and abundance till it issues in the great and wide receptacle of living waters, leaving behind it whatever drift or defilement may have floated on its surface.

In a good man's house, prayer is the product of every event of the family out of the ordinary course. A journey accomplished; a danger escaped; a birth, a death, a marriage; every infliction, every blessing, every providence, every visitation, every instance in the family history in which God has made known his power by ministering to man's helplessness, or the wayward heart has been recovered by his grace; all these vicissitudes are subjects of commemoration and prayer in the house of one who faithfully follows up his baptismal dedication in a consistent course of practical loyalty and devoted service. The posterns of such a house have the sprinkling of the sacrifice, which denotes its privileges, and preserves it from surrounding contagion. In such a house, the secret is found out of combining seriousness with cheerfulness: service with freedom; duty with delight. Happy home! where prayers are victorious over tears, and trust is too strong for despair; where God is a daily guest, and his angels a nightly guard.

A LEOPARD is said to be fond of looking at himself in a glass. A man, who had heard of this weakness in the animal, had a trap so contrived that when he should come near, he would see himself in a mirror, and thus be induced to enter the trap.

When all was ready it was placed in a forest, where the leopard was known to dwell. After awhile, one came near the trap, and seeing his own image in the mirror, went closer and closer, in the greatest admiration of his own beauty. What a fine yellow hide, have I,' thought he to himself! How beautiful are these black spots, all of them like the print of my own foot! What a fine head I have got, and what a long waving tail!'

Thus he continued to admire himself for a long time; but, at length he touched the spring of the trap, and in an instant he was choked to death. Now, if this story is not altogether true, still, my reader may gather this truth from it, that personal vanity may lead us into danger, and beauty may become a fatal snare.

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PRAYER.

WHAT Various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat!

Yet who, that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there.

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when, through weariness, they failed,
That moment Amalek prevailed.

Have you no words? ah! think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To Heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be,
'Hear what the Lord has done for me.'

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THE BIBLE.

OUR continuance on earth is but for a day. We are rapidly hastening through its busy scenes; the sun of life will soon be set:- the darkness of death settle over all that here occupies our hearts and hands, and our immortal spirits pass into that world from whose bourne no traveller returns. What then is so important to us, as a knowledge of ourselves, of our relation to God, and a future state, and the way in which we may be prepared for the scenes which are so soon to open upon us in another world? Books that help us in the attainment of this knowledge are of inestimable value. They relate to our most important interests, and ought therefore to have the first place assigned them in a course of reading.

Especially must this be said of the BIBLE. This book,

the eldest surviving offspring of the human intellect,' the chosen companion and friend of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and of all the wisest and best men that have ever lived; —this book, that reveals to us the character and will of our great Creator and final Judge; that opens before us the way of salvation through a Redeemer; unveils to our view the invisible world, and shows us the final destiny of our race;

- this book, which God has given expressly to teach us our character, our duty and prospects, which has conducted to heaven all who have entered that happy world, and must conduct us thither, if ever we attain to its blessedness ;- this book ought surely to be held by us in the highest place of honor and respect; to be made the guide of our youth, the companion of our age; our solace and support in all the prosperous and trying passages of life.

Considered merely as a human composition, the Bible is unquestionably the most interesting book on earth. One of the greatest and best of men, I refer to Sir William Jones, a judge of the supreme court of judicature in Bengal, has said of the Bible,— ' I have carefully and regularly perused the Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independent of its divine origin, contains more sublimity, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains of eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever language they may have been written.' Embrace this volume then, my young friend, to your bosom. Let it be a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path. every morning dawn and evening shade, repair to the book

With