follow up the points of the brilliant type; it is there that our attention is directed to the lilies of the field, with a special reference to their beautiful attire, as the providential allotment of God. There it is, that the flower is set forth, as a touching emblem alike of man's goodliness and his decay: while the heavens are made to declare the glory of God, and every element to furnish some vivid illustration of His power and love. In fact, when two people come to investigate the same subject, under the same teacher, and with feelings just similar, even though they hold no previous communication one with another, still they can bardly do otherwise than fall occasionally into the same train of thought; and, in the paucity of words to express the multitude of ideas, to use expressions very similar. I never aspired to originality, because I should be unwilling to think that none had trodden the path of flowers with feelings as delicious as are mine, when revelling in the garden sweets: but, as another friend, to whom I repeated the remark of the former, told me she had heard it made by many, I take this method of assuring all my kind readers, upon my honest word, that I never read Hervey's work until this very day; consequently, I am not a plunderer. But, had not the good-humoured hint of my friend led me to examine Hervey, I should have committed myself, irretrievably, in the opinion of all suspicious readers for I had a tale in reserve, a most touching story, concerning one whom I must have identified with the Passion-flower; as I have done so for years, owing to an incident where that flower led to singular results. I find that Hervey has expatiated upon it too largely, to leave me any thing to say: and in an other instance, where the Sensitive plant was the type, I read with surprise, almost consternation, what I had supposed to be my own exclusive cogitations, as yet uncommitted to paper. This has straightened me a little, in my floral biography: but I am not daunted; and the slight mortification arising from being denounced as a plagiarist, is most abundantly overpaid by the acquisition of so sweet a companion for my flower garden, as I have discovered in Hervey. Gaily, indeed, is that spot now decked with the bright children of May: but I am inclined, before proceeding in the survey, to enlarge on an event which occurred when I was quite a little girl, and which left a lasting impression on my mind. I was straying in the garden, searching for some polyanthus, and other dwarf flowers, to select a small bouquet ; when, in the midst of my operations, I found myself suddenly attacked, in a most extraordinary manner. The bed where I was groping for flowers had, from neglect, become much incumbered by weeds; and in reaching at a fragrant Ranunculus, I came in contact with a flourishing cluster of nettles. The result was, of course, very distressing: my hand swelled, and became extremely painful, and, in the irritation of the moment, my childish resentment prompted me to lay hold on the unprovoked aggressors, to tear them up, and fling them beyond the garden pales. This desire gave way, however, to a more prudential feeling, knowing that there was no defence for an unarmed hand, against their thousand invisible stings. I therefore contented myself with determining to point them out to the gardener, and walked away, in quest of some cooling dock-leaves to soften the smart. Returning shortly after, I beheld a bee most busily plying her trade among the blossoms of similar weeds; and, perceiving that they evidently contained no small store of honey, I cautiously drew a flower from its cup, put it to my lips, and was delighted with the sweetness that rewarded my enterprize. I made a feast, when I had been severely wounded; and retired, congratulating myself on the exercise of that forbearance, which had issued in far more pleasing results than would have followed a hostile attack on the unequal foe. Now, I am not going to identify the nettles as individuals: but, as a class, how aptly do they typify too many who are scattered throughout the professing Church of Christ! Mingled among the flowery shrubs, and fruitful blossoms, of the Lord's garden, they deceive the unsuspecting stranger, who, forgetting that tares will grow with wheat, and weeds with flowers, fears no ill where the Lord is acknowledged as rightful possessor of the soil. The out-stretched hand is met by a stab; and drawn back in wondering incredulity that, from the fair green foliage, adorned with clustering flowers, and holding its place among the choicest of the parterre, such darts should have been projected, such venom have oozed forth. But the fact is beyond dispute, and the deed proclaims an alien unfit to mingle with the fragrant offspring of an enclosed garden. It seems almost a point of duty to draw the traitor forth, exposed to public reprobation, and banished from the sacred spot; but the Lord hath spoken: "Avenge not yourselves," "Vengance is mine; I will repay.' " And faith commits her cause to that unerring hand, leaving the enemy unmolested, to seek a balsam for the smart and singular it is, that where nettles abound, the spreading dock is never far off. The emissaries of Satan have permission to wound; but the Healer is always nigh, and needs but to be sought in the hour of suffering. There is that which will soothe the throbbing anguish of a thousand stings; and cool the fever of a spirit, where fiery darts have exhausted all their burning venom. ness. Nor does it end here: whatever be the rod, the chastisement is ordered and overruled by a loving Father, that it may yield to his children who are exercised thereby, the peaceable fruit of righteousTo overlook the rod as a mere instrument, in itself utterly contemptible, and from the permitted chastening to draw the sweets, is a delightful privilege. Thus it is that the wrath of man is made to praise the Lord, beyond whose permission it cannot extend -no, not to the fraction of a hair's breadth. The remainder of wrath he restrains; where malice purposed to pour down an overwhelming torrent, to drown its devoted object, God suffers a few drops to fall, sufficient only to refresh and fertilize; and then, with His mighty breath, drives off the swelling cloud, to vent its rage beyond the precincts of His garden. "Ye shall have tribulation ten days," is Jehovah's award, to those whom Satan marked out for utter destruction; and surely these ten days should be days of rejoicing, to the souls who hear not only the rod, but Him who hath appointed it. How sweet are those lines! Man may trouble and distress me, Dear Reader, have you ever yet come `into contact with nettles, concealed among the rose-bushes? then probably, you can, through grace, bear testimony. that my experience is no chimera. You have surely sought the healing leaf; and if so, unquestionably you have obtained it. You have extracted the honey from your nettle, as Sampson from his lion, and you may be well content to leave it where you found it, knowing that there shall be a gathering out of all things that offend, without your putting yourself forward in the work of judgment. Rather bear in mind the humbling truth, that such a nettle once were you; stinging, by your vile aggressions, the hand that was stretched out on the cross to save you: and if the mighty working of unlimited power has changed your nature, why despair of its operation upon others? Point out your enemy to the Lord, but as an object for converting and sanctifying grace, remembering that Saul of Tarsus was the first fruits" of Stephen's dying prayer. I have mentioned the Ranunculus, as the prize in pursuit of which I made my first acquaintance with the stinging nettle. That flower has been a choice favourite from my very early years. I remember accompanying a party to a horticultural exhibition on a small scale, where a country gardener had made the most of his ground, for a display of flowers. He had retarded his hyacinths, and hastened his tulips, and disposed as they were, on distinct beds, in masses, the effect was splendid. I recollect that our connoisseurs were learnedly expatiating on the rarity and consequent value, of certain magnificent tulips; while amateurs were bending with delight over the hyacinth bed, inhaling its delicious fragrance, and |