midst of gathering ftorms, she is depicted looking upward; this expreffes her confidence in God. She leans upon an anchor; this denotes fteadfaftness and truft. Hope was compared to an anchor, by ancient writers. Thus Socrates expreffes himself: "To ground hope on a false fuppofition, is like trufting to a weak anchor."

The hope of heaven is represented by the apostle Paul, as the anchor of the foul. We fee the propriety of this figure when we confider that the world is like a tempeftuous fea, full of dangers. The courfe of the child of God, the voyage; heaven, the port, or harbour, which he expects and defires to gain. Sometimes when a fhip rides at anchor, dreadful ftorms arise, the wind blows with fury, the tempeft howls, and waves roar and beat against the veffel. But if the ship be what is termed fea-worthy, that is, firm, ftrongly put together; if, at the fame time, the cable be ftrong, and the anchor bites, or ftrikes its fluke deep into good holding ground, all will be well. The ftorm may rage, rocks and quickfands may lie to leeward, threatening deftruction, yet will fhe be fecure. It is true, the will have to fend down her topmafts and yards, and keep anchor-watch, yet will she ride out the gale.

By this we may fee the proper use of hope to the Christian, which is, to keep the foul calm and fecure in the day of adverfity. Hope does not remove trouble; it sustains the soul in the time of trouble. The anchor does not difpel the

ftorm; it does not quiet the roaring waves, arrest the rolling thunder, nor bid the winds be ftill : but it enables the veffel to ride out the fury of the gale; it keeps her from being driven on the rocks of death. The most pious Christian does not find himself exempt from the cares and calamities of this life, or free from the conflicts and difficulties of the Chriftian life. He often finds himself "toff'd upon life's raging billows;" but under these circumstances the hope of heaven, as the anchor of the foul, keeps him steady. "Which hope we have," fays the apoftle, " as an anchor to the foul, both fure and steadfast.' This hope preserves him from being dashed to pieces against the rocks of temptation, destruction, and despair; it at the fame time imparts a delightful sense of security in the day of trial, a blessed sense of peace amid a fea of troubles. It infpires fortitude and boldness in the cause of God. "Hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghoft, which is given unto us."

Among the Arabians, the water-melon is known by the name of "batech," which in the Hebrew language fignifies hope. The melon, by its tendrils, clings to whatever it can lay hold of. Just fo, hope the Chriftian's hope clings to God, his promises, his faithfulness, his love. "The

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water-melon is cultivated on the banks of the river Nile," fays a traveller. "It ferves the Egyptians for meat, drink, and medicine. It is eaten in abundance by even the richer fort of

people, but the poor fcarcely eat any thing but thefe." This affords a good illuftration. What, indeed, would life be without hope!

"Man never is, but always to be bleft."

Take away hope, and you take away the enjoyment of prosperity; deprive man of hope, and you take away the only fupport and folace of adverfity. The most happy, the most profperous, without hope, would foon become the most wretched. The poor and afflicted, without it, would fink at once into the gulf of defpair. To deprive man of hope, is to rob him of his dearest treasure. Extinguish hope, and you extinguish life, for who could live without hope? It is the laft lingering light of the human breaft. "It fhines when every other is put out. Quench it, and the gloom of affliction becomes the very blacknefs of darkness-cheerless and impenetrable."

BROTHERLY KINDNESS.

Lo! the poor pilgrim bends beneath his load,
And travels wearily his length'ning road;
Contempt's vaft weight, back'd by afflictions fore,
Incline him now to give his journey o'er;
With groaning fick, with labour faint he ftops,
And on the pathway tottering, almoft drops:
But ere he proftrate falls, relief is near,
Two brethren of the Chriftian band appear;
Their cheerful aid they speedily impart,
To eafe his burden, and relieve his heart;
His willing fhoulder each one runs to lend,
And on he travels to his journey's end.

Look at the poor pilgrim. Awhile ago he was bending beneath his burden, unaided, unpitied, and alone. Almoft preffed to the earth,

His

he would fain have given his journey over. heart was fick within him; his bones were wearied; he thought he would lay him down and die. But before he funk under the preffure, he faw two friends coming towards him. He endeavours now to hold out a little longer. Presently they arrive, and give him a friendly falutation. They do not, like the Levite, pafs by on the other fide; at once they haften to his relief; each one puts his shoulder to the burden. Now it is lighter; the poor man draws breath they encourage him with kind words, but ftill more with their efficient help. Nor do they

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leave him until he arrives at the end of his journey.

His

This is a good emblem of Brotherly Kindness. The burdened pilgrim represents the Chriftian travelling on in the way of duty, bearing affliction and contempt. Afflictions fuch as are common to men prefs heavily upon him; contempt and tribulation, peculiar to those who will live godly in Christ Jefus, almost overwhelm him. foul is among lions; he is ready to fink beneath his burden. His head is fick, his heart is faint. He fays, "I fhall one day fall by my enemies; I may as well give up firft as laft." Juft now fome Chriftian brethren-fignified by the pilgrim's two friends above-hearing of his circumftances, call upon him, find out his trouble, and immediately propose to help him. They furnish him with pecuniary aid, affift him with their prayers and counsel, and being the