appear to have been so made. The taking up carriages, Acts xxi. 15, means taking up the luggage or baggage, not getting into coaches, or what we call carriages.

The chariots mentioned in the Bible were little, if at all, better than carts. The nobility, even of our own land, had no better wheel conveyance three hundred years ago. The chariot in which the eunuch rode, Acts viii. 28, was something like this.

We often read of the camel in Scripture, particularly in the book of Genesis. It is the most useful animal for travelling in the east through the sandy deserts, as it can go for a long time without water, and its feet are particularly adapted for those countries. The women usually travel in a sort of basket or cradle; Rebekah and her damsels no doubt did so, Gen. xxiv. 61, 65. The camel in the east is expressively called "the ship of the desert."

Asses were used by persons of rank, Judg. v. 10; x.4; xii. 14; also for travelling, Josh. ix. 4; 1 Kings xiii. 23; 2 Kings iv. 24; 2 Sam. xvi. 2; 1 Sam. xxv. 20. And my readers will recollect that our blessed Lord himself rode upon an ass, in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The

patriarchs had no horses. Egypt was famous for them, but there were none or few in Judea. The Jewish ruler was forbidden to procure them, Deut. xvii. 16. This prohibition was to prevent them from trusting in their own strength as a nation, and to hinder them from having commerce with Egypt, whence Solomon procured his horses, 1 Kings x. 28; 2 Chron. ix. 28. The Arabs now are famous for their horses, which are remarkably swift.

The ancient Greeks were very attentive to strangers, as we find from Homer, and several other old writers; and any instance of unkindness or injury done to a stranger was considered a very great crime. We find several cases of this sort mentioned in the Bible; and the attention. paid to strangers among the Arabs is strongly proved by many instances.

Captains Irby and Mangles relate, that, on two occasions, they arrived at Arab camps very late. They halted before a tent, but found the owner and his family, having arranged their carpets, &c. had retired to rest for the night. It was surprising, they say, to see the good humour with which all rose again, and kindled a fire, the wife kneading the dough and preparing supper, while the Arabs who accompanied as guides made no apology, though the nights were bitter cold, but took all as a matter of course.

Christians, in the first ages, seldom travelled without letters from some persons well known to the brethren, and they were sure of a kind reception wherever they went. Calmet thinks that the second and third epistle of St. John were letters of this sort.

When a person had once been received as a guest, he was always expected to call again whenever he came that way, and those who received him would also call on him, if they visited his country. Their children continued to do the same, and they used to provide themselves with some token, as a proof of this friendship. It was usually a piece of lead or stone, which was divided in half, one piece was kept by each family, and produced when any of them visited the other. Sometimes a name was written upon it. This custom seems to be alluded to in that

beautiful passage, Rev. ii. 17, where it is said, "To him that overcometh will I give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." The words which are translated "a white stone," may be considered as describing one of these tokens; and the meaning of the passage then appears to be, that the faithful should have a mark or token given them, by which they should hereafter be acknowledged by Christ as his friends, and received into his favour. The "new name, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it," refers to that new spirit which is put into the heart of those who are united to the Saviour, by a new and living faith, and which the world knoweth not.

The possessors of these tokens kept them with much care, as likely to be of great service in any future time of need. Surely the inestimable gift, which our Lord offered himself up as a sacrifice to obtain for us, even our salvation, is of infinitely greater value, since it is not only a token whereby his followers are known at the present day, but they shall be known by it at the great day of his appearing.

My dear readers, whether young or old, seek to have His name written upon your hearts, that you may love him, and ever seek to do his will; and at last hear the joyful sound of "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, Matt. xxv. 34.

THE Jews were mostly employed in agriculture or cultivating the ground, and in tending cattle. Even before the flood, as early as the days of Cain and Abel, we read that the first was a tiller of the ground, and the latter a keeper of sheep, Gen. iv. 2. Their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, lived in this manner, chiefly attending to their flocks and herds, as many of the tribes among the Arabs do at the present day, and only sowing the ground occasionally. The laws given to Moses encouraged agriculture; but we do not find any thing about trade and commerce with foreign nations, for many hundred years after the children of Israel were settled in the promised land. Their riches consisted chiefly in cattle and slaves, or servants, who were employed in tending the flocks and herds, and in cultivating the ground, to raise a sufficient supply of the fruits of the earth, Gen. xxvi. 12. Abraham and Lot had such large herds of cattle, that they were obliged to separate, to find pasture for them, Gen. xiii. 6. In Gen. xiv. 14, we read, that Abraham armed three hundred and eighteen of his