PRUDENCE AND FORESIGHT.

Where some would thoughtless rush, with skip and dance,

See Prudence there with cautious steps advance :

Behind, the faithful mirror brings to view

The roaring lion, that would her pursue;

Before, she knows, by telescopic glass,

How many things will shortly come to pass;
Betimes, concealed where fragrant roses hang,

She sees the serpent with his poison'd fang:

And thus she learns, what youth should always know,
That pleasure oft with fatal snares may grow.

PRUDENCE is here seen proceeding with slow and cautious steps. She has in her right hand a telescope, by means of which she is enabled to bring things that are far off nigh to view; thus she sees things that would otherwise be hidden entirely from her sight; while other things are magnified in their proportions, so that she can discern their nature more truly, and thus adapt her conduct to the circumstances of the case. In this manner she applies her wisdom to practice. She carries also, in her left, a mirror, by which she is enabled to detect objects that are behind her. A lion is discovered descending from the mountains, hungry and ravening for its prey. Nor in the attention to remoter objects is she regardless of those nigh at hand; she espies concealed behind a rose

bush a serpent; it is ofthe dangerous kind. By her timely discovery, she saves herself from its poisonous fang.

This is an emblem of Prudence; for what is prudence but wisdom applied to practice. Wisdom enables us to determine what are the best ends, likewise what are the best means to be used in order to attain those ends. But prudence applies all this to practice, suiting words and actions to time, place, circumstance, and manner. O! how necessary is prudence for the purpose of the present life. Without prudence; the mighty become enfeebled, the wise become foolish, and the wealthy, inhabitants of the poor-house.

There are duties to be done, pleasures to be enjoyed, dangers to be guarded against-all of which cannot be effected unless prudence guides the helm. Pleasures and dangers are so artfully mingled together, as the serpent among the roses, that the prudent only can possibly detect the snare. The youth cannot be rich in experience; still he can cultivate prudence, which will beget an habitual presence of mind, ever watchful and awake. Misfortunes are common to all; the prudent considering that he is not exempt from the common lot of mortals, will guard against them; and, as if they were sure to come, he will prepare himself to endure them. Like the mariner, who, when falling in windy latitudes, sweeps the horizon with his telescope to see if there are signs of squalls: towards evening he shortens sail, sets his watch, and keeps a good look-out.

Now, if prudence is so necessary and profitable when applied to the things of this life, it is much more so when applied to the life which is to come, because the soul is of more value than the body, and eternity of more importance than time. Events not contingent, but certain, will come upon us, against which, if we are prudent we shall provide-events, solemn, momentous, and deeply interesting. What more solemn than death? What more momentous than the judgment to come? What more interesting to an immortal spirit than the final issues of that judgment? Shall I my everlasting days with fiends or angels spend? "The prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself. The simple pass on, and are punished.

"May Thy good spirit guide my feet

In ways of righteousness;

Make every path of duty straight

And plain before my face."

"The righteous shall never be removed."-PROV. x. 30. "Behold, we count them happy who endure."-JAMES V. II.

FORTITUDE AND CONSTANCY.

As stands the pillar on the solid ground,
Nor heeds the tempest that prevails around,
Unmoved, though tempests bluster from on high,
And thunders rolling shake the trembling sky:
So fortitude is strong in Virtue's cause,

Nor fears contempt, nor covets vain applause;
But when the storms of evil tongues prevail,
And envy rises like a furious gale,

She bears on high her ample spotless shield,
Her own fair fame, and still disdains to yield;
Enduring greatly, till the storm is gone,

Then sees triumphant, that her cause is won.

BEHOLD here the emblems of Fortitude and Constancy. The pillar stands upright amidst the storm, and upright in the midst of sunshine, bearing the summer's heat and the winter's cold by night and by day; still it stands, regardless of passing events, and answering at the same time the end of its erection. Thus Constancy continues at the post of duty. Fortitude is seen standing by the pillar of Constancy. See how she braves the fury of the tempest! Winds whistle, thunders roll, and night seems gathering together a magazine of storms to let loose upon her head; yet she continues at the post of patient endurance; with her shield she is enabled to protect herself against all the storms which beat around.

I

Courage resists danger; fortitude endures pain, either of the body or of the mind, or both. True fortitude is always connected with a holy, a righteous cause. Adversity, or opposition, is the test of fortitude and constancy; it is the fiery trial which tries the virtuous: they come out of it as gold seven times purified, losing nothing save the alloy. Holiness of character, faith in God's word, constitute the shield of Fortitude, and render her altogether invulnerable.

It is easy for a man to profess attachment to a good cause, when that cause meets with the general approbation. It is an easy thing to boast of virture that has never been tried by temptation, and to exult in fortitude that as never had to bear the storm of opposition; but true fortitude is found to consist in supporting evils with resignation, and in enduring opposition with resolution and dignity. "He that loseth wealth," say the Spaniards, "loseth much; he that loseth his friend, loseth more; but he that loseth his spirit, loseth all." The man of fortitude, strong in conscious integrity, and in the knowledge of the right, though wealth may desert him, though his friends may forsake him in his greatest need, yet he possesses his soul in patience; he rejoices that his soul is free. The cause of truth he knows can never fall. This makes him magnanimous, both to do and to dare.

One of the most conspicuous instances of true fortitude is found in the conduct of the Apostle Paul. After having for some time served the church at Ephesus, his duty called him to Jerusalem, where he knew he was to encounter the deadly opposition of his enemies. Before he set out, he preached his farewell sermon. The people were greatly affected. The thoughts of losing their beloved pastor, and of the dangers that awaited him, melted them into tears. They all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more." These circumstances were sufficient to have overwhelmed the stoutest heart. Paul's reply is the language of true fortitude: "Bonds and afflictions await me; but none of these things move me: neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy."

"Ill tidings never can surprise the heart that fixed on God relies ;
Though waves and tempests roar around,

Safe on the rock he stands, and sees the shipwreck of his enemies,
And all their hope and glory drowned."

Lo! where the war-ship, with her tattered sail,
Has late scaped the fury of the gale;
At at.chor safe within the bay she rides,
Nor heads the danger of the swelling tides:
Though high aloft the furious storm still roars
Below, she's sheltered by the winding shores.

The church of Christ a war-ship is below,
She spreads her sails to meet her haughty foe;
Satan assails her with his furious blasts,
Her sails are riven, broken are her masts:

A night of darkness finds her in some bay,

She drops her anchor, and awaits the day;

Faith, Hope, and Prayer, her steadfast anchors prove,
With Resignation to the powers above.

THIS engraving represents a ship riding by four anchors. To escape the rage of the storm at sea, she has sought shelter in the bay. Her sails are torn, her cordage damaged; she needs to undergo repairs. The gale still howls fearfully overhead; but protected by the land, she rides comparatively in smooth water.

The Church of God may be compared to a ship, and to a ship of war, built by the great Architect who made heaven and earthfirst launched when Adam fell overboard-chartered by divine love