experience, may learn caution and circumspection; and the young and ignorant may lay in a stock of knowledge and prudence. Such as are already blessed with wisdom and understanding, may here find the means of increasing their own store, and of instructing others by their counsels. They will herein learn to interpret the obscure proverbs and dark sayings of the men of old time.

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Having, in the six first verses, given the title and substance of his book, Solomon very properly observes, that the true foundation of wisdom consists in the fear of God, that is, in religion; and they who are so foolish as to deny this truth, will never profit by instruction. The duty which ranks next after religion, is reverence and obedience to parents; this will render a man more respectable than the most costly ornaments he can wear.

"Having laid down these important maxims, of fearing God and respecting parents, his next advice is, to beware of the company and evil examples of the wicked. Those here described, are represented as men of bloody designs, seeking an opportunity to destroy the unwary traveller, and to enrich themselves with his spoils. Eager to decoy an incautious youth, they use every art to persuade him to be their companion and to share in their wicked gains. But what says the wise man to these vile seducers? Have thou nothing to do with them, O my son ; utterly shun their society; for if once you engage in it, the guilt of murder may be added to that of robbery. Let this caution then put you upon your guard: nothing surely but a silly bird will run into the snare which he sees is laid for him. But these wicked men are, in fact, ensnaring themselves; for while their greediness of gain makes them thirst after the blood of

others, they little think that they are laying a trap for their own lives.

"After this, wisdom is represented as crying out in the most public manner, in language that cannot be misunderstood, exhorting the wicked who scoff at knowledge and goodness, to repent and turn from their evil deeds and then shall the spirit of wisdom be fully disclosed and made known to them. But if, on the contrary, all the advice and warnings which wisdom gives, are set at nought and rejected; it will be too late too seek her in the time of distress and grievous calamity. They who have neglected to apply to her early, and have despised her counsels, must be content to reap the fruit which their own folly has planted. Nor is it at all uncommon for men to bring ruin upon themselves by their abuse of prosperity; thereby confirming the observation of the Psalmist, the things that should have been for their wealth, are unto them an occasion of falling. On the other hand, they who obey the voice of wisdom, shall live in peace and security, and be free from all apprehensious of evil.

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Many useful reflections may be drawn from this chapter. In the first place, we are here taught to lay the foundation of all wisdom and knowledge in the fear of God and religion. This is the corner stone, which all persons who are blessed with children, should lay with the utmost care. Every thing else is vain and deceitful, but this will stand the test both of prosperity and adversity. Secondly, obedience to parents is the due consequence of religion. The parents, who have been careful to instil the principles of the one, may expect to receive their reward in the other. And let those happy children, who have been thus early instructed, learn to set a due value upon such a blessing: it will afford them

the greatest comfort in this life, and will open the way to their happiness in the next. Thirdly, let us learn from hence, to avoid the enticements and dangers of ill-gotten wealth. How many unhappy youths have been seduced, by it, to forsake the straight path of uprightness and honesty, till by degrees they have been led on, from one crime to another, to the shocking crime of imbruing their hands in the blood of their fellow-creatures. Lastly, let us beware how we despise the instruction and kind warnings, which religion and wisdom offer us. harden our hearts against them, we shall in vain look up to them for assistance in the day of affliction. Our fatal neglect will subject us to the curse, denounced against the rebellious Israelites; go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen, and let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”

If we

ORIGINAL POETRY.

A CHRISTIAN WAR-SONG.

ONCE again, in God's own right,
Christian, gird thee for the fight,
Lest the long and deadly night,
Thee in guilt surprise.

Still, still, for a little time,

Thou must watch 'gainst sin and crime,

If unto the life sublime,

Thou thro' Christ would'st rise.

After this short life is o'er,
Sin's temptation has no pow'r,
Who then, for so short an hour
Would a recreant prove?

Fear not, though thou oft has stray'd;
Jesus has thy ransom paid,

If thou seek'st his tender aid,
In sorrow and in love.

Faint not thou, thro' Satan's fear,
God's own Spirit aye is near,
He will thy feeble efforts cheer,
The lost steps to retrieve.

Then onward, Christian, onward go,
Watch and strive 'gainst ev'ry foe,
Soon thou shalt full surely know,
In whom thou dost believe.

Surrey.

MONTHLY REFLECTIONS FOR OCTOBER.

Now, Johnny, take your milk pan, and be off," said Dame Wilson, "and remember, I'll have no loitering on the way." It was a fine October morning, a cold fresh breeze blew here and there the withered leaves, and waved the golden tinted woods. It was a morning on which it was impossible to be idle, and Johnny, with a pair of rosy cheeks, light heart, and bounding steps, and a large bit of bread, set off to the parsonage, to receive his accustomed portion of milk. On return

ing, he would gladly have disobeyed his mother's orders. Slowly as he ascended the hill, his eye wistfully turned to the fields on each side of him. "If I might but just stop and pick up some of that white cobweb," said he to himself, when some one from behind called out "Well, my little fellow, what are you so gravely thinking about?" Johnny turned round, and saw the good Mr. Wilson; this put an end to all his difficulties. "Oh! Sir," he replied, "Mother told me not to loiter, and I want so much to know what all that is over the fields, Sir." Mr. Wilson bade him go on quickly, kindly promising, that as he was coming to the cottage, he would try and bring some with him.

After

Mr. Wilson had entered, and finished his business with William, Johnny eagerly said, "Now, Sir, may we know about that cobweb?" "I had some trouble," replied the Pastor," in bringing this leaf, for the web is so fine, it will scarcely bear to be touched. This appearance however, is called Gossamer, and is caused by an immense number of small spiders, which, when they want to change their place, have a power of shooting out several long threads, to which they cling, and are gently carried along in the air, as far as they please." "Wonderful little creatures," exclaimed Mary; "I'm sure, Sir, it often goes to my heart to sweep the cobwebs away, when I see the poor little spider so busily making it! But I can't keep the place tidy any other way, Sir." "Very true, Mary, and I dare say, too, you find that you have no sooner swept one away, than a new one appears. Such is the case with our hearts," continued Mr. Wilson: "Satan is continually weaving his web of sin and pollution over them. In vain do we endeavour to keep our thoughts and words clear from sin. In the heart