Isaiah is one of the greatest figures in the Old Testament. He has been called the "prince of all the prophets," and his book one of the noblest, from the extent, vigor, eloquence and lofty religious sentiment of its discourses. Disregarded by Ahaz, he became Hezekiah's chief adviser, warned him against trusting to Egypt and other nations, and on the occasion of Sennacharib's invasion counseled him to resist the Assyrians and trust in the Lord.

For half a century his voice was lifted up against the idolatry and wickedness of this people, against religious formalism, and for purity and holiness. His prophecy respecting the restoration of Israel after seventy years' captivity, and naming Cyrus as the restorer, two hundred years before he was born, is very remarkable, as was the literal fulfillment of his prophecy of the destruction of Babylon and Tyre, at least a century before any danger threatened the latter. He expected political independence under a king, a descendant of David, and that then there would be righteousness and holiness in the land. These hopes were fulfilled, though not in the way he expected.

Out of Israel came Jesus, who taught us to worship the Father, and has founded a kingdom more glorious and enduring than was ever dreamed of by king or prophet.

Jeremiah lived about two centuries later than Isaiah. He was a man of intense patriotism, deep spirituality and lofty faith in the mercy and power of Israel's God. More is known of his personal character and fortunes than that of any other prophet. He was intense in feeling, eager and unwearied in action, shrinking from a public career, yet driven by an inward voice to a life of ceaseless conflict. His description of the utter destruction of Babylon could scarcely have been more vivid and exact if he had been present to view the scene. Like Isaiah, he foresaw the captivity and expected the same results. The captivity itself taught Israel something of true righteousness, and long afterward God sent Jesus with a more perfect teaching.

After Jerusalem was laid waste, the prophet gave utterance to his sorrow in the Lamentations. It is more elaborately poetical than any other book in the Bible, and characterized by the same union of strong passionate feeling and entire submission to God which is found in his prophecies.

Ezekiel gives a wonderful account of his summons to the prophetic office, and the instructions and encouragement which were given him for undertaking it. He was a priest and much interested in the ritual, but these were really unnecessary at that time, and he was truly a God-fearing man filled with His Spirit. His prophecies were delivered during the captivity, to corroborate Jeremiah's predictions, and afterwards to encourage the Jews in their sorrow and enable them to look forward to better days. The depth of his matter and the marvelous nature of his visions, render his prophecies at once impressive and obscure. He believed that the captivity was ordered by God to purify His people and show forth His power to other nations. He expected they would be restored to Canaan and drew up a consti

His prophecies against Tyre, Egypt and several other nations were all fulfilled by the conquest of those countries by Nebuchadnezzar.

The prophecies recorded in the book of Daniel are very striking. There we have described the rise and fall of four monarchies, and a prophecy concerning the conquest of Alexander the Great and his successors, embracing so many particulars that it assumes the appearance of a history of the events which it predicts.

His prophecies are remarkably circumstantial and distinct. Sir Isaac Newton called one on the Messiah (chap. ix), the foundation of the Christian religion. This book shows an advance in opinions. In it we find the first mention of the resurrection. The doctrine of immortality is not clearly taught in the Old Testament except in the book of Daniel (xi, 23). It also represents the various nations as having guardian angels (x, 13).

The minor prophets did not differ essentially in their prophecies from the others. The destruction of Nineveh, not only by an overflowing flood, but by fire also, is as literally described by the historian as it was foretold by Nahum.

The ancients did not fail to recognize the ability of woman to fill high places, as rulers, leaders, poets and prophets. Women like Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Huldah and Noadiah were honored, and their opinions sought and respected.

The name Sibyl was given to certain prophetesses, who were supposed to predict the history of nations. There exists a collection of these predictions. In it we find the first clear statement of the Messiah.

The prophets all taught that holiness of life, in obedience to God and with faith in him, would bring blessing to the people, and the blessing did really come, not in political independence and power, but in the person of the Great Teacher whom God raised up out of Israel.

"We have a series of prophecies which are so applicable to the person and earthly life of Jesus, as to be shown to have been designed to apply to Him, and if so, then prophetic prediction is proved. At one time he is represented as a triumphant conqueror, again as a persecuted and patient sufferer. But however great the apparent inconsistency, there is an exact accomplishment of both characters in Jesus of Nazareth, which can be said of no other man. whole ritual law is, in fact, a prophecy of Jesus. The law, the Psalms and the prophets all testify of him."

