But mortal pleasure, what in truth art thou? On a sudden a storm arose, and the aspect of every thing was changed A mortal sickness came upon her, and from the bed of death she beheld the dark fogs gather and settle upon the prospect; she saw the enchanting scenes which had so lately spread out in vernal beauty before her, sink one after the other into the deepening gloom; she witnessed the preparation of her nuptials, exchanged for those of her funeral obsequies, and contemplated nought, so far as earth is concerned, but the cemetery occupying the field of vision! So uncertain, and therefore so vain, are the promises, so deceptive the smiles of the world! O who would hang their best and fondest hopes on the brittle thread of life? Who that is wise will stake their chief happiness on a beating pulse? "The voico cry ? said, cry; and he said, What shall I All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field; the grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it. Surely the people is grass." Even granting, then, that you enjoy the world, and that it has performed all its promises, and left you nothing to wish, but that things should remain as they are, how do you know that they will remain as they are? What is wanting here? said a courtier to his sovereign, with whom he was riding amidst the acclamations and splendour of a triumphal procession.-" CONTINUANCE," replied the monarch. So say I. Tell me if you will, of your youth, your health, the buoyancy of your spirits, your happy connexions, your gay parties, your elegant pleasures, your fair prospects; and then ask me what is wanting, I reply, “CONTINUANCE." A single day may spoil every thing; before to-morrow's sun shall rise you may be attacked by disease and death. You know not what an hour may bring forth. Turn then for happiness from the world to religion, this is both satisfying and certain. Nothing can rob you of its privileges; they are vast as the capacity of your soul, and lasting as your eternal existence. Hear the beautiful language of Christ," Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life,"―JOHN iv. 14. The following verses pleasingly illustrate the folly of fixing our affections on any thing earthly, and of seeking our happiness in any thing short of God himself. THE REMONSTRANCE. Oh! ever thus from childhood's hour, And love me, it was sure to die. MOORE. Why hast thou thús from childhood's hour Lo! now thou 'rt come to manhood's hour, In faith behold enduring joys And rest in God, for "GOD IS LOVE." CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. The Second lesson we learn from this beautiful narrative, is the nature, the transcendent excellence, and the beneficial ef fects of true religion. And what is religion? A question this of infinite moment. Indifference to all religion is shocking in a rational, fallen, and immortal creature: and ignorance of true religion is little less So. It is not any kind of religion that will save us, but only that which God has enjoined in his word. It is painful to think how many are most laboriously occupied, in following false views of this subject, and to whom may be addressed the words of the Prophet, "Behold all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow."-ISAIAH, 50, 11. Turn back to the religion of Clementine, and you will see that with her it was a matter of deep earnestness and devout seriousness; it was not |