has drawn of our common mother. Of woman, moulded by divine influence, it may indeed be said—

'Grace is in all her steps, heaven in her eye,

In every gesture, dignity and love.'

But woman, designing and excited, is quite a different being; the parody is not too severe, if we say—

'Self is in all her steps, earth in her eye,

In every gesture, awkward eagerness.'

"I can fully enter into a remark made on the manners of a lady, whom I once knew-She wants repose.' Believe me, my dear girls, you can only be pleasant and valuable, as your conduct manifests a heart, artless and at rest.

'Be this, in all your varied ways,

In all events your only care;

How you may show your Saviour's praise,
How best adorn the name you bear.""

I had thus witnessed the benefit of conquering excitement, both as the produce of anger and vanity. A few days afterwards, I saw her doubly attacked, in the character of fretfulness and impatience at the failings of others. On this occasion, however, I was much disconcerted at being able to make the observation, but I was placed in a situation from which I could not retreat, without embarrassing both my friends and myself. It was the day before the annual meeting of a Branch Bible Society, and the deputation from the Parent Institution were to take up their abode with my friend. Now, Mrs. Edmondstone was a truly good woman, and felt it a privilege to receive these servants of her Lord. She was also remarkably nice in her management, and her arrangements were always sensible and well-executed; so that, whenever a guest arrived, he was sure to be hospitably treated, and made comfortable in every respect; yet, from the very desire to fulfil her feminine duties, rose a snare to this excellent lady. She was too minute, and instead of feeling at ease after having taken all due pains, was still burdened with anxiety. The gentlemen were expected to dinner that day, and Mrs. Edmondstone had been with the gardener, choosing fruit and vegetables; when, just by the grotto in which I was reading, she met her husband. With a

countenance somewhat careful and troubled, she began speaking about various minutia, to all which he readily attended, thus giving honour to the weaker vessel. At length she added-" I wish you had not told Thomas to take up those potatoes; he will dawdle over them half the morning, and never be ready." I confess it was with surprise, though it was the only time I was so surprised during all my stay, that I heard Mr. Edmondstone's tone acquire a degree of impatience. "Nonsense!" he replied; "it is now ten o'clock, Thomas is working very diligently, and his employment will not take an hour." I looked up, and saw that excitement was whispering, even in the ear of this good man. In a moment, however, he was conscious of it, and thrusting her away, resumed his accustomed smile, and his own gentle voice. "You must excuse my hasty answer, love," he said; "how ridiculous it was to act, when I thought you needlessly ruffled, as if I could help you to overcome it, by being ruffled myself. We will go together to the footstool of that throne, where we may find grace suited to our exigencies, whether they be great or small."

On the following morning, Mr. Edmondstone assembled his children in the library, before their visiters appeared, and endeavoured to impart a spirit which might enable them to enjoy and improve the privileges of the day. As he entered, smiling and animated, a pleasant group seemed to my mental eye, to accompany him. Grateful love, liberality, and cheerful zeal were most conspicuous; but on looking more closely, I saw with surprise, excitement herself standing among them. Yet was there a chastened soberness, a modest diffidence in her demeanor, which I never before witnessed. And well there might be; for though our friend both invited and welcomed her, I saw she was still narrowly watched by him, and he stood prepared, gently to check any undue expression of her feelings. When she reminded William of the interesting anecdotes which they had been told, and urged him to put the whole of his money, purse and all, into the plate, his papa replied

"No, William, I do not advise you to do that, because you have other objects that may justly claim a share. How could you buy the little books that you give to the alphabet-class in our Sunday school, or the comforts for poor old Thomas? I am pleased to see you interested in this great and glorious cause, but even here,

you must not let excitement carry you away. Devise, as the Bible exhorts you, liberal things; but first take this pencil and paper, count up your money, and deduct what you will really need, before you expect a fresh supply. And now, my dear children, I rejoice in your eagerness to share this delightful work of spreading abroad the tidings of salvation. So long as excitement is not your leader, but only the helpful companion of more fixed and holy motives, you will do well to cherish her. As chief mover, she is indeed always accompanied by self-will and self-importance, while the zeal which merely acts in obedience to her call, passes quickly away; and the exertion engaged in at her bidding, soon becomes irksome. But under the influence of the faith which works by love, you will find her a powerful assistant. For duty then will become both warm in its commencement, and steady in its progress; duty in its whole extent, whether it relate to the glory of God, the good of your own souls, or the souls of others. Too many think, that outward service may excuse their negligence, with respect to the inner man of the heart; and to those quiet, daily virtues, which should bless their domestic circle. But you will look within as well as around you, and give to every enjoined work its own appropriate place. Deeply feeling that you are bought with the precious blood of Christ, you will desire to glorify Him, in your body and in your spirit, which are his; and will earnestly enquire, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' And as varied Christian instruction, or rising circumstances, call you to fight against this or that corruption, to cultivate this or that grace of the Spirit, to promote the interests of religion in your own immediate circle, or to assist in sending to the heathen the knowledge of salvation, you will be wise to engage in the labor pointed out, with all the added force you can derive, from passing events, or present exhortation. For remember, my beloved children, that Holy Scripture, far from encouraging coldness and apathy, expressly declares, that it is good always to be zealously affected in a good thing."" S.S.S.

