back to peace. Lady Sophia too, at times attempted the task of comforter, but she could not sympathize with the grief. She even remarked that it was strange Mary should suffer so much merely because her brother had chosen to adopt opinions differing from her

own.

Religion at length achieved what friendship could not effect, and Mary's strength began to return. Though it was evident she suffered still, she suffered in silence; not even to Emma did she often speak of her sorrow; but one day coming unawares into the room where her young companion was seated at her writing-desk, she sat down by her, and with the perfect confidence of friendship leaned lovingly on her shoulder, and eagerly watched as she traced the words, "I should ill brook to be the only impediment between you and the altars of Baal; such impediments were wont to be lightly cast aside during the archiepiscopate of that man whose spirit you expect to preside in the future councils of your Church. No Edward, God being my helper, my place shall rather be among the Joan Boughtons, and Anne Askews, who may then stand condemned before your august tribunals."

The tears that dropped from the sufferer's eyes upon the open letter, first betrayed to Emma that Mary was by her side; for, lost in the intensity of her own feelings, she had not even felt her gentle caress. "Mary, how could you"-she began, but Mary stopped her with a tender kiss. "You are right Emma, she said, quite right; I had foolishly begun to think a union with you might save him from total apostacy, but it would not do so, and you must not leave the path of duty." She remained in silent

thought for a few moments, and then added, "I am afraid that your final rejection of him will induce Edward to spend the whole of the college-recess on the continent, with the Jesuit Bernazzi."

"We must just do God's will, and shut our eyes to the consequences," replied Emma; and the resolute girl shut out from her mind the temptation that struggled hard for admittance.

"I have been thinking much, (said Mary, without noticing Emma's last words) of the heavy grief that Aaron must have felt when his two sons, Nadab and Abibu were cut off in their sins; and Aaron held his peace.' Oh, Emma, I have not held my peace; my heart has often rebelled against the Lord; and yet Edward is not cut off; he is still in the hand of-."

66

"We

Prayer and hope," interrupted Emma. have still bright hope, upheld by many promises, to cheer us, Mary."

"Ah yes: but 'hope deferred maketh the heart sick' (said Mary, her eyes again filling with tears,) and I have hoped for Edward through so many long years. You cannot think, Emma, how vividly I have lately seen the goodness of my heavenly Father, in giving me you to fill the void-but your father will soon arrive in England, and then I must almost lose you, my more than sister."

66

“No! Mary, you never will," exclaimed Emma, you must come with me-live with me-we never can be separated."

Mary shook her head, "It is the will of God to divide us, Emma, and I CAN be separated from those I dearly love. I can almost say my soul is even as a weaned child' now. But if my God permit, I will

pitch my solitary tent near your dwelling, Emma, and we may still be daily companions: more than this we must not expect, and you, dear, will have many weighty duties to fulfil as the mistress of your father's house."

"Oh yes, said Emma, (with much emotion) but we will walk together, read, and pray together, and visit the poor together, Mary, as we used to do in our happy days."

"And we will watch together for the wanderer's return," said Mary.

THE LEARNED TRACTARIANS.

"THESE deluding and deluded men have, no doubt, made considerable progress in scholastical attainments, and in erroneous systems of human theology, although the term "learned" certainly seems misplaced, when applied to any one (such as Dr. Pusey) who either cannot, or will not, write intelligible English. But even allowing their learning to be ever so great and extensive, this circumstance, so far from being a matter of commendation, is a source of the deepest regret, because it has increased their power and means of doing injury a thousand-fold. A two-edged sword in the hands of a child, is a comparatively harmless weapon; but when wielded by a gigantic ruffian, it is sufficient to spread consternation and death through a whole village." Rev. James Sutcliffe.

SEPARATION OF THE ISRAELITES AS
A PEOPLE.

Continued from p. 269.

AMONGST Ourselves, the most conspicuous departures from these express precepts of the law, are the eating of the flesh of the hare and the swine. Now although we were altogether ignorant of the import of the prohibition, it is impossible to overlook the fact that

their rejection is placed on physiological grounds. They differ from each other, and both differ from the clean animals: "The hare, because be cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you; and the swine, though he divideth the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you." Lev. xi. 6—8. The hare is rejected for the same reason as the camel and the coney; although they chew the cud, they do not divide the hoof; while the union of these two peculiarities seem to be essential to the production of a flesh healthful when used as human food. It is affirmed by the author to whom we have last referred, that such animals as the hare and the coney, having so much down, are very subject to vermin, and that, in order to expel them, they eat poisonous plants; and that if used as food when they are under such influence, very dangerous consequences ensuė. Many indeed are familiar with the fact that the do

been matter of great joy to Emma, but that a separation from her beloved friend would be the probable result of her father's return. She did not remember her father, but her love for him had been kept up by a constant and affectionate correspondence; and weary of Lady Sophia's guardianship, she felt that a paternal home would be indeed a refuge to which she would gladly go if she could have taken Mary Spencer with her.

Mary knew that Lady Sophia had ceased to value her society, and now considered her presence an irksome restraint; she determined therefore not to remain after Emma left Fernely, but to seek some And temporary home until Edward's ordination. then she hoped to find a permanent and a happy one. Edward did not often write, but he pleaded arduous study, and multiplied engagements, and Mary was satisfied with the excuse.

CHAPTER XVII.

"Oh that Ishmael might live before thee."-GEN. XVII. 18.

"How awfully the darkness is increasing," exclaimed Emma; "I am afraid popery will rise to a great height, before the millstone is plunged beneath the waves, to rise no more for ever and ever."

"And before that time," said Mary, "we may perhaps be called to stand in the ranks of a martyrchurch. I have been thinking much of David's words, My soul is even as a weaned child.' And I am afraid I cannot say so yet, Emma; there are some sources of earthly delight from which my soul