as we saw,

third parable," the field" in which the man sowed the mustard-seed was again "the world;" so here again, beyond all doubt "the field" in which the treasure is hid, must still be the world. In plain language, therefore, we might paraphrase the words of the parable, and say, "The Church of Christ may be compared to a treasure buried in this world."

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untrue, does this appear, when we proceed with the parable, and find that it represents the man, the awakened sinner) who has discovered the treasure, (Christ), in the field, (the Scripture); going and selling all that he has," in order to buy-What ?-Christ? That idea, though manifestly unscripturalfor how is the the lost and bankrupt sinner, who cannot purchase the very Very different, however, we need least of God's mercies, to buy" Him hardly say, is the interpretation all but who is compendium of all blessings?— universally received. By almost every might escape the charge of absurdity. expositor with whose writings we have No, but the Scriptures! In other words any acquaintance, from Augustine to the parable, is made to represent the Calvin, and from Luther to Barnes, spiritually enlightened man, as going, "the field" has been regarded as sig- and selling all that he has to buy a nifying the Scriptures, and the "trea- Bible! Can any thing be more unsatissure it contains, as typical of Christ factory? Such a circumstance may un"found" by the believer in those Scrip- doubtedly have occurred in the dark ages, tures. But such an interpretation, when books were rare and costly, and as though "received by tradition from we are told a vast sum had to be given our fathers," is utterly irreconcilable with the adoption of any clear fixed rules of interpretation, to be applied to the series as a whole. And therefore, though with a pertinacity perfectly astounding, critic has followed critic, and commentator has followed commentator, in the same beaten tract, we are compelled to regard it as one founded upon utterly mistaken principles of parabolic exegesis, or, perhaps we might say, upon the utter disregard of any such principles at all.

for a copy of one of the Gospels; but does it afford a fair general interpretation of a parable intended to apply, not merely to some particular period, but to the whole of the Christian dispensation?

Again; why, as on this view should the man who has found the treasure, be said to "hide" it? Is not the very contrary the actual fact? Did Andrew hide the treasure when he had found it? No; "He first findeth his own brother Simon, The objections, if they be asked for, and said unto him, We have found the are manifold and overwhelming when Messias, which is being interpreted, the they are once perceived; though it is Christ. And he brought him to Jesus" confessedly difficult, if not impossible, to (John i. 41, 42). Did Paul hide Christ shake any interpretation which has so when he had found Him? Oh, no; long passed unquestioned. In the first "Straightway he preached Christ in the place,-Is it not passing strange, that synagogue, that he is the Son of God while the Sower" in the first," the (Acts ix. 20). And is it not even so? Is Householder" in the second, and "the a candle lighted to be put under a bushel, Man" in the third parable, each con- and not in a candlestick, that it may give fessedly represent the Lord Jesus Christ, light to all that are in the house? (Matt. the same position, (that of the chief ac- v. 15). Was it not the Lord's comtor or agent) should here-without the mand to the possessed Gadarene, to least intimation of any change in the "Go home to his friends, and tell them imagery be given to the awakened sin- how great things the Lord had done for ner? Is it to be believed, that while in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, "the field" should be interpreted of "the world;" in this instance, the very same figure in the very same words, should mean, not " the world," but -the Scriptures! And still more strained, and unnatural, and we may add

him" (Mark v. 19). Yea, is it not the very instinct of the renewed heart, rejoicing in the newly-acquired knowledge of Christ's wondrous love, to

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tell to sinners round,
What a dear Saviour we have found;
To point to the redeeming blood,
And say, Behold the way to God?"

But, moreover, to mention no further objections, we at least are precluded from accepting this view of the parable, by the distinction we have drawn be tween those delivered to the multitude

creature was admitted, not only was the Church as a body and each individual as a member of the body, chosen in Christ as the subject of redeeming grace, but this very earth was also fixed upon to be the favoured scene of its future glorious manifestation. And therefore,

