"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Ps. cxix. 105.

Ps. lxxxiv. II.

THE SUN OF TRUTH.

Lo! on a path that through the mountains fweeps,
And climbs their summits, and defcends their deeps,
The Sun pours wide his bright diffufive rays,
And fhows two travellers on their different ways;
His fhade behind, his pathway always bright,
One travels forward with increafing light,
Till equatorial o'er his head it burns,
And all of fhadow into day it turns ;
The other turns upon the fun his back,

His lengthening fhadow darkens all his track.

Which now not feen, he turns him from the right,
And ends his journey in the realms of night.

SEE where, among the mountain heights, a long, ftraight path ftretches itself till it is loft in the distance beyond. The fun pours wide his rays of living light, illuminating the path, and fhedding luftre all around. Two travellers are

pursuing their different routes. One advances toward the fun; his fhadow is behind, his path is bright before him. As he proceeds, his fhadow diminishes, while his path grows brighter and brighter, until directly over head the fun pours the full tide of its glory upon him, and the whole of the fhadow disappears.

The other has turned his back upon the orb of day. See, he follows his own fhadow. It darkens his pathway before him. Now he leaves the track; his fhadow lengthens more and more; he wanders into funken labyrinths, and finally lofes himself amidst the darkness of night.

This emblem represents the moral world. The fun defignates the Sun of Truth. The travellers denote, first, those who follow the light their path fhines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day; their fouls become enlightened, vivified, and purified; darkness disappears, and heavenly light fhines on their fouls for ever. Secondly, it fignifies those who turn their backs on the light, and who, as they journey, wander farther and farther from his bright beams; their path becomes darker and darker; their fhadow lengthens as they proceed, until, having forfaken altogether the way of truth, they lose themselves among the wilds of error, and perish in the darkness of everlafting night.

Where fhines the Sun of Truth? In the holy Bible. The Scriptures are a "light" to the weary traveller, illuminating all his goings, pointing out his proper path, and showing where the mountains of error lift up their defolating heads.

This Sun of Truth fhines on the traveller himfelf. It discovers his ignorance, guilt, danger, helpleffness, and, at the fame time, his immortality. Again it fhines, and he beholds Calvary, with all its weeping tragedies. It reveals to him now his "wifdom, juftification, sanctification, and redemption." Where fhines the Sun of Truth? In the perfon of Jefus Christ. He who wifely uses the light of the Scriptures will be led to contemplate Him who is the "Light of the world," "the Sun of Righteousness," "the Splendid Glory of Jehovah," the Way, the Life, and the Truth."

The Chriftian, following the light of the glorious Sun of Truth, discovers ever-opening mines of richest knowledge. Fountains of living waters roll their treasures at his feet. Trees of Life overhang his pathway, and drop into his lap their golden ftores, till at length he beholds the opening gates of the New Jerusalem,

Where Light and Truth their mystic powers combine, And o'er the realms of Love for ever shine.

The infidel, turning his back upon the light, walks in the vain fhadow of his own opinions. Darker, and yet more dark, the shadow grows; he waxes worfe and worfe; one truth after another is given up one lie after another is embraced; farther and farther he wanders from God and blifs, and finally he takes his fearful "leap in the dark," and finds himself, contrary to his expectations, in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and woe.

"Unto the upright there arifeth light in the darkness."-Ps. cxii. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."-Ps. xxiii. 4.

4.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS.

Lo! where a Christian walks in darkest gloom,
As though enclofed in fome monaftic tomb;
And clouds of darkest night furround his head
A Pall, like that which canopies the dead;
His path lies through the palpable obfcure,
Nor can he yet difcern an open door;
Yet he's refolved to penetrate his way,
Nor doubts but darknefs will be turned to day:
To Chrift he prays, the light of mortals here;
And Chrift, the light of mortals, fhines out clear,
Full on his path, pours down the heavenly light,
And on he goes, with vigour and delight.

THE engraving represents a Chriftian walking through a dark and fhadowy vale, wherein is no light; the mantle of darkness encircles him, the pall of the grave has enfolded itself around him.

Nevertheless, his path runs directly through it; he knows not what dangers may lie in the midft; he knows not when or where the end may be. No chink, outlet, or open door presents itself to him, yet he is determined to perfevere; it is the path of duty.

Addreffing himself to his work, he addreffes himself alfo to his Mafter; he calls on Chrift, whose he is, and whom he ferves; the Saviour fhows his bright and glorious countenance; the light of his glory falls full upon the traveller; the reflection irradiates his pathway; all is light. He goes on his way rejoicing in the Lord.

Every Chriftian muft at times pass through the valley of tribulation. Mental anxiety, fickness, lofs of friends, poverty, perfecution, death, with many other things, make the materials of the valley of tribulation. The bleffed Saviour has faid that all who live godly must pass through this valley. And again, Through much tribulation ye muft enter into the kingdom of God. And John the beloved, looking with wonder at the glory of fome who were seen before the throne of God, was informed by the angel that they were those who had come out of great tribulation.

But Chrift is the light of the world, the Sun of Righteousness, the fource from which all intellectual and spiritual light is derived. Wherefore God our heavenly Father fays to us, "Awake, thou that fleepeft; arife from the dead, thou that dwelleft among the tombs, and Chrift fhall give thee light." But to the Chriftian, paffing through

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