reason that there were then no schools but in kings' palaces, bishops' sees, or monasteries."

"But are there any books in the form of rolls now, father?"

"Yes; Dr. Buchanan assures us, that he had seen among the Jews, in Malayala, an ancient copy of the Law, written on a roll of leather; it was about fifteen feet long; the skins were sewed together. And there are many manuscripts of this kind, especially among the Jews."

66 Printing was a fine invention, father."

"It was, indeed; we have great reason to be thankful for it. By its means books are multiplied to any extent, and are made accessible to all. No man is so poor but he may have a few books; and especially he may have the Book of Books, Harry; you know what that is."

"The Bible."

"I never think of the noble art of printing, without calling to my recollection the quaint though expressive language of old Fox, the martyrologist, on the subject. ( Hereby,' says he, 'tongues are known, knowledge

What people have books in the form of rolls? vention? What is called the Book of Books? the art of printing.

Why is printing an useful inRepeat the language of Fox on

groweth, judgment increaseth, books are dispersed, the Scripture is seen, the doctors be read, stories be opened, times compared, truth discerned, falsehood detected, and with finger pointed, and all through the benefit of printing. Wherefore, I suppose, that the Pope must abolish printing, or seek a new world to reign over; or else, as this world standeth, printing doubtless will abolish him. But the pope, and all his college of cardinals must understand this, that through the light of printing, the world beginneth now to have eyes to see, and heads to judge. He cannot walk so invisibly in a net, but he will be spied. And although, through might, he stopped the mouth of John Huss before, and of Jerome, that they might not preach, thinking to make his kingdom sure; yet, instead of John Huss and others, God hath opened the press to preach, whose voice the pope is never able to stop, with all the puissance of his triple crown. By this printing, as by the gift of tongues, and as by the singular organ of the holy Spirit, the doctrine of the Gospel soundeth to all nations and countries under Heaven; and what God revealed to one man is dispersed to many; and what is known to one nation, is opened to all.'"

[96]

FEASTS AND MEALS.

"THE parable which you read this morning appears singular, father."

"What do you refer to, Harry?"

"Why, the sending to call in the poor, and the maimed, and the blind, and the halt, to the feast. Nothing like this ever occurs among us.

"True, Harry; and on this account it may appear singular to us; but this is no reason why it should seem so in the East, the country in which the Scriptures were written."

"Certainly not, as you have shewn in a great many instances.' ""

"And the picture which our Lord draws, of a king sending for the poor and the wretched to a feast, is not so unlike what really happens in the East, as we are ready to imagine. Pococke speaks of the admission of the poor to the tables of the rich. In his account of a great entertainment, made by the governor of an Egyptian village for the Cashif with whom he travelled, he says, 'The custom was, for every one, when

"What custom in the East appears singular to us? What does Pococke say of the admission of the poor to the tables of the rich ?

he had done eating, to get up, wash his hands, take a draught of water, and so, in a continual succession, till the poor came in, and ate up all, for the Arabs never set by any thing which is brought to table. When they kill a sheep, they dress it all, call in their neighbours, and the poor, and finish every thing.' This celebrated traveller afterwards mentions what is still more surprising in giving an account of the diet of the Eastern people, he informs us, 'that an Arab prince will often dine in the street before his door, and call to all that pass, even beggars, in the name of God; who obey the invitation, sit down, and when they have done, retire with the usual form of returning thanks.'"*

"How different this is to any thing we meet with." "It is, certainly, somewhat so. But our Lord seems to have approved such a line of conduct; you recollect, that the parable you have noticed is introduced by a very striking admonition to remember the poor. When thou makest a dinner, or a supper,' says our Lord, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But

เ

What do the Arab princes often do? What admonition does our Lord give concerning the poor?

* Harmer, vol. ii. 125.

when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.'

"It was very common among the people in the East, when they particularly wished to honour a guest, who had been invited, to send a larger portion to him than to any other person; thus Joseph sent five times as much to his brother Benjamin as to any of his brethren. (Gen. xliii. 34.) It is still regarded as a distinction of value, to have any portion from the table of a monarch, or of a great man. When a celebrated traveller dined in the presence of an Eastern sovereign,. he was thought to be greatly honoured, because the king tore off a handful of meat from the joint, and sent it him. A Dutch ambassador,* in similar circum

Gen. xliii. 34. from before him; as any of their's.

And he took and sent messes unto them but Benjamin's mess was five times so much And they drank and were merry with him.

What was common among the people of the East? Repeat a verse from Genesis. What is still regarded as a distinction? How was a traveller thought to be greatly honoured by an eastern prince? What were sent to a Dutch ambassador from the Emperor 3 table?

* Van Braam