to the haven of repose. Therefore, though caft down, he is not destroyed-perplexed, yet never in defpair. He reckons that his light afflictions will work for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. He looks not at the things which are seen, but at those that are not seen. He has no gold-he is poor; but the bow of promise spans for him its glorious arch. "He is joyful in hope." He is reminded of his inheritance above. There he has a throne at the right hand of the King of Glory—a mansion in the fkies-a bower in Paradife-a reft in Abraham's bofom-a fhelter from the ftorm-a city which has foundations. No wonder that he fets his affections on things that are above. There is his portion fair-there, too, is his heart-there is his eternal dwelling place. He would rather have the lot of Lazarus here, and his portion hereafter, than fare sumptuously every day with Dives, and be perplexed with him at laft in the hell of As he walks through the vale of poverty and diftrefs, the heavenly light fhines, around him, and awakens the voice of fong:

torment.

“Although the fig-tree shall not blossom,
Neither thall fruit be in the vines;
The labour of the olive shall fail,
And the fields shall yield no meat;

The flocks shall be cut off from the fold,
And there fhall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord-

I will joy in the God of my Salvation."

How greatly is Patience to be preferred before

Paffion. Paffion is a fury, breathing out threatening and flaughter; Patience is a cherub, whispering words of love and joy. Paffion is a tempeft, charged with lightnings, hail, and thunder; Patience is a holy calm, where peace reigns and ftillness triumphs. The one is a troubled fea, cafting up mire and dirt-the other, a placid lake illumined by the mellow light of heaven. The one a foretaste of the fire of hell-the other, a pledge of everlasting repose.

"The man poffeff'd among the tombs,
Cuts his own flesh and cries ;
He foams and raves, till Jefus comes,
And the foul fpirit flies."

"Beloved felf must be denied

The mind and will renewed;
Paffion oppreff'd and patience tried,
And vain defires fubdued."

"Lord, how fecure and blest are they,
Who feel the joys of pardoned fin!
Should ftorms of wrath shake earth and sea,
Their minds have heaven and peace within.

"How oft they look to heavenly hills,
Where streams of living pleasure flow;
And longing hopes and cheerful fmiles
Sit undisturbed upon their brow!"

Fight the good fight."-1 TIM. vi. 12. "Taking the fhield of Faith, and the fword of the Spirit."-EPH. vi. 16, 17.

THE CONQUERING CHRISTIAN.

A glorious Temple rifes to our view,

The conquering Chriftian fights his paffage through,
His dreadful foes who now attack him fore,
Falfe Shame behind, fell Unbelief before,

And worldly Love-great idol here below,
Unite to aid in Chriftian's overthrow;
But he, courageous, takes at once the field,
Armed with his ancient, well-appointed shield;
A two-edged fword he wields, well known to fame,
And proftrates at one blow the dastard Shame;
On Worldly Love he falls with many a blow,
And foon he lays the ufurping monster low.
Now Unbelief, the champion of the reft,
Enraged, beftirs him, and lays on his best;
A fearful thruft he makes at Chriftian's heart,
The Shield of Faith receives the murd'rous dart;
With his good sword brave Christian wounds him fore,
And out of combat he is feen no more;

Into the Temple now the Victor speeds,

And Angel Minstrels chant his valiant deeds.

From

THE above represents a man fighting his way toward a beautiful Palace; it is his home. various causes he has been long eftranged from his paternal inheritance. He is by fome means reminded of its endearing affociations of its ancient magnificence-of its voices of happiness and love; pleafant things to delight the eye; choral fymphonies to enchant the ear; rich viands to gratify the taste, are there. He becomes anxious to return; he determines at once to regain poffeffion of his mansion, or perish in the attempt. He meets with oppofition; the odds are fearful, three to one. His enemies do not abfolutely deny his rights, yet they are determined to oppose him to the uttermoft. He gives battle, and by dint of skill and courage, he routs his foes, gains a complete victory, and enters his home in triumph.

This allegory represents a part of the Christian warfare. The temple or palace fignifies that glorious inheritance which the Almighty Father has bequeathed to all his children. It contains

not away.

all that can please, delight, or enchant the foul, and that for ever more. For it is an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth The Hero denotes a man who has decided to be a Chriftian. By the influence of the Holy Spirit on his heart, he is convinced of his outcaft condition-of the impotency of created good to make him happy-of the infignificance of the things of time compared with those of eternity. Convinced of these, in the strength of grace, he fays, "I will arife and go to my Father," and he goes accordingly. But he foon meets with enemies who powerfully oppose his progress, and among the first of these is,

Shame. Our paffions, or powers of feeling, have been given to us by our benevolent Creator, to fubferve our happinefs, and fhame among the reft.

"Art divine

Thus made the body tutor to the foul-
Heaven kindly gives our blood a moral flow,
And bids it afcend the glowing cheek.”

Shame ftands as a fentinel to warn us of danger, and fo put us on our guard. But all of our paffions are perverted from their proper uses, and fin has done it. Therefore as man loves darkness rather than light-calls evil good and good evilputs bitter for fweet and fweet for bitter-fo alfo