The

Christ himself delivered, while upon earth, many clear and remarkable prophecies. Most of his parables have a prophetic character. He foretold, in express words, the treatment which his followers would receive from the world, the treachery of Judas and the denial of Peter. A prophecy was delivered on Mt. Olivet concerning the utter destruction of the temple at Jerusalem and of the whole Jewish nation, recorded by Matthew (xxiv) forty years before it occured and when there was not the least probability of such an event.

The prophets of the New Testament, next to Jesus, were John the Baptist and those persons who

were endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, in the time of the Apostles, "the speakers with tongues, and the interpreters of tongues, the prophets, and the discerners of spirits, the teachers, and workers of miracles;" the supernaturally illuminated expounders and preachers.

"Christ alone possessed the fulness of spiritual inspiration, because he alone had attained the fulness of spiritual life."

From the New Testament we are to learn how Jesus became a universal presence, a gift to all hearts and lives. Henceforth the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to a chosen few, but is "unto you and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." All the children of God may become prophets if they will. The light which, before Moses, shone only in single households, now fills the whole earth. The same sun shines to-day which shone in Palestine, and lighted the souls of Moses and David and Isaiah and Jesus. "And his going forth is from one end of the heavens to the other and nothing is hidden from the heat thereof." Palestine is but one of the many gardens of God. Has not the same sun shone in all great minds from that day to this, and by what other light do any of us see our way or our work?

It is in this faith that the " Alpha" have been humble seekers after light and truth as taught by the dealings of God with his people in olden times, and while we have been partakers of much social, intellectual and spiritual pleasure, we feel that we have only reached the "outer courts "of all that is to be known and experienced. Then, are we not stimulated to pursue the study so begun until we reach the Omega of life, and if by so doing we may hope then to be counted worthy of admittance to the "inner temple," our work will not have been in vain.

DR. ARNOLD ON CONSCIENCE AND FAITH. Men get embarrassed by the common cases of a misguided conscience; but a compass may be out of order as well as a conscience, and the needle may point due south, if you hold a powerful magnet in that direction. Still the compass, generally speaking, is the true and sure guide, and so is the conscience; and you can trace the deranging influence on the latter quite as surely as on the former.

Again, there is confusion in some men's minds, who say that, if we so exalt conscience we make our selves the paramount judges of all things, and so do not live by faith and obedience. But he who believes his conscience to be God's law, by obeying it obeys God. It is as much obedience, as it is to follow the dictates of God's spirit; and in every case of obedience to any law or guide whatsoever, there must always be one independent act of the mind pronouncing this one determining proposition, "I ought to obey:" so that in obedience, as in every moral act, we are and must be the paramount judges, because we must ourselves decide on that very principle, that

we ought to obey. And as for faith, there is again a confusion in the use of the term. It is not scriptural but fanatical, to oppose faith to reason. Faith is properly opposed to sense, and is the listening to the dictates of the higher part of our mind, to which alone God speaks, rather than to the lower part of us, to which the world speaks. There is no end to the mischief done by that one very common and perfectly unscriptural mistake of opposing faith and reason, or whatever you chose to call the highest part of man's nature.

EDUCATIONAL.

SUMMER SCHOOLS OF HEBREW.

"The Correspondence School of Hebrew," instituted in the winter of 1880, at Morgan Park, Ill., by Wm. R. Harper, and reorganized Twelfth mo. 1884, under the title of "The Institute of Hebrew,” with Wm. R. Harper as Principal, will hold summer schools in Philadelphia, New England, Chicago, and Chautauqua during the approaching summer. The printed "Calendar Calendar" announces that the Philadelphia school will be organized Sixth mo. 4th, and close Seventh mo. 5th. The New England school will be held in New Haven from Sixth mo. 30th to Seventh mo. 25th. The Chicago school will begin Seventh mo. 21st and close Eighth mo. 15th. The Chautauqua course begins Eighth mo. 4th and continues until Eighth mo. 31st.

This school is intended to give instruction in Hebrew to any one who may desire aid in acquiring a knowledge of the language.

It embraces four classes ranging from "elementary" (made up of those who have not studied Hebrew before,) through the "intermediate" and "progressive" to the "advanced" class, which is intended for those who are thoroughly familiar with the grammar of the language and have read much in Hebrew.

In connection with the course of lessons, there will be pronouncing sections, each of which will consist of five students and a leader. A half hour each day will be devoted to pronouncing aloud the Hebrew text.

