expressed his surprise that he should consent to immure those talents in the obscure village of Ardennes. It was left to time, that great revealer, to remove that surprise, and explain the reason,

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The reserve which attended the first meeting was passed away, and various topics, both grave and cheerful, had been discussed, when the conversation turning on the places of public amusement in the neighbouring town, Clara, to the evident pleasure of her aunt and Clarice, expressed a wish to accompany them, observing, these amusements had been recommended her by one who had studied her character from childhood, to counteract her fondness for solitary reflection and serious reading." There was a tone of sarcastic bitterness mingled with the gaiety with which she uttered these words, which was not unnoticed by the Father, who mildly remarked, "It was a dangerous experiment, by whomsoever proposed, to stifle serious reflection in gaiety and dissipation." The burning tear stood in Clara's eye, as she replied, "I believe it, Father, I believe it, but an old proverb says, 'Of two evils choose the least;' some sins are venial, some are mortal, I must choose the venial one, operas, theatres, balls, dissipation, amusement of all sorts, and abandon the more fatal one of setting my judgment against my superiors." Mrs. Cleves smiled as she observed, "I do not quite understand you, my dear niece, but I wish Frances would make a similar choice, and be guilty of the venial sin, yielding to my wishes and accompanying us,' Frances gave a firm though respectful denial, after which the conversation changed; Clara only remarked to her brother at the close of the evening, "Father Adrian may be a Jesuit, but he is a holier man than Father Joachim." The next three days were spent in searching for pleasure amidst bustle and amusement, and Clara returned from each fresh scene, declaring she had been fully gratified. Hubert accompanied them. Frances and Father Adrian remained at home.

(To be continued.)

MY DREAM!-AN ALLEGORY.
(Concluded from p. 80.)

KEY TO THE ALLEGORY.

A SOLUTION of the allegory may possibly not be unacceptable to my young readers, so I will here subjoin it. I have endeavoured to represent the world, and the figure is thrice repeated, because of its presenting the three following phases, if I may be allowed the term. The first figure represents it as being a state of probation, the second contains a general description and classification of its inhabitants; the third demonstrates that grand, most important, as also ultimate division, of the whole mass of mankind into only two parts or classes. First then, the vast and populous city I speak of, represents the world; myself a traveller to another country, "a better and a heavenly;" the invitation so repeatedly sent, and so long disregarded, is that message of mercy to lost man, the Gospel-" Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live;" but alas! the carnal heart, being "enmity against God," abhors even the contempla

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tion of a religious life, and like him to whom it was said, work to-day in my vineyard,"—our hearts have also replied to our heavenly Father, "I will not," but perhaps we too "afterwards repented, and went," The peep of day is the first dawn of spiritual life in the soul, being then detached from sublunary things, and incited to run the race that is set before us," like the lark ascending up to heaven's portals, our souls begin to hold communion "with the Father of Spirits ;" and while, with our lips, we shew forth His praise, "who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light," our hearts yearn towards our fellow-sinners, we pray, that they may also "awake from the sleep of death, to newness of life:" may be partakers of our joy," The breath of Spring scattering perfume is the name of Jesus, "which is ointment poured forth;" "healeth all manner of sickness and disease" of the soul, "His mouth is most sweet, yea He is altogether lovely." The dew drops glittering in the sunbeams are the tears of the newly-awakened sinner, of that "broken and contrite heart which God will not despise." The bright blue sky is that calm and serenity diffused over the soul, by "the peace which passeth all understanding;" the light fleecy clouds descending in gentle refreshing showers, are the influences of the Holy Spirit, which though sometimes resisted "by the law of sin which is in our members, warring against the law of our mind;" yet "to him that trembleth at My word," thus said the Lord, "I will cause the shower to come down in his season, there shall be showers of blessings:" "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground." The butterflies, flowers, &c., are the perishing delusive objects that cheat our sight and evade our grasp; if we will loiter on our Christian course, or too dearly cherish the things of time and sense, we shall find that they "make themselves wings; that "the flower fadeth," or that it contains a thorn to goad us! The intricate, perplexing paths are such decrees and dispensations of Providence, as are inscrutable to human ken, save the knowledge, that their design is to wean us from earth, and to train us for heaven; "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter:" the thorns obstructing my path, are also, the various trials every mortal must look for, and expect to encounter in this vale of tears! The way indicated is, "the narrow way that leadeth unto everlasting life," the wild beasts to which by forsaking it I might fall a prey are, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." The wild fruits and berries are the necessary provision for the body; which being plucked from the midst of briars shew, that labour is requisite to provide it, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." The crystal spring at which I slaked my thirst is, "the living water," flowing out of "the rock, Christ." The lassitude, blistered feet, &c., signify the various discouragements and difficulties a Christian must expect to meet with, in his heavenward course, In the world ye shall have tribulation;" the sun being in the meridian represents the difficulty of maintaining a Christian walk, when the sun of prosperity shines upon our heads; as it is too apt to make us weary in well doing," and "faint in our minds;" the cave in the same rock whence issued the spring is, the refuge all

