general release from all debts and all bondmen were set free. From this law may have originated the present system of binding young men as apprentices for 7 years; and of punishing incorrigible offenders with 7 years' imprisonment. The young of animals were to remain 7 days with their dam. Every 7th year the land was to lay fallow. When Moses went up to Mount Sinai he waited there six days, the glory of the Lord covering the Mount, "and the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud." Moses then had the command given to build the tabernacle, also the pattern of it. The candlestick thereof, was to be made of pure gold with 7 lamps to it, three on either side of a central At the rite of consecration to the priest's office, the sons of Aaron were to have their father's holy garments and wear them 7 days. The consecration of the priests by Moses extended to 7 days; and atonement for the altar 7 days.

one.

Leviticus.

The priest had to dip his finger into and sprinkle the blood of the bullock that was slain for a burnt offering, 7 times. At the anointing of the tabernacle Moses sprinkled the altar with oil 7 times. Those afflicted with the plague of leprosy were to be shut up 7 days; and at the ceremony of cleansing those thus afflicted they were sprinkled 7 times-also the houses in which they dwelt. In the holy convocations, the children of Israel might work six days but the 7th was to be a day of rest—a statute throughout all their generations. At the feast of Passover, the meat offering was to consist of bread and 7 lambs. The feast of Pentecost was to follow in 7 weeks from that time. On the 7th of the 7th month they were to fast 7 days, and to remain in booths 7 days. The 7th year was directed to be a Sabbath of rest for all things; and at the end of 7 times 7 years was to commence the glorious year of Jubilee.

Numbers.

At the dedication of the altar Elishama offered his sacrifice on the 7th day. Miriam was cured of her leprosy by being shut out from the camp 7 days. Those who touched the dead body of a man under Jewish law were unclean 7 days. Balaam commanded Balak to build him 7 altars, and prepare him 7 oxen and 7 rams for a sacrifice. Seven lambs were to be part of the offering at the feast of Trumpets. The men of war, who went out to battle, were to be purified with the water of separation, and to wash their clothes on the 7th day.

Deuteronomy.

When the Lord brought the Israelites into the land of Canaan, 7 nations mightier than they were cast out before them. The blessing promised for obedience to the Israelites was, that their enemies "should flee before them 7 days." If, on the contrary, they were disobedient, they should flee 7 days before their enemies, and be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, Has not this been fulfilled to the letter? Are they not scattered abroad?

The Historical Books.

At the destruction of Jericho 7 priests bare 7 trumpets for 7 days; and after the 7th, the "walls fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city." When the children of Israel assembled at the setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh, there were 7 tribes that had not received their inheritance. Three men were then deputed to divide the land into 7 parts, describe it in a book,

sons.

and bring the record to Joshua. For doing evil the children of Israel were delivered into the hands of Midian 7 years. Gideon was commanded to throw down the altar of Baal, erect by its side an altar to the Lord, and offer as a sacrifice a bullock 7 years old. Abijam of Bethlehem judged Israel 7 years. He had sixty children. Sampson gave his guests 7 days to unravel an enigma. The Philistines bound Sampson with 7 green withs; but he brake them as tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. His wife caused 7 locks to be shaven off his head; his strength then departed from him. Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth, was compared by the women to Naomi, as being better to her than 7 Hannah in her song of thankfulness, sings, The barren hath borne 7. The ark of God was in the country of the Philistines 7 months. Saul delivered the men of Jabesh from having their right eyes put out during 7 days respite given them by Nahash the Ammonite. Saul, after waiting 7 days for Samuel, sacrificed at Gilgal. Before David was anointed king, Jesse made 7 of his sons to pass before Samuel. Seven of Saul's sons were hanged to stay a famine. King Solomon was 7 years building the temple. At its dedication he feasted 7 days. The temple was dedicated in the 7th month, "when all the men of Israel assembled themselves together." At the extremity of the famine in Ahab's reign, Elijah, by prayer, obtained rain. Whilst thus engaged he sent his servant 7 times to see if he could discern the cloud. At the 7th he saw it no bigger than a man's hand. When the three kings went against the king of Moab, "they fetched a compass of 7 days' journey; and the king of Moab took 700 men who drew swords to break through, but could not." When the prophet Elisha stretched himself upon the dead body of the Shunammite's child the child sneezed 7 times. By Elisha's advice the Shunammite left his country 7 years to avoid the famine. Naaman, to be cured of his leprosy, was commanded to go and wash in Jordan 7 times. Good king Jehoash began to reign in Jerusalem at the age of 7 years, during the 7th year of the reign of Jehu. In the 7th year of the reign of Hoshea,Shalmanezer carried Samaria away captive. Elioenai, was the 7th son of Meshelemiah, one of the porters of the temple, and who had himself 7 sons. During Hezekiah's reign, religion was restored, and he with "the elders of the city went up to the house of the Lord, and offered 7 bullocks, 7 rams, 7 lambs, and 7 he goats for a sin offering. In the 7th month after the return of the children of Israel from Babylonish captivity, they built an altar, and began to offer sacrifice according to the law of Moses. Ezra had permission of king Artaxerxes and his 7 counsellors to go up from Babylon to Jerusalem. He read the law to the Israelites for 7 days. In the 7th year of his reign king Ahasuerus feasted 7 days, and on the 7th day he commanded his chamberlains to find him a queen, who was allowed 7 maidens to attend upon her. Esther was the chosen queen.

