119 medanism, though it stands as a proof of the truth of remain "willingly ignorant" of its claims. It is fearScripture prophecy, is itself unsupported by a single fully true, that "men love darkness rather than light." fulfilled prediction. The heathen oracles were celebra- But while infidels reject the Bible, the Christian takes ted for their equivocation and falsehood. Many were it as "the man of his counsel." With holy fervor he the instances in which they practiced fraud upon those reads, prays, meditates; "compares spiritual things with who came to them for counsel. Some of the great he-spiritual," and with singleness of heart, "looks into the perfect law of liberty." While delighting in the law of God after the inner man, the light of truth and grace and love shines into his heart, and imparts "the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." We have much encouragement to take heed unto the THE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY. roes of antiquity were deceived by answers that might ful. In a similar manner was Pyrrhus deceived in re- Thanks be to God, "the day-star from on high has visited us." Jesus, "the bright and morning Star," pours light upon our path-way, which will cause it to shine "brighter and brighter unto the perfect day." Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." He is "the Giv-light of the world," "the light of life," and having entered into his glory, has left to us the records of his will, and the promise of the Spirit, by which we may "travel all the length of the celestial road," until the light of glorious eternity shall break upon our raptured vision. In the sacred Scriptures, no such equivocation can be detected. It is true that some of its prophecies are obscure, and some of them profoundly mysterious. "Clouds and darkness" envelop them, so that in view of the limitation of human knowledge, we may with propriety adopt the language of Paul, "We know in part, and we prophesy in part." But while a degree of obscurity is thrown around some portions of the prophetic writings, we have other prophecies that are sufficiently plain and clear, and their fulfillment has given most satisfactory proof that "prophecy came not by the will of man, but by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost." The fulfillment of Scripture prophecy in the spread of the Gospel, is a subject which, by the Church of God, will ever be contemplated with delight. And we are called upon to bear our part in the great work, that heathen nations may become "the inheritance of Christ, and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession." The present state of things may discourage us, but the inspired prophecies assure us, that "he that is coming will come, and will not tarry." He will come to "avenge his elect, who cry unto him day and night." "He will suddenly come to his temple," and his worship will be established among all nations: "The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountain, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it." He will reign until he subIt is a source of great comfort to the Christian to dues all his enemies, and "bruises Satan under our know that his foundation stands sure. In reading the feet." The prophetic writings have given most encourScriptures, and in comparing their prophetic statements aging views of things that will shortly come to pass. with the facts of history, he finds such an agreement They point us to "the stone cut out of the mountain," that he can rely with entire confidence upon the truth rolling majestically onward, until it becomes a mountain, of the Christian religion. And if infidels deny the "filling the whole earth." "The period is swiftly hasauthenticity of the holy Scriptures, and speak contemp-tening, when "the high praises of God," from the east tuously of the Christian system, the true believer re- and from the west, from the north and from the south, members that the same apostle who exhorts us to "take shall meet and commingle, and the rapturous song of heed unto the sure word of prophecy," admonishes us salvation shall be chanted by the redeemed, both in also, to "be mindful of the words which were spoken earth and in heaven. In heaven, the voice will be before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of heard, "Now is come salvation and strength, and the the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing this first, that there kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his them before our God day and night." The Church coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things re- militant will echo back, "Halleluiah! the Lord God main as they were from the beginning of the creation." omnipotent reigneth." In view of this glorious state How many there are, who, notwithstanding their ability of things, the Church should rejoice, knowing that her to examine and weigh the evidences of this religion, redemption is drawing nigh. 120 Is the knowledge of God now limited to a small portion of mankind? Prophecy tells us that "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea." Does "the prince of darkness" now "work in the children of disobedience," and so darken their minds and blind the eyes of their understanding, that they cannot see the "light of the glorious Gospel?" Prophecy informs us that the