out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in times past were not a people, but now are the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." * The remainder of the Epistle as well as the second, contain practical advice to believers, and he concludes with a prophecy of the destruction of part of the world by fire, which he exhorts them to consider, as an additional reason for living a holy life. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the Heavens, being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”† The rational sources of earthly happiness, within the reach of Christians, who resolve to come out from "Babylon the Great," and unite in erecting the Spiritual Temple in Australia, are thus described by one of the brightest ornaments of the Church of Christ, who has ever lived in any Christian nation since the days of the Apostles. Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, was indeed richly endowed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and in his works, which have been the means of turning many to righteousness, he will always, although sleeping in the dust of the earth himself, shine as a star for ever and ever. ‡

In his beautiful work "Telemachus," he thus gives a description of the manners and customs of the inhabitants of Boetica, which is now a part of Spain.

"In the mean time, Telemachus addressed himself to Adoam: 'I remember,' said he, 'that you mentioned a voyage you made to Botica, since we returned toge

* 1 Peter ii. 3-10. † 1 Peter iii. 11, 12, 13. ‡ Daniel xii. 2, 3.

ther from Egypt: Boetica is a country, concerning which many wonders are related, which it is difficult to believe: tell me, therefore, whether they are true ?"-" I shall be glad," said Adoam, "to describe that country to you; for it is well worthy your curiosity, and is yet more extraordinary than fame has reported it.

"The river Bætis flows through a fertile country, where the air is always temperate, and the sky serene. This river, which gives name to the country, falls into the ocean near the pillars of Hercules; not far from the place where the sea heretofore, breaking its bounds, separated the country of Tarsis from the vast continent of Africa. This region seems to have preserved all the felicity of the golden age. In the winter, the freezing breath of the north is never felt, and the season is, therefore, mild; but in summer, there are always refreshing gales from the west, which blow about the middle of the day, and in this season, therefore the heat is never intense; so that spring and autumn, espoused as it were to each other, walk hand in hand through the year. The valleys and the plains yield annually a double harvest; the hedges consist of laurels, pomegranates, jasmines, and other trees, that are not only always green, but in flower; the mountains are covered with flocks, whose wool, for its superior fineness, is sought by all nations. This beautiful country contains also many mines of gold and silver; but the inhabitants, happy in their simplicity, disdain to count silver or gold among their riches; and value that only which contributes to supply the real and natural wants of mankind.

"When we first traded with the people, we found gold and silver used for ploughshares; and, in general, employed promiscuously with iron. As they carried on no foreign trade, they had no need of money; they were,

almost all, either shepherds or husband men; for as they suffered no arts to be exercised among them, but such as tended immediately to answer the necessities of life, the number of artificers was consequently small: besides, a greater part, even of those that live by husbandry, or keeping of sheep, are skilful in the exercise of such arts, as are necessary to manners so simple and frugal.

"The women are employed in spinning the wool, and manufacturing it into stuffs, that are remarkably fine and white: they also make the bread, and dress the victuals, which costs them very little trouble, for they live chiefly upon fruits and milk, animal food being seldom eaten among them; of the skins of their sheep they make a light sort of covering for their legs and feet, with which they furnish their husbands and children; the women also make the habitations, which are a kind of tents, covered either with waxed skins or the bark of trees; they make and wash all the clothes of the family, and keep their houses in great neatness and order; their clothes, indeed, are easily made; for, in that temperate climate, they wear only a piece of fine white stuff, which is not formed to the shape of the body, but wrapped round it so as to fall in long plaits, and take what figure the wearer thinks fit.

"The men cultivate the ground, and manage their flocks; and the other arts which they practise, are those only of forming wood and iron into necessary utensils; and of iron they make very little use, except in instruments of tillage: all the arts that relate to architecture, are useless to them; for they build no houses. It shows too much regard to the earth, say they, to erect a building upon it which will last longer than ourselves; if we are defended from the weather, it is sufficient. As to other arts, which are so highly esteemed in Greece, in

Egypt, and in all other nations that have admitted the innumerable wants of polished life, they hold them in the greatest detestation, as the inventions of vanity and voluptuousness.

"When they are told of nations who have the art of erecting superb buildings, and of making splendid furniture of silver and gold, stuffs adorned with embroidery and jewels, exquisite perfumery, delicious meats, and instruments of music; they reply, that the people of such nations are extremely unhappy, to have employed so much ingenuity and labour to render themselves at once corrupt and wretched. These superfluities, say they, effeminate, intoxicate, and torment those who possess them and tempt those who possess them not, to acquire them by fraud and violence. Can that superfluity be good, which tends only to make men evil? Are the people of these countries more healthy or more robust than we are? Do they live longer, or agree better with each other? Do they enjoy more liberty, tranquillity, and cheerfulness?

On the contrary, are they not jealous of each other? Are not their hearts corroded with envy, and agitated by ambition, avarice, and terror? Are they not incapable of pleasures that are pure and simple? and is not this incapacity, the unavoidable consequence of the innumerable artificial wants to which they are enslaved, and upon which they make all their happiness depend?

"Such," said Adoam, "are the sentiments of this sagacious people, who have acquired wisdom only by the study of nature. They consider our refinements with abhorrence; and it must be confessed, that, in their simplicity, there is something not only amiable, but great. They live in common, without any partition of lands. The head of every family is its king: this patriarchal

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monarch has a right to punish his children, or his grandchildren, if they are guilty of a fault; but he first takes the advice of his family: punishment, indeed, is very rare among them: for innocence of manners, sincerity of heart, and hatred of vice, seem to be the natural productions of country. Astrea, who is said to have quitted the earth, and ascended to heaven, seems still to be hidden among these happy people: they have no need of judges, for every man submits to the jurisdiction of conscience. They possess all things in common; for the cattle produce milk, and the fields and orchards fruit and grain of every kind in such abundance, that a people so frugul and temperate have no need of property. They have no fixed place of abode; but when they have consumed the fruits, and exhausted the pasturage, of one part of the paradise which they inhabit, they remove their tents to another: they have, therefore, no opposition of interest, but are connected by a fraternal affection which there is nothing to interrupt. This peace, this union, this liberty, they preserve, by rejecting superfluous wealth, and deceitful pleasure; they are all free, and they are all equal.

"Superior wisdom, the result either of long experience or uncommon abilities, is the only mark of distinction among them; the sophistry of fraud, the cry of violence, the contention of the bar, and the tumult of battle, are never heard in this sacred region, which the gods have taken under their immediate protection : this soil has never been distained with human blood; and even that of a lamb has rarely been shed upon it.When the inhabitants are told of bloody battles, rapid conquests, and the subversion of empires, which happen in other countries, they stand aghast with astonishment:What, say they, do not men die fast enough, without