and those spoken to the disciples alone, and this treasure we know moreover is a distinction which, though as yet only 'hidden in the field," the world. Just asserted, the reader will, we trust, here- as a mine is hidden in the earth, so is after see has some fair grounds for its the Church hidden in the world. It was adoption. hidden in the everlasting covenant of grace. Setting aside, therefore, this tradi-In that wondrous council, into which no tional interpretation as utterly untenable, we regard the treasure" of the parable, as intended to represent the chosen and redeemed, but as yet uncalled and unmanifested Church of Christ. For regarding the nature of the treasure here mentioned, it was not, we must understand, anything like a pot of money, or the counsel being secret to us," and a case of Jewels, (as most expositors no creature in heaven or in earth being have seemed to imagine) for had it been able to open the seals of the Book of so the finder might easily have removed Life, or to look therein, the treasure it without buying the field; but rather may well be said to be hidden in the it was a mine of some precious metal, field. It was hidden in the mass of Adam's which could only be got at by severe and race for though in Adam's seed Christ long continued labour, and for the ob- also had a seed given to him from all etertaining of which, therefore, the posses-nity by the Father; yet no creature session of the field in which it lay was absolutely necessary. It was such a treature, in fact, as Job alludes to in his sublime address, when he says, "Surely there is a mine for the silver, and a place for the gold where they find it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: his eye seeth every precious thing (Job xxviii. 1, 3, 10). Even a treasure of the "chief things of the ancient mountains, and precious things of the everlasting hills: the precious things of the earth, and the fulness thereof" (Deut. xxxiii. 15, 16). And to such a treasure are the people of God once and again compared in the Scriptures. Thus, speaking of Israel after the flesh, but through them to his own spiritual Israel, we find Jehovah saying, "Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, for (or though), all the earth is mine" (Exod. xix. 5). Hence, too, the Psalmist exclaims, “Jehovah hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure" (Psal. cxxxv. 4). Yea, "For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance! (Deut. xxxii. 9); and eyen of the little band who in an evil and dark day, are found to fear Him, and think upon his name, does the Lord of hosts Vouchsafe to say, 66 They shall be mine, in the day when I make up my special treasure" (Mal. iii. 17).

Thus we perceive that his chosen people are in very deed God's "treasure:"

knew thereof, or could by any means
distinguish the one seed from the other.
Hence does the Lord Jesus in his sub-
limely awful prayer to his Father, ere
he departed out of this world, speak of
this world as indeed the field or quarry
out of which his Church, consisting of the
elect of God alone, was to be dug or
hewn :--"I have manifested thy name,'
He says, "unto the men which thou gavest
me OUT OF THE WORLD: thine they
were, and thou gavest them me; and they
have kept thy word. Now they have
known that all things whatsoever thou
hast given me are of thee. For I have
given unto them the words which thou
gavest me; and they have received them,
and have known surely that I came out
from thee, and they have believed that
thou didst send me. I pray for them: I
pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me; (out of the world)
for they are thine. And all mine
are thine, and thine are mine; and I
am glorified in them. And now I am
no more in the world, but these are in
the world, and I come to thee. Holy
Father, keep through thine own name
those whom thou hast given me, that they
may be one, as we are.
While I was
with them in the world, I kept them in
thy name: those that thou gavest me I
have kept, and none of them is lost;
but the son of perdition (is lost), that
the Scripture might be fulfilled. And
now come I to thee; and these things

speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest Church is engraven on his heart, and set upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."-Isaiah xi. 2. THIS can only be spoken of Him in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

though, alas, they sleep for sorrow of heart: but the heart waketh at the sound of thy voice.

The perplexing mediums of separation are continually forming a barrier to the approach of the Church, for the Lord has promised to bestow liberally, and what can He give more than Himself? We have not, because we ask not. We are brought nigh to receive the promised blessings, and to make use of them. We want faith to penetrate every dark

cloud; faith in the blood of the Lamb, to receive the promised blessings; faith to enter into the grace in which we stand; faith to live as children of light; that, from the grace poured into our lips, we may manifest that light; the faith that works by love, overcomes the world, and triumphs over death.

The faith that acquiesces in all God's holy will, taking up every cross in a spirit of meek submission; knowing that all must be right which God appoints.

TIDINGS FROM INDIA.

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maining beyond two years in one place. You find their villages scattered through all parts of Burmah. They are mixed with the people, and yet entirely distinct from them: they are, in fact, hewers of wood and drawers of water" to the Burmans. They are entirely free from all religion:-no God, no temple, no priest, no liturgy, no holydays, no prayers-and yet the most remarkable scriptural traditions exist among this singular people. They have traditions of the creation, of the temptation, of the fall, the dispersion of the nations, and almost the same as the Bible. The following is a specimen :

