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RELIGION NEVER POPULAR.

we look around us, that true Religious Principle, Christian Life, and Practice, seem as little popular as they ever were! Piety, and Religion, never were popular in this fallen World, and it would appear that they never will be! You may improve outward surroundings,-afford opportunities of self-improvement, hitherto unknown,-but, it is to be feared that fallen Human Nature remains pretty much what it ever was!

A Nation is what its individual members are themselves! Our laws being now based upon Christian ideas, rules, and practice, forbid the abuses, and horrors, of the Past. Those Times can never return! Mankind cannot go back! The opportunities of self-improvement, self-culture, and securing "Success in Life," were never so great as in our day, but the will, and desire, to lead a Godly Life, are too often as much lacking as they ever were! Unless the vast outward improvements of the past 90 years lead to a REVIVAL OF TRUE RELIGION, amongst the Nations, then the mere advance in "Civilization," outward comforts, and Luxury, without an advance in true, genuine, -"Christianity" will prove, after all, to be a Sham, and we shall not have, in that case, quite so much cause, to exult so greatly over the contrast, 1891 presents, to "THE GOOD (?) OLD TIMES."

A "Jack Tar" of the "Good (?) Old Times. The days of the "Pigtail,". "Three Deckers,"-Grog,-" Glory,"-Wooden Legs, and Flogging! "Take them,-all in all,-we ne'er shall see their like again!"-Shakespeare. No! Nor ever want to!

CHAPTER VII.

Encouragement to the Young Christian to Enter the "Wicket Gate," and to Persevere in the good Daily Habits, and Christian Life, suggested in this Volume.

THE ANCIENT "LAMP."-THE "SMOKING FLAX."— THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN DESPONDING. THE "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS," THROUGH THIS WORLD, THE SAME, AS IN GOOD JOHN BUNYAN'S TIME.-SINS FALL BEFORE THE CROSS.-SIN, LIONS, AND "GIANT" DESPAIR, ALL GIVE WAY BEFORE PRAYER.-SAFE AT LAST.

"A Bruised Reed shall He not break, and SMOKING FLAX shall He not quench."-Matt. xiii, 20. Isaiah xlii, 3.

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"And God said 'Let there be Light,' and there was Light."-Gen. i, 3. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my Path. Psalm cxix, 105.

"I am the Light of the World. He that followeth Me shall not walk in Darkness, but shall have the Light of Life."-John viii, 12.

"That is the True Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World."-John i, 9.

"A Light to lighten the Gentiles."-Luke ii, 32.

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66

THAT NOBLE MAN, PRINCE ALBERT.

v, 16.

"Let your Light so shine before men!"- Matt. Light is sown for the Righteous,—and gladness for the Upright in Heart!" Psalm xcvii, II.

Note. The Reader is asked to peruse in the Previous Chapter,—the description of our Forefathers' struggles with the Flint, Steel, and "Tinder Box. (Page 737.)

T

CO the Genius of that splendid man,-Prince Albert,we owe, as a Nation,-that now, most valuable Land upon which are already built, (others will probably follow) the noble "Albert Hall," the New British Museum, "Natural History Section," (Cromwell Road), and the South Kensington Museum," London.

46

This gifted Prince,-never properly appreciated by our Nation, until we had lost him,-appeared,-during his indefatigable life, to be actuated by one noble Thought and Desire, namely, that of securing the Welfare, and Happiness of this Country, and of us, his Subjects.

We owed to his genius that Splendid Scheme, and amazing Success, the First "Great Exhibition," in Hyde Park, 1851. The great Tree enclosed in its lofty Nave is presumed to be still in Hyde Park uninjured by its nine Months' enclosure, while the Huge Glass Palace itself,re-erected as the "Crystal Palace," Sydenham,—after 40 years,5,-still affords innocent pleasure to Millions.

Those of us who have since visited almost every Great Exhibition, including Vienna, Philadelphia, and even Australia,—and hope to see the coming one at Chicago, still look back wistfully to that grand sight in 1851! It was the first of its kind! Once seen, never to be forgotten!

With the Proceeds of the Exhibition of 1851, the Land above alluded to,-now worth an immense Sum,-was purchased from the Blessington Family.

