TRUE AND FALSE PRINCIPLES.

Lo! where amid the arctic regions rise
The iceberg's turrets, glittering in the skies,
Like some cathedral, Gothic built, it rides,
Born by the winds and ever-shifting tides:
All shapes fantastic soon the phantom wears,—
A palace now, and now a ship appears.
At length it drifts towards some southern shore,
When, lo! 'tis vanished, and is seen no more.

Not so the rock that rears its ancient head,
Its deep foundation laid in ocean's bed,

All change resists; unaltered is its form

Amid the sunshine and amid the storm:

Unmoved it stands, and still 'twill stand secure,
Long as the moon and as the sun endure.

THE iceberg lifts its towering summit to the clouds, sparkling and dazzling, like a group of temples overlaid with silver. Its crystalline magnificence is bewildering; it forms one of the most splendid objects that the mariner meets with in the northern seas, and at the same time one of the most dangerous. It is a floating mass without foundation-winds, waves, and currents bear it along in all directions. It assumes the most fantastic shapes imaginable;

sometimes it looks like mountains piled on mountains; then temples, palaces, and ships are seen by turns; then again, cathedrals of every order of architecture appear to the eye of the wondering beholder. After a while it drifts out of the high latitudes into milder climes; it is carried toward the southern shores. The sun pours its burning rays upon the mammoth temple; turret after turret, spire after spire disappear, until the whole has dissolved-its glory has departed.

How very different is the nature and destiny of the rock that is seen lifting its time-worn head above the surrounding waves! It is probably as old as time itself; it retains its ancient position, its foundations take hold of the world; it is marked in the charts; men always know where to find it, and are therefore not endangered by it. Changing the form of the element that surrounds it, itself unchanged; the summer's sun and winter's storm alike pass harmlessly by it. It is one of the everlasting hills, it must abide for

ever.

The engraving is an emblem of True and False Principles, False principles are represented by the iceberg. Like the iceberg, they are without a foundation; however specious, brilliant, and fascinating their appearance, they have no solidity. Like it, too, they are ever changing: their form receives its various impression from the ever-fluctuating speculations of mankind, and from the power and influence of the times. Like it, they are cold and cheerless to the soul, nipping all its budding prospects, cramping all its mighty powers. Like the iceberg, also, false principles will melt away before the burning sun of Truth, and pass into oblivion. It will not do to trust in them. Who would make a dwelling-house of the transitory iceberg?

It is not so with true principles; although they may appear somewhat homely at first sight, yet the more they are contemplated, the more they will be admired. Like the rock, their foundations are laid broad and deep. The principles of truth rest on the throne of God; they are as ancient as eternity. Like the rock, they may always be found. Are they not written in the Holy Bible? Like their Author, they are without variableness or shadow of turning; for "Firm as a rock, God's truth must stand,

When rolling years shall cease to move.'

Semper idem-"Always the same"-is their motto. Like the Rock of Ages, true principies live when time shall be no more. As are the principles, so are all who trust in them; for "the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance."

"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? He that speaketh truth in his heart."— "Thy word is truth."-JOHN xvii. 17.

Ps. lv. 23.

TRUTH.

Truth, glorious truth, of heavenly birth, and fair,

In simple majesty arrayed, is there:

Her right hand holds the faithful mirror clear,
Where all things open as the light appear;

Her left upon the sacred page reclines,

Where unadulterate truth resplendent shines;

The world's false mask she tramples down with scorn,
Adorned the most when she would least adorn.

As her own temple, on the margin seen,
Stands forth reflected in the silvery stream;
So what by her is thought, or said, or done,
Appears conspicuous as the noonday sun :
Truth is the image of our God above,
That shines reflected in His sea of love.

All hail, blessed Truth! thou daughter of the skies,
Reign thou on earth, and bid earth's sons arise;
Bid Virtue leap, and Justice hold the scale;
For thou art mighty, and wilt soon prevail.

TRUTH is represented in the drawing above in the person of an artless female. She is attired with simplicity. In her right hand she holds a mirror. As the mirror reflects objects that pass before it as they are, without addition, alteration, or diminution, so truth presents everything just as it is. The left hand rests on the Holy Bible. This is to show that it is from thence she derives the principles which

regulate her conduct, the source of unadulterated truth to mankind. She is seen trampling a mask beneath her feet; it is the mask of hypocrisy, which she rejects with scorn, as being utterly at variance with her principles and feelings. In the background stands the temple of Truth, the image of which is plainly reflected by the clear, placid stream that glides before it.

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Truth, in an evangelical sense, is all important. It alone will give. character to an individual, more than all other qualities put together. It is of itself a rich inheritance, of more worth than mines of silver and gold. It is more ennobling than the highest titles conferred by princes. Everybody loves to be respected; but an individual, to be loved and respected must be known. He only can be known who speaks the truth from his heart, and acts the truth in his life. We may guess at others, but as we do not know we cannot respect them for, like pirates, they oftentimes sail under false colours.

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Nothing is beautiful except Truth," is a maxim of the French, although it has been most deplorably neglected. Nevertheless, the sentiment is correct. Truth is glorious, wherever found; Jesus, who is "the Truth," is "the altogether lovely," and the "fairest among ten thousand." Truth is the glory of youth, and the diadem of age. Truth is essential to happiness, both in this world and also in the next. For "what man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Lord, who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that "speaketh the truth." It is related of Cyrus, that when asked what was the first thing he learnt, he replied, "To tell the truth." Cyrus must have been very fortunate in having such good instructors. Lord Chesterfield would have instructed him differently.

In the days of Daniel (as the tradition says), the wise men were ordered by the king to declare what was the strongest thing on earth. Each man brought in his answer; one said wine was the strongest, another mentioned women; Daniel declared that TRUTH was the most powerful; which answer pleased the king, and the palm of victory was decreed to Daniel.

"Seize, then, on truth, where'er 'tis found,
Among your friends, among your foes,
On Christian or on heathen ground;

The plant's divine, where'er it grows."

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."-Prov. iii. 3.

SYMBOLS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH.

See on the right, all-glorious Hope doth stand,
And gives to heavenly Truth the plighted hand:
With seraph's wings outspread, Love stands between,
And binds their hearts with her celestial chain.

These are Faith's emblems; these its parents three:
To produce Faith, Hope, Truth, and Love agree.

CHRISTIAN Faith is represented above, by a union of Truth, Hope, and Love. The hope of heaven is represented by the apostle Paul as the anchor of the soul, consequently Hope is usually depicted leaning on an anchor. She holds Truth by the hand, showing that they must be in close alliance. Truth holds in her hand the Holy Bible as a mirror, whereby sinful men can see the deformity of their hearts. With her right hand, she receives the overtures of Hope. She tramples under her feet the mask of Hypocrisy; simple and unadorned, she rejects the cloak of dissimulation, and casts aside all concealment. Love holds the middle place, and strengthens the union subsisting between Hope and Truth. Divine Love is drawn with wings, to represent her heavenly origin.

Faith is both created and preserved by Hope, Truth, and Love. This triad constitutes its efficient cause. Truth is indeed the mother of Faith. Hope assists in its creation, by its expectations and desires; Love nourishes and reconciles, and thus contributes to lay a foundation for Faith.