THE

CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE.

JULY, 1841.

JUDAH'S LION.

CHAPTER IV.

MAN'S enmity against the truth is the most active principle within him. He may affect to despise, but in reality he fears while he hates it, and stoutly resists every accession to the ranks of true believers. He that is born after the flesh naturally desires to persecute a brother born after the Spirit; and there was no exception to this rule on board Her Majesty's ship; though as yet the pious Gunner had not experienced its operation, beyond a few petty annoyances, which he scarcely felt.

But who with impunity shall stretch forth the hand to unwind the web in which Satan holds captive a lost sheep of the house of Israel! Judaism, the shell wherein lies, concealed and useless to its possessor, the rich kernel of the gospel, and Popery, the worthless husk from which that kernel has been JULY, 1841.

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privily eaten out, are the objects of his peculiar vigilance. To reveal to the Jew the undiscovered riches, and to the Papist the unsuspected hollowness of what he grasps, is to shake the pillars of that throne whereon the Prince of darkness sits; for well he knows that the restoration of Israel and the destruction of Popery are the appointed signals for fettering him in the bottomless pit.

Sharpe the infidel was a ready tool in the work of hindering the truth. He really dreaded no man on board in an argument except Gordon, for he alone wielded the sword of the Spirit against him. The only instance in which he had been effectually silenced by the learned but unenlightened Schoolmaster, was, when the latter appealed to the state of the Jews as a living testimony to the verity of God's word; and the way in which Gordon followed it up increased his annoyance. He noticed, with sullen dislike, the growing cordiality between the Gunner and Alick Cohen, and without caring a straw whether the boy continued a Jew or became a 'Methodist for Mr. Sharpe, like many better and wiser people fancied that in becoming a Christian a man must cease to be a Jew-he resolved to make it an occasion for punishing the objects of his malice.

He easily managed to convey to Mr. Cohen some hints on the unsuitableness to his rank in life of the intimacy his young son seemed disposed to form; with an assurance that if allowed to continue it he would be seduced not merely from the religion of his fathers, but to join a sect so extremely bigotted, narrow-minded, and despised by all sensible people, as to become a scoff among respectable Christians. This exceedingly alarmed Mr. Cohen: he sent for

Alick, and bestowed on him a reprimand for losing sight of his station in society; and without making any allusion to religion, prohibited him from further acquaintance with the warrant-officer, in whose cabin be heard he had been sitting after the lights were

out.

That was the very reason, father,' said Alick, who had no desire to put it on any other footing. 'Do you blame me for availing myself of a good candle, instead of going to bed at nursery-hours?'

'You are not obliged to go to bed: 'tis very pleasant on deck in the evening.'

'I'm walking the deck all day,' said Alick, fretfully; and a little quietness at night, without being shut up wholly in the dark, I may surely enjoy.'

'Nonsense! you have companions of your own age and rank, every way suitable, and may be well content to do as they do. Hold no farther intercourse with this Boatswain, or whatever they call him; and remember it is but for a short time. You will soon be ashore, and may burn candles all night; and all day too, if you please.'

Alick smiled: his father's good-humoured way of speaking had always influenced him more than any principle of obedience would have done; and he resolved to follow his own inclination without‘vexing' a parent whom he loved, by open rebellion.

Meanwhile Sharpe, having satisfied himself that Mr. Cohen would not sanction any farther intimacy between his son and the Gunner, went to the first Lieutenant, who was on deck; and Sharpe was glad to perceive the Captain so near as to be within hearing. He mentioned to the Lieutenant that their worthy passenger was made exceedingly unhappy