nence, precipitous on the south-eastern side, contains, besides the necessary fortifications, a palace built by James II., the remains of an olden palace, a parliament hall, erected by James III., and a chapel royal, built by James vi., all of which unite to form the various sides of a quadrangle. The palace of James v., which overlooks the town, is in a style of architecture remarkably barbarous, being surrounded with grotesquely twisted pillars, and a series of rudely carved figures, most of them mythological, while one represents the royal founder himself. A small court in the interior is called the Lion's Den, in consequence, it is said, of lions having been kept in it for the royal sport.

The view from the walls is splendid, comprehending the beautiful plain or Carse of Stirling, with the Forth winding through it, and the Highland hills in the distance, among which Ben Lomond, Ben Ledi, and Benvovilich, are the most conspicuous, while, towards the east, the scarcely less magnificent summits of the Ochils mingle with the sky. The windings or links of the Forth are a remarkable natural curiosity; in some places they nearly isolate small circular tracts; and so involved altogether are their sinuosities, that the distance, by the river, to the sea, at Alloa, is twenty miles, while the land distance is only seven.

R

THE BOOTH, THE GOURD, AND

THE WORM.

"So Jonah-made him a booth." A booth is not a house. It is neither adapted for security nor permanence. It is built for a temporary purpose; and when that purpose is served, the booth is taken down or left to decay. And "what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." And what is the world? "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment :" "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat: the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up." What then is the world, but a booth? Exactly so are all the plans and executions of time. The boy builds his booth of hopes and expectations: the young man builds his booth of energetic action and performance: the man sits down in his booth of realization. This is all well, while we remember that it is but a booth which we have erected, and not a house, a mansion, a palace, a home ;-while we bear in mind that "here we have no continuing city." A heathen monarch was once congratulated on the extent of his dominions, the stability of his throne, the magnitude of his possessions, the magnificence of his

glory:-" Ah," said he, "but it wants continuance—it wants continuance." Poor man! he had built himself only a booth. We all dwell in booths, and booths that have often to be renewed. The booth of childhood will not serve the purpose of youth; the booth of youth will not answer the expectations of manhood; the booth of manhood will not last to old age; the booth of time is altogether unadapted for eternity. Poor is that man who has only a booth of beads or boughs, or canvass, for a home in this world; and unhappy he who has only the frail possession of time for the wants of eternity.

"And the Lord God prepared a gourd." A booth alone or the mere framework of a booth-is alike cheerless and useless; it forms not even a temporary shelter. But our good and gracious Father does not look with indifference or disdain upon the insignificant structures of our weakness. "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." He takes notice of our booths, and, instead of frowning upon them, and scattering their fragile materials with his breath, he often sees fit to adorn them, strengthen them, and render them pleasant and grateful. He covers our temporary habitations with the thick foliage of prosperity. He winds around them the beautiful tendrils of earthly affections. He "daily loadeth us with benefits," and crowneth us "with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” The sun is not permitted to smite us "by day, nor the moon by night." He gives us the delights of home, and the aids of friendship. Yes, it is HE that does it. Should we build booths, we could not make the gourd grow to cover them. We might put forth all our might, and exhaust all our ingenuity, but in vain. It is HE