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If, however, the work now beginning here, be (as we would humbly trust it is) right in principle, and the workmen right in heart, we must not despise the day of small things. Two Ministers of the Church of England, one to the Jews and another to the Gentiles, and a Minister from the distant shores of the New World, uniting in prayer with a Native Minister of the Gospel in Jerusalem, form but a small assembly; but it is such a congregation as I once never thought to see. May our prayers for an increase of Labourers be accepted and answered, by the Lord of the Sabbath, exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!

Our Worship, besides the devotional part, consisted in my discoursing on the closing verses of the Fifth Chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians after which Mr. Fisk took up the Service; and, with much feeling, discoursed from the Ninth Chapter of Daniel; applying it, in a very striking manner, to the present circumstances of the suffering Oriental Churches.

In the evening, my American Brother and myself spent an hour, as we had been used to do on the close of our Sabbaths, in mutually making such friendly remarks as might be personally useful to us in our common work. As this was our last conference, I am induced to put on record the topic concerning which we then conversed and prayed"How best to secure the advantages, and avoid the evils, which may result from our studying the characters and consequently perceiving the faults of Christian Brethren?"

DEPARTURE FROM JERUSALEM.

Monday, Dec. 15, 1823-Yesterday, beyond all expectation, after two days of stormy weather apparently likely to last, the sky cleared up, and I had resolved, should this day prove equally fair, to take my departure. Accordingly, with one of the brightest mornings that ever greeted a Pilgrim's eye, I gave the word to move. At an early hour, Pappas Ysa and the Abyssinian Priest were with me to take leave, and staid some time. The Greek Deacon, Cæsarius, called also in haste, to say farewell: he is, himself, under orders this day to go with a party of the Monks to the Convent of Mar Saba, there probably to spend the Christmas Festival. Various delays arose in fact, in this country a good departure is always worth half-a-day's journey. I had only, besides my own and my servants' horse, a mule's load of baggage, a guide on horseback, and a muleteer on an ass: yet, with this simple equipage, after having actually taken leave of my Brethren and passed two or three streets, I discovered serious imposition which the guide wished to pass upon me, and was obliged to return and have, as usual, a conflict with that perverse thing-Arab Temper. On these occasions, I have observed that it is only necessary to be in the right, and to shew yourself decided and calm; upon which, after a few malignant evolutions, the evil spirit becomes submissive, and even tractable. Thus it was with my -guide, on the present occasion: finding himself detected, he hastened to repair his error; and, with redoubled vehemence, laid both hands upon his green turban to assure me with their usual oath,

Upon my head," that he would serve me faithfully. (See Matthew v. 36.) This is the commonest oath On

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”.* my head ، علي راسي,of the Country

At length all parties being brought round to good humour, and Mahommed the guide the more so for having been completely conquered, we made a second more successful departure.

REFLECTIONS ON LEAVING JERUSALEM.

At half-past-eleven o'clock, we passed the Damascus Gate of the City; and, in half-an-hour, reached the top of the hill, from which I had caught the first view of Jerusalem on my arrival, and from which I was now to see it for the last time.

While the servants went on, I rode to a fair green spot, and turned my horse's head round, that I might enjoy a few moments' solitary meditation on the view before me. Surely no traveller would fail to snatch such a moment! With little bodily strength, and through a variety of scenes in which troubles had been anticipated, though none had been

* Another most common oath with the Arabs is W'Allah; an appeal to the Sacred Name. Occasionally they strengthen this by W'en-Nabi, " By the Prophet." The remark, an oath for confirmation is an end of all strife, is often curiously exemplified by the Arabs, in their most common transactions. After wrangling a long while, with a vehemence and a pertinacity, which seem to shut out all hope of conciliation, they will (if suffered by the Traveller to take their own time) suddenly come to terms: their Chief, who has watched the furious debate, and in good part fomented it, marks the auspicious moment, clenches the question, gives the signal W Allah, and at once all is settled; every man proceeds to his post, whether it be loading or unloading animals, or setting off on a journey &c. The man, who has a minute before defied and insulted the Traveller to his face, will then come smiling and fawning about him, with an officiousness still more disgusting than his previous rudeness. It is best, on these occasions, not to contend; neither to rage, nor laugh, with them. (See Proverbs xxix. 9.)

experienced, I have thus succeeded in accomplishing the Pilgrimage to the Holy City. "What good," I thought, "has my visit done here? Who will be the better for it? Here-where the Saviour bledhow have I requited His love?" These thoughts rapidly passed through my mind, raising such pensive feelings as I am no stranger to. "I feel that I have done almost nothing: and even if, humanly speaking, I had done much, yet I must before my Master acknowledge that I am an unprofitable servant. But it is now too late to amend this visit; for the time is past, and I must bid farewell to Jerusalem. The noon-day sun shines strong and bright upon the City, and seems to mock its base condition. What a contrast between its aspect at this distance, and its actual state! Here, the smaller objects not being minutely discernible, the glowing strains of David seem as true and lively as they were when they first answered to the touch of his instrument of ten strings-Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion. Still, there seem to be her towers, her bulwarks, and her palaces challenging our admiration. But I have now, for more than twenty days, known that these are not the Towers or the Temple of ancient times. At every step, coming forth out of the City, the heart is reminded of that prophecy, accomplished to the letter, Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles*. All the streets are wretchedness; and the houses of the Jews

*The Author would here add, that he has, subsequently, very often meditated on that phrase: and he can with truth affirm, that no expression could have been invented more descriptive of the visible state of Jerusalem, than this single phrase, trodden downfurnished by the most lively and descriptive of all writings extant, the Bible.

more especially (the people who once held a sceptre on this mountain of holiness) are as dunghills."

While I gazed, my eyes filled with tears till I could look no longer. The frequent ejaculation of the Bishop of Nazareth came into my mind-"Lord, how long!" I thought, too, of those Brethren, from whom I had just parted, and for whose sakes I had an additional motive to pray, Peace be within thy walls! I then suddenly broke off from this multitude of thoughts, which was growing too painful for me; and, pursuing my journey, I felt by degrees as though my present Mission was, in some sense, accomplished; and began to indulge, more warmly, the hope of returning to my family in peace.

AIN YABROUD.

In the evening, at sun-set, we turned off from the road a little to the left, to sleep at Ain Yabroud; a poor village of about fifty houses, all Mahomedans. Our guide, Mahommed, immediately rode up to what he called the principal house: and such, indeed, it seemed to be; the centre part being built high, so as at a distance to give it the appearance of a tower: at the same time he sent some of the Villagers to inquire for Sheik Ibrahim, the head of the place. I found it difficult, however, to conceive myself entering the chief house of the village. I had, on dismounting, to pass through a wretched courtyard; and, at the door, found the point of precedence disputed with me by asses, oxen, sheep, and goats, a very large company. As I paused for a moment to look into a residence which appeared within to be scarcely habitable, these irrational tenants, not at all standing upon ceremony, but know

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