These are the points about which men contend most, and wish to know your opinion. There are other points which I think more important than many of these, but which I have not alluded to-for example-the spirituality of the gospel-the nature of faith-the supremacy of love.

1. I believe in One God-the infinite Maker and Father of all things. I believe in one Being, one Person, one Mind, one Spirit. I believe this the first of all the commandments.

But I do not believe that three and one are the same thing. I do not believe a revealed truth and a mystery the same thing. I do not believe that we ought to worship we know not what, or bow before the altar of an UNKNOWN GOD.

2. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord and Master, the way, the truth and the life, the brightness of God's glory and express image of his person, that the word was made flesh in him, that God's fullness was manifested and dwelt in him, that he is the mediator between God and man.

I believe that he was spoken of by the prophets, and born of a virgin, that never man spake like him, that he did what no man could do except God were with him, that the spirit was not given by measure to him, that he was crucified, dead and buried, and that on the third day he rose again and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God.

But I do not believe that this man Christ Jesus, who suffered hunger and thirst, cold and pain, who was tempted as we are, and made in all respects like his brethren, was the infinite God who inhabits Eternity and who cannot suffer, and whom no man hath seen at any time.

I do not believe that when Jesus prayed to God, he prayed to himself; that when he said "my Father is greater than I" that he meant that he was not greater; when he said "that he could do nothing of himself" that he meant that he could do every thing of himself; that when he called the Father the only true God, that he meant that he also was the true God; nor that when he said God raised him up, and sent him, and that he came forth from God, that he meant to say that he sent himself, and came forth from himself, and raised himself up, and sanctified himself. Nor do I believe that when St. Paul said "to us there is but one God the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ," that he meant to say, there is but one God the Father and another God Jesus Christ.

3. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God poured out on all flesh, and that it lightens every man who comes into the

world. That every one has more or less of its influence, that God is more ready to give it than we are to askit.

But I do not believe that the fruits of the Spirit are anxiety, terror and animal excitement. I do not believe that when a man falls flat on his back and screams and groans, that it is a sure sign that he has got religion. I believe that there may be and often is, much excitement, emotion and action of the imagination and no spirit of God. I believe that there is often a whirlwind, and the Lord not in the whirlwind, and after that an earthquake, and the Lord not in the earthquake, and after that a fire, and the Lord not in it, and after that a still small voice. I believe that there ought to be feelings, but not passions; there ought to be the sweet, still, calm, deep, powerful feelings of Love, Joy and Peace.

4. I believe the Bible to be true and genuine and inspired, that it came from God and contains his will.

But I do not believe in king James' translators, or printers, or correctors of the proof. I believe that it was written in Hebrew and Greek, and not in English, and that the manuscripts are not all alike. I believe that some of it was written more than three thousand years ago, and that all of it was written by men. That God gave them the truth, and let them tell it their own way. Of course, I believe there are obscurities in some parts, and difficulties in other parts, and that nobody will ever be able fully to explain them. I believe enough of it is plain and certain to guide us to heaven, and that a way-faring man, though a fool, need not err therein. I believe that all the essential parts are so plain, that a child can understand it, and so convincing that no one need doubt it. I do not think it necessary to understand how the sun stood still, or how the whale swallowed Jonah, in order to believe in Jesus Christ.

5. I believe that every man is a sinner, that no man keeps the law, and that no man does as well as he can. I believe sin partly natural and partly not. That natural sin is misfortune and not fault, it is weakness, a want of natural strength to do right. I believe that sin is partly, also, our own fault, because we do not act as well as we can, we do not try, we do not act up to our light, we will not have God to reign over us.

But I do not believe that I am to be punished for Adam's sin. I believe the soul that sinneth, it shall die, the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, nor the father bear the iniquity of the son. I believe God will not be angry with me because my father sinned, but will pity me and help me.

Neither do I believe that sin is total, I believe there is some

thing good in men after all. I believe that Jesus Christ spoke the truth when he said of infants "of such is the kingdom of Heaven." I do not believe that hell is paved with little babes a span long, but I believe that heaven is full of them, and that they always behold the face of their Father in Heaven. I think it is well to take care how we despise them. I believe no man is a perfect demon.

6. I believe in punishment. I believe no man who breaks a law of God, can escape punishment. I believe you will be punished if you break a physical, moral, intellectual, or spiritual law. If you put your hand into the fire-if you neglect your health and break these laws, you will be punished. You will suffer pain, and will never be as well as you was before. If you tell a lie, if you indulge a bad feeling, you will be punished also. Your soul will suffer. You will feel mean and wretched. I believe punishment eternal-that eternally sin will be wretchedness, and holiness will be happiness.

