faith, he would cease to be that God which revelation describes, and of which our fallen nature is so imperatively in need. All these doubts and difficulties, I repeat, revelation removes. Let us, then, take the scriptures as we find them, and they will indeed speak to us the words of reconciliation and comfort. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Still, however, let us not deceive ourselves, by wresting the merciful language of revelation to our own destruction. The blessed gospel is indeed what angels and apostles declared it to be at the beginning—a covenant of mercy, of peace on earth, and of good-will towards men; but still it is a covenant, and therefore requires a reciprocity of things to be done on our parts, as well as a course of benefits to be received. By this covenant God has, it is true, condescended to us; but still he has not lowered himself from his high station as an infinitely pure and holy Governor of his creatures. The gospel is an accommodation to our infirmities, but it is not a warrant for our sins; it tenders to us a healing and purifying medicine because we are sinners, not that we may remain sinners. Nothing, I conceive, can be imagined more truly affecting than the readiness with which scripture assures us that our Maker listens to the repentant prayer of the returning prodigal; but still let us remember that that prayer must be the result of

evil, alone excepted) it does not satisfactorily | cere repentance, addressed to him through account? Who, if the gospel be true, would wish to find the general constitution of the universe other than it is? Do we wish to escape the various afflictions to which our mortal career on earth is subject?-those very afflictions we are assured are the instruments of our trial, and the source and occasions of our virtues. Do we, ought we to wish, that our ignorance were less; that our allotment in life were less chequered than it is with good and evil; that our allotted space of life were longer; our friendships less apt to be interrupted by estrangement or death: if all these things, if everything, however minute, which can possibly befall us, are part of that system of that machinery of divine government which is training us for imunortality? Of other systems of philosophy it may be said that they would be beautiful and satisfactory, did they stand by themselves could they be detached and disentangled from all the stubborn contradiction of real fact. Of Christianity, on the contrary, it may be asserted, that with many à priori assumptions against it, its certainty and divine authority is warranted by that very anomalous state of things to which it is so exquisitely adapted, and for which it suggests the only conceivable remedy. Considered as a corrective application for the undeniable moral diseases under which our nature at present labours, it is at this moment absolutely and demonstrably perfect. Let us, then, be content to hold by it, to sub-true repentance; it must be a loathing of and mit to its discipline, and to regulate our conduct by its standard, without bewildering ourselves in those captious, theoretical questions, the solution of which is, as yet, unattainable. We cannot, it is true, comprehend how the almighty Being can be all-pure and perfect and we are assured that he is and yet that he should yearn after and seek to spare the sinner. All this, however, the bible asserts to be the case, adding, moreover, the astounding fact, that the Divine Nature itself, when no other expiation was available, became a sacrifice for sin. Again, we cannot understand how he, who is impassive by the very essence of his nature, and, as such, would appear to be placed beyond the influence of passing events, should listen to prayer should regulate the course of his moral government-should interfere with the connected course of cause and effect-should inflict, suspend, or withdraw his chastisements, accordingly as human free agency leads man successively to sin or to repentance; yet here the bible and the moral consciousness within us go hand in hand. Were God not to punish sin, he would cease to be God; were he not to listen to the cry of sin

sorrow for sin, a determination, under the divine help, to lead a new life, and an earnest supplication to the Holy Spirit that the evil thoughts of our hearts may be changed, and our corrupt nature regenerated. That man must have read his bible under a strange misapprehension of its contents, who thinks that he can find there one single line implying a compromise between God's holiness and man's sinfulness; or that the standard of our moral duty has been lowered, in order that we may more easily attain to salvation. Let us not deceive ourselves. All that we can do-let me add, much more than we can do-is in strictness demanded from us. Our faith and our good works, the inward devotion of our hearts and our external obedience to all God's revealed ordinances; to speak it in one word, our whole constitution of body and soul is his. By making this line of absolute perfection the rule of our duty, he hast in fact, cut away from us every excuse for remissness or indifference. "He who aimeth at the sun," as is quaintly observed by an old English writer," though he cannot hit his mark, will nevertheless shoot higher than he who is content to aim only at a bush." It

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Christ, the living Manna, the "true Bread," came | be lively and active within us. down from heaven; him the Father sent into the world, and gave, that "whosoever believeth (feedeth) on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The glory, which the only-begotten Son had with the Father before the world, was laid aside by him when he came upon earth. He who was "in the form of God" in heaven, and "thought it not robbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philip. ii. 6-8). But in his triumphant humiliation and death for the sinner's redemption, he glorified the Father on earth; and "finished the work which he had given him to do," manifesting his name unto the men who were given him "out of the world," and presenting his life, "a ransom for many." His origin was divine, and his advent from on high was a miracle of power, love, and mercy.

