the Jews. At the same time, Nehemiah instructed the people to rebuild their own houses, and settle in them with their families. In this he himself set them the example; and so successful were his efforts, that an ancient historian,* not long afterwards, compares Jerusalem with the great and wealthy Sardis-the metropolis of Asia-Minor; and Josephus quotes another author, who speaks of it as containing an hundred and twenty thousand men, which must, according to the ordinary proportion, have included a population of nearly half a million. The Third promise, introduced with the words,-"Cry yet again,”—that is, with increased earnestness, and with louder voice, announces blessings of still wider extent. My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad,"-intimating that the land would be speedily re-occupied, and flourishing cities would rise in all parts of it,-that God would acknowledge them as his, and bless them with his presence. This, too, was fulfilled, especially in the days of the Asmonean princes, by whom, under God, the land of Judea was raised to a state of prosperity, which had its counterpart only in the palmy days of David and Solomon.

66

The Fourth and last promise, that "God would comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem," was likewise signally fulfilled, in both a temporal, and spiritual point of view. In the prosperity and happiness which he bestowed upon his restored people, God caused them to forget the sufferings and sorrows of the past. But the promise involves in it the enjoyment of spiritual blessings. His covenant with his people seemed to be broken, when he carried them away captive to Babylon. But his covenant He will not break. He may forsake them, but it will not be for ever. He will return to them again, and make them glad with the light of his countenance. He will pardon their iniquities, heal their backslidings, love them freely. He will comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem; and manifest towards them his distinguishing favour. "As He first," observes Matthew Henry, "built them up into a people when He brought them out of Egypt; so He will rebuild them when He brings them out of Babylon; not for any worthiness of theirs, but in pursuance of his own choice." (Daniel vii. 6, 8.) "Jerusalem is the city He has chosen, and He will not cast it off."

From this interesting vision we learn, what a powerful advocate we have with God the Father. "If any man sin," says the beloved disciple, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Here we learn, that this advocate is "the Angel of the Lord," "Jehovah of hosts." It is impossible that His intercession can fail. "Him the Father heareth always." How earnestly he pleads against the enemies of his church! With what vehemence he expostulates with God, in reference to the state of his church and people! "How long, O Lord of hosts, wilt thou not have mercy upon Jerusalem ?" What he did in the days of Zechariah, he does still, and with the same success. God may be angry with his people. He may-He will-chastise them for their disobedience; but his anger will not endure for ever. He will return to them in mercy; and how "good and comfortable" are the words he addresses to them,-" He is jealous for them with a great jealousy." He will not utterly forsake them. They are the objects of his special care. He will destroy their enemies; but he will protect and comfort them. God, moreover, will multiply his people. They shall break forth on the right hand and on the left. They shall say, "The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell." The saints shall inherit the earth. The knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the ends, not of Palestine and its cities only, but of the earth, shall see it together. Then Zion's mourners shall be comforted. "The heavens from above shall drop down righteousness, and the skies shall pour down righteousness. The earth shall open, and bring forth salvation, and righteousness shall spring up together. The Lord shall create it." "The Lord answered the Angel that talked with me, with good words, and comfortable words."

* Herodotus. Thaleia, Chap. v.

† Hecateus Abderites, mentioned by Josephus in his book against Apion. Book I. Chap.

THE SUCCESSFUL MERCHANT.*

UNDER this title, a singularly instructive and pleasing volume has just been issued, from the able pen of the Rev. William Arthur, whose contributions to missionary literature are well known and highly esteemed. In several respects, the work is original both in its conception and in its execution. The biography of eminent commercial men has seldom been attempted; the comparatively even tenor of their lives presenting few salient points, or broad radiating lines of character or incidence, to tempt the philosophic writer, or attract the general reader. The little and great vulgar-that is, the mass of mankind-desire to find in a biography events, characters, and agencies, sufficiently remote from ordinary life, and adequate to promote the love of mental excitement, that has overtaken this frivolous generation, and which an unhealthy literature, in continuous profusion, threatens with an increasing intellectual effeminacy. In the preface, the object and character of the work are so well stated, that, to save time, we lay it before our readers :"The design of this volume is to furnish a work wherein an actual and a remarkable life is traced in relation to commerce. It was never meant to enlarge the knowledge of the scholar, to mature the graces of the holy, or to hallow the retirement of the contemplative; but to be a friendly, familiar book for the busy, to which men from the counting-house or the shop might turn, feeling that it concerned them, and for which they might possibly be the better here and hereafter. Beyond this, one hope did arise,-that it might perhaps meet the eye of some whose leisure, abilities, and spirit would fit them to direct a more powerful literature, or a sacred eloquence to the quickening of commercial life with the principles of christian charity and uprightness. May God grant that, by the instrumentality of this humble book, some youths may be led to habits which will be profitable to all things,' some men lifted above the trammels of commercial selfishness, and some preachers or authors moved to labour to bring religion and business into closer union !"-Preface, pp. vii. viii.

