nominy that religion which prepares them for it; but, after all, if we are to live hereafter, reason and prudence inculcate the necessity of preparation. A want of thought on this subject is brutal, and quite unworthy rational beings. The deplorable indifference displayed to the immortal interests of the spirit, would render it pleasing to the serious and devout mind, to be able to think that all men have not souls. It will be found, unfortunately we fear, for many, that this is only a supposition, and that in the real and proper sense of the term, ALL MEN HAVE SOULS!

POETICAL PARAPHRASES OF SCRIPTURE TEXTS.

NO. XIII.

SAUL.

"And it came to pass when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well."-1 Samuel xvi. 23.

THE monarch sat upon his throne

Of Hebrew hosts the Lord;
All earthly pleasures were his own,
Yet all his soul abhorred.

Dark frowns begirt his sullen brow,
No former joys could please him now.
His crown a useless burden seemed,
And vain his purple robe he deemed.
But happy men such things despise
To hold them little worth, is wise.
But Saul no inward joy could feel,
No smiles his spirit's grief could heal.

And why this fallen, gloomy mood?
Firm and erect his kingdom stood;
And Israel's sons and daughters shewed
The bliss that in their bosoms glowed.
In peace the holy rites were done,
The incense rose on high,

When morn appeared, and when the sun
Sunk in the western sky.

For God his chosen land had blessed,
No foe appeared, the sword had rest.
The monarch's grief was all his own—
He frowned, he sighed, he wept, alone.

And one there was alone,

Who all this tempest could dispel;
His face with youthful beauty shone,
He tuned his harp full well.
In Bethlehem's fields the starry night
Oft listened to his songs;

And there he learned that mystic might
Which put the spirit's foes to flight-

To melody such power belongs.

If his hand o'er the trembling wire was thrown, The monarch looked up, and his woes were gone.

But partial was the joy thus gained,
The soul's deep grief returned;
The passions dire, the memory pained,
The pride with envy burned.

Ah fruitless is it oft, to throw

A momentary gleam,

On souls which guilty throbbings know, Their bliss is but a fleeting dream. The earth is lightened by the day,

It has no innate fires;

Its beauteous scenes all pass away

Whene'er the sun retires.

Even music's notes grow still and die,
Unless the skilfull hand supply
New soul to give them melody.
Just so the heart of Saul appeared ;-
No inward peace his frame upreared.
He gazed one moment on the light,
That moment passëd and all was night.

He died, and left this tale behind-
True bliss must dwell within the mind.
For beauty's eye may give a ray,
And minstrels please with magic lay,
And glittering wealth procure us friends,
Yet still the man with sorrow bends.
Learn then, the heart within must be
Attuned to virtue's melody.

Far sweeter tones will then be heard,

Than minstrel's lyre or voice e'er stirred.

NO. XIV.

“If God be for us, who can be against u3.”—Romans viii. 31.

THEN, warrior, look not on the foe,
But, armed with courage, strike the blow,
The thickest phalanx then is broke
If God's own arm direct the stroke.
What tho' thy friends around thee die,
And thou all faint dost feel;
Resume the charge, and victory

Thy wounds shall quickly heal!
The gales from yonder land of rest
Remind thee of those spirits blest

Who once were weak and tired like thee-
And can'st thou from the battle flee?
From heaven the golden crown is seen,

The softest music meets thine ear,

Then let thy spirit be serene

And banished every fear.

If the Lord of the battle defend with his shield,
To the arms of the mighty thou never shalt yield.

SHORT PAPERS ON SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE.

No. VII.

HEAT, Ne. 4.

In the last paper on this subject, we stated that water possessed a maximum density, at about 39 degrees, which is 7 degrees above its freezing point, or in other words, if water be either cooled below 39 degrees, or heated above that point, it expands in both cases. If we take a pound of water at 32o, and a pound at 46°, we shall find them measure exactly the same, and they will each measure more than a pound of water at 39o. In general, bodies whether solid or fluid, contract their dimensions and become

of greater specific gravity in cooling; water is an exception, for it becomes of less specific gravity, whether it be heated above, or cooled below 39o; this fact is astonishing. The wisdom and goodness of the Great Artificer of the world manifests itself in this arrangement. Let us consider what would have been the consequences, had water been subject to the general law, and become specifically heavier by the loss of its caloric. When our atmosphere became reduced to 32o, the water on the surface of our rivers would have sunk as it froze; another sheet of water would have froze immediately, and also sunk, the ultimate consequence of which would have been, that the beds of our rivers would have become repositories of immense masses of ice. How admirable the wisdom, how skilful the contrivance, which made water subject to a different law from that which governs most other bodies! Now the process of freezing over our rivers, &c. is a very slow one; as soon as the uppermost or top stratum of water is reduced below the temperature of that which is beneath it, from its greater specific gravity it sinks and is replaced by warmer and lighter water, and there is a constant upward and downward current kept up in this way, till the whole of the water is reduced to the temperature of 39o; after this time the topmost stratum as it becomes more cooled, also becomes lighter, and remains exposed to the action of the atmosphere, which congeals it into ice which swims on the surface. This ice performs an important service, by preserving a vast body of caloric, in the subjacent fluid from the effects of the surrounding cold.

The explanation of this anomaly that water of the temperature of 39o, expands when we reduce it to a lower temperature, which is generally adopted, is, that 39o is the lowest point at which water is perfectly fluid, when its temperature falls below this point, its particles begin to assume that new position with respect to each other, which they have when the liquid is converted into ice. Now ice has a lower specific gravity than water; of course the interval between its particles is greater: and the particles