fidered of fo much importance that, from the period of their first regular establishment, a new era of reckoning time was conftituted, just as we reckon from the birth of Jesus Christ. Each Olympiad confifted of four years; hence they dated events from the first, second, third, or fourth year of any particular Olympiad. The first Olympiad commenced 776 years before the Chriftian era. These exercises consisted of five different kinds, viz. boxing, wrestling, leaping, the quoit, and racing. We confine ourselves to the illustration of the latter. The celebration of the running match excited great interest. Hence the preparation for these festivals was very great. No man could become a candidate for the prize unless he bore a good character, and regularly exercised himself ten months previously, according to the rules prescribed.

The rules were very fevere; a strict regimen had to be observed, unpalateable food to be eaten, abstinence from all luxuries, exercises were to be continued through all weathers, and we know not what befides. And now the grand day has arrived; the judge is appointed, having been previously sworn to deal impartially the racecourse is cleared, the place of starting fixed; the judge takes his feat at the goal, or end of the raceground, and holds in his hand the crown of olive, or of laurel, destined to grace the victor's brow; officers are appointed to keep order. The city is emptied of its inhabitants, all the principal men are there. The candidates make their appearance;

motion.

every eye is fixed upon them; every heart is in Divested of all needless clothing, fometimes naked, they await the signal,-'tis givenoff they start. Not a whisper is heard among all that multitude; with intense interest they watch the runners as they pass along. A shout is heard. The victor returns, like a triumphant conqueror, drawn in a chariot of four, wearing the crown of victory, and is everywhere greeted with the acclamations of the people.

Religion is compared to a race. The stadium, or race-ground, is the path of piety leading through this world to the next; the runners are those who profess religion; the officers appointed to keep order, the ministers of the gospel; the spectators, men and angels; the judge, the Lord Jesus Christ; the reward, a crown of righteoufnefs.

Let us imagine a company of young persons just commencing the Christian race. They fet off together. The directions are given to all; they are four in number: 1. Be sure to lay afide every weight; 2. Relinquish the besetting fin; 3. Exercise patience; 4. Look to Jesus. They go along pretty well for awhile. Soon one is seen lagging behind. What is the matter? He has too much weight about him. Another drops off; his besetting fin has prevailed. A third is miffing; what ails him? O, he is out of patience -with God, himself, and everybody befides. Some follow the directions, persevere to the end, and obtain the prize. But mark: of those who run in the Grecian games, one only could receive the prize. In the Chriftian race, all may run fo as to obtain. The judge there was sometimes partial; the Christian's umpire is the "Righteous Judge." The successful candidate, after all his labours, obtained only a garland of withering flowers; the Chriftian receives a glorious

"In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my ftrength, and my refuge, is in God." Ps. lxii. 7.

SALVATION.

Lo! where amid appalling dangers dread,
The rock undaunted lifts its welcome head;
The ship of commerce gaily fail'd along,
All hands were merry with their evening fong;
When lo! they scud before a fudden blast,
The fails are shiver'd, broken is the mast;
The ship is wreck'd, the storm rolls wildly round,
The finking failors have no footing found.
In drowning plight, stunn'd by the wave's rude shock,
The lightning kindly points them to the rock;
The Rock they grasp, and raise themselves on high,
In confcious safety bid the storm país by.

So when mankind were wreck'd on Eden's shore,
Loud was the tempeft, loud the thunder's roar,
Earth, fea, and skies affrighted were, and toff'd,
Tumultuous all. Shall man be saved, or loft ?
In that wild ocean of defpair and dread,
The Rock of AGES lifts his lofty head.

The finner, finking, stunn'd by Sinai's shock,
By Sinai's lightning, now beholds the Rock;
With glad furprise, more clear his moral fight,
He fees befides, a cross of heavenly light
The Rock he clambers, to the cross he clings,
And faved from danger, of Salvation fings.

no

A SHORT time since, and that vessel was failing calmly and securely over the soft blue wave. The voice of fong arose, and mingled its melodies with the light air around. Home, sweet home, was the theme which gladdened every heart. But ah! thou treacherous fea! Thou deceitful wind! How changed the scene! The voice of fong is departed; joy and gladness are more. Instead of the music of soft symphonies, are heard the clamours of despair, the thunder's mighty roar, old ocean's harsh sounds, and the howling of the storm. The ship is driven fiercely before the gale, fails are rent, one of the masts is gone by the board, ruin steers the ill-fated ship; she strikes upon a reef, the billows roll over her, the crew are washed overboard. Night thickens around with his stormy horrors; manfully the drowning wretches buffet the waves ; the lightning flings its lurid glare around, and shows them their awful condition; again it lightens, and they descry a rock, lifting its head above the billows, and promifing a place of safety. Hope revives-they swim for the rock, foon "they make it." See, they have got upon it. Now they are safe.

The vessel, failing joyfully and securely before the gale began, may represent the safe and happy