PREES GREEN.-The 4th anniversary of the Primitive Methodist Sabbath-school, Prees Green, Salop, was celebrated on Oct. 17th, 1869, when two sermons were preached at half-past 2 and 6 o'clock by the Rev. G. Middleton, Welshpool, with good effect. Recitations and hymns were given by the children at each service. The collections amounted to £4 0s. 1d., which was beyond our expectations. The annual treat of the school was held on the Monday following, when about 100 scholars and friends sat down to an excellent tea. After tea the chapel was lighted, when suitable addresses were delivered by Messrs. Adams, Fallows, Evans, Middleton, and Rogers.

WILLIAM ADAMS.

Queries and Answers.

I.

DEAR SIR.-Being a reader of the Christian Messenger, I find in reading the fifth article on Geological Views of Creation, that plants were formed on the third day, and animals on the fifth day; and yet plants existed countless ages before animals. What I want to know is, whether day and night were the same length that they now are; if so, it seems to me rather contradictory. Your opinion in the Juvenile will greatly oblige yours truly,

J. W.

ANSWER.-Mr. W. has not read the said article correctly. A careful reading will explain the difficulty complained of. That article maintains that the days of creation were long periods. But the objector says that this theory assumes that plants existed countless ages before animals; because Genesis says that plants were created on the third day, and animals not till the fifth; but Geology shows that life, animal and vegetable, was simultaneous in its commencement, and equally conspicuous in almost every period of the past. Our theory does not assume that plants existed countless ages before animals; it coincides

with Genesis in stating that the third day was remarkable for its extensive flora, or its numerous plants, shrubs and trees; and the fifth day was famous for its reptilian forms of life. It also incorporates the fact established by Geology that animal life began in the first great day of creation; when the Saurentian rocks were deposited, and "when the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters." The word means to move with affection, or to brood over young ones, as the cagle does over her nest. That brooding must mean that the liquid mass was now impregnated with living forms of life. We still maintain that the six days of creation were long periods, just as the Christian dispensation is called "one day," the "latter day," and "the day of salvation." Yet those distant times, or lengthened periods, were characterized by evenings and mornings.

ARTHUR BEAnland.

II.

REV. SIR.-I read in Gen. v. 24, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Was the translation of Enoch private or public? Will you oblige me by giving me an explanation of the above verse of Scripture.

JOHN BELL.

ANSWER.-We have an account of two translations in the word of God. One is that of Enoch, in Gen. v. 24.; and the other that of Elijah, in 2. Kings ii. Elijah was taken up in the presence of Elisha; for the history informs us "that as they went on and talked, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up in a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, my Father, my father." Here was at least one witness of this transaction. In the translation of Enoch these demonstrations do not appear. The history is exceedingly laconic, "He was not, for God took him." Paul (Heb. xi. 5.) throws a little additional light on this subject. He says, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." It appears to us that the translation was private. Perhaps Paul's phrase, and was not found," points in this direction.

III.

DEAR EDITOR.-Will you kindly give an explanation on the following verse, through the medium of our Juvenile Magazine. Here it seems doubtful whether little children can enter into heaven-viz.: Psalms 58, 3rd verse-"The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." A reply will greatly obligo yours respectfully,

AN ENQUIRER.

ANSWER.-The Psalmist in this passage does not affirm this state of things at all. He is now speaking of the persons mentioned in this psalm. Still what is affirmed of them may be affirmed of all that are born. The first acts of a child are mingled with depravity, and indicate that there is something radically wrong in the moral constitution. Every parent that has watched the buddings of his child's heart has painful experiences of the truth of this passage. He has early to apply the pruning knife to separate these unsightly protuberances and suckers. Under this state of things to us it does not "seem doubtful whether little children can enter the kingdom of Heaven." Until children arrive at a certain condition, that is, to know good from evil, and are able to give proper reason for the distinction, there can be no responsibility, therefore no guilt. There must be intelligence and the concurrence of the will before an act can be construed into sin that deserves punishment. Whatever depravity there may be in the nature of a child before such child becomes a responsible being, its removal is provided for in the atonement of Christ. See this point brought out in Rom. v. 12-21.

THE LONG PARLIAMENT.

THIS remarkable Parliament met in 1640 under Charles II., and was dissolved by Cromwell in 1653. During its sittings England passed through a most critical part of its history. The country was broken up into two great sections, known by the names of the Cavaliers and the Roundheads, represented by the modern names of Tories and Whigs. Charles, instigated by his wife, who was a French papist, had begun to play that foolish game which alienated the nation and brought him to the scaffold. The House of Commons was an inconvenient thing to him, inasmuch as it freely discussed certain things in relation to his unconstitutional proceedings, and as he thought in so doing they impudently animadverted on his conduct. Indeed he would have dispensed with this assembly if he could have replenished his exchequer at pleasure. Goaded to opposition by the King's oppressions, in the second year of its existence, the long Parliament proceeded to curtail the royal power. Among other things it swept away were, the Star Chamber, the High Commission, and the Council of York. Men who were imprisoned and cruelly mutilated because they were obnoxious to the King, were set at liberty. The nation proceeded to wreak its vengeance on the chief Ministers of the Crown, who had most shamefully abused their power. Everything indicated the approach of a struggle between the Commons and the Throne. Charles, inflated by the notion that a king had a right to do as he pleased, was determined to yield nothing only where he was forced. The Commons, led by a few fearless men just fitted for the times, took up the gauntlet thrown down by the Court. In November, 1641, it was moved by the Opposition, that the House of Commons should present a remonstrance to the King, enumerating the faults of his administration from the time of his accession, and expressing the distrust with ich his policy was still regarded by the people. After