of monster, whose guilt will be palliated only by the consideration that a mania for military honours was the epidemic of his times. Still it is not by denunciations of war, however forcible that its votaries are to be restrained. All are conscious of a yearning for distinction. None of us would have our memory to rot. The imagination of youth is filled with visions of future greatness. It is impossible to quench this spirit of emulation; nor is it intended that the aspirations for glory, so natural to the human heart, should be extinguished. There is nothing in Christianity to repress the desire for advancement, or to discourage a pure, elevated, and generous ambition. Far otherwise. It would displace the love of earthly fame, by enkindling a loftier and holier passion for the glory, honour, and immortality to be found in the service of God. There is the honour which abideth not, and that which is real and everlasting, and in the light of revelation this distinction is vividly shown. Unless it be understood, life may be spent in vain, energies may be wasted, and sacrifices may be made in an elaborate preparation for the bitterness of an endless disappointment. Intelligent existence is a great endowment to be held only for a time on earth. How shall we best turn it to account? Our course is to be travelled over but once. On what principles shall it be conducted, so that honour may be secured beyond the influence of change, and which shall

outlive the ages of time? Where is the true pathway to immortality? Some have found it, and the luminous track through which they entered into it, is still to be traced. The elements of moral greatness alone are immutable. "The world passeth away,

and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Thoughts of this kind arose in the mind of the writer, as he retired from the village church, decorated with the tinsel of popish ornaments, and the memorials of the slain; and as the old janitor stood in the porch waiting to lock the door, the words of holy writ came forcibly to his recollection :-" THEM THAT HONOUR ME, I WILL HONOUR, AND THOSE THAT DESPISE ME, SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED."

It is the object of the following pages to illustrate and enforce this divine maxim, and to commend it especially to the thoughtful attention of young persons.

II.

THE MODEL PROPOSED.

IF the process of mental induration could be examined which turned the affectionate child into the soldier of fortune, it would be found that instruction in the lessons of heavenly wisdom formed no part of

his training. He was little conversant with the scenes of Bethany, of Gethsemane, or of Olivet. The examples of sublime fortitude, heavenly purity, and sacred benevolence, exhibited by the pen of inspiration, must have been little studied by him, if they were not altogether unknown. He was more familiar with the sentiments of pagan literature. Το his distempered fancy, Alexander, Epaminondas, Hannibal, or Marlborough, would seem to be the greatest of the sons of men. Probably, the name of some favourite hero exerted upon his spirit a powerful spell. The standard of excellence he proposed to himself was false and unworthy. The men whose names will be held in everlasting remembrance, aimed at a point infinitely higher. They endured as seeing Him who is invisible-they had respect to the recompense of reward-they aspired to a crown the hand of God himself should confer. This rendered them insensible to the empty adulation and to the perishable honours of the world. The lustre of their character was derived from no adventitious circumstance, and it could be dimmed by no temporal disaster. In spite of outward disgrace, or the bitterness of persecution, the light of their example shone forth in all its loveliness, and like the radiance of the stars, its reflection continues from age to age.

Examples of living worth are of great value. But it is not always that those who have the most favourable opportunities for observing character, ex

ercise the greatest discrimination. There is danger lest in their just admiration of the virtues of one much endeared to them, they should for his sake feel enamoured with failings equally characteristic, and be led not only to justify, but closely to imitate his defects. The models of character exhibited in the sacred oracles, are put in the clearest light, and in the study of them we are favoured with the comments of unerring wisdom. No apology is made for inconsistency, and no illusive splendour is thrown around the vices of an individual because he happens to be distinguished either by his position in society or by peculiar endowments. There is nothing feeble, flourishing, or deceptive in the biography of Scripture; the truth is told without disguise by him who knows what is in man. An instance of

sacred heroism occurs in one of the darkest and most troubled periods in the history of the Jewish people, which may well be recommended to the attention of those who aspire after true distinction. It is on record, that in the reign of Jehoiakim, (one of the worst kings that ever ruled over Judah) a train of national calamities overtook the kingdom, of the most desolating and afflictive character. The successive invasions of a powerful and vindictive foe, the impiety of all ranks of the people, and the perfidy of rulers, brought upon them a fearful accumulation of miseries. The capital was besieged and laid waste; the princes and nobles were carried into captivity;

whilst pestilence and famine stalked through the land. Nothing can be more affecting than the picture drawn of the state of his country by the patriotic prophet who witnessed her sorrows, her wants, her afflictions, and disgrace; and who preferred to wander amidst her ruins, rather than to become the companion of princes and the guest of kings.

"How (said he) doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow ! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like

:

harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer."