HE Psalmist, contemplating the Divine giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth His ice like morsels; who can stand against His cold?" "At His commandment (says the wise son of Sirach) He maketh the snow to fall apace. As birds flying, He scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers. The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it."

THE goodness in nature, says of God: "He

Snow is formed by the freezing of the vapours of the atmosphere. The snow we receive may, properly enough, be ascribed to the coldness of the atmosphere through which it falls. When the atmosphere is warm enough to dissolve the snow before it arrives to us, we call it rain; if it preserves itself undissolved, it makes what we call snow. It differs from the particles of hoar frost, it being crystallised, which they are not. This appears on the examination of a flake of snow by a magnifying glass, when the whole of it will seem composed of fine shining spicula, or points diverging like rays from a centre. As the flakes fall down through the atmosphere, they are continually joined by more of these radiated spicula, and thus increase in bulk, like the drops of rain or hailstones.

Dr. Grew, in a discourse on the nature of snow, observes that many parts of it are of a regular figure, for the most part so many little rowels or stars of six points; and are as perfect and transparent ice as any we see on a pond. Upon each of these points are other points, set at the same angles as the main points themselves, among which there are divers others irregular, which are chiefly broken points, and fragments of the regular ones. Others also by various winds seem to have been thawed, and frozen again into irregular clusters, so that it seems as if the whole body of snow was an infinite mass of icicles irregularly figured; that is, a cloud of vapours being gathered into drops, those drops forthwith descend, and, in their descent meeting with a freezing air, as they pass through a colder region, each drop is immediately frozen into an icicle, shooting itself forth into several points, but these, still continuing their descent, and meeting with some intermitting gales of warmer air, or, in their continual waftage to and fro, touching upon each other, are a little thawed, blunted, and frozen into clusters, or entangled, so as to fall down in what we call flakes.

Snow, although it appears to be soft, is really

hard, because it is true ice. It seems soft, because at the first touch of the finger upon its sharp edges, or points, they melt, otherwise they would pierce the finger like so many lancets.

Dr. E. D. Clarke, in his "Travels" (vol. i. page 11), records a very curious and beautiful phenomenon, which he witnessed before the breaking up of the winter season at St. Petersburg: Snow in the most regular and beautiful crystals fell gently on our clothes, and on the sledge, as we were driving in the streets; all of them possessed exactly the same figure and dimension. Every particle consisted of a wheel or star with six equal rays, bounded by circumferences of the same diameters; they had all of them the same number of rays branching from a common centre. The size of each of these little stars was equal to the circle presented by dividing a pea into two equal parts. This appearance continued during three hours, in which time no other snow fell, and there was sufficient leisure to examine them with the strictest attention. As water in its crystallisation (continues Dr. Clarke) seems to consist of radii diverging from a common centre, by the usual appearances on the surfaces of the ice, it might be possible to obtain the theory and ascertain the laws from which the stellar-structure results." Monge, president of the French Institute, noticed, in falling snow, stars with six equal rays, which fell during winter when the atmosphere was calm.

The lightness of snow, although it is as firm as ice, is owing to the excess of its surface in comparison to the matter contained under it; and thus gold, the most ponderous of all bodies, when beaten into leaves, will ride upon the least breath of air.

Snow is very useful: in the depth of winter it covers the earth like a natural blanket, provided to cover the corn and other young vegetables, and thus, amid the rigours of intense cold, it protects them from the effects of the severe frosts; and then, in melting, the snow nourishes the roots with a salubrious moisture, and thus promotes their fertility on the returning spring. It is, therefore, one amongst innumerable other proofs of the wisdom and goodness of God. Let us praise Him for the snow, the beautiful and useful snow.

HEAVEN.-The door is open for you; will you enter? There is a crown for you; will you wear it? There is a harp for you; will you strike it to songs of eternal joy? If so, come to Jesus, now!

called Beulah. The air was very sweet and pleasant. The birds were pouring forth rich and charming songs. The voice of the turtle was heard in the land. The sun shone night and day. This fair and fertile country still exists. It lies far beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and far beyond the reach of Giant Despair. Doubting Castle is completely out of sight; but the Celestial City lies right before, and is in full view. Sweet voices are saying, "Behold thy King cometh, and His reward is with Him." From this point the sight of the City is exceedingly grand. It is built of pearls and all manner of precious stones. Its streets are paved with pure gold-as it were, transparent glass. Oh, how the pilgrims longed to enter! On, on they pressed, through gardens, orchards, and vineyards. As they drew near the City it was so resplendent that they could not bear to look at it, except through an instrument called Faith.

O City of the jasper wall,

And of the pearly gate,

For thee amid the storms of life
Our weary spirits wait.
We long to see the streets of gold
By saints and angels trod;
We long to worship at that shrine,
The temple of our God!
O City where there needs no light
Of sun, or moon, or star;
Could we with eye of faith but see
How bright thy mansions are,
How soon our doubts would flee away,
How strong our trust would grow,
Until our hearts should lean no more
On trifles here below!

