POETRY. expected and what the children of God look forward to; but in one circumstance there is a material difference. If she met at home with all that her imagination so fondly represents to her, she cannot be certain of its continuance for a day or even an hour. How soon may sorrow, how soon may death enter her happy home! How soon might she be deprived of those whose society makes it home to her; how soon may she herself be snatched from them! But it is the happiness of the inheritors of the heavenly home that it is unchangeable and eternal. Eternity is connected with every idea of heaven it is included in the very name. If the saints in bliss could imagine that at the end of ever such a number of years, thousands of thousands, their happiness would cease—it would be no longer heaven to them. Eternity is one of the chief ingredients of their felicity. The duration of their happiness, as well as its extent, surpasses the imagination of man to conceive. Does this home then remain? and are we so cold and dead in our desires after it? Are our affections so chained down to earth that we do not long for wings to soar above it; to stand like Moses on the mount and view the promised land, that glorious inheritance, that Happy Home? Poetry. THE VANITY OF EARTHLY AMBITION. "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world ?"-Matt. xvi. 26. WHAT though thy head a crown of gold should wear, Thy body in most gorgeous robes appear; Thy only guests be lords, and dukes, and earls, And all thy path through life be strewn with pearls ? Was humbly laid in honour at thy feet; And if thy years on earth should be prolonged Ten thousand times ten thousand, and beyond? And all creation left alone to thee? Pray thinkest thou, vain man, that even this That leads from earth to heaven, from sin to God. J.E POETRY. THE BREVITY OF LIFE. BY FRANCIS QUARLES. Behold How short a span Was long enough of old, To measure out the life of man! In those well-tempered days, his life was then Surveyed, cast up, and found but three-score years and ten. Alas! And what is that? They come, and slide, and pass, The posts of time are swift, which having run, Begun, we lend To sleep, to antic plays, And toys, until the first stage end: Twelve waning moons, twice five times told, we give A ten years' breath What 'tis to live or fear a death! Our childish dreams are filled with painted joys, Which please our sense awhile, and waking prove but toys. How vain How wretched is Poor man that doth remain A slave to such a state as this! His days are short, at longest; few, at most; On wheels more swift than eagle's wings; Our life's a clock, and every gasp of breath Breathes forth a warning grief, till time shall strike a death. How soon Our new born light Attains a full-aged moon! And this, how soon to gray-haired night! We spring, we bud, we blossom, and we blast, Ere we can count our days, our days they flee so fast. They end When scarce begun; And ere we apprehend That we begin to live, our life is done. Man, count thy days; and if they fly too fast For thy dull thought to count, count every day thy last. ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. Anecdotes, Selections, and Gems. Anecdotes. I TWO NEIGHBOURS AND THE HENS.-A man in New Jersey told me the following circumstances respecting himself and one of his neighbours :-"I once owned a large flock of hens. I generally kept them shut up. But, one spring, I concluded to let them run in my yard, after I had clipped their wings; so they could not fly. One day, when I came home to dinner, I learned that one of my neighbours had been there, full of wrath, to let me know my hens had been in his garden, and that he had killed several of them, and thrown them over into my yard. I was greatly enraged because he had killed my beautiful hens, that I valued so much. determined at once to be revenged, to sue him, or in some way get redress. I sat down and ate my dinner as calmly as I could. By the time I had finished my meal, I became more cool, and thought perhaps it was not best to fight with my neighbour about the hens, and thereby make him my bitter, lasting enemy. I concluded to try another way, being sure it would be better. After dinner I went to my neighbour's. He was in his garden. I went out, and found him in pursuit of one of my hens, with a club, trying to kill it. I accosted him. He turned upon me, his face inflamed with wrath, and broke out in a great fury'You have abused me. I will kill all your hens, if I can get at them. I never was so abused. My garden is ruined.' 'I am very sorry for it,' said I, 'I did not wish to injure you, and now see that I made a great mistake in letting out my hens. I ask your forgiveness, and am willing to pay you six times the damage.' The man seemed confounded. He did not know what to make of it. He looked up at the sky-then down at the earth-then at his neighbour-then at his club-and then at the poor hen he had been pursuing, and said nothing. 'Tell me,' said I, what is the damage, and I will pay you six-fold; and my hens ́shall trouble you no more. I will leave it entirely to you to say what I shall do. I cannot afford to lose the love and good will of my neighbours, and quarrel with them, for hens, or anything else.' 'I am a great fool!" said my neighbour. 'The damage is not worth talking about; and I have more need to compensate you than you me, and to ask your forgiveness than you mine."" The THE BLACK COOK AND THE MATE.