NOVEL-READING.

There is a vast amount of fictitious literature or novels issued from the press in the form of newspapers, pamphlets, and bound volumes. This is extensively circulated and read, and must, consequently, be exerting a mighty influence for good or evil. Such writings I firmly believe to be evil, and only evil. There are powerful arguments that may be urged against this kind of literature, some of which I shall offer, hoping that they may increase in some minds a deeper conviction of the evils of novel-reading.

Novel-reading leads to crime. Facts go to show that this is one great cause of crime at the present day. A few years since the chaplain of the Auburn State Prison remonstrated against supplying the prisoners with novels, as it was ascertained on investigation, that the cause which led to the ruin of a large number of them was novel-reading. The heroes of many, if not most novels, whose characters are portrayed, are criminals, and the scenes brought to view are of a corresponding nature. It is impossible to familiarize the mind with such characters, and to revel in such scenes, without becoming contaminated, and better prepared to pursue a course of wickedness and crime. Take, for instance, Bulwer's novels. His earliest work, called "Falkland," is the history of an adulterer, the most noble and kind of his race, by force of circumstances. "Paul Clifford," the hero of another of his novels is the commander of a band of robbers in Berkshire. He is conducted safely through his career of villainy, and escapes the hand of justice. In "Devereux," an amiable gentleman murders his brother's wife, and afterwards becomes an interesting philanthropist in Italy. "The Disowned," professing the noblest creed, boasting the proudest philanthropy, becomes the murderer of his benefactor. "Bulwer's novels," says an able critic, "show us the virtues caricatured, vices seductively garnished, generous qualities disgraced by paltry motives, petty objects magnified, vulgarities glossed by passion, and manners tinged with affectation. Whatever is veritable, honest, and truly noble, finds little place in this fictitious world."

Carvosier, the murderer of Lord William Russell, confessed, and wished the sheriff to make it known to the world, that the idea of his work of blood was first suggested to him by reading and seeing the performance of Jack Shepard. This book was lent to him by one of the servants of the Duke of Bedford, and he lamented that he had ever seen it. Oxford, who sought the Queen's life, made substantially the same statement respecting the influence on his mind of the "Bravo of Venice."

Fictitious reading is one very formidable obstacle in the way of pure religion. The Christian religion addresses itself both to the mind and heart; and whatever affects these unfavorably, must ob

struct its progress. Novels do not call into exercise the memory and the reasoning or reflective powers of the mind, but tend to arouse and gratify a morbid craving for excitement, which is always unfavorable to vigorous mental exertion. In consequence of this, a great deal of the power of the Christian pulpit is lost. Novel-readers in our congregations have their minds unfitted to see and appreciate the force of arguments when presented. Some of the first writers in our language have given their most unqualified testimony on this point. Oliver Goldsmith, who wrote novels himself, in a letter to a brother on the education of his son, says: "Above all things, let him never touch a romance or novel.”

RECREATION

Recreation can be fully enjoyed only by the man who has some earnest occupation. The end of the work is to enjoy leisure; but to enjoy leisure you must have gone through work. Play-time must come after school-time, otherwise it loses its savor. Play, after all, is a relative thing; it is not a thing which has an absolute existence. There is no such thing as play, except to the worker. It comes out by contrast. Put white upon white, and you can hardly see it; put white upon black, and how plain it is. Light your lamp in the sunshine, and it is nothing; you must have darkness around it to make its presence felt. And besides this, a great part of the enjoyment of recreation consists in the feeling that we have earned it by previous hard work. One goes out for the afternoon walk with a light heart when one has done a good task since breakfast. It is one thing for a dawdling idler to set off to the Continent or to the Highlands, just because he is sick of everything around him; and quite another thing when a bard-wrought man, who is of some use in life, sets off, as gay as a lark, with the pleasant feeling that he has brought some worthy work to an end on the self same tour. And then a busy man finds a relish in simple recreation; while a man who has nothing to do, finds all things wearisome, and thinks that life is "used up." It takes something quite out of the way to tickle that indurated palate; you might as well think to prick the hide of a hippopotamus with a needle as to excite the interests of that blase being by any amusement which is not highly spiced with the cayenne of vice.-Recreations of a Country Parson.

There are some inns which are never empty; but as fast as one guest goes out, another comes in. Such is the heart of an unregenerate man as soon as one lust is served, another is calling for attendance.-Gurnall.

The Guardian.

VOL. XIV.---MAY, 1863.---No. 5.

A SCENE IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD.

JESUS CHRIST IN HIS HUMAN CHARACTER.

[Translated from the German of Stilling, by the Editor.]

Some time ago SIONA inspired me in a poem to celebrate the glorification of Lavater; and my beloved brethren and sisters have read that poem with delight. The heavenly Siona led me along with my sainted friend near to the original throne of eternity; but there she left me, and weary and amazed I sank again from the empyrean into the cloudy vale of earth.

In this solemn morning hour I call to mind my friend who is now before the Lord. I think of his earnest searching after the knowledge of Jesus Christ-his earnest and deep studies of the human countenance, the physiognomy of virtue and vice-his longings after clear and pure insight into the character of the Lord, regarded as man-all this passed with wonderful freshness before my mind. In me also arose, or awoke again the desire of knowing Jesus more intimately and fully in His earthly life, in order that in my ordinary daily life and intercourse with men, I might conform myself more nearly to Him. Siona saw my laudable wishes, and in the power of imagination she translated me again into the abodes of the kingdom of blessedness.

