A RIDE THROUGH LOMBARDY.

in the highest style of art, and set in the niches, on the angles and pinnacles as ornaments to the exterior, is about 7,000, with 3,000 yet to be added; that the smaller perpendicular projections from the roof, representing so many varieties of botanical shrubs and flowers, and made, when viewed at a given angle, to appear like a vast flower garden,-is not less than 15,000, &c., &c. But all this will amount to very little in describing the Cathedral as a whole, whether viewing it from a distance or near at hand; seeking to take in the great pile as a whole, or fixing attention upon any single portion in its details; walking over its pavement and looking upward to the lofty frescoed ceiling that seems like the brooding of heaven at twilight, or standing among its pinnacles and turrets and balustrades and arches and statues on the roof, and looking down upon the architectural glories that arrest your vision all the way to the street; inspecting a single statue till the soul is brimful of wonder at the skill of the sculptor, or regarding the great structure itself as the embodiment of the architect's magnificent conception, and the crystalization of the religious experiences of the race into visible and permanent form :-it is still a wonder and a glory defying your analysis, silencing your tongue, beggaring your description, spreading itself on every side beyond your ideals, mocking your efforts at comprehension. There is nothing to do but to stand and look and admire and wonder, to go away surfeited, to come and look again and then go away as before, feeling that the spirit is too narrow for such a conception to inhabit it, too weak to bear away such a burden of splendour. And so you go away at last, with only the outlines of a great temple drawn on the tablet of memory, within which beauty and sublimity, in many and varied forms come and go, like clouds of gold and crimson in the summer sky; and instead of a house built by human hands which your mathematics have measured, you are haunted by visions of a temple let down from above before you, as the New Jerusalem showed itself to John in the panorama of the Apocalypse.

There are larger structures; there are costlier and many more noted ones which I may yet see, but I have no expectation that architecture will speak to me again through lifeless marble with a voice more impressive, nor put so much meaning a second time into silent words. Leaving out of account the economical and strictly moral consideration, and considering such a pile from a purely aesthetic or artistic stand-point, it is something to be ad

A RIDE THROUGH LOMBARDY.

mired with an almost unbounded and perfect joy. And as such it is pleasant to contemplate it. Stopping to ask whether the Christianity in whose name it is reared would sanction such an outlay for a mere temple, when the contrite heart is the true dwelling-place of God on earth; whether the disciples can be justified in rearing for their occupancy such an abiding place while claiming to imitate Him who had not where to lay His head; whether so much gold may be properly locked up in marble walls, and senseless statues, while our poorer brethren pine from hunger, and our Father's children famish for the bread of life; and especially asking, whether a false faith and a cheating round of ceremonies ought in any case to be rendered more imposing and attractive and powerful by throwing around them such a robe of beauty and magnificence;—then, indeed, there is an alloy flung into the pleasure of contemplation, and the picture is likely to be marred by the doubt awakened over its office. Alas that the glory of art should be so often the shame of religion!

Indeed, these queryings are likely to be forced on a visitor's attention even while the work of inspection goes on. While the structure is stirring your admiration, the priestly occupants are very likely to provoke your pity and then your contempt. In this temple, as in the old one at Jerusalem, sit the money changers, greedy, grasping, Pharisaic, selling, not doves, but superstition, palming off, not bad and depreciated coin in an underhand way, but trading away transparent lies unblushingly for your shillings and pence. A priest with his shaven crown, and his canonicals all flaunting as if to assure you of his thorough orthodoxy, solicits your attention to the treasures and relics of the great cathedral shrewdly intimating that you may look upon no ordinary wonders. Perhaps you are cautious and don't bite at the bait; it is more probable that you are curious and do bite. In the latter case, you are taken into the sacristy and crypt, where, among other things, you are shown what you are solemnly assured are the towel with which Christ washed his disciples' feet, and part of the purple robe which he wore, some thorns from his crown, the sponge on which the vinegar was pressed to His lips, the rod of Moses which became a serpent, teeth from the mouths of Daniel and Elisha, &c., &c. And just when your merriment or your indignation at these puerile and pious frauds is reaching the explosive point, and you are turning abruptly away to restrain the impulse that prompts a roar of derisive laughter or a movement

POETRY.

of your foot that would not suggest the theory of non-resistance, your guide makes his demand for a fee with a tone and an air which combine the shameless sycophancy of the beggar with the avaricious desperation of the bandit. You will settle the account as you can; but now even settled, you are likely to go away feeling that the religion is in the stones and the rascality in the priesthood; that, though the temple may be beautiful and holy, the sacrifices are an abomination.

Poetry.

ARE THE CHILDREN AT HOME?

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

Anecdotes and Selections.

