serve excellently well for order and distinction, as the titles upon the drawers in the shop of an apothecary; but they see not the highest wisdom of God in the creation, till they discover the spiritual through the natural world, which no glass but that of the Scripture will enable them to do.-Jones.

A SPEAKING HEART.

MEN, in educated society, are so commonly the creatures of habit, that their words very frequently take precedence of their thoughts, and they express themselves in certain forms of phraseology which they find ready-made for the purpose; but children and savages usually think out their remarks, and, consequently, speak with considerable graphic power, or, in other words, convey forcibly the ideas that are passing through their minds, leaving the words to take care of themselves. Thus, I have heard the sudden discharge of fire-arms described as the "shout of a gun," and the running down of an alarum, as the “clock a-laughing." The negroes in our colonies use similarly expressive terms, and especially when the mind is powerfully exercised by religious feelings. Their prayers, though remarkably homely in diction, have usually so much of heart-work in them, as to impart unwonted vigor and freshness to these rude but acceptable services. It is no uncommon thing to find them communing with their own spirits in some such words as these: "How stands the heart? ah! how stands the heart? him like a well without a cover,-all filthy thing fall in: him like a bottle in the sea,—up and down, up and down,—no steady, but all up and down, up and down." Phrases of this kind, however simple the language, mean something; and we had rather hear such petitions uttered in sincerity, than listen to the most eloquent and finished orations when the head or the lip only is engaged, and the spirit remains unfruitful,

THE RIGHT EYE.

M. S.

'On this condition, I will make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes.' 1 Samuel xi. 2.

The shield which the soldier carried concealed the left eye; to destroy the right eye, therefore, was to render him useless, as well as to stamp on him the most degrading mark of slavery.

R. C.

GOD SOUGHT AND FOUND EARLY.

It is one of the strongest proofs of the truth of our holy religion, that its belief and hopes are cherished not merely by those who have after long trial experienced that all here is "vanity and vexation of spirit," but also by many in the morning of life, when earthly hopes and pleasures are sweetest and most enticing. Often to the comfort and encouragement of his people has God ordained praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. A pleasing instance of this will be found in the following short account of the last days of a beloved daughter.

She was, like most young persons, of a thoughtless disposition. The history of her earliest years sufficiently showed that she bore the image of the first Adam. She was amiable, indeed, and affectionate, dutiful to her parents, and a general favourite among her acquaintances and playmates. Having from infancy had religious truth instilled into her mind, she was always reverent in public and family devotions, and possessed a knowledge of Scripture greatly beyond her years. Yet the precious seed that had been sown in her heart seemed to lie long under the clod without producing the fruit of faith. Alternately, indeed, hopes and fears were raised in the anxious hearts of her parents. When about nine years of age she was much impressed by a sermon on 2 Cor. v. 17, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ;" and spoke frequently to a pious servant about it. Sometime afterwards, on returning from witnessing a public procession, having been seriously affected with the foolish gaiety of the spectacle, she remarked to a friend, that to some who were there, and not thinking of it, God might be saying, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." These, and similar circumstances, were indications that the Spirit of God was at work in her soul, yet "childhood and youth are vanity," and her thoughtless conduct often caused fears lest her goodness should have been but as the morning cloud which quickly vanisheth.

When about eleven years of age it pleased her heavenly Father to afflict her with an alarming complaint in the chest. After some weeks' confinement to bed, she so far recovered as to be able to go about a little; but her naturally tender constitution had received so severe a shock that it was feared her time on earth would be but short. The physician recommended change of air; and, accordingly, as soon as it was thought she could safely stand the journey, she was removed to the country, to reside with her grandfather and aunt. The change seemed, for a while, to have had the desired effect, and her friends flattered themselves she would yet be spared with them. Their hopes were, however, soon destroyed, A second attack, more violent than

N

the first, soon prostrated her feeble frame, and her case was pronounced by the medical attendant to be hopeless. Her parents were hastily sent for to see her die. On their arrival, they found her better than she had been for some days, but in a state of so great weakness that they could hold but little conversation with her. During her stay in K-, her grandfather had been much pleased with her marked reverence and attention at family worship and in the house of God, but she had not opened her mind to him on the state of her soul. For a short time she maintained the same reserve towards her parents, but this gradually diminished as her end approached.

It is a proof of the compassionate tenderness of our Father in heaven, that he never pours unmingled sorrow into his children's cup; but while he afflicts, he also comforts; he causes them to sing of mercy and of judgment, and generally, as in the present case, he causes the joy greatly to exceed the sorrow. It was a painful trial to behold a beloved child, after writhing long under severe bodily distress, at last taken from them by death, but this anguish was not to be compared with the indescribable joy connected with the firm belief of her having made the most blessed exchange of earth for heaven,-of the society of her dear friends here, for the fellowship of her glorious Redeemer, and that adoring throng of angels and just men made perfect, who are rejoicing in the supreme bliss of the heavenly country.

