our delight our wills will be moulded into submission to His: thoughts of His words, His works, His ways, will be most congenial to our tastes; we shall ever be anxious to spread His name, and communicate to others the profits we have received from thus surrendering our all to Him. When the heart is given up to God, it is as it were in a safe place; Satan has no power to hurt it-outward trials and perplexities cannot disturb its peace; "his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." But the road to heaven is not strewed with roses alone, there are also many thorns. "If any will follow me," says the Saviour, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Great self-denial is requisite; many are the inward conflicts and outward temptations of the Christian; but infinitely do the promises of consolation to those who thus forsaking themselves look alone to Christ, overbalance the dangers and difficulties of the way. As proofs of this, I need only mention the following striking texts:—" In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Psalm xxxvii. 4, 5.—xxxiv. 22. cxxv. 1.-2 Sam. xxii. 31.- Prov. iii. 5, 6, &c. But alas! how blind is man, how liable to be drawn aside from the narrow way. It would be deeply felt as a want of confidence by an earthly friend, of whose interest in our welfare we have had continual and incontrovertible proof, if, when we needed advice, or sough consolation, we should pass him unheeded by, and open our hearts to a stranger: but how often is the "Friend of sinners" treated thus? In the time of trial every earthly delight is tried, every earthly source is drained, in the hope of finding peace and comfort, far beyond their power to impart.

"The sovereign Father, good and kind,
Wants but to have his child resigned;
Wants but thy yielded heart-no more-
With his rich gifts of grace to store.
He to thy soul no anguish brings,—
From thy own stubborn will it springs;
That foe but crucify (thy bane),

Naught shalt thou know of frowns or pain."

It is in the time of temptation alone that it can be proved, whether the heart be indeed devoted to God. Many are the examples given in the word of God of those who sought him with their

whole heart, and lived in habitual dependance on his wisdom and goodness. I need but recall to your minds the names of David, who said, "I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord, than dwell in the tents of wickedness ;"-of Daniel, who seven times a day called on his God;"-of Moses, "who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"-of Samuel," who from his earliest youth was devoted to God;"—of Solomon, who pronounced every thing here to be but "vanity and vexation of spirit." And can we with such examples, exhortations, and promises before us, draw away our hearts from him who so affectionately demands them in the text? Shall we not rather pray, that the " dearest idol we have known" may be removed, the fondest hopes we have cherished blighted, rather than stand in competition with the love we should bear our Saviour; and that, if necessary, we may be thus led to "cleave unto him with full purpose of heart."

It is an oft repeated maxim-" delay is dangerous;”— -never more so than in eternal concerns. Felix heard and trembled, but said, "Go thy way for this time, at a more convenient season I will call for thee;" but we never read of that season arriving. The young are as fragile as the old-the present is only theirs. But even could they be sure of a lengthened existence, will it afford any more real happiness in the retrospection, that, instead of all, only a small portion of their days had been devoted to God? -experience shews to the contrary. How many in the decline of life have deeply lamented not having devoted their youth to God! There are many promises in scripture to those who early seek the Lord;—he says, "I love them that love me; and those who seek me early shall find me," &c.

What is it claims thy wavering heart below,

And makes thee let thy choicest blessings flow;
Ties all thy best affections to this clod,
Leaves but a portion small to rise to God?

Is it a tender parent who has proved,
By gone-by days how dearly thou art loved;
Brother or sister who in early youth,
Guided thy footsteps in the paths of truth ;-
Husband or offspring, who are closely twined,
By tenderest ties around thy ardent mind ;-

Is it a bosom friend thou long hast tried,
Whom trouble drew but closer to thy side?
All these may claim thy love-and all impart
Earth's sweetest rills of comfort to thy heart,-
Often may help to stay the rising sigh,
And wipe the briny tear from sorrow's eye:
But there are seasons which, who has not known,
When the sad heart-from other streams alone,
Can draw those living waters, which will heal
The deepest wounds, and make the mourner feel-
The God omnipotent who reigns above,
Is still God of never-ceasing love.

If then the heart in deepest hours of woe,
Can no where comfort find in things below,
But to a higher, purer source is driven,
Looking for all support from gracious Heaven:
Surely we ever still should look to him,
When mercy's cup is filled to the brim.

'Tis he demands thy heart-'tis he alone,

Can keep thee-guide thee—and before his throne,
At the great day present thy spotless soul,—

O keep not back, but give him up the whole.

MARIA.

CRUELTY OF HINDOO WOMEN TOWARDS THEIR

CHILDREN.