O home of bliss, O land of light,
Where falleth neither shade nor blight!
O shore by mortal feet ne'er pressed,
When shall we there find peace and rest?
THE THIRTY-THIRD PICTURE.-THE RIVER AND
THE CITY.

The gates of the City were very near, but before Hopeful and Christian could enter they were told that they must pass through a river, a river which in some parts was very deep, and which had no bridge. At the sight of the river the two men were "stunned." They asked if there was no other way to the City except through this River of Death. The reply was "No."

Only two men had entered the City without crossing the river; those two were Enoch and Elijah.

They asked if the waters were all of a depth. They were told that they would find them deeper or shallower as they believed in the King of the place. They then went down into the river. Christian began to sink, and cried, "O Brother Hopeful, I sink, I sink! the billows go over my head; all the waves go over me." Hopeful replied, "Be of good cheer, I feel the bottom." A great darkness and horror fell upon Christian; he could not see clearly or speak very distinctly. But brave Hopeful did all he could to keep Christian's head above the water, and said, "Brother, I see the gate." The darkness now cleared away, and Christian said, "I see my Lord again, and hear Him saying, 'When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.'"

Both of the men now took courage, and stood on firm ground; and the water was only shallow. They caught sight of two shining men on the bank of the river, who said, "We are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation." The City stood on the top of a mighty hill, but aided by these two shining ones, the pilgrims climbed the lofty hill with ease. Their loving guardians told them that the beauty and glory of the City were inexpressible. There was the tree of life, with its never-failing fruits; there were robes of spotless purity; there were songs of purest melody. It is a City in which there is no night, no pain, no crying, no want, no death.

A Christian bishop, in the decline of life, wrote in his journal: "I think of a world without storms, and seem to be almost there. I think of a world without pain, and am fast approaching it. I think of a world without tears, and hope to dwell in it for ever.'

As the snow of the winter time began to whiten the fields and chill the air, this man of God anticipated his ascension by sending his thought onward to the hills of immortality.

Another servant of Christ, full of like faith and hope, has sweetly sung

O'er all those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son for ever reigns,
And scatters night away;

No chilling winds or poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.

Soon the strength of hostile forces will have come

to an end. The storms of temptation, opposition, and affliction will cease. Pain will no more pierce the body or disturb the soul. Tears will not be seen in the City whose wall is jasper and whose gates are pearl.

The land that is without storms, pain, or tears is not distant. To some, one more stroke of the pen; to others, one more sermon; to others, one more lesson-and then comes the call to glory.

Crowns are being given even now.

As the pilgrims entered the City, they were met by several of the King's trumpeters. The peal of the trumpets was so loud that it made heaven and earth echo. The pilgrims received ten thousand welcomes. The bells of the City rang sweet and merry peals. Hopeful and Christian were now ushered into the very presence of the King, himself. Spotless robes were put upon them, crowns and harps were given unto them. The City rang with joy. The pilgrims sang for joy, "Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

Bunyan says that as he saw the pilgrims pass into the City, he wished himself in with them. Who does not share this wish?

If we love Christ, and serve Him faithfully until death, we shall certainly enter the glorious City.

We speak of the realms of the blest,
That country so bright and so fair;
How oft are its glories confessed,

But what must it be to be there!

I trust every reader of this Magazine will know some day what it is to be there. Let me, in closing this series of brief articles, entreat every one to do three things: (1) Make a right

down good start on this pilgrimage at once; this very day, prayerfully, trustfully, bravely, at once, this very day. (2) Not only start, but hold on the way, in spite of all foes and fears, dangers and difficulties, failures and hardships -hold on, and out to the end. (3) Keep your eye steadily fixed upon your great Captain and Saviour Jesus Christ; serve Him, cling to Him, utterly, and for ever.

THE PILGRIM BOY.
A little pilgrim on life's way,
Bearing his cross from day to day,
When faint and weary, used to say,
"Jesus, my Saviour!"

If Satan tempted him aside,
He never on himself relied,
But, trusting in the Strong One, cried,—
"Jesus, my Saviour!"

And, looking up from what he feared,
Though far away his rest appeared,
Oh, how the thought his spirit cheered,–
"Jesus, my Saviour!"

But rapidly his course was run;
The morning saw his setting sun:
Thy blood his speedy victory won,
Jesus, my Saviour!

And blessed, as the Spirit saith,
True to his Lord in life and death,
He whispered with his dying breath,-
"Jesus, my Saviour!"

Thus, Lord, direct my youthful way,
Thy word to love, Thy law obey;
Then shall I praise through endless day
Jesus, my Saviour!

