"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

TEMPTATION.

See where the tree its richeft foliage wears,
And golden fruit its laden branches bears;
Behold conceal'd beneath its fhade fidelong,
The gloffy ferpent, with his poisonous tongue;
The fimple boy, far from his father's care,
Is well-nigh taken with the gilded fnare.
The tempting fruit, outfpread before his eyes,
Fills him with rapture and complete surprise;
Nor hidden dangers will he wait to fee,
But onward haftens to the fatal tree.
His father fees him, and, with faltering breath,
Recalls his loved one from the brink of death,
Nor waits reply, but on the fpot he springs,
And faves his darling from the ferpent's ftings.

THE tree rich in foliage, and rich in fruit, spreads out its delicious produce to the paffer by.

See also the fubtle ferpent, as if aware of the powerful attractions that the tree affords, conceals itself underneath its branches, ready to fpring upon the unwary traveller. That little boy has been in great danger; he left the houfe, and wandered on till he came in fight of the tree; the fruit attracted his attention; he stopped; he was delighted with its appearance. Thoughtless of danger, he was juft going to pluck and eat, when the voice of his father alarmed him; he had feen his danger. In another moment he was on the spot, and feizing him by the hand, pointed out to him the ferpent, and led him from the place of danger.

This is an emblem of Temptation—of the danger to which youth especially are exposed. The tree, with its rich foliage and golden fruit, represents those things that are objects of temptation. The ferpent, fhows the danger that invariably attends thofe objects that entice to fin. The artless boy represents the fimplicity of youth, who, attracted by the outfide appearance of things, confiders not the evil of finful gratification. The anxious father exhibits the ever-watchful care of our Father who is in heaven over his children, whom, as long as they confide in him, he will deliver from evil.

This emblem fets forth also somewhat of the nature of temptation. Thus: the object is prefented to the eye; the mind takes pleasure in beholding it; then the will consents to embrace it.

"Then when luft hath conceived, it bringeth

forth fin; and fin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

The youthful Jofeph, when in the house of Potiphar the Egyptian, was affailed by temptation. The object was prefented to him in its most attractive form; while mafter of himself, he fled from it, and escaped. His memory is bleffed.

David, king of Ifrael, when walking upon the battlements beheld a fimilar object of temptation. He looked till the fire of luft was enkindled in his foul, and his will determined upon poffeffion. Luft, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth fin; fin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. This was to David the beginning of forrows.

Temptation, at the commencement, is “like the thread of the spider's web; afterwards, it is like a cart-rope." The poor flave, Jofeph, broke the thread, and became a king, nay, more than a king; while the king, David, was fast bound by the cart-rope, and became a flave.

The theatre, the card-table, the intoxicating cup, the painted harlot, are all fo many objects of powerful temptation, under which lurks the serpent with its fting of death. Fleeing to God, in Christ, by earnest prayer, is the only way of escape therefrom.

How vain are all things here below!
How falfe, and yet how fair!

Each pleasure hath its poison too,

And every sweet a fnare.

The brightest things below the sky,

Give but a flattering light;

We should fufpect fome danger nigh,
Where we poffefs delight.

**

Sin has a thoufand treacherous arts
To practife on the mind;

With flattering looks she tempts our hearts,
But leaves a fting behind.

She pleads for all the joys fhe brings,
And gives a fair pretence;

But cheats the foul of heavenly things,
And chains it down to fenfe.

DR. WATTS.

"See that ye walk circumfpectly."-EPH. v. 15.

man forefeeth the evil."-PROV. xxii. 3.

"A prudent

PRUDENCE AND FORESIGHT.

Where fome would thoughtless rush, with skip and dance,
See Prudence there with cautious steps advance:

Behind, the faithful mirror brings to view
The roaring lion, that would her pursue ;
Before, fhe knows, by telescopic glass,
How many things will fhortly come to pass;
Betimes, concealed where fragrant roses hang,
She fees the ferpent with his poifon'd fang:
And thus fhe learns, what youth fhould always know,
That pleasures oft with fatal fnares may grow.

PRUDENCE is here feen proceeding with flow and cautious steps. She has in her right hand a telescope, by means of which fhe is enabled to bring things that are far off nigh to view; thus fhe fees things that would otherwise be hidden entirely from her fight; while other things are