"Let not the water-flood overflow me, neither let the deep s vallow me up.""He sent me from above, he took me, he drew me out of many

Ps. lxix. 15.
waters."-Ps. xviii. 16.

SALVATION BY FAITH.

The pleasures of a summer's day prevail,

And tempt the youth to hoist the flowing sail :
The river, placid, rolls its waves along,

He glides exulting, like the notes of song;

But soon a cloud, dark, brooding, mounts on high,
A tempest threatens, soon it fills the sky,
He strikes his sail, and plies the lab'ring oar,
If haply he may reach the wished-for shore :
Now booming thunders shake the solid ground,
And angry lightnings fitful flame around:
The rains descending, now begin to lave,
The winds come dancing o'er the rippling wave,
The stream still bears him from the distant shore,
Appalled he hears the cataract's dreadful roar,-
To stay on board is death-he leaps. The wave
Still bears him onward to the yawning grave.
Just as he reaches the terrific brink,

O'er which, if plunged, he must for ever sink,
The king from his fair palace hastens down-
A king who wears far more than regal crown-
He saw his plight, nor feared the thunders' roar,

He threw the ROPE AND DREW him safe on shore.

A YOUNG man, tempted by the delightful stillness of a summer's day, launches his little boat, and spreads his sail. The light winds

spring up, and bear him some distance from the land; but he regards it not. The scenery is lovely; the banks of the river are clad in the beautiful robes of the season: all conspire to make him enjoy his sail. But his pleasure is short-lived; a storm arises-he strikes sail, and attempts to make the shore by rowing, but he cannot succeed. The eddying winds keep him in the middle of the the stream; he drifts down to the place where there is a tremendous cataract; he hears the dreadful roaring thereof; his heart sinks within him. What shall he do? To stay in the boat is death; he cannot swim if he leaps out, yet he thinks it is the best course. He jumps overboard; still he continues to drift towards the awful gulf. But just as he is going over, one comes to the rescue. The king, who had been watching him from his palace on the hill, hastens through the pelting storm down to the river-side, and throwing him a rope, draws him safe to land.

This emblem sets forth the glorious doctine of Salvation by Faith. The drowning man represents the sinner in his sins. The fearful tempest, the anguish of his soul, occasioned by the terrors of God's violated Law. The forsaken boat, his self-righteousness. The King who flies to his help, the Lord Jesus Christ. Laying hold of the rope, Faith. His arrival on shore, Salvation. And as the individual rescued would most assuredly ascribe the merit of his deliverance to the prince upon the bank, and by no means to himself for seizing the rope, so every sinner saved by Faith will, despising self, give the glory of his salvation to Christ. As the rope connected the man dying in the waters with the man living on the land, so Faith unites the sinner to Christ. The power or ability to believe is the gift of God, but man is responsible for the use of the power. He must lay hold of the rope. God does not repent for man, neither does He believe for him, yet man has nothing whereof to glory. By grace he is saved through Faith, and that not of himself. God worketh in him both to will and to do.

With piting eyes the Prince of Peace

Beheld our helpless grief

He saw, and oh, amazing love,

He ran to our relief."

"Be not children in understanding."- COR. xiv. 20.
SIMPLICITY, OR WANT OF UNDERSTANDING.

Deep in a meadow of rich verdure green,
A simple child of beauteous form is seen;
Pleased with the serpent's fascinating charms,
She fondly takes it to her circling arms;
Nor of the brilliant snake thinks aught of fear,
Though death among its charms lies lurking there.
But when the cricket's harmless form appears,
She's much affrighted, and bursts forth in tears;
Although its merry chirp no dangers bring,
Nor in its homely shape exists a sting.

Just so the youth, deceived by beauty's form,
Knows not that roses always bear a thorn.

Choose then for mates alone the good and wise,
And learn the homely never to despise.

THE engraving shows a little child all alone in a field. In its simplicity it fondles a deadly serpent; attracted by its brilliant and shining colours, the artless child takes hold of it without fear. She is about to take it to her bosom, when the cricket's merry chirp is heard; she is startled. In a moment the lively insect, with one spring, stands before her. Now she cries out for fear; she is greatly terrified. Thus, in her simplicity, she courts death, and embraces it; while she is frightened at homeliness, accompanied by innocence and song,

This is an emblem of the young and inexperienced. The term simple, or simplicity, has a twofold meaning in Scripture. There

are the "simple" whom "the Lord preserveth," and the

"simple" who*" 'pass on and are punished." In the first

instance it signifies sincerity, innocence; in the second, folly, or want of understanding. It may therefore be applied to the young and the inconsiderate of all ages, who for want of knowledge and experience, act without considering the consequences of thei

actions.

The youth knows not how to judge of objects that present themselves before him. Inexperienced, he knows not how to choose aright. He is in constant danger of putting evil for good, and good for evil; bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Hence, he needs the instruction of God's Holy Word to enable him to discern the things that are excellent; to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good. Above all, he needs the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit to "give him understanding," and guide him into all truth.

This want of understanding, moreover, displays itself in the wrong choice that is often made of companions; while the homely person, who may have much of wisdom and goodness, is rejected, the accomplished villain is selected as a bosom friend. The youth, deceived by his showy exterior and smooth tongue, unbosoms himself to him without reserve. The villain laughs at his simplicity, betrays his confidence, and leads him into ruin irreparable.

Hence, how necessary it is that inexperienced youth should seek the counsel of the aged and the wise, and follow the golden admonitions of parents and guardians. This would save them many a false step, and much misery in after life.

Appearances are deceitful. The ignis-fatuus looks like a friendly light, but it betrays the unwary traveller down to the secret chambers of death. Poison-berries sometimes look like tempting grapes; ice, though it may seem firm, oftentimes breaks in, and plunges the rash youth into a watery grave; wine when it giveth its colour in the cup, at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. It was when Eve saw that the tree was pleasant to the eyes, that she took of the fruit thereof, by which act she lost Eden, and brought death into our world, and all our

woe.

If then, an act seem to be right, be sure it is so before you do it. If any thing appears to be good, be sure it is so before you touch it. If any of your acquaintance seem to be virtuous, be sure they are so ere you take them for bosom friends. "The simple pass on and are punished; but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be delivered."

"Oh that I had wings like a dove

for then I would fly away and be at rest."-Ps. lv. 6.

THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN.

Lo! where the Christian walks in sore distress,
While various evils round about him press;
Fierce persecution as a wild bull found,
Raging he roars and tears the solid ground;
The mean backbiter, like a snarling cur,
Assails behind, his character to slur ;
Slander grown bold, in form of wolf appears,]
Ravening for prey, the innocent he tears:
The adder, envy, lies along his path,

And works in secret with its sting of death;
Fraud, like the crocodile, now lays his snares,
To catch the unsuspecting unawares;

Oppression! outrage! is the lion mad?

When nought but blood his cruel heart can glad;
For dove-like wings the Christian prays, oppress'd,
To fly to mansions of eternal rest.

THE engraving shows a poor man in great distress. Far from home, and apparently unprotected, he is beset with enemies on every side. He knows not which way to turn. Behind, he fears the bellowing of the furious bull, maddened with rage, threatening to overtake and destroy him; while the dastard cur yelps after him close at his heels. Before him is the ferocious lion, glutting him

E