PALESTINE.

No. IV.

The providence of the Most High which appears to have watched over the establishment of the Jerusalem Mission with singular care, baving conducted it not only to the settlement of the Bishop and his fellow-labourers there, but also to the laying of the foundation of the church, " at a depth of thirty-five feet from the surface,” owing to the number of subterraneous chambers, through which they had to break : hath given his servants rest, and commencing encouragement in their all-important work. “ We have now," writes the Bishop, (Feb. 26, 1842,) “regular daily service in the temporary Chapel : at seven in the morning in Hebrew, and at sunset in English ; and though we are but a small band, yet I feel it peculiarly delightful thus daily to worship in Mount Zion,”-and again, (March 9.) “Our Mission is beginning to be very interesting, and, I trust, efficient. There never have been such large congregations of Protestants as have been assembled since my arrival here. On Sunday last our Chapel was literally crowded, and never did I wish more that our church was built. I have laid the first foundation-stone on the 28th ult."

ISAIAH LX. 11.

Imperial Salem, lift thy gates

And throw thy portals wide : Thy fame extends, thy glory waits,

Thy saints are multiplied.

See converts like the drops of dew

Thy sacred courts attend ; Salvation is their only view,

And Jesus is their end."

Lo! tbe full tribes with joy appear

Thy hallowed altars round; To bow with reverential fear,

And worship from the ground.

Behold, what clouds of incense rise

From prayers of saints below; See them ascend the inmost skies

While answering blessings flow.

Rise, mighty God, into thy rest,

Tby Ark of strength divine :
O make thy favored people blest,

And let thy glory shine!

So shall thy glorious cause extend,

To earth's remotest bound; And nations yet unborn attend

The Gospel's “joyful sound." +

It is a very singular coincidence that, not only is the Bishop of Jerusalem “a Hebrew of the Hebrews,” but also by birth a Prussian: that from the Prussian Monarch has proceeded half the endowment of his bishoprick, and that at this moment there should be a som amounting to £11000 or £12000, raised by voluntary contributions, in the kingdom of Prussia, for the support of the Hospital and medical establishments so wisely attached to the Mission in Jerusalem !

The following affecting extract from the letter of Dr. Macgowan, will shew at once the necessity for, and the benefit of, this humane provision :- :-“The condition of some families whom I bave visited is wretched in the extreme. Their dwellings are in dark vaulted caves, the roof dropping with damp from above, and the bare earth beneath, and often without door or window to keep out the wind and rain. It is in these dark and dismal abodes, that the descendant of God's chosen people drags out a miserable existence, and presents a striking fulfilment of that atter desolation which was to fall on this city and nation. It may readily be supposed, that disease in every form of bodily suffering is a frequent visitant in these unwholesome dwellings.”

“ The necessaries of life, which are already too scanty in health, are miserably deficient in sick

The want of attendance, of cleanliness, of suitable nourishment, and ordinary precautions, is quite appalling. The absence of these destroys more lives than disease itself."

PSALM CII.

Hear thou my prayer, O Israel's God,

And let my cry come unto thee:
Hide not thy presence from me, Lord,

In time of my adversity :
Incline to me thy gracious ear,
And when I call, vouchsafe to hear!

Let answering mercy come with speed

In days when troubles sore assail ;
For Oh! I cry in deepest need,

My days, like smoke, do waste and fail :
My bones consume as fire within
Kindled by thee, agaiost my sin.

Like grass beneath the parching sun,

My heart with grief is withered ;
My hours with sorrow so o'errun,

That I forget to eat my bread;
My groanings waste my strength away,
My bones to pierce my skin essay.

Like the lone owl, while through the night

In ruined places wild doth moan; Or like the pelican, whose flight

Is to the desert,--so alone I watch, in wakeful solitude Far from the busy multitude.

Because of thine indignant ire
When thou badst raised which cast me down ;

Like grass which feels the solar fire,

So do I wither in thy frown:
And, like a swift declining shade
My wasting days and minutes fade.

But thou, O Lord, shalt still endure

Long as eternal ages roll ;
And still sball this remembrance pure,

Refresh the weary, longing soul.
And thou shalt rise in glorious grace,
And mercy beam in Zion's ways.

Yea, for the time, the long-wish'd time

To favour Zion now is come ; Thy servants wept o'er her decline,

And mourned to see her dust consume; Counted her stones like valued gold,The temple of thine ancient fold.

The heathen, LORD, shall fear thy name,

When thou o'er Zion shalt arise : The kings of earth thy power proclaim,

And lift thy glory to the skies : When thou in glory shalt appear To build up Zion's borders here !