CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. to impress upon the hearts of all now present It has often been remarked, that if the Christian religion could be designated by one word which should completely describe it, that word would be "love." Indeed, our great Redeemer himself declares this to be the foundation of the whole law; love to God forming the basis of the first table, and love to man that of the second; saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like; namely, this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Such being the extent of this divine principle, it would far exceed the limits of our present time to enter into an adequate description of it. Still, perhaps, the present occasion may be profitably employed in meditating briefly I. On the grounds and operations of Christian love. II. On its semblance. III. On the application of it to the subject of our present meeting. I. In the first place, then, we "love God because he first loved us." This is the only ground of perfect affection that can exist in human nature. We cannot love an Almighty being because he is essentially holy and just; for, so long as we remain imperfect, unholy and, unjust, so long as we remain carnally-minded, his perfections, his holiness, and his justice are only pledged for our destruction, and, consequently, our mind is and must be enmity against him. But, so soon as the repentant sinner by faith in Jesus Christ begins to feel the love that his Creator bears to him, as soon as he feels himself reconciled to his heavenly Father by the mediation of the Son, then, and not till then, he begins to love God. That this subject may be brought home to your understandings, let us suppose the case of an earthly friend. Suppose that in early life a close intimacy had subsisted between you and some one who was heir to great riches and power; suppose he had constantly expressed his willingness to aid you in any way that you could desire; and suppose you had accepted his kindness and become largely his debtor; when gently reminded of this debt at a time when you could have easily discharged it, you not only refused to do so, but added bitter language to your refusal sup pose your friend departs to a distant place, you This, my Christian friends, is but a very faint picture of the relative situations held by Almighty God and the repenting sinner. Neither can any human being love you with a love so constant and so great as that with which God loves you. Nor is it possible for one man to heap benefits on another nearly equal to those which God bestows on the humblest person. Nor can the rebellion of man against man be nearly so aggravated as that of the most decent and moral unregenerated sinner is against God; and, compared with spiritual destitution, the deepest temporal misery is trifling. Yet the Son of man came to seek and to save those who were lost in this degradation; and the highest exaltation on earth is not to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in the kingdom of Christ in heaven. Yet those that have been thus sought and saved by Christ are made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. My brethren, if any of you feel that you have been thus rescued, thus exalted; that you are thus loved by Jesus Christ; then whatever is his will must become your plea- | Christian at all, who does not believe in Christ. It may exist also in the professor of Christianity, who may by it deceive himself as to his real state in the sight of God. sure. But his will is that ye love one another: nay, so earnest was our divine Redeemer on this point; that, immediately before he was betrayed, all feeling for his own awful prospects seems to have given place to this the most intense of all his desires; and the deep and heart-stirring prayer that he offered to heaven in that dread moment was for the strict union of believers with each other, with their Saviour, and with their God: "Neither pray for I these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (John xvii. 20). On the operations of this principle scarcely anything need be said. Let the principle itself be properly founded, and appropriate actions must be the result. If we love mankind because we know and feel that Christ has rescued us and saved us, then we shall make his love to us the measure of our love to them: whatever he would have done we shall attempt to do. But we know what he would have done by what he has done: he went about doing good; and we by his example shall diligently employ ourselves in whatever may promote the present or future happiness of our fellow-men. II. But the text exhorts us to let love be without dissimulation. And here I am aware of an objection that may be raised against the admonition; which is, that love, being an affection of the heart, cannot exist with dissimulation; because, where love is, there is no dissimulation; and where dissimulation exists, there can only be the semblance of affection, and not the affection itself. And this, indeed, may be true of the outward appearance of love described by our Lord when he says, "If ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again" (Luke vi. 32, 34). This is spoken of the appearance of affection, assumed for selfish motives, but having no place in the heart. But, if I mistake not, the apostle is here speaking of an inward feeling that may be accompanied by dissimulation, and that so complete as to deceive not only others, but even the possessor of it himself. Take an instance: A man may possess a kind disposition by nature. Wherever he sees distress he may be naturally inclined to relieve it; and he may do this privately, independently of any expectation of profit in return, or of the praise of men. But this, so far from