amalgamated, like every other ancient people, with the Gentiles, and their very name would have been discovered only in their history. Their absolutely abstaining from intermarriages with any others than those of their own communion, is the principal means by which they are preserved in their separate state; nor can we see how two persons, each conscientiously attached to a creed essentially so different as those of the Jew and the Christian, could live together in that perfect harmony, which ought, at least, to be anticipated by every individual who enters into the most important of all engagements.

In the course of her work, Miss Edgeworth has taken occasion to notice the liberality of public sentiment, and the undistinguishing toleration of our laws in America. A recent opportunity would seem, indeed, to show that the former at least, must be very much at variance with the state of feeling in England. In all the conversations to which Mr. West's celebrated picture has given rise in the last two or three years, we have never heard it intimated that the English critics had objected to the complexion by which the artist has thought proper to distinguish the High-Priest and his adherents from their brethren, the disciples of Christ. With us, it is seen with one universal feeling of surprise and disgust. There is not the shadow of authority for such a liberty in the Scriptures; and if it be adopted in the license of the poet-though it be temerity to differ with Mr. West-we cannot but say there is a gross absurdity in exhibiting in the same picture two groups of persons, all of the same family, and the same period of time--of opposite colours-the one white, the

other black! Friends and enemies are very properly discriminated by the expression of their features; but no strength of passion, especially at the moment of its birth, can change the colour of the skin.

Miss Edgeworth has gone beyond the courtesy of either party, and proved too much, when she compliments us so far as to say, that "in America Jews have frequently married Christian women, and the wives have continued undisturbed in their faith." Page 137. She has been misinformed in this particular. A few such instances, it is true, have occurred; but in some cases, one of the parties has wholly embraced the opposite creed; and in others, they have evinced their total indifference to all religion, by suspending the exercise of their own opinions during the lives of their companions, and returning to it afterwards. In all the various intercourse of social life, we know of no uncharitable barriers between Jews and Christians in our happy community. Talents and virtues are alike honoured in both but in the view of a more intimate connexion, -many a youth enchained by the charms of a lovely Jewess, has breathed the vain aspiration of Paul to Agrippa—“I would thou wert not only almost-but altogether such as I am;" not excepting these bonds!

A PRAYER FROM THE PSALMS.

BLESS the Lord, O my soul! O Lord! thou art very great; thou art clothed with majesty and honour:—who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the Heavens like a curtain-who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, who maketh the clouds his chariot who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. O Lord, our Lord! how excellent is thy name in the earth! When I consider the Heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou visitest the earth and waterest it: thou makest it soft with showers, the pastures are clothed with flocks: the valleys also are covered over with corn. Thou openest

thy hand, and satisfiest every living thing. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord! and thy saints shall bless thee. While I live, I will praise thee. Hear my prayer, O Lord! give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness, and enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Thou hast searched me and known me. compassest my path, and art acquainted with all my ways. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me-I cannot attain it. Whither shall I go from thy presence? If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of

Thou

the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. In God is my salvation and my glory. The rock of my strength and my refuge is in God! Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, who remembered us in our low estate, and hath redeemed us from our enemies. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning—in the morning will I direct my prayers unto thee. I laid me down and slept-I awaked, for the Lord sustained me. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord! my strength and my Redeemer, because thy loving kindness is better than life. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; put not thy servant away in anger, thou that hast been my help: leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation! I know that thy judgments are right, and that thou in very faithfulness hast afflicted me; but thou, O Lord! art a God full of compassion, and gracious, and long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait upon thee. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me. According to the mulout my transgressions.

titude of thy tender mercies, blot Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a new heart, O God! and renew a right spirit within me. Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up thy hand, forget not the humble. For with thee is

the fountain of life, in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy loving kindness to them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart! O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for thou shalt judge the people righteously. Then shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. His name shall endure forever : his name shall be continued as long as the sun-all nations shall call him blessed. And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen.