an habitual prefence of mind, ever watchful and awake. Miffortunes are common to all; the prudent, confidering that he is not exempt from the common lot of mortals, will guard against them; and, as if they were fure to come, he will prepare himself to endure them.

Like the mariner, who, when failing in windy latitudes, weeps the horizon with his telescope to fee if there are figns of fqualls: towards evening he fhortens fail, fets his watch, and keeps a good look-out.

Now, if prudence is so neceffary and profitable when applied to the things of this life, it is much more so when applied to the life which is to come, because the foul is of more value than the body, and eternity of more importance than time. Events not contingent, but certain, will come upon us, against which, if we are prudent we fhall provide events folemn, momentous, and deeply interesting. What more folemn than death? What more momentous than the judgment to come? What more interesting to an immortal spirit than the final iffues of that judgment? Shall I my everlafting days with fiends or angels fpend? "The prudent man

foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself. The fimple pass on, and are punished.

"Oh may thy Spirit guide my feet
In ways of righteoufnefs!

Make every path of duty straight
And plain before my face.

My watchful enemies combine
To tempt my feet aftray
They flatter with a base design
To make my foul their prey.

"Lord, crush the serpent in the dust,
And all his plots destroy;
While those that in thy mercy trust,
For ever fhout for joy."

"The righteous fhall never be removed."-PROV. x. 30. "Behold, we count them happy who endure."-JAMES V. II.

FORTITUDE AND CONSTANCY.

As ftands the pillar on the folid ground,
Nor heeds the tempeft that prevails around,
Unmoved, though tempefts blufter from on high,
And thunders rolling shake the trembling sky :
So Fortitude is ftrong in Virtue's caufe,
Nor fears contempt, nor covets vain applause;
But when the ftorms of evil tongues prevail,
And envy rifes like a furious gale,

She bears on high her ample spotless shield,
Her own fair fame, and ftill difdains to yield :
Enduring greatly, till the ftorm is gone,
Then fees triumphant, that her caufe is won.

BEHOLD here the emblems of Fortitude and

Conftancy. The pillar ftands upright amidst the ftorm, and upright in the midft of funshine,

bearing the summer's heat and the winter's cold, by night and by day; still it stands, regardless of paffing events, and answering at the fame time the end of its erection. Thus Conftancy continues at the post of duty. Fortitude is seen ftanding by the pillar of Conftancy. See how she braves the fury of the tempest! Winds whistle, thunders roll, and night seems gathering together a magazine of ftorms to let loose upon her head; yet fhe continues at the poft of patient endurance; with her shield fhe is enabled to protect herself against all the ftorms which beat around.

Courage refifts danger; fortitude endures pain, either of the body or of the mind, or both. True fortitude is always connected with a holy, a righteous caufe. Adverfity, or oppofition, is the test of fortitude and conftancy; it is the fiery trial which tries the virtuous; they come out of it as gold feven times purified, lofing nothing fave the alloy. Holiness of character, faith in God's word, conftitute the fhield of Fortitude, and render her altogether invulnerable.

It is eafy for a man to profess attachment to a good caufe, when that cause meets with the general approbation. It is an eafy thing to boast of virtue that has never been tried by temptation, and to exult in fortitude that has never had to bear the storm of oppofition; but true fortitude is found to confift in fupporting evils with refignation, and in enduring oppofition with refolution and dignity." He that lofeth wealth," say the

Spaniards, "loseth much he that lofeth his friends, lofeth more; but he that loseth his spirit, lofeth all." The man of fortitude, ftrong in conscious integrity, and in the knowledge of the right, though wealth may desert him, though his friends may forfake him in his greatest need, yet he poffeffes his foul in patience; he rejoices that his foul is free. The cause of truth he knows can never fall. This makes him magnanimous, both to do and to dare.

One of the most confpicuous inftances of true fortitude is found in the conduct of the Apostle Paul. After having for fome time served the Church at Ephefus, his duty called him to Jerufalem, where he knew he was to encounter the deadly oppofition of his enemies. Before he fet out, he preached his farewell fermon. The people were greatly affected. The thoughts, of lofing their beloved paftor, and of the dangers that awaited him, melted them into tears, "They all wept fore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kiffed him, forrowing most of all for the words which he fpake, that they should see his face no more." Thefe circumstances were fufficient to have overwhelmed the ftouteft heart. Paul's reply is the language of true fortitude: "Bonds and afflictions await me; but none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto me, fo that I may finish my course with joy."

"Befet with threatening dangers round,
Firm Fortitude maintains her ground:
Her confcience holds her courage up.