A

The plan of correspondence for home study is similar to the other schools of like character. printed lesson paper is mailed to the student each week. This lesson assigns the tasks to be performed, furnishes assistance and suggestions, and contains questions on the lesson, thus guiding the work of the student as though he were in the lecture-room.

The recitation papers are returned weekly to the instructor, who corrects and remails to the student. The tuition fee is ten dollors per year. The instructors and lecturers are men of large scholarship, and mostly professors in the universities and colleges of the United States.

The proposed plan brings the study of Hebrew within the reach of every one who desires to become familiar with the old historic language in which the "Scriptures" were originally written. Any one desiring to become a student of the "Institute," and to have the advantage of attending either or all of the summer schools may obtain full particulars by address

READING.

R.

A SUBJECT of great interest, to which attention might be well directed in the educational conferences, is that of reading, as a school exercise.

Fifty years ago it was a lesson to which much attention was given in schools, and it continued to be an exercise for the pupil while school days lasted, the principles of elocution receiving illustration as the lesson proceeded. Now-a-days so much time is spent in preliminaries that the lesson to which they tend is utterly lost for want of practical application. I have known a scholar enter college a good reader, and come forth an indifferent one just for this reason. A

sorrowful fact!

ESTEEMED FRIENDS: The advice given to Friends of East Jordan by J. W. P., which appeared in a recent number of your paper, is, in my view, errone ous; and that such advice was given by him is to me a matter of surprise and sorrow. He must well know of the manifest departure of the adherents of Joseph John Gurney in the Western States from the original ground of Friends.

there would be a renewal of that love for one another that binds and cements together.

Many have been turned away by the disposition of some to assume authority in the church and the lack of charity towards those who differed from them. Young ministers have not the sympathy they ought to receive, and the wonder is that any are called into this service.

When we remember the youth of George Fox and many others of the early times who were such valiants in the ministry, we must see the necessity of recognizing the gifts amongst us, and encouraging the spirit of love and harmony that is so necessary to growth in spiritual things. There is no burden so heavy to be borne as a lack of that forbearing and forgiving spirit which is the sure test of true religion. J. W. MOORE. Richmond, Ind., Fourth mo, 4th, 1885.

THE CHURCH AND THE DRINK QUESTION.

One of the most encouraging indications of the present period is the increased interest in denominational temperance work, chiefly educational in its character, in connection with nearly all the larger Protestant denominations and in the Roman Catholic Church. The Presbyterian General Assembly has now a large number of temperance committees in subordinate Presbyteries doing effective temperance work. Among Methodists are many conference and other temperance societies Large numbers of Baptist conventions in various States send forth pro

I trust not, but that Friends of East Jordan and elsewhere may follow the better advice given by George Fox, to "hold all your meetings in the power of God." Can we not wait upon Him for one short hour, commune with our own hearts and be still?

The declaration given of old remains to us and to our children: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Let us then not trespass upon the time set apart for Divine Worship; but if, after that time, a further meeting for mutual improvement and the advancement of our principles and testimonies may appear desirable, no objection should be made. I remain, very truly, your friend,

Third mo. 29th, 1885.

THOMAS GARRIGUES.

DEAR EDITORS: I have noticed several articles in your valuable paper of late, on the decline of the Society of Friends. The cry seems to be going abroad that the walls of our Zion are being destroyed. There are several causes to which this declension is attributed, but the chief one seems to me to be found in that we, as a people, have let our minds, run on the accumulation of wealth, to the neglect of that most important duty of looking after the welfare of our members.

If we had the same concern for these that we have for the accumulation of wealth our Society would again become a numerous people. We need more earnest workers in the Master's service. If there were but the same faithfulness that characterized the

hibition of the liquor traffic. The Indiana Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends, also the New York Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends, have recently procured from the National Temperance Society temperance literature to the amount of upwards of one hundred dollars each for distri bution among their members and for the libraries of their Sabbath Schools. What these smaller bodies do in this practical way it is within the province and power of the larger Christian denominations to do on a much more extended scale, and with a very large measure of usefulness.

In all churches there is urgent need of more earnestness, of a deeper consecration on the subject of temperance. A late visitor at the Carlisle Indian school asked a little Indian girl if she was a member of the Church. She replied, "Just a little; not much." That is the incongruous position of too many members of Christian churches; they are for temperance "just a little; not much." They need a deeper baptism, and to come into full and active membership in the organized temperance movement. -National Temp. Advocate.

