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to the commands of the Great Supreme, and an unparalleled instance of the mutability of fortune.

Bicknell.

WHAT proofs of humiliation are visible in every thing found in the present world.

In our bodies, particularly, what seeds of weakness, distress, and decay. The first proofs that we possess of life are the cries of pain and suffering, inarticulately uttered by the infant, just entered into the world. How often does even that infant agonize and expire in the cradle. If he passes into childhood, how many pains does he undergo; how many fears, how many sorrows. How frequently is he carried, while a child, to the grave. Should he arrive at youth, what a train of new evils is he obliged to encounter. And in how

many instances does the canker-worm or the frost nip the blossom, and wither it beneath the fond eye of parental love. Should he become a man, sickness, pain, and sorrow still hunt him through every course of life, and not unfrequently infix their fangs in his heartstrings; while death, always watching for his prey, descends when he is least aware, and seizes, and bears away the miserable victim. Should he live to old age, his strength declines, his face is furrowed with wrinkles, and his head whitened with hoary locks. His body bends towards the earth, from which it was taken, and exhausted by suffering, he resigns his breath, and is conveyed to the dark and narrow house, devoured by worms, dissolved by corruption, and changed into his original dust.

His mind, in the mean time, the sport of evil, ungovernable passions, is ignorant, wild, wayward; the seat of a thousand errors, weaknesses, and follies. With its follies, its sins keep at least an equal pace. Selfishness in many forms, all of them odious, dis

tresses the parental eye even in infancy. In childhood, in youth, in manhood, it is seen in new varieties of operation, and new appearances of deformity. Pride and ambition, avarice and sensuality, pollute and debase the man in early stages of life; and all increase their savage, brutal controul, as he advances in his progress. At the same time envy, fraud, deceit, violence, and cruelty, mould him into a monster, and scarcely permit us to believe that he was once formed in the image of God. Where is now the mild, benevolent, equitable dominion, exercised by our great progenitor over his happy empire? Where the peace between man and the inferior inhabitants of the earth? The chief traces of his footsteps through the animal world are oppression, blood, and death.

In the moral world, what scenes of pollution, fraud and tyranny, of war and ravage, are everywhere displayed. What groans of anguish have been heard from one end of heaven to the other, and from the apostasy to the present hour.

In the natural world, what a host of enemies to man are arrayed by famine and disease, the storm, the earthquake, and the volcano. Even his breath, his food, his pleasure, are all means of his destruction.

Where is his purity, justice, truth, and good-will? Where his piety, his morning praise, his evening incense? Where his converse with God, his familiarity with angels? Men are now the family of Adam; but how different a family from that which has been described! Were the great ancestor of mankind to rise from the dead, and cast his eyes over this earth; what a race of children would he behold. Accompany him in your imagination to the retreats of drunkenness, gluttony, and pollution. Could he believe that the wretches, burrowed in these foul recesses, sprang from him, who once offered up the worship of paradise?

Enter with him into a hall of justice, and see him ponder in silent amazement the terrible exhibitions of fraud and falsehood, private injustice and personal cruelty. Behold him mark with a failing eye the lowering gloom of the gibbet, the horrid recesses of the gaol, and the felon crimes which they were destined to reward. Follow him to the throne of tyranny, and see his bosom heave with emotions unutterable, while he watches the devastation of human happiness and human hope, accomplished by the iron-hand of power; man, blasted and withered by its touch, and the fiend himself rioting on sorrow, tears and death. Finally, adventure with him to the field of battle, and see him tremble and faint at the shouts and groans, at the sight of immeasurable fury, carnage, and woe. How would his heart rend asunder with agony; how would his eyes weep blood, at such a view of this miserable world; at the remembrance, that both the authors and the subjects of these sufferings were his own offspring. Where would he now find his Eden, his virtue, his immortality?

Dwight.

VALUE OF THE SOUL.

IT is the offspring of God-capable of inconceivable happiness or misery-formed for God and eternity. Destruction seems to be the law of the present system. The race of earthly glory is soon run-riches flee away-pleasures are but for a season, and they leave a sting-beauty is but a superficial tincture-youth is a dewdrop of the morning, which the rising sun exhales

life is but a vapour, liable to be dispersed-thrones and sceptres are but tottering emblems of power

states and empires pass away-time is decaying the elements shall dissolve-the heavens and earth shall pass away, and leave not a wreck behind. But the spirit of the poorest slave, or most barbarous savage, will survive this mighty wreck; and when millions of ages, as numerous as the sands on the sea-shore, shall have passed away, it will be no nearer its end. "What is a man profited," &c. What preservation of an empire from temporal ruin, can equal the salvation of a single soul.

W. Thorpe.

A SAVIOUR provided.

IF I should compare the natural state of man, I should conceive an immense grave-yard, filled with yawning sepulchres and dead and dying men. All around are lofty walls, and massive iron gates. At the gate stands Mercy, sad spectatress of the melancholy scene. An angel, flying through the midst of heaven, attracted by the awful sight, exclaims, "Mercy! why do you not enter, and apply to these objects of compassion the restoring balm?"-Mercy replies, "Alas! I dare not enter; Justice bars the way." By her side a form appeared like unto the Son of man. "Justice," he cried, "what are thy demands, that Mercy may enter, and stay this carnival of death?""I demand," said Justice, "pain for their easedegradation for their dignity-shame for their honour

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death for their life!" "I accept the terms; now Mercy enter." "What pledge do you give for the performance of these conditions ?"" My word! my oath!"-"When will you fulfil them?"" Four thousand years hence, upon the hill of Calvary." The

bond was sealed in the presence of attendant angels, and committed to Patriarchs and Prophets.

A long series of rites and ceremonies, sacrifices and oblations, was instituted to preserve the memory of that solemn deed. And at the close of the four thousandth year, behold, at the foot of Calvary, the incarnate Son of God! Justice too was there; in her hand she bore the dreadful bond; she presented it to the Redeemer, and demanded now the fulfilment of its awful terms. He accepted the deed, and together they ascended to the summit of the Mount. Mercy was seen attendant at his side, and the weeping Church followed in his train. When he reached the summit of the Mount, what did he with the bond? Did he tear it in pieces, and scatter it to the winds of heaven? Ah! no; he nailed it to his cross; and when the wood was prepared, and the devoted sacrifice stretched out on the tree, Justice sternly cried, "Holy fire, come down from heaven, and consume this sacrifice.” Holy fire:-"I come! I come! and when I have consumed this sacrifice, I will burn the universe." The fire descended, and rapidly consumed his humanitybut when it touched his Deity, it expired. Then did the heavenly hosts break forth in rapturous strains"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good-will towards men!"

Christmas Evans.

THE INCARNATION OF Christ.,

O THE great mystery of godliness, "God manifest in the flesh, and seen of angels!" Those heavenly spirits had, ever since they were made, seen his most glorious Deity, and adored him as their omnipotent

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