reign of spiritual darkness shall cease, and that the light of divine revelation shall shine in those dreary regions upon which "the O! where are they who once in beauty pass'd, shadow of death" is now resting. Does Satan now, Like a bright dream, too pure, too blest to last? as "a roaring lion," prowl through the earth, seeking Who revel'd in the hall of joy and mirth, his prey among the fallen sons of men? Prophecy And seem'd too fair, too beautiful for earth; assures us, that a messenger from the court of heaven Whose step was heard amid the festal throng, shall be commissioned with authority to chain him in Whose lute like voices mingled in the song? the bottomless pit. Do we now discover the fierce con- Their last farewell is now to memory dear; flicts of malignant passions, creating wars, and spread-Their accents sweet still linger on my ear! ing desolation among the nations? Prophecy holds But shall I hear those gentle tones no more? out the pleasing prospect of universal peace. "Jeho- Is love's bright dream for ever, ever o'er? vah shall make wars to cease unto the ends of the Ye stars, that revel "round the midnight throne," earth; he will break the bow and cut the spear in sun- Say, do they make your pure, bright climes their own? der: he will burn the chariot in the fire." "He will || At eve's sweet hour they often loved to gaze judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many peo- Far, far away, and picture in your rays ple, until they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, || A brighter clime than this, a land of rest, and their spears into pruning-hooks: until nation shall Where earth's lone pilgrims are for ever bless'd! not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn O! tell us, if in your bright home above, war any more;" and until "they shall not hurt nor Our loved and lost ones sing redeeming love; destroy in all God's holy mountain." Does "darkness And strike their harps of gold in concerts sweet, now cover the earth, and gross darkness the people?" And cast bright crowns before a Savior's feet? Through the light of prophecy, we see the infernal But we shall meet them yet! O yes! a ray shades fleeing away, and "Satan, like lightning, falling of comfort glimmers through life's darksome way; from heaven!", The star of promise, with its heavenly light, Hath risen and dispell'd the shades of night; A hope immortal through the gloom appears, To soothe our woes and wipe away our tears! Yes! when these scenes shall all have pass'd away, When time shall cease o'er earth to hold his sway, We too shall meet on that immortal shore, L. D. H. Where tempests dire shall vex and rage no more! -。9བ་་ས THE DEPARTED. Original. ENCOURAGEMENT IN DESPONDENCY. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God." WHENCE, O my soul, is this anxious disquiet? God is thy Father, then wherefore despair? And willingly answers thy penitent prayer! Hope thou in God, for he feeds the young lion, Who, when enhungered for meat, cries to Him; He is the Friend whom my heart shall rely on, Tho' tears of deep sorrow my mournful eyes dim! Though father and mother and friends shall forsake me, And earth with her deepest afflictions shall shake me, And guard me from danger and shield me from Original. THE DEPARTED.* THE GREEK CLASSICS. Original. ny. The Pythian priestess in reply, directed him "to THE GREEK CLASSICS.-NO. III. shun the grove of Nemean Jupiter, since there death awaited him." Hesiod, supposing that she referred to the grove and statue of Nemean Jove at Argos, directed his course to Ence, a town of the Locri. Unknown to him, this place also was sacred to the same divinity. Here he was the guest of two brothers. While here, their sister, whose name was Cremene, hung herself in consequence of an outrage committed upon her person by a companion of the poet. This man the brothers slew in revenge; and suspecting Hesiod as an abettor of the crime, killed him also, and cast his body into the sea. The murder, it is said, was detected by the sagacity of Hesiod's dog. By some it is said that the corpse was brought to the shore by a company of dolphins, at the moment the people were celebrating the festival of Neptune. The body of Hesiod was recognized, the houses of the murderers were razed to the foundations, and the murderers themselves cast into the sea. "Another account states them to have been consumed by lightning. A third, that they were overtaken by a tempest while escaping to Crete in a fishing boat, and perished in the wreck." The works of Hesiod which remain are, 1. "The Works and Days;" 2. "The Theogony;" and 3. A fragment entitled the "Shield of Hercules." The first, the "Works and Days," is a pastoral addressed by Hesiod to his brother Perses, giving advice concerning agriculture, and the general conduct of life. It was most probably written while he was engaged as a shepherd on Mount Helicon, and before the death of his father and subsequent conduct of his brother. The first part of the poem refers to agriculture, in which he advises his brother to seek wealth by labor rather than by other means. Interspersed are proverbs, mythical narratives, descriptions, &c., which are ingeniously wrought into the poem, and all of which are intended to enforce the general subject upon which he is treating. The second part relates to