The sacrifice of infants, by throwing them into the Ganges, was very common along the whole course of the sacred river till the practice was made a capital offence, punishable with death, by the British Government. A frightful outrage of this kind, not long ago, occurred near Cutwa. A woman cast her child, between three and four years old, into the Ganges, as an offering to the goddess: the little creature made its way to a raft of bamboos that happened to be floating by, and, seizing one end of it, was drifted along, crying to its unnatural mother for help. She, perceiving from the shore the danger of her child escaping, plunged into the water, tore away its hold, broke its neck, and hurled the life-warm corpse into the middle current, which soon carried it out of her sight! A field near Cutwa, which we passed, was strewn with human skulls (a little golgotha), cast on shore by the floods of the river from time to time. (Tyerman and Bennet's Journal.)

THE INDUSTRY OF THE BEE.
Qualis apes æstate nova per florea rura
Exercet sub sole labor, cùm gentis adultos
Educunt foetus, aut cùm liquentia mella
Stipant, et dulci distendunt nectare cellas,
Aut onera accipiunt venientum aut agmine facto
Ignavum fucos pecus, à præsepibus arcent
Fervet opus, redolentque; thymo fragrantia mella.

VIRGIL AEN. B. 1.*

THE trunk by which the bee extracts the honey from the flowers, is not formed, it is said, like that of other flies, in the manner of a tube, by which the fluid is to be sucked up, but like a besom to sweep, or a tongue to clear it away. The animal is also furnished with teeth which serve it in making wax. The substance is gathered from flowers; it consists of the dust or farina which contributes to the fertility of plants, and is moulded into wax, by the little animal at leisure. Every bee upon leaving the hive to collect this precious store, enters into the cup of the flower which seems most charged with this yellow farina, and as the body of the animal is covered with hair, it rolls itself within the flower, and is covered with the dust, which it soon after brushes off with its two hind legs, and kneads into two little balls. In the thighs of the hind legs there are two cavities edged with hair, into which, as into a basket the animal strikes its pellets. Thus employed, the bee flies from flower to flower increasing its store, and adding to its stock of wax until the ball on each thigh becomes as large as a pepper-corn: it then returns with its load to the hive.

The bee affords a striking example to all, as it wisely anticipates the future, embraces the proper season for labor, and uses unremitting diligence in the performance of its daily task.

pen

* I subjoin the following translation of these beautiful lines from the of Dryden :

"Such is the toil, and such their busy pains,

As exercise the bees in flowery plains;

When winter past, and summer scarce begun,
Invites them forth to labor in the sun.

Some lead their youth abroad, while some condense

Their liquid store, and some in cells dispense.

Some at the gate stand ready to receive

The golden burden, and their friends relieve.
All with united force combine to drive

The lazy drones from the laborious hive.

With envy stung they view each other's deeds,
The fragrant work with diligence proceeds.

1. It anticipates the future. This is certainly an indication of great sagacity, and God has furnished the bee with this instinctive wisdom, that leaves not to the morrow that which should be done to-day. It lays up a store for the season of want. What a striking lesson is here presented to man, to consider his latter end, to provide for the day of his death, and to be ready for the period when the harvest shall be past, and the summer shall be ended, that he may not utter the bitter exclamation, "I am not saved." Many, like the bee, have early devoted themselves to the great and important work of gathering a store for the time of need. They have visited the gardens of God; they have gathered from the sacred flowers of Divine truth; they have carefully deposited the produce of their reading, and hearing, and reflection, in their memories, and laid it up in their hearts; to them Jesus is precious, and His words sweeter than honey or the honey-comb.

2. The bee embraces the proper season for labor. “To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven," The seed is sown in the spring, and the harvest is gathered in the autumn. In preparing for the future, wisdom employs the right season. The salvation of the soul is to be sought, while mercy is offered, and hence the language of the Holy Spirit in his word. To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." It is strange that any should fix upon a time of sickness, or old age, or a dying-hour, to secure an interest in the grace of God, the pardon of sin, and the blessings of immortality! A time of sickness! when the body is tortured by pain, or enervated by disease, and the mental faculties partially, if not totally suspended! A time of old-age! when intellect is become a wreck, the memory nearly effaced, the conscience stupified by the intoxications of vanity, or rendered dumb by perpetual restraints! A death-bed! when the soul terrified, distracted, haunted by spirits accursed, sees danger and destruction advancing with rapid steps, yet knows not whither to flee for help and safety!!* * * Inexplicable infatuation! and yet these are the “ more convenient" seasons to which many defer their salvation! Let such be instructed by the bee.-No sooner does the air feel the mild influence of the gentle breezes of the vernal months, when the "shining hour" calls forth the blossoms of the gardens and