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unless irradiated by Thy goodness, every object is ugly and hideous. Lord Jesus! Thou fairest of the sons of men! shed on my poor soul the beams of Thy love; that is all the beauty I desire.

CLXIV.

The Conception of a Portrait.

ISITING a painter, who was both a skilful artist and a pious Christian, Gotthold said: A painter requires, by long and repeatedly viewing the countenance he has to paint, to impress it, in the first instance, on his heart, in order afterwards, as far as possible, to produce it with colors upon the canvas. And, in the same way, it is upon the heart that the image of Jesus Christ must first be formed, and then afterwards transferred into a holy life, and an affectionate and godly walk. Once impressed upon the heart, it will soon show itself in the thoughts, words, actions, and gestures. And, in this work, never must we grow weary or dispirited. A picture is not painted at a stroke, but is brought by slow degrees, after many sittings, and with cautious touches, to perfection. To have the Saviour formed in his heart, and copied into his life, is a task which will last the Chris

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THE ONLY CHILD.

tian all his days; and, oh me! how many interruptions will he meet, and how often will what has cost him much painful labor be obliterated! We must not, however, be discouraged, remembering that our very errors are lessons, and that perfection is the offspring of imperfection.

Lord Jesus! deign to accept our poor efforts and good-will; and do Thou Thyself impress Thine image upon our hearts, that it may also be outwardly recognized in our good conversation.

CLXV.

The Only Child.

MARRIED couple, of rank and fortune, had an only son, and, as usually happens in such cases, loved and admired him to excess. He was the delight of their eyes and the comfort of their hearts. They would not permit the cold wind to blow, nor an unfriendly face to look upon him, and in all things gave him his will. Gotthold saw this, and remarked: Beware how you provoke God to jealousy, and, by the intemperance of your affection, vitally injure your son! Do you fancy that the Most High has given you an idol to make you forget Himself? It would be strange conduct for a bride, having

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received a picture from her bridegroom, were she to become so enamored of the gift as to lose all thought of the giver; and yet this is what you do. God has given you your child, that the sight of him, from time to time, might remind you of His goodness, and induce you to praise Him with filial reverence. You, however, have set your hearts so wholly upon your son, that I know not whether you have any leisure to think of your Heavenly Father. This is like the fondness of apes, which caress and kiss their offspring to death. It is like* the ivy or hop twining around the young and fruitful tree, till at last they strangle it. Let it be your study to rear and possess not a son merely, but likewise a godly son. Indulging a child is like exposing a cask to the sun or hot air: it shrinks, and if it do not fall to pieces, at least becomes incapable of holding liquid. In the same way, parental affection, when carried to excess, and unrestrained by reason and piety, is the ruin of children, and renders them unfit for all sound doctrine and virtue.

After pausing for a while, Gotthold continued, and said: This only son of yours reminds me that man has but one soul.1 Oh! how desirable that it were as much the object of his love and attention, as your son is of yours! In truth, however, many act as recklessly as if they had ten souls in reserve, not reflecting that by losing the one, they lose all, and that all forever.

1 Psalm xxii. 20.

Besides, O my God! I have also to consider that my soul is not my own, but Thine. Thou hast purchased it with the blood of Thy Son, and ought I to steal from Thee what has cost Thee so great a price? And yet, my Father, I am quite unfit for the custody of so precious a jewel. Too surely would I neglect and lose it. Thou Thyself must best know how to keep what has cost Thee so dear.

CLXVI.

The Will.

OTTHOLD had to do with a will in which his family were concerned, and which caused him all kinds of trouble and inconvenience. versing on the subject with an influential friend,

Con

he said: It is much to be deplored that that equity for which the widow prayed is now no longer to be found, and that, as the Scriptures express it, judg ment is turned to wormwood, and righteousness cast to the ground. Gentlemen of the law appear to me, for the most part, to be like persons wandering in a forest, who have been so perplexed amongst the bushes and brakes, that they can no longer find their way out.

1 Amos v. 7. Luth. vers.

What sort of grapes they gather from the thorns, and figs from the thistles, it is easy to conceive.

There is, however, another Testament, about which I shall concern myself more; I mean that which the Saviour wrote shortly before His decease, and in which He nominated believers His heirs. He had never either cared or sought for temporal things, and became at last so poor as not to have even a coat; and therefore He could not bequeath to them wealth. All He possessed was His cross, His thorny crown, His blood, His Holy* Spirit, His sweet consolations, and His loving heart. These, therefore, He has left to us; and I rejoice in the bequest. Satan would fain dispute the Will; but it is well attested, and I have already entered into possession of the property.

CLXVII.

Another Will.

ON order not to appear ungrateful, proceeded Gotthold, I too will indite and leave behind me a testament. I recollect a story, told by one heathen of another, in the following terms: Eudamidas, a citizen of Corinth, died in pov

erty; but, having two wealthy friends, Arctæus and