feelings that seemed to suffice for the happiness and the occupations of philosophers, patriots, and lovers, she has still testified, that without religion there is nothing stable, sublime, or satisfactory; and that it alone completes and consummates all to which reason and affection can aspire." What a confession from one whom the greatest monarchs of Europe either feared or courted, and who lived amidst the applause of all the rarest mind on earth at the time. Yet she found the world a broken cistern, and turned at last to religion as the only fountain that could satisfy the cravings after happiness which are felt alike by the greatest and the least of the human race. If all the brilliant scenes which the world presented to this wonderful woman proved to be phantoms, and ended in vanity, what has it to offer that can satisfy ordinary minds?"

Precisely the same thing happens in savage as in civilized life, for the soul of man

is every where the same in its desires and its disappointments, as long as things seen and temporal are the highest objects of its ambition. An old man in Siberia, once said to a Missionary, " I will state to you a case, and request your opinion of it. There was a man who, during a long life wished to enjoy many things, and many of his desires were granted; he wished to have sons, and sons were given him; to have grandchildren, and his eyes have seen them; to be admitted to the feasts and assemblies of the people, and he was gratified with these; to enjoy the pleasures of the chase, and he was a successful hunter; he sought increase of riches, and his cattle multiplied; he wished for length of days, and he is now an old man. But now he has nothing more to wish or hope for in life, for the day of death cannot be far off. He has done

with feasting, and travelling, and hunting, and making rich, and now he wishes to know if he may without making any noise about it, simply worship the God of heaven, without avowing himself a Christian, and give up the worship of the temple gods, but make no formal abjuration of them!"

How near akin to the experience of Solomon, the wisest and richest of men, as described in the book of Ecclesiastes, was that of the poor savage here described: how like to both these was the feeling of Madame de Stael and Lord Chesterfield; how consentaneous is the testimony of them all with the universal sentiments of mankind; and how clearly and fully does the experience of the human race attest, that there is a void in the heart of man which nothing. but religion can fill, and a yearning which nothing else can satisfy.

But perhaps the history of Clementine Cuvier will furnish an illustration of the

emptiness of the world, far different in kind from these, but as likely to impress a young heart as any that could be brought forward. Observe her situation, and mark the rare combination of circumstances which is presented, to delight and fascinate an ardent mind. Think of the celebrity of her illustrious father, whose political offices and philosophical researches drew around him all the most distinguished men of France, and made his home one of the Parisian cen. tres of intellectual and national greatness; think of those personal accomplishments and mental acquirements which excited the admiration and interest of all who knew her; think of the respect and attachment of the humane and religious, whose schemes she supported, and whose institutions she patronised; add to this the gratitude she perpetually received from the persons whose wants she had relieved; and to crown all, think of the attachment of her lover,

and the prospect of her marriage, and you will then perceive that the world, invested with its brightest and purest glory, stood before her in a form best adapted to captivate a pure and youthful mind, and to compel it to say, "'T is enough! I am satisfied it is good to be here?" But did it satisfy her mind? Did it fill her heart, and leave her nothing more to wish for? No. Her memorialist tells us, that rounded as she was by all the enjoyments and illusions of this world, she was only happy as she was conversant with the spiritual and substantial blessings of the kingdom of God. She FELT THAT SHE

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MUST LOVE AN INFINITE OBJECT, AND THAT CHRIST ALONE COULD FILL THE SOUL. Even to her, the world was nothing more than a broken cistern, that could hold no water, and she thirsted, panted, and looked round for the fountain of living water—and found it-IN RELIGION.