from all unnecessary reflections upon itself. — FÉNELON.

Are not the signs of the heavenly kingdom distinctly visible in the nature of a little child? Love, simplicity, and faith are the characteristics of little children. How simple and touching is their faith! Imitate little children, and trust.-N. L. FROTHINGHAM.

छ

Virtue.

HE spirit of a little child,

The beauty of a wayside flower,
And to the passions growing wild
A silent and subduing power;-
The secret of the Second Man,

The order of a perfect world-
Our narrow words may never span
All that in Virtue lies impearled:
But human lives may compass it,
And somewhat of its marvels show,
With the bright beams celestial lit
As once the Son of Man below;
And pour the sunshine of His love
In calm effulgence all around,
Till they to mute Amazement prove
Divinity in man is found.

Virtue-says a writer of the last century, in a passage that was a great favorite with the poet Rogers,- Virtue is of intrinsic value and good desert, and of indispensable obligation; not the creature of will, but necessary and immutable; not local or temporary, but of equal extent and antiquity with the Divine mind; not a mode of sensation, but everlasting Truth; not dependent on power, but the guide of all power. Virtue is the foundation of honor and esteem, the source of all beauty, order, and happiness in nature. It is what confers value on all other endowments and qualities of a reasonable being, to which they ought to be absolutely subservient, and without which, the more eminent they are, the more hideous deformities and the greater curses they become. The use of it is not confined to any stage of our existence, or to any particular situation we can be in, but reaches through all the periods and circumstances of our being. Many of the endowments and talents we now possess, and of which we are too apt to be proud, will cease entirely with the present state; but this will be our ornament and dignity in every future state to which we may be removed. Beauty and wit will die, learning will vanish away, and all the arts of life be soon forgot; but Virtue will remain forever. This unites us to the whole rational creation, and fits us for conversing with any order of superior natures, and for a place in any part of God's works. It procures us the

approbation of all wise and good beings, and renders them our allies and friends. But what is of unspeakably greater consequence is, that it makes God our friend, assimilates and unites our minds to His, and engages His almighty power in our defense. Superior beings of all ranks are bound by it no less than ourselves. It has the same authority in all worlds that it has in this. The further any being is advanced in excellence and perfection the greater is his attachment to it, and the more he is under its influence. To say no more, it is the law of the whole universe; it stands first in the estimation of the Deity; its original is His nature; and it is the very object that makes Him lovely.

Such is the importance of Virtue. Of what consequence, therefore, is it that we practise it! There is no argument or motive which is at all fitted to influence a reasonable mind, which does not call us to this. One virtuous disposition of soul is preferable to the greatest natural accomplishments and abilities, and of more value than all the treasures of the world. If you are wise, then, study virtue, and contemn everything that can come in competition with it. Remember, that nothing else deserves one anxious thought or wish. Remember, that this alone is honor, glory, wealth and happiness. Secure this, and you secure everything; lose this, and all is lost.-Dr. PRICE.

There is but one pursuit in life which it is in

the power of all to follow, and of all to attain. It is subject to no disappointments, since he that perseveres makes every difficulty an advancement, and every contest a victory; and this is the pursuit of virtue. Sincerely to aspire after virtue is to gain her, and zealously to labor after her wages is to receive them. Those that seek her early will find her before it is late; her reward also is with her, and she will come quickly. For the breast of a good man is a little heaven commencing on earth, where the Deity sits enthroned with unrivalled influence, every subjugated passion "like the wind and storm fulfilling His word."-COLTON.

Goodness.

GOODNESS needs no lure:

All compensations are in her enshrined, Whatever things are right and fair and pure, Wealth of the heart and mind.

Failure and success,

The Day and Night of every life below,
Are but the servants of her blessedness,
That come and spend and go.

Life is her reward,

A life brim-full, in every day's employ,
Of sunshine, inspiration, every word
And syllable of joy.

Heaven to thee is known,

If Goodness in the robes of common earth Becomes a presence thou canst call thine own, To warm thy heart and hearth.

Goodness I call the habit, and goodness of nature the inclination. This, of all virtues and dignities of mind, is the greatest, being the character of the Deity, and without it man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing,-no better than a kind of vermin. Goodness answers to the theological virtue charity, and admits no excess but error. The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall; but in charity there is no excess, neither can angel or man come in danger by it.LORD BACON.

A holy hermit had passed a long life in a cave of the Thebaid, remote from all intercourse with mankind. He fasted and prayed, and performed many severe penances; and his whole thought was how he should make himself of account with God, so that he might be sure of a seat in Paradise.

Having lived in this way for threescore and ten years, he became much puffed up with ideas.