Classical Theology.—Xlvi.

Apostles . Thus , Luke , describing his impressions of what took place from the point of view popular both among Greeks and Jews , says : — "And it came to pass , as we went to prayer , a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination ( in the original noftjw ) met us , which brought her masters such gain by

soothsaying . " The poor girl had perhaps had not been sufficiently dosed with the vile medicaments of the soothsayers , or had nearly recovered from their temporary effects ; and having become penetrated with a conviction that the mission of the Apostles was reall y of divine orig in , her

conscience accused her of the unworth y part which she had probabl y been forced to take in the magical ceremonies of her masters . She was able to assert a revealed truth , but after a manner that grieved Paul and Silas : ¦ —

" The same followed Paul and us , sayiug : —These meu are the servants of the Most Hi gh God , which show unto us tho way of salvation . " This she so often repeated , that Paul at last turned and said to the supposed spirit" I command thee in the name of Jesus Ohi-ist to come

out of her . And he came out of her the same hour . " The good man ' s gentle manner and p ious eloquence during the many days that she had followed his footsteps , had soothed her agitated mind and feeble frame , exhausted b y the tossings of delirium or epilepsy . The ri ghts of property and the necessity of protection to

monopoly were held as sacred in those days as in our own . Paul and Silas found that humanit y and sympathy were contraband goods when they interfered with the profits ofthe Barnums of that generation . The law was soon discovered to be on the side of humbug , a state of things which as frequently flourishes in London as at Philippi .

"And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone , they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the market place unto the rulers , ancl brought them unto the magistrates , saying : These men , being Jews , do exceedingly trouble our city , and teach customs , which are not lawful for us to receive , neither to observe , being Eomans . And the multitude rose up together against them ,

and the magistrates rent off their clothes , and commanded to beat them . And when they hacl laid many stripes upon them , they cast them into prison , charging the jailor to keep them safely : who having received such a charge , thrust them into the inner prison , and made their feet fast in the stocks . Aud at midnight Paul and Silas prayed , and sang praises unto God , and the prisoners heard them .

And suddenly there was a great earthquake , so that the foundations of the prison were shaken : and immediately all the doors were opened , and everj'one ' s bands were loosed . Ancl the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep , and seeing the prison doors open , he drew out his sword and would have killed himself , supposingthat the prisoners had fled . But Paul cried with

a loud voice , saying , Do thyself no harm , for we are all here . Then he called for a light and sprang in , and came trembling , and fell down before Paul ancl Silas , and brought them out and said , Sirs , what must I do to be saved ? .... And he took them the same hour of the ni ght , and washed their stripes , and was baptised , he ancl all his straightway . "

Plutarch , in his work On tiie Cessation of Oracles , has wisely remarked , "It is ridiculous and ignorant to believe that God himself , or His angel , like these familiar spirits , the E-yyao-Tpi / xcu / floi , ancientl y known as the Evpvxteis , but now named TivSaves , should enter the bodies of persons ( as amongst the prophets ) , and make use of their months and languages to prognosticate and give answers . " The philosopher was ri ght , but those who

Classical Theology.—Xlvi.

thought with him were few in number . Soothsayers have continued to flourish from his day down to our own , anfi whether calling themselves " vates sacri" or " mediumaj ' have never lacked a sufficient immber of gaping fools and superstitious fanatics to swell their train , and wha £ is much more important , fill their breeches pockets .

Architecture And Archæology.

ARCHITECTURE AND ARCH ? OLOGY .

The Association met in the Koyal Public Eooms at half-past eigfjA o ' clock . Mr . J . JR . Plauche ( one of the honorary secretaries of iSus association ) read his paper on the Earls of Devon . The next paper was by Mr . T . Wright , on the Library given "foy Bishop Leofric to Exeter Cathedral , in the beginning of the llfcfa . century . Dr . J . H . Pring being unable to attend , his " Memoir of Thomas Chard , JD . D ., Suffragan Bishop , and last Abbot of Ford Abbey , ' ' was read by the chairman .

Saturday was the last day of the Congress , and the arrangements for the day included an excursion to Totnes and Dartmouth . The party left St . David ' s station , JExeter , at 9 . 45 a . m ., for Xotaeo , arrived there at eleven , proceeded to the quay and embarked on board one of the steamers , and then steamed gaily down fehs beautiful river Dart , whose silvery waters glistening resplendent ^ in the sun , mirrored the rich fringe of wood or the gentle slopes of verdant fields on either hand . On arriving at Dartmouth , abemfe

one o'clock , the archaeologists , males and females , the latter being hy far the majority , sat down to a good substantial luncbeoa . provided by Mr . Stone , of the Castle Hotel . Amongst those who partook or it was Sir George Broughton , Bart ., ivhose health was drunk as well as that of the ladies . The company then proceeds ;? , to view Dartmouth church—that of St . Saviours ' . It is in the centre of the town , and was erected in the 13 th century . It is __ i spacious cruciform stone structure with a square tower and eight

bells , and though possessing little beauty externally will amply repay antiquarian research from the manner in which the internal workmanship , in wood and stone , is executed . The screen and pulpit ( the latter of stone ) are particularly rich , and both of theia elaborately illuminated . A new tenor bell , also a western window and doorway , were added about 1 S 53 . The altar piece , a large and richly finished oil painting , by the late Mr . Brockedon , a native < sf Totneswas presented to the church bGovernor Holdsworth . Ifc

, y represents " Christ raising the Widow's Son . " After spending ; some time in musing over the antiquities of this ancient edifice the party repaired to tbe castle , which , together with the forts , are built on rocks , and surrounded by bold and rocky cliffs . They then retraced their steps to the steam-vessel , by which they were conveyed back to Totnes , but , contrary to the programme [ for the

day , they were unable to visit Darlington hill or Berry Castle , The only place they were able to view was the church , which is dedicated in honour of St . Mary . It is a handsome edifice in the Early Perpendicular style , with the nave , chancel , and a lofty tower ,, containing a good peal of eight hells . It was not until about 1800 that its date was known , when the south-east pinnacle being struck down by lightning fell through the roof of a small room over the porch , in which were found two chests full of ancient records , soul

from which it appeared the church ivas rebuilt in 1259 , and again in 1432 . A very handsome stone screen of ornamental traceigdivides the nave and chancel , and the altar piece is of Grecian design with a classical semi-dome supported by Corinthian pillars . It being now about six o'clock the party proceeded to the Totnes station , and returned by rail to Exeter . An evening meeting was held at the JRoyal Public Rooms , at niae o ' clock the same evening , for the conclusion of the business of the

Congress . The President ( Sir Stafford Northcote ) was in tha ehaic . Sir Stafford JNorthcote having called upon Colonel HARDING to read his paper on a new coin , that gentleman rose to comply . The paper is as follows : —In the summer « ff 1860 , Lieut-Colonel Bent , R . E ., visited the Steep Holmes with fcfee view to the erection of a battery . White he was surveying the island , some men were engaged in the removal of earth for tfee improvement of a garden . Not far below the surface they foaai ! .

three skeletons laid side by side , ivithout any trace of coffins , dress , or weapons . The bones appeared to be the remains of men wiio hacl died in the full vigour of life , and one of them must have been of gigantic stature . The skull was remarkable for its size amd . fine development , ivhile the trunk and limb hones were so long end ' , massive , that Col . Bent estimated the height of the living man __ i _ fully seven feet . After a careful search they discovered hi , lhs