to the church than all the ten persecutions put together. From the time that power, riches, and honour of all kinds, were heaped upon the Christians, vice of all kind came in like a flood, both in the clergy and laity. From the time the church and state, the kingdom of Christ and of the world, were so strangely and unnaturally blended together, Christianity and heathenism were so thoroughly incorporated with each other, that they will hardly ever be divided till Christ comes to reign on earth." HINTS ON PROPHECY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE GOSPEL BANNER,— WHILE A. Campbell and his pious coadjutors, have cleared away the thick mists in which antichrist has enveloped the gospel; diffusing light, and life, and joy, to thousands who are groping as in darkness at noon day; many of us who have been made partakers of the blessings; with feelings akin to those of John, (when he wept much because no one was found who could open the seven-sealed Book,) lament that a vast amount of revelation, which God in kindness has left for our comfort, and instruction; should still, through the influence of antichrist, lie hid from the church. We shall at once assume that "all Scripture-is profitable for doc trine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness;" and, consequently, that we cannot neglect the prophecies, which occupy at least one hundred chapters of the Bible, without loss to our souls! In the most obscure of all the prophecies it is written, "blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein." Reader, let not unbelief, nor antichrist, induce you to think, or to act, as if these words were untrue! Mark them well. 1st, Blessed is he that heareth the WORDS!" not the interpretation of the words: 2nd, And "keepeth the things that are written therein." Angels desire to look into them and keep them, (1 Pet. i. 10-13; Rev. xxii. 9:) all heaven rejoiced when they were revealed, (v. 9-14:) shall we remain regardless, whose interests are so deeply involved? 3rd, The time of their fulfilment is at hand. All denominations of Christians acknowledge, that most of the events on record in the Apocalypse, will be fulfilled before the millennium ; and that the millennium is at hand; surely then we ought to be prepared for these events! We might multiply arguments to prove, that he that hath an ear to hear, should hear, the things that the Spirit hath spoken to the churches; but we think the vastness, the terribleness, the nearness of the events foretold; together with the intimate connection in which they stand, both toward ourselves, and the church of God, ought to be sufficient to rivet the attention of every Christian. For example: John saw an Angel flying in the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the three angels, which are yet to sound, (viii. 13:) "and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great; and the CITIES OF THE NATIONS FELL and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.' (xvi. 18, 19.) “I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, (ten kings of Europe,*) and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and his army; and the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet-these both were cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone. And THE REMNANT WERE SLAIN with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (xix. 20, 21.) Such were some of the things recorded in the prophecy. But the most potent reason why we should attend to the things written in the Apocalypse, is, that the Spirit has recorded, "If any man shall take away from the words of the prophecy of this book, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city. (xxii. 19.) * Rev. xvii. 12-14; Dan. vii. 7, 24. 48 THE INSTRUCTIONS OF PATERNUS TO HIS SON. Reader! if you neglect the words of the prophecy, and the things that are written therein, do you not, as far as your soul is concerned, expunge the Book of Revelations from your Bible, deprive yourself of the blessing promised to all who keep the things written therein, and run no small risk of condemnation ? Your's, &c., I. B. R. THE END OF LIFE. ALWAYS remember for what end you were born. Through the whole of life look at this end; and, consider, when this end comes, in what you will put your trust. Not in the bubble of worldly vanity-it will be broken! Not in worldly pleasures-they will be gone! Not in great connections-they cannot serve you! Not in rank-in the grave there is no distinction! Not in the recollection of a life spent in a giddy conformity to the silly fashions of a thoughtless and wicked world-but in that of a life spent "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present R. ELLIS, Junr. world." THE following instructions from a father to a son, I committed to memory when a child-Whether owing to early prejudices, or to more mature reflections, I will not say; but I have always thought it, and do still think it, one of the best pieces of the kind I have ever read. Finding it of some use to myself even in riper years, I have, for the sake of others, thought it deserved to be snatched from forgetfulness, and to have a chance of living at least another generation. If it will prove as instructive to youth as I think it did to me, I will require no apology to either parents or children for presenting it to our readers in this work. Though I was compelled to commit it to memory, as I was many fine pieces of prose and verse, I have found it a pleasing theme of reflection; and, indeed, many pieces which cost me some tears at school, have many a time since furnished me both instruction and joy at the recollection of them. This in prose, and Gray's Elegy in verse, were, I think now, as I thought then, the two best selections out of some hundred which a father, solicitous for my improvement, made a part of my task at school. For in those days it was usual to commit and recite some of the finest pieces of prose and verse as a regular part of education, during the whole course of academic instruction. A. CAMPBELL. THE INSTRUCTIONS OF PATERNUS TO HIS SON. PATERNUS lived about two hundred years ago; he had but one son, whom he educated himself in his own house. As they were sitting together in the garden, when the child was ten years old, Paternus thus spoke to him: The little time you have been in the world, my child, you have spent wholly with me; and my love and tenderness to you, have made you look upon me as your only friend and benefactor, and the cause of all the comfort and pleasure that you enjoy. Your heart I know would be ready to break with grief if you thought this would be the last day that I should live with you. My child, you think yourself very happy because you have hold of my hand; but you are now in the hands and under the tender care of a much greater father and friend than I am, whose love to you far exceeds mine, and from whom you receive such blessings as no mortal can give. That God whom you have seen me daily worship; whom I daily call upon |