the mingled oaths and prayers, the fervent petitions and frantic ravings of the bewildered throng in momentary expectation of overwhelming destruction.

Now these are trying times, and they bring to light whether we have been building on the sands or on the rock. It is in vain to deceive ourselves with false hopes, trusting to the strength of our minds and the influence of reason over us, for these things will no more support us in such seasons than a leaky boat will preserve us in a storm. There is

no cure for the sorrows of earth, save the wellgrounded hope of the joys of heaven. If, when we part with our friends here, we have the assurance that we shall meet them hereafter, it will go far to mitigate our grief, and if, when we are tost in the storm that threatens us and all around us with destruction, we can put our confidence in him who said to the troubled ocean, "Peace, be still," Mark iv. 39, then only will our souls be sustained in peace.

THE TWO BUSTS.

NEVER affect knowledge in that about which you know nothing. By acting contrary to this advice,

you may pass for a person of discernment one moment, and be overwhelmed with confusion the next.

I will not undertake to answer for the truth of the tale, but it is said that a stranger once went into the study of a statuary, where two busts were standing; one, he was told, was the resemblance of the murderous Greenacre, and the other that of the benevolent Howard.

For some time he gazed on the figures, observing in one all the ruffian qualities of a murderer, and as distinctly tracing in the other all the amiable virtues of a philanthropist. Long and loud were his praises in commendation of the sculptor who had succeeded in depicting so faithfully and forcibly the lineaments of virtue and vice. All passed off remarkably well, until the discriminating stranger, by one of his remarks, made it appear too plainly that he had mistaken one bust for the other: that in which he had admired virtue was the likeness of Greenacre; and the other in which he had abhorred vice, was the resemblance of the philanthropist.

If we are in the mood to profit, we may get good from the narration given. Who is there that has not credit for more wisdom than he possesses ? With many it is a favourite object to appear wiser than others; and with most of us it is easy to be proud, but very hard to be humble.

A HINT TO A NEIGHBOUR ON

INDIGESTION.

As you are troubled with indigestion, taking medicine, and leading a weary life of it, now better for a season, and then again worse than ever, I will prescribe for you. Experience is an excellent physician; take then my recipe. You are welcome to it, though it is invaluable.

Look less to the food you eat, and more to the temper and frame of mind in which you eat it.

Instead of getting much physic into your stomach, get a little thankfulness into your heart, and you will soon see what will become of your indigestion. The love of God shed abroad in the heart helps the temper; a good temper helps the appetite; a good appetite helps the stomach; and a good stomach assists the digestion.

So long as you are under the dominion of fear, anger, hurry, care, grief, ill-temper, or any bad passion, you may live in vain on the wings of larks, the thighs of woodcocks, and the breasts of partridges. Nothing will suit your digestion; the tender will become tough, and the light will lie heavy on your stomach.

Let love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,

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goodness, abide and abound in your heart. Obtain this spirit, eat your food under its influence, and get often into the fresh air; and, take my word for it, you will ere long be able to eat toasted cheese and barm dumplings with impunity.

THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT.

WHERE is the Bible reader in the whole world who has not occasionally found, when reading the word of God, an unusual fulness, significancy, and sweetness in texts which he has read over a hundred times without emotion! Sometimes too, the words suggest to the mind comfortable thoughts which appear to have little or no connexion with the true meaning of the text. A case of this kind occurred to me yesterday, as I read the words, " And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit," Amos viii. 2.

Now the basket of summer fruit seems in the prophecy to set forth the approaching end of Israel; but it communicated to my mind joyous feelings, and delightful anticipations. "Summer fruit," seemed the symbol of coming mercies and blessings about to be enjoyed. What more pleasant to the

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THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT.

eye, what more grateful to the taste, in the sunny season of the year, than summer fruit? "Amos, what seest thou? A basket of 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. "Amos, what seest thou? A basket of summer fruit." Ay, and a precious basket it is too; for though in one sense it shadows