THE TREE OF LIFE.

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it shall last,-it shall live on earth till there are no more sinners to be saved; then it shall be transplanted into the garden of God in heaven. The apostle John mentions it as one of the many sights which he had seen in the New Jerusalem above. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.' Rev. xxii. 2. And would you, my dear children, eat of those delicious fruits, which angels, holy men, holy women, and holy children eat in yonder bright world, then seek Christ now; seek Him while He may be found; seek happiness in the service of religion. Seek it not in anything else: not in the pleasures of sin, for the cup of the sinner is the cup of bitterness: not in wealth, for riches take wings to themselves and fly away: not in knowledge or in honour, for both exclaim, happiness is not in us;' but what is the voice of Wisdom, 'Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors; for whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he, that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own soul.' Prov. viii, 32-36.

But with one other question I close. How can I obtain this life? This is a very serious and important question; but if you want an answer to it, we must repeat to you our text, Wisdom is the tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her.' Laying hold of wisdom and retaining her mean the same act. Suppose that a friend of your father spends an evening at your house. He is a very entertaining and lively companion; the hour, however, for his departure has at length arrived, but you are unwilling that he should leave your circle; now what means would you adopt to detain him? Is it not by laying hold of him? Is it not by urging him to continue in your society? and this, my young friends, will show you how you are to take hold of religion; to "lay hold of the hope set before you in the gospel of Jesus." By the hand of faith you must seize Christ, who is the only Saviour of sinners; you must not suffer Him to depart from you. His language to you now is, 'Behold I stand at the door and knock; if man hear any voice and open my the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me.' Rev. iii. 20. Religion will be of little benefit

But

to you unless you lay hold of it; it is not enough to think, or dream, or sing about it. No, Christ must have all the heart. To be saved from hell you must lay hold of Christ, and Christ must have a hold of you. Believe thou on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' some of you may be still asking, What is it to believe on Jesus? Take the following illustration. I once saw a lad,' writes an American, on the roof of a very high building, where several men were at work. He was gazing about with apparent unconcern, when suddenly his foot slipped and he fell. In falling, he caught by a rope, and was suspended in mid air, where he could neither get up nor down, and where it was evident he could sustain himself but a short time. He perfectly knew his situation, and expected that in a few minutes he must drop and be dashed in pieces.

'At this fearful moment a kind and powerful man rushed out of the house, and standing beneath him with extended arms called out, 'let go the rope, and I will receive you. I can do it. Let go the rope, and I promise that you shall escape unhurt.'

The boy hesitated a moment, then quitted his hold, and dropped easily and safely into the arms of his deliverer.' Here, children, is an instance of salvation by faith. The boy was in great danger. He saw it. He heard the voice of a deliverer. He took him at his word, and losing hold of every other dependence, he dropped himself into his outspread arms. And what hope is there for you or for me, my young friends? Is not each a sinner?-a sinner worthy of suffering the punishment of hell fire? But need we thus perish? Oh, no! This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' Drop then into His arms of mercy. He is able to save you. He is willing to save you. Take him at his word. Verily, verily, I say unto you,' is Christ's own testimony, 'he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.' John, v. 24.

'Believe and live,'

On the Tree of Life eternal,

Child, let all thy hopes be stayed;

Which alone for ever vernal,

Bears a leaf which ne'er shall fade.

Amen.

Obituary.

Died at Honiton, Devon, December 22nd, 1843, aged 25 years, Mr. JOHN CLAPP. At the age of ten years, he was received into the Sunday school belonging to the Independent church in that town, and continued his connexion with it until his death. When about eighteen years of age, he was requested to change his position as a scholar, and begin regularly to teach others the truths which had been taught to him; to this request he cheerfully acceded, and continued to discharge the duties of his office with pleasure.

