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better for me to die than to live? I do well to be angry, even unto death."-Or shall we say with Eli, It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good" ?— and with the confiding prophet, " Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail-yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation"?

Youthful Reader! whoever you may be, you are now building your booth; you will, perhaps, be permitted to build many before your life shall close ;-but take a caution or two from a fellow-builder. Remember, in the first place, that they are booths, and nothing but booths, which you build. They will not last for ever; but you will live for ever; they are, therefore, not adapted to be your home. There is " a building of God; an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," to which you ought to be looking for a permanent habitation when your "earthly house of this tabernacle" is dissolved. There is a building, too, which must be raised in this world, and the erection of which is of infinitely greater importance than that of the best booth in the world; and which, therefore, demands a far larger share of your attention. The materials are faith, repentance, and love; and the foundation and corner-stone is Jesus Christ. Build with these materials on that foundation, and you will have a "strong habitation," whereunto you may "continually resort;" and it will matter but little what becomes of your booths.

You will have gourds. Be thankful for them; but remember that they will be gourds. They cannot last very long; they may suddenly wither. Should they

thus wither, do not charge God foolishly; but learn to profit by the stroke. Neither be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, but believe that other gourds may yet arise in the room of those that are gone.

There will be a worm to every gourd. The worm may not smite-will not-cannot smite the gourd until the commission be given; and then, it certainly will. But when it does, remember who it is that prepared the worm, and "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

There will be neither booth, nor gourd, nor worm in heaven. Instead of the booth, will be your Father's house; instead of the gourd, will grow the tree of life; and instead of the worm, there will be "fulness of joy” -and "pleasures for evermore."

S.

HEAVEN.

THERE'S a land where sorrow and conflict cease, And faithful men from their labours rest; Where saints exult in an endless peace,

And the gentle are safe, and the good are bless'd.

It has fairer bowers than Eden knew,

It has lovelier scenes than the earth contains:
And a purer light than this ether blue
Sheds a heavenly charm o'er the happy plains.

But it is not the ray so pure and bright,
Nor the bowers which flourish in endless bloom,
Shall yield me my dearest and best delight
In the home that I look for beyond the tomb.

'Tis a land of goodness and heavenly love, Land of the Lamb, and the Holy Dove; Faction and hate cannot ever rise

To that region fair, above yon skies.

And there, my Saviour and King, thou art,
In thy perfect joy and thy glorious power;
And to see thee, and love thee, shall fill my heart
With an age of bliss in a single hour.

There, too, I shall see the good and wise,
And I shall be wise and good as they ;
How I wish to share in their ample joys!
How I long from this world to soar away!

Here the wise are weak, and the poor are sad,
And the bigot laughs, and the proud have sway,
And the good are often the prey of the bad :
Oh! I long from this world to soar away!

Sweet land of goodness and heavenly love,
Land of the Lamb and the Holy Dove,

It will not be long ere my spirit free

Shall burst from its chain, and shall rise to thee.

And now, my Saviour, my best beloved,

Who hast pardoned oft, hough I oft have roved, Accept and seal my fervent vow,

With my heart and soul will I serve thee now.

And when to that world I shall go from this,
And see thee in glory, and share thy bliss,
When saints and angels before thee fall,
Oh may I love thee the best of all !

HON. AND REV. B. NOEL.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.