The caravan was expofed to danger and death from the lion-the robber-the moving fands, and the fell fimoom. The church, too, has her dangers to contend against. No fooner does fhe commence her march, than Abaddon, the destroyer, comes out against her. If he fees her united, moving on firmly, and watchful withal, fhe is fafe, and he knows it. He gnashes his teeth with rage, and looks about for more defenceless prey. Woe, woe to the straggler he may meet with in his wrath,-to him who through indolence has lingered behind, or through pride thinks he can take care of himself, —he falls a victim to his temerity. His fate becomes a monument of warning unto others. Next he is affailed by the difciples of ancient herefies. These come forth against her with their rights of prefcription and of profcription. They advance "damnable doctrines," and seek to plunder her of her heaven-born treasures. But the church is armed, thoroughly armed. The efficient panoply, "the whole armour of God" is round about her. The fword of the Lord and of Gideon prevails, and the spoilers, vanquished, retire amid the duft of their own confufion. But other foes fometimes appear, more dangerous than Satan undifguifed. Splendid images of idolatry present themselves, glittering with the gilded pageantry of pompous ceremonies; impofitions of unrighteous prerogative. Their tops reach the very heavens. They move to and fro, threatening to overwhelm the church

She looks on

beneath their crushing weight. awhile in astonishment at fuch heaven-daring impiety. She ftands firm; fhe is girt about with truth. With a loud voice the gives utterance to her faith," Jehovah, he is the God! Jehovah, he is the God !" The fandy fabrics disappear like the moving columns of the defert.

Sometimes, as a last resort of fiendish malice, the fimoom of perfecution is let loose upon her. Earth and hell combine. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, faying, "Let us break their bands afunder, and caft away their cords from us." The watchword is, "deftroy, deftroy," and the whole power of the enemy is hurled against the Lord's anointed. Her ordinary weapons of defence are here of no avail. She has recourfe to "all prayer." She falls down low in the duft. In God is all her truft. He is her help and her fhield. She hides herself in Him until this "calamity be overpaft." In every conflict she comes off victorious, as long as the continues united and watchful.

Sometimes the church is favoured with extraordinary manifestations of divine power and love; these are to her as an oafis in the defert. The river that makes glad the city of God pours its full streams into the midst of her. She enjoys a glorious revival; it is a foretaste of heaven. She arifes and puts on strength. Multitudes are added unto her. Clothed with falvation, fhe again moves onward in all the power of truth,

and in the majefty of holiness, clear as the fun, fair as the moon, and glorious as an army with banners. Above her waves triumphant the banner of Redemption. Taking up the fong of prophecy as she advances, the fings:

In the wilderness shall burst forth waters,
And torrents in the defert;

And the glowing fand fhall become a pool;
The defert and the wafte fhall be glad,

And the wilderness shall rejoice and flourish,
Like the rose shall it beautifully flourish.

Thus fhe goes forward from strength to ftrength, scattering in her path a new creation, until mercy's triumphs are complete, and God is all in all.

Lord, what a wretched land is this
That yields us no supply;

No cheering fruits, no wholesome trees,
Nor ftreams of living joy!

Yet the dear path to thine abode
Lies through this weary land;

Lord! we would keep that heavenly road,

And run at thy command.

Our fouls shall tread the desert through,
With undiverted feet;

And faith and flaming zeal subdue
The terrors that we meet.

A thousand favage beafts of prey
Around the defert roam;
But Judah's lion guards the way,
And guides the pilgrims home.

Through fimoom blasts, with gloomy fears
We trace the facred road;

Through lonely waftes and dangerous fnares
We make our way to God.

them."-Ps. xxxix. 6.

abhorreth."-Ps. x. 3.

"The covetous, whom the Lord

SELFISHNESS.

Look at the selfish man! See how he locks
Tight in his arms his mortgages and stocks!
While deeds and titles in his hands he grafps,
And gold and filver clofe around him clafps.

But not content with this, behind he drags
A cart well laden with the pondrous bags;
The orphans' wailings and the widow's woe,
From mercy's fountain cause no tears to flow;
He pours no cordial in the wounds of pain,
Unlocks no prifon, and unclafps no chain;
His heart is like the rock where fun nor dew
Can rear one plant or flower of heavenly hue.
No thought of mercy there may have its birth,
For helpless mifery or fuffering worth;
The end of all his life is paltry pelf,

And all his thoughts are centred on—himself;
The wretch of both worlds; for fo mean a fum,
"Firft ftarved in this, then damned in that to come."

HERE is a poor fool "crouching beneath" more than "two burdens.” Look at him! fee how he pants and heaves, and groans beneath his load. With his right hand he grafps a large bag of gold and filver, together with bonds, titles, deeds and mortgages. In his left he clutches faft, ftocks and pledges, while fufpended to his left shoulder dangles interest upon interest. Around his waift is buckled a leathern girdle, to which a waggon is attached by means of traces. This is loaded with bags and bales of rich annuities. He appears to have made a clean sweep" wherever he has been; defolation follows in his train. On the left hand of this receivergeneral ftands a female, accompanied by two children. Look at them. They have come through the peltings of a winter's ftorm, poorly clad as they are, to lighten the poor man's load. They have nothing to carry. See! they are befeeching him to allow them to bear part of his