with her first born to the cold mansions of the dead! At the birth of these devoted victims to divine vengeance, how would the accustomed demonstrations of joy have been changed into mourning, and sackcloth and ashes, had these awful events of futurity been disclosed to their view! Happy for them, happy for us, that they are kept concealed; and the traveller passes on, unconscious what enemy may be lurking in his path, awaiting its commission to attack him.

O how far and how wide did this calamity extend; in what various directions didit cut in sunder, in one hour, the tenderest and the dearest ties of human life, extending its ravages even to the cattle in the field, and evincing to what a degree the whole creation groaneth under the bitter effects of man's rebellion. O! who can stand before God, when once he is angry!' Surely the bereaved and mourning survivors might exclaim of that memorable night, Let darkness seize upon it; let that night be solitary; let the stars

of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day. Such is the language of human woe; such the wailings of the bereaved. But to scenes like these happily we are strangers: such midnight cries have not yet been permitted to disturb our tents, or add to the plagues of the wilderness. ، Therefore we will sing of mercy; unto thee, O Lord, will we sing.'

And now, traveller, having paid the tribute due to suffering humanity, let us withdraw our attention from antient Egypt's mourning and depopulated land; and rather contemplate those scenes that more immediately obtrude on our notice in this desert wilderness, and in which we are more deeply interested. Behold those tents of various structure and dimensions scattered over the plain: some of them barely sheltering their inmates from the stormy blast; some furnished with the comforts, others, with all the luxuries of life they have so lengthened their

cords, and strengthened their stakes, as seems to have set the stormy blast at defiance; while all the appendages of wealth and prosperity hover over them like gay pennons, fluttering in the wind. But should we not quicken our pace, were we told there were few of these tents in which there was not one dead? Should we not be anxious to escape the contagious atmosphere, while scarcely crediting the report. But has death indeed entered these habitations? We hear not the voice of mourning and of wailing; but 'the voice of them that sing do we hear.' And yet they are dead: for those who live in pleasure, are dead while they live.'

I know their works,' says the great Searcher of hearts, 'that they have a name that they live and are dead. And O! how infinitely more terrific is this spiritual death, than that at which human nature stands appalled: yet of how comparatively few of the tents that are spread abroad can it be said, the inmates are all living souls! O! woeful scenes of disease and

death! For the unrenewed sinner is also described as, 'full of wounds, and bruises and putrifying sores.' The whole head is sick; the whole heart is faint.' Traveller, which is your tent? Who, and what are its inmates? is there but one dead among them? Who is that one? Let your heart respond to the solemn enquiry, and say, 'Lord is it I?' Search me, O God, and

try me, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' But if happily there is reason to hope that you have passed from death unto life,' still it behoves you to examine strictly and anxiously your whole character, and general deportment; whether it is in all respects in strict harmony with your profession. Are you conscious of filling up all the various duties of life, in each relation, giving to every one, according to his respective claims, 'good measure, heaped up and running over?' Not imagining, as too many are apt to do, that assiduity and zeal in one direction, will compensate for langour and deficiency in

another. If this should be the case, you resemble one who has a member paralysed, while the rest of his body remains vigorous and healthy. O! how many are seen halting and walking lamely, even in the way to Zion! The diamond, in whatever direction it is turned, appears equally brilliant, equally attractive, nor requires to be placed in a certain position to exhibit its matchless lustre: so should the christian shine; and when the divine principle fully pervades the soul, thus uniformly will he reflect the light he receives from above. May this influence enter our dwellings, quickening each inmate, lest he sleep the sleep of death; and so operating, that all may not only have life, but have it more abundantly.' Blessed, thrice blessed, that earthly abode, where every inmate is spiritually, morally, and socially, alive.