This is an apt emblem of the dan- | elevated the station a man holds in society, the more responsibility he is under both to God and man. He is also exposed to more dangers and temptations. Envy, that hates the excellence she can not reach, will carp at him, and slander shoot her poisoned arrows at him. Happiness seldom dwells with greatness, nor is safety the child of wealth and honors. "But he that humbleth himself-in due time-shall be exalted."

ger attending upon high stations, and of the security afforded in the less elevated walks of life. It is calculated to damp the ardor of ambition, of at least that ambition that seeks to be great only that self may be enriched, or vanity gratified.

A striking instance of the danger of great

This kind of greatness is, indeed, the most dangerous, and the most uncertain. It is sure to be a mark for others, equally aspiring and unprincipled, to shoot at; while the possessor of this greatness, not being protected by the shield of conscious in-ness may be found in the fall of Cardinal tegrity, falls to rise no more, and the flatterers and dependents being no longer able to enrich themselves, unite in trampling under foot the man they formerly delighted to honor. Love is not an evil of itself, neither is ambition; they may both be expended on worthless or sinful objects. Let the youth seek out a proper object for the lofty aspirings of the Boul; let him learn to direct them by the providence and word of God. True greatness consists in goodness; in being useful to mankind. Those individuals usually called great have been the destroyers, not the benefactors of our race. A private station is as much a post of honor as the most elevated. Indeed, properly speaking, there are no private stations; every man is a public man, and equally interested with others in the welfare and progress of his fellows. The lowly reed is as perfect in its kind as the lofty oak, and answers equally

the end of its creation.

It is true, however, that the more

Wolsey. This ambitious man lived in the reign of Henry VIII, king of England. He was that monarch's favorite minister. He is said to have been "insatiable in his acquisi tions, but still more magnificent in his expenses; of great capacity, but still more unbounded in enterprise; ambitious of power, but still more ambitious of glory." He suc ceeded-he was raised to the highest pinnacle; but he fell under the displeasure of the king The inventory of his goods being taken, they were found to exceed the most extravagant surmises. Of fine holland, there were found eleven hundred pieces; the walls of his palace were covered with cloth of gold and silver; he and all the rest of his riches and furniture had a cupboard of plate, all of massy gold; were in the same proportion, all of which were converted to the use of the king A bill of indictment was preferred against him: be was ordered to resign the great seal, and to depart from his palace. Soon after, he was arrested for high treason, and commanded to be conducted to London to take his trial.

When he arrived at Leicester Abbey, he was

taken sick-men said he poisoned himself he expired, he said to the officer who guarded him: "O, had I but served my God as faithfully as I have served my king, he would not have forsaken me in my gray hairs." He died shortly after, in all the pangs of remorse, and left a life rendered miserable by his unbounded ambition for greatness.

His disorder increased. A short time before

ering ruins, among thickest shades, | rance of wicked men in supposing where the toad finds a shelter, and themselves concealed because they can the serpent hisses-this is their favor- not see. It is related of the ostrich, ite dwelling-place; while the gay lark, that she covers her head only with high mounting, pours forth his praises reeds, and because she can not see to the solar king. He is gladdened herself, thinks she is hid from the by his beams, and welcomes his ap- eye of her pursuers. Thus it is with proach with all the melody of song. the workers of iniquity in the nightThou, O Lord, makest darkness, time; they may indeed be hid from and it is night, wherein all the beasts the sleeping eyes of mortals, but the of the forest do creep forth. The ever-wakeful eye of Jehovah looks sun ariseth; they gather themselves full upon them. When they say, together, and lay them down in their

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dens."

"Surely the darkness shall cover me.' even then "the night is light" all The engraving is emblematical of around them. "Clouds and darkness guilt; for happy would it be for man-are round about Him;" they are Je kind, were the beasts of prey and hovah's habitation, therefore what is birds of night the only disturbers of mistaken for a covering is the presthe world's repose-the only destroy-ence-chamber of the Holy God, who ers that walk abroad in darkness."compasseth thy path, and thy lying down, and who is acquainted with all

Alas!

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-When night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine."

Then, too, the robber goes forth to
perpetrate his deeds of violence and
rapine; then, too, the adulterer, and
kindles a fire that will burn to the
lowest hell; and shrouded in the
mantel of night, the man of blood
stalks forth, and works his deeds of
death.

In this way, man, made in the image of God, becomes allied to the most malignant part of the brute creation, companions and co-workers with them. What degradation! Alas, alas! how are the mighty fallen!

Look again at the folly and igno

ways."

Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Be patient in tribulation. Rom. xii: 12.-An example of suf

wrongs, upon whose shoulders is laid a heavy burden of grievous outrages, and who is incapacitated, by the force of circumstances, from extricating herself; at the same time, she discovers that she has not yet drank the full cup of her woes. Other evils lie in prospect before her.

that "light is sown for the right eous." The seed of deliverance is already in the ground; the crop is not far distant; we shall reap if we faint not.

The conduct of Job affords the most perfect example of patience. Despoiled of his worldly property, his children taken from him at a stroke, his body tormented with one of the most painful and loathsome diseases, distressed by the foolish in

his professed friends; yet his patient soul triumphed over all. Still clinging to God, his Rock, he exclaimed, exultingly, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

One, who, instead of receiving the commiseration and assistance of her neighbors in the season of adversity, is assailed with the venom of the slanderer, the malice of the back-fidelity of his wife, and slandered by biter, and the wickedness of the incendiary; but who, in the midst of her sufferings, refuses to complain. Though cast down, persecuted, and perplexed, she yields not in despair. With lamb-like meekness, she arms her breast, and possesses her soul in patience. All sustaining hope_imparts new strength to her spirits; she commits herself to God, who judgeth righteously; and looking to God for grace to enable her to endure till he shall send deliverance, calmly awaits the issue.

Wicked and unreasonable men abound in the world, and the path of duty is often beset with present difficulties and dangers; yet it ends where all Is easy and delightful. Let no one recede from the path of duty, nor tamely yield to despair. We may be tempted to fiee, like the prophet Jonah, from our proper work; like Joshua, we may throw ourselves on the ground, and exclaim, despondingly, "Alas, O Lord God!" Like David, we may say, "I shall perish by the hand of Saul;" or like Elijah, the fearless advocate of truth, say inquiringly, "What good shall my life do me?" Yet let us remember

In your patience, possess ye your souls. Luke, xri: 19.-Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. James, v: 7.

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering af fliction and of patience. James, v: 10.

Let us run with patience the race. set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. xi: 1, 2.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James, i: 2, 3, 4.