evidently impending over us. Scripture, its inspired and absolute authority, the primary foundation of the christian faith, is being rudely questioned, and impatiently handled. The traditions of past ages have again emitted their miasmatic mists, like a noisome pestilence, to corrupt its holy truths. Infidelity, in bold yet covert forms, threatens to submerge all human hopes, and even the expectation of immortality, in a flood of spiritualism and transcendental philosophy, striking more or less openly at the historic fidelity of the records of truth, or making them to vanish away in imaginative myths. It is not unlikely,' said the sagacious Fuller, in 1796,* 'it is not unlikely, that almost all our religious controversies will soon be reduced to one, upon which the great body of men will divide. Is christianity true or false? Is there a God? Is there a heaven or a hell? or is it all fiction? Agitated by these important questions, the greater part of the inhabitants of Europe, and perhaps of America, including our posterity, may * Works, p. 503. rank either as real christians or as open infidels.' Yes, brethren, the time is at hand, if not already come. You are summoned by the providence of God to the defence of the Bible. It has ever been your endeavour to embody all your Lord's instructions in a practical and living form. You have found his word sufficient for every purpose of religious and ecclesiastical life, and by it you are prepared to stand. And should another flood of tribulation again overwhelm the churches of God you scripturally guide and teach,-should our principles again undergo the fiery trial, doubtless now as in all past ages, many amongst us will be counted worthy to testify with their blood to the pure word of our God, assured that, in the beautiful and striking language of Hubmaier, who in 1528, at Vienna, laid down his life at the stake:-' DIVINE TRUTH IS IMMORTAL: IT MAY, PERHAPS FOR LONG, BE BOUND, SCOURGED, CROWNED, CRUCIFIED, AND FOR A SEASON BE ENTOMBED IN THE GRAVE; BUT ON THE THIRD DAY IT SHALL RISE AGAIN VICTORIOUS, AND RULE AND TRIUMPH FOR EVER.' UNLOVELY SIGHTS. NATURE is beautiful and lovely: yet sometimes an unlovely spot or two will present themselves in her widespread landscape which one could have wished had never existed. But it is not to unlovely sights in nature that we would direct attention, but to those existing in the garden of the Lord. And one to me exceedingly unlovely is the empty seats of the members of the church on the morning of the Lord's-Day. Now every christian ought to be devoutly thankful to the Almighty that he has appointed a Sabbath, a day of sacred rest and hallowed enjoyment. And there can be no doubt in its appointment he intended the whole of it, and not a part merely, should be regarded. It is on this day that God pays the most endearing visits to his people, and to such as keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me, saith the Lord, will I give a name and a place in my house better than that of sons and daughters.' Every christian will admit that the morning of the Sabbath is the best time for hearing, and discharging the duties of the sanctuary. Body and mind have been refreshed with the rest of the night, and the mind in consequence is better prepared, under the divine blessing, to receive the seed of the word. Released from the all-absorbing cares of the world the christian appears in the house of his God breathing the fresh morning air of the day of rest. How welcome is the sight, the service, the sound of the well known voice of his pastor, the praises of God, the accents of public prayer, the manifestations of the Reedeemer's presence,these warm the mind with the spirit of elevated devotion; the frame of the heart is softened and calmed by genuine humility, with reverance and godly fear. Then the harp is in tune; every string is raised to its proper pitch; the whole is in sweet harmony; the invisible hand of the spirit of the Lord strikes the chords, and joy and praise resound to his honour and glory; and the glad spirit exclaims, 'Sweet Sabbath of rest-sweet prelude of heaven! While on wings of devotion I rise, May the joys I now feel, as an antepast given, Prepare my blest soul for the skies. The christian is imperatively bound to keep the whole of the Sabbath, and not a part of it only. As no man can be considered a keeper of the law who merely regards half of it, so neither can he be considered a keeper of the Sabbath who disregards the morning service, and thus divides the day between God and mammon. The practice of some families of rising systematically late on the Sabbath morning is poor evidence that they find in its sacred hours any thing of delight. What will such persons think on a death bed who neglect morning worship in the house of the Lord, merely from a habit of laziness in rising? May we not to this slothful principle trace a large portion of that deadness of soul, and of those unhappy fallings away of professors, which are not more hurtful to themselves than they are