DEEM the man a nobleman Who acts a noble part;

Who shows alike by word and deed
He hath a true man's heart;

Who lives not for himself alone,
Nor joins the selfish few,

But prizes more than all things else
The good that he can do.

I deem the man a nobleman
Who stands up for the right,
And in the work of charity,
Finds pleasure and delight;
Who bears the stamp of manliness
Upon his open brow,

And never yet was known to do
An action mean and low.

I deem the man a nobleman

Who strives to aid the weak; And sooner than avenge a wrong, Would kind forgiveness speak; Who sees a brother in all men, From peasant unto king;

Yet would not crush the meanest worm,
Nor harm the weakest thing.

I deem the man a nobleman,
Yes! noblest of his kind,

Who shows, by moral excellence,
His purity of mind;

Who lives alike through good and ill
The firm unflinching man,

Who loves the cause of brotherhood,
And aids it all he can.

Query 1.- What is the difference between Astronomy

and Astrology?

JIR,-We have had the pleasure of reading a number of your works, and we have found something that we cannot understand, of which we should be greatly obliged for an explanation. We find in your work entitled "The Explanation of Scripture" (in the 557th Query) you state that to study astrology is nonsense. Now, in coming to your work entitled " Unity, Harmony and Evidence of Sacred Truth," you confirm the dates of the Bible by astronomy (p. 603 in the appendix). Now, what we want you to explain to us is the difference between astrology and astronomy? Yours truly,

JOSEPH KNOWLES, jun. THOMAS RENSHAW.

Answer.-I am very much pleased to find our young friends engaged in studying as well as reading works which expound God's Holy Word, and I most cheerfully answer their inquiry.

The difference between astronomy and astrology is very great indeed. Astronomy is a real science, showing the magnitude, distance, revolution, and laws of the heavenly bodies, such as the sun, moon, stars, and even our earth itself; and these are all demonstrated by observation and the application of mathematical principles, and that with perfect accuracy. The heavens are, indeed, the great clockwork of the universe, and the standard of all time. But no clock was ever made by man, nor will any clock ever be made by man, to keep time with the regularity and perfection of the heavenly bodies. It is quite possible by astronomy to tell the day, the hour, and the moment when any eclipse of the sun or moon took place thousands of years ago; and to tell, also, when any or every eclipse of the sun or the moon will take place for thousands of years to come, if God should see good to keep the universe in existence so long. So with regard to the occultation of any given star, or the transits of Venus or Jupiter; and so with the cycles of the sun or moon, either with regard to thousands of years past or thousands of years to come. Such are the fixed and unchangeable laws of astronomy. Many, many other things could be named in reference to the science of astronomy. It is by the application of these astronomical principles that Mr. Dimbleby, of London, has traced back the time exactly when the events of Holy Scripture occurred, and the dates of the Bible are thus proved to be literally correct from the creation of the world. I intend to notice this in a special article in the January number of our large

magazine. Our thoughtful young men may look out for that article; I think it will well repay them for their trouble.

وو

But as for astrology, it is indeed "nonsense,' and not only nonsense, but systematic falsehood and deception. I do not mean that all the people who practised astrology were wilful deceivers; for I doubt not many of them were mere dupes to the system, and some of them were men of deep study and observation. It is, indeed, remarkable that the studies of these men, and their calculations, laid the foundation of some of the great discoveries of astronomy. As a fact, the lunar tables calculated according to the Newtonian theory were intended to be subservient to the calculation of nativities-that is, the art of foretelling people's destinies. Hence it was that Kepler, the great astronomer, before the days of Sir Isaac Newton, said, " Astrology, though a fool, was the daughter of a wise mother (astronomy), to whose support and life the foolish daughter was indispensable." That is, because astrologers had been so diligent in observing the heavens, and had made such calculations as to the motions of the heavenly bodies that they had thus rendered valuable service to true science, and prepared the way for important discoveries. Yet, I think I hear my young friends say, "Well, sir, but after all what is astrology, and wherein does it differ from astronomy?" I will tell you. Not in the mere name, for astrology literally means 66 the science of the stars," and astronomy means the laws of the stars, but they are different vastly in their nature, their importance, and usefulness. Astrology is nothing more nor less than fortunetelling by the motions of the planets. The heavens were divided into twelve imaginary sections which were called houses, and the planets were supposed to be good and kind, or evil and malignant, in their influences upon people, upon kings, and upon nations; and if a person happened to be born at a period when some planets were supposed to rule, their influences were supposed to be for good or for evil. Saturn, being at the greatest distance from the sun, was supposed to be of a cold nature; Jupiter, Venus, and the moon were temperate and kind; Mars and Jupiter were the most dangerous. The sun and Mercury partook of the properties of the one or the other according to circumstances; and the various influences of all were modified according to their aspects. In past ages many, even great men, believed these things, and the common people and others used to apply to astrologers to have their nativities cast-that is, to ascertain whether or not the aspect of the heavenly bodies