the player to pass from one to another | ing_characteristic of man, as portrayed with a minimum of effort. But while in Scripture, is an inordinate attachment it affords the practised hand an ad- to the world. Sin having expelled from vantage, it is a great stumbling block his heart the love of God, the love of the in the way of the learner, who is from world has rushed into the vacuum, and unskilfulness perpetually chafing the made it impossible for any but Omnipowrong string, and so mixes up the sound tence to dislodge it. Having lost that desired with one that is unspeakably organ of spiritual vision, which, by keeprough and screeching. But undismayed ing another world in view in rivalry with by difficulties, a great many young men this, would have preserved the balance among the lower ranks spend their leisure of his affections even, the present is left in fretting the strings of this puny in- to tyrannize over him with all the advanstrument, till time has enabled them tage of a power which is ever visible, to secure the mastership of one soli- ever at hand, soliciting him and making tary air, with which not a few seem itself necessary to him in a thousand to be very well contented. different ways; while the only rival which it has to dread is not only invisible, but incalculably remote; and having thus sustained the loss of a world, having thus become reduced in spiritual wealth by the loss of a whole order of ennobling objects, he not only pours out his affections on the unworthiest things that offer, but he has literally idolized the most contemptible. Most graphically is he represented in the word of God as bearing the image of the earthy; his very mind has become materialized; instead of being pictured over with celestial imagery, it only contains the portraiture of the world; in all its chambers of imagery are depictured and burned in the debasing abominations of the earth. The mind, which with one sweep of its pinions should have reached the stars, settles down in the dust; his affections, which were meant to rise and be diffused over an infinite circumference of which God is the centre, let themselves down, and labour to accommodate themselves to an indivisible point, a fugitive atom. As if an anchor were fixed in the centre, his bosom is enchained to the earth. The material particles of which the globe consists, do not obey the law by which they cohere more constantly, than man endeavours to accommodate himself to the world as his centre of moral gravity.

The clarinet, or heang teih, is a loud and powerful instrument. It is blown with a reed, as is the clarinet in use among our military bands. The bell, or lower end, is made of brass, and is adorned with silken tassels, which add to its beauty, without diminishing the effect. The Chinese are very fond of the deafening sounds produced by it, and have recourse to them on all exciting occasions of joy, sorrow, or religion. If a native musician is invited to give a foreigner some instruction as to the nature and use of the instruments known among his countrymen, he will try the whole assortment set before him in their turn, but at length fastens upon the clarinet, and, with looks full of complacency, continues to blow such a peal from the sonorous tube, that the pupil is at length obliged to beg his master to indulge him with a truce.

The flute is made of bamboo, and has six holes for the fingers; but is, like the clarinet, destitute of a key. Its sounds are soft and plaintive, and would be very sweet in the hands of a good performer. But the Chinese are, like our country musicians, very well contented with mediocrity, and therefore seldom exert their powers to reach any thing like an excellency in the art.

G. T. L.

INORDINATE ATTACHMENT TO THE
WORLD.

Now the Saviour addressed himself to the task of correcting this evil. Entering the mart of the busy world, where nothing is heard but the monotonous hum of the traders in vanity, he lifts up his voice MUCH of the preaching of Jesus was like the trump of God, and seeks to break occupied in adjusting the claims between the spell which infatuates them, while he heaven and earth; so frequently did he exclaims, "What shall it profit a man, if return to this theme, and so conspicuous he shall gain the whole world, and lose his a place did he assign to it in his dis-own soul? or what shall a man give in excourses, that it may be said to be one of change for his soul?" Were all sublunary their distinguishing features. A prevail- glory laid at your feet, let a few years

But though there is much that is delightful to be found in this earth-spurning, sky-scraping attitude of mind, and though it is not the poor pitiful ambition of holding up my head or my actions higher than those of my neighbours that influences me, yet am I constrained to believe, after some reflection on the matter, that there is much of infirmity and pride mingled with these high-wrought emotions. In such seasons, the real lan-hands.

Oh it is a

requires to be humbled.
precious thing to possess an humble and
willing mind, ready to do God's bidding,
not only in carving the top stones of the
temple, but also in hewing wood and
drawing water.

But now having dealt honestly by myself, let me ask, how is it with you? If plain-dealing be medicine to my mind, it may operate medicinally on yours, and, to confess the truth, I have no predilection to flog myself, and to let you go free. If you ever do get into one of these high- The higher we climb, the greater is minded, discontented moods, watch over our danger; the faster we run, the more yourselves narrowly, lest it bring trouble likely are we to stumble. It may be that and sorrow upon your hearts. It is un- a sudden sense of my peculiar infirmities lovely, unreasonable, and unchristianlike has abated the sky-scraping attitude of to give ourselves airs, even in our de- mind in which I began to pen down these sires, altering the wise arrangements of observations, and made me more than our heavenly Father, reversing the order usually afraid of high-mindedness; but, of his glorious system, blotting out from it seems as though it would be, at this existence what we like not, and retaining moment, a relief to me to take the lowest only what is suited to our views; taking place; to sit in the gate with Mordecai, the sweet, and refusing the bitter. "Shall rather than with Haman to approach we receive good at the hand of God, and the throne of the king Ahasuerus. Old shall we not receive evil ?" Job ii. 10. Humphrey is in his altitudes no longer, What right have we, instead of encourag- and his parting words are not, Rejoice ing thankfulness for the changing seasons, in the Lord alway: and again I say, reto desire, because it may fall in with our joice!" Phil. iv. 4; but rather, "Let present temper, an eternal spring, an un-him that thinketh he standeth, take heed ceasing summer, a perpetual autumn, or lest he fall," 1 Cor. x. 12. And, an everlasting winter? Oh for the not high-minded, but fear," Rom. xi. 20. hearty emanation from the heart as well as from the lip, " Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'

Never, perhaps, was Peter prouder than when indignantly he flung back the warning admonition of his Master, and replied, "If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise," Mark xiv. 13; and yet before the cock crew twice, he denied him thrice. Never was Saul more elated than when urgent on his high-minded mission, with hot, burning zeal, he bitterly breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord," and yet it was then that he fell to the very ground, Acts ix. Often have I quoted, and often do I yet hope to quote the well-known lines of honest John Bunyan,

"He that is down needs fear no fall;
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide."