distressing to the church of God? We would say to every christian in health, rise early on the Lord's-Day. A lazy, sluggish professor, who can satisfy himself with consuming the best part of the morning in bed, is but ill prepared for the worship of Jehovah's courts. How such persons intend to answer for their conduct before the bar of God we know not. The voice of reproof sounds loudly on every hand to such. The conduct of the wicked, who can rise early at any time to unite in a party of pleasure, or attend a village wake or fair, the conduct of heathens who are waiting the rising of the sun, in order to pay their earliest adorations to him as soon as he appears, is surely a sufficient reproof to such members of churches. O then, as the christian professes to call the Sabbath a delight, let him anticipate it and prepare for it as it approaches'; let him welcome it when it arrives; let him be anxious to go through its valuable ordinances in close communion with God. 'In holy duties let the day S. WIGG. STOLEN MOMENTS AT THE LYRE. BY THOMAS GOADBY. No. I.-BEAUTY AND MERCY. Heaven's fleecy clouds are ever beautiful ;- And, as they watch around the amber east, They catch the shining sheen upon their breasts, Which spreads and deepens there, till one bright blush, Like the first love-blush on a maiden's cheek, Floats like an angel-island bright and fair Trembles with deathlike, pale, unearthly beauty. Ye ever-changing ever lovely forms, Come ye not on your earth-encircling course, When our wide earth is parched with feverish thirst, Joins ever in most sweet and hallowed bonds Let us then love the word and works of God: In every leaf and flower, and stream and hill; * Isaiah xxxii, 2. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SELECTIONS. CAPACITY OF THE EARTH FOR POPULATION. THE advocates of war have heretofore argued its necessity as a means of preventing an excessive multiplication of mankind. Still it is gravely objected by some to the cause of peace, that it would if completely successful, come ere long to find the world with a population so dense and superabundant as to occasion a greater amount of suffering than has ordinarily resulted from the ravages of the sword. Such an objection may seem to most of our readers unworthy of notice; but it has been urged by so many men of eminent ability and learning as to justify, if not demand, a passing refutation. The subject opens a wide range of discussion concerning the laws of population, or the principles which regulate its increase or diminution; but, without entering at all upon this inquiry, we shall avail ourselves chiefly of some facts collected by a distinguished author, to illustrate the almost illimitable capacity of the earth for the support of population. The most populous country on the globe has never approached the limits assigned by nature to the increase of mankind, or the capacity of the soil for their comfortable support. No country has ever been more populous in proportion to its extent than Ireland; and certainly there is none now in existence to be compared with its density. Its population averages 2,545 to the square marine league. Now Ireland contains 12,000,000 arable acres, and 9,000,000 of wastes capable of agricultural improvement, besides 2,416,000 of mountain pasture. Mr. Newerham, a good authority, calculates, that an acre of potatoes will produce an average of 22,960 pounds of solid nourishment, and that a person is well fed with six pounds of potatoes in a day. Each person, then, will consume 2,180 pounds in a year, and an acre will yield food sufficient for ten persons. Supposing, therefore, that only one-third of the arable acres now under cultivation were annually devoted to this crop, they would yield food for 40,000,000-more than five times as many as Ireland now has, and still have two-thirds for fallows, or for the production of other kinds of sustainance for man and beast. Nor does this estimate include either the 2,416, 000 acres of mountain pasture, or the 4,900,000 acres of wastes capable of cultivation; in all, 7,316,000 acres, making the entire surface of the island to contain nearly 20,000,000 acres, one half of which, if devoted to potatoes, might support a population of no less than 100,000,000! Let us next look at England and Wales, both together not equal in extent to some of our single States. They contain 25,350,000 acres in tillage and meadow, besides 3,454,000 capable of improvement, and 3,256,000 of barren wastes. Mr. Young, the well known writer on English agriculture, estimates an acre of wheat to yield at an average one third of the solid nourishment derived from one of potatoes. Supposing then one third of these arable acres devoted to the staple food of the country, and two-thirds to the maintenance of animals, and the production of luxuries, it follows that, if the people should live generally on wheat, 25,000,000, and, if on potatoes, 75,000,000 could be maintained without encroaching on the very ample share of two-thirds, besides all the wastes, set apart