The Poetical Books.

Perfect Job had 7 sons. After his possessions were gone his friends mourned with him 7 days and 7 nights; and for their false verdict of Job, God commanded them to offer to Him 7 bullocks and 7 rams. When Eliphaz was trying to comfort Job, he told him that God would deliver him in six troubles-yea in 7 also. David praised the lord 7 times a day for His goodness; and compared the words of God to "silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified 7 times.”

Solomon, "the wise man," speaks of 7 things which were an abomination unto the Lord; of 7 pillars hewn out by wisdom for her house; of 7 abominations in the heart of busy-bodies. In his directions for charity, commands that a portion be given to 7; also says, a just man falleth 7 times, and riseth up again.

The Prophetical Books.

Isaiah thus fortels the victorious restoration of the Jews and employment of the Gentiles, "the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea," shake his hand over the river, and "smite it in the 7 streams." Doubtless alluding to the Nile in Egypt. When describing God's mercies towards his church, says, "the light of the sun shall be 7 fold." Jeremiah, when pathetically referring to the utter rejection of the Jews, says, they are like one who had borne 7 sons, and been deprived of them by death. Ezekiel, in respect to Israel's victory over Gog, says that they "shall burn them with fire 7 years." "7 months" shall they be burying of them, and after the end of 7 months shall they search." In his vision, which was as the frame of a city, the entrance to the east gate was up 7 steps. At the return of God's glory to the temple the priests were to be 7 days preparing for and purifying the altar. For refusing God's kingdom,Nebuchadnezzar was 7 years a beast. The fiery furnace was heated 7 times hotter than usual to receive Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Amos bids us all to seek Him who maketh the 7 stars and Orion. Micah, when predicting the birth of Christ, says, that 7 shepherds shall be gathered against him.Zachariah, when prophesying of the restoration of the church under the type of Joshua, writes, "Upon one stone shall be 7 eyes." Zerubbabel's successful foundation is compared to the candlestick with "7 lamps thereon, and 7 pipes to the lamps." How wise to build on the rock that can never be moved. The word of the Lord that came to Zerubbabel, is ours, to comfort and cheer. If we continue building, by and bye the topstone shall be brought on, "with shoutings, crying, grace, grace unto it."

I cannot do better, in concluding this first section, than advise each reader to emulate all others by striving daily to obtain the 7 degrees in the Christian's life enumerated by St. Peter. By "giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity."

Brinkworth.

ANNIE E. PORTNALL.

with the powers of sin, But with such a lead-er We are

sure to win.

The glory of our flag is the emblem of the dove,
Gleaming are our swords from the forge of love;
We go forth, but not to battle for earthly honours vain-
'Tis a bright immortal crown that we seek to gain.
Come and join the army, &c.

Our foes are in the field, pressing hard on every side,
Envy, anger, hatred, with self and pride,

They are cruel, fierce, and strong, ever ready to attack;
We must watch and fight and pray if we'd drive them back.
Come and join the army, &c.

Oh! glorious is the struggle in which we draw the sword,
Glorious is the kingdom of Christ our Lord,

It shall spread from sea to sea, it shall reach from shore to shore,
And his people shall be blest for evermore.

Come and join the army, &c.