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Emma's fright had occasioned in the hitherto quiet party, she hastily explained the cause, and added, Do, my dear, try and make this little simpleton understand that there is no harm in shadows.'

Who does not know the difficulty of conveying to the mind of a child the knowlege of abstract terms; or of attempting to make it cognizant of that which is not evident to the senses. Emma's papa, however, undertook the task of reasoning her out of her appresions, with a readiness which shewed that he at least did not despair of success; but after a somewhat learned discourse of about five minutes' length, which was intended to be very simple and conclusive, the poor perplexed child, who had fixed her earnest eyes intently upon him during the colloquy, turned, with a look of bewildered amazement, to her mother, and burst into tears. Not willing to be so soon defeated, the disappointed father had next recourse to that which the mother's more acute ingenuity had at first suggested, namely, experiment. Candles were brought; objects of all sorts and sizes were held between them and the wall of the apartment; the outline of hands and hand-screens, of books and boxes, described and descanted upon, but all in vain. 'Oh, papa, don't, don't!' was the only response that every fresh demonstration produced; and to this day little Emma T- continues very ''faid of saddows.'

We smile at the apprehensions of childhood: but are there not children of a larger growth' who also are afraid of shadows? What shall we say of that dark phantom of worldly dishonour which haunts the nightly couch of him who has failed in some point of that code, which the world legislates for those who are "of its own"? A shadow it is, for it has no

substance. The grown man in Christ regards it not; for he has "put away childish things:" but the poor vassal who is in bondage to the elements of this world, cannot do so. He sees its dark outline pourtrayed in the chambers of his imagination; the length, and breadth, and depth augmenting, in proportion as the light of revelation is remote: he beholds and cannot bear the sight; and rather than endure the fearful shadow, his frenzied hand lays suicidal hold of the lamp of life, and, in extinguishing it, plunges at once into eternal darkness. What shall we say too of the grim phantom of poverty that haunts the abode of the ruined gamester, and is too often attended by the same fatal consequences? The man of honest industry rises early, and late takes rest; riches increase, and he says with Esau of old, "I have enough." On a sudden, some unforeseen occurrence strips him of his fugitive possessions, and leaves him penny less. But if he be a child of God he is not dismayed. Should a moment be given to sorrow, the next is devoted to active effort. He knows" the rod, and who has appointed it." He reads the promise, "Thy bread shall be given thee." He remembers the caution, “A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses." He walks onward fearlessly through the wilderness of life; he is not afraid though his way is overshadowed, he has a lamp to his feet and a light to his paths," and they guide him safely through.

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But let us not pause to consider the difference which obtains between the children of the darkness of this world and the children of light, in their estimate of shadows; rather let us examine whether the latter are not haunted by phantoms, differing in kind

perhaps, but of a nature calculated to mar their repose; and which, like the forms of the giant Anakim, gloom around their path, and obstruct their progress to the promised land. The evidences of the purchased possession are clear and well-attested. The "free gift is to all and upon all them that believe : " Why then go they through this world murmuring? Why are they discouraged because of the way? True it is that there are evil things around them; evil influences on every side; yet these are but shadows, their strength is departed from them, the substance is gone, the shadow alone remains to terrify. Do the awful shadows of the broken law alarm them? Let them stand no longer between the Sun of Righteousness and his finished work. Let them hide themselves behind the cross of Jesus Christ; and then the bright beams issuing thence will fall upon that law, and show its dread penalty exhausted, and every jot and tittle of it fulfilled-fulfilled for them. Does the world excite their fear? The world is a vanquished enemy, "I have overcome it," says the Leader, "be not afraid." Do the number and might of their spiritual foes alarm them? The principalities and powersthe spiritual wickedness in high places-the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour-these, too, are conquered foes: Jesus hath " spoiled and made a show of them, openly triumphing over them." What then should the children of God fear? They should fear their own unbelief; they should fear "lest a promise being left of entering into rest, any should seem to come short of it." Has God said that he hath given them eternal life, and that "this life is in his Son?" Hath he declared that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin? Hath he given utterance to

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that faithful saying, that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; " and hath that Saviour himself declared, "him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out?"-then let the timid children of God lie down in safety, and rest under the shadow of the Almighty wings. Let them, when the phantoms of fear terrify the soul, take up the song of David: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Let them array themselves with that armour of proof which the Captain of their salvation has provided for them. Let them put on the helmet of salvation," and have their "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:" let them take "the shield of faith" in one hand, "the sword of the Spirit" in the other; " having on the breastplate of righteousness; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance." Thus caparisoned, they are more than a match for their phantom foes; they will be more than conquerors. Even the last dread shadow that must be encountered-the shadow of the valley of death, will not fill them with dismay. This grim shade is indeed terrible to mortal eyes, but the Christian knows that he is powerless to harm. His envenomed sting has lost its poison: "The sting of death is sin," and sin was carried away into a land of oblivion, when the sin-offering was poured out: "the strength of sin is the law," and when the demands of the law are satisfied, who is he that condemneth? Children of God! set yourselves to examine the mysteries of divine science; bring the dark shadows of your souls, your fears, your doubts, out into the clear shining beams of the Sun of Righteous

ness; hear his words-" He that feareth is not made perfect in love: perfect love casteth out fear." Able is he that hath promised to save you; faithful is he that hath promised, "Walk in the light, and ye shall see light."

LYDIA.

CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE
VALLENSIC CHURCH.

THE most full and systematic account of the doctrines, taught and maintained by the ancient Vallenses, will be found in their confessions of faith, preserved among the Cambridge manuscripts, and bearing the date of the year 1120.

'We believe and firmly hold all that is contained in the twelve articles of the symbol, which is called The Apostles' Creed, accounting for heresy whatsoever is disagreeing and not consonant to the said twelve articles. We do believe that there is one God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We acknowledge, for the holy canonical scriptures, the books of the holy bible and we read the books called Apocryphal for the instruction of the people, but not to confirm the authority of the doctrine of the church.'

'The canonical books of scripture teach this: that there is one God, Almighty, all-wise, and all-good,

1 Here is inserted a list of the canonical books, exactly corresponding with our common English bibles.

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