all the representations of Assyrian deities some part of the eagle is depicted. The head and the wings of the eagle are continually occurring, and that with various strange combinations. We have the body of the lion, but with the wings of the eagle; the body of the ox, but with the wings of the eagle; the body of the man, but with the wings and head of the eagle. Seeing, then, that the eagle is evidently an emblem of an Assyrian deity, under various forms and combinations; and, seeing that the word Nisroch means the eagle, it is reasonable to conclude that the image before us is one of the identical idols worshipped by Sennacherib and the idolatrous Assyrians. How curious it is, after the lapse of 2,600 years, to look on the very images which were worshipped by the most ancient nation under heaven, and to find in the forms of these false deities such a remarkable coincidence with the facts and statements of Holy Scripture. It is thus the providence of God is seen rebuking the infidelity of the age even by the testimony of ancient idolatry. THE PALM TREE. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree.”—Psalm xcii. 12. THE" Date Palm" is a lofty tree crowned with waving leaves of a magnificent bright green, often six or eight feet in length, and of extraordinary fruitfulness-a single tree often producing one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty pounds weight of fruit, which is especially prized by the inhabitants of many parts of Asia and Africa, where whole tribes subsist almost entirely on its fruit, dressed in different ways. So numerous are the uses to which the various parts of the tree are applied, that pages might be devoted to describing them. The palm reaches maturity in about thirty years, and continues in full vigour for about seventy years longer; and as it grows only in well-watered soil, its presence is the unerring sign of water; and the heart of the weary traveller in those hot countries is gladdened at the sight of it, as he knows there will be at once food, water, and shelter. The stately elegance of the palm, with its lofty beauty, extreme fruitfulness, and grateful shade, most probably sug. gested the idea to the Psalmist when he wrote, "The righteous shall flourish as the palm-tree." We have abundant proof that this tree was anciently very plentiful in Palestine; and ancient writers bear testimony that it was used as the emblem of the Hebrew nation, or portions of it; indeed, so characteristic was the palm of the scenery of ancient Canaan, that the Roman emperors selected it as the most fitting device to denote their dominion over the Jewish nation; for their triumphal coins represented a weeping female beneath a palmtree, thus fulfilling the prophecy against Judea, that" she being desolate" should "sit upon the ground." But Palestine is not now the country of palm-trees; for they are thinly scattered over the land, it being a rare occurrence to see more than two or three together. Nor is Jericho now the city of palm-trees, a few only lingering to attest the truth of ancient description. It mournfully typifies the desolate con dition of the Hebrew people; for, as it was prosperous in their prosperous days, so it has become desolate with their desolation. Both Jews and Gentiles formerly used branches of palmtrees as symbols of victory and triumph; thus, when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion, the people "took branches of palm, and went forth to meet him, and cried Hosanna," &c. John xii. 13. And in the Apocalyptic vision the Redeemed in Heaven, who have conquered sin and death through the blood of the Lamb, are represented standing "clothed with white robes and palms in their hands." Rev. vii. 9. That you and I may be numbered among that "great as multitude," and assist in swelling the chorus of "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,” is most affectionately desired and fervently prayed by Stafford. ALICE. SELECT VARIETIES. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSEVERING PRAYER.. A SHORT time ago a thought has, since he came to our meetstarted into our minds of coming, been aroused from his mencing a meeting for young lethargy, and is beginning to see men in our preaching-room, for his state. He engaged in prayer their mental cultivation and im at our meeting, provement, but more especially for the religious instruction of those who might attend. Six Thursday evenings passed, and only two there waited upon God at the appointed hour. We then thought of giving it up, but God constrained us to persevere; and the very next evening we had four. Here the revival commenced; one young man began to pray, and it so softened the hearts of those who were present that on the following evening another was induced to engage in prayer. In some few evenings more, another notorious sinner being warned to "flee from the wrath to come," and apply to Jesus for salvation, cried out with the publican, "What shall I do to be saved?" He prayed earnestly to God, in our meeting, for pardon ; and we have reason to believe that his prayer was heard. Another young man who was careless about the concerns of his soul, We are much encouraged by the presence, attendance, friendship, and astonishing progress of one of these young men. Since he came among us, he meets in class, is a teacher in the Sabbath-school, has purchased a hymn-book, prays in public, and is likely to be a very useful person in our infant Church in Galway. He gives every evidence of growing in grace, and in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. May he be faithful. Oh may the Great Head of the Church send down his blessing upon the faithful labours of his servants, both at home and in foreign lands! Galway J. C. SEYMOUR. WHAT AN EXCELLENT THING IS KNOWLEDGE! "WHAT an excellent thing is knowledge!" said a sharp-looking, bustling, little man, to one around fertile; but when it bursts through its banks, it sweeps everything before it. and destroys the produce of the fields." "I see! I see!" said the little man; "I see !"" "When a ship is steered aright, the sail which she hoists up enables her the sooner to get into port; but if steered wrong, the more sail she carries the further will she go out of her course." who was much older than himself. "Knowledge is an excellent thing," repeated he; "my boys know more at six and seven years old than I did at twelve. They can read all sorts of books, and talk on all sorts of subjects. The world is a great deal. wiser than it used to be. Everybody knows something of everything now. Do you not think, sir, that knowledge is an excellent thing?" "Why, sir, replied the old man, looking gravely, "that depends entirely upon the use to which "Well, then," continued the it is applied. It may be a bles-old man, "if you see these things sing or a curse. Knowledge is so clearly, I hope you can see, only an increase of power, and too, that knowledge, to be a good power may be a bad as well as a thing, must be rightly applied. good thing." God's grace in the heart will ren"That is what I cannot under-der the knowledge of the head a stand," said the bustling little man. "How can power be a bad thing?" "I will tell you," meekly replied the old man, and thus he went on:-" When the power of a horse is under restraint, the animal is useful in bearing burdens, drawing leads, and carrying his master; but when that power is unrestrained, the horse breaks his bridle, dashes the carriage that he draws to pieces, or throws his rider." 66 "I see! I see!" said the little man; "I see clearly!" 66 blessing; but without this it may prove to us no better than a curse." I AM NOT ALONE: GOD IS A GOOD man having a long journey to take, had no fellowpassenger with him in the coach. This seemed to be a sad trouble to his man John, who went with I see! I see!" said the little him to the coach, to carry his man." "When the water of a large pool is properly conducted by trenches, it renders the fields box, Sir," said he, "I am afraid you will be very dismal, it's disagreeable to travel by oneself all alone, and in the night, too; I wish you had some pleasant company. I don't like your being all alone by yourself." "John, John," said the good man, "you make a sad mistake! I am not so much by myself as you seem to think. God is too good to let them that trust in him travel by themselves; he goes with them. If you will just look in the 28th chapter of Matthew, when you get home again, you will see in the last verse that the Saviour of sinners has promised his presence to his disciples at all times. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."" As John went home, he pondered the words in his heart; and it will do you and me no harm if we ponder them, too, for whether we are old or young, if we are the disciples of Christ, these words will apply to us as well as to John's master: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." May we remember that our Saviour is always near to us, and may we always depend upon his grace ! THE HUNGRY FLY. A WISE old man was once sitting with the Bible before him, while a lad sat beside him, read ing a book of fairy tales. On the table lay a painting of fruit, and near it a basket wherein were some real apples and pears, heaped up on each other. "Edmund," said the old man, "regard this fly that is crawling over the painted fruit." Edmund looked at the fly, while it passed hastily over the picture, and crept up the outside of the basket. sooner did it reach the real fruit, than it began to suck away at it as though it had been half famished. No |