Israel is now the name of the glorified Lavater. He stood upon the summit of lofty Zion, and his spirit bathed in the sea of blessedness. The embraces of the King of all things, whom he had loved unto death, exalted him to the honor of a seraph. Eternal thoughts now filled his mind, and his newly developed, heavenly organ of susceptibility penetrated through worlds of space. What once, in bis "Views of Eternity," he believed himself to have seen through

a glass darkly as presentiment, he now saw as it is in its purest light.

As he now thus stood feasting his eyes which were like the morning star, contemplating the great golden city with its pearly thrones, a majestic brilliant angel with open arms, hovered toward him. Like the melody of heavenly harps fell upon his ears the words: "Welcome Lavater!-your friend JESANJAH, which was formerly Heinrich Hess, calls you to exalted employments !-Come to my arms, friend of my earthly life!

LAVATER. Blessed be the Lord! (They embrace each other.)

JESANJAH. Forever shall we now live and labor together. Felix Hess, Pfenninger, and still others of your friends, with myself,we all live here at the foot of the mountain-there where the lofty terrace glitters like gold in the fire, upon which you behold our friends moving to and fro. Our employment is to assign the calling and sphere of action to the redeemed of the Lord,-each according to his character-who come hither from the land of mortality.

LAVATER. Then you, heavenly brethren, must instruct me-how can I know hearts and reins?

JESANJAH. The will of the Lord impresses itself for each one of us upon the Sapphire tablet of His Temple-and for each one according to his character and the measure of his ability or aptitude. You will soon receive sufficient understanding of all these matters. LAVATER. My entire being is enlarged like a world, and the immeasurable ocean of blessedness streams through every sphere of my willing, thinking and feeling.

JESANJAI. And this in-streaming will remain for you eternally fresh and new, because ever new enjoyments will flow toward you. LAVATER. Hallelujah! to Him who sitteth upon the throne-to Him be honor, and glory, and praise, and thanksgiving forever. JESANJAH. Everlasting brother! I have a message for you! MARY the mother of the human nature of Christ, the Queen of the Infant Kingdom, desires to see you, and speak with you!

LAVATER. Another stream from eternal fullness! I tremble with joy to see her-you call her Queen of the Infant Kingdom!

JESANJAH. Under the direction of the Lord she has the chief care of the entire kingdom of Instruction; for it was she who brought up and nurtured the greatest of all the children of men. Do you see there the first paradisaic levels of the mount of Zion-and the long and wide region of paradise which lies around yonder silvery shining castle? There she lives!

I do not venture to describe the glory and blessedness of the once poor citizen of Nazareth; all images of earthly nature are dead colors when one attempts to portray with them the kingdom of LIFE. Imagine to yourself, brotherly and sisterly reader! a long, large and lofty hall dazzlingly silver white in the golden glimmer, in which the seven-fold light of the rainbow, in the most brilliant manner, unceasingly change, and in which the unspeakable mysteries of eternity present themselves, with perpetual and ever

varying alternations, in forms of life. By these the Father of celestial nature instructs all the inhabitants of heaven. This living word is their Scripture.

Here my friend found the exalted Mary, and her friends Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Martha of Bethany, together with her brother Lazarus; here he saw also Abraham, David, and many more important personages of ancient times. All rested on silver clouded thrones, which undulated in the seven-colored flood of glory.

Lavater came forth on the arm of his friend; the deepest humility would have bowed him lowly at the feet of these glorified ones, if he had not felt that he owed all this to the Lord. Also these aged citizens of heaven would have bowed in deep humility had not the same consideration held them erect.

Inward humility of heart is the golden foundation of the New Jerusalem; and pride is the flame of the pit which burns with fire and brimstone !

MARY. Bliss of blessedness be to you, my celestial brother! thou first blood-witness of the twelveth hour! Welcome to the New Jerusalem!

LAVATER. Be grected thou highly favored! Thy countenance brightens my blessedness.

Mary, and afterwards all present, embraced him. All seated themselves in a large circle; Lavater and his friend Heinrich Hess also sat in among them.

How will we once feel in such society! Let us resist unto blood, that we may not neglect so great salvation!

MARY. Heavenly brother! I rejoice over your wife, and the friends you have left behind. The Lord also, in his earthly life, had holy female friends-these angels here, who since their glorification, constantly aid me with their counsel. We supplicate for your wife, daughter, sons, that the Lord may powerfully support them in the sore trials which await them. Your Anna, your daughters, and friends, shall once, if they remain faithful, be joined to this blessed circle. I will beseech the Lord to grant this grace. Lavater melted in tenderness of feeling, and his entire being was gratitude and worship. That which had ever been the warmest desire of his heart, namely, to know the human character of the Lord, began now to stir anew in his soul.

And now, O Siona! lead thou the train of my thoughts, that I may mingle nothing of myself with my words; but that I may clearly and purely clothe this heavenly conversation in the dead letters of earth; and then pour fire and spirit, light and truth, into the soul of every reader.

LAVATER. The exalted and highly Blessed One was ever the subject of my contemplation, and of my inmost love-I beseech thee, thou blessed among women! instruct me in the great wisdom of the character of our Lord. What was the manner of His life and conduct among men, and wherein was He different from other men? Did he also possess bodily or physical beauty?