navigation, which is treated of in equal detail. As the work is generally intended for the guidance of life, the poet proceeds to speak of marriage, the time when it should be entered into, and what rules should guide a man in his selection of a companion. Sundry moral precepts referring to the worship of the gods, the government of the tongue, the days on which certain things should be commenced, &c., make up the principal remaining part of the poem. "One thing," says Professor Anthon, "must be very evident to all who read the Works and Days,' that in its present state it shows a want of purpose and of unity too great to be accounted for, otherwise than upon the supposition of its fragmentary nature." The "Theogony," as its name indicates, consists of an account of the origin of the world, including the birth of the gods. It contains a great many personifications. It is particularly interesting, inasmuch as it is the most ancient monument of the Greek Mythology which time has spared us. "When we consider it as a poem, we find no composition of ancient times so stamped with a rude simplicity of character. It is with BY GEO. WATERMAN, JR. HESIOD AND ARCHILOCHUS. In the times of the early Greek poets, literature of every kind was in its infancy. Few nations possessed the means of preserving their rude attempts at poetry, the first species of literary composition, otherwise than by traditions; and those few made but comparatively little use of their superior advantages. Except the Hebrew Pentateuch, and two or three other books of the Old Testament Scriptures, and the imperishable inscriptions upon the Pyramids of Egypt, (if indeed these last may properly be called written,) we know of no specimen of written composition anterior to the time of Homer. The works of that poet constitute the foundation of all the literature of the world, which is not strictly sacred. His influence and example awakened a new spirit among his country men, and eventually among mankind. After him, poet followed poet, and historian orator, until Greece became the seat of learning for the world. After Homer, whose works have already been noticed, the next in order of time is HESIOD. This poet was probably a contemporary of Homer, or at most, but a little subsequent to him; although it is perhaps impossible at this late period to determine exactly the time of his birth or death. It is generally thought that he was born at Cuma or Cyme, in Æolis, and at an early age was brought to Ascra in Bæotia. His father had removed from the former place in consequence of his poverty, and remained until his death a resident of Ascra-although it seems he did not obtain the right of citizenship. His residence here, it would seem, had been profitable to him in a pecuniary point of view; for at his death he left a considerable amount of property to his two sons, Hesiod and Perses, of whom Hesiod was the elder. The two brothers divided the inheritance between them. But Perses, by bribing the judges, obtained the means of defrauding his brother, and of obtaining his portion of the estate. This base ness of the Ascrean judges may account for the severe epithets which he afterwards applied to the inhabitants of that village. 121 It is probable that he was a shepherd, and tended his flocks upon the sides of Mount Helicon-although Pausanias makes him a priest of the Muses at that place. His poetry evidently shows that he was accustomed to rural pursuits. The beauty of the scenery, the salubrity of the air, and all the associations of that spot, rendered famous by the supposed residence of the Muses upon its summit, together with the rural quiet of a shepherd's life-all these conspired to awaken within his soul those emotions which give life to the imaginations of the poet, and vigor to every thing within the range of his thought. Of his death we have the following account. On a certain occasion he is said to have consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, with reference to his future desti 122 THE GREEK CLASSICS. out luminous order of arrangement, abounds with dry as second to none, not even Homer. He is generally and insipid details, and only by snatches, as it were, acknowledged as the inventor of the Iambic verse. Anrises to any extraordinary elevation of fancy. It ex-cient writers attribute the invention of several other hibits that crude irregularity, and that mixture of mean-kinds to him also. But the proof is wanting. The ness and grandeur, which characterize a strong but un- Iambic verse was well adapted for rapid and vehement cultivated genius." thought, and hence well suited for satire-the kind of writing in which Archilochus especially excelled. The keenness of his sarcasm was unequaled. The misfortunes of his life produced no other effect than to sour a temper naturally ardent. Believing all mankind his enemies, he made them so by the bitterness with which he assailed them in his writings. As an illustration, ancient writers relate the following anecdote, which, As a writer, Hesiod has been variously estimated. Some parts of his productions are wearisome and in-perhaps, is as worthy of credit as most of those times. sipid; while others are full of the genuine spirit of poetry. Quintilian places him at the head of writers of the second class. Virgil has acknowledged that in the composition of his Georgics