The traveller, startled at the dreadful sound,
A blazing fire soon kindles all around;
The monsters see it, and with horrid roar,
Rush through the thicket, and appear no more
As when Elisha, 'mid the Syrian band,
Saw sword and spear arrayed on every hand,
In gracious answer to the prophet's prayer,
Angelic banners flashed upon the air;
Jehovah's armies round about him came,
With burning chariots and steeds of flame;
The fiery seraphs circled all his path,

And kept him safely from the Syrian's wrath.

In these days of emigration, multitudes are continually leaving the homes of their fathers for distant climes. The populous cities of the old world are traversed, the broad blue ocean is traversed, the vast forests of the new world are traversed in order to find a home of peace and plenty. The engraving shows a family tended and guarded for the night. The travellers, weary with the day's journey, seek a commodious place whereon to pitch their tent. The sun already begins to sink below the horizon, the shadows lengthen, and night, silent and majestic, assumes her empire over the earth. Stars of glittering beauty bespangle her bosom, and reflect their brilliancy on the broad leaves of the forest. The travellers retire to rest; wooed by fatigue, "balmy sleep" soon lights upon their eyelids; their slumbers are deep; but they are soon to be disturbed. Night gives the signal for the beasts of prey to come forth from their dens : hungry and thirsty for blood, they come; roaming, ravening, and roaring, they come; the woods echo their fearful howlings. They scent out the travellers, they surround the tent; they clamour loudly for its inmates; dreadful is the confusion; the beasts growl and fight with each other, that each might have the prey to himself. The travellers awake in trembling distress. One of them has heard of the effect of fire upon wild beasts; while they are quarrelling, he quickly lights his brand, puts it to some dry leaves, and kindles a blaze; to this he adds more fuel, nor ceases heaping it on till he has encircled the tent with flames. His efforts are successful; the wild beasts are now affrighted, and, roaring dreadfully with fear and rage, they rush impetuously through the trees, and come near the tent no more.

The preservation of the traveller from the fury of the wild beasts, by means of fire, represents the preservation of the Christian from the attacks of Satan and his helpers, by the Almighty. Among the

Jews, and many other ancient nations, fire was regarded as emblematical of the Deity; and, indeed, not without reason for on several well-authenticated instances did the Almighty manifest Himself under the appearance of fire. Moses was summoned before a court of fire, to receive his commission as deliverer of Israel. God was in the fire. In their flight from Egypt, and after-travels in the desert, the Israelites were guided by a column of fire; it was their salvation and the Egyptians' overthrow; for Jehovah was there. In His reception of the sacrifices and prayers of His people, God answered by fire. When He gave His law upon the terrible mount, He spake out of the midst of the fire. And when, long after, He would republish His law to all nations, the commission of the apostles, as the deliverers of the world, was crowned with fire. God was with them, and to be with them to the end of the world.

The Christian is a traveller; he is travelling through the wilderness of this world; he will pass through it only once. In whatever part of the wilderness he pitches his tent, he is safe from all the open attacks of his foes; his faith, love, and obedience secure to him the protection of the Almighty. He is holy in heart and life; holiness tends to God's glory, and upon "the glory there is a defence." This is the glory that dwells in the midst of Him, and where this is, there will be also "the wall of fire round about." The celestial fire burning between the cherubim in the Jewish temple but shadowed forth him in whose heart Christ dwells by faith, the living "temple of the Holy Spirit."

Since his expulsion from the realms of light, the devil has hated with perfect hatred every symbol of Jehovah's presence and glory; he hates the light-he is the prince of darkness-he is the great extinguisher, putting out the light of truth and holiness as often as he can effect it. He thought to extinguish the "Light of the world," by nailing it to a tree; but, in so doing, he only broke into pieces the vase that contained it, causing it to shine forth with brilliancy, and to fill the whole earth with glory.