being in itself Christian love, may exist in one who is not a This is love with dissimulation, and it is of this the apostle speaks in his exhortation to let love be without dissimulation. Retain the love; but reject the dissimulation. Strictly examine your own hearts, and never cease the scrutiny till you are well convinced that every act of love done to your fellow-creatures is not done because you expect a benefit in return; is not done because you look for the praise of men; is not done that you may flatter yourself with the idea of your own goodness, greatness, or liberality; but that it is performed solely from your love to Jesus Christ, that you may do his will and advance his glory. Then, and then only, can you ap propriate to yourselves the declaration of your heavenly Master: "Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. xxv. 40). III. Let us now examine, my Christian hearers, how these principles may be applied to the subject of our present meeting. If, then, there The pretext, the very motto (if I may be allowed the expression) of societies such as I am now addressing is "love." They profess to have their first rise in love, to be held together by brotherly love. Each member is professing to add something from time to time to a common stock, to be expended for the relief of each, as necessity may require. You meet annually in the church, and there offer up your joint prayers to Almighty God; by which you do, in effect, give to your union a religious character. are any in these societies who do not act in them from Christian principles, the warning in our text, to "let love be without dissimulation," is particularly applicable to them. Let them strictly examine their motives for becoming and for remaining members. As a help to such examination, I will point out briefly some of the inducements which may lead to membership, and then conclude with a few words of advice which seem to be suggested by the text. A general and leading object with persons who enter these societies as ordinary members will naturally be the prospect of support under such circumstances as are included in the regulations of the club; and this is a praiseworthy motive. Nor are members, in this particular, exposed to covetousness; for few, I believe, will wish for sickness or misfortune, that they may become receivers. The great danger in this case arises not so much from an over-anxiety about personal gain, as from a tendency to CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. discontentment on account of others, whose misfortune it is to be receivers from the general stock. How directly contrary this is to the injunction in our text is too obvious to need explanation. I am aware also that direct fraud may exist in members continuing to be burdensome after the occasion of their first becoming so has ceased; that there may be some who exercise dispositions that are calculated But to promote discord instead of union. these things are repugnant not only to Christianity, but to the plainest maxims of morals, even in the heathen world; and amongst my present hearers I would flatter myself that degradation like this does not exist. Granting, then, what I would gladly hope, that the lives of all whom I am now addressing may be decent and moral; that they are generally free from dishonesty, malice, lewdness, drunkenness, and other gross vices, of which the apostle declares that they which do such things cannot inherit the kingdom of God; still, perhaps, the caution in the text may be applicable to many; for we have seen that the very profession of these societies is love, that it is Christian love; for this sanction has been added by every one here present this morning. It behoves you, then, to look to it, that this love be without dissimulation. But Christian love cannot be this except it be founded on faith in Jesus Christ, except it be exercised for his sake, except it have for its object his glory. I am thus particular in insisting upon the principle, because, that being rightly founded, Detached the practice will easily follow. moral maxims may be, and often are, useful in particular circumstances; but faith in Jesus Christ, love to him, and love to mankind for his sake, and exercised after his example, are the foundations upon which, if practice is not built, it cannot be Christian practice. But more particularly I insist upon these principles, because, if they were generally acted upon in your unions, they would insure a protection infinitely more efficacious in promoting the prosperity of such unions than all the support that men, or the best regulated laws, can afford. They would insure the protection of God, of that almighty Being who rules the affairs and the hearts of men. I am borne out by the word of God when I affirm that the genuine piety even of a few members in each society would bring down from heaven more blessings upon that society than the unregenerate portion of it would be willing to understand or acknowledge. Sodom would have been saved if ten righteous men had been found in it. The whole land of Egypt was saved from famine and gifted with plenty for the sake of Joseph Mistake me not, my brethren. I am addressing you as societies. Particular Christians in all ages have suffered trials; for "whom God loveth he chasteneth," though these trials are sanctified to the believer, and lead to his eternal welfare. Ungodly men suffer equal distresses, but without any hope I of ultimate good. I am addressing you, say, as societies; and scripture and history equally attest that kingdoms and nations, republics, cities, or families, communities, however large or however small, have flourished or decayed according to the general piety or profligacy of the members that composed them. But