THE FIFTH AND SIXTH FOUNDATIONS.

Sardonyx and Sardius.

HOU shalt make the breastplate of judgment. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle.Exodus xxviii. 15, 17.

And he made the breastplate of cunning work. And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle.— Exodus xxxix. 8, 10.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond.-Ezekiel xxviii. 13.

The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius.-Revelation xxi. 14, &c.

Sardonyx being a stone compounded of the sard and the onyx, has its substance formed in layers of divers colours: thus a layer of grey will lie between two of brown; or one whitish and opaque, on a second which is transparent; or four layers dark and light alternately will set off each other; or a white surface will be warmed to shell-pink by a red underlying section. At first sight a Sardonyx may appear but a one-coloured mass, brown, or grey, or otherwise as the case may be: but carve into it and a second unsuspected beauty shall come to light; yea, may be, a

third and a fourth, as the master-hand guides and urges the tool deeper and deeper.

This stone has been pronounced void of mystical powers; yet should its wearer be humble, modest, pure: and if so, then much more we who ourselves are as lively stones hewn and polished for the very Temple of God:

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.-Isaiah lvii. 15.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. -St. Matthew v. 8.

Sardius occupies a lodging within the very rock, which being cleft reveals the lurking treasure. It is a superior variety of cornelian, and exhibits different degrees of redness and transparency: the more vivid the red, the more precious the specimen. Its Hebrew name is traced to a root signifying "being red." This stone is both tough, and easy of workmanship; and is said to be retentive, as certainly it is susceptible, of a high polish.

Sardius of Babylon was held in good repute; and the Arabians possess a fine dark red cornelian which they imagine potent to staunch the flow of blood from a fresh wound. Even thus, as the Stauncher of our souls' lifeblood, is our tender Saviour in miracle and parable set before us:

She said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up.-St. Mark v. 28, 29.

A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine.-St. Luke x. 33, 34.

A throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.-Revelation iv. 2, 3.

The Sardine Stone here named has been explained as identical with the Sardius: and if, while accepting this interpretation, we adopt also that which considers the jasper of this text as indicating some gem of exceeding effulgence, we behold an awful symbol setting before us that which mortal eyes could not sustain.

Our God is a consuming fire.-Hebrews xii. 29.

There shall no man see Me, and live.—Exodus xxxiii. 20. God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.-2 Corinthians iv. 6.

tassel.

COWSLIPS AND ERONICA.

Each has his separate gift of God.

OWSLIPS and Veronica make fair the world in May, blooming simultaneously in a fine harmony of contrast.

The Cowslip loves moist meadows: it unfolds a crinkled leaf, and for blossom assumes a cluster of bells pendent like a golden-tipped The pale green stalk of the cluster, and pale

green calyx of each bell, gives the growing flower a tint rather delicate than brilliant: thus at first sight it belies its own richness: but lift the drooping head, and each fragrant floweret shows like a salver of gold exquisitely moulded and inlaid with a deeper honey colour. A pleasant wine, which has been reckoned promotive of

sleep, can be prepared from the blossoms, and the leaves are in a measure capable of nourishing silkworms: but perhaps the Cowslip's most obvious use is to be beautiful; and by its beauty to cheer man and woo the eyes of his heart towards God, Who made this fair creature and gave it for our solace.