THE BLUSHING CHILD.

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wisdom to the whole fabric. Keep this in view when you wish to know what hour has struck.

My God! I thank Thee that Thy watchful eye is over all things, and that Thou governest them with mercy and wisdom. I thank Thee that the world goes not as man wills, but as Thou the Lord wilt. In whom can I trust better than in Thee? How strangely soever, then, the world's affairs may sometimes seem to proceed, I will be dumb, and not open my mouth, because Thou doest it.

ner.

XXII.

The Blushing Child.

YOUNG girl was one day censured by her mother for some fault, upon which she deeply blushed, burst into tears, and retired into a corGotthold was present, and observed to the mother: How beautiful your reproof has made your daughter! That crimson hue, and those silvery tears, become her better than any ornament of gold and pearls. These may be hung on the neck of a wanton, but those are never seen disconnected with moral purity. A full-blown rose, besprinkled with the

purest dew, is not so beautiful as this child blushing beneath her parent's displeasure, and shedding tears of sorrow for her fault. A blush is the sign which nature hangs out to show where chastity and honor dwell.

XXIII.

Mutual Aid.

ONTINUING his remarks, Gotthold said: How faithful to each other the parts of the body are! Let any offensive and shameful object be presented to the countenance, and the heart instantly sympathizes with it, and despatches a gush of blood to serve as a veil and to screen it from disgrace. On the contrary, let the heart receive a shock from violent anger, or sudden fright, and instantly the blood forsakes the countenance, and rushes to the help of the suffering member; the consequence of which is that we grow pale. Christians ought to act in the same manner, seeing that we are members one of another. In every case where the means are in our power, and conscience permits, we should endeavor to screen our neighbor's shame, take his affliction to heart, and hasten in emergencies to his aid. From the fact

that this is so little done, it may be inferred that good Christians are few in number. Of that few, grant, O my Father, that I may be one!

XXIV.

Raiment.

HILE walking with a friend, Gotthold met

a young man, dressed in the extreme of fashion, and could not help looking back at him, and exclaiming, with a sigh: O righteous God! what will be the issue of this rage for novelties and vain show? How happens it that the world more and more seeks her honor in disgrace, and her wisdom in folly? I often think of what the Holy Spirit says' of Queen Bernice, viz., that she came "with great pomp" (orig. phantasy). The reigning fashion seems to me to be of the same phantastic character. There is hardly any one who now considers it a sin to wear a mask, and conform to the world. But, inquired his companion, can there really be so much sinfulness in the changes which dress undergoes? In itself, replied Gotthold, dress belongs to the class of

1 Acts xxv. 23.

things neutral. It makes a man neither better nor worse in the sight of God, it draws upon him neither the Almighty's favor nor frown; still the coat shows what the man and what his heart is. Can you doubt that many a one, in his gay attire, cut according to the newest style, is an idol to himself? With what pomp and pride he struts along, and fancies that none makes so fine a figure. Though one bow ever so soon or so humbly to him, yet he, on the contrary, scarcely deigns to return the salutation. In this way, the old man, whom we are bound to crucify with his affections and lusts,1 is warmly clothed, expensively ornamented, and idolatrously reverenced. The money given to supply the wants of a needy brother, is wastefully squandered, and the word of God in the heart choked among thorns. He whose frame of mind is such that he is always lying abased at the feet of the Omnipotent, he who does not despise a Christian neighbor, though in poverty and rags,- he who is ready at any hour, in obedience to the will of God, to exchange the finest suit for the beggar's cloak or the death-bed shroud, may, perhaps, without sin, wear costly raiment. But how the children of the world, with their swelling pomp, shall contrive to enter in at the strait gate which leadeth unto life, must be left for them to try, if they will have it so.

1 Galatians v. 24.

THE MILKY WAY.

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My God! naked came I into this world, and naked must I again depart out of it. While my life lasts, give me food and raiment convenient for me. If my rank or office require a better dress, disengage, at least, my heart from it, and make me unconscious of what I wear. My soul desires ornaments of a different kind. Let the blood and righteousness of Christ be my badge and robe of honor.

XXV.

The Milky Way.

NE starry night, as he stood gazing at what is called the milky way, Gotthold thought with himself: This white belt in the heavens, as

one of the ancients has said, and as has now been demonstrated, is formed by the shining of innumerable stars, too distant from us to be perceptible, except through the medium of the telescope. To me it presents, first of all, an emblem of holy Scripture, which, to him who views it superficially, appears obscure and dim; whereas he who contemplates it in spirit, and through the perspective of faith, discovers a thousand sparkling stars of doctrine and consolation. Again, the milky way also reminds me of the glorious