THE TRAVELLER AND HIS BURDEN.-A traveller carried a heavy burden under which he often sighed. Suddenly he observed a cart at a distance. "Oh!" he said to himself, "what a boon it would be if I could but throw my bundle upon it. I will hasten onward and ask the driver; perhaps he will let me do so." When, however, he had walked on about a couple of hundred yards, he found himself on the brink of a river, and saw the cart standing on the opposite side. His disappointment was so keen that he burst into tears. "Alas!" he cried, "there is a deep stream between me and the object of my hope, and there is no way across." But suddenly there came an angel, who stretched his hand over the river and divided the waters, so that there was a path over to the other side. With joy the traveller now walked to the opposite bank, where he was kindly permitted to cast his burden upon the vehicle, which carried it so far as it went, causing the traveller to go on his way rejoicing. Jesus said "I am the way; no man cometh unto the Father but my me.' Without Him there is a deep impassable river between us and God. But by His blood He has consecrated for us a new and living way into the holiest. We have free access now. We may come with all our cares and lay them down at the feet of our God and Father.-Sunday Magazine.

A JEWISH PARABLE.-A poor man was travelling on a hot day, carrying a heavy load upon his back. A rich man passing by in his chariot took pity on him, and invited him to take a seat in his chariot behind. Shortly after, on turning around, the rich man saw the pilgrim still oppressed with the load upon his back, and asked him why he did not lay it on his chariot. The poor man said that it was enough that he had been allowed to be himself in the chariot, and he could not presume to ask for more. "O, foolish man!" was the reply, "if I am willing and able to carry you, am I not able to carry your burden?" Oppressed and anxious Christian, do you not see in this man your own unbelief and folly? He who has accepted your person, and is your reconciled Father in Christ Jesus, expects you to cast upon Him all your burdens and cares too, and He is able to sustain it. Has He not also said for your encouragement and comfort, "He careth for you?" Precious words! may we all experience all the joyful relief they are intended to convey.

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S AID IN PRAYER.-As the sails of a ship carry it into the harbour, so prayer carries us to the throne and bosom of God. But as the sails cannot of themselves speed the progress of a vessel unless filled with a favourable breeze, so the Holy Spirit must breathe upon our hearts, or our prayers will be motionless and lifeless. -Toplady.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

MIRACLES." Miracles," says Fuller, "are the swaddling-clothes of the infant churches;" and, we may add, not the garments of the fullgrown. They were as the proclamation that the king was mounting his throne; who, however, is not proclaimed every day-only at his accession. When he sits acknowledged on his throne the proclamation ceases. They were as the bright clouds which gather round and announce the sun at his first appearing; his mid-day splendour, though as full and fuller indeed of light and heat, knows not those bright heralds and harbingers of his rising. Or they may be likened to the frame-work on which the arch is rounded, which framework is taken down as soon as that is completed.—Archbishop Trench.

NATURE.-To look upon nature, to get into the forest or out upon the moor, is no doubt a delightful escape from the teasing ways of men. But there is, perhaps, an aching of the heart, as well as a soothing, in much contemplation of still life. To me there is most consolation in the immensity of creation, in the vigour and pertinacity of life; the most wounded heart, considering these things, can throw its griefs into the vast mass of life and see that there are other things beside it, that there is a scheme of creation large enough to answer all the demands of vexed imagination. Human science ministers much comfort to the mind.-Helps.

PREACH PLAINLY.-Cowardice in a minister is baser than in a soldier, by how much our warfare is more honourable. A faithful reproof will get more love and honour at the last than a sinful and fawning dissimulation. Though Paul reproved the dissimulation of Peter, yet Peter praised the wisdom of Paul. A man can have no worse enemy in the world than a flattering and fawning minister, that dares not deal plainly with his conscience. We are in much more danger to wrong the souls of men by our oil than by our salt-by our praises than by our reproofs.-Bishop Reynolds.

HOPE ON!-Do not be discouraged by difficulties, nor vex yourselves with what may be the final results of your efforts. Just go on quietly and diligently. seizing hold of every occasion for improvement, and acquire habits of industry, which will form your characters, and stick to you through life. The likelihood is, that by this simple but persevering course-a course unmarked by any great effort-you will pass the idle, the dissipated, and the timorous, realizing those rewards which usually wait on well directed enterprise-Chambers' Miscellany. FULNESS OF GOD'S WORD.-God's word is like God's world, very varied, very rich, very beautiful. You never know when you have exhausted all its secrets. The Bible, like nature, has something for every class of mind. As in the phenomena around us there are resources and invitations both for science and for poetry, so does God's revelation furnish materials both for exact theological definition, and for the free play of devout thought and feeling. Look at the Bible in a new light, and you straightway see some new charms.