CONSOLATION.

When the clouds of desolation
Gather o'er my naked head,
And my spirit's agitation

Knows not where to turn or tread;
When life's gathering storms compel me
To submit to wants and woes,
Who shall teach me, who shall tell me
Where my heart may find repose?

God and Father! thou did'st give me
Sorrow for my portion here;
But thy mercy will not leave me
Helpless, struggling with despair;
For to thee, when sad and lonely,
Unto thee alone I turn,

And to thee, my Father! only

Look for comfort when I mourn.

Nor in vain-for light is breaking 'Midst the sorrows, 'midst the storms;

And methinks I see awaking

Heavenly hopes and angel forms;

And my spirit waxes stronger,

And my trembling heart is still; And my bosom doubts no longer Thine inexplicable will.

THE DANGERS OF ADVERSITY.

No subject of exhortation is oftener chosen by the divine and the moralist than the dangers of prosperity and the blessings of adversity. It is a good subject, and deserves all that can be said upon it; but should not the reverse of the picture be sometimes held up to view? There is little need, perhaps, to dwell much on the moral advantages of prosperity in order to make it desired, as such a state needs no new attractions to render it beautiful in the eyes and welcome to the heart of man; but it seems desirable to point out to the child of immortality the dangers which beset the path of sorrow; a path which, though thorny to the feet and obstructed to the view, is generally represented as enlightened by the day

spring from on high, and infallibly tending to heights of holiness and peace. Do we sufficiently reflect that such is not its universal tendency? Are we aware that adversity has slain its thousands, though prosperity may have destroyed its ten thousands? It behooves us to be careful that, while we desire and aim at advancement in holiness, we are not lost through want of circumspection. While we guard against the snares of wealth, ease, and worldly privileges, let us not flatter ourselves that, as soon as sorrow overtakes us, we must necessarily become more worthy of the love of the Father who chasteneth us, that our hearts must necessarily be purified, and our affections elevated.

Though sorrow may soften the heart, it may also harden it; it may expand or contract the affections; it may bring us to God or alienate us from him, according to our previous habits of mind, or to our course of action under the pressure of new circumstances. Instead of believing that the bitter draught of sorrow will assuredly

confer immortality, we must bear in mind that it will act according to our preparation for its operation; it may renovate our powers; it may restore our vigor, and infuse new life into our spiritual frame; but it may also exert a relaxing and benumbing influence, and unawares lay us prostrate in eternal death. If we do not endeavor to discern what influence the operations of Providence ought to have on our character, and strive to subject ourselves duly to them, we may expect in vain the precious results for which we look with confidence. Some results will be produced, perhaps valuable, perhaps noxious, but our expectations will be disappointed unless we anxiously observe, and, as far as possible, carefully direct the process. It is not every lump of earth which will yield gold in the crucible, and it is not every mind which will come forth from its fiery trial adorned with solid and shining virtues.

But though adversity may benefit some minds more than others, it has its dangers

for all. That which is oftenest pointed out is distrust of the goodness of God. This is however, in our opinion, by no means the greatest. In a Christian country like this, where every sabbath renews the praises of the Father of mercies, where preachers abound to display instances of his goodness, where through the whole range of its literature, from the volume which invites little children to "bless God, for he is very good," to that which appeals to his "glorious works" to show that he is the "parent of good," express acknowledgments of the benignity of Providence are found in every page,—a belief in this benignity is so early formed and so strongly maintained, that it usually stands the shock of adverse events, and dwells, actively or passively, in the mind through life. It is almost as uncommon, in this age and country, to meet with a denial of the unalterable goodness of God, as a doubt of his existence. Those who are practically resigned to his will and those who are not, equally acknowledge the justice and mercy of that will.