you may naturally inquire if this undissembled love mentioned in the text can be acquired by your own exertions. The answer is, truly not; but God will give it to your prayers. God has promised to give his Holy Spirit to all them that ask him; and he is faithful that promised. And when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide Could such you into all truth. Pray, then, for yourselves: pray for each other. love, such charity, and such strict union exist amongst you as it was the most earnest prayer of your heavenly Redeemer should exist amongst all his disciples to the end of the world, then would your present communion afford some image and foretaste of that fraternity in heaven, where the combined efforts of all will be excited, not to alleviate the distress, but only to add to the unalloyed enjoyments of each. Then might the elder, after you shall have passed the trials of this mortal life, point you out with these words: "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Amen. FOSSIL REMAINS. No. VI. THE MEGATHERIUM. THE fossil remains of the megatherium-so named by M. Cuvier, from the Greek words "megas" (great), and "therium" (a monster)-are found in the marshy country behind Buenos Ayres, washed by the Parana and its tributary streams. In dry seasons, when the water is low, the bones of the megatherium may be seen projecting above the surface. They are also found in North America, some teeth and bones having been discovered in the marshes of the isle of Skiddawug, on the coast of Georgia. During the dry season, near Buenos Ayres, some of the inhabitants perceived a portion of the remains of this animal above the water, and brought them ashore. Being carried to the authorities of Buenos Ayres, from whom sir Woodbine (then Mr.) Parish obtained it; he sent some hundreds of miles into the country, had the river dragged and sounded, and succeeded in obtaining the skull, the tail, and spinal vertebræ, and the shoulder-bone. This specimen is deposited in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. There is also a specimen in the Royal Cabinet of Natural History, in Madrid, sent thither from Buenos Ayres, in 1789. The parts wanting in this are supplied by those brought by sir Woodbine. "Mr. Darwin," says Dr. Buckland (Bridgewater Treatise, vol. ii. 20, note), "has recently discovered the remains of megatherium along an extent of nearly six hundred miles in a north and south line, in the great sandy desert of the Pampas of Buenos Ayres, accompanied by bones and teeth of at least five other quadrupeds. He also found that the bones of this animal are so often accompanied by those of the mastodon and gustidens, as to leave no doubt that these two distinct species were contemporary. I learn from professor Lichstenstein that a fresh importation of the bones of the megatherium and bony armour has lately been sent to Berlin from Buenos Ayres, and that there remains no doubt that some portion of this armour apper tained to the megatherium. It appears very probable, from more recent discoveries, that several other large and small animals, armed with a similar coat of mail, were co-inhabitants of the same sandy regions with the megatherium." From these specimens some idea may be formed of this monstrous animal which, though found in the newer strata, is more distantly removed from any existing animal, than any fossil remains yet discovered. The megatherium was the size of an ordinary ox at least, but most probably much larger. Mr. Sharon Turner says its skeleton is thirteen feet long and nine high. It had five thick toes, joined to a series of huge, flat, metatarsal bones, or those bones with which the toes are continuous, as in the human foot. Some of the toes are terminated by large and powerful claws of great length. The bones supporting these claws are composed partly of an axis or pointed core, which filled the internal cavity of the horny claw; and partly of a bony sheath, that formed a strong case to receive and support its base. These claws were admirably adapted for the purpose of digging. The calcaneum, or heel-bone, projected very much, being upwards of a foot in length. The other bones were almost as heavy in proportion. The smallness of the head is so remarkable that a doubt was long entertained whether the skull found with the remains of the megatherium belonged to it. It was at length determined, however, by a geologist, who, having joined the vertebræ together, found that the last vertebra of the neck fitted precisely into the articulating processes of the skull. The most remarkable portion of this extraordinary creature's structure was the coat of armour, formed of pieces of solid bone, varying from threequarters of an inch to an inch and a-half in thickness; "and so united," says Mr. Kirby, "as to form a kind of mosaic, like that of the armadillo, the chlanyphorus, and the manis, which are distinguished from the other mammalia by the covering which protects them ;" and which, in the case of the megatherium, says Dr. Buckland, must in some degree have resembled a tilted cart. The use of this he goes on to state: "As the locomotive organs of the megatherium indicate a very CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. SABBATH MEDITATIONS. No. XXII. alow power of progression, the weight of a cuirass | of the limbs of other quadrupeds, affording fresh proofs of the infinitely varied and inexhaustible would have afforded little impediment to such tardy movements. Its use was probably defensive, contrivances of creative wisdom." not only against the tusks and claws of beasts of prey, but also against the myriads of insects that usually swarm in such climates as those in which its bones are found, and to which an animal that obtained its food by