him becoming a burden to himself, when the figure is appropriate; likewise one chosen and sanctioned by the Holy Ghost in other parts of the Scriptures? With regard to the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, it will be readily allowed by every critic in Oriental literature that they have lost sight of the Hithpael form of the verb Sabel. After this subject is viewed and reviewed, it will be found that the unsophisticated and literal translation of the Veyissabel Hekageb is, "The grasshopper shall burden himself, or be a burden to himself." Now, if this language be not figurative, i. e. if the grasshopper, and not the man, be here spoken of, the text can have no connection with Solomon's portraiture of old age, but must be the beginning of a new subject; which I am persuaded no common reader of this chapter will allow. It is possible, after all, for me to have a mistaken view of the subject in question; but, if I have, I am in good company, snrrounded by critics and commentators of the first respectability. I most cordially unite with C. L. in reprobating those caricature prints which are profanely drawn for demoralizing purposes, and very much disapprove of professors of religion giving them countenance. But I hope ever to admire the style of the sacred scriptures, and shall remain persuaded that the sages of antiquity instructed their disciples by figures, images, and even hieroglyphical representations. I am not, however, convinced by C. L.'s quotation of Psal. cix. 22, (should be 23), that the grasshopper is the lightest of insects." According to Harmer, Dr. Clarke, and other commentators, the grasshopper locust of the East_constitutes a substantial article of food to the people in the Levant. This insect is said in shape to bear some faint resemblance of the human species. According to Jerome, "After an army of locusts have fattened upon the fruits and herbage of the land, and afterward become drowned in the sea and driven on shore, the stench of their dead carcases is sufficient to cause a pestilence." Now, from this history of the grasshoppers, with all deference to C. L. I am inclined to infer that the grasshopper will more properly be classed among the heaviest of insects than among the lightest, especially after it has fattened upon the fruits of the earth until it is meet to be taken for food. SIR, To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. In addition to the testimony (a very sufficient one) of Am. Marcellinus, given by your correspondent J. R-e, of the miraculous prevention of Julian's impious attempt to re-build the temple, you may perhaps think the following extract from the Travels of Dr. E. D. Clarke in the Holy Land, (1801), worthy of insertion: By the side of the spacious area on which stands the mosque of Omar, on the site of the Jewish Temple, are certain vaulted 66 remains. We observed that reticulated stucco, which is commonly considered as an evidence of Roman work. There seems every reason for believing that we have here a standing memorial of Julian's discomfiture, when he attempted to re-build the temple. These foundations must be said to be, either those of the temple destroyed by the Romans, in direct contradiction to authenticated records concerning their demolition by Titus; or, the Roman masonry points out the ineffectual attempt of Julian " "Both the Jewish Talmud and Maimonides affirm, that a plough-share rased the soil whereon the foundation of the temple stood." December 22, 1820. The following Extract may not be unacceptable: E. M. B. "Josephus mentions (lib. i. c. 5,) one Zacharias, and gives the following account of his murther:---That he was the son of one Baruch, a man of the first rank, and of great authority, virtue, and wealth, a friend to all good men, and a constant enemy to the wicked. That his son Zacharias was, by the zealots of that time, looked upon as a man so popular, that they could not think themselves safe without destroying him. But to this purpose they brought him before a court of their own erection, where they accused him of a conspiracy to betray Jerusalem to the Romans, and of holding a correspondence with Vespasian. That upon his trial, his innocence appeared so clear, that their own court, contrary to their expectations, acquitted him: upon which, two ruffians, of their company, fell upon him and murthered him." This is a very remarkable account, and must lead us to consider its prediction in the words of our Saviour, (Matt. xxiii. 35,) which probably should be made in the future tense. There is also this to be noted, that as our Lord begins with Abel, the first person who suffered by unjust violence, it seems natural he should conclude with the last worthy person who suffered previous to the excision of the nation, which he was then predicting. SIR, To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. As I observe you notice some phrases, which may be termed idiomatical, in church language, allow me to remark one which has long appeared to me not only incorrect but injurious. It is very common to hear persons say, that themselves, or others, did things, or attempted to do them, in their own strength. I take it for granted, that this is an ellipsis for "dependence on their own strength," meaning an undue dependence; which I should explain thus-over-rating the powers they have received, or using them without a due reference to, and dependence upon, their Divine Giver. It is evident that a phrase, which requires so much explanation, is very liable to be misunderstood, and accordingly that it is so. I am certain that with many it expresses and cherises a spiritual inactivity, or unfaithfulness to light and power given, because that light and power is small, or rather it is assumed to be none at all. I speak now chiefly with reference to internal acts," for with regard to external ones, the present day is a day of sufficient excitement, and inward habits of grace are liable to be weakened and perish for want of their appropriate acts, whilst external habits are formed at their expence. I am, Sir, yours, December 28, 1820. Note to the Editor. SOPATER. Allow me to ask a question I have just read these words in the Quarterly Review, No. 47, p. 49, speaking of Mr. Charles Wesley :-" He did not hesitate to say, that he abominated their band-meetings." Class-meetings might be meant, or perhaps not -Now I, who was favoured with intimate acquaintance with this good man, cannot easily believe this. When he came to Bristol alone, he was always with us in Carolinecourt. My dear friend, and the owner of the house, (Miss Chapman), was, as you, Sir, know, a class and band leader. Mr. C. W. always called her his daughter, and treated her with the kindness of a father. Would he not have said to her-would he not have said to me, whom he also treated with fraternal friendship-"I dislike these meetings?" I knew his attachment (I shall call it bigotted attachment) to the Church of England, yet I do not think it operated to make him adverse to the plan of Methodism. E. M. B. December 28, 1820. THE WORKS OF GOD DISPLAYED. The following narrative, sent by W. Hill, has been mislaid, or it would have had a more early insertion in our Magazine :-- VOLCANO IN THE SEA. Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman on board his Majesty's Ship "Not having it in my power to inform you of the progress of the arts in this quarter of the globe, I embrace the present opportunity of giving you a circumstantial, and I doubt not authentic, account of the proceedings of Nature, which 1 presume you will find not less interesting. His Majesty's ship Sabrina arrived here lately, from a cruise off the Western Isles, or Azores, and brought us the following account :-- "On the 10th of June they observed two columns of white smoke arising from the sea, off the west end of the island of St. Michael, which, for some time, they supposed to be an engagement, and made all sail towards it, but were prevented by the wind dying away. The smoke continued to ascend with sometimes large flames of fire, and they then concluded that it was a volcano. Next day they were close in with the island of St. Michael, and found the volcano situated about two miles west of that island, and still raging in the most awful manner. They learnt, from the British Consul at St. Michael's, the smoke was first observed rising from that place on the 14th of June, previous to which there had been several very severe shocks of an earthquake felt at St. Michael's, so that the destruction of the whole island was much feared; but they ceased as soon as the volcano broke out. On the 18th, the Sabrina went as near the volcano as they could with safety, and found it still raging with unabated violence, throwing up, from under water, large stones, cinders, ashes, &c. accompanied with several severe shocks. About noon, on the same day, they observed the mouth of the crater, just showing itself above the surface of the sea, where there were formerly 40 fathoms, or 240 feet, of water. They christened it "Sabrina Island." At three, p. m. same day, it was about 30 feet above the surface of the water, and about a furlong in length. On the 19th, they were within five or six miles of the volcano, and found it about 50 feet in height, and two-thirds of a mile in length, still raging as before, and throwing out large quantities of stones, some of which fell a mile distant from the volcano. The smoke drew up several waterspouts, which, spreading in the air, fell in a heavy rain, accompanied with vast quantities of fine black sand, which completely covered the Sabrina's decks, at the distance of three or four miles from the volcano. On the 20th, they went on a cruise, leaving the volcano about 150 feet high, and a mile in length, still raging as formerly, and continuing to increase in size. On the 4th of July, they again visited the volcano, and found it perfectly quiet. They went on shore on Sabrina Island, (as it is now called), and found it very steep; its height not less than from 200 to 300 feet. It was with difficulty they were able to reach the top of the island, which they at last effected in a quarter where there was a gentle declivity; but the ground, or rather the ashes, composed of sulphureous matter, dross of iron, &c. was so very hot to their feet, that they were obliged soon to return. They, however, took possession of the island, in the name of his Britannic Majesty, and left an English union-jack flying on it. The circumference is now from two to three miles. In the middle is a large basin, full of boiling-hot water, from which a stream runs into the sea; and, at the distance of fifty yards from the island, the water, although thirty fathoms deep, is too hot for one to hold his hand in. In short, the whole island is but a crater; the cliff on the outside appearing as walls, are as steep within as they are without. The basin of boiling water is the mouth, from which the smoke, &c. issued. When the Sabrina left it, several parts of the cliff continued to smoke a little, and it was their opinion that it would VOL. XLIV. FEBRUARY, 1821. soon break out again.* I presume you are informed of thsi strange phenomenon before now; however, as I had the foregoing account from a young gentleman belonging to the Sabrina, who was an eye-witness of what is related, I conceived it likely to contain some particulars of which you have hitherto been uninformed." The old legends of St. Michael relate, that some 170 years ago, an island appeared in this neighbourhood, but which was again buried in the bowels of the ocean. THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ASSERTED. To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. DEAR SIR, The following awful providence-(the substance of which I lately received from a member of our society here, who was himself an eye-witness of part of the circumstances)-however coolly it may be viewed by the sceptical atheist, or uninfluenced professor of religion, carries with it all the fearful characters of retributive justice, and tends, with others of a similar kind, to give verity to the words of the Psalmist, "Verily he is a God that judgeth the earth." Judging it might be useful to some of your numerous readers, I have submitted it to your judgment, to give either the whole, a part, or none of it, a place in your valuable Miscellany. I am, very dear Sir, respectfully yours, Woolwich, Dec. 28, 1820. Towards the latter end of the year 1800, a vessel of about 250 tons, laden with timber, from Memel, bound to, was overtaken by a tremendous storm. The master, finding it impossible, but at the utmost hazard of their lives, to proceed on their course, determined, if possible, to run into Sunderland roads: in attempting to accomplish which, (through the extreme narrowness of the mouth of the harbour, and the ships running into broken water,) they unfortunately over-run the bar. Nothing now appeared to await them but inevitable destruction. The storm continued to rage with unabating fury: while reefs of rocks, which begirt that dangerous coast, were seen ready to receive them. Several vessels had already gone ashore; others were entirely wrecked; many from among the crews finding a watery grave. By a tempestuous surge, the vessel in question was cast upon a cluster of rocks, which, forcing their way through her bottom, of course rendered it impossible she could again lighten. In consequence of so violent a concussion, some of the men on board her were precipitated into the deadly embrace of the merciless waves. The |