Samuel Budgett was a remarkable man. Possessed of great force of characte:' he must have risen to eminence in whatever sphere he had been placed. But entering life as a grocer's boy, his career from poverty to opulence exhibited the elements of a strong character, which, if developed on a higher platform, would have rendered his name a household and national word. He combined qualities too seldom found in active union-the capacity of unlimited accumulation, with a rich and highly christianised beneficence, flowing out in equally continuous but discriminating diffusion. An extract or two from the work will, however, give the reader a much better conception of this remarkable man, than any analysis of our own could realise for him. The following sketch exhibits the embryo capacities of the future millionaire :

"At Coleford, when about ten years of age, he began to display his mercantile predilections, and to lay the foundation of his habits and his fortune. His own account of his first essay in merchandise, and his first possession of money, is very straightforward.

"The first money I ever recollect possessing, was gained in the following way. I went to Mr Milks, of Kilmersdon, to school, a distance of three miles. One day, on my way, I picked up a horse-shoe, and carried it about three miles, and sold it to a blacksmith for a penny. That was the first penny I ever recollect possessing; and I kept it for some time. A few weeks after, the same man called my attention to a boy who was carrying off some dirt opposite his door; and offered, if I would beat the boy, who was a bigger boy than myself, to give me a penny. I did so; he made a mark upon it, and promised if I would bring it to him that day fortnight, he would give me another. I took it to him at the appointed time, when he fulfilled his promise, and I thus became possessed of threepence; since which, I have never been without, except when I gave it all away.'

"One would not have imagined, in seeing the little school-boy stop and look at the old horse-shoe, that the turning point of his life had come. But so it was. He converts that horse-shoe into his first penny, and never wants a penny more. Had he not picked it up;

had he never thought,' as people so naturally say; or, having thought of it, had he felt ashamed to offer such a thing for sale; or, had he set it down as too much trouble to carry an old horse-shoe for three miles, probably he would not have had a penny for many a day, and would have often been without' afterwards. Do you think, young man, that could use such an opportunity to any purpose? If so, you may rely upon finding a horseshoe in your path, some day. Those men whom we see often without a penny, have, all of them, passed by the horse-shoe on their path when they were boys. And those other men,

you

* The Successful Merchant; Sketches of the Life of Mr Samuel Budgett, late of Kingswood Hill. By William Arthur, A.M. Pp. 392. London: Hamilton, Adams and Co.

the Jews. At the same time, Nehemiah instructed the people to rebuild their own houses, and settle in them with their families. In this he himself set them the example; and so successful were his efforts, that an ancient historian,* not long afterwards, compares Jerusalem with the great and wealthy Sardis-the metropolis of Asia-Minor; and Josephus quotes another author, who speaks of it as containing an hundred and twenty thousand men, which must, according to the ordinary proportion, have included a population of nearly half a million. The Third promise, introduced with the words,-"Cry yet again,”—that is, with increased earnestness, and with louder voice, announces blessings of still wider extent. 66 My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad,"-intimating that the land would be speedily re-occupied, and flourishing cities would rise in all parts of it, that God would acknowledge them as his, and bless them with his presence. This, too, was fulfilled, especially in the days of the Asmonean princes, by whom, under God, the land of Judea was raised to a state of prosperity, which had its counterpart only in the palmy days of David and Solomon.

The Fourth and last promise, that "God would comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem," was likewise signally fulfilled, in both a temporal, and spiritual point of view. In the prosperity and happiness which he bestowed upon his restored people, God caused them to forget the sufferings and sorrows of the past. But the promise involves in it the enjoyment of spiritual blessings. His covenant with his people seemed to be broken, when he carried them away captive to Babylon. But his covenant He will not break. He may forsake them, but it will not be for ever. He will return to them again, and make them glad with the light of his countenance. He will pardon their iniquities, heal their backslidings, love them freely. He will comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem; and manifest towards them his distinguishing favour. "As He first," observes Matthew Henry, "built them up into a people when He brought them out of Egypt; so He will rebuild them when He brings them out of Babylon; not for any worthiness of theirs, but in pursuance of his own choice." (Daniel vii. 6, 8.) "Jerusalem is the city He has chosen, and He will not cast it off."