In vain do we profess to 66 press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling "—the heavenly Canaan-unless the provisions for the soul, made in the atoning sacrifice and communications of grace in Christ, be daily and continually sought and partaken of. Prayer daily, meditation daily, digestion of the word of truth daily, self-examination, circumspection, leaning upon God, looking unto Christ by faith-these are some of the exercises of devotional feeding on the "living Bread," by which alone the spiritual state can be healthy and vigorous, and prepared, through grace, for every daily and hourly emergency in this world of trial and tribulation.

II. The manna was the daily sustenance of the Israelitish church during their journey through the wilderness.

The "Bread of life" must be fed upon daily. As needful as daily food to the body, so is Christ to the soul. The spiritual bread is, no doubt, included in the petition taught us by our Lord himself, "Give us this day (or, for the day) our daily bread." As the "meat which perisheth" is not to be the chief object of our prayers and endeavours, so, must we suppose, our blessed Saviour had chiefly in view, in this petition, the daily spiritual sustenance which every soul requires.

Shall the bodily powers need daily nurture, and the spiritual thrive unfed? While weakness and mortality are the cause of the necessity for daily corporeal renovation, perceive we not that sin and temptation, and the danger of eternal death, are sufficient causes for the needful daily refreshing of the spiritual frame? Yet, alas! how reversed, in the general practice of mankind, is the measure of importance attached to the temporal bread, in comparison with

that "bread which endureth unto eternal life!" Men will not be convinced of their soul's need of sustenance, while they lavishly and luxuriously pamper the flesh! O that the "Bread of life" were more cared for, as a matter of daily nourishment, of indispensable concern, and of superior delight! How much more, might we not reasonably expect, the soul that daily, diligently, heartily fed upon it, to prosper and be in health!

The church of Christ, and in it each believer, is travelling through the wilderness of the world to the heavenly Canaan. Baptized into Christ, as the Israelites were "unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea," we all profess to be followers of the Lord, to walk in his laws. The church of old was "proved" (Exod. xvi. 4), whether it would obey Jehovah or not, by the manna which the people were directed to gather and eat every day.

We are proved to be true or not to our faith and duty, by our daily feeding upon, or neglecting, the spiritual Manna. In vain do we strive to serve God unless Christ be our life-unless his word and Spirit

III. The manna was freely supplied, and sufficient for all, yet none had to spare.

The "living Bread" is a free and gracious, full and perfect provision, able to supply the wants of the whole world. Not for a few, but for all, Christ died. His atoning blood is co-extensive in its healing efficacy with the universal malady of sin, which it was designed to remedy. No case of the indigent and afflicted sinner is beyond the reach of his power and sufficiency to cure; "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." The bread which he gives is his flesh, "which he gives for the life of the world." Every family of fallen Adam needs a participation in this spiritual food. Except they eat thereof "they have no life in them." Let them hunger and thirst after his righteousness, and they shall be filled.

Yet, however freely and fully any partake, they have nothing to spare. "They that gather much have nothing over, and they that gather little have no lack." As there is no deserving of grace, or purchasing it, it being the free gift of God; so, there is no superabundance received (which would imply want of judgment on the part of the giver), nor can any works of supererogation be performed. The wise virgins, who took oil in their vessels with their lamps, had nothing over to sell or give to those who were foolish, and lacked (Matt. xxv). When we shall have done all those things which are commanded us, we are taught by our Lord to say, "We are unprofitable servants"-we have nothing to glory of-we have done no more than of bounden duty is required. On the other hand, if we but touch the border of our Lord's garment in faith, and receive willingly and heartily the least measure of his grace, we shall be made whole-we shall go in peace-we shall find the supply sufficient for our day, and the strength "made perfect in weakness."

O that each son and daughter of degenerate man would accept this blessed, free, miraculous, abundant gift-"the bread of life which came down from heaven”

gathering it from the storehouse of the household of faith, where the church, as a faithful parent, dispenses it for all her children, by the ministry of the word, by her ordinances and sacraments! feeding on it daily, diligently, heartily; seeking continual supplies to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, both now and for ever."

"Lord, evermore give us this bread!" May we receive it, relish it, and inwardly digest it; that, by See 14th Article of Religion.

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its never-failing nourishment, by thy merits and
death, and through faith in thy blood, we, and all thy
whole church, may be refreshed for the arduous journey
of life, and strengthened and defended in all dangers
and adversities, until we come to thy everlasting
kingdom.

NEW ZEALANDERS*.