he followed the "Works and Days," as a model of pastoral poetry-thus indirectly giving it the highest eulogium in his power. In this poem are found many passages which are remarkable for their sweetness and beauty. Speaking of the description of the battle of the gods, which is perhaps one of the finest passages from the pen of Hesiod, Elton, in his edition of his works, says: "Milton has borrowed some images from these descriptions; and the arming of the Messiah for battle is obviously imitated from the magnificent picture of Jupiter summoning all the terrors of his omnipotence for the extirpation of the Titans." While he resided at Paros the charms of Neobule, the beautiful daughter of Lycambes, won his affections. A more wealthy citizen of the place was also a suitor. Interested motives, and perhaps also the advice of her father, led her to break her plighted faith to the poet. Thenceforth she became the object of his most relentless hatred and bitterest satire. "He loaded her with charges the most opprobrious to her sex, and pursued both her and her parent with such merciless invective, that they were happy to find a refuge in suicide from the scorn and infamy to which they were exposed by the vengeance of their unrelenting persecutor." Others were alike made to feel the keenness of the viper's tooth, which he carried with him wherever he went; but not with the same fatal consequences. His poetry, besides being thus marked by satire, was often also extremely licentious. So much was this the case, that the authorities of Sparta, on a certain occasion, forbade it being introduced into their city, lest it should corrupt the youth, and thus unfit them for the toils and hardships of a military life! While as a man he was despised, as a poet he was, by many, held in high estimation. Those productions of his which were not liable to censure from the last mentioned reason, were generally commended. He wrote one piece, a hymn in honor of Hercules, and entitled Kallinikos, (Kaos,) which he himself recited at the Olympic games, and for which he obtained the highest prize. This piece, after his death, was solemnly recited every year at these games, in honor of the victorious champion. Only a few fragments of this poet have escaped the destroying hand of Time. Almost all his works have perished in the general wreck of ancient literature. But whether the world has lost any thing really valuable in their destruction, is a question which we are not prepared to answer. The remaining work is but a fragment of a poem, written in celebration of the heroines of antiquity, and those who have become the mothers of gods and demigods. It derives its name, "The Shield of Hercules," from a lengthy description of the shield of that warrior which it contains. ARCHILOCHUS. We now come to a writer of very different character from the last. Archilochus was a native of Paros, an island in the Ægean sea. His father, Telesicles, was one of the most influential men of the island; but his mother, whose name was Enipo, was a slave. His father, while Archilochus was a youth, in obedience to a Delphic oracle, led a colony from Paros to Thasos, another island of the Ægean, about 250 miles north of the former. This expedition Archilochus accompanied. Here he probably remained several years. In a battle between the Thasians and Thracians, the former were defeated; and in a disgraceful flight, Archilochus, to save himself, threw away his shield. For this act, so|| despicable in the eyes of every true Greek, he was never forgiven. In a subsequent visit to Sparta, he was ordered by the magistrates to quit the city immediately, they not being able to endure the presence of any one so weak and cowardly. His whole life seems one continued scene of misfortune; or if at any time the cup of bliss was presented to his lips, the next hour dashed it from them, and left him in the bitterness of disappointment and mortification. The situation of things at Thasos becoming desper- If the weakness of the head were an admissible exate, it would seem that he left that island and returned cuse for the malevolence of the heart, the one half of to his native Paros. Of his subsequent history we mankind would be occupied in aggression, and the other know nothing certainly, except that he lost his life in a half in forgiveness; but the interests of society perempwar between the Parians and the inhabitants of the torily demand that things should not be so; for a fool neighboring island of Naxos. is often as dangerous to deal with as a knave, and alAs a writer, Archilochus was esteemed by the Greeks ways more incorrigible. 2 Original. DEITY AND NATURE.