rising light. The music of the awakening choir, blooming fields, and spicy gardens, possess no charms for them. Mouldering ruins, among thickest shades, where the toad finds a shelter, and the serpent hisses-this is their favourite dwelling-place; while the gay lark, high mounting, pours forth his praises to the solar king. He is gladdened by his beams, and welcomes his approach with all the melody of song.

"Thou, O Lord, makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens."

The engraving is emblematical of guilt; for happy would it it be for mankind, were the beasts of prey and birds of night the only disturbers of the world's repose-the only destroyers that walk abroad in darkness. Alas!

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When night

Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine."

Then, too, the robber goes forth to perpetrate his deeds of violence and rapine: then too, the adulterer, and kindles a fire that will burn to the lowest hell; and, shrouded in the mantle of night, the man of blood stalks forth, and works his deeds of death.

In this way, man made in the image of God becomes allied to the most malignant part of the brute creation, companions, and co-workers with them. What degradation! Alas, alas! how are the mighty fallen!

Look again at the folly and ignorance of wicked men in supposing themselves concealed, because they cannot see. It is related of the ostrich, that she covers her head only with reeds, and because she cannot see herself, thinks she is hid from the eye of her pursuers. Thus it is with the workers of iniquity in the night-time; they may indeed be hid from the sleeping eyes of mortals, but the ever-wakeful eye of Jehovah looks full upon them. When they say, Surely the darkness shall cover me," even then "the night is light" all around them. "Clouds and darkness are round about him;" they are Jehovah's habitation, therefore what is mistaken for a covering is the presence-chamber of the Holy God, "who compasseth thy path, and thy lying down, and who is acquainted with all thy ways."

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Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God."

"Be patient in tribulation."-ROм. xii. 12. "An example of suffering affliction, and patience. Behold we count them happy who endure."-JAMES

V. 10, II.

With sore afflictions, and with injuries too,

One sorely laden in the picture view;

Above, beneath, and reigning all around,

Trouble, and chains, and slanderous foes are found;

Her own sweet home no more a shelter stands,
Consumed by fire, it falls by cruel hands:
Amid this widely devastating stroke,

No cry is heard, no word of murmur spoke ;
Like the mild lamb that crouches by her side,
She bears with meekness all that may betide;
She leans on Hope, and upward casts her eyes,
Expecting succour from the distant skies.

THE above engraving represents a female, loaded with a heavy burden of afflictions and injuries; fast bound by chains and fetters of iron, she is unable to help herself. Before her lie whips, chains, and slanders; behind, her house, her only asylum, is on fire. Ignited by wicked hands, it falls a prey to the devouring flames: while the barking cur assails her with all his spite. In the midst of her wide-spread calamity, she murmurs not, she makes no complaint. Like the innocent lamb at her side, she bears all without repining. She leans on the anchor of hope, and looks upward.

This is an emblem of Patience and Long-suffering. The figure

represents one who is oppressed with manifold wrongs, upon whose shoulders is laid a heavy burden of grievous outrages, and who is incapacitated, by the force of circumstances, from extricating herself; at the same time, she discovers that she has not yet drunk the full cup of her woes. Other evils lie in prospect before her.

One, who, instead of receiving the commiseration and assistance of her neighbours in the season of adversity, is assailed with the venom of the slanderer, the malice of the backbiter, and the wickedness of the incendiary; but who, in the midst of her sufferings, refuses to complain. Though cast down, persecuted, and perplexed, she yields not in despair. With lamb-like meekness, she arms her breast, and possesses her soul in patience. All-sustaining hope imparts new strength to her spirits; she commits herself to God who judgeth righteously; and looking to God for grace to enable her to endure till He shall send deliverance, calmly awaits the issue.

Wicked and unreasonable men abound in the world, and the path of duty is often beset with present difficulties and dangers; yet it ends where all is easy and delightful. Let no one recede from the path of duty, nor tamely yield to despair. We may be tempted to flee, like the prophet Jonah, from our proper work; like Joshua, we may throw ourselves on the ground, and exclaim, despondingly, "Alas, O Lord God!" Like David, we may say, "I shall perish by the hand of Saul;" or like Elijah, the fearless advocate of truth, say inquiringly, "What good shall my life do me?" Yet let us remember, that "light is sown for the righteous." The seed of deliverance is already in the ground; the crop is not far distant; we shall reap, if we faint not.

The conduct of Job affords the most perfect example of patience. Despoiled of his worldly property, his children taken from him at a stroke, his body tormented with one of the most painful and loathsome diseases, distressed by the foolish infidelity of his wife, and slandered by his professed friends; yet his patient soul triumphed over all. Still clinging to God, his Rock, he exclaimed exultingly, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taketh away: blessed be the name of the Lord."

"In your patience possess ye your souls."-Luke xxi, 19.

TEMPTATION.

See where the tree its richest foliage wears,
And golden fruit its laden branches bears;
Behold conceal'd beneath its shade sidelong,
The glossy serpent, with its poisonous tongue;
The simple boy, far from his father's care,
Is well-nigh taken with the gilded snare.
The tempting fruit, outspread before his eyes,
Fills him with rapture and complete surprise;
Nor hidden dangers will he wait to see,
But onward hastens to the fatal tree:
His father sees him, and with faltering breath,
Recalls his loved one from the brink of death,
Nor waits reply, but on the spot he springs,

And saves his darling from the serpent's stings.

THE tree rich in foliage, and rich in fruits, spreads out its delicious produce to the passer by. See also the subtile serpent, as if aware of the powerful attractions that the tree affords, conceals itself underneath its branches, ready to spring upon the unwary traveller. That little boy has been in great danger; he left the house, and wandered on till he came in sight of the tree; the fruit attracted his attention; he stooped; he was delighted with its appearance. Thoughtless of danger, he was just going to pluck and eat, when the voice of his father alarmed him; he had seen his

danger. In another moment he was on the spot, and seizing him by the hand, pointed out to him the serpent, and led him from the place of danger.

This is an emblem of Temptation of the dangers to which youth especially are exposed. The tree, with its rich foliage and golden fruit, represents those things that are objects of temptation. The serpent, shows the danger that invariably attends those objects that entice to sin. The artless boy represents the simplicity of youth, who, attracted by the outside appearance of things, considers not the evil of sinful gratification. The anxious father exhibits the ever-watchful care of our Father who is in heaven over his children, whom as long as they confide in Him, He will deliver from evil.

This emblem sets forth somewhat of the nature of temptation. Thus the object is presented to the eye; the mind take pleasure in beholding it; then the will consents to embrace it. "Then

:

when lust has conceived, it bringeth forth sin; sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

The youthful Joseph, when in the house of Potiphar the Egyptian, was assailed by temptation. The object was presented to him in its most attractive form; while master of himself, he fled from it, and escaped. His memory is blessed.

David, king of Israel, when walking upon the battlements beheld a similar object of temptation. He looked till the fire of lust was enkindled in his soul, and his will determined upon possession. Lust, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin; sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. This was to David the beginning of sorrows.

Temptation at the commencement, is "like the thread of the spider's web; afterwards it is like a cart-rope." The poor slave, Joseph, broke the thread, and became a king nay, more than a king; while the king David, was fast bound by the cart-rope, and became a slave.

The theatre, the card-table, the intoxicating cup, the painted harlot, are all so many objects of powerful temptation, under which Jurks the serpent with its sting of death. Fleeing to God in Christ, by rarnest prayer, is the only way of escape therefrom.

"Sin has a thousand treacherous arts, to practice on the mind;

With nattering looks she tempts our hearts, but leaves a sting behind."