wont to tell them, "that sin made God's head to ache." Many have found by woeful experience, that sin makes not only the head but their hearts to ache! "Stand in awe," then, my dear young friends, "and sin not.” SPITTAL, BERWICK.

R.

SACRED BOTANY.

THE LILIES OF THE FIELD.

Matt. vi. 28.

THERE are no objects in nature from which we may not derive instruction. "The heavens declare the glory of the Lord, and the firmament sheweth his handywork." But we do not need to go so high, in order to learn lessons of piety. We have only to look around us on the earth we inhabit, to find matter for admiring contemplation, and adoring praise.

"There's not a plant or flower below

But makes God's glories known."

We would invite then, for a few moments, our young friends to learn some important lessons of instruction from one of these "flowers below," and not the least delightful of them-the lily of the field: Jesus Christ when he was on earth said to his disciples, "Consider the lilies of the field;" and we would now, along with you, do as he bid them do.

1st. Consider the lilies of the field, and learn the greatness of Divine wisdom. It has been often said that there are mysteries in a blade of grass, which the wisest philosophers cannot unravel; and so there are. But if a blade of grass is such an illustration of the Divine wisdom, much more a flower, and such a beautiful flower as the lily. What wisdom appears in

the elegant form, in the exquisite texture, in the delicate colour of the lily! None indeed can paint, none can weave, none can fabricate like nature, or rather, like the God of nature. And then, from what is it all produced? From absolutely nothing, save the

earth and air. How marvellous! Well might a pious individual exclaim, as he looked at a lily or primrose which he held in one hand, and a clod of earth, which he had in the other, What wisdom, what power, to produce this from that!

2d. Consider the lilies of the field, and learn trust in God. We are sometimes ready to fear, that we may not get necessary food and suitable raiment. Ah! there are times when even the labouring, industrious, but pious poor have sore misgivings in reference to this. But why should any of God's children fear, while they are in the use of the means of honest industry? Let them only go into the fields, and look at the lilies, and they will find their fears rebuked and their doubts dispelled. "Why," said Christ, "take ye thought for raiment ? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, will he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Should we not then trust? Matthew Henry says, Will God that feeds the ravens starve his babes? and we may say, Will God that clothes the flowers allow his children to be naked? No, verily.

3d. Consider the lilies of the field, and learn a lesson of humility. Young people, ay, and older people too, are exceedingly apt to be proud of dress. What expense, what care are lavished upon the outward adorning of the body! And when you get something on, which is finer, or richer, or gayer than others have, how apt are you to be vain and value yourself upon it! But how weak, and even silly the passion for dress! Be adorned as you may, are you any better, or any wiser, or any happier? How gorgeously apparelled was Solomon! You can never expect to be dressed so magnificently as he was. Yet he was outdone by the "Soloman in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Dress yourself then as richly as you can, be as fine as art can make you, and then look

very lilies.

into the glass of nature, compare yourself with the meanest flower that adorns the field, and what reason will you find to be clothed with humility!

How

4th. Consider the lilies of the field, and learn the frailty of your frame. How frail is the lily! Most beautiful it is, but as fragile as it is beautiful. easily, how quickly does it fade! "In the morning it groweth up, in the evening it is cut down and withered." And what is man? what art thou? a rock of the mountain, an oak of the forest? No: a mere fading lily of the field, easily crushed by the foot, easily nipped by the frost, easily scorched by the heat.

up:

It was a remarkable prayer which the Psalmist put "Make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am." We need, very much need, to be taught this important lesson; and we can hardly be taught it better, than by going into the field, and looking at the fading grass and withering flowers. "All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flowers of the grass.'

In a word, consider the lilies of the field, and learn the loveliness and beauty of the Saviour. He is not only the rose of Sharon, but the lily of the valleys. So he denominates himself. "I am," said he, "the lily of the valleys."

66

The character of the Saviour is made up of loveliness and beauty. In comparison of him the most lovely objects are not lovely, and the most beautiful objects not beautiful. My beloved," says the spouse in the Song of Soloman, "is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." And shall we not then love and admire one so supremely excellent? shall we not make him the subject of our praises, and the object of our trust? Oh yes; let us place this flower of paradise, the lily of the skies, which is the admiration of heaven, near our heartsmake it at once our joy and crown.

D. S.

98

PAUL AND BARNABAS AT LYSTRA.

PAUL was an apostle of Jesus Christ. Once he was an enemy of the Gospel. By converting grace he was made the most remarkable preacher of the gospel that ever lived. He was eminently an itinerant minister; that is, a minister going from place to place, preaching the Gospel wherever he had opportunity. He travelled on foot over a great part of Lesser Asia, and preached the Word in almost every city. That country was anciently divided into large provinces. The name of one of these provinces was Lycaonia. Lystra and Derbe were two celebrated cities in that province. Barnabas, a holy evangelist, accompanied Paul in his important journeys. They preached in both these cities.

While Paul was preaching at Lystra, a poor man, a cripple, was sitting near him. He had never walked from his birth. God gave this poor cripple faith, while he listened to Paul, that the apostle was able to cure him, in the name of Jesus. While the poor man was looking very stedfastly on the apostle, Paul said to the man with a loud voice, "Stand upright upon thy feet." And did he stand up? Yes, in a moment he leaped and walked. And, oh, how the heart of the man leaped for joy! Paul and Barnabas were surrounded by a great multitude of people. They saw what was done, and wondered! And, so they might, for they never saw such a sight before. Those who saw this sight were heathen. They were idolatrous pagans. They knew nothing of Jesus, and of his great power, and his great salvation. They were ignorant of God, the only, the living, and the true God. They believed in false gods and foolish idols. When they saw what was done, they thought Paul and Barnabas were two gods in the shape of men. Barnabas they thought was Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius. The priest of Jupiter was present among the multitude, and saw