Now, think not that I mean to censure or repress any lively emotions of zeal; any ardent desires to do more than ordinary for God's glory and man's good that may spring up either in your heart or in mine, for that is not the case. It is only when this zeal and these desires make us discontented with our station, and disqualify us for our plain, common-place, and intelligible duties, that I would suspect the presence of that pride which

66

ANGELS AND MEN CONTRASTED.

"Be

How shocking is the folly and ingratitude of many who treat with lightness, disesteem, and contempt, the glorious gospel of man's salvation! Angels desire to look into the mysteries of grace; and men, more nearly concerned in them, esteem it a disparagement to bestow upon them one serious thought. They shut their eyes, despise and scoff, while angels gaze, and wonder, and adore. Thus absurd is the behaviour of many, who would pass for standards of wise conduct and deep penetration. They peruse with patience, perhaps with rapture, a genteel, though trifling play or romance. The mystery of godliness has neither form nor comeliness to attract their attention. When truths are explained, which angels esteem the noblest enterWhat a tainment, their hearts say, weariness it is! To their depraved appetite, the husks that swine do eat, the empty vanities of time and sense, have a more exquisite relish than angels' food. "Lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them ?" Jer. viii. 9. Foolish and wicked, they disdain to fix their eye upon Him who is the study and the

delight of angels. But, indeed, this need not surprise us; angels are angels, men are men, blinded to, and consequently little concerned about the glory of God, or their own duty and true happiness. Yet, what need not amaze, should deeply affect us. It is not those only immersed in gross sensual pollutions, whom we have cause to lament. Men who spend their time more laudably in studying the works of nature, are often content with ignorance, or a superficial knowledge of God manifest in the flesh. Soon shall the heavens pass away with a great noise, the elements melt with fervent heat, the earth and all the things in it be burned up. The subject of the naturalist's researches shall be no more found. That mystery of God, even the Father, and of Christ, which now is as nothing with many, shall fill up eternity, and, to the blessed, be all in all. It is not by a transient glance of this glory of the Lord, but by gazing upon it, as they who through a glass steadily behold distant objects, that men are changed more and more into the image of the Lord, from glory to glory.-Dr. Erskine.

REST FOR THEM THAT LABOUR.

WHEN man was first placed in paradise, every thing necessary for his wants had been provided. They were few and easily supplied; for "out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food:" thus, there was fruitfulness and beauty on every side, and man was happy. He knew nothing of fatigue, as he performed the duty assigned to him, to dress the garden and to keep it. And his mind was enabled continually to meditate on God, to survey the wonders of creation with delight, and without weariness to worship his Creator.

But when sin entered that fair abode, over the soul and body of man a dark cloud of desolation passed, and earth, smitten with a curse, produced thorns and briers. And now it is by the sweat of his brow that man obtains the bread that perisheth, and care, anxiety, and toil are, to a greater or less extent, the allotted portion of all.

How sweet is that rest to the weary labouring man, which affords relief to the physical frame. Still sweeter, and

more welcome is the repose of the mind, when, after many conflicts, it at length becomes calm. We all know how grateful this is. But do we know what is better far than this, the rest of the soul from the burden of sin? this is the most important. O reader, have you enjoyed it?

It was that he might give this rest, the Son of God came down from heaven. As his eye glanced over the kingdoms of the earth, one dark scene of guilt and wretchedness met his view, and he came to alleviate the woes of men. In all his teachings, he spake words mild and compassionate, and knowing that he could assuage their sorrow, he invited them to his bosom, as an asylum for grief, and offered to receive them, and bless them for ever.

Now Christ, although he is no longer seen among men, still sympathizes with us, and is ready to help us; still feels the same compassion and desire to bless. Even now he cries, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Matt. xi. 28.

The Saviour addresses those who are burdened with their sins, who have found them "a grief and thrall," a burden under which their spirits faint. He speaks to those who are "heavy laden," who have long transgressed the laws of God, and increased their guilt year by year. Their sins may have been many and aggravated, because committed against light and knowledge. Conscience . upbraids them for past neglect; and their language is that of the prodigal, "I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight," and their cry that of the penitent publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner," Luke xv. 21; xviii. 13.

Is this your case, reader? If so, to you then the cheering words of Christ are addressed. And he invites you to come to Him as the Friend of sinners. He has offered an atoning sacrifice to God, on which, if you rely, you are assured of forgiveness, and adoption into the family of heaven. To him has been given authority to absolve from sin, and whosoever believes in him shall be pardoned. Now, Jesus alone can take away your guilt, ease your soul of its burden, and give you peace; therefore, you must go to him.

The Roman Catholic may say, "Do penance, confess to the priests, plead with the saints;" Christ says, "Come unto me." The worldly man may ad

It is said to contain 180,000 people, This rest which remaineth for the and even 300,000, with the villages in its people of God in a happier land, will be immediate neighbourhood. It was for interrupted by no assault of sin or sor- many centuries the capital of the kings row. No cares will harass there, no of Syria. The city is long, but of contrials distress. "The Lamb which is in siderable breadth. On entering it, I the midst of the throne shall feed them, passed through a street upwards of a and shall lead them unto living foun-mile long, and broad in proportion. In tains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes," Rev. vii.