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believers find in Christ; "This is the rest, and the refreshing;" "A man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." The couch formed by a projecting piece of the rock is the visible Church of Christ on earth; How amiable are

Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord." The second figure, viz., the Ocean, represents the Ocean itself, Eternity; the shingly shore our world, the various and beautiful deposits its frail inhabitants; you will observe there are three varieties, the sea-weed, which represents that class, the slenderness of whose means, or perhaps entire dependence upon their fellow men, exposes them more to unkindness and injustice from the generality, for the unrenewed heart "looks only on its own things," they therefore resemble the sea-weed, torn and dashed from rock to rock; the variously coloured pebbles designate those of a more favoured station, who yet must labour to acquire, or preserve independence; though as some pebbles, from the beauty of their colours, may obtain a place in the cabinet of the curious; so among the class I am now describing, some may be elevated to a higher station by their beauty or superior endowments; the shells of such exquisite forms and lovely tints, represent those in the higher walks of life, but especially those famed for mental and corporeal endowments; where these are conjoined, they never fail to excite in us the most ardent admiration; but, alas! "vanity" is inscribed on them all; the murmuring of the retreating wave as it carries them away into the Ocean of Eternity, represents the lamentations of the survivors, for "the place that has known them, shall know them no more.' The third figure, viz. the wilderness-represents again, the world, by Adam's transgression, under a curse, the impenetrable mist; the brilliant star, or planet, denotes the Being pre-existent, before all things were; the train of light that proceeded from the star, and extended to the spot near me, is the human nature assumed by Him, "who rolled off the curse from us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;" and "through whom alone, we have access to the Father," viz. Christ: the ethereal Being is the Holy Spirit, "who will take of the things of Christ and shew them unto us;" the staff upon which he leans, and whereby He reveals to us "these hidden mysteries" is the Word of God. The barren plains are, the mind of man in its unrenewed state; destitute of all good, fruitless, unprofitable; the tangled thickets are, the sophistries of philosophers, falsely so called, whose mental pride and self-sufficiency, render their souls impervious to the rays "of the Sun of Righteousness:" the rocky ground is, the hard, selfish, unbelieving heart, in its natural state of alienation from God, where also will be found, the deep ravines of "envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness" the fertile spots are, the renewed heart, where the ground having been ploughed up by the Word faithfully preached, and moistened by the tears of repentance, retains the good seed sown therein, so that it "springeth up unto everlasting life""yieldeth fruit an hundred fold ""the desert blossoms as the rose "the trees yield their fruit every month "—"planted in the garden of the Lord, He maketh them to be neither barren nor unfruitful." The

