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tempeft, the anguifh of his foul, occafioned by the terrors of God's violated Law. The forfaken boat, his felf-righteousness. The King who flies to his help, the Lord Jefus Chrift. Laying hold of the rope, Faith. His arrival on fhore, Salvation. And as the individual rescued would most affuredly afcribe the merit of his deliverance to the prince upon the bank, and by no means to himself for feizing the rope, fo every finner faved by Faith will, despising self, give the glory of his falvation to Chrift. As the rope connected the man dying in the waters with the man living on the land, fo Faith unites the finner to Christ. The power or ability to believe is the gift of God, but man is refponfible for the ufe 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 faved through Faith, and that not of himself. God worketh in him both to will and

to do.

"With pitying eyes the Prince of Peace
Beheld our helpless grief;

He faw, and oh, amazing love!

He ran to our relief.

"Down from the fhining feats above,
With joyful haste he fled,
Enter'd the grave in mortal flesh,
And dwelt among the dead.

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"Angels, affift our mighty joys,
Strike loud your harps of gold;
But when you raise your highest notes,
His love can ne'er be told.”

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"Be not children in understanding."-1 COR. xiv. 20.
SIMPLICITY, OR WANT OF UNDER-
STANDING.

Deep in a meadow of rich verdure green,
A fimple child of beauteous form is feen;
Pleafed with the ferpent's fafcinating charms,
She fondly takes it to her circling arms;
Nor of the brilliant fnake 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 burfts forth in tears;
Although its merry chirp no dangers bring,
Nor in its homely fhape e'er wears a fting.
Juft fo the youth, deceived by beauty's form,
Nor knows that rofes always bear a thorn.
Choose then for mates alone the good and wife,
And learn the homely never to defpife.

THE engraving fhows a little child, all alone in a field. In its fimplicity it fondles a deadly ferpent; attracted by its brilliant and fhining colours, the artlefs child takes hold of it without

;

fear. She is about to take it to her bofom, when the cricket's merry chirp is heard; fhe is ftartled. In a moment the lively infect, with one spring, ftands before her. Now fhe cries out for fear fhe is greatly terrified. Thus, in her fimplicity, fhe courts death, and embraces it; while fhe is frightened at homelin efs, accompanied by innocence and fong.

This is an emblem of the young and inexperienced. The term fimple, or fimplicity, has a twofold meaning in Scripture. There are the "fimple" whom "the Lord preferveth," and the "fimple" who "pafs on and are punished." In the first inftance it fignifies fincerity, innocence; in the second, folly, or want of understanding. It may therefore be applied to the young and the inconfiderate of all ages, who, for want of knowledge and experience, act without confidering the confequences of their 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 conftant danger of putting evil for good, and good for evil; bitter for fweet, and sweet for bitter. Hence, he needs the inftruction of God's Holy Word to enable him to discern the things that are excellent; to prove all things, and hold faft 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, dif

plays itself in the wrong choice that is often made of companions; while the homely perfon, who may have much of wisdom and goodness, is rejected, the accomplished villain is felected as a bofom friend. The youth, deceived by his showy exterior and smooth tongue, unbosoms himself to him without referve. The villain laughs at his fimplicity, betrays his confidence, and leads him into ruin irreparable.

Hence, how neceffary it is that the inexperienced youth should seek the council of the aged and the wife, and follow the godly admonitions of parents and guardians. This would fave 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 fecret chambers of death. Poisoned berries fometimes look like tempting grapes; ice, though it may seem firm, oftentimes breaks in, and plunges the rafh youth into a watery grave; wine, when it giveth its colour in the cup, at the last it biteth like a ferpent, and ftingeth 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 the loft Eden, and brought death into our world, and all our woe.

If then, an act seem to be right, be sure it is fo before you do it. If any thing appears to be good, be fure it is fo before you touch it. If any of your acquaintance feem to be virtuous, be

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