in the whole vegetable world, there is not a more beautiful object than a fine, well

formed rose, dripping with dew, or sparkling with rain-drops after a shower.

But we should find, in contemplating the rose, something else to admire besides its own beauties. How forcibly it reminds us of the kindness and mercy of God, has "not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities;" but has been merciful to us, and for our sakes, unworthy as we are, continues to clothe the earth with beauty, and causes the fair flowers to spring up around us. Well might the psalmist exclaim, The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord," Psa. xxxiii. 5. God could have

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made all flowers of one colour and of one scent, or he could have caused them all to wither and die, and the earth to be waste and barren, and we should have had no right to complain. But God in his mercy delights to make us happy, and in the abundance of his love has gladdened our senses with the beauty and perfume of the rose. Oh, it is well, when we behold the beautiful objects which God has made, to think on the love of their Maker to his sinful and undeserving creatures, for whose sake he created them.

The rose will soon die. In this world everything is dying on ourselves and everything around us death is written. Fair as it is, in a few hours its leaves will loosen and lie scattered on the ground, and not a trace of its graceful form will remain. So must we all die, and perhaps soon; and well will it be for us, if, when death summons us, he shall find us ready. While we live, let us remember the work we have to do; for to repent of sin, to believe in Christ, to serve God, and to prepare for heaven, is work which we should begin immediately, lest death overtake us while we are dreaming away our lives.

The rose is an emblem of piety. The leaves of most flowers lose their scent when they die; but the leaves of the rose smell sweet even after they are dead. While

the rose reminds us how fading grace and beauty are, it teaches us so to live as to gain that good name which is better than either. "The memory of the just is blessed," Prov. x. 7, says Solomon, and like the dead leaves of the rose, is fragrant long after they have ceased to live in this world. Happy will it be for us, if we so live to God that our memory will be thus fragrant among our friends when we are dead.

The rose reminds us of Jesus Christ, "the Rose of Sharon." What do we think of Christ? Do we think of him as those did who are described by the prophet as saying, "He hath no form nor comeliness; ""there is no beauty that we should desire him?" Isa. liii. 2. Or do we behold with faith and love his perfections, fervently wish that our sinful nature were holy like his, and earnestly strive to follow his example? Do we esteem him as "the chiefest among ten thousand," the "altogether lovely?" The rose is the fairest flower of the garden; but infinitely fairer is the "Rose of Sharon" than all the good men or angels that ever lived. Let us gaze on this model of excellence till we love him, and love him till we are like him, and then when death comes we shall be with him and share in his glory for ever.

S. W. F.

"I WILL NEVER COME AGAIN."

T. W. was a lad in my class who frequently gave me more uneasiness than any other, on account of a sullen disposition which he manifested, especially when required to learn his lessons. At one time, Î thought his inability to learn might be the reason, instead of stubbornness; I, therefore, requested the superintendent to furnish him with a book of the easiest kind. This he did. Still I found neither entreaty nor reproof would produce any effect. After absenting himself from school some time, I asked him the reason of it. He said he had been ill, and unable to come. Judging this to be an untruth, I inquired of his parents respecting it, and found it it to be what I feared. They assured me he was sent regularly to school, and did not know that he had not been constantly there. Accordingly, he was reproved for the falsehood, and for deceiving his parents. But this produced no good effect; for he exclaimed, "I will never come again."

Alas! alas! this expression was too true, for, whilst in company with other wicked boys, one of them threw a stone that fractured his skull, and he is now dead.

Allow me to urge on you, my dear children, who may read these lines, the vast importance of seeking an interest in the

dear Saviour now you are in health and youth.

"There's no repentance in the grave,

Nor pardon offered to the dead."

Think not this account of poor T. W. to be a fable; I assure you it is

a fact. That you may be different in your character and your end is the desire of

AN OLD SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHER.

CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.-No. II.

MAKERS OF IDOL-GODS.

How strange and shocking it would appear to us, were we to see written on the walls of our towns," The street of the god-makers!" or were we to behold a man cut down a branch of a tree, then with a knife carve it into an unsightly shape, paint it with yellow eyes, black mouth, green body, and red hands; and, after he had finished it, put it in his house, and, kneeling down before it, call upon this deaf and dumb idol-god to save him! Yet such scenes are often beheld in many heathen lands.

A missionary asked an idolater why he prayed to images: he replied, because he liked to see the god he worshipped. The poor man did not know that God is a