The words of Solomon occurred to me: "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men :" and the circumstance led to the following train of meditation as I walked along to my journey's end. How many, thought I, are there, who had better not pursue those objects which so commonly engross their attention, draw away their hearts from God, and pierce them through with many sorrows.

"The way of transgressors is hard," and "The wages of sin is death." But who considers these declarations of the sacred volume as he ought, and who that professes to believe their truth really acts as if he did so believe? If this were indeed the case, what a different world would this be; at least, what a different country would this be, where the Bible is so generally in circulation, so commonly possessed by rich and poor, young and old; and what a change should we perceive in the conversation and conduct of mankind.

The rich had better not employ their riches in the gratification of their sensual appetites and passions, for in so doing they greatly injure both their health and morals. They had better not profane the day concerning which the great and glorious Creator himself hath said, "Remember to keep it holy." They had better not set such an example of neglecting the worship of Almighty God, of profane swearing, and other evil practices, before the lower classes, who are apt to copy after their superiors, and to refer to them as an excuse for their own bad conduct. If they employed their wealth for the glory of God and the benefit of their fellow-men; if they were regularly seen in our Christian sanctuaries, and in other respects setting an example of "whatsoever things are lovely, honest, and of good report," what immense service might they render in their day and generation in the sphere in which they move.

The young had better not follow the devices and desires of their own hearts, and give themselves up to be led captive by Satan at his will, resorting to places of folly and dissipation, but which are falsely called places of amusement and improvement. Very little to improve the mind is to be found at the theatre, the concert, the ball-room; but rather many things to excite and call forth the bad passions of the heart, and to injure and benumb the conscience.

They had better not read the novels and romances of the day, which are full of poison, artfully concealed, but rather read such books as are calculated to improve the mind, and to promote its growth in useful knowledge; more especially that holy book which Jehovah hath given to be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. Here all necessary information may be obtained, regarding man as an immortal

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being his fallen, depraved, and lost condition, and the only way of recovery by Jesus Christ, who died "to put away by the sacrifice of himself." Here, and here only, the way of life and salvation is made known, and we are taught, that as Christ died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, the Holy Spirit is given as the fruit of the Saviour's death, to guide his people into all truth. Here, in short, all necessary information may be obtained respecting every momentous and important subject interesting to man, as a guilty, lost, and ruined creature. The most suitable directions, appropriate counsels, and precious promises, are here to be met with; and to have the mind well stored with these, will be of incalculable advantage in every stage and condition of life.

They had better not devote the sabbath and the evenings of the week, when the business of the day is over, to revelling and wantonness, to idle and foolish talking and jesting, but rather repair to the house of God, and engage in those religious exercises which are suited to the superior part of the composition of man, the immortal soul.

They had better not resist the authority and slight the kind and well-meant efforts of their parents and friends to do them real good. It will be their wisdom and happiness to hear instruction, and refuse it not, Prov. viii. 33

They had better not despise reproof and disregard the voice of admonition and caution, for it is written, "He that hateth reproof is brutish," and "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy," Prov. xii. 1; xxix. 1.

The active or retired tradesman had better not spend his evenings, as is too commonly the case, in the tavern or coffeeroom, even though it be with what may be regarded as a select company of friends, to talk over the affairs of the nation, and the news of the day; for in so doing, the claims of a family must be neglected, and of domestic comfort there can be none. The practice is injurious to health and morals; and the more frequently indulged in, the more difficult will it be found to give it up. A man who has a family should consider that the members of his household have claims upon him, and those claims can never be duly answered, even though he may supply them with the necessaries of life, while he spends his evenings from home; as the practice of family worship, of reading the Scriptures, and of offering prayer and praise to the great Author of our being, and Preserver of our life, which is the reasonable service and the bounden duty of every intelligent creature, must be altogether neglected, or slovenly performed; and we know where it is written

that God will pour out his fury upon the heathen, and upon the families that call not upon his name, Jer. x. 25.

They had better not, therefore, indulge such habits; and, if they have been enslaved by them, it will be their wisdom and comfort to break them off, and to spend their evenings at home. Ample employment may surely be found; and the improvement of the mind, by reading and conversation, in the domestic circle, will be more than a compensation for what, to some, may be an exercise of self-denial. We know who hath said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself daily, and take up his cross, and follow me," Luke ix. 23.