That magnificent Terra Cotta Edifice,-the "Natural History Museum," has relieved the Old British Museum Building, of its prodigious Natural History Accumulations, thus making room for other Sections. The eye is actually wearied with the Rows of Glass Cases, containing a Collection of Birds,— Butterflies,-- Insects,-Shells,-Geological Specimens, &c., &c., now at the Cromwell Road, Museum, such as the World has never before seen!

Relieved, thus, of one Section of its vast accumulations, the "old" British Museum Building, has been enabled to utilize its Rooms,-thus set at liberty,-by bringing forth

THE LAMP OF THE ANCIENTS.

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more of its priceless treasures to Public View. We now pass from "Vase Room No. 1," to many others, filled with Ancient Greek, and Roman, relics,-a Collection second to none in the World!

Indeed, those of us familiar with the Naples Museum,although the latter has been, for generations, upon the very spot, for obtaining the buried Treasures of the Ancients,must nevertheless give the palm to our British Museum!

Amongst other treasures the Visitor is struck with the number, and variety, of these Ancient "Lamps," in Bronze, and Earthenware. Presenting as they do, an infinite variety of ingenious, often graceful, frequently fantastic designs, these "Lamps" of the Ancients are all constructed upon the same system.

All of them possess-at the furthest extremity from the handle, a small,-circular,- hole, to receive the Wick, which was, usually, of Flax. In the centre of the Lamp, at the top, a circular, but somewhat larger opening, received the oil, which was poured in from a small earthenware jug, or vessel. It was this needful supply of additional oil which the foolish Virgins neglected to take with them.

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'They took no oil with their Lamps, but the Wise Virgins took oil in their vessels, with their Lamps.-Matt. xxv., 4.

"The Wise took oil with their Lamps."

These Ancient Lamps were of every degree of excellence, from the small, rude, fabric of burnt clay, up to the often elaborate, elegant, tasteful Lamp in Bronze, with, at times, two openings at its extremity so as to burn two wicks, instead of only one. "But what a poor, dismal, feeble light these lamps would give at best!" No doubt! But, in the houses of the Wealthy, also in Public Buildings, there would be "Candlesticks,"-or what we should now term

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I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER NOW.

upright "Chandeliers," having branches terminating with shelves upon which a number of these Lamps would be placed. These Lamps, if kept constantly trimmed, and properly filled with oil, by the Servants,-would give a certain amount of Light.

MANKIND CONTENT TILL THEY HEAR OF

SOMETHING BETTER.

We must remember, dear Reader, that the Ancients could be contented with very poor substitutes for our Modern Luxuries, because they had never known, or heard of the existence, of anything better! Let us apply this to ourselves! We, Christian Believers,-dear Youth, who read this Book, would have remained quite contented with grasping the poor, unsatisfying, things of Sense, and Time, -the Gains, and passing Pleasures of a transient and dying World, its feeble Lamps,-and delusive joys,-had not,God one day,-sent a new Light to our Souls! Every Young Christian,-impressed with Religion,--has heard a Heavenly Music,--sweet voices not of this World,-which have spoken to him of his Heavenly Home!

We must needs hear that blessed "call" of the Supreme, -those heavenly sounds,-once more!

No more contentment, dear young Christian, for you, or me, with the dim lights of this World,—the Lamps of "Vanity Fair,"-of the "City of Destruction," this World, with its poor Candles, must go! We have seen a better, a more glorious Light,—the Light of our Heavenly Home!

When the Worldly speak to the Young Christian of the good things of this life, and "Worldly Wiseman," urges the necessity of seeing very carefully to the things of this World, "getting on " in life,-plenty of time for religion "later on in life," time enough yet," the Young Christian feels that he has something better,-now!

"These things were all to me at one time! But, in my early Youth, there came a day,—it was a day of days to my soul,-when a Heavenly Visitant came knocking at my door! I did not seek Him! But He came! He spoke words to my Soul,-sweet music, such as I had never heard! This World,- its gains, its pleasures, do not seem to me as they once did! Seek them those who will, but, as for me, I heard a sweeter Voice than I had ever heard, Who said, "Will you be Mine?"

It came, a precious music to my dark soul; I said,"By Thy help, I will!" I must hear that Voice again! This World must pass! I must begin my Journey to the