return of post, 10%. This seemed to be sent from Heaven, and was indeed an earnest of richer blessings. "He that hath pity on the poor, lendeth to the Lord;" and, truly, on this 10%. no small interest has already been paid! Such a sum spent in an ordinary way is trifling, but "lent to the Lord "-how great a means of usefulness! What have been the results by his blessing on this first 10%.? These will be known only in eternity! Souls, the value of each of which is greater than of all the money. in the world, will rejoice, and, in endless songs of praise, celebrate the love of Him who opened. the heart of the giver to consecrate_this_sum (and no doubt many others) in his cause! The first effects on the receiver were surprise and delight, for it really was a cheque, and it was for her. The drooping hands were held up, and hearts were cheered, and a practical lesson on faith was given. The Lord spoke by this special providence, as He often does; He does not always speak by words alone. Heaven is his throne, and earth his footstool, and He can make use of any thing which He has created, or which He has arranged, to tell his meaning to those who have " ears to hear." She had not expected any thing; she had but little faith, yet her heavenly Father thus made her feel the truth of the often repeated words, that He is "more ready to hear than we are to pray, and is wont to give more than either we desire or deserve." The most pressing little debts were paid, and she now began to think of applying to another friend, whose name had been given. He promised 5., but his performance lingered. Again and again she sent, but received it not. At last, however, he wrote to say, he would rather give it in person, and she was to meet him at the School. Trembling she went; and having nothing to say, she prevailed on some one to accompany her. The interview was long. The children were examined, their writing and work looked at: and so great was the satisfaction shown, that, besides other aid, an order for 157. was given, to be received as required. This was wonderful, and it seemed nearly inexhaustible at the time. C. A. H. (To be continued.) REMARKS ON OBSCURE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE... "He is to thee a covering of the eyes."-Gen. xx. 16. "She took a vail, and covered herself."-Gen. xxiv. 65. "The woman ought to have power on her head because of the angels." -1 Cor. xi. 10. "Her hair is given her for a covering."-1 Cor. xi. 15. THESE passages are thus brought together, because they are all intended to convey the same meaning, namely, that a woman is to be in subjection and obedient to her husband, as head over her. In Eastern countries, wearing a veil was the mark which distinguished a married woman. In the first of these passages, Abimelech, wishing to reprove Sarah for having joined with Abraham in deceiving him, reminds her that being married to her husband, she must not again be seen without the outward token of her condition-the veil covering the face and eyes-which would secure her from being subjected to the same danger again; it being of course unlawful for any one to address a married woman, knowing her to be such, as Abimelech had ignorantly done. In the second passage, Rebekah's wishing to prove to Isaac, that she was really betrothed to him as his wife, though not yet actually married, covered herself with a veil in token of subjection to him. In the Epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul had occasion to reprove them for many acts of irreverence in the performance of public worship: one of which was the permitting women to speak, pray, or prophesy without the covering suitable to their condition. In another passage, he expressly forbids their speaking at all in churches. (See 1 Cor. xiv. 34. 1 Tim. ii. 11, 12.) Here he forbids their appearing in the assemblies for worship without a veil or covering. When he says that " woman should have power on her head," he means that she should be covered, in token of being under the power or authority of her husband. This state of subjection to her husband was ordained after the fall, (see Gen. iii. 16,) and it is supposed that by the angels mentioned by St. Paul in 1 Cor. xi. 10, are meant the evil spirits whose agency caused the fall, and who are still employed to lead astray the unwary and thoughtless. 1852.] REMARKS ON OBSCURE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE. 139 A woman who should appear in public without her veil, would be liable to many temptations from persons who would suppose her to have no husband to watch or rule over her. My object in bringing these passages together is twofold:-1st. To show how every part of Scripture, whether in the Old or New Testament, is in exact agreement, and all teach the same great truths. 2ndly. To point out to all, the great duty of humility and submission. The path of loveliness is the path of safety. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." The ways of obedience, like the ways of wisdom, are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Throughout the Scriptures, we ever find that they that exalted themselves have been abased; and they who have humbled themselves have been exalted. While I write this, we are approaching the time when our Lord set us an example of perfect humility and submission to his Father's will, though He was Himself equal with the Father. Shall we then, sinners as we are, dust and ashes, expecting daily the execution of the sentence of death passed upon all men, exalt ourselves against the will of God. Shall we, if He appoints us to fill a place in subjection to others, murmur or rebel against his decree? No; let each of us rather study in the Word of God what are the duties of the state to which He has called us. Let those who are children remember that it is written, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." (Eph. vi. 1.) Let those who are wives, "submit themselves unto their own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." (Col. iii. 18.) Let those who are servants, " obey in all things their masters, not with eye service, but in singleness of heart, fearing God" (Col. iii. 22); and let all, remembering that they have a Master in heaven, "be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Pet. iii. 5.) 1 March 21st, Fourth Sunday in Lent. L. S. R. LOW COMPANY. SOME people are very fond of low company; and they are thus led into many troubles, and often into entire ruin. But it is not always rightly understood what is meant by "low company." Any one who speaks of low company must mean something lower than himself; lower in rank, or riches, or abilities, or acquirements; lower in some way or other. Now, if a man disdains to associate with any whom he considers below himself, this may be nothing more than a mark of foolish pride, or it may be a selfish unwillingness to add to the comfort of those below us, or to do them any good by conversation or example, or by any thing that may help them on in their religious, or moral, or intellectual improvement. There is a sense, then, in which a man may hold friendly intercourse with those beneath him, and may be doing much good thereby. But, if I caution any one against low company, by low company I do not mean those who are low in their worldly condition, but who are low in all right feeling and judgment, and whose company brings down a man to their own bad level, and takes away from him all exertion for improvement in mind or morals. Some people think that they show how humble they are in seeking for the company of those whom they consider lower than themselves. But it is often just the contrary to humility; it is often great pride-a pride to be the first and foremost of the company, and to be admired as the wisest and topmost of the party. Squire Dick Dingle was a very idle boy when he was at school. He took no pains to study his lessons, and was always at the bottom of his class; so that, when he left school, he had learned next to nothing. He went to college for a time, but he was so ignorant, and idle, and stupid, that he could make nothing of the studies of the place, and had no desire to acquire the knowledge of any thing useful or good. He got into all sorts of idleness and expense, and kept away from the society of those who might have done him good; and he kept company only with those who were as ignorant and foolish as himself, such as might really be called low company. But it was pride that made him choose such company. He would have been at the bottom, among the clever young men, and he preferred being at the top of the blockheads, for he could talk about horses and dogs, and racings and bettings, and such matters, better than any of them. He has now come amongst us, to live on his estate; I am afraid he has damaged it a good deal! He still is fond of low company, I mean low-minded and low-mannered people. He knows that he would make a poor figure among the gentry, and those who are acting according to their proper station, and so he gets among those who are willing to listen to his foolish talk, and he delights in being at the head of the roughest and coarsest company that he can find. He is proud of being at the head of the party. Happily the race of country gentlemen is nearly over who would sit and drink, and sing, and swear, and boast of their profligacy and their wicked doings. There is, however, in lower life, in many a country town, a man who thinks himself very learned and very wise. He has got a little knowledge together, and he will be at the alehouse almost every night in the week, among a set of awkward, ignorant louts, and he tries to show how much more he knows than they. He is very positive in his own opinion, and expects every one to believe in him, and to admire what he says. He is reckoned a great man amongst such people; and it is his delight to among such, because he thinks himself wiser than they, and wishes to be at the head of them. Such a man never becomes wiser himself, and never leads any body else to be wiser or better. be Whatever be a man's condition in life, he should seek to improve in grace and wisdom, and to seek his society among those from whom he might learn something good, instead of among those who can teach him no good, and who can get no good from him. It would be well if every young man would bear in mind the lines in Dr. Watts' beautiful hymns for children "Away from fools I'll turn my eyes, Nor with the scoffers go; I would be walking with the wise, D. |