"GOVERNMENTS, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them, they are ruined too. That therefore which makes a good constitution must keep it, namely, men of wisdom and virtue, qualities that because they descend not with worldly inheritance, must be carefully propagated by a virtuous education of youth.- William Penn.

DEATHS.

LONGSTRETH.-On Third month 31st, 1885, John Longstreth, in his 81st year; a member of the Monthly Meeting of Friends, held at Green Street, Philadelphia.

REEDER.-On Third month 31st, 1885, William P. Reeder, in his 70th year; a member of the Monthly Meeting of Friends, held at Green Street, Philadelphia.

YERKES.-On Third month 30th, 1885, at Lom

ARE THESE NOT CHRISTIANS?

A Friend has sent us the following article, which we have no doubt will interest our readers, but we desire to say that a marked difference is to be noticed between the teaching of the early Friends and that of this people, who profess a contempt for liberal education. Some of the shining lights of the

years.

OBITUARY.

At Richmond, Ind., on First-day morning, Third month 15th, 1885, Eliza Ann King, wife of Levinus King, in her 79th year; for many years a valued elder of Whitewater Monthly Meeting.

She was born in Philadelphia, the 9th of Eighth month, 1806. Her lineal descent was of the honorable among men, who were noted in an especial manner for that nobility which characterizes the truly great and good, and having a pious mother, her mind was early imbued with the conviction that the greatest gift of God to man is the revelation of his own spirit. This became to her the "well of water springing up unto everlasting life." It was the indwelling word in the heart, which became a vital force of wisdom and of power, teaching her the way and enabling her

to walk therein.

by the best education of the time could become the instruments of the Most High, and that talents well cultivated were greatly serviceable in overcoming the mental servitude which bound the people. It is useless to put forth any argument for ignorance.EDS.

While there is a general acknowledgment that the Society of Friends is not at present fulfilling its duties as a religious organization, and while some are advocating a return to the ways of the fathers, and others an advance in more modern acceptances, it may at least be interesting to lay before the Society an epitome of a sect existing at present, and fulfilling those abnegating precepts of Christianity about which there is so much contention.

Her sympathies were extended to the poor of the African race; and doubtless there are those who re

member well the pleasant Seventh-day afternoons spent by her in gratuitous efforts for their instruction and future advancement.

Among the many testimonies to the truth she felt called upon to bear, was that against intemperance. She refused to take money for teaching the children of those who obtained their living by the sale of intoxicating liquors, saying, "I will teach your children, but I cannot take your money obtained in that way. In 1843 she was united in marriage with Levinus King who was also one of our pioneers. Well fitted to be a kind mother to his children, her conscientious care of them was a marked feature of her character. Her long illness marred the enjoyment of her later years yet her sunny spirit shone brightly through the clouds of affliction.

The devoted companionship of many years, is now broken, leaving a sad vacancy, but bringing to a weary

one rest and peace.

S. A. E. H.

HE is good that does good to others. If he suffers for the good he does, he is better still; and, if he suffers from them to whom he did good, he has arrived to that height of goodness that nothing but an increase of his suffering can add to it. If it proves his death, his virtue is at its summit: it is heroism complete.—Bruyère.

The sect has existed in Oregon for some years, and is known as Brethren in Christ." They believe affirmations" to be of the same nature as oaths, and, as courts of justice refuse the simple "yeas and "nays," which they feel themselves bound to abide by, they are practically shut out from every form of legal justice. If they are cheated, robbed or assaulted, they have no succor from law. They believe that a simple life is the most becoming the Christian, and hence when a convert is enlisted from the busy ranks of the world, he is invited to consider that the salvation of his soul is more important than the accumulation of riches, and that it would befit Hence their members have in some instances actually him to exchange business for agricultural pursuits. left thrifty businesses to engage in farming.

They believe in the sinfulness of luxury, ornament and extravagance. Hence they deny themselves tea, coffee and sugar, also music, and all ornamentation in dress and habitation. One of them, having had a house built with the cornice slightly ornamental, felt uneasy till he acknowledged himself guilty of pride and prepared for its removal. They emphasize the words of the beloved apostle: "All that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father, but of the world, and the world passeth away, with the lust thereof."

They believe that persecution is now, as it ever the world loves its own and hates its opposite; that was, a distinctive attendant upon Christians; that "all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," and that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." On account of this belief, at one time, their preacher was shot by the sons of a woman who had joined the sect, and left for dead, while several of the elders of the Church were grievously assaulted. At another time a vigilance committee was formed against them, and eight of them