from the evening sacrifice: the first at the altar of burnt-offering, and the last at the altar of incense. When the Levites walked in procession around the altars, waving the palms of Judah, and sounding the silver trumpets of the GREAT HOSANNAH, no vocal Hosannah, amongst the thousands of Israel, swelled above Sheshbazzar's. Like the eagle moulting upon the summits of Gerrizzim, the old man seemed to renew his youth, whilst thus waiting upon the God of his fathers in Zion. When his fellow-pilgrims could distinguish him in the great congregation, or at the waters of Siloa, they saw, from his looks, that he was shaking the mulberry-trees, and, like the fleece of Gideon, was saturated with the dew of heaven.

When the Iom Hacchipurim ended, they prepared to return to Beersheba; and Sheshbazzar was, as usual, their guiding pillar in the wilderness. "We have been, my children,

like the spies," he said, "searching the land of promise: what have we to show at home as the fruit of it? Grapes, or wild gourds? Not the latter, I am quite sure! But, have we cut such a cluster of the grapes of Eshcol, as to require "two men to carry it between them on a staff?" Or have we merely an untimely fig, and an unripe pomegranate, hanging at our girdle? We ought not to carry home a bad report of the goodly land. There were large and ripe clusters on Mount Zion: what can we show as the fruit of it? A spirit, meek as the lily of the valley, fragrant as the rose of Sharon, and pure as the waters of Siloa? It ought to be so. Those who tarried at home will expect to divide the spoil with us. Esrom and Rachel, especially, will look to me for the first ripe fruits. Gleanings will not satisfy them." Thus he talked by the way.

"But who is this-that cometh up from the

wilderness, leaning on her beloved ?"

It was

Rachel, now a leper, white as snow, leaning on Esrom. The Pilgrims shrunk back, and stood afar off. They were ready to exclaim, “God has rejected her, although you vouched for her." Sheshbazzar turned to them with the majesty of an Angel, saying, "There is hope in Israel concerning this thing. It is of the Lord; but it is for good, as in the case of MIRIAM." Turning to Rachel, with the mildness of an Angel, he said, "Though you have lain among the pots, yet shall you be as the wings of a dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold."

,

No. II.

VARIETIES, FROM OVERSIGHT.

It is quite possible to have a sincere desire to be holy, and even to have some real love to holiness, and yet to overlook, not only some of the virtues or graces of a holy character, but also some of the most effectual means of becoming holy. A very great point is gained, however, when even one evangelical motive to holiness acquires, either as a check or as a charm, sanctifying influence over our character. And, happily, the motive or consideration which first lays hold upon the conscience is, usually, the solemn fact, that "without Holiness no one shall see the Lord." This is a consideration which may well awe and in

fluence both our habits and spirit: and therefore, it is well that it is, in general, the first to rivet our attention. Perhaps no other motive

is so well suited, at first, to our condition, when we are just setting out in the Divine life. It is readily understood, and easily remembered. And as it is the fear of not seeing God in heaven at last, quite as much as the desire of seeing Him, that influences our choice, we really need a motive which can work, at once, upon both our hopes and fears; for one that appealed to either exclusively, would defeat itself then. An increase of fear without hope, or of hope without any fear, would do us no real good.

I do, therefore, congratulate you upon the hold which this familiar, but powerful, motive has obtained upon your understanding and conscience. Its authority over you is a good sign. It is, indeed, no small proof of being