THE FLOWER-POT.

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dren Thy great goodness, as if it did not pertain to them. But being Thy children, we may be well assured that the celestial treasures will be bestowed upon none else. For this reason, I will bear my lot with patience. But oh! from time to time, waft to me a breath of air from the heavenly land, to refresh my sorrowful heart; I will then wait more calmly for its full fruition. How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! my soul. longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.1 When shall I come and appear before God??

LXVII.

The Flower-pot.

She was walking in a garden, Gotthold saw a collection of flowers, planted in beautifully painted and ornamented pots, and shown off upon a lofty stage; and he thought with himself: Even these flowers are daughters of the earth; by earth they live, and to earth they shall be turned. Of earth, too, are formed, and with earth are filled, the gaudy pots in which they grow. Wait but a little, and of all the showy flowers which figure on

1 Psalm lxxxiv. 1, 2.

2 Psalm. xlii. 2.

that lofty stage, there will be no more to say than of the humble violet that creeps upon the ground, and fades in the month of March. Paint such a flower-pot, and inscribe it with the motto: We fade like other flowers; earth and nothing more; and you will have an appropriate emblem of worldly greatness and glory. It is true, that in the garden of the world God has exalted some men among the rest, and given them superior consequence and distinction, by the dignities, honors, offices, wealth, palaces, clothing, or attendants, which they possess. After all, however, they still continue earth and ashes, are sustained by the earth, like others; and when they have shed their blossoms, and finished their course, become earth in the strictest sense of the word.

LXVIII.

Frailties.

GOOD man was complaining of his many frailties. I am, he said, like a child, who this moment gives, and the next takes back the gift. In my intentions, I give liberally to my

God, but I soon reclaim all that I have given. When He alarms or corrects me, I make Him plenty

promises; but, alas! they are soon forgotten, and

seldom kept.

Hereupon his eyes filled with tears. Well, said Gotthold, if it be true that you are like a child, it is also true that God likens Himself to a father, who pitieth his children. For my part, I never either saw or heard of a father who, for a few faults or short-comings, drove his child from his home, drowned him in the river, or cast him into the fire. Without patience, and a large measure of pity on a father's part, it is impossible to train a child and rear him to manhood; and unless, God overlook many faults, and exercise great compassion towards us, not one of us will ever enter heaven. Or, do we men, who are evil, suppose that we can possibly be more patient than the gracious and long-suffering God? The moon, even at the brightest, is not without spots; and just as little is the Christian without sins, even at his best. It is true he has forsaken his sins, but his sins have not forsaken him. Recollect that you are under the eye and discipline of a good and gracious God, who knoweth our frame, and whose wisdom and goodness shine most conspicuously in the fatherly long-suffering and forbearance with which He treats the frailties of His saints, and renders even these subservient to their welfare. Above all, however, forget not to look to the crucified Jesus, and His sacred blood and merits. You are not the man to stand before God in your own strength; Christ must be in you, and you in Christ.

1 Psalm ciii. 13.

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THE WEEPING DAMSEL.

LXIX.

The Weeping Damsel.

EEING a young lady in tears, Gotthold, inquiring into the cause, was told, that in a company of persons of her own age, she had been slighted and overlooked on account of her poverty, plain attire, and simple manners. He thereupon exclaimed: Blessed is he whom the world slights and disregards! He is like the shipwrecked mariner, tossed by the violence of the sea, but tossed upon a cliff, where he can save his life. How good it is when the world, which usually plays the part of seductress for the devil, itself cuts off the opportunity of sinning! Believe me, those young ladies who are so gayly attired, and so fondly worshipped and caressed, are like beautiful flowers, around which the bees and moths swarm in crowds, to rob them of their honey. Godliness is like a precious oil in a brittle phial. The best way to preserve it is to lay it upon the shelf, and not trust it into imprudent hands. If you are no favorite with the world, let the world be no favorite with you, and this will adjust the balance. Make it your single aim to please God. Let the crown and wreath about your head be His grace; your necklace, a string of texts of Scripture; your pearls, tears of repentance, prayer, and love; your garments, piety and righteousness of faith;

your ring, a good conscience; your lace, humility; your white linen, an unblemished walk; your favorite language, prayer; your mirror, the law, and holy life of Jesus; and your riches, heaven. Thus you will be the bride of Christ, and, in the land of glory, be preferred before many others.

LXX.

The Invalid.

COTTHOLD one day visited a sick man, who suffered great inward anguish, as the drops of sweat upon his face testified. He tossed im

patiently from side to side upon his bed, often rose, and made them carry him from place to place, in the vain hope of finding ease and rest. Gotthold sighed to behold him, and thought with himself: How vain to think of curing inward care and trouble by external means, apply or change them as often as you may! The best thing for this poor man would be to exercise, if he could, some little self-control, and patiently wait till rest came. But we often act in the same way in our spiritual troubles. The burdened conscience, or the heart pierced by the arrows of the