if mere tradition, without divine direction, furnishes a competent warrant for such a cup, why may not tradition be received in justification of war-of slavery-of idolatry-or of sin in its myriads of shapes? As well, too, might moral evil, on a scale as wide as the world, and as long as time, be proved pure, by tradition. Sin has been on our globe much longer than the sacramental cup of the Christian institute If metaphors are to be employed to represent our privileges-our hopes-our dutiesinseparable from our accountableness to God, and our relation to eternity, let them, excepting when indubitably specified and described by infinite wisdom, be so selected and understood, as to accord with the entire scope of divine revelation. Then, in their several parts and branches, they will be consistent with each other. They will form a harmonious whole. Particularly, be it regarded and felt as supremely desirable, that because moral cleansing and renovation form the mighty object of Christianity, the practical application of symbols should be such, in accordance with revealed prescriptions, as most clearly to show what is meant by the removal of sin's dominion from the depraved heart.

THE TRUE USE OF THE VINE.

The following excellent observations_on_the true use of the Vine, occur in the account given by the Rev. Dr. Duff, of his journey through France, while passing through that country to India, by the way of Alexandria :

"In these countries, mantled with vineyards, one cannot help learning the true intent and use of the vine in the scheme of Providence. In our own land wine has become so exclusively a mere luxury, or what is worse, by a species of manufacture, an intoxicating beverage, that many have wondered how the Bible speaks of wine, in conjunction with corn, and other such staple supports of animal life. Now, in passing through the region of vineyards in the east of France, one must at once perceive, that the vine greatly flourishes on slopes and heights, where the soil is too poor and gravelly to maintain either corn for food or pasturage for cattle. But what is the providential design in rendering this soil-favored by a genial atmosphere-so productive of the vine, if its fruit become solely either an article of luxury, or an instrument of vice?

"The answer is, that Providence had no such design. Look at the peasant and his meals in vine-bearing districts. Instead of milk, he has a basin of pure unadulterated blood of the grape.' In this, its native original state, it is a plain, simple and whole

some liquid; which, at every repast, becomes to the husbandman what milk is to the shepherd-not a luxury, but a necessary—not an intoxicating, but a nutritive beverage. Hence, to the vine-dressing peasant of Auxerre, for example, an abundant vintage, as connected with his own immediate sustenance, is as important as an overflowing dairy to the pastoral peasant of Ayrshire. And hence, by such a view of the subject, are the language and the sense of the Scripture vindicated from the very appearance of favoring what is merely luxurious or positively noxious, when it so constantly magnifies a well replenished winepress, in a rocky mountainous country, like that of Palestine, as one of the richest bounties of a generous Providence."