in which He influences the counsels of men. But though the mode of Divine operation remains unknown, the fact of an overruling influence is equally certain in the moral as it is in the natural world. In cases were the fact is clearly authenticated, we are not at liberty to call its truth in question, merely because we understand not the manner in which it is brought about. Nothing can be more clear, from the testimony of Scripture, than that God takes part in all that happens among mankind, directing and over-ruling the whole course of events, so as to make every one of them answer the designs of His wise and righteous government.

"We cannot, indeed, conceive God acting as the Governor of the world at all, unless His government were to extend to all the events that can happen. It is upon the supposition of a particular providence that our worship and prayers to Him are founded. All His perfections would be utterly insignificant to us, if they were not exercised on every occasion, according as the circumstances of His creatures required. The Almighty would then be no more than an unconcerned spectator of the behaviour of His subjects, regarding the obedient and the rebellious with an equal eye."

In the lower part of the engraving is seen a little spot of earth in the vast ocean by which it is surrounded, on it three persons are seen. This small place may represent Time, which has arisen out of the eternity of the past. Though now visible, it is destined soon to sink into oblivion in the midst of the mighty waters. One of the figures on this little spot of time is seen very busy in collecting the little pebbles or particles of shining dust around him. How foolish this, when he must know that the rolling tide will soon overflow all around him! Equally foolish is he, who, in this transitory life, instead of looking upward and using the means Providence has placed within his reach for his escape from overflowing destruction, spends his precious moments in collecting the little baubles and toys of earth.

On the left is seen one who appears to be gravely philosophizing upon the scene he beholds around him. He realizes that he is standing on a speck of earth, in the midst of a mighty ocean, of which he can neither see the bottom nor the shore. He looks backward—all is dark to his vision; he looks around him—all is mysterious and incomprehensible; forward-all, all is thick darkness. He is sensible that the tide of death will soon overflow him and all with whom he is connected; but will eternal oblivion and forgetfulness be his portion? Perhaps he thinks so; but at times the

immortal spirit will stir within him, and "startle back" at the thought of annihilation. Ah, poor fooi! he turns his back, and will not look at the bright chain of God's providence which so manifestly appears. Perhaps he may try to persuade himself that the chain hangs there by chance. He has been told that earth and heaven are connected by it. He professes to see no necessary connection; he cannot see its beginning, how it is supported on high. He has heard that by it man can be elevated to a heavenly life. This may appear foolishness to him. Perhaps he may think that if man were destined to live hereafter, he would not have been placed on these mortal shores; or if immortal, it will be in some other mode than that pointed out in the Bible. He is wise in his own conceit. He turns himself from God's method of salvation; refuses to look upward; continues to reason "in endless mazes lost; " will not lay hold of the only hope set before him; he "wonders and perishes" in the overflowing of the mighty waters.

One of the persons on the little island is seen with his eyes turned upward; his hands are uplifted in thankfulness and adoration. He beholds the bright chain of God's providential mercy; he lays hold of the only hope set before him. It is true he can see but a few of the connecting links of the golden chain above; but he fully believes that it is connected with and sustained by an almighty power above. He has occasional glimpses of the all-seeing eye; he feels that he is under its supervision. He feels himself encircled, upheld, and sustained by infinite power and love, and rejoices that all things are under the control of a kind Providence,

It is true the Christian may see clouds and darkness above, around, and below him. He may not know why sin, and consequently misery, is suffered to exist in the universe of God. He may not know why he is placed here in the circumstances by which he is surrounded. He weeps often, it may be, to see how sin has laid waste the works of God; how the wicked often triumph, and the good are crushed into the dust. He may not know the beginning or origin of God's providential dealings, how far they reach into this or other worlds. But notwithstanding that the Christian may not be able to fathom these and many other subjects, yet he confides in the almighty power above. He lays hold of salvation; he is elevated to the regions of eternal light and glory, while his unbelieving companions perish amid the dark rolling waters of the

ocean.

The ocean has sometimes been considered as an emblem of

R

eternity, on account of its vast extent, its fathomless depths, and its appearance to human vision oftentimes as without a bottom or shore. "Eternity," says one, "with respect to God, is a duration without beginning or end. With regard to created beings, it is a duration that has a beginning, but will never have an end. It is a duration that excludes all number and computation; days, months, and years-yea, and ages are lost in it, like drops in the ocean. Millions and millions of years, as many years as there are sands on the sea-shore, or particles of dust in the globe of the earth, and these multiplied to the highest reach of number—all these are nothing to eternity. They do not bear any imaginable proportion to it; for these will come to an end as certainly as a day; but eternity will never, never, never come to an end. It is a time without an end; it is an ocean without a shore. Alas! what shall I say of it? It is an infinite, unknown something, that neither human thought can grasp, nor human language describe!"

THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY.

'Tis come! 'tis come! The long-expected day,
When sin no longer o'er the earth bears sway;
But truth, triumphant, sheds its mellow light,
And all below is clear, and pure, and bright.
See, Christianity, the gift of Grace,
Receives in form the homage of our race;
Europa, fair, her princely tribute brings,
A grateful offering to the King of kings;
Asia rejects the Shasters and the sword,
Throws by the Koran, and receives the Word.

Lo! Afric breaks her chains of crime and blood,
And, lowly bending, lifts her hands to God.

No more she wages war for white man's gold-
No more she mourns her children bought and sold.
See, too, America, with pipe of peace,

Comes now to sue for love and heavenly grace;
The tomahawk and bow and cruel kinfe

To exchange for records of eternal life.

"Tis come! 'tis come! the long-expected day!
Lo! God has triumphed, Truth divine bears sway;
Loud alleluias heavenly angels sing,

For earth, renewed with joy, receives her King.

THE above engraving represents Christianity receiving the homage of the world. In her right hand she holds the crown of immortality; in her left, the word of God; her looks and bearing bespeak grace, dignity, majesty, empire, triumph, and matchless love. Behold, Europe brings her crown-emblem of power-and lays it meekly at the feet of Christianity. Asia, represented by a follower of Mahomet, laying aside the scimitar and the Koran, receives with humble adoration, instead thereof, the revelations of God's word. Africa is represented by a figure in a kneeling posture; she has broken off her chains, and is lifting her hands to heaven. America is represented by an Indian; he holds in his hand the calumet or pipe of peace; he has laid aside the murderous tomahawk, the bow that sprang the arrow of death, and the scalping-knife. He buries the hatchet for ever, and offers the emblem

of peace.

The above is a representation of the final triumph of Christianity over the world—a day long expected by the faithful, even from the time of the first promise," He shall bruise thy head." That this earth-this blood-stained earth-should become the scene of triumph, has ever been the hope of the righteous; that here, where was the first defeat, renewed conflict, and continued struggle-here would be, and ought to be, the arena of victory. Exulting in this hope, the prophet touched the sacred harp of prophecy, and sang of" the sufferings of Christ, and of the glory that should follow,' when "He would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied." In this hope, Israel's king prayed, "that thy way may be known upon the earth, and thy saving health among all nations." Inspired by this hope, martyrs have kissed the stake, embraced the flames, and gone triumphantly home to God; yea, the general assembly of the Church of the first-born-the whole body of the faithful upon