the sun is mounting towards his mid-day height, tracing his track, trodden from the foundation of the world, and seen, as he has been seen, in the splendour of an unclouded morn by the countless millions of the human race when busy crowds are careering their way along our avenues of business and pleasure, and their hearts are beating high with hopes of long life and large inheritance

Then shall the heavens thicken with a mighty cloud, and in the twinkling of an eye a trump shall sound, arresting, in the street and in the house, on land and on sea, the thousands of our city, and the millions of our world; and every eye, from pole to pole, shall in an instant turn to gaze upon the portentous signs of an abused or received Redeemer in the air, then shall the hidden dust ascend a great and living congregation from the field of Death, a spectacle to an amazed city, mingling in the rising ruins of the whole family of man-a momentary prelude to the ascension of the living, and the conflagration of the world.

Reader, thou wilt shortly be a tenant in a field of death. In the day of thy soul's reunion to its mouldered body, mayest thou hear thy Saviour say, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

New York.

SPRING.

THE delightful season of spring will soon be here; away with the receding gloom of winter; may it be a spring-time in every Christian, and the most choice and blessed spring-time we have ever yet enjoyed.

Come, let us look to Him who hath said, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it;" and then let us, with earnest prayer, strong faith, holy expectation, and unfailing patience, go forth in the field of the world to "sow beside all waters," to be "instant in season and out of season;" to cast in the good seed of the kingdom; to sow the seed in the morning, and not to withhold our hand in the evening, hearing the great husbandman saying to us, Go, work to-day in my vineyard."

66

Oh, let us not venture to disregard this solemn command,—it may be, it is the last spring we shall be favoured with; the night of death may close in upon our opening prospects; and if we linger in our commencement, another opportunity may not be given. Everything around us is full of change and uncertainty; and they are the only wise labourers who do what it is in the power of their hand while it is called to-day. Ah, with what regret shall we look back upon opportunities neglected in the service of God and souls. May each do much more than we have ever yet done for the Redeemer's cause. We have not yet glorified him to the extent of our talents, whether they be two, five, or ten. Oh that the recollection of our past short comings may lead us to an immediate, and renewed, and entire devotedness of ourselves, time, money, and influence, to the Redeemer. Let us begin afresh, and at once; to be no longer loiterers but labourers; ye are "labourers together with God," in the blessed work of directing the poor soul to the Saviour, and of making known the great salvation.

And how shall we begin to work for the Lord ?What shall we do for him? Let it be something fresh, that we have not engaged in before. There are many new blessed devices to do good in the present day; let us enter into them, and then the Lord may be pleased to open to us some further plans,

and honour our efforts by fresh ones, so that increasing good may be done thereby. A merchant, you know, would rejoice in such a speculation; surely, we should not be behindhand, or backward, to attempt or to expect great things for and from the Lord.

We may not only do something ourselves, but be the means of promoting the energy of others, and increasing their usefulness. I think there are many ministers of the gospel who would rejoice in circulating tracts and bibles, but their limited resources do not allow of their buying any. And this reminds me that the season for out-of-door preaching is coming; and I believe many a minister would be more willing to employ this additional means of making known the gospel, if he were encouraged and cheered by his members in doing so if they went with him, and supplied him with tracts for such services. And I have known that when deacons and members have done this, (and some of our female friends can also help in this way; and some I know have done it, to their praise be it recorded,) a much larger number of persons have attended, especially when they have gone through an alley, or street, or village, an hour or two beforehand, and from house to house, kindly inviting the inhabitants to attend. I now speak of spring only; but summer, too, is coming. Many a fresh village may be visited now, new sabbath-schools opened, and especially should the villages in the vicinity of watering-places be sought out, and visited, by the followers of Jesus, who go thither for health or recreation. I need not enlarge; let us but enter heartily into the work, and we shall find our opportunities increase, our one talent may become two ; and the effort, began, it may be, in weakness, crowned with a blessing, far, far beyond our thoughts and expectations. "Arise, this work

belongeth unto thee;" and the time is short, and very soon we shall rest in heaven;"

"Then they who reap, and they who sow,
Shall everlasting triumphs know."

BROTHERLY LOVE.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Is this true? that all men shall take knowledge of us, that we are God's children, by the love we evince towards each other? Then, alas, how often have we cause to fear that many who profess to be disciples in reality are not so. Surely, if more of this fraternal love was cherished in the Christian's heart, there would not so often be exhibited such bitter animosity towards those who differ from them in minor points: for all classes of Christians agree in the essential doctrines of the gospel. In the time of the apostles and early saints, "Love to the brethren" was the very badge of their profession, and the test of their piety. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."

Would that it could be said of every denomination in the present day, "See how these Christians love one another;" but no, too frequently the language must be changed; and the enemies of religion, who are ever on the alert, are allowed the opportunity of saying, "Behold, how they disagree."

The admonition given by Joseph to his brethren was short, but very emphatic: "See that ye fall not out by the way."

And oh, could the veil be withdrawn which hides the glories of the upper world from our view, and could we for a moment glance at the consummate happiness enjoyed by its inhabitants, how should we

admire the peace which fills every breast, and sits smiling on every brow.

“ While to their golden harps they sing,

And spread the triumphs of their king."

Nor does the echo of discord enter to disturb or

disquiet that peace.

،،

Permit one who is yet a pilgrim on the earth, to appeal to you, oh ye glorified spirits, and ask, is not the ecstatic joy you feel enhanced by the perfect harmony which pervades your blissful realm? Methinks I hear, yes, yes," sweetly warbled from every heart. And well may Christians blush, when they reflect how frequently the tranquillity of their own bosoms is disturbed by their busy interference with others, because they walk not with them precisely in the same road to heaven. Are they not all one family?-brothers and sisters in Christ?

Let brotherly love be cherished and extended to all who "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." And henceforth may we

،، One in heart, in interest, and design,
Gird up each other in the grace divine."

SELINA.

NOVELS AND THE BIBLE.

I HAPPENED one morning to take up one of Sir W. Scott's best novels, and, for want of something else to do, turned over its leaves carelessly, until, before I was aware, I began to feel a deep interest in the fate of certain characters, and then, of course, began to read in good earnest. The incidents and adventures of that novel kept me alive with anxiety the whole of that day. I laughed with those who laughed, and wept with those who wept. Every feeling of my