anything was better than remaining still in that thick, dark spot. After groping about for some time longer, the children suddenly found themselves in an open space, and guessed rightly that it was a place where part of the copse-wood had been cut down, and a large black mass which they could just distinguish, standing before them, they found to be a great pile of faggots. Behind this pile they crouched down, and though they had no more idea than before, whereabouts they were, yet they found it quite a relief to have such a shelter from the wind and driving rain. Very wretched they felt still, though, drenched with rain, cold and shivering, tired with wandering about so long, and terribly frightened at the thoughts of having to stay all night in that dismal wood.— (To be continued.) L. R. P.

A MINIATURE.-No. I.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DEATH.

"I have lived to see that this world is made up of perturbations ; and I have been long preparing to leave it, and gathering comfort, for the dreadful hour, of making my account with God, which I now apprehend to be near; and though I have, by His grace, loved Him in my youth, and feared Him in mine age, and laboured to have a conscience void of offence to Him and to all men ; yet if Thou, O Lord, be extreme to mark what I have done amiss, who can abide it? And therefore, where I have failed, Lord, shew mercy to me; for I plead not my righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighteousness for His merits Who died to purchase pardon for penitent sinners. And since Owe Thee a death, Lord, let it not be terrible; and then take Thine own time; I submit to it; let not mine, O Lord, but let Thy Will be done."-Hooker's last words,

ST. CYRIL, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM.

We know but very little of the birth and boyhood of St. Cyril. He is said to have been born of Christian parents A.D. 315, and to have been brought up in Palestine, probably in Jerusalem. Educated for the Church, he was ordained & Deacon by Macarius, and in due time was admitted into the Priesthood. He held also the office of catechist, and his catechetical lectures have come down to us. They contain much practical advice, and are an evidence of the high favour catechising, (as a means of instruction,) was in, when the Church was in its infant state.

We should consequently recollect that in using and recommending as the English Church does, a Catechism for the edification of her members, she is in this, as in other ways, following the model set by the Primitive Church. This should endear us still more closely to her, and although she, may be surrounded with many difficulties, which, happily the mind of a child can hardly comprehend, yet, we conceive we only do our duty in placing before the reason of our youngest reader, such points as they come out, like new stars on a clear night, as may induce him to feel the privilege in belonging to a Church which has sprung from Christ, the Rock of Ages, and by His protection, will continue to the end.

St. Cyril, however, was in a short time, on the death of Maximus, Bishop of Jerusalem, appointed to succeed him. This step, it is said, he owed to the influence of Acacius of Cæsarea. In this, Acacius instead of being a friend to him proved a source of anxiety and trouble. For, unfortunately,

it appears that he was noted as a leader of Arianism, a fearful heresy which would deny to our Saviour His oneness with the Father. Arius denied what St. John declares to be true, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It cannot be wondered at that St. Cyril himself should be suspected of Arianism; but he had no sooner repudiated the charge than Acacius himself became his bitter opponent. Seeking a quarrel with him about the extent of the ecclesiastical rights appertaining to the see of Jerusalem, he actually succeeded in causing him to be deposed from his bishopric. This event left the Church at the holy city in a distracted state for a considerable period. St. Cyril retired to Tarsus, and, in spite of the false representations of Acacius, was kindly treated by Sylvanus, the bishop of that city. Two years after his deposition, he was restored by a decree of the Council of Seleucia, and was twice more deposed, and twice re-instated, until at length death overtook him, occupying and fulfilling the duties of his see, the scene of our Lord's suffering and man's redemption, being honoured with the significant and pleasing title of "most reverend and religious bishop."

As a proof of his soundness in the faith respecting the divinity and pre-existence of our Lord, both of which he was supposed either to deny wholly, or else hold in such a loose way as in the early Church would be considered heretical, we will transcribe what he exhorts his hearers to believe concerning Christ.

"Believe also in the Son of God, One and only, our Lord Jesus Christ; God of God begotten; Life of Life begotten; Light of Light begotten; like in all things to Him that begat

Him; who began not His existence in time, but was before all ages, eternally and incomprehensibly begotten of the Father; Who is God's Wisdom, and Power, and Righteousness personally subsisting; Who before all ages is set down at the right hand of the Father." R. E. B.

CHRISTIAN WARFARE.

Soldier, go-but not to claim

Mouldering spoils of earth-born treasure;

Not to build a vaunting name,

Not to dwell in tents of pleasure.
Dream not that the way is smooth,

Hope not that the thorns are roses;

Turn no wistful eye of youth

Where the sunny beam reposes,

Thou hast sterner work to do,

Hosts to cut thy passage through;

Close behind thee gulfs are burning,-
Forward-there is no returning.

Soldier rest, but not for thee

Spreads the world her downy pillow;
On the rock thy couch must be,

While around thee chafes the billow:
Thine must be a watchful sleep.

Wearier than another's waking;

Such a charge as thou dost keep
Brooks no moment of forsaking:

Sleep! as on the battle field;

Girded, grasping sword and shield;

Those thou canst not name or number,

Steal upon thy broken slumber.

Soldier, rise-the war is done;

Lo! the hosts of hell are flying;
'Twas thy Lord the battle won;

Jesus vanquished them by dying.
Pass the stream; before thee lies

All the conquered land of glory:
Hark! what songs of rapture rise,
These proclaim the victor's story.
Soldier, lay thy weapons down,
Quit the sword, and take the crown;
Triumph! all thy foes are banished,

Death is slain, and earth has vanished!

ANON.

CAPERNAUM.

THE three chief divisions of Palestine or the Holy Land, West of Jordan, in our Saviour's time were Galilee, to the north, Samaria, in the centre, and Judea, to the south. Capernaum, a town in Galilee, situate north-east of the Lake of Gennesareth is no where mentioned in the Old Testament, but repeatedly in the Gospels. It is said by St. Matthew (iv. 13) to have been "upon the sea cost, in the borders of Zabulon and Nepthalim," and that our Lord, left Nazareth to dwell there, that "it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet." Here He spent the greater part of the three years of His ministry; for which reason it is called "his own city,” (St. Matt. ix. 1.) Here He declared, "whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and dwelleth in Me and I in him." (St. John, vi. 59.) Here He healed St. Peter's wife's mother, (St. Matt. viii. 14); the