What he did

From this interesting vision we learn, what a powerful advocate we have with God the Father. "If any man sin," says the beloved disciple, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Here we learn, that this advocate is "the Angel of the Lord," "Jehovah of hosts." It is impossible that His intercession can fail. "Him the Father heareth always." How earnestly he pleads against the enemies of his church! With what vehemence he expostulates with God, in reference to the state of his church and people! "How long, O Lord of hosts, wilt thou not have mercy upon Jerusalem ?" in the days of Zechariah, he does still, and with the same success. God may be angry with his people. He may-He will-chastise them for their disobedience; but his anger will not endure for ever. He will return to them in mercy; and how "good and comfortable" are the words he addresses to them," He is jealous for them with a great jealousy. He will not utterly forsake them. They are the objects of his special care. He will destroy their enemies; but he will protect and comfort them. God, moreover, will multiply his people. They shall break forth on the right hand and on the left. They shall say, "The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell." The saints shall inherit the earth. The knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the ends, not of Palestine and its cities only, but of the earth, shall see it together. Then Zion's mourners shall be comforted. "The heavens from above shall drop down righteousness, and the skies shall pour down righteousness. The earth shall open, and bring forth salvation, and righteousness shall spring up together. The Lord shall create it." "The Lord answered the Angel that talked with me, with good words, and comfortable words."

* Herodotus. Thaleia, Chap. v.

+ Hecateus Abderites, mentioned by Josephus in his book against Apion. Book I. Chap.

THE SUCCESSFUL MERCHANT.*

UNDER this title, a singularly instructive and pleasing volume has just been issued, from the able pen of the Rev. William Arthur, whose contributions to missionary literature are well known and highly esteemed. In several respects, the work is original both in its conception and in its execution. The biography of eminent commercial men has seldom been attempted; the comparatively even tenor of their lives presenting few salient points, or broad radiating lines of character or incidence, to tempt the philosophic writer, or attract the general reader. The little and great vulgar-that is, the mass of mankind-desire to find in a biography events, characters, and agencies, sufficiently remote from ordinary life, and adequate to promote the love of mental excitement, that has overtaken this frivolous generation, and which an unhealthy literature, in continuous profusion, threatens with an increasing intellectual effeminacy. In the preface, the object and character of the work are so well stated, that, to save time, we lay it before our readers :"The design of this volume is to furnish a work wherein an actual and a remarkable life is traced in relation to commerce. It was never meant to enlarge the knowledge of the scholar, to mature the graces of the holy, or to hallow the retirement of the contemplative; but to be a friendly, familiar book for the busy, to which men from the counting-house or the shop might turn, feeling that it concerned them, and for which they might possibly be the better here and hereafter. Beyond this, one hope did arise,-that it might perhaps meet the eye of some whose leisure, abilities, and spirit would fit them to direct a more powerful literature, or a sacred eloquence to the quickening of commercial life with the principles of christian charity and uprightness. May God grant that, by the instrumentality of this humble book, some youths may be led to habits which will be profitable to all things,' some men lifted above the trammels of commercial selfishness, and some preachers or authors moved to labour to bring religion and business into closer union !"—Preface, pp. vii. viii.

Samuel Budgett was a remarkable man. Possessed of great force of character, he must have risen to eminence in whatever sphere he had been placed. But entering life as a grocer's boy, his career from poverty to opulence exhibited the elements of a strong character, which, if developed on a higher platform, would have rendered his name a household and national word. He combined qualities too seldom found in active union-the capacity of unlimited accumulation, with a rich and highly christianised beneficence, flowing out in equally continuous but discriminating diffusion. An extract or two from the work will, however, give the reader a much better conception of this remarkable man, than any analysis of our own could realise for him. The following sketch exhibits the embryo capacities of the future millionaire :

"At Coleford, when about ten years of age, he began to display his mercantile predilections, and to lay the foundation of his habits and his fortune. His own account of his first essay in merchandise, and his first possession of money, is very straightforward.

"The first money I ever recollect possessing, was gained in the following way. I went to Mr Milks, of Kilmersdon, to school, a distance of three miles. One day, on my way, I picked up a horse-shoe, and carried it about three miles, and sold it to a blacksmith for a penny. That was the first penny I ever recollect possessing; and I kept it for some time. A few weeks after, the same man called my attention to a boy who was carrying off some dirt opposite his door; and offered, if I would beat the boy, who was a bigger boy than myself, to give me a penny. I did so; he made a mark upon it, and promised if I would bring it to him that day fortnight, he would give me another. I took it to him at the appointed time, when he fulfilled his promise, and I thus became possessed of threepence; since which, I have never been without, except when I gave it all away.'

