elemental principles are those also of which both air and water are composed, so that air and water may be considered in truth and fact as being the original elements of organic life. - Dr. Toulman.

4. MATERIALISM.

Mention has been made of the word "materialism." I hold a maxim on this matter which, personally, I have felt of exceeding consequence. It is time the truth had gone forth, to be held as a maxim forevermore, THAT IN PROPORTION TO THE DEPTH OF ONE'S FAITH, IS THE ABSENCE OF UNEASINESS BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. Materialism never arises from knowledge; it is, on the other hand, a certification of deficiency on the part of the mind cherishing it. It consists, not in the exposition of any positive knowledge, but in the dogmatic assertion that beyond the line of such knowledge there lies nothing more.

To deal with materialism, then, what is our course? Never to deny or undervalue truth distinctly laid down, but to deny that what is known is a limit: to deny that the system pretending to be everything is (whatever its special value) the everything it pretends: not to imagine that man ought not to study the laws of Nature, but to show him that beyond these, toward the region of sunset, there are powers which made and sustain even the whole of Nature's fabric, an august Being,even the Father of our spirits,—with whom, though the seasons change, and those stupendous orbs rest not in their courses, there is never variableness or shadow of turning. Professor Nichol.

5. LIFE. - Of all miracles, the most wonderful is that of life, the common, daily life which we carry with us, and which everywhere surrounds us. The sun and stars, the blue firmament, day and night, the tides and seasons, are as nothing compared with it! Lifethe soul of the world, but for which creation were not!

It is life which is the grand glory of the world; it was, indeed, the consummation of creative power, at which the morning stars sang together for joy.

Is not the sun glorious, because there are living eyes to be gladdened by his beams? is not the fresh. air delicious, because there are living creatures to inhale and enjoy it? are not odors fragrant, and sounds sweet, and colors gorgeous, because there is the living sensation to appreciate them? Without life, what were they all? What were a Creator himself, without lifeintelligence understanding — to know and to adore Him, and to trace His finger in the works that He hath made?

6. MORAL AND PHYSICAL COURAGE.—At the battle of Waterloo, two French officers were advancing to charge a much superior force. The danger was imminent, and one of them displayed evident signs of fear. The other, observing it, said to him, "Sir, I believe you are frightened." "Yes," returned the other, "I am; and if you were half as much frightened, you would run away." This anecdote exhibits in a happy light the difference between moral and physical courage.

"The brave man is not he who feels no fear,

For that were stupid and irrational;

But he whose noble soul its fear subdues,

And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from."

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7. PERFECTION NO TRIFLE. A friend called on Michael An'gelo, who was finishing a statue; some time afterwards he called again; the sculptor was still at his work; his friend, looking at the figure, exclaimed, "You have been idle since I saw you last." By no means," replied the sculptor; "I have retouched this part, and polished that; I have softened this feature, and brought out this muscle; I have given more expression to this lip, and more energy to this limb." "Well,

well," said his friend, "but all these are trifles." "It may be so," replied Angelo, "but recollect that trifles make perfection, and that perfection is no trifle."

8. THE MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION. I envy no quality of mind or intellect in others, be it genius, power, wit, or fancy; but if I could choose what would be most delightful, and I believe most useful to me, I should prefer a firm religious belief to every other blessing; for it makes life a discipline of goodness; creates new hopes when all earthly hopes vanish; and throws over the decay, the destruction of existence, the most gorgeous of all lights; awakens life even in death, and from corruption and decay calls up beauty and divinity; makes an instrument of fortune, and shame the ladder of ascent to Paradise; and, far above all combinations of earthly hopes, calls up the most delightful visions of palms and amaranths, the gardens of the blest, the security of everlasting joys, where the sensualist and skeptic view only gloom, decay, annihilation, and despair.- Sir Humphrey Davy.

9. THE TRUE LIFE.The mere lapse of years is not life. To eat, and drink, and sleep; to be exposed to darkness and the light; to pace around the mill of habit and turn the wheel of wealth; to make reason our bookkeeper, and turn thought into an implement of trade, this is not life. In all this, but a poor fraction of the consciousness of humanity is awakened; and the sanctities still slumber which make it most worth while to be.

Knowledge, truth, love, beauty, goodness, faith, alone give vitality to the mechanism of existence. The laugh of mirth which vibrates through the heart; the tears which freshen the dry wastes within; the music which brings childhood back; the prayer that calls the future near; the doubt which makes us meditate; the death

which startles us with mystery; the hardships that force us to struggle; the anxiety that ends in trust, these are the true nourishments of our natural being.

10. ENDURING INFLUENCE OF HUMAN ACTIONS. - We see not in life the end of human actions. The influence never dies. In ever widening circle it reaches beyond the grave. Death removes us from this to an eternal world; time determines what shall be our condition in that world. Every morning, when we go forth, we lay the moulding hand on our destiny; and every evening, when we have done, we have left a deathless impression upon our character. We touch not a wire but vibrates in eternity, a voice but reports at the Throne of God. Let youth especially think of these things; and let every one remember, that in this world character is in its formation state;—it is a serious thing to think, to speak, to act.

III.

Or He deserts us at the hour

The fight is almost lost;

And seems to leave us to ourselves
Just when we need Him most.

IV.

Ill masters good; good seems to change
To ill with greatest ease;

And, worst of all, the good with good
Is at cross purposes.

V.

It is not so, but so it looks;

And we lose courage then;

And doubts will come if God hath kept His promises to men.

VI.

Ah! God is other than we think;

His ways are far above,.

Far above reason's height, and reached Only by childlike love.

VII.

The look, the fashion of God's ways,
Love's life-long study are;

Love can be bold, and guess, and act,
When reason would not dare.

VIII.

Love hath a prudence of her own;

Her step is firm and free;
Yet there is cautious science, too,
In her simplicity.

IX.

Workman of God! O, lose not heart,

But learn what God is like;

And in the darkest battle-field

Thou shalt know where to strike.

X.

O, blessed is he to whom is given,
The instinct that can tell