"Broad is the way that leadeth to deftruction, and many there be that go in thereat.

Narrow is the way which leadeth

unto life, and few there be that find it."-MATT. vii. 13, 14.

The way of Death is broad, with downward flide,
Eafy and pleasant to man's luft and pride;

'Tis thronged with multitudes who glide along
With gold, and drink, and dance, and wanton fong:
Nor thefe alone-but fome of decent mien,
"Harmlefs" and "ufelefs," on the way are feen;
In ruin's gulph it ends. See! rifing there,
Thick clouds of blackness, and of dark despair.
The Path of Life lifts up its narrow breadth,
High o'er the realms of darkness and of death;
Sky-rifing, ftill, laborious, and ftraight,
Leading directly up to heaven's gate;

'Tis wondrous ftrange, and yet, alas! 't is true,
The Path of Life is travelled but by few,

Though ending where the shades of night ne'er fall,
But one eternal Light encircles all.

HERE is depicted the path of life and the way of death. The way of death is exceeding broad, and on an inclined plane. It has a downward tendency; it is occupied by a vast multitude. Some are seen throwing themselves off the way headlong, others are bearing aloft the terrible banners of war. They are elated with victory. Here the man of pleasure revels in delight. The drunkard is dancing with wild delirious joy, and the miser groans beneath his bags of gold. There are, however, fome fober, respectable people on the way. These appear to look grave and thoughtful. The way ends, you perceive, in total darkness. Thick clouds of curling blackness, rifing from a pit or gulf, cover the extremity of the way. The travellers enter the dismal fhades, and we see them no more.

From the way of death you see another way,

or path rather, stretching up, as it were, into the clouds. This is called the path of life. It is extremely narrow. It is moreover difficult on account of its upward tendency. Few perfons are seen walking on it; these scattered here and there. This path appears to end well. We can fee where it does end. A beautiful palace opens its golden gates to receive the wearied travellers. From its open portals burfts forth a dazzling light that illuminates the pathway beneath.

By the way of death, is fignified the way of fin that leads to death eternal. "The wages of fin is death." Its downward tendency denotes that it is much easier to go wrong than to go right. The way of fin is eafy and pleasant to man's corrupt nature. He delights in it after the inner man. Were it not fo, furely fo many in all ages would not be found walking therein. The Creator himself gives us the reason. The thoughts of the imaginations of his heart are evil, only evil, and that continually." Hence man He goes

follows the bent of his inclination. with the ftream; every one in his own way.' To do otherwise would require felf-denial and vigorous perfevering effort.

In the engraving, fome are seen casting themfelves off the way. By this is meant, not that finners grow tired of the way of fin exactly, but that they are tired of themselves; they are tired of life. Their fubftance is expended in gambling and profligacy. The means of indulging their depraved appetite no longer exifts; hence they

commit fuicide; plunge into eternity, and add to the number of thofe who die without hope, for "Except ye repent, ye fhall all likewise perish." Others, by their exceffes in riotous living and debaucheries, break down their conftitution, and deftroy life, and thus perifh with those who "live not out half their days."

Warriors are also in the way of death, raising to the breeze the flag of triumph. These denote the men "who delight in war,"—who, for wealth and glory, "fink, burn, and destroy," and flaughter their fellow-creatures.

Thefe violate the law of Jehovah, "Thou shalt not kill." Drunkards too are in this way, caroufing with strong drink, dancing with maniac madness, and yet, on the way to ruin, drowning the cares of time, but planting thorns for eternity. These belong to the clafs of whom it is faid, "Such shall not inherit the kingdom of God." The one with the bag of gold represents that very large clafs who worship Mammon on the earth; who never think even of heaven, except when they remember that it is paved with gold. These are idolaters; the meanest of the Devil's drudges, the vileft of the flaves of fin. Others enjoy the pleasures of fin; but he fweats and groans beneath his load; he takes place with the breakers of God's law,

other gods before me."

Thou fhalt have no

Some pass the time in wanton dalliance; thefe defignate the adulterer, fornicator, and the impure. These take pleasure in unrighteousness;

give up their affections to the control of luft; indulge in mere animal delights; imbrute their manhood; quench their intellect, and barter the glories of heaven for a "portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimftone; this is the second death." Others of staid and respectable appearance are in this way. Men of dignity and of confequence; men of morals and philofophy, all honourable men; men who are harmless in their generation, honeft in their dealings. They They "render to Cæfar the things which are Cæfar's," but, alas for them, they do not "render unto God the things which are God's." One thing only is wanting. "One thing thou lackeft." The heart is unfurrendered; hence there is no repentance-no living faith-no homage-no love-no obedience-no falvation. These, alas, all take rank with the "unprofitable fervant," who was caft into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

But time would fail to describe the various characters that throng the way of death. The grofs fenfualift, the haughty Pharifee, and the fpecious hypocrite, are all here. But is it poffible, fome one may say, that fo many are in the way to eternal death? God himself has answered the question; we have heard his voice. It is not only true that they are going, but that they go of their own accord. The finner is threatened, admonished, and warned, and yet he

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