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same Divine energy that "broke up their fallow-ground "—"dug round their roots," which were formerly "wrapped about, and saw the place of stones," will also be continually exerted, to water them with the fertilizing dew of His heavenly blessing; so that " through the scent of water," "the dry tree," "shall bud, blossom, and yield much fruit." They are always abounding in the work of the Lord," for "the trees of the Lord are full of sap-the cedars of Lebanon which He hath planted." The tastefully cut, well-gravelled walks, indicate the necessity of unceasing care and watchfulness, to maintain a walk suitable to a Christian's high calling, "lest weeds should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how." The throned giant is mammon, he smiles upon his votaries, for "the World loveth his own :" the fetters upon the right arm and leg of his followers shew, that "of whom a man is overcome, of him is he brought in bondage;" and as we "cannot serve God and Mammon "—"if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him;" the right arm being fettered, signifies that the will and affections are enslaved by "the god of this world:" the right leg is also fettered, because, as "they are the servants of him to whom they obey," so they go "after vain things that cannot profit," and as they "walk contrary to God," therefore "their steps are straightened," and they stumble. The chain bespeaks the love of dress and show, which binds down the soul to earth, "so that she can in no wise lift herself up." Those with books, charts, and various other implements, denote science, when pursued without a reference to the Giver of all good, thus "professing themselves wise, they became fools;" their two constant attendants are fame and popular applause. The toys, cabalistic scrolls, misshapen things, are the images, traditions, and relics, belonging to a particular Church, the Church of Rome" in turning away their ears from the truth, they have been turned into fables." The smaller party are those "who worship God in spirit and in truth," "the little flock" of whom Christ speaks: the book in their hand so constantly referred to, is-the Bible, of which it was said, "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me:" their white raiment is "the righteousness of the saints," bestowed upon them by Christ, for "He is their righteousness." The female figure is Truth; the torch held by her signifies its all enlightening nature, and while it is a light to the path, "it also makes manifest the hidden things of darkness;" the mirror shows its power to strip off all disguise, and exhibit us to ourselves as we really are, we therein see, that "all our righteousness is but as filthy rags," and that "the spirit of the world is the spirit of bondage." When the light of truth breaks in upon the soul, the world being denuded of its attractions, dwindles into "less than nothing and vanity," falls from the throne it had erected for itself in the heart;" but should we grieve the Spirit of truth, by "looking back, after having put our hand to the plough," He will be provoked to withdraw from us, when mammon will instantly regain his sway. He clothed in scarlet, who threw a veil over the mirror, is the Church I have mentioned; "a veil is on their heart," and therefore do they seek "to darken counsel by words without knowledge," and yet saith God," Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels

and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" If we will not deign to consult the sacred mirror, which in revealing to us all our imperfections and deformities, points also to the only remedy; we may boast much, but I fear cannot lay any claim to that humility, with which we are enjoined to be "clothed;" nor will our adorning be that of "the hidden man of the heart, which after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness." Being wilfully ignorant of God's righteousness, what remains for us but "to establish our own righteousness?" It is only by "looking into the perfect law of liberty, and continuing therein," that we can hope to "behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord," and be "changed into the same image from glory to glory;" which we must be, unless we would in our turn be also disowned by Him who will "sit as a refiner and purifier of silver," till he can see His own image reflected in us; otherwise we shall "be called reprobate silver, because the Lord hath rejected us!" What if, abhorring the strictness of God's law, and because His "commandment is exceeding broad," we resolve to reveal it, and deem concealment annihilation? It is true we may thus misapply and pervert words, but is there not a possibility that while thus deluding ourselves, we cannot deceive Him to whom "all things are naked and open?" "Woe unto them that seek to hide their counsel from the Lord! and whose works are in the dark,” who, having "taken away the key of knowledge," "shut up the kingdom of heaven against men." Are there none answering to this description of persons? none deeming themselves sole depositaries, proprietors, and expounders of God's laws? that as they interpret, so it must be received? "Search and look," and let us ever remember, it is" to the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." He arrayed in hieroglyphics and spangles, is superstition, the never-failing attendant upon a false religion; which to support itself needs every adjunct the weakness and folly of man can devise. Thus credulity is substituted for, and misnamed faith; and thence springs a multifarious brood of puerile conceits, absurd inventions, and onerous observances; which, for intrinsic value, may be likened to spangles! for intelligibility to hieroglyphics, being alike incomprehensible to the degraded and prostrate intellect, though contemplated with admiring wonder. As day dissipates the night, so the light of truth dispels falsehood, and superstition then has recourse to the fountain head, viz., the dragon, that is, the devil, who to establish his tottering dominion, pours forth a stream of error, which, for a time, obscures the light of truth, "they have turned aside to vain jangling," but "in due time the word shall have free course and be glorified;" for truth being indestructible, is not to be over-mastered by men or devils; it were as easy for either to attempt obliterating the sun from the material creation; clouds and dank vapours may at times obscure that glorious luminary, but when he shines forth in all his effulgence, where are they? and thus the foul and noxious streams of error may obscure the rays of Divine truth, which shall nevertheless shine forth with resistless splendour, shall eventually break through and disperse them, for "it is written," the