digging beneath a broiling sun would be in a peculiar degree exposed. We may also conjecture it to have had a further use in the protection afforded by it to the back and upper parts of the body, not only against the sun and rain, but against the accumulations of sand and dust, that might otherwise have produced irritation and disease." pon "The haunches of the megatherium, in some respects nearly allied to the sloth, were more than five feet wide, and its body twelve feet long and eight feet high: its feet were a yard in length, and terminated by most gigantic claws: its tail was probably clad in armour, and much larger than the tail of any other beast among living or extinct mammalia. Thus heavily constructed, and derously accoutred, it could neither run, nor leap, nor climb, nor burrow under the ground, and in all its movements must have been necessarily slow. But what need of rapid locomotion to an animal whose occupation of digging roots for food was almost stationary? and what need of speed for flight from foes, to a creature whose giant carcass was encased in an impenetrable cuirass, and who, by a single pat of his paw, or lash of his tail, could in an instant have demolished the cougar or the crocodile? Secure within the panoply of his bony armour, where was the enemy that would dare encounter this behemoth of the Pampas, or in what more powerful creature can we find the cause that has effected the extirpition of his race ?" "Every observation which we are enabled to make," says sir Charles Bell, "on the extreme bones of the foot, on the scopula, and on the teeth, confirms the idea entertained by Cuvier, that it was a vegetable feeder, and that its great strength was employed in flinging up the soil and digging for roots. Its strength seems to have been concentrated in its paws, corresponding with the provisions there for enormous nails or claws. I have heard it surmised that this animal may have sat upon its hinder extremities, and pulled down the branches of trees to feed upon. It is only its great size there that can countenance such an idea.... We perceive that the strength of the megatherium was not so much in the body, certainly not in the jaws, but was directed rather to the extremities, and that it was given neither for rapidity of motion nor offence, but for digging." "His entire frame was an apparatus of colossal mechanism, adapted exactly to the work it had to do, strong and ponderous in proportion as this work was heavy, and calculated to be the vehicle of life and enjoyment to a gigantic race of quadrupeds, which, though they have ceased to be counted among the living inhabitants of our planet, have, in their fossil bones, left behind them imperishable monuments of the consummate skill with which they were constructed. Each limb and fragment of a limb, forming co-ordinate parts of a well-adjusted and perfect whole, and, through all their deviations from the form and proportion NOVEMBER 24.-TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER Morning Lessons: Prov. xv.; John xvi. MORNING. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."-PROV. xv. 3. Meditation.-"The king and prophet David saith, The Lord looked down from heaven.' As far as the earth is from heaven, yet God looked down: he seeth all things he is in every corner.... Abel's blood did cry unto God; whence it appeareth that God can hear; yet not only hear, but see and feel. For he seeth over all things: the least thought of our hearts care not for God; yea, they be clean without God is not hid from him.... There be many men which which say in their hearts, Tush, the clouds cover him that he may not see, and he dwelleth above in heaven.' But Abel's blood may certify to us of his Let us, therefore, take heed personal knowledge. that we do nothing that might displease his majesty, neither openly nor secretly; for he is everywhere, and what thing can be hid from him?" (Bp. Latimer). Prayer.-O thou high and lofty God, that inhabitest eternity, I, thine unworthy creature, desire to praise and bless thee for the gracious revelation which thou hast been pleased to make, in Thine eyes, O Lord, are in every place, beholdthy holy word, of thy divine and awful attributes. ing the evil and the good. Hell and destruction are before thee; how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men? Yea, the darkness is no darkness to thee: darkness and light to thee are both alike. Thou dost beset me behind and before: thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising: thou understandest my thoughts afar off. O, how dear are thy counsels unto me! how sweet is their comfort unto my soul! For thine eyes run to and fro upon the earth, to show thyself strong in behalf of them whose heart is upright before thee. Thou watchest over them for good: thou keepest them as the apple of thine eye. Let it be ever present to my mind, that "thou, Lord, seest me;" so shall this solemn conviction be my shield against temptation and my comfort in trouble. May I set thee, Lord, always before me, and, amid all the chances and changes of this mortal life, feel thee at my right hand. When I am tempted, do thou succour and uphold me: when I am in heaviness, do thou, O gracious Father, lift up the joy of thy countenance upon me. Guide me in the way wherein I should go. and may I ever walk as in thy sight. Whether I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, may I seek thy glory in humble dependence upon the promised help of thy Holy Spirit. Lord, let my tongue use knowledge aright, and my mouth speak wisdom: endue me with the grace of patience and long-suffering, that I may at no time render evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing; and give unto me ever, that by a soft answer I may turn away |