creation, companions and co-workers with them. What degradation! Alas, alas! how are the mighty fallen!

Look again at the folly and ignorance of wicked men in supposing themselves concealed because they cannot see. It is related of the ostrich, that she covers her head only, with reeds, and because she cannot see herself, thinks she is hid from the eye of her pursuers. Thus it is with the workers of iniquity in the night-time; they may indeed be hid from the sleeping eyes of mortals, but the everwakeful eye of Jehovah looks full upon them. When they say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me," even then "the night is light" all around them “Clouds and darkness are round about Him;" they are Jehovah's habitation, therefore what is mistaken for a covering is the presence-chamber of the Holy God, who "compasseth thy path, and thy lying down, and who is acquainted with all thy ways."

"Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

"When men of mischief rise

In secret 'gainst the skies,

Thy hand shall sweep them to the grave;
And oh! beyond the tomb,

How dreadful is their doom,
Where not a hand is reach'd to save!"

"His enemies, with sore dismay,
Fly from the light, and shun the day:
Then lift your heads, ye saints, on high,
And sing, for your redemption's nigh.”

-An example of suffering,

affliction, and patience. Behold, we count them happy who endure. James

v. 10, 11.

PATIENCE AND LONG-SUFFERING.

With sore afflictions, and with injuries too,
One deeply loaded, in the picture view;

Above, beneath, and reigning all around,

Trouble, and chains, and slanderous foes are found;
Her own sweet home no more a shelter stands,
Consumed by fire, it falls by cruel hands:
Amid this widely-devastating stroke,

No cry is heard, no voice of murmur spoke;
Like the mild lamb that crouches by her side,
She bears with meekness all that may betide;
She leans on Hope, and upward casts her eyes,
Expecting succor from the distant skies.

THE above engraving represents a female, loaded with a heavy burden of afflictions and injuries; fast bound by chains and fetters of iron, she is unable to help herself. Before her lie whips, chains, and slanders; behind, her house, her only asylum, is on

fire ignited by wicked hands, it falls a prey to the devouring flames; while the barking cur assails her with all his spite. In the midst of her wide-spread calamity, she murmurs not, she makes no complaint. Like the innocent lamb at her side, she bears all without repining. She leans on the anchor of hope, and looks upward.

This is an emblem of Patience and Long-suffering. The figure represents one who is oppressed with manifold wrongs, upon whose shoulders is laid a heavy burden of grievous outrages, and who is incapacitated, by the force of circumstances, from extricating herself; at the same time, she discovers that she has not yet drunk the full cup of her woes. Other evils lie in prospect before her.

One, who, instead of receiving the commiseration and assistance of her neighbors in the season of adversity, is assailed with the venom of the slan'derer, the malice of the backbiter, and the wickedness of the incendiary; but who, in the midst of her sufferings, refuses to complain. Though cast down, persecuted, and perplexed, she yields not in despair. With lamblike meekness, she arms her breast, and possesses her soul in patience. All-sustaining hope imparts new strength to her spirits; she commits herself to God, who judgeth righteously; and looking to God for grace to enable her to endure till he shall send deliverance, calmly awaits the issue.

Wicked and unreasonable men abound in the world, and the path of duty is often beset with present difficulties and dangers; yet it ends where all is easy and delightful. Let no one recede from the path of duty, nor tamely yield to despair. We may be tempted to flee, like the prophet Jonah, from our proper work; like Joshua, we may throw ourselves on the ground, and exclaim, despondingly, " Alas, O

Lord God!" Like David, we may say, "I shall perish by the hand of Saul;" or like Elijah, the fearless advocate of truth, say inquiringly, "What good shall my life do me?" Yet let us remember, that "light is sown for the righteous." The seed of deliverance is already in the ground; the crop is not far distant; we shall reap, if we faint not.

The conduct of Job affords the most perfect example of patience. Despoiled of his worldly property, his children taken from him at a stroke, his body tormented with one of the most painful and loathsome diseases, distressed by the foolish infidelity of his wife, and slandered by his professed friends; yet his patient soul triumphed over all. Still clinging to God, his Rock, he exclaimed, exultingly, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord."

In your patience, possess ye your souls. Luke xxi. 19.Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. James v. 7

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. James v. 10.

Let us run with patience the race set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb xii. 1, 2.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James i. 2, 3, 4.

TEMPTATION.

See where the tree its richest foliage wears,
And golden fruit its laden branches bears;
Behold conceal'd beneath its shade sidelong,
The glossy serpent, with his poisonous tongue;
The simple boy, far from his father's care,
Is well-nigh taken with the gilded snare.
The tempting fruit, outspread before his eyes,
Fills him with rapture and complete surprise;
Nor hidden dangers will he wait to see,
But onward hastens to the fatal tree.
His father sees him, and, with faltering breath,
Recalls his loved one from the brink of death,
Nor waits reply, but on the spot he springs,
And saves his darling from the serpent's stings.

THE tree rich in foliage, and rich in fruit, spreads out its delicious produce to the passer by. See also the subtle serpent, as if aware of the powerful attractions that the tree affords, conceals itself under.