sible to tell; but from either, it was only a short distance to the foot of Mars' hill, up which Paul was probably conducted by the flight of steps just mentioned. Standing on this elevated platform, surrounded by the learned and the wise of Athens, the multitude perhaps being on the steps and in the vale below, Paul had directly before him the far-famed acropolis, with its wonders of Grecian art; and beneath him, on his left, the ... earliest and still most perfect of Athenian structures; while all around, other temples and altars filled the whole city. Yet here, amid all these objects, of which the Athenians were so proud, Paul hesitated not to exclaim, 'God, who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands!' On the acropolis, too, were the three celebrated statues of (the false goddess) Minerva, one of olive-wood, another of gold and ivory, in the Parthenon; and the colossal statue, in the open air, the point of whose spear was seen over the Parthenon by those sailing along the gulf. To these Paul probably referred and pointed, when he went on to affirm that 'the Godhead is not like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.'

"Indeed, it is impossible to conceive of anything more adapted to the circumstances of time and place, than is the whole of this masterly address; but the full force, and energy, and boldness of the apostle's language, can be duly felt only when one has stood upon the spot. ."

...

Returning to Athens after a ride, Mr. Robinson passed over a hill which "affords a noble view of Athens and its environs. It was a splendid afternoon; and the atmosphere had all that perfect clearness and transparency for which (this) climate. is remarkable; far surpassing in this respect the sky of any other country known to me. Remote objects were seen with the utmost distinctness; the island of Hydra seemed to be hardly ten miles off, though its real distance is more than forty English miles. The sun went down while

we were yet upon the hill, pouring a flood of transparent glory over the landscape; and as the reflection of his last beams lingered upon the Parthenon and slowly ascended the dark sides of Mount Hymettus beyond, they were followed by hues of brilliant purple, which also climbed the heights of Hymettus, and spread themselves abroad upon the sky...

"On one of the last mornings of our stay in Athens, I went very early to the acropolis, to see the sun rise over Mount Hymettus. The morning was clear and cold ... I was alone upon the acropolis, in the midst of the solemn grandeur of its desolations. Seating myself within the ruins of the Parthenon . . . I waited for the rising sun. The whole sky was so resplendent, that for a long time I could not determine the point where the orb of day would appear. The sun-light already lay upon the eastern plain and on the northern mountains .. Small fleecy clouds came floating on the north wind; and as they hovered over (Mount) Hymettus and met the rays of the sun, were changed to liquid gold. At length the first beams fell upon the Parthenon, and lighted up its marbles and its columns. . . It was one of those moments in the life of man that can never be forgotten."-ROBINSON's Researches.

"The territory of Athens was anciently well peopled. The boroughs were in number a hundred and seventyfour-frequent traces of them are found; and several still exist, but mostly reduced to very inconsiderable villages. Many wells also occur... Some are seen in the vineyards and gardens, nearly in their pristine state; a circular ruin of marble, about a yard high, standing on a square pavement; adorned, not inelegantly, with wreathed flutings on the outside; or plain, with mouldings at the top and bottom; the inner surface deep worn by the friction of ropes. The bucket is a kettle, a jar, or the skin of a goat or kid distended; close by is commonly a trough or hollow stone, into which they pour water for the cattle... The olive

groves are now, as anciently, a principal source of the riches of Athens. The wood of these trees, watered by the Cephissus, about three miles from the city, has been computed at least six miles long. The mills for pressing and grinding the olives, are in the town. The oil is deposited in large earthen jars, sunk in the ground in the areas before the houses... The honey as well as the oil of Attica, was anciently in high repute. Mount Hymettus furnishes a succession of aromatic plants, herbs, and flowers, peculiarly adapted to maintain bees, both in summer and winter. The hives are set on the ground in rows, enclosed within a low wall.

...

"Provisions of all kinds are good and cheap at Athens The sea-polypus, called by the Greeks octopedes, from the number of its feet, is beaten to make it tender; and when boiled, is white, like the tail of a lobster, but has not much flavour. Hares, game, and fowl, may be purchased for little more than the value of the powder and shot. Oranges, lemons, and citrons, grow in the gardens. The grapes and melons are excellent, and the figs were celebrated of old ...

"The wild beasts, which find shelter in the mountains, greatly annoy the shepherds; and their folds are constantly guarded by several large fierce dogs. The peasant who produces the skin of a wolf in the market, is recompensed by voluntary contributions. A peasant brought us a large horned owl, with the wing broken. They are as ravenous as eagles, and, if pressed by hunger, will attack lambs and hares. The mountains on one side of Athens were once noted for silver. . . Credulity and superstition prevail at Athens. . . The old Athenian had a multitude of deities, but relied chiefly on Minerva; the modern has a similar troop, headed by the Virgin." See CHANDLER's Travels in Asia Minor.

SITUATION OF CORINTH

SCRIPTURE NOTICES.

"PAUL departed from Athens, and came to Corinth and he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. . ."-Acts xviii. 1, 11; read to ver. 18; xix. 1.

"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea."-Rom. xvi. 1.

"Paul... unto the church of God which is at Corinth Grace be unto you, and peace. "-1 Cor. i. 1-3. "Erastus abode at Corinth..."-2 Tim. iv. 20.

...

...

"I embarked in the afternoon (writes Mr. Wilson) in a small open boat at the port (of Athens), and sailed to Cenchræ, at the bay of Corinth... I arrived there next morning

...

"This city . . . is sixty miles west of Athens ... It was one of the most distinguished in history; and, from its being advantageously situated between two seas, became the staple of all northern and southern Greece, for wares transported by land conveyance, and a central point for the trade of Asia, Italy, and Illyrium, which thus contributed to its wealth and power. Athens alone could claim precedence of it, and the Romans became jealous of its greatness and importance. It was ravaged by them; great slaughter committed, and Corinth set in flames. The city was re-built by Julius Cæsar, and again ruined. . . Under the eastern emperors it was the see of an archbishop.

"In this place the apostle Paul sowed the seeds of the Christian doctrine, and from it addressed his Epistle to the Romans. Here he took up his residence for eighteen months, fifty-four years after the crucifixion of the Lord of glory, during which he both laboured for the supply of his own temporal wants, and declared the truth as it is in Jesus, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven.

"Corinth stands at the base of a perpendicular mountain, almost inaccessible, crowned with a fortification, built by nature for herself, which strangers are not permitted to enter. It is situated in a plain stretching to the sea... the plain, which is watered by two rivulets, is overspread with vineyards, and a few small villages. Under the walls of the castle there was at one time a small chapel hewn out of a rock, and dedicated to St. Paul. I walked about the town, which appears altogether mean it consists of a few houses in a decayed state, and detached from each other by gardens; and

1 The epistle was sent by Phebe. (Rom. xvi. 1.)