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will cross the line." With the martyr Paul, we may exclaim "I go to Jerusalem, though bonds and afflictions await me there." Or with the patriot Pompey, "it is necessary for me to be at Rome, though it is not necessary for me to live."

The following anecdotes related by Foster, exhibit striking examples of decision and perseverance:

"An estimable old man, being on a jury, in a trial of life and death, was completely satisfied of the innocence of the prisoner; the other eleven were of the opposite opinion, but he was resolved the man should not be condemned. As the first effort for preventing it, he made application to the minds of his associates, but he found he made no impression; he then calmly told them that he would sooner die of famine than release them at the expense of the prisoner's life. The result was a verdict of acquittal." What follows is a less worthy instance:

“A young man having wasted, in two or three years, a large fortune, was reduced to absolute want. He went out, one day, with the intention of putting an end to his life; wandering along he came to the brow of an eminence that overlooked what were once his own estates; here he sat down and remained fixed in thought some hours. At length he sprang up with a vehement exulting emotion-he had formed the resolution that all these estates should be his own again; he had formed his plan also, which he began immediately to execute; he walked forward determined to seize the very first opportunity to gain money, and resolved not to spend a cent of it, if he could help it. The first thing was a heap of coals shot before a house; he offered to wheel them into their place-he received a few pence for his labor; he then asked for something to eat, which was given him. In this way he proceeded, always turning his gains to some advantage, till in the end he more than realized his lost possessions, and died a miser, worth more than a quarter of a million of dollars."

The fool rageth.-Prov. xiv. 16. Let patience have her perfect work.James, i. 4.

PASSION AND PATIENCE.

Behold here! Passion, stamping, mad with rage;
He tries the knotted cord to disengage.

He twists and twirls, and fumes and frets in vain,
And all impatient cuts the cord in twain.
See! there is gold! that Providence has sent:
Favor abused-it feeds his discontent.

His soul a tempest-storms around him rise;
Thunder and lightning shake the trembling skies:
A troubled ocean-white with foaming spray,
Whose restless waters cast up mire and clay.

But mark the contrast! Patience much at ease,
Th' intricate cord unravels by degrees.
No bags of gold has he. But what is more,
He has content-of this an ample store;
While the bright Rainbow, sparkling in the sky,
Is pledge to him of future joys on high:
His soul a calm-by mellow light caressed;
A placid lake-whose waters are at rest.

Two very different characters are here presented to our view: Passion, storming, wild with ragePatience, calm and tranquil. For some time, Passion has been endeavoring to unravel a hank of entangled twine or cord, In his great hurry, he entangles it more and more. It is full of knots; he grows hot with rage; his face is miscreated; he wears the aspect of a fury. Stamping with anger, he tramples upon some toys that lay near him, and breaks them into pieces. A bag of gold is seen standing at his side. This only feeds his pride; it makes him more outrageous to think that he should have such work assigned him. A tempest is seen to arise behind him; the clouds gather blackness; thunders roll; fearful light, nings glare around. This is to show the state of his mind-wild, fiery and tempestuous. He is also fully represented by the troubled sea, seen in the back ground. Tumultuous it tosses its foaming billows; its restless water casts up mire and dirt. So his troubled spirit, agitated by the tumult of his passions, gives utterance to oaths, blasphemies and imprecations. Miserable youth! The fire of hell is enkindled within him!

Patience, on the other hand, sits with unruffled composure. He, too, has had the same work assigned

him. He has the knotted cord to unravel; but he goes about it in the spirit of duty; patiently he unties knot after knot, overcomes difficulty after difficulty, until the whole is cleared. He has finished his task; he is seen looking upward, to show that he seeks help and counsel from on high. A heavenly light descends and sheds its luster round about him. Help is afforded. In the back-ground is seen a placid lake: this denotes the composure of his mind. Not a wave of perplexity dashes across his peaceful breast. He has not riches; no gold is seen shining by his side; he is, however, contented with his condition; nor is he without hope of future good. The Bow of Promise, glittering in the distant sky, intimates to us that he looks forward to a future recompense.

Passion represents a man of the world: one who has his portion in this life. The Almighty Father has appointed a work to all men; yea, every thing livingmoving-creeping-swimming-flying-has its work to-do. Duty is incumbent upon all. It is a condition of existence; it is also a condition of happiness. Man is under this universal law. The man of the world, lacking the proper qualifications for duty, fails in discharging it aright. He works from wrong motives, and for wrong ends; he does all to the glory of self. No wonder he makes such bungling work of it.

By the knotted cord, may be understood those difficult passages of life through which man, as such, has to pass-afflictions, disappointments, etc. These are more than the worldly-minded man can bear. The reason seems clear enough. He has set his heart upon earthly objects; hence the removal of these objects from him, affects him very sensibly. These are thy gods, O man of the world! When trouble comes, of course he does not look upward; he has no business there. He looks down-down-continually.

"He leans to his own understanding," instead of waiting for further developments. He becomes impatient, fretful, peevish, angry and passionate. He would curse God and die, if he was not afraid to die. He is

"Instantly, with wild demoniac rage,

"For breaking all the chains of Providence,

"And bursting his confinement, though fast barr'd
"By laws divine and human."

Providence may have lavished wealth upon him: he spurns the giver; he abuses his gifts. His pride becomes more inflamed; his table becomes a snare unto him; his riches add to his discontent. What he needs, though he may not know it, is a hope beyond the grave. He has title deeds enough on parchment. but none to the kingdom of Heaven-houses and lands, but no "hiding place" in which to enter when the great day of His wrath shall come. He has no

anchor to enable his vessel to ride out the gales of adversity. Clouds and darkness surround him; a tempest is in his path; he is a cloud carried with the tempest, to whom is reserved the mist of darkness forever; a troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Patience represents the man of God-him who has chosen God and the world to come for his portion. In this world, he, too, has presented to him the knotted cord-trials, perplexities and afflictions. Man is born to trouble. He endures all things as seeing him who is invisible; in patience he possesseth his soul. He looks at the difficulty calmly; he considers what is best to be done, and which is the best way to do it. If it is beyond his power or skill, he looks to God for assistance. The composed state of his mind gives him a great advantage over the impatient one; but if he finds his own arm too short, he is intimate