"The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are as bold as a lion' PROV. xxviii. 1.

FEARFUL AND FEARLESS.

Here is depicted plainly to the eye,

The wicked fleeing when no foe is nigh.
The thunder echoing in its deep-toned peals,
Alarms his conscience, and awakes his heels.
The winds low whistling through the hollow tree,
A call from justice is, from which they flee;
The rolling torrent, in its murmur loud,
Appears the shout of the pursuing crowd;
Each object looming through the gloom of night,
His fear increases, and augments his flight.
Not so the Righteous; see him walk along,
Bold as a lion, as a mountain strong.
Courageous heart, he fears no rude surprise,
He trusts in Jesus, and all else defies.

THIS engraving shows a man running as it were for his life On the other hand is seen one who walks steadily and boldly forward. The former is Fearful; he is alarmed at everything he sees and hears; he is afraid of his own shadow. The distant echo of reverberating thunder strikes terror into his heart; the autumnal breeze, rustling through the falling leaves, makes him afraid; the neighbouring torrent, as it tumbles down the mountain ravine, causes him to fear. He cannot endure darkness, neither can he

bear the light. He is afraid of company, yet he fears to be left alone. Now he is fleeing when there is none pursuing.

How different the fearless man! See how boldly he walks along. The gloom of night is nothing to him: he appears to fear no evil. While others are running, he stands his ground; while they are afraid, his heart is strong.

This emblem is descriptive of two characters: of the Righteous and of the Wicked. It is the wicked who flee when none pursue. Their guilty conscience transforms every object into an enemy; therefore they are in fear where no fear is, and flee away in terror.

A Christian king of Hungary, talking one day with his brother, who was a gay, thoughtless courtier, upon the subject of a future judgment, was laughed at by his brother for indulging in "melancholy thoughts." The king made no reply. There was a custom in that country that if the executioner sounded a trumpet before any man's door, that man was led instantly to death. The king ordered the trumpet to be sounded that night before the door of his brother, who on hearing the dismal sound, and seeing the messenger of death, was greatly alarmed. He sprang into the presence of the king, beseeching to know how he had offended. Alas, my brother!" replied the king, "you have never offended me; but if the sight of my excutioner is so dreadful, shall not we, who have so greatly offended God, fear to be brought before the judgment-seat of Christ?"

Volney, a French infidel, it is well known, was frightened during a storm, while some Christian ladies, his fellow-passengers, bore all with unruffled composure. Voltaire, a Frenchmen also, and of the same stamp, affected to despise the Christian religion during life; yet on his death-bed he sent to Dr. Tronchin, a priest, to administer to him the sacrament. It was affirmed of him that he was afraid to be left alone in the dark.

The righteous man is afraid of nothing but sin. He goes forward in the path of duty, though dangers grow thick around him. He enters the burning, fiery furance, and grapples with its curling flames. He descends into the den of lions, the king of beasts crouches at his feet. In the storm at midnight, tossed upon the raging billows, he is calm in the presence of the God he serves, and to whom he belongs. In earthquake's shock, when temples are falling, earth opening, and ruin reigns around, he stands fearless amid the desolation, exclaiming, "Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed out of its place." Descending the

dark vale of death itself, he says exultingly, "Though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I will fear no evil." And when the last enemy stands full in his presence, he sings triumphantly:

"Lend, lend your wings; I mount—I fly

O Grave, where is thy victory?

O death, where is thy sting?"

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him."-TITUS i. 16. "If any love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."-I JOHN. ii 15.

THE TWO WORLDINGS.

Lo; here spread out the plains of heavenly light,
And narrow way, that ends where all is bright.
Behold, with globes upon the lightsome green,
To different work address'd, two men are seen.
With careless ease one rolls his Globe along,
And follows after full of mirth and song;
The other strives to move his world's vast weight,
Uphill, towards the bright shining gate:

He strives in vain; the globe, though in the track,
Still downward tending drives him farther back,
And though they seem contrary roads to go,
Thy meet together in the vale below.

Thus some pursue an open course of sin;
Some Christ profess, yet hold the world within.
Though these appear to play a different game,
Their fate is equal, and their end thesa me.

In the engraving, two men are seen employed in rolling globes. The one on the right hand has very easy work of it; he is going down hill; his globe rolls on rapidly. He follows after with great glee and merriment; soon he is out of sight below. The man on the left is seen with his globe in the path that leads to the gate of brightness. He is striving to make his way towards the gate of

light, with the ponderous world before him. In vain he struggles, and heaves, and lifts; it still presses down upon him, and bears him backward, till at length he finds himself at the bottom of the valley, where he meets his neighbour, who laughs heartily at him for taking so much trouble to effect what he accomplished so easily.

This picture represents two kinds of worldly characters, who both equally miss of heaven in the end. The gate of light shows the entrance to the New Jerusalem; the pathway signifies the way of holiness, leading thereunto; the man on the right, rolling his ball along so gaily, represents the professed man of the world. He has chosen honours, riches, and pleasure for his portion. These combined, form the deity that he worships. Where they lead he follows; where they tarry, there he also abides; hence he turns his back upon the way of life, and upon the glories of the upper world. He is no hypocrite-not he; he glories in his conduct; he will have nothing to do with church or minister, prayer-book or Bible. He says in his heart, "There is no God," and casting off all fears, he hastens down the road that leads to death, and receives the doom which awaits "all those who forget God."

He on the left represents one who, while professedly a follower of Christ, yet loves the honours, rcihes, and pleasures of the world. He thinks the Bible may be a true book, and heaven worth having when he can have no more of earth, therefore he is found in the way. He professes to love God, but in works he denies Him; consequently, he makes no progress heavenwards. The world is too much for him; it obtains more and more power over him, until it, after having made him miserable on earth, sinks him into the gulf of woe, where he receives his portion with the "hypocrites and unbelievers."

"When in the light of faith divine,

We look on things below,
Honour and gold and sensual joy,

How vain and dangerous too!

Honour's a puff of noisy breath:
Yet men expose their blood,
And venture everlasting death,
To gain that airy good.

The pleasures that allure our sense,

Are dangerous snares to souls!
There's but a drop of flattering sweet,
And dashed with bitter bowls."

DR. WATTS.