united in prayer in Romaïc, in presence of the Turks. We adopted this resolution, not without reflection. Few Christians, perhaps, have made a journey, without experiencing the obstacles to prayer which arise from want of retirement; these difficulties are, of course, multiplied in a country like Asia Minor, where you are almost constantly surrounded by strangers. While, then, every Christian would gladly yield a literal obedience, whenever it is practicable, to the precept of our Lord, "Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; we found it most proper, whenever this duty was impossible, to imitate the Turks themselves. Mohammedans are not ashamed to pray publicly-in the open fields, on the high roads, and by the banks of rivers; and I have heard of an instance in which they came to the conclusion-'The English have no prayer,' because they never witnessed, on a journey, the outward posture of supplication. Our practice, therefore, we hope had two good effects: it was placing an obstacle to the neglect of devotion; and it was a silent lesson to the Turks, that the English are not without prayer, and that they pray, like themselves, without the use of pictures or crucifixes.

' March 31, 1826.—This morning we crossed the plain, to the Ruins of Ephesus. One of the first objects which attract notice, are the numerous places of burial, which are observed on the declivity of Mount Prion : they consist of excavations in the side of the hill, arched with stone work. It is here that tradition informs us, Timothy was buried; and it is to this place, that superstition assigns the story of the Seven Sleepers. We surveyed, with pleasure, the Stadium; but nothing at Ephesus was so interesting, as the remains of the Theatre: it was here that the multitude collected by Demetrius, and his craftsmen, excited the uproar which threw the whole city into confusion. The situation of the building, affords illustration of that remarkable occurrence. The Theatre, like other ancient structures of the same name, is seated on a steep declivity; the seats having been formed in successive tiers, on the slope of a lofty hill, and the whole building being open to the sky; I have no doubt, that upward of twenty thousand persons could have conveniently seated themselves in the theatre of Ephesus. Before them, they had a view of the most striking description: across the Market Place, and at no great distance, they beheld that splendid Temple, which was one of the Seven wonders of the world, and which was dedicated to the great Goddess Diana, whom all Asia and the world worshipped:' there can be little doubt, that Demetrius would avail himself of the sight of this splendid object, to inflame to the highest pitch, the passions of the multitude: we may imagine their eyes fixed on this famous Temple, and their hands directed towards it, while they all, with one voice, about the space of two hours cried out, great is Diana of the Ephesians!" The very situation of the Theatre, would add to the tumult: on the left hand, and at no great distance, are the steep and rocky sides of Mount Corissus; forming a natural and lofty rampart, which completely shuts out all prospect in that quarter: the shouts of twenty thousand persons striking against this mountain, would be echoed with loud reverberations, and not a little augment the uproar. The high situation of the theatre on Mount Prion, accounts also for the ease with which such an immense multitude

was assembled: from every part of Ephesus, on that side, the inhabitants would have a view of the people rushing into the theatre, and taking their seats on that lofty elevation; and would, of course, themselves run with impetuosity, to see and hear the cause of the assembly. Under these circumstances, it is by no means matter of wonder, that the attention of the Town Clerk was excited, and that he felt himself called on to interpose his authority.

'Contrasting the state of Ephesus, as we found it, with the circumstances just alluded to, there was sufficient room for astonishment at the mighty change. The plough has passed over the site of the city; and we saw the green corn growing, in all directions, amidst the forsaken ruins. While we were in the theatre, two large eagles perched at a small distance above, and seemed to gaze on us with wonder, as if astonished at the face of man: Cowper's lines naturally occurred,

They are so unacquainted with man,

Their tameness is shocking to me.'

'From the theatre we passed into the Agora,' or Market Place. This public place was just below the theatre; and it was here that the law proceedings were going forward, to which the Town Clerk referred Demetrius and his companions. I shall not dwell on the buildings, which have been so often described by travellers-the supposed ruins of Diana's Temple, the Corinthian Temple, the Odeum, and the Gymnasium-nor on the great beauty of the surrounding scenery. We may notice, however, the supposed ruins of a Christian Church, which may have been either the Church of St. John or that of the Virgin. We saw at the east end, the Cross of the Knights of Rhodes, engraved on one of the stones; and here was perhaps held,' we said, 'the General Council, so well known in Ecclesiastical History.'