Tounghoo, Sept. 24, 1855. MY DEAR JOHN,-Letters from India, though generally welcome to kind friends at home, are for the most part dull affairs, being almost necessarily about things in which the readers can "Anciently God commanded, but feel no interest. In the present instance, Satan appeared bringing destruction. this need not be the case, since I propose Formerly God commanded, but Satan that the theme of my letter shall be appeared deceiving unto death. The Missionary operations in Burmah." woman Ev, and the man Thanai pleased These missions owe their origin solely not the mind of the dragon. The dragon to American agency. They were com- looked on them; the dragon beguiled menced about 30 years ago by the Rev. the woman and Thanai. How is this Dr. Judson, who died a short time since, said to have happened? The great full of apostolic honour. Owing to the dragon succeeded in deceiving; dedifficulties of the language then altoge-ceiving unto death. How do they say ther unknown to the civilized world, and it was done? A yellow fruit took the the prejudices of the people, and the great dragon, and gave to the children persecution by the rulers, the mission of God. A white fruit took the great for a long time met with but indifferent dragon, and gave to the daughter and success. In the year 1830, however, a son of God. They transgressed the comnew and fruitful field suddenly presented mands of God, and God turned his face itself. Some wandering Karens heard of from them. They kept not the words the religion which brought salvation to of God; were deceived-deceived unto the lowly, and came to enquire. The sickness. They kept not the law of God; proud presumptuous Burmans would were deceived-deceived unto death. have nothing to say to "Jesus Christ's men;" but the poor humble Karens, who regard themselves as the lowest among all nations, received them with alacrity. The Karens are a nation of wanderers without settled habitation, seldom re

They have also predictions that white men would come across the sea to teach them the words of wisdom. Is it not wonderful, such traditions existing in a nation of wild barbarians, without even the advantage of a written language to

of many of your Sunday-school boys at home, with all their advantages. You would see old men listening to the instruction to their yuothful teachers with the most profound attention. The zeal, knowledge, and discretion of the native missionaries is most praiseworthy. Many of them possess a sound knowledge of the Bible, far superior to what I have often met in our Dio. School at home. Qualah, whom I mentioned before, shortly

transmit the thoughts of one generation to another? I need hardly say that they received the Gospel gladly, and many of them have now lived and died in the faith, examples of Christian virtue. Amidst persecutions which only barbarians could inflict, they so weak on every other point stood manfully by their faith. Their present state is most encouraging. With very few exceptions indeed, the conduct of the Christian Karen amongst temptations and degrad-after his conversion was offered by the ing associations of every kind is such, as commissioner, a very high situation as to warrant us in believing that the sav- the headman of a district; he refused it, ing doctrines of the Gospel have taken saying, "That as his own soul was saved, a real hold on their hearts; they are in he felt called upon to endeavour to save deed an example to us all. I may say the souls of his brethren." He has now the whole race of Karens are now Chris- for years faithfully discharged the duties tians; they want only to be instructed. of a minister of the Gospel. He paid me No persuasion is necessary to induce a visit a short time ago. This mission these simple-hearted people to embrace promises fairly to be soon self-supportthe Gospel. Qualah, a native missionary, ing. Though in the greatest poverty, lately returned from a tour through the they already bear the expence of a large villages in this neighbourhood. Though number of native ordained missionaries; the Gospel has never been regularly and have chapels built in most of their preached, he found in every village a villages. At Kermendine, near Rangoon, place of worship erected, and prepara- they have erected a most creditable tions made for the reception of a teacher. ecclesiastical-looking brick-building, caEvery place he went, he was actually be-pable of accommodating some 300 or sieged with people asking to be baptized 400, with very good schools under it. and instructed. It is a rule not to bap- One of my servants is a Christian Karen tize any who are not really well in- boy, and I place the greatest confidence structed, and whose conduct does not in him. afford a fair presumption of their Chris- I hope these few unconnected remarks tian principles: but, nevertheless, he will show you that even here, at the very baptized 94, 106, 104, &c., at different outskirts of the world, Christianity is places. Nothing can exceed the enthu- being fast planted, where before it was siasm of the people, when a teacher unknown. I will (D.V) some other time makes his appearance among them: their endeavour to give you some account of constant demand is for teachers. They the Burman superstition, a close likeness say to the missionaries, You have of which you have at home. The likeness spoken to us of a free salvation; of a has been a great safeguard to the misbook that will teach us the way of life. sionaries here. To the arguments of the We have built chapels and houses for Roman Catholic Priests, the Karen anyou; all is ready, and we are ready to swers, "It will be better for us to join hear you, and you will not come to us; the Burmans;" while the Burmans themwe are perishing ; we will go to hell, selves reply, "Why should we change? and be lost; and you will not come and both are the same, and surely our images teach us." This is a common remon- are as good as yours." They are indeed strance, but it is impossible to supply all wonderfully alike they have candletheir wants. Mr. Whittaker, the Mis-burning, bell-ringing, relics, &c., just the sionary here, formed a school during the same. I forgot to say the Burman misrains, composed of two intelligent boys sion is carried on by the American Bapfrom each of the villages round about. These he taught to read, and instructed carefully; and he has now sent them back as pioneers to their several villages. It is astonishing the amount of knowledge possessed by many of these boys. They would bring the blush to the face

tists; while the people are taught the great truths of the Gospel. This is a matter of very slight importance. I know several of the missionaries, and they are indeed most excellent men. Yours, &c.,

L. S. D.