* BY W. F. LOWRIE. DEITY AND NATURE. Lead is soft, flexible, inelastic, ductile and mallable to a considerable extent. In tenacity it is inferior to all ductile metals, and fuses at about 612° Fah. Its peculiar qualities admirably adapt it for the uses of man in his domestic and economical operations. By means of tubes made of it, he avoids incurring the immense cost and labor which the ancients were at, in constructing their mighty aqueducts for the conveyance of water; and of it are formed combinations with other metals, which are highly useful in the arts. To it, as well as to iron, copper, silver, and other metals, the medical art is much indebted for the valuable aid it affords, while to the painter it yields an important pigment, under the name of white lead. Copper was well known in ancient times. It occurs native, and in combinations with a great variety of substances, of which the sulphuret is the most common form. It is distinguished from all other metals, except titanium, by its red color; it takes a considerable lustre by polishing; its density when fused is 8.895, and is increased by hammering. It is both ductile and mallable, and in tenacity is inferior only to iron. Its hardness and elasticity confer on it the property of sonorousness; hence in combination with tin, it is extensively used in the manufacture of bells. Copper occurs in Throughout Europe and America galena occurs in beds and veins, both in primitive and secondary rocks. At Freyburg, in Saxony, it occupies veins in gneiss; at Clausthal and Neudorf in the Hartz, and at Przimbram in Bohemia, it traverses similar veins in clay slate; at Sala in Sweden, it forms veins in primitive limestone; through the graywake of Lead-hills, and the killas, or slate-rocks of Cornwall, are disseminated veins of this ore; and in transition or mountain lime-stone,beds and veins accompanying its various ores, and someare found the rich repositories of Derbyshire, Cumber- times associated with iron. It also is frequently found land, and the northern districts of England, as also in loose masses imbedded in the soil. It abounds in those of Bleiberg and the neighboring localities in Car- Norway, Sweden, Hungary, England, the Uralian inthia. The most extensive deposits of this ore in the mountains, Siberia, Chinese Tartary, and Japan. SevUnited States, and probably in the whole world, are eral islands between Kamtschatka and America produce found on the banks of the Mississippi river, from the masses of the native metal; it seems, indeed, common Arkansas to Prairie du Chien. The ore occurs in lime- to all countries in a zone of 45° of latitude around the stone, and is also disseminated in clay. The following north pole. But it is found also on the other side, over is a description of the mines as they appear at Potosi: all the south of Africa, from Congo to the Cape of "The shafts descend perpendicularly through a tena- Good Hope, in Madagascar, the southern extremity of cious clay, intermixed with masses of sulphate of bary- America, and Brazil. This metal has been found nates, and sulphuret of lead; a soft gray rock of calca- tive throughout the red sand-stone region of the United reous particles (termed by the miners a sand-stone) States, particularly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and succeeds, which with a very uneven surface lies hori- more abundantly in New Jersey, where it has been zontally, and has numerous drusy cavities, lined with found in different places in fine crystaline masses. A minute crystals of quartz, and is traversed by veins in magnificent mass was found near Lake Superior; and which these crystals occur, intermixed with barytes and Mr. Schoolcraft describes one on the Ontanawgan river, galena. It is succeeded by red clay, barytes, &c., simi- which in 1821 weighed about 2200 lbs. A survey of lar to the former; and near its surface, and sometimes the shores of this lake has recently been made, and the in it, and sometimes in the red clay, the largest quanti-discoveries of mines of copper ores are exceedingly ties of lead have been found." gratifying. They have been traced for more than one hundred miles, and found on analysis to be of the richest kind. Copper is extensively used in the arts. In its pure state it forms a variety of instruments and utensils, and amongst other uses, a sheathing for ships. Alloyed with tin it forms brass, and furnishes to the watchmaker, the mechanical philosopher and geometrician, many instruments of exquisitely delicate workmanship, and at the same time, of great durability. Tin was known to the ancients, and was by them LEAD, which was known to the ancients, rarely occurs in its native state; and when it does, its crystals are regular octahedrons, but its more ordinary forms are delicate membranes, and small globular masses. This species has been found in small quantities on the Auglaise river, in Michigan, forming thin filaments in the joints of galena. The sulphuret of lead, or as it is commonly called, galena, supplies all the lead of commerce. Its primary crystalized form is the cube; it also puts on a variety of reticulated, tabular, and other imitative shapes, and is massive and granular in its structure. Streak and color pure gray, fracture flat subconchoidal. When pure, it contains sulphur 13.34, lead 86.66. When before the blow-pipe it decripitates, unless heated cautiously, when it fuses, gives off sulphur, and leaves a globule of lead. The lead is so very abundant that large shafts are seldom excavated; but if mining becomes difficult, new locations are selected where less labor is required. The mines of this extensive region furnished from the year 1821 to 1833 inclusive, 63,845,740 lbs.; since which period it has very much increased. Galena is also found in Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, most of the New England states, Virginia, 123 Continued from vol. ii, p. 82. and doubtless will be in the Alleghany and Cumberland mountains, which run through the southern and southwestern states. |