In leaving Ephesus, my mind was very naturally occupied with that important Epistle, which was once addressed to the "Angel" of this Church: Rev. ii. 1-7. For a Missionary, that Epistle contains most useful instruction. It tells him there are some who call themselves " Apostles, but are liars :" what then, would constitute me a false prophet? Should I disseminate other doctrine than that which God has revealed; should I add any inventions of men, or hold back any truths of God; or should I propagate the truth itself, from improper motives, or in an improper manner-I should, unquestionably, be a "deceitful worker," even though I might assume the appearance of an "angel of light." May the awful language of inspiration ever fall with weight upon our ears, and be most deeply impressed upon our hearts-" Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed!" And may the Spirit of Truth so fully enlighten the mind, and so powerfully influence the heart of every Missionary, that we may be "workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth!" The Epistle teaches also every individual Christian, that it is possible to exhibit some brilliant parts of the Christian character, and to be distinguished for labour, for patience, for perseverance, and for other very excellent qualities, and yet to have a fatal malady commencing its attacks, which threatens the very ruin of all our hopes-" Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love!" How few there are, who do not feel the charge too applica

ble to themselves! How few, of whom it could be remarked, as of St. Augustine, "He never left his first love!" But, unless we call to "remembrance" the station " from whence we are fallen, and repent, and do the first works," that intimation of the Divine displeasure which is here given, will not fail to be accomplished. "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. The neglect of such an admonition, in the case of an individual, would involve consequences, analogous to those which are more peculiarly threatened against a whole community; but, when an entire body of Christians, when a Christian Church, becomes guilty of this sin, the indignation of God is exhibited in the face of the world itself. At Ephesus you find at present only one individual who bears the name of Christ! and where, in the whole region, do you find any semblance of Primitive Christianity? The country once favoured with the presence of St. Paul, of Timothy, and St. John, is now in the situation of those lands, of which it is said, "Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people :"-" He," then "that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.”

THE SECRET.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."-MARK XIII. 32.

EVERY one feels that a secret should be something of importance, interesting to those from whom it is withheld, as well as to those who keep it.

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Tell the least and simplest child, you have a secret, its little eyes will glisten with expectation of something very pleasant to itself, or to somebody near in interest to its own feelings and if it comes out that your secret is something very unimportant, distant or indifferent, manifestations of disappointment and infantine vexation are quite sure to follow on the disclosure. It is nature's feeling. Expectation grows upon concealment. Imagination enlarges upon uncertainty. Excitement kindles upon delay: and the man, like the child, thinks he has been mocked if the long-withheld secret proves not worth the knowing, or affects not himself in its more momentous interests.

When Almighty God therefore, proposes a secret to mankind, we should conclude before-hand, it would be the event of deepest interest to ourselves: enhancing its own value by concealment, and sure not to disappoint us in its importance when revealed. We should not be unreasonable in supposing it must comprise the greatest possible good, and veil the object of most intense desire. And thus it really is. God has a secret. I do not speak of mysteries; of such secrecies he has many; some that we may not, some that we cannot penetrate or comprehend at present; and others, that as finite beings we never shall be permitted to read, or competent to understand. But this is, if I may

so speak, a revealed secret-revealed as a secret, to be some time known, beheld even from one end of the heavens to the other of which the subject is known, and the importance known: of which the interest is intense, the desire kept continually alive, the anticipation excited to the very utmost, but still the secret kept. Jehovah has declared it to be exclusively his own. Angels, who circle continually about his throne, waiting for messages to the sons of men; those very hosts that camp about his people, guarding and keeping them to that very hour: while they whisper sweet thoughts of it in our weary ears, and paint bright visions of it to our longing eyes: the ever-nearing beacon of many a starless night and trackless sea, for which they bid us make, towards which they bid us look: angels never answer the question, "Where is it?" for they cannot. Prophets and seers of the things to comeDaniel, who was told to seal the book, and John, who was told to leave it open, were alike refused the reading of it; and he who was taught "the number of the beast," or counted the thousand, two hundred and ninety days, understood as little of the strange arithmetic, as they who have since been vainly seeking for the key. "Lord, where?"-"Lord, when?" was answered with assurances, encouragements and confirmations; but no disclosures.