A few weeks before his departure, he met in the vestry with others of his fellow labourers, to converse on the advantages of total abstinence from intoxicating drinks, when he suddenly rose and left the room;-the cause (hemorrhage from the lungs) was soon perceived, a friend kindly led him home, medical aid was quickly obtained, every means that skill and friendship could suggest was tried, but all in vain; it was evident that an invisible hand was leading him to the gate of the grave, and the appointed time' for him to die, was come. The disease which removed him from the engagements and friendships of earth, rendered it necessary that he should be kept perfectly quiet, and see as few persons as possible; the little intercourse which his pastor deemed it prudent to have, was quite sufficient to confirm an opinion already entertained, from observations made, during the intercourse of many years of health and activity, that the mind of his departing friend was well and rightly informed on the most important of all subjects; that his hope of entering into the rest and purity of heaven, was fixed on the only sure foundation, a personal interest in the atonement of Christ; and that Sunday school engagements were looked back upon, on a dying bed with pleasure, as amongst the happiest engagements of life.

As a mark of their esteem, the teachers of the school followed his remains to the grave, in the burying ground connected with the chapel where he worshipped; many tears of sincere regret were shed on the occasion, for all felt that a companion was removed who had laboured amongst them in a spirit of meekness and love; it is hoped that many hearts breathed a sincere prayer on that occasion, for a spirit of faithfulness unto death, that the separation though painful, might not be eternal, and that through the infinite riches of divine grace, those who had laboured together in Christ's cause on earth, might meet to welcome each other and recount their labours in a deathless world.

The importance of retaining the youth in our schools until they are able to assist in teaching others, cannot be too strongly urged on all connected with the Sunday school institution. This is a principle constantly acted upon in the school with which J. C. was connected, and in him, another proof is added to the many already furnished, that the well-trained Sunday scholar makes the useful, persevering, and efficient Sunday school teacher. From the time when he took his seat at the head of his little flock, it was evident that his heart was in his work;-he was affectionately desirous of them, gentle amongst them, even as a nurse cherisheth her children;-remarkably patient and forbearing amidst the restlessness, inattention, and dulness often seen in youth;-punctual to his engagements;-and anxious with all perseverance to win attention to the great object placed before the mind of the Sunday scholar, the Holy Scriptures. During the whole fifteen years of his connexion, the president of the school never saw or heard of an instance in which the conduct of the departed caused pain to any one; as a scholar, his early years were marked by attention and obedience, and the succeeding ones testified, that as a teacher, the employment itself brought its own reward.

The Sunday school teacher who may read this brief notice, is affectionately requested to pause and reflect, am I prepared to have my labours closed so suddenly? My sun may soon set, my day may soon be over! How is it with my youthful charge, do I aim to draw them to the cross of Christ, by the cords of love-am I faithful to their interests and my trust?-do they see in me from Sabbath to Sabbath the earnestness of one who himself has tasted the sweetness of a Saviour's love?'

Teachers! fellow-labourers! permit the writer of this brief account, affectionately to say to you, what he would not himself forget,-stimulate your energies in your class by prayer-sweeten your labours and toil with the hope of extending the Saviour's kingdom;-and dispel every feeling of weariness, by looking to the time when you shall hear the good Shepherd's voice say to you-Well done!

Honiton, January, 1844.

BELLMEN.

Bellmen were first appointed in London in 1556. They were to ring their bells at night, and cry, 'Take care of your fire and candle, be charitable to the poor, and pray for the dead.'

THE LOST BIBLE.

Mr. Henshaw, of Tranmere, near Liverpool, was many years back the first boy who received a Bible as a mark of good conduct, in the Sunday school at Stockport. This Bible he took with him to the battle of Waterloo. There he received four wounds, and lay upon the plains six days. By some means he lost his Bible, and strange to tell, several years after, he found it in a book shop, in London. With joy he purchased his old companion, and now keeps it as a precious memorial of by-gone scenes. May it be a still more precious monitor of future scenes.

BY THOMAS DICK, ESQ., L. L. D.

For a long period, during the infancy of science, the world in which we dwell was considered as the largest body in the universe. It was supposed to be an immense plane, diversified with a few inequalities, and stretching in every direction to an unlimited extent. It is now, however, proved to a demonstration, that all the continents, islands, and oceans on its surface form a body, which is nearly the figure of a globe. This position may be proved and illustrated