Friday Evening, Voskresensky. Being just returned from our pilgrimage to the Holy Land; before a storm which is now brewing, sweeps off the vividness of my impressions, according to my promise, I will transmit them to paper. The monastery of the venerable patriarch externally resembles other great religious establishments of this country. Its walls are strongly castellated, guarded by high warlike towers and military bulwarks. It covers a vast extent of ground, in the centre of which stands the grand and celebrated church called the New Jerusalem, built by Nichon in imitation of the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine: so determined was he to be exact to his model, that he sent an Italian architect to Jerusalem to bring away a plan of the Sepulchre in all its parts. During our walk around the walls, we fortunately encountered the Archimandrite (or abbot) who accosted us with politeness; and afterwards shewed us an attention that was quite unexampled. We should have thought a man of his high ecclesiastical dignity sufficiently condescending, that he sent one of the monks to usher us over the edifice; but he, in the most gracious manner, took the task on himself; and conducted us throughout the whole of the monastery, not omitting the smallest point which contained any object of interest. In the great building are more than forty chapels, consecrated to the Apostles, John the Baptist, Saints, Patriarchs, and other pious persons who were venerated in the original church of the Sepulchre. To these are added oratories dedicated to the canonized of Russia, St. Alexander Nefsky, &c. As the convent bears the appellation of New Jerusalem, the villages, hills, and country around, have likewise assumed the names of Palestine. Here I saw the mounts Carmel and Tabor, the sea of Galilee, the Jordan, the village Emaus, &c. &c. Our pious conductor, who pointed out these scenes with religious awe, was about thirty-two or three. His remarks shewed him to be a man of extensive knowledge. Indeed, when he mentioned the school in which he had been, a place so well adapted for the planting and cultivation of all that improves the heart and mind, I no longer was surprised at his courtesy and accomplishments: he had passed several years in the Troitza with the learned and saint-like Platon. As we conversed, I found him intimately acquainted with the religious literature of the passed centuries, as well as thoroughly master of the classics, and of every species of reading that can enlighten and adorn the understanding. He was also well read in our English writers; and spoke with particular praise of Sherlock and Porteus, of Dr. Young and Cowper. He led us into a spacious tower that overloked one of the rivers, the banks of which were richly shaded with trees, "This," said he, "is the house of David, whence he beheld the beautiful Bathsheba bathing: and those are the gardens of Uriah." This was rather an odd point in the good monarch's history for monks to celebrate. Yet I do not think it amiss: for, as the New Testament holds up an example of sinless perfection; in the Old, we have one that transgressed, and yet was approved of Heaven. Not that we are to copy the sin as we ought the virtue; but by considering the character of David, we may be cured of despair and vice at the same moment. The King of Israel is declared to be a man after God's own heart: not when he was in his sins; not when he took Bathsheba to his arms and slew her husband: but when he acknowledged the justice of Nathan's sentence, and humbled himself with remorse in dust and ashes. I have often wondered at hearing people of any reflection find fault with the holy epithets which the inspired writings give to David; and always, bring up these two events of his life in support of their argument. All seem to remember that he sinned, but none that he repented; and it was his repentance that gained him the title of the servant of the Lord. The Scripture account of this monarch, instead of being considered with captious remark, is, next to the Gospel, the most gracious history that ever was revealed to man; for it declares, that though the sins of a man be red as scarlet, by repentance they shall be washed white as snow: and thus, this promised mercy of God is made evident by the example of David. Having so lately been in the company of the saintly abbot, you will not be surprised that I have caught a little of the spirit of sermonising. But in truth, when the stumbling-block attached to the character of the "sweet songster of Israel" fell in my path, I could not, with a safe conscience, pass by, without putting forth my feeble hand to take it out of the way, The monks of this foundation are thirty-two. All habited in black stuff, formed like the robes of the secular priests. They wear on their heads a sort of bonnet, covered with a capuchin falling down their backs and terminating in two points. The Archimandrite was clad in silk, with the badge of some sacred order suspended from his neck. St. Basil, as usual in this country, rules these dedicated people. We were next conducted into a library of some extent. But what |