But the word of the Lord endureth forever. 1 Pet. i: 25.- Tis thus amid the arctic regions, rise, The Iceberg lifts its towering summit to the clouds, sparkling and dazzling like a group of temples overlaid When, lo! 't is vanish'd, and is seen no more. with silver. Its crystalline magnifi cence is bewildering; it forms one of the most splendid objects that the mar iner meets with in the northern seas, and at the same time one of the most dangerous. It is a floating mass without foundation; winds, waves, and currents bear it along in all directions. It assumes the most fantastic shapes imaginable; sometimes it looks like mountains piled on mountains; then temples, palaces, and ships are seen by turns; then again cathedrals, of every order of architecture, appear to the eye of the wondering beholder. After awhile it drifts out of the high latitudes into milder climes. It is carried toward the southern shores; the sun pours its burning rays upon the mammoth temple; turret after turret, spire after spire disappear, until the whole has dissolved. Its glory has departed. and fascinating their appearance, they have no solidity. Like it, too, they are ever-changing; their form receives its various impressions from the everfluctuating speculations of mankind, and from the power and influence of the times. Like it, they are cold and cheerless to the soul, nipping all its budding prospects, cramping all its mighty powers. Like the iceberg, also, false principles will melt away before the burning sun of truth, and pass into oblivion. It will not do to trust in them. Who would make a dwelling-house of the transitory iceberg? It is not so with true principles; although they may appear somewhat homely at first sight, yet the more they are contemplated the more they will be admired. Like the Rock, their foundations are laid broad and deep. The principles of truth rest on the throne of God; they are as ancient as eternity. Like the Rock, they may always be found. Are they not written in the Holy Bible? Like their Author, they are without variableness or How very different is the nature and destiny of the Rock that is seen lifting its time-worn head above the surrounding waves! It is probably as old as time itself; it retains its ancient position; its foundations take hold of the world; it is marked in the charts, men always know where to find it, and are therefore not endangered by it. Chang-shadow of turning; for, ing the form of the element that surrounds it, itself unchanged, the summer's sun and winter's storm alike pass harmlessly by it. It is one of the everlasting hills, it must abide forever. The engraving is an emblem of True and False Principles. False principles are represented by the Iceberg. Like the iceberg, they are without a foundation; however spacious, brilliant, "Firm as a Rock, God's Truth must stand When rolling years shall cease to move." Semper idem-" Always the same". is their motto. Like the Rock of Ages, true principles live when time shall be no more. As are the principles, so are all who trust in them, for "the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." Temple of Truth, the image of which he learned, he replied, "To tell the is plainly reflected by the clear, placid stream that glides before it. Truth, in an evangelical sense, is all-important. It alone will give character to an individual, more than all other qualities put together. It is of itself a rich inheritance, of more worth than mines of silver and gold. It is more ennobling than the highest titles conferred by princes. Every body loves to be respected, but an individual to be loved and respected must be known. He only can be known who speaks the truth from his heart, and acts the truth in his life. We may guess at others, but as we do not know we can not respect them, for like pirates they oftentimes sail under false colors. "Nothing is beautiful except Truth," is a maxim of the French, although it has been most deplorably neglected. Nevertheless, the sentiment is correct. Truth is glorious wherever found; Jesus, who is "the truth," is the altogether lovely, and the fairest among ten thousand. Truth is the glory of youth, and the diadem of the aged. But Truth is essential to happiness, both in this world and also in the next. For "what man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Lord, who shall dwell in thy holy hill! He that "speaketh the truth." It is related of Cyrus, that, when asked what was the first thing truth." Cyrus must have been very fortunate in having such good instructors. Lord Chesterfield would have instructed him differently. In the days of Daniel (as the tradition says) the wise men were ordered by the king to declare what was the strongest thing on earth. Each man brought in his answers; one said wine was the strongest, another mentioned women; Daniel declared that TRUTH was the most powerful, which answer pleased the king, and the palm of victory was decreed to Daniel. "Seize, then, on truth where'er 't is found, Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart; so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Prov. iii: 3. The lip of truth shall be established forever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Prov. xii: 19. Buy the truth and sell it not. Prov. xi: 23. Lie not against the truth. James iii: 11. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth. Zech. viii: 16. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. Prov. xii: 23. SYMBOLS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH. Till we all come in the unity of the Faith. Ephes. iv: 13. SEE on the right, all-glorious, Hope doth stand, And gives to heavenly Truth the plighted hand; With Seraph's wings outspread, Love stands between; Christian Faith is represented by a union of Truth, Hope, and Love. The hope of heaven is represented by the Apostle Paul as the anchor of the soul, consequently Hope is usually depicted leaning on an anchor. She holds Truth by the hand, showing that they must be in close alliance. Truth holds in her hand the Holy Bible as a mirror, whereby sinful men can see the deformity of their hearts. With her right hand she receives the And binds their hearts with his celestial chain. These are Faith's emblems: these its Parents three; To produce Faith, Hope, Truth, and Love agree. overtures of Hope; she tramples under her feet the mask of Hypocrisy; simple and unadorned, she rejects the cloak of dissimulation, and casts aside all concealment. Love holds the middle place, and strengthens the union subsisting between Hope and Truth. Divine Love is drawn with wings to represent her heavenly or igin. Faith is both created and preserved by Hope, Truth, and Love. This |