The mechanic and labourer had better not spend SO much of their precious time in the public-house or beer-shop. Oh! how many hours-precious hours, even of those, which should be directed to their regular employment, as well as many other hours at the close of the day and on the sabbath, are thus uselessly, wickedly, squandered away: the wife and children, an industrious and affectionate wife it may be, neglected, and her children left to roam abroad without a father's care; or, perhaps they are to be seen in poverty and wretchedness, destitute of food and clothing, while he isundermining his constitution, and wasting the little earnings, which ought to have been devoted to the support of his family, in drinking and crime.

Surely these different classes, if they would think, and remember better not, would be found acting very differently from what they do, more becoming the rational nature with which the Creator has endowed them, and more suitable to the relations they sustain, and the situations in which they are placed.

They have souls as well as bodies, and those souls must be happy or miserable for ever. "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" Deut. xxxii. 29. "One thing is needful," the concerns of the soul and eternity-let them have that attention which they rightly demand, for, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul," Mark ix. 36. The gospel proclaims, that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John iii. 16. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," 1 Tim. i. 15. "Let the wicked," therefore, "forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon," Isaiah lv. 7.

OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

UPON THE SIGHT OF A SPIDER AND HER WEB.

How justly do we admire the curious work of this creature! What a thread doth it spin forth! what a web doth it weave! yet it is full of deadly poison. There may be much venom where is much art. Just like to this is a learned and witty heretic; fine conceits and elegant expressions fall from him, but his opinions and secretly couched doctrines are dangerous and mortal. Were not that man strangely foolish who, because he likes the artificial drawing out of that web, would therefore desire to handle or eat the spider that made it? Such should be our madness, if our wonder at the skill of a false teacher should cast us into love with his person, or familiarity with his writings. There can be no safety in our judgment or affection without a wise distinction; in the want whereof we must needs wrong God or ourselves :God, if we acknowledge not what excellent parts he gives to any creature; ourselves, if upon the allowance of those excellences we swallow their most dangerous enormities.

UPON SIGHT OF A BRIGHT SKY FULL OF STARS.

I CANNOT blame Empedocles if he professed a desire to live upon earth only that he might behold the face of the heavens; surely, if there were no other, this were a sufficient errand for a man's being here below, to see and observe TRACT MAG., Third series, No. 94, ост., 1841.

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these goodly spangles of light above our heads, their places, their quantities, their motions: but the employment of a Christian is far more noble and excellent; heaven is open to him, and he can look beyond the vale, and see further above those stars than it is thither, and there discern those glories that may answer so rich a pavement. Upon the clear sight whereof, I cannot wonder if the chosen vessel desired to leave the earth in so happy an exchange. O God, I bless thine infiniteness for what I see with these bodily eyes; but, if thou shalt but draw the curtain, and let me by the eye of faith see the inside of that thy glorious frame, I shall need no other happiness. My soul cannot be capable of more favour than sight here, and fruition hereafter.

UPON THE SIGHT OF TWO TREES, ONE HIGH, THE OTHER

BROAD.

Those trees that shoot up in height are seldom broad, as contrarily, those trees that are spreading are seldom tall. It were too much ambition in that plant which would be both ways eminent. Thus it is with men; the covetous man that affects to spread in wealth seldom cares to aspire unto height of honour. The proud man, whose heart is set upon preferment, regards not (in comparison thereof) the growth of his wealth. There is a poor shrub in a valley, that is neither tall nor broad, nor cares to be either, which speeds better than they both. The tall tree is cut down for timber, the broad tree is lopped for firewood: besides, that the tempest hath power on them both, whereas the low shrub is neither envied by the wind, nor threatened by the axe, but fostered rather, for that little shelter which it affords the shepherd. If there be glory in greatness, meanness hath security. Let me never envy their diet that had rather be unsafe than inglorious. Bp. Hall.

THE SPIRIT'S TEACHING.

THE substance of the following encouraging facts was related by a lady, who, having tasted of the bread of heaven herself, and found it to be life to her soul, lost no opportunities of offering it, in her Saviour's name, to every sinner who seemed perishing for want of it.

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