same original stock that have occupied a portion of
the same countries as the Malays, but are regarded by
the latter as too abject in the scale of humanity to
treat them otherwise than servants or a conquered
people. These degraded people are found in greatest
numbers in the insular lands of New Caledonia, New
Hebrides, Espiritu Santo, and adjoining groups, the
Solomon Islands, Louisiades, and are identified as the
Harafouras and Papuans of New Guinea. The re-
lationship between the above races and the New Zea-
landers is past all doubt, as a more marked resem-
blance exists in their political and social institutions,
religion, customs, habits, manners, and opinions, and
even conformity in a physical and moral point of view,
and last, not least, language, than will be found be-
tween the peasantry of Cumberland and Cornwall in
England, or Britany and Picardy in France. Without
disturbing the oft quoted memoirs of those patriarchs
(to antiquarians) Shem and his brethren, the investi-
gations of recent travellers prove, that the Isles have
been peopled by the colonies that originally emigrated
from Asia, and have so far increased, notwithstanding
the existence of the most arbitrary governments, that
set no value on the lives of their subjects, and the most
degrading domination of priesterait, that enforced the
merits of human sacrifices, as to spread themselves
over the countries of the Yellow Sea to the Sandwich
Islands, in the vicinity of the north-west coast of
America. From the proximity of the vast island of
Australia, it might be supposed, a portion, at least, of
the people we are treating of had originally descended
from its inhabitants, but this opinion is immediately
set at rest by any acquaintance with the language,
customs, habits, and manners of the two people, that
differ so essentially as to repudiate the institution of
a comparison. To persons inclined to pursue this
theme, we would say, that the debased and abject con-
dition of the Australian, the expression of features,
form of body, habits of recklessness as to ideas even
of social comfort, dissimilarity in language, no single
sentence having the like tendency or sound, habits of
perpetual migration, and absence of all government
are sufficient data to prove the different descent of the
nations in question. All voyagers and travellers, from
the earliest of the Dutch visitors to those of the pre-
sent day, agree in substantiating the fact of the un-
mitigated wretchedness and degradation of the Aus-
tralians that inhabit the several portions of what might
be termed an insular continent. The marked difference
in caste among the New Zealanders is observable in
every country where the Malay and Papuan occupy
the same soil, of which we may instance the Moluccas
in Asia, and the far-distant Madagascar in Africa, the
Andamans and Nicobars in the Bay of Bengal. The

THE New Zealanders, when first discovered, were a ferocious and barbarous people, principally delighting in the practices of war, and solicitous to excel in the habit of making such grimaces and contortions of the body and features, as would best tend to excite fear and horror in the breasts of their enemies; but an interval of forty years' partial intercourse with their more enlightened visitors has gradually sapped the supposed indomitable ferocity of the savage warrior, who, having once tasted of security and the blessings | of peace, now wields, with greater satisfaction, the implements of agriculture, than ever he did those of war; and confesses that the angry war-speech, and wildly exciting dance, is attended with infinitely less satisfaction than that of an argument in driving a bargain in commerce, and the hakari (dance) of the harvest home. Until within a very few years this salutary agency, arising from the intercourse with civilized man, was wholly unseen, but time has discovered that it was nevertheless felt. The earliest signs of the effect of this beneficial intercourse was discovered at Urcoua (Tolaga Bay), where Captain Cook met with much kindness from the natives, who had never seen a European before, rendered the more remarkable, as he had met with an opposition (similar to that given to Cæsar by the ancient Britons) from the resident tribes at Turunga (Poverty Bay) a distance of scarcely forty miles south. Within the last twenty years Europeans, principally Britons, have located themselves throughout the country, even in those inhospitable islands situated to the south of the island of Victoria; yet the greater portion of the natives still retain a considerable stock of original habits, as practised in remote periods of their history, and are in most instances strongly addicted to the superstitious observances of their forefathers. Unlike the inhabitants of the various islands in the South Pacific Ocean, who are as indolent a race of beings as exist on the face of the globe, New Zealanders have ever been, from necessity, an industrious people-principally agriculturists and fishermen. The nation consists of two aboriginal and distinct races, differing, at an earlier period, as much from each other as both are similarly removed in similitude from Europeans. A series of interinarriages for centuries, has not even yet obli-head of the brown or mulatto race is ornamented with terated the marked difference that originally stamped the descendant of the now amalgamated races. The first may be known by a dark brown complexion, well formed and prominent features, erect muscular proportions, and lank hair, with a boldness in the gait of a warrior, wholly differing from that of the second and inferior race, who have a complexion brownblack, hair inclining to the wool, like the Eastern African, stature short, and skin exceedingly soft. In physical character the two castes differ in a great degree and probably, before intermarriages took place between them, the difference was as marked as between that of a European and a negro of the western world. The origin of the former must be attributed to the Malayan race, who are found to inhabit an extensive space of the globe, including the insular countries of the Indian, African, South or North Pacific Oceans. The second and inferior race, are evidently, from their habits and customs, descended from the

From Manners and Customs of the New Zealanders; by J. s. Polack, Esq., Two Vols. 8vo. Londen: Madden and Co. Hatchards.

a profusion of hair, flowing in ringlets on the shoulders, unless tied up at the crown; but in their inferior countrymen, the hair forms itself into spiral twists, dark, close to the skull, brown, when further removed, and ending in a red-brown. The full flowing beard incident to Europeans, but rarely adorns the hnınan face divine of the New Zealander. Among the many peculiarities that are attached to the native inhabitants of warm climates, is the scarcity of hair on the countenance; yet it might be expected that the prevailing heats would be favourable to the growth of this much valued addition.

FAR-STRETCHING thoughts are thine, Egyptian land Glory to Zion's crown, "the bright, the morning