account, in his comment of the scriptures, upon the subject of giants; viz that he had known a young man who measured eight feet and six inches in height, and every way well proportioned. If, therefore, at this day such a monster of a man is known to exist, how much more may we say, and with confidence too, that in those ages, when man lived longer on the earth, there were exceptions from the general size of men, of a more monstrous and astonishing description? Therefore it is said there were giants in the earth in those days.

The book of Numbers in the second place, chap. 13, notices this subject in the following manner. At the time when Moses sent out the spies to explore the country of the Canaanites, they returned with this account: that they had found cities which were walled, and very great; and that they had seen the children of Anak there, who were giants. And on this very account they were afraid, and discouraged the people from such an enterprise; declaring that they were not able to go up against them, because they were stronger than they.

And further, they said, that they were a people who eat up the inhabitants thereof; alleging that all the people they saw were men of great stature. And besides all this they had seen the sons of Anak, who came of the giants; in whose presence they felt themselves to be but grasshoppers, in comparison of them while the giants esteemed the Israelites in the same light, as grasshoppers. When, therefore, this account was spread abroad, through the camp of Israel, they were terrified beyond measure, and wept all that night, for very fear that they should all be devoured of the giants; for the spies had said that they eat up the inhabitants of the land. But Moses, and Aaron, and Joshua, and Caleb, and some of the spies, endeavoured to encourage the people not to fear them, but to go up and possess the land. But this only enraged them, and they made haste to stone their leaders: which was prevented only by the sudden appearance of the glory of God in the tabernacle, who reproved them for their anger and unbelief.

Thirdly, we will notice the 2d chap. of Deuteronomy upon this subject, see verses 10, 11. 20, 21. The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakims; which also were accounted giants. Verse 20; That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time. Verse 21; A people great, and many, and tall as the Anakims; but the Lord destroyed them. From the above quotations it appears that there were an abundance of gigantic people in ancient days; but some may say, truly this is proved, but unfortunately their height is not spoken of so clearly as might be desired. To this we will answer, that the design of

God, in giving to us the history of his works and ways, was not to satisfy a vain curiosity, by telling us of the heights of men or the bulk of beast, &c. but to shew us his wonderous power, and amazing goodness and holiness, to excite our fear and love of him, and to imitate his holiness. Yet the scriptures have stooped and condescended to afford us four instances, the only that I recollect, which intimate pretty clearly what the height of some of those giants were: but this I consider is only to shew us that the Lord is stronger than the strongest; for it is said he destroyed those nations.

The scriptures I allude to are, first, the 3d chap. of Deuteronomy, 11th verse, where it is said, for only Ög king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was bedstead of iron: is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it. Doct. Adam Clarke, in his comment upon this, remarks, that bishop Cumberland, in his account of the length of a cubit, says it contains 21 inches and a trifle over. This being correct, we have, at once, the length of his bedstead, which was 15 feet; and 7 feet 8 inches in width.

The second instance is in the book of Amos, 2d chap. 9th verse, where the prophet relates what God had done for his people in times past, viz: that he destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oak. This it is conceived is spoken in the strongest terms; representing the height of some of those people at least, to be equal to the height of the cedar tree, which in that country is a tree of considerable magnitude and height.

The third instance is that of Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span; which is eleven feet and three inches.

From the above remarks and quotations, we think it is safe to conclude, that anciently, giants were more common and enormous than at the present day. And we think by these that the accounts on page 63 of this work, are in some measure corroborated; and the reasons given for the finding of those large skeletons of the human kind, in the earth in various ages.

The fourth scripture account, which is upon this subject, is Chronicles, 11th chap. verse 23. And he, (Benaiah, one of David's captains,) slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; which is eight feet and nine inches.

It is not unreasonable to believe that the antideluvians, many of them, and also since the deluge, of the ancient nations, were men of great stature; which is shewn, both from sacred and profane history.

The above scripture accounts seem to place the subject in a very definite light; and subdues the mind to a belief of the existence of giants anciently. If there have been beasts once, which now are extinct, of a greater size than any known at the present day, why not men therefore? one is as possible as the other. But what beast ever existed, that does not now exist? In the book of Job God says to Job, Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox: his bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth: he moveth his tail like a cedar. Behemoth cannot be supposed to be the elephant; because it is said of behemoth, that he moveth his tail like a cedar; for it is well known that the tail of the elephant is remarkably small, considering the great bulk of the animal. From this one circumstance, which God himself has pointed out as being remarkable, viz: that his tail has the appearance of a cedar tree, goes to show the great magnitude of behemoth. From this we will argue, and with safety too, that as this beast far exceeds, in bulk, any beast known on the globe at this time; so might some men at that day, as far exceed the largest men, now known among men. Perhaps behemoth is the same beast spoken of by authors of later years, called the mammoth; whose skeletons have been found in the earth, of such vast dimensions as to justify the above remarks, in application to behemoth. Our conceptions of things are apt to accord with such things as we have seen: but most assuredly the earth has afforded beasts larger than it does now; and men of greater bulk and strength than it affords at this day.

A WONDERFUL CONVERSION.

Conversion of a wicked sea Captain by means, through grace, of his cabin Boy.