for fallows, for luxuries, and the support of animals. This proceeds on the supposition, that the land shall produce annually three-quarters, or six bolls; a very low estimate, for, in the inferior climate of Scotland, eight or ten bolls are considered as no extra ordinary crop. Nor would this vast addition increase the density of the population, according to the first view, beyond that on the margin of the lake of Zurich, where, with scarce an acre and a quarter to each individual, the comfort and well-being of the peasantry exceed that of any spot on the globe. If only one-half of the 32,000,000 acres in England and Wales were cultivated with potatoes, they would, according to the calculation for Ireland, support | British Isles comprise only 91,000. a population of 160,000,000-more than The population, amounting in Europe ever bowed to the eagles of Imperial to 11,240,000, is 470 to the square Rome, and some three-fourths as many league; or Asia to 10,548,000, is 180 to as all the present inhabitants of Europe! the square league; and in Egypt to China and Hindostan are generally 3,000,000, is 1,800 to the square league brought forward as examples of popu- in the cultivated districts on the Nile. lation pressing on the means of sub- If peopled as well as Britain, the whole sistence; but a slight survey will prove empire would contain 170,000,000, inthat they are now very far from the stead of 25,000,000, and would, accordlimits of their capacity in this respect. ing to the foregoing calculations, raise In the peninsula of India there are from only one third of the soil, wheat 109,200 square marine leagues, and enough for 400,000,000, and potatoes 101,000,000 inhabitants-only 925 to sufficient for 1,200,000,000! the square league; while the British North America contains 607,000 Isles contain 2,120; considerably more square marine leagues, and would, if than twice as many to the square peopled like the British Isles, have a league. In England and Wales there population of 636,000,000. If 300,000 are 4,840 square marine leagues; and square leagues, less than half of its if they could maintain in ease and com- entire surface, were cultivated as Engfort 25,000,000 on wheat, and 75,000, land in the foregoing view might be, 000 on potatoes, it follows that India it would yield wheat enough for 4,500, could support, on the former food, 500,000,000 souls, and potatoes sufficient 000,000, and on the latter, 1,500,000, for 13,500,000,000! 000! This, too, proceeds on the supposition, that two-thirds of the whole country, besides the share allotted to the support of man, is set apart for the maintenance of animals, or the production of luxuries, and that the soil of Hindostan will yield no more than that of Britain; both of which suppositions are greatly within the truth, since rice is the usual food of the natives, and double or triple crops can be obtained in a year. If devoted to potatoes, or any other crop that would maintain as large a number as potatoes can in Ireland, one half of the surface of India alone, might suffice for the support of no less than 6,000,000,000 souls more than seven times as many as are now on the whole globe! There seems hardly any limit to calculations of this sort. In South America there are 571,000 square marine leagues; and, if we suppose only 250,000 capable of cultivation, it would, if as densely peopled as the British Isles, contain 535,000,000 souls and would raise wheat sufficient for 1,250,000,000, and potatoes for 3,750,000,000! The Russian Empire, containing 616,000 square marine leagues, would if only one-half be supposed capable of cultivation, and peopled as Great Britain is, have a population of more than 600,000,000, and might, according to the foregoing calculations, raise food sufficient of one kind for 1,450,000,000, and of another for 4,350, 000,000! The superficial area of China, includ- If these calculations seem overing Chinese Tartary, amounts to 463, charged from the fact, that so large a 000 square marine leagues, and would, proportion of the globe is composed of if peopled as well as Great Britain, mountains or deserts, we reply that in have a population of 971,000,000. If warm climates men find subsistence to cultivated as the arable part of Eng- a very high elevation in mountainous land might be, it would, on the sup-regions, which are often peopled more position of only every third acre being devoted to wheat, and all the remainder to fallow, grass, and luxuries, maintain 2,300,000,000 people, and if cultivated with potatoes, or an equivalent crop, no less than 6,900,000,000. The Ottoman Empire is about nine times as large as the British Isles, containing 825,000 square miles, while the thickly than the plains. Switzerland, though almost entirely mountainous, and most of it unproductive, yet has a population of 1,175 to the square league, six times that of the Asiatic provinces of Turkey; and Italy, though filled for the most part by the Apennines, contains no less than 1,967 to the square league. In Peru a dense |
