Now, in thy youth, beseech of Him That his light in thy heart become not dim, And thy God, in the darkest of days, will be LESSON XXI. Christ stilling the Tempest.-MRS. HEMANS. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary.-Matt. xiv. FEAR was within the tossing bark, And men stood breathless in their dread, But one was there, who rose, and said And the wind ceas'd-it ceased! that word And slumber settled on the deep, As when the righteous fall asleep Thou that didst rule the angry hour, Thou that didst bow the billow's pride, Speak, speak, to passion's raging tide, Speak, and say "Peace, be still!" LESSON XXII. Advantages of History.-DICK. HISTORY embraces a record and description of past facts and events in reference to all the nations and ages of the world, in so far as they are known, and have been transmitted to our time. As Natural History contains a record of the operations of the Creator in the material world, so, sacred and civil history embraces a record of his transactions in the moral and intellectual world, or, in other words, a detail of the plans and operations of His Providence, in relation to the inhabitants of our globe. Through the medium of Sacred History we learn the period and the manner of man's creation-the reason of his fall from the primitive state of integrity in which he was created, and the dismal consequences which ensued; -the various movements of Providence in order to his recovery, and the means by which human Redemption was achieved;-the manner in which the Gospel was at first promulgated, the countries into which it was carried, and the important effects it produced. Through the medium of Civil History we learn the deep and universal depravity of mankind, as exhibited in the wars, dissensions, and ravages, which have desolated our fallen race, in every period, and in every land ;we learn the desperate wickedness of the human heart, in the more private acts of ferocity, cruelty, and injustice, which, in all ages, men have perpetrated upon each other; we behold the Righteousness of the Supreme Ruler of the world, and the equity of his administration, in the judgments which have been inflicted on wicked nations and the improbability, nay, the impossibility of men being ever restored to moral order and happiness, without a more extensive diffusion of the blessings of the Gospel of Peace, and a more cordial acquiescence in the requirements of the Divine laws. Such being some of the benefits to be derived from History, it requires no additional arguments to show, that this branch of knowledge should occasionally form a subject of study to every intelligent Christian. But, in order to render the study of History subservient to the interests of Religion, it is not enough, merely to gratify our curiosity and imagination, by following out a succession of memorable events, by tracing the progress of armies and of battles, and listening to the groans of the vanquished, and the shouts of conquerors. This would be to study History merely as skeptics, as atheists, or as writers of novels. When we contemplate the facts which the Historian presents to our view, we ought to raise our eyes to Him who is the Governor among the nations, "who doth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth," and who overrules the jarring interests of mortals, for promoting the prosperity of that Kingdom which shall never be moved. We should view the immoral propensities and dispositions of mankind as portrayed in the page of history, as evidences of the depravity of our species, and as excitements to propagate, with unremitting energy, the knowledge of that Religion, whose sublime doctrines and pure precepts alone can counteract the stream of human corruption, and unite all nations in one harmonious society. We should view the contests of nations, and the results with which they are accompanied, as guided by that Invisible Hand which "mustereth the armies to the battle;" and should contemplate them either as the accomplishment of Divine predictions, as the inflictions of retributive justice, as paving the way for the introduction of rational liberty and social happiness among men, or as ushering in that glorious period, when "the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth," and the nations shall learn war no more. LESSON XXIII. Discovery of America.-HALE. THE continent of America was probably unknown to the ancients. If once known, as some have supposed, to the Carthaginians, the Scandinavians, and the Welsh, all knowledge of it was afterwards lost. The discovery of this extensive region, constituting nearly one half of the habitable globe, was the accidental result of the attempts, made in the fifteenth century, to find a passage, by sea, from the ports of Europe to the East Indies, whose precious commodities were then transported, over land, by a a long, dangerous, and expensive route. This passage was universally sought by sailing south, along the western coasts of Europe and Africa, in the hope of finding the termination of the continent, when the Indies, it was supposed, might be attained, by taking at first an easterly and then a northerly course. The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, in 1487, encouraged expectation, and gave increased activity to the spirit of adventure. Among the navigators of that age, Christopher Columbus, a native of the republic of Genoa, was distinguished for experience and skill in his profession, for extensive knowledge, and for a bold and original genius. The shape of the earth, then known to be round, and the fact that pieces of carved wood, a canoe, and two human bodies, of a complexion different from that of Europeans, had been driven, by long westerly winds, upon the shores of Islands contiguous to Europe, suggested to his observing mind the project of seeking the East Indies by sailing directly west. Unable to defray the expenses of an expedition, he sought first the assistance of his native city. His countrymen, accustomed only to cruising, in frail vessels, along the shores of the continent, treated the projects as chimerical, and declined furnishing aid. A pressing application to the king of Portugal, in whose dominions he had resided, met likewise with ridicule and rejection. Persevering in his purpose, he then sent his brother, Bartholmew, to England to apply to Henry VII, and went himself to Spain, which was then governed by Ferdinand and Isabella, from whom he solicited assistance. For a long time he solicited in vain. At length the queen, persuaded by his representations, became his friend and patron. By her direction, three small vessels were fitted out, and he was authorised to sail with these upon his projected voyage of discovery. On the third of August, 1492, he departed from Palos, in Spain, directing his course towards the Canary islands. He stopped there to refit, and, on the sixth of September, boldly adventured into seas which no vessel had yet entered, with no chart to direct him, no guide but his compass, and without any knowledge of the tides or currents which might interrupt his course. He moved rapidly before the trade wind, which blows invariably from the east to the west between the tropics, judiciously concealing from his ignorant and timid crews the progress he made, lest they might be alarmed at the speed with which they receded from home. About the fourteenth of September, he was distant nearly six hundred miles from the most westerly of the Canaries, and here the magnetic needle was observed to vary from its direction to the polar star, and incline towards the west; an appearance which, although now familiar, had never before been observed. Columbus and his companions were alarmed. They were far from land, and far from the tracks of other navigators. All before and around them was unknown, and their only guide seemed to be no longer entitled to their confidence. But although alarmed, Columbus lost not his presence of mind. He assigned a reason for the variation, which, without satisfying himself, silenced the murmurs of his companions. But the interval of quiet and subordination was short. Disaffection soon reappeared among the ignorant and wavering, and, gradually spreading, at length pervaded the whole squadron. The men blamed their sovereign for listening to the schemes of a dreaming adventurer. The indications of land had all proved fallacious. They would be amused and deceived no longer. They agreed that Columbus should be forced to relinquish an undertaking which seemed to promise nothing but destruction; and some of the more daring talked of throwing him into the sea, as a visionary projector, whose death would cause no regret, and produce no inquiry. Amidst these difficulties, Columbus displayed those traits of character which proved the greatness of his mind, and his peculiar fitness for the arduous duties of his station. He appeared with a steady and cheerful countenance, as if satisfied with what he had done. Sometimes he soothed his companions by holding out to them a prospect of riches and of fame, and by offering a gratuity to |