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are in general mean; but the khan in which we are at present residing is, by far, the best which I have yet seen... The language addressed to Thyatira is rather different from that of the other epistles. The commendations are scarcely surpassed even in the epistle to Philadelphia, while the conduct of some was impious and profligate. The Church thus exhibited a contrast of the most exalted piety with the very depths of Satan. In too many parts of Christendom we observe a similar state of things, even at this day; how important, then, the admonition, 'That which ye have already, hold fast till I come!'

"And this language is not only designed for those who have recently been brought to the knowledge of Christianity; it is a caution very needful for those who have long been acquainted with its infinite value. The great danger to Christians is rather after a perseverance of some years, than in the commencement of their Christian career. When religion appears to have become habitual, we are in more danger of being thrown off our guard, than when we have just been awakened to observe its great importance and our own weakness. Let the follower of Christ be therefore especially careful, lest he lose his crown after he has won many victories. Let the joy which he feels under the conviction that he is approaching nearer to the end of all his wishes, be ever tempered with the recollection that he is still possessed of a heart which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,' and that he is still encompassed by 'a world which lieth in wickedness.' When the disposition of fearing always is united to the character of watchfulness, courage, and simple dependence on the Divine aid, then will be realized obedience to the caution, 'Hold fast that which ye have.'

"The address to the unfaithful part of the Church at Thyatira is at once alarming and inviting. It contains one of those many denunciations of Divine anger, which place it beyond all doubt that God will by no means clear the guilty. Nothing will save them from the in

dignation of Him, who has revealed himself as a consuming fire to the wicked.

"The sacred writer of the Acts of the Apostles informs us, that Lydia was a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira; and the discovery of an inscription here, which makes mention of the dyers,' has been considered important in connexion with this passage. I know not if other travellers have remarked, that, even at the present time, Thyatira is famous for dyeing. In answer to inquiries on this subject, I was informed that the cloths which are dyed scarlet here, are considered superior to any others furnished by Asia Minor; and that large quantities are sent weekly to Smyrna, for the purposes of commerce... Near Thyatira we still find very beautiful vegetation; the neighbourhood has a most fertile appearance. A white species of rose is extremely abun dant, and scents the air with a most delightful odour." -See HARTLEY'S Researches.

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TEMPLE OF CYBELE-NOTICES OF SARDIS, ANCIENT AND MODERNACROPOLIS-RIVER HERMUS-SAD STATE OF RELIGION AMONG THE

GREEK CHRISTIANS.

SCRIPTURE NOTICE.

"AND unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write: These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard; and hold fast, and repent. If, therefore, thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same

shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches."-Rev. iii. 1-6.

Sardis is about eight hours' distance from Philadelphia. Mr. Hartley writes in his Journal :-" This morning I have visited Sardis, once the splendid capital of Lydia, the famous residence of Croesus, the resort of Persian monarchs, and one of the most ancient and magnificent cities of the world. Now, how fallen! The ruins are, with one exception, more entirely gone to decay than those of most of the ancient cities which we have visited. No Christians reside on the spot; two Greeks only work in a mill here, and a few wretched Turkish huts are scattered among the ruins. We saw the churches of St. John and the Virgin, the theatre, and the building styled the palace of Croesus; but the most striking object at Sardis is the temple of Cybele. I was filled with wonder and awe at beholding the two stupendous columns of this edifice, which are still remaining; they are silent but impressive witnesses of the power and splendour of antiquity. I read, amidst the ruins, the epistle addressed to the Church once fixed here. What an impressive warning to Christian churches! A name to live while dead! Is not the state of religion in Britain precisely such as to threaten punishment like that which has befallen Sardis? A certain portion of religion is at present popular; the world approximates a certain distance towards religion; and many persons who would pass for religious seem disposed to advance at least half way towards the world. Does not this neglect of watchfulness end in many defiling their garments? And if this negligence does not give place to remembrance, and repentance, and to a strengthening of the things which remain and are ready to die, the consequences will be

equally fatal.
Sardis !"-HARTLEY'S Researches.

May God preserve us from the fate of

snow.

"The appearance of the hill of the acropolis, from the opposite bank of the Hermus, is that of a triangular insulated hill; close at the back of which rise ridge after ridge of mountains, the most elevated covered with On approaching close to it, the hill, as well as most of the mountains at the back, are perceived to be of a reddish sandstone, and those at the west especially, as well as the acropolis itself, of the most extraordinary and fantastic outline: the crumbling nature of the sandstone will in part account for this; but a more satisfactory solution will be found in the terrible earthquakes which have so often changed the face of Asia Minor, raising . . . valleys into mountains, and depressing mountains into valleys. Certainly no inferior agency can account for the jagged and distorted forms of the peaks of Mount Tmolus, for a considerable distance from Sardis towards Smyrna.

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Sardis, the capital of Lydia, identified with the names of Croesus, and Cyrus, and Alexander, and covering the plain with her thousands of inhabitants and tens of thousands of men of war-great even in the days of Augustus; -ruined by earthquakes, and restored to its importance by the munificence of Tiberius ;-Christian Sardis, offering her hymns of thanksgiving for deliverance from Pagan persecution, in the magnificent temples of the Virgin and Apostle ;-Sardis, again fallen under the yoke of a false religion, but still retaining her numerous population and powerful defence only five hundred years ago;-what is Sardis now? 'Her foundations are fallen; her walls are thrown down.' She sits silent in darkness, and is no longer called the Lady of Kingdoms. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!' A few mud huts, inhabited by Turkish herdsmen, and a mill or two, contain all the present population of Sardis. The only members of the Church of Sardis are two Greek servants to the Turkish miller;

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