But the common doctrine of everlasting punishment I do dot believe. I do not believe that God has made us depraved and sinful; that he has elected a few to life, and without any regard to their merit, chosen them, and irresistibly converted them; that the rest of his poor creation he has cast into hellfire, and sealed them to perpetual torments to glorify his justice. Oh, no! I cannot believe this of my God. I do not believe that God could take pleasure in wrath. I do not believe that glorified spirits are to look down through the crystal floor of heaven and clap their wings with delight at witnessing the torments of damned souls beneath-their fathers and children, and husbands and wives perhaps.

7. I believe salvation is a free gift-free as God's love-not purchased by the blood of any human or divine being-not a debt which God owes to Christ because he was willing to dienot a thing of merit or earned by our labors. I believe God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I believe this the only account to be given of it-that it came from God's love-love full, unmerited, flowing out over his justice and his truth, and harmonising all his attributes.

I believe however, that there are certain conditions to be complied with. That salvation is conditional; and that those conditions are repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to his Gospel, and love to God and man. Repentance, Faith, obedience, love-these are the conditions of salvation.

8. I believe in human ability to comply with these condi

tions. I believe that we can work out our salvation if we choose. I believe we are free to choose the right course, to resolve to do our duty; to begin the work of salvation; to take the first step in the religious life.

I believe, however, in human dependance. I believe man is very weak and in great danger of falling. I believe to will is present with him, but how to perform that which he wills, he finds not. I believe the spirit is willing and the flesh weak. I believe that if he undertakes to obey God in his own strength he cannot succeed; that it is necessary to lean continually on a higher power, take hold of the promises of God— watch and pray against temptation, and to give ourselves up to be guided by the spirit of God which is always ready to help us.

9. I believe that Eternal Life must begin here; that we must be converted and become as little children before we can enter into the kingdom of God; that we must give up all of our sophistry and worldly wisdom, and turn to Infinite Truth, and submit to Infinite Love. I believe we must be born again— born spiritually, and that is as great a change as our first animal birth.

But I do not believe it a miraculous change; I believe it has its laws and its conditions; I believe that talk or noise is no sign of it; that we must know the tree by its fruits; and that not every one who says Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of my father who is in Heaven. EDITOR.

EXTRACTS

From Malcolm's History of Persia.

Jemsheed, who is celebrated as the founder of Persepolis, was the first who discovered Wine. He was immoderately fond of grapes, and desired to preserve some, which were placed in a large vessel and lodged in a large vault for future

use.

When the vessel was opened, the grapes had fermented; and their juice, in this state, was so acid, that the king believed it must be poisonous. He had some vessels filled with it, and poison written upon each; these were placed in his room. It happened that one of his favorite ladies was affected with nervous head-achs: the pain distracted her so much that she desired death. Observing a vessel with poison written on it,

she took it, and swallowed its contents. The wine, for such it had become, overpowered the lady, who fell down into a sound sleep, and awoke much refreshed. Delighted with the remedy, she repeated the doses so often, that the monarch's poison was all drank. He soon discovered this, and forced the lady to confess what she had done. A quantity of wine was made; and Jemsheed and all his court drank of the new beverage; which, from the circumstance that led to its discovery, is to this day known in Persia by the name of Zeher-eKooshon, the delightful poison.

When Alexander the Great was near his end, he wrote to his mother, requesting that the alms given on his death, should be bestowed on those who had never seen the miseries of the world, and who had never lost those that were dear to them. His mother sought in vain for persons of this description: All had tasted of the woes and griefs of life; all had lost those whom they loved. She found a consolation, as her son had intended, in this circumstance, for her great loss. She saw her own was the common lot of humanity.

A Roman ambassador who had been sent to Ctesephon with rich presents, when he was admiring the noble prospect from the windows of the royal palace, remarked an uneven piece of ground, and asked the reason why it was not rendered uniform. "It is the property of an old woman," said a Persian Noble, "who has objections to sell it, though often requested to do so by our king, Nousheerwan; and he is more willing to have his prospect spoiled, than to commit violence." "That irregular spot," replied the Roman, "consecrated as it is by justice, appears more beautiful than all the surrounding

scene."

A Sooffee, or Persian Saint, gives the following account of himself. The day before the feast of Araf, I went up to the terrace of my house and saw all the pilgrims standing at the mountain of Ararat at Mecca. I went and told my mother that I must devote myself to God; I wished to proceed to Bagdad to obtain knowledge. I informed her what I had seen, and she wept. Then taking out eighty deenars, she told me, that as I had a brother, half of that was all my inheritance. She made me swear, when she gave it me, never to tell a lie; and afterwards bade me farewell; exclaiming, Go, my son, I give the to God. We shall not meet again till the day of judgment. I went on well till I came near Hamadan, when