The pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. The world paffeth away, and the luft thereof."-JOHN "Man being in honour abideth not: he is like the

ii. 16.

beafts that perish."-Ps. xlix. 12.

WORLDLY HONOUR.

Lo! here are honours floating in the breeze,
That wafts them changeful o'er the land and feas:
The air-inflated bubbles pafs along,

Attract the gaze, and fafcinate the throng;
Away they go, purfuing and purfued,
O'erleap all bounds, the legal and the good;
Through fields of fire, and feas of blood and woe,
Through broken hearts, and blafted hopes they go.
On others' carcafs, fee! they strive to rife,
And grafp the phantom that before them flies;
In blood-red garb the butchering knife one bears,
Nor friend, nor foe, if in his way, he fpares.
All this for what? For what this vaft outlay?
This fum infinite, fquandered every day?
Of thofe thus fool'd, fome anfwer in defpair,
"We clafp'd the phantoms, and we found them air.”

Not fo the honours that from God defcend,
Substantial, pure, and lasting without end.

THIS emblem is a reprefentation of the vain pursuits of mankind. Honours, titles, and fame, are borne upon the wings of the wind, which is ever changing, as are the fources from whence worldly honours are derived. Numbers are seen preffing after them with all their mind and ftrength, and in their hafte to poffefs them, they facrifice all that is good and holy, all that is

benevolent and divine.

One, with his tongue, affails the character of the pious and the wife; another, with his pen dipped in gall, attacks the reputation of a suspected rival; others, as feen in the emblem, hew down with the fword those who stand in their path, and, trampling on the bleeding body of the victim, strive to obtain the object of their defire; while the fhrieks of the wounded, the groans of the dying, the tears of the widow, and the fobs of orphans, feem only to add wings to the speed of ambition.

It often cofts them much to enable them to accomplish their ends. They expend peace of conscience, ease, and often life itself. Nay, the foul's falvation-the favour of God, eternal life, immortality in heaven, are exchanged for this empty nothing. The peace and happiness of others, of millions, with their lives, fortunes, and deftinies, are thrown away for the fame worthlefs objects.

Perhaps the reader will fay, "Surely, a thing

that cofts fo much must be valuable?" True wisdom condemns fuch things as valueless, and true wisdom is juftified of all her children. The little boy who left his fatchel and his fchool to run after the rainbow, expecting to catch it, was a philofopher compared to the idiots in the picture.

Alexander, called the "Great," bought the title of "Son of Jupiter" for the confideration of many lives of his followers, and enduring much fatigue while paffing through burning and diftant climes. After conquering mighty kings and warriors, he attained the pinnacle of honour and fame, and adding to his own dominions the reft of the earth, he became master of the world, and then--he wept, because there were no more worlds to conquer; and, at the age of thirty-two, died in a drunken fit, and was laid in a drunkard's grave. He left his extensive empire a legacy of defolation to mankind.

How different the honours which come from above! The Almighty Saviour, Jefus, hath afcended up on high; he hath received gifts for men -honours, titles, fame-in abundance. The faints, who are the excellent of the earth, God delighteth to honour. Angels are their body-guard; the Saviour is their friend. He confers on them the title of "Sons of God," of " Kings and Priests," who shall poffefs a kingdom that shall endure forever. Their fame is immortal: the righteous fhall be had in everlasting remembrance. The honours of earth come from inconftant

mortals; the honours which are fpiritual flow from the unchangeable Jehovah. The honours of earth are fought by trampling on the rights of others; the honours of God are fought by the increase of human happiness. Earthly honours are unsatisfactory when obtained; the honours of God fill the foul with blifs. Earthly honours are tranfitory, like the fource from whence they fpring; the honours of heaven are abiding like their Divine Author.

"For I am in a ftrait betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift; which is far better."-Phil. i. 23.

HEAVENLY DESIRE.

Behold the Chriftian where he doubtful ftands,
Faft bound to Friends by blooming roseate bands;
He feels the touch of love on earth below,
And yet to heaven straightway would gladly go;
For them, more needful longer here to stay,
For him, far better thus to foar away;

As when fafe anchored in fome foreign bay,
The fhip of merchandize may proudly lay;
The Captain's cleared, with passport, to set sail,
He longs for home, and courts the coming gale.
The general interefts of the firm demand
His longer fervice in that far-off land;

He fain would weigh, and homeward point his prow,
Yet to his duty would fubmiffive bow;

This done, he'll trip, and loose the flowing fail,
And homeward fcud before the founding gale.

THE engraving reprefents an affectionate Father who, though ftanding on the world, and