THE NUMBER SEVEN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2391, 5 November 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NUMBER SEVEN.

When' God created the world he rested on the 7th day. There are seven days in the week, 7 letters in the name of Jehovah, 7 syllables in the Mohammedan formula of prayer—la ill Allah ill Allah. Every one is familiar with the 7 fat and 7 lean kine; the 7 fruitful and 7 barren ears of corn, 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Jacob served 7 years for Rachel, and was cheated with Leah, and served another 7 years and received his reward. Seven days he was followed by Laban, his father-in-law. When Jacob died his son Joseph lamented for him 7 days. Every 7th year the Israelites permitted their fields to remain idle and untitled ; this was called the ‘Sabbatical year.’ At the siege of Jericho 7 priests, 7 trumpets, went round the walls of the city, and at the 7th blast the walls fell. Seven times ten Hebrew scholars translated the Old Testament into Greek for the Alexandrian Library. There were 7 times ten members of the High Council of Jerusalem, not counting the high priests. When Peter asked, ‘Lord how many times must I forgive my brother; is it enough 7 times?’ Jesus replied, ‘I say unto you not 7, but seventy times 7.’ ‘ A just man falleth 7 times and riseth up again.—Prov. xxir.

I \\ lien thine enemy speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.’—Prov. xxvi., 25. There are 7 attributes of the Almighty, 7 gifts of the Holy Ghost, 7 psalms of penance, 7 supplications in the Lord’s Prayer, 7 words of the cross ; the Catholic Church has 7 sacraments. There are 7 wounds of Christ on the Cross. In Reve lations there are 7 angels with 7 golden chalices filled with divine wrath ; also 7 lamps with 7 flames are mentioned there. Who docs not know of the ‘7 sleepers,’ the 7 youthful Christian Martyrs, who escaped in a cavern near Ephesus and fell asleep, ami slumbered undisturbed for 700 years ? There are 7 wonders of the world, 7 wise men of Greece. Rome lias been governed by 7 kings, likewise Prussia, for the 7th is now Emperor Wilhelm. The Mohammedan’s paradise contains 7 heavens. During the 7 years’ war under Frederick 11., history mentions 7 important battles. The war in .Spain between the Carlists and Christians lasted 7 years. The Franco-Prussian War lasted 0 months, and the 7th regiment was the first to distinguish itself. On the 28 {4 times /) of September 1870, Strasbourg surrendered ; on the 28th of October Metz, and on the 2Sth of January, iB7l, Paris. Home is built on 7 bills; so are Constantinople, Nuremberg, Hamburg and Lisbon. Ancient Thebes, also Athens, Bagdad and Morocco each had 7 gates. Seven cities claimed the honour of being Homer’s birthplace. There were 7 steps leading to the tomb of Darius, the Persian king ; 7 steps to Solomon's throne; 7 arms or branches to the lamp in the Temple at Jerusalem : 7 wicks in the perpetual lamp (eternal flame) to the rites of the Greek Church. The River Nile has seven months There are 7 Canary L-lnuds; 7 lonian Islands ; 7 colours in the rainbow; there are 7 tones in the musical scale, 7 precious metals. Pleiades, one of the most beautiful constellations, numbers 7 stars. There are 7 cardinal virtues ; three of these are Faith, Hope and Charity, ‘ and the greatest of these is Charity.’ The Duke of Wellington has 7 marshals’ staffs.

The Pope is priest of 7 churches. The human head has 7 openings. The entrance to the celebrated dome at Cologne has 7 pillars set upon 7 pedestals sunnountel by 7 statues.

Evkiiv acre of cultivated ground in Egypt yields on the average IT a year to the tax-gatherer.

How old Herod would rejoice in the present war on posterity in San Francisco, and feel quite at home in a little tomthrough the city: Unmarried and married, 'tis all the same, All unconscious of guilt or blame, Raising their shrill, cruel voices on high, “ Death to the chi'dreu,” is their cry ; “ We only marry for gold and lust, We scorn and trample the sacred trust ()f God and nature." Never a sigh Rreatlic the mothers’ lips, as the children die. “ Death to the children," mark the 1 rile. Trusting and shy by the bridegroom's side, Cheek of blushes, and down-cast eye, (Jin she be oniel, must her child die? Die ere its soft lips have touched her breast, Die ere her lips have its own caressed, Robbed of its right divine of life By yon fair woman, yon loving wife. Hush, list to this murderess' savage cry, “I care not. doctor, my child must die.” Blight on women, humanity’s curse, Worse than the lowest, lower and worse Than the woman whosells her soul for bread, Are ye, brides, and matrons, who lift your head In church and chapel, ye who made Abortion an open and thriving trade ; Ye hearts too callous to feel the thorn 0{ grief fur the blond of the baba unborp.