"A brand plucked from the burning.”

[Zion's Herald.]

A few months since, a vessel sailed from England with a captain whose habitual blasphemy, drunkenness, and tyranny, so disgusted the crew, that some of the most fatal consequences might have taken place, but for the sudden and alarming illness of this cruel and depraved commander. The mate took charge of the ship, and the captain, greatly afflicted in his cabin, was

left by the unaminous voice of a hardened crew, to perish. He had continued nearly a week in this neglected state, none venturing to visit him, when the heart of a poor boy on board was touched with the sufferings of this wicked man, and he determined, notwithstanding the opposition of the crew, to enter the cabin, and speak to the captain. He descended the companion ladder, and opening the state room door, called out, 'Captain, how are you? A surly voice replied, What's that to you; be off!' Thus repulsed, the boy went on deck; but next morning he determined to make another attempt, and at the state-room cried, 'Captain, I hope you are better;' 'O Bob I am very bad, Leen very ill all night.' The boy encouraged with this mild answer, drew nigh the bed-place, and said, Captain, please let me wash your hands and face, it will refresh you very much.'The captain nodded assent. Having performed this kind office, the boy said-' Please master, let me shave you.' He was permitted to do this also, and having adjusted the bed clothes, he grew bolder, and proposed some tea.' The captain had been a desperate and wicked man beyond many, and as he knew he had no mercy to expect from his crew, so he was determined not to solicit any. I'l perish,' said his obstinate perverse soul, rather than ask one favour of them.' But the un olicited and undeserved kindness of this poor boy found way to the heart of this violent man, and in spite of all his daring independent spirit, his bowels melted, and his iron face displayed the starting tear, while his soul involuntarily sighed. O brotherly kindness, in the hour of need, though issuing from a stripling, how amiable thou art! How many ways has the Almighty of gaining access to the hearts of his stubborn and rebellious creatures! A little captive maid directs the leprous Naaman, and a menial servantmildly subdues the haughty general into compliance with the prophet's order, 2d Kings, chap. v. The captain scon felt the good effect of the boy's attendance, and therefore permitted him to do what he pleased in future for the alleviation of his pains, or the restoration of his health.

The captain now declined apace; his weakness was daily increasing, and he became gradually convinced that he should not live many weeks at farthest. His mind was filled with increasing terror, as the prospect of death and eternity drew nearer to his confused and agitated view. He was as ignorant as he was wicked. Brought up among the worst of seamen in his early life, he had imbibed all their principles, followed their practices, and despised remonstrance or reproof. A man-of-war had finished his education, and a long course of successful voyages, as master of a vessel, had contributed to harden his heart, and not only to say there is no God, but to act under that persuasion.

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Alarmed at the idea of death, and ignorant of the way of salvation, with a conscience now thundering conviction to his soul, he cried, one morning just as Bob opened the state-room door, and affectionately inquired, Well, master, how is it with you this morning? Ah, Bob, I'm very bad, my body is getting worse and worse, but I should not mind that so much, were it not for my soul. O Bob, what shall I do? I'm a great sinner, I'm afraid I shall go to hell, I deserve it. Alas, Bob, I'm a lost man!' 'O my master,' said the boy, 'don't be alarmed; God is merciful, and I am sure you will not be lost. He knows what sailors are, and I dare say he'll save you.' 'No, Bob, no, I cannot see the least prospect of being saved. O what a sinner 1 have been, what will become of me?' His stony heart was broken, and he poured out his complaints before the boy, who strove all he could to comfort him, but in vain.

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One morning the boy just appeared, when the captain sung out, O Bob, I've been thinking of a bible, I know there is not one in the cabin, go forward, and see if you can find one in the men's chests.' The boy succeeded, and the poor dying man beheld him enter with tears of joy. Ah, Bob, that will do, that will do, you must read to me, and I shall soon know whether such a wicked man as I can be saved, and how it is to be done. Now Bob, sit down on my chest, and read to me out of the blessed book.' Where shall I read, master?' 'I do not know, Bob, I cannot at present read myself; but try and pick out some places that speak about sinners and salvation.' 'Well, master, then I'll take the New-Testament: you and I shall understand it better, for as my poor mother used to say, there is not so many hard words there.' The boy read for two hours, while the captain, stretching his neck over the bed-place, listened with the eagerness of a man on the verge of eternity. Every word conveyed light to his mind, and his astonished soul soon beheld sin as he had never seen it before. The justice of God in his eternal ruin, struck him with amazing force, and though he heard of a Saviour, still the great difficulty of knowing how he could be saved, appeared a mystery unfathomable. He had been ruminating a great part of the night on some passages Bob had read, but they only served to depress his spirits, and terrify his soul. The next morning, when the boy entered the stateroom, he exclaimed, 'O Bob, I shall never live to reach the land, I'm dying very fast: you'll soon have to cast me overboard, but all this is nothing-my soul! my poor soul! Ah, Bob, my dear lad, what will become of my soul? OI shall be lost forever." No, no, master, don't be alarmed. I believe you will be saved yet; remember I read many fine things yesterday about salvation. Bob, can you prey? No, master.