The emancipated spirits in heaven know not the secret for they are described as continually crying, "How long, O Lord, how long?" The bible says, "Neither the Son' -a declaration so mysterious, that while we feel its impressiveness, we forbear to dwell upon it. Of course Jesus is here speaking of himself in his human nature; during the period of his banishment from his Father's councils: but it is strange enough, even so, and hard to apprehend. We can only view it in connection with that brief and temporary inferiority which, as touching his manhood, the coequal Son of God acknowledges: "My Father is greater than I," "I know nothing of myself:" "Of myself, I can do nothing." One part of the voluntary humiliation of the Son of God, might be to lay aside for a time a measure of the knowledge, as well as power and glory, which he had with the Father before the worlds began. We cannot otherwise explain it but we know the fact: Jesus did not know, when he prophesied on earth, the Father's secret: the day and hour of his own returning.

I have intimated the strong impression made on my own mind by this fact. Many pious, deep-thinking, and deep-searching Christians have come to a different conclusion: supposing the time is come, or is to come before our Lord's appearing, when this long secret may be unlocked, and the year of his coming dated: not by any new announcement from the Father, but by enquiries and calculations of their own directed by events and signs that are predicted to precede it. To me the concurrent testimony of the whole word of God appears to be against this expectation. I think the entire Bible declares, that the secret shall be kept: even to the very latest moment of the end. We are commanded to watch, to expect, to desire, to prepare, to perceive the signs of the times, and know that it is nigh, even at the door but the reason still given is, not that we may discover the appointed moment, but because we know not at what hour the Son of Man may come. It may be thought there is no harm in guessing; some one will be right at last. Perhaps there is not: I am sure at least that

they who do it mean no harm; but as the paternal Secret-keeper's voice will not be heard to answer 'yes' or 'no,' to his impatient childrens' guessings, it is to be feared they may believe, or lead others to believe as facts, their own conjectures; and suffer all the consequences of delusion in a matter of such deep and vital moment.

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Has God no reason for his secrecy? It is written, as it was spoken: "If the good man of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have watched;" but the word does not thence proceed to tell the hour-at even, at midnight, at cock-crowing, the first watch, or the second. Assuredly because Jesus knows the heart of man too well: and knows that he would then have ceased to watch, until the specified moment was at hand. If the day and hour of Christ's coming had been revealed, the world would have gone on, as they go on now because they would not have believed, as they do not believe now and will not, whatever signs be seen, or warning given, until it be again, as in the days of Noe, when the flood came and took them all away. To the people of God, while the "end is not yet," the revelation of a fixed but distant date, would end together the brightening expectation, the encouraged hope, the earnest watching and the impressive warning: not a wish, not a prayer more could be breathed of "Come, Lord Jesus, Come quickly! And whenever the dated year should be at hand, even so near as the common extent of human life, certainty would change the whole current of the believer's duties, feelings, sufferings, and enjoyments, wholly unfitting him for the common walk of life and no such period between faith and sight having been provided for in the Gospel, the most devoted and conscientious would not know how to act in it. Does not God, for the same reason, conceal from every man the time of death: calling upon us in like manner to be prepared, because we know not the day or the hour of our departure hence? What would be gained then by a discovery, that must change our position before our nature changes, release us from the duties of the present dispensation before the next begins : dismiss us from the government of the indwelling Spirit, before the Son of Man assumes the throne? Would it not change the very attitude of faith-trusting, confiding, expecting, longing to a position of simple preparation for the known designs, and manifest purpose of Almighty God: a position never assigned to the believer in the flesh? This is so obvious practically, it will be admitted, I suppose, by every sane mind, that no calculation of our blessed Lord's return ought to be acted upon in the affairs of this world: believers must go on as if they did not know it: the father to provide for his family: the child to prepare himself for life: because after all it is uncertain. But then it is not knowledge, nor even faith: a calculation harmless only because it is unsuccessful: a discovery not injurious only because it is not made. This is, I believe the fact: our indulgent Father bears with the curiosity of his impatient children, but keeps his secret close: and so absolute and unequivocal to my apprehension, are the scripture declarations that it shall be kept; that so far from believing among the many wrong, some one guesser will at last be right, I feel persuaded whether He come at the first watch or the last, this year or two hundred years to come, it will be in a year that nobody has fixed upon: "In an hour that ye think not of."