The dream is realized that dream sublime,
That bore him onward through each deadly clime,
O'er burning mountains and o'er stormy main,
Through death and danger, far from ancient Spain.
His bursting heart adores that mighty Power
That brought him safely to behold this hour;
He prostrate falls, his grateful homage pays,
And to the God of heaven devoutly prays.

ABOVE is pourtrayed the great discovery of the Pacific Ocean made by Balboa, a Spanish cavalier. Balboa had for some time settled down in Hispaniola; here he cultivated a farm: but, hearing of an expedition that was about to set out for the west, he determined to join it. He was greatly in debt, and the governor had issued a proclamation forbiddin debtors to leave the island. Balboa, however, was resolved to go. He caused himself to be rolled on board of one of the vessels in a cask. He did not make his appearance until the ship was far out to sea. The commander at first threatened to send him back; but the ship pursued her way. He quickly rose into favour; became governor of the colony planted at the isthmus, and distinguished himself by the talents of command. Rumours of the golden country still farther westward continued to inflame the minds of the Spaniards. Distance, disease, mountains covered with eternal snows, and oceans tossed by perpetual storms, could no longer restrain them. Balboa took the lead of the expedition, and pushed on to conquest. Many of the Indian tribes are to be conquered. These brave but defenceless warriors soon fall before the arms of the Spaniards, who, the more blood they shed, the more they thirst for gold. An alliance is formed with a powerful Cacique, who sends Balboa a rich present in gold and slaves. On the daring Spaniard leads his soldiers. Indian tribes are conquered, mountain difficulties are passed, and burning, sickly regions traversed. Now the moment is at hand when he is to be more than recompensed for all his labours. The misty summits of the hills rise before him. One of these is pointed out to him as the object of his search. He commands his troops to halt. He himself ascends alone, with his drawn sword. Having reached the top, he casts his eyes round; the Pacific spreads out before him; imbued with the religion of his country, he falls on his knees weeping, and offers thanks to God for permitting him to see this glorious sight. On his return to Darien, the whole population poured forth to meet him. They hailed him as the glory of Spain; as the gift of heaven, sent to

guide them into the possession of honours and riches incalculable. The Pacific Ocean, and its discovery by the bold Spaniard, may serve to illustrate the ocean of God's love, and the joyful feelings of him who, for the first time, discovers it. The sinner is settled down in his sins; he is employed in cultivating Satan's husbandry; "he is sowing to the flesh.' He hears of a revival of religion, of an expedition heavenward; he is determined to join it; he is in debt; dead in trespasses and in sins. Satan, his governor, will not permit him to quit. He hedges up his way round about him. The sinner is, however, resolved to join the expedition that is bound for heaven. By a violent effort he escapes, and joins the converts. He is decided; he seeks earnestly the salvation of his soul. His way is now beset with difficulties; enemies appear on every hand to impede his progress, his old companions come to entice him, his old sins come to tempt him, and his old master strides before him the whole breadth of the way.

He now strengthens his alliances with the children of God. He receives sometimes some gracious tokens of the Divine favour; he is encouraged to persevere. On he goes, weeping-praying-wrestling-fighting. His old companions are silenced; his sins no longer have dominion over him, and Satan falls like lightning from heaven. Now the time of triumph is near, when he will be more than paid for all he has endured. His heavenly guide directs him to the object of his inquiries. He ascends alone the mount-the sacred mount of Calvary. He casts his eyes around; the peaceful ocean of almighty love spreads out before him; there it lies, covering all time, and extending to eternity; immense-boundless —overwhelming.

"When this Almighty sea of love

His rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, he's lost
In wonder, love, and praise."

All is peaceful, above-below-within-around. He has peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. A peace which passeth all understanding fills his breast. He is at peace with man and beast. It is as the opening of the gate of heaven to his soul. An immense region of truth, divine truth, is laid bare to his view. A new and heavenly light flashes over his mind Old things have passed away, and all things have become new.

On this mount of vision he discovers that God is love; not only lovely and loving, but love; nothing but love. In His nature

and operations, love-pure, unexampled love. Here he beholds the Son of God, the Maker of earth, the well-beloved of heaven, suffering and dying for him—for all—for a world of sinners. For the foulest of the foul, He dies. He beholds with astonishment the tokens of His love. Earth is suddenly arrested in her retrograde motion, and rolled back again to God. Strange darkness covers the world, that all might henceforth be light for ever; the opened sepulchres proclaim life and immortality. Here he beholds a new and living way cast up, a highway from earth to heaven; and countless multitudes, leaving behind them the badges of their guilt, pollution, and wretchedness, and washed and clothed in the robes of salvation, ascend thereupon. Forward they go, each one walking in his uprightness. A cloud overshadows them for a little while, that is death. Soon they ascend toward the gates of the heavenly city. Now the golden portals are lifted up, and the children of glory enter in. A multitude that none can number are thus ransomed from hell and the grave, and all through the love of God in Christ Jesus. Behold, what manner of love is this, that the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God! Well might the rapt poet sing

"I rode on the sky,

Freely justified I,

Nor envied Elijah his seat;

My soul mounted higher,
In a chariot of fire,

And the moon it was under my feet."

An indifferent spectator, walking far beneath Balboa, seeing him prostrate on the mount, and with uplifted hands offering his thanksgiving, might have laughed him to scorn for a madman, or have pitied him for his weakness. He may not have been so high. He knows not that the ocean exists. He perhaps denies its existence altogether. Thus it often happens to the man of the world when he sees converts who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, give vent to their feelings in a lively manner, or when he hears experienced Christians discourse on the love of God. It is foolishness to him; he considers the persons so acting to be "beside themselves," or very weak-minded. He may perhaps deny altogether the existence of vital godliness and religious experience; yet if the sceptic would but "come and see" for himself, he would confess that "the half was not told him."

In order to make his great discovery, Balboa had to rise above the

world. So it behoves him who would discover the great Pacific of eternal love, to rise above sublunary things; especially must he surmount the fogs of prejudice, the mists of ignorance, and the clouds of unbelief which surround the surface of the earth.

Having made his discovery, the Spaniard was at once rewarded with honour and glory. He looked upon the past with contempt, as not worthy to be compared with the splendour that awaited him. So he feels, who realizes that God is love. He is clad with the "Best Robe." He looks with disgust on the past. He hates the vain pomps and glories of the earth; is astonished at his infatuation, in being so taken up with them; and yet what he now possesses is but as the drop to the teeming shower. The wealth of eternity awaits him.

Balboa could not explore his vast prize. Had he traversed the ocean till this time, he would have gone over only a small portion of it; much of it he would never see. Realms of gold lay glittering upon its placid margin. Mines of wealth lay hidden beneath its purple wave. He had but found the key of this magazine of wealth. So the discoverer of almighty love can know but little of his precious prize while here below. Boundless-fathomlessendless, it spreads out before him, and will ever spread. Here he merely sips of its overflowings. He has but discovered the key ot this treasure-house of love. "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and goodness of God!"

"For here we have no continuing

"They wandered in deserts."-Heb. xi. 38.
city, but seek one to come."-HEB. xiii. 14.
PASSAGE THROUGH THE DESERT.

Amid the arid desert's burning sands,
The caravan proceeds, in various bands;
Jew, Frank, and Mussulman, in search of gain,
Unite to traverse the destructive plain,
The desert drear, more terrible to brave
Than furious tempest on the ocean wave:
The sky, a molten dome of quivering heat;
The earth, a furnace, glows beneath the feet;
The wild waste echoes, as they move along,
With laugh, or humorous tale, or voice of song.