"One would not have imagined, in seeing the little school-boy stop and look at the old horse-shoe, that the turning point of his life had come. But so it was. He converts that horse-shoe into his first penny, and never wants a penny more. Had he not picked it up; had he never thought,' as people so naturally say; or, having thought of it, had he felt ashamed to offer such a thing for sale; or, had he set it down as too much trouble to carry an old horse-shoe for three miles, probably he would not have had a penny for many a day, and would have often been without' afterwards. Do you think, young man, that you could use such an opportunity to any purpose? If so, you may rely upon finding a horseshoe in your path, some day. Those men whom we see often without a penny, have, all of them, passed by the horse-shoe on their path when they were boys. And those other men,

* The Successful Merchant; Sketches of the Life of Mr Samuel Budgett, late of Kingswood Hill. By William Arthur, A.M. Pp. 392. London: Hamilton, Adams and Co.

the Jews. At the same time, Nehemiah instructed the people to rebuild their own houses, and settle in them with their families. In this he himself set them the example; and so successful were his efforts, that an ancient historian,* not long afterwards, compares Jerusalem with the great and wealthy Sardis-the metropolis of Asia-Minor; and Josephus quotes another author, who speaks of it as containing an hundred and twenty thousand men, which must, according to the ordinary proportion, have included a population of nearly half a million. The Third promise, introduced with the words,-" Cry yet again,"—that is, with increased earnestness, and with louder voice, announces blessings of still wider extent. "My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad,"-intimating that the land would be speedily re-occupied, and flourishing cities would rise in all parts of it,—that God would acknowledge them as his, and bless them with his presence. This, too, was fulfilled, especially in the days of the Asmonean princes, by whom, under God, the land of Judea was raised to a state of prosperity, which had its counterpart only in the palmy days of David and Solomon.

The Fourth and last promise, that "God would comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem," was likewise signally fulfilled, in both a temporal, and spiritual point of view. In the prosperity and happiness which he bestowed upon his restored people, God caused them to forget the sufferings and sorrows of the past. But the promise involves in it the enjoyment of spiritual blessings. His covenant with his people seemed to be broken, when he carried them away captive to Babylon. But his covenant He will not break. He may forsake them, but it will not be for ever. He will return to them again, and make them glad with the light of his countenance. He will pardon their iniquities, heal their backslidings, love them freely. He will comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem; and manifest towards them his distinguishing favour. "As He first," observes Matthew Henry, "built them up into a people when He brought them out of Egypt; so He will rebuild them when He brings them out of Babylon; not for any worthiness of theirs, but in pursuance of his own choice." (Daniel vii. 6, 8.) "Jerusalem is the city He has chosen, and He will not cast it off."

What he did

From this interesting vision we learn, what a powerful advocate we have with God the Father. "If any man sin," says the beloved disciple, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Here we learn, that this advocate is "the Angel of the Lord," "Jehovah of hosts." It is impossible that His intercession can fail. "Him the Father heareth always." How earnestly he pleads against the enemies of his church! With what vehemence he expostulates with God, in reference to the state of his church and people! "How long, O Lord of hosts, wilt thou not have mercy upon Jerusalem ?' in the days of Zechariah, he does still, and with the same success. God may be angry with his people. He may-He will-chastise them for their disobedience; but his anger will not endure for ever. He will return to them in mercy; and how "good and comfortable" are the words he addresses to them," He is jealous for them with a great jealousy." He will not utterly forsake them. They are the objects of his special care. He will destroy their enemies; but he will protect and comfort them. God, moreover, will multiply his people. They shall break forth on the right hand and on the left. They shall say, "The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell." The saints shall inherit the earth. The knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the ends, not of Palestine and its cities only, but of the earth, shall see it together. Then Zion's mourners shall be comforted. "The heavens from above shall drop down righteousness, and the skies shall pour down righteousness. The earth shall open, and bring forth salvation, and righteousness shall spring up together. The Lord shall create it." "The Lord answered the Angel that talked with me, with good words, and comfortable words."

* Herodotus. Thaleia, Chap. v.

+ Hecateus Abderites, mentioned by Josephus in his book against Apion. Book I. Chap.