-A poor coloured man shipped on board a vessel in the capacity of cook. He was a christian, and one who did not hide his piety from others. officers and crew soon discovered his character. He was immediately made the butt of ridicule. Everything that malicious ingenuity could invent was resorted to, in order to irritate him and impel him to some unchristian act. He received it all with chris ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. tian meekness, returning only blessings for "despiteful usage." No one was more violently opposed to him on account of his piety than the mate. Every time the mate came near him, the poor cook was sure to be addressed in tantalizing, insulting language. The mate was an awful blasphemer. No oaths were too bad for him to utter. On one occasion, when a violent storm was raging, he indulged this wicked propensity in the most revolting manner. As one of the most dreadful imprecations fell from his lips, he himself was startled! he paused-he thought within himself, suppose the Almighty were to answer that profane imprecation and send me to hell, how wretched would be my condition. This thought followed him. It was a thorn in his soul. It led to the recollection of other sins, until his whole life presented itself before him, filled with iniquity. He was in deep distress. He knew not what to do. He went below in a part of the vessel where were some chips and rubbish, and there falling upon his knees begged for mercy. He thought of the pious cook whom he had so often ridiculed. “He, perhaps, can show me the way of peace. He can lead me to the Saviour. He can tell me what I must do to obtain pardon. Shall I go to him?" His pride opposed it; still he felt that he must do it. Though it required a struggle, and humbled him in the dust, yet he went-disclosed his agony of soul to the poor black cook, and received from him that direction and encouragement which resulted in his hopeful conversion. Selections. THE CHRISTIAN IN HEAVEN.-In heaven, the believer ceases from all that is laborious in the duties, and painful in the exercises of religion. His term of probation is expired; his course is finished; the conflict is over; the victory is won. He has no further need to mourn over his ignorance, ingratitude, and rebellion; to struggle with the evil passions and corrupt propensities of his wicked and deceitful heart; to resist the allurements of the world, and the more wily temptations of satan; to believe, even in opposition to the dictates of sense and carnal reason; and patiently to endure the necessary chastisements of the Divine hand. Afflicting remembrances, self-examination, earnestly wrestling with God in prayer, a habit of constant self-denial, and daily strivings against sin and unbelief, are unknown in the abodes of the blessed. The wailing of confession is exchanged for the song of thanksgiving; the dim and distant discoveries of faith, for the open vision of eternal realities; and the pantings of desire after the Chief Good, for the full enjoyment of his presence, and the contemplation of his excellencies. "The former things have passed away." The believer no longer traverses this "great and terrible wilderness, wherein are fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought," but inherits his lot in the celestial Canaan, plucks the fruit of the tree of life, breathes a pure and life-inspiring atmosphere, and walks beneath the splendors of a cloudless sky. ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. ETERNITY.—We cannot think of Eternity seriously without being solemn. There is a solemnity in the word. There is something about eternity which concerns us all. We are all bound to eternity, and how fast are we hastening to it. How soon will our fate be sealed for ever. Every day we live leaves one day less that we have to live. How important it is that we prepare for it in season, while we have time, before it be eternally too late. Oh what a thought! to be cast off for ever, to be banished from the presence of God and the holy angels, and how short a time we have to prepare for a never-ending eternity. How engaged we ought to live in this short life. How it becomes us as followers of Christ to set good examples before the world, that they may know that we have been with Christ, and are by faith in him prepared for Eternity. Gems. HOLINESS IN CHRISTIANS.-I am every day more impressed with the conviction that holiness in christians will do more for religion than any thing else. We look around and expect to see converts multiplied, but our own hearts must first be purified and our deportment be as become:h the gospel of Christ. REPROOF.-The reproof of a good man resembles fuller's earth; it not only removes the spots from our character, but it rubs off when it is dry. A TENDER CONSCIENCE.-Some think that a tender conscience is a weak one, but it is a sign of their weakness who think so. THE TRUTH.-Keep the truth, and the truth will keep thee. Facts and Hints. ON LISTENING TO EVIL REPORTS.-The longer I live, the more I feel the importance of adhering to the rule which I had laid down for myself in relation to such matters:-"1. To hear as little as possible of whatever is to the prejudice of others. 2. To believe nothing of the kind till I am absolutely forced to it. 3. Never to drink in the spirit of one who circulates an ill report. 4. Always to moderate, as far as I can, the unkindness which is expressed towards others. 5. Always to believe that, if the other side were heard, a very different account would be given of the matter." SABBATH SPENDTHRIFTS.-lt is calculated that the London pleasuregoers spend on Sundays throughout the year in the adjacent villages, the enormous sum of one million three hundred thousand pounds-chiefly spent in riding and drinking! HINTS TO PARENTS.-The fountains of the heart by being imbued with kindly feelings at their very opening, may pour forth in their vigorous stages a stream of universal benevolence. If you desire the real and lasting happiness of your children, teach them obedience and self-restraint. They will not be likely to obey God if they do not obey you. We never knew a scolding person that was able to govern a family. What makes people scold? Because they cannot govern themselves. How, then, can they govern others? Those who govern well, are generally calm. They are prompt and resolute, but steady and mild. It is in childhood that example exerts its greatest power for good or evil |