TO-MORROW.

"My birthday,"-" new year's day,"-" next half year; how many a youthful heart is looking onward to one or other of these periods, as the date when some good resolve, some new plan VOL. IX. 3rd SERIES.

M m

of improvement, shall be put into execution ;—but it is not of any of these I am about to write; there is a day rapidly approaching, when, if half the fair promises relating to it are realized, more good things are to be done than were ever compressed into the limits of a day before. Who has not some scheme for to-morrow? some long delayed intention then to be fulfilled? But among all these good purposes, who does not feel somewhat reproved by the child's remark, "To-day is the to-morrow of yesterday?" Where then are yesterday's resolves? Alas! they are now the property of to-day, and in all probability, they will be bequeathed to to-morrow, and so on, till, like some once treasured heir-loom,which has passed as a part of the family possession from father to son, through many a successive generation, they shall lie in undisturbed oblivion.

But if we carry this principle onward, what will the end be? A day must come that shall have no to-morrow,"-shall not some of these fair promisers then be among those described by Young, who "resolve, and re-resolve, and die the same?" This fault of procrastination seems to spread like a shadow over all grades of society; from the little idler who keeps the merry game up till bed time, and "will learn his lesson in the morning," to the hoary headed pilgrim, who, finding nothing in the path he has grown old in pursuing, but "vanity and vexation of spirit," looks to to-morrow as the "more convenient season," when he may turn into the narrow way-all seem to come under its influence,-and all who seek not to shake off that influence, must feel in the end its bitter punishment.

In heaven there is no procrastination, no to-morrow; there is only one eternal now; and "order is heaven's first law,"-order both of time and place. Spring-time and autumn, day and night, have each their respective seasons, and none of these are infringed upon; when the bright stars of night look down upon our sleeping world through their appointed hours, and it is time they should fade into the fuller light of morning, does the sun delay his shining? No, already the dawning has begun, and the far-off waves of the Eastern ocean grow bright and yet brighter in the rosy sunbeam, and the broad and blessed light of day has spread over the now busy world, calling to their daily labor and consequent enjoyment, all save those who, looking onward to to-morrow, spend the day in weariness and vexation, because in idleness.

But in higher things than these, such may learn a lesson from heaven;-when the sins of men had risen as a dark cloud between them and an offended God, a cloud across whose deepening gloom played the lightning of his wrath, while the red bolt of vengeance had well nigh fallen, when nought could disperse this darkness, unless a brighter than any earthly sun, a sun of righteousness should arise with healing in his beams,-what then was the language that stole softly on the ears of unfallen angels and blessed spirits? Not "to-morrow," not some future day, but "Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will O God!" and a ray of glory streamed through the thick cloud of transgression to the hearts of those who believed;—while many unwise, and ungrateful, look on the robe of salvation then wrought for them, and say, 66 to-morrow we will wear it!"

Oh! why is it thus? Why, but that they consider not their latter end? Days of darkness and sorrow must come, and it is in the hour of earthly trial that the hope of heaven shines brightest; it is when life's sunny sky is clouded, that the bow of promise speaks peace to the soul; yet, who that has not ere those dark days come, sought an interest in the covenant of mercy, will dare to hope that such peace is for them? They who have not traced a Father's hand when their path lay through "green pastures and beside the still waters," can rarely look to Him when treading the dark valley of sorrow and of death. It is not to those who stand without, and look on the portals of eternal bliss, that such bliss is offered, but to those who knock;-not they who only desire, but they who seek, shall find it the pearl of great price;—Oh then, in this sense "take no thought for the morrow," but at once,

let us

"Seize the kind promise while it waits,
And march to Zion's heavenly gates!"

E. M. I.

ON THE EVIDENCES OF DESIGN MANIFESTED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN.

MAN is "fearfully and wonderfully made." The most exquisite wisdom is displayed in the adjustment of the various parts of his bodily frame, and in the adaptation of his moral and mental nature to his external condition. Earth and air and sea teem with sentient beings, differing in form, habits, and dispositions, and all enjoying