The great adversary is spoken of as "going about" the world as a roaring lion," seeking whom he may devour." Once, when prowling about on this wise, he met with one of the saints of God, whom he desired to worry and devour; but, behold, there was a hedge of burning bushes all around him. In vain he tried to get at him; though used to fire, he could not stand the fire of love and holiness -he knew very well, too, that no one could put out this fire, demolish this burner, except the man himself. Satan is permitted

to tempt; he lays his plots with hellish ingenuity; he executes them with cruelty worthy of a devil. To destroy this man of God, he called into his service the pestilence, the sword, the tornado, and the lightning. The lightning came, and did its work; the sword came, and did its work; the pestilence came, and did its work; the tornado came, and did its work-yet the man of God is safe; he lives in his integrity; the hedge of fire around him burns higher and brighter, and becomes a beacon of hope to all the children of men. The devil, discomfitted, leaves him, and flees away to his own place, because "Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

In like manner, every child of God is surrounded by a divine protection. The servants of Satan are just like their master: they hate the light, and him that brings it; but were they to beset him as the Assyrian army beset the prophet Elisha, he would be safe. The chariots of fire and the horses of fire, with seraphim and cherubim, would encompass him. He may lay himself down in peace-a wall of fire protects him, high as heaven, deeper than hell, wide as eternity-fire! fire! fire! formless, impetuous, mysterious, and devouring fire, is his safeguard and trust.

As the traveller, by building a fire, protects not himself only, but all who are in the tent, so the Christian, by his faith, love, and obedience, secures the protection and blessing of God upon all his household. "I will show mercy," saith the Holy One of Israel, "unto thousands of generations of those that love me, and keep my commandments;" and one who had lived long in the world, and had seen much of it, declared, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his posterity begging bread."

may

The traveller may put out his fire without water—he can do it by omitting to supply it with fuel, or by casting earth upon it, thereby smothering it-and thus expose himself and others with him to all the dangers of the forest. So the Christian extinguish the fire of almighty protection, the light of the Holy Spirit; he may do so, too, without employing the waters of transgression; he may do it by withholding the proper fuel, "leaving off to do good," by neglecting the means of grace; he may do it by casting earth upon it, by letting the world gain the ascendency in his heart and affections. The love of the world will put out the fire, "quench the Spirit," and leave the man again exposed to the malice of the evil one.

In the book of the prophets, we read of some who "kindled a fire," and walked in the light thereof," who yet lie down in sorrow.

They are not safe. These may be the self-righteous-the mere nominal professor, who builds a fire with the wood, hay, and stubble of his own performances. It lacks the heat of love and holiness-God is not in it. Satan heeds it not-be breaks through it as easily as a lion through a cobweb, and seizes upon the defenceless sinner for

a prey.

Of others it is said that they encompass themselves about with sparks" merely; this may mean those who esteem themselves good enough already, good naturally-hence they have no need of performances of any kind. The man of this class neglects as useless the light of truth and faith, and the fire of love; he can dispense with Bible, priest, and temple; he lies down in perilthe devil does not mind a few sparks.

It was a custom among the ancient highlanders of Scotland, when they would arouse the people for any great purpose, to send throughout the land a cross dipped in blood; wherever the cross was received, there the people immediately kindled a blazing fire, hence it was called "the Fiery Cross." The blood-stained cross of Christ has been sent, and is now going throughout the world; the purpose for which it is sent, the greatest of all achievements is this; wherever it is received, a fire is kindled amid the surrounding darkness. The fire of a Saviour's love, the fire of almighty power:

"Jesus' love the nations fires,

Sets the kingdoms in a blaze."

Hasten! oh, hasten! ye who bear the cross, ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure!! Carry round "the cross," una fire shall be kindled everywhere, and the whole earth be filled with the glory

of God.

"For ye are bought with a price."-1 COR. vi. 20. "Those that seek me early shall find me."-PROV. viii. 17.

Behold, the slave, with joyful, beaming eyes,
Holds up to view his glorious, glittering prize;
A pearl, more precious than its weight in gold;
The price of Freedom, and of bliss untold.
The prince who promised the auspicious meed,
From his rich palace hastens down with speed;
With his own hand, unrolled that all may see,
The title-deed presents, of Liberty.