as bravely as the more recent work; and when the ponderous woodwork of the frame was at length consumed, the fire died away and left the stone pyramid victorious.

One phenomenon took place during the burning of this steeple, of which the effect must have far surpassed that of the finest firework ever invented. Unlike the other, this spire consists almost entirely of a simple cone, without any windows or apertures whatsoever, except a small one at the top. When the fire was raging in the interior of this cone, being blown up to great intensity, by a stream of air like that in a blast furnace, rushing in at the bottom, and passing out at the small aperture at the top, the concentrated flame finding no other vent, passed through this, and shot upwards to the sky in one unbroken fiery column, to the immense height of 75 feet. For many and many leagues around this portentous light must have been seen with astonishment by those who were too distant then to have ascertained the cause of it.

EASTER EVE.

I SAW two women weeping by the tomb
Of one new-buried, in a fair green place,
Bowered with shrubs:-the eve retained no trace
Of aught that day performed, but the faint gloom
Of dying day was spread upon the sky ;-

The moon was broad and bright above the wood;The distance sounded of a multitude,

Music, and shout, and mingled revelry.

At length came gleaming through the thicket shade
Helmet and casque-and a steel armed band
Watched round the sepulchre in solemn stand;
The night-word past, from man to man conveyed;
And I could see those women rise and go
Under the dark trees, moving sad and slow.
Alford.

THE CHURCH IN THE COLONIES.

No. 2.

Letter addressed to the Lord Bishop of Australia. SYDNEY, April 14, 1843.

MY LORD, It is now nearly four years ago since 1 was (as it were) necessitated to address you under the most anxious and perplexed state of mind; but at present it is with feelings of the most sincere and heartfelt thankfulness that I presume to write to you; and I am induced to do so from having heard your Lordship, at St. Lawrence Parochial Meeting, on Tuesday evening last, speak so forcibly and persuasively respecting our duty, as members of Christ's Church militant, to contribute of our substance for the promotion of the glory of God and the benefit of our fellow-creatures. You assured us that we would not find ourselves the losers at the end of the year for what we had, in humble faith, given to the service of the Lord. True, very true, indeed, my Lord; and as a proof of the same, I beg leave to acknowledge the certainty of the fulfilment of the word of God, "Give, and it shall be given unto you," even from my own late experience. Some time ago, when your Lordship preached a sermon at St. Lawrence, in behalf of the funds of the new Church, you observed, that were every individual weekly to contribute even but the one-fiftieth part of his gains towards its erection, it might shortly be completed; when I, in accordance with your proposal, and from the best of my own calculation, judged sixpence to be my one-fiftieth part; but indeed, my Lord, only a few weeks elapsed when I found that I could safely double that sum, which, as a sacred deposit, I have since been enabled willingly and gratefully to reserve; nor have I known the want of a shilling since-not so previously. But oh! my Lord, when, on last Sunday morning, I saw the melancholy and

deplorable state in which our temporary Church was, owing to the late weighty rains, I cannot describe the sorrow, and, if I may so speak, the indignation which I felt; and there and then, in humble faith, I determined that for my own part I should double my weekly pittance, hoping that others might, from the same motive, be induced to do the same; so that I felt very thankful when I found that your Lordship had been of the opinion, and spoke as you did at the meeting.

My Lord, though I am an entire stranger to you, I am sure you will be glad to hear that I keep a preparatory school; that I have on an average from twenty-five to thirty little daily pupils, at from one shilling to one shilling and sixpence per week; that I have lately paid upwards of seven pounds, and that I have already four pounds nine shillings in the Savings' Bank (the first that I have been able to save since I have been in the colony, though here now eight years); and I am also clear with my landlady, at a weekly rent of ten shillings for one room. But, to crown all that, I do, through the mercy of my heavenly Father, enjoy health, peace, and contentment, with an abiding sense of His daily support, and favourable kindness under my laborious, arduous, yet, to me, delightful task, for indeed I do desire that my employ may be as unto Him, and for Him alone. Oh! may He ever keep me humble and dependent, sincere and upright before Him while here, and at length, through the merits of Him whose precious death and expiatory sufferings we this day commemorate, be permitted to share the joys of His redeemed above. Forgive my intrusion, my Lord, and accept of my best wishes for you and yours, your obedient servant,

The Divine eye looks upon high and low differently from that of man.-Sir Thomas Browne.

ON PRAYER.

LORD, when we bend before Thy throne,

And our confessions pour,
Teach us to feel the sins we own,
And shun what we deplore.

Our contrite feelings pitying see,
And penitence impart;

And may a bright'ning ray from Thee
Beam peace upon the heart.

When we our wants disclose in prayer,
May we our wills resign;
And not a thought our bosoms share,
But what is wholly thine.

Let faith each meek petition fill,

And waft it to the skies;

And teach us that 'tis wisdom still,
That grants it, or denies.

Sent by D. W. (Lady Flora Hastings.)

Blessed are all they who trust in Him; not in themselves, but in Him. By grace are we saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, but it is the gift of God.

Perhaps you may say, What does he mean, that he says this so often? Again this; and a third time this: and he hardly ever speaks, but he says this. Would that I had no reason to say it. For there are men who are ungrateful to grace, attributing much to our poor and wounded nature. It is true that man, when he was created, received great powers of free will, but, by sinning, he lost them. Having fallen into death, he became weak: he was left in the way half dead by thieves. The Samaritan (which is being interpreted the Guardian) passing by set him upon his own beast: [but] besides this he is

carried to the inn. Why is he lifted up? He is still under care. But it is sufficient for me, he says, that I received in Baptism the remission of all sins. Was then thy infirmity ended, because thy iniquity was blotted out? I received, he says, remission of all my sins. This is quite true: all thy sins were blotted out in the Sacrament of Baptism, all without exception, words, deeds, thoughts-all were blotted out. But this is that wine and oil that was poured in on the road side. Yon recollect, beloved, how that man who was left by the thieves half dead by the way-side, was comforted by receiving oil and wine for his wounds. That is, indulgence was granted to his error: and yet it is only in the Inn that his languid weakness is cured. The INN is, if you understand it, the CHURCH. An INN, because we pass through it in our journey of life; that will be our HOME, from which we shall never remove, when we have arrived whole at the kingdom of heaven. In the mean time let us be willing to be cured in the Inn; lest, by our boasting, we effect nothing but to prevent our being healed by that treatment.-St. Augustine, Sermon 130.

OUR LORD'S SEVEN SPEECHES ON THE CROSS. Our Lord's words on the Cross are as follows:

1. "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM."- Observe here the duty of forgiving injuries: the blessing of remission of sins; and adore CHRIST exercising, even on the Cross, His great office of Mediation and Intercession.

2. "THIS DAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."-Here the penitent is pardoned; the Good Shepherd hath found what was lost, and bears it home rejoicing to his Father's fold :—and here the doctrine is taught that before the judgment day, and immediately after death, the souls of the faithful are in some happy Paradise with CHRIST.

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3. WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON."-See the duty