THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT.

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in the sunny season of the year, than summer Amos, what seest thou? A basket of

fruit?

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summer fruit.”

A good thing it is to know the true meaning of every text in God's holy word; but I hope it is not an unlawful use of Scripture to receive gratefully any pleasant suggestion it may convey that is not opposed to its general spirit and truth; and that I may, without committing an error, follow out such suggestion when it adds as much to my thankfulness as to my joy.

Oh! what goodly baskets of summer fruit are in store for the humble believer! First, there is summer itself, with all its fruits and flowers, its glowing scenes, and golden, glorious skies — all given by the hand of his heavenly Father! Then there are heart-comforting seasons of prayer and praise, wherein a weak worm of the earth is permitted to hold close communion with the mighty God of heaven! Then there is the book of eternal truth,—not the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God,-enlightening the eyes, making wise the simple, converting the soul, and rejoicing the heart, Psa. xix. 7, 8. Then come the ordinances of religion, the means of grace, and the hope of glory through Jesus Christ, with all the precious promises of support through life and death, and an abundant entrance into life eternal.

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THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT.

"Amos, what seest thou? A basket of summer fruit." Ay, and a precious basket it is too; for though in one sense it shadows forth the end of Israel on earth, in another it sets forth, as with a sunbeam, the beginning of Israel in heaven. If you are enabled to consider the subject experimentally, it will be indeed a basket of summer fruit, refreshing to your heart and to your soul.

THE LASKET LANE.

AGAIN do I say it to my sorrow, that a worse road than Lasket Lane it would be very difficult to find. So stony in one part, and so clayey in another; so full of deep ruts, holes, and quagmires, and so beset on each side with straggling brambles, that, take it altogether, it would be, as I said, no easy matter to find a worse road.

Not only is the road bad in itself, but the people who have to do with it seem to take a sort of pride in making it worse. On one side the road lies a gate-post, thrown down so carelessly, that any one unaccustomed to the lane, when driving along in a gig at nightfall, would, in all probability, be overthrown. On the other side, at some distance from the gate-post, is a heap of weeds, not spread about, but piled up as if for the very purpose of doing mischief; while, from the top of the lane to the bottom, large heaps of stones lie in very dangerous positions. They may be broken some day to fill up the ruts, the holes, and the quagmires; but while they lie where they now are, they render Lasket Lane almost impassable.

Some time ago, I had to pass along this lane

on a very stormy day; and though I was on horseback, with a pair of mud boots up to my thighs, and a great coat and Macintosh on my back, still, to get along Lasket Lane was a sad trouble to me. While I was walking my horse cautiously along, holding at the same time an umbrella over my head, I heard a splashing behind me, and in another minute, a countryman, in a smock-frock, mounted on a strong horse, dashed by me, seemingly as light-hearted and as unconcerned as if the weather had been fine, and the Lasket Lane as smooth as a bowling-green.

The countryman had neither umbrella, mud boots, great coat, nor Macintosh cloak; yet on he went, freely and fearlessly, not even thinking that to be a trouble which I had so much difficulty in contending with. As he resolutely splashed onward through the miry lane, I looked after him with a degree of respect; for I felt my own littleness. "There goes my superior!" thought I; and before I had reached the middle of the Lasket Lane, no doubt he was at the end of it.

If you had seen me huddled up on horseback, wrinkling my brow at the stormy weather, and looking anxiously at the wretched road, you would very likely have laughed at me; but had you seen the countryman, you would have regarded him with pleasure. Learn a lesson, then, from us both.

THE LASKET LANE.

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There are many Lasket Lanes in the world, of one kind or other. Rude and rough roads, and deep and dirty quagmires, are to be found in most places; and if there are not these, still there are trials to endure, and difficulties to overcome. Meet them with a good spirit, and be not disheartened by trifling troubles!

Be ashamed of giving way to unnecessary fears; look upward confidently, and go onward boldly. Learn to endure hardness as a faithful soldier of Christ, especially in holy things; for "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God," Luke ix. 62.

Courage in the common affairs of life is a valuable quality, but in spiritual things it is a Christian grace. Let us take courage, then, thinking lightly of our momentary troubles. "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is 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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds," Heb. xii. 1-3.