She was often seized with severe attacks of the palpitation which weakened her greatly, but which generally left her for a while in a calm and easy state. It was after one of these that the following conversation took place. Her father approaching her bed, asked, "Do you think yourself dying, Isabella?" With some emotion she answered, "Yes." "Have you any fears at the prospect of death?" "Some." "Why?" "I did not seek Christ as I should have done." "But what is the only ground of your hope?" "Christ's death." "Have you any message to your sister or brothers?" "Tell them," she replied with earnestness, "to seek Christ early, and not to wait till they turn ill;" this she said twice. He asked if she had anything else to say, thinking perhaps she might wish some farewell gift to be given from her, but her concern was for their souls, and she answered, "Tell them not to play on the Sabbath as they used to do." "Are you willing to leave your father and mother?" "Yes." you going, do you think?" "To be with Christ." "Would you wish to return again to the world?" "O no! I am going to a better place. To depart and be with Christ is far better."

"Where are

It was most delightful to witness her mild submission under her distressing complaint. Few hasty words escaped her lips, and when

in the extremity of her pain they sometimes did, she afterwards spoke of it with grief. On one occasion, while suffering acutely under a severe attack of the palpitation, her mother was sympathising with her, when with difficulty she meekly said, "It is not too much; he will not suffer me to be tried above what I am able to bear." Her father, anxious to see if she possessed one special characteristic of the people of God,-grief for past sin, one day said to her, "Are you not now sorry, Isabella, for the many things you did wrong?" She answered, "Yes; I neglected many precious opportunities and good advices, but I have been called at the eleventh hour." At another time she said, “I was very careless before my present distress; I was too fond of the world." To her mother one evening she said, "I was not able to be at church last Sabbath." it was replied, "You will get another church soon." "Yes," she added, "It is aye (ever) Sabbath there." Her father said, "There remaineth a rest, the keeping of a Sabbath." "Yes," she said, "for the people of God." "Are you, think you, among this class?" "I trust I am, through Jesus Christ the Mediator."

In this spirit of lively hope she waited her end, which rapidly drew near. She was of a timid disposition, and it was surprising as well as comforting to her friends to behold the fortitude with which she viewed the approach of death. She seemed so much taken up with the glory of Immanuel's land, as entirely to overlook the dark valley that lay between. The day before her death she said to her mother, her countenance beaming as if she already felt that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory, "I never felt happier than I have been this after

noon."

Though often sorely tossed before, her end was calm and peaceful, and she seemed to retain her faculties to the last. When her sorrowing friends had collected to witness her departure, her grandfather repeated a part of the 45th Psalm. He unwittingly passed over two lines; in a low whisper she immediately put them in,

"Her fellow virgins following,

Shall unto thee be brought."

These were the last words she spoke. Soon after, her redeemed soul left this vale of tears, and joined the company of her fellow virgins who have been brought into the palace of the King.

Christian parents-you are travailing in birth till Christ be formed in the souls of your offspring. They are still thoughtless and unconcerned, or they appear so. Let this only cause you to double your diligence with them, and your earnestness at a throne of grace. Let

faith be exercised; "the promise is to you and to your children.” "Cast your bread upon the waters, and you will find it though it may be after many days.”

Dear young friends—this was written for you. Think of the importance of salvation, and remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Attend to this dying child's solemn advice to her companions"Seek Christ early, and do not wait till you turn ill." O be not so foolish as to suppose religion will make you melancholy and unhappy, and is only fit for a sick bed or a death bed. On the contrary, it is the only thing which can make you happy. It has the promise of the life that now is and also of that which is to come. You must soon come to die, and what will you do if you have to tread the dark valley of the shadow of death without Christ's presence, without his rod and staff comforting you. You must have him now or you cannot have him then. Hear his kind welcome to all, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."

"OUR OBSCURE PLANET."

THERE is nothing inconsistent with reason in supposing, that some one particular part of the universe should be chosen out of the rest, as a theatre on which the great Author of all things would perform his most glorious works. Every empire that has been founded in this world, has had some one particular spot where those actions were performed whence its glory has arisen. The glory of the Cæsars was founded, on the event of a battle fought near a very inconsiderable city: and why not this world, though less than 25000 miles in circumference, be chosen as the theatre on which God would bring about events that should fill his whole empire with glory and joy? It would be as reasonable to plead the insignificance of Actium, or Agincourt, as an objection to the competency of the victories there obtained, (supposing them to have been on the side of righteousness,) to fill the respective empires of Rome and Britain with glory, as that of our world to fill the whole empire of God with matter of joy and everlasting praise. The truth is, the comparative dimension of our world is of no account. it be large enough for the accomplishment of events which are sufficient to occupy the minds of all intelligences, that is all that is required.-Fuller.

If