Cl.'SO'i. TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY DURHAM : NORTH CAROLINA Rec’d (rfjur. ‘frCL , " - Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/newcyclopaediaof01fost_0 POSTER’S CYCLOPAEDIAS, CYCLOPAEDIA OF PROSE ILLUSTRATIONS. Yol. L CYCLOPaEDIA OF PROSE ILLUSTRATIONS,.Yol. II. CYCLOPAEDIA OF POETICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, .Yol. I. CYCLOPaEDIA OF POETICAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND INDEXES, . . Yol. II. NEW CYCLOPAEDIA OF PEOSE ILLUSTRATIONS, ADAPTED TO CHRISTIAN TEACHING; EMBRACING MYTHOLOGY, ANALOGIES, LEGENDS, PARABLES, EMBLEMS, METAPHORS, SIMILES, ALLEGORIES, PROVERBS; CLASSIC, HISTORIC, AND RELIGIOUS ANECDOTES, ETC. - A- FIRST SERIES. By Rev. ELON FOSTER, D.D. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY REV. STEPHEN H. TYNG, D.D. “ For the purpose of teaching, one illustration Is worth a thousand abstractions."—E. Paxton Hood. “Because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea. he sought out and set In order many prov¬ erbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words."— Kctxksiastes xii. 9. 10. rO ^ TWENTY-THIRD THOUSAND. NEW YORK: THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO., No. 13 Astor Place. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by REV. ELON FOSTER, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. yos F 7 S' f P o ■ / INTRODUCTION. The animated and intelligent author of the remarkable production, New Cyclo¬ paedia of Illustrations, has honored me with the request for an introductory notice of his labor. I have examined several portions of the work with admiration and pleasure. I am satisfied that it would be equally agreeable and instructive to read the whole with the same attention, if I had the opportunity. It contains a vast amount and variety of substance and suggestion. Its arrangement is distinguished by an order, a fulness of detail, and a compactness of statement, which leave nothing to be desired in such a work. Public speakers, in every branch of their art, will be grateful to the compiler for the patient labor and the unquestioned skill which he has devoted to their aid and con¬ venience. Many a pen will be dipped into his copious fountain, and many an inspiring thought will be laved from its flowing stream, by those who come after him. All who “draw” from his “well ” will find that it is “deep” and abundant, and thank him for the provision which he has made for them “ to draw with.” In the appropriate use of such a work, there is required a skill scarcely less than that demanded for its preparation. The difference between the skilful and the bungling use of an illustration in public speaking is kindred and about equal to the difference between the art of the practised fencer and the rough plunges of the excited rustic. The one, with half the labor, does twice the execution of the other. The adequate and effective employment of an illustration in speaking requires a very distinct perception of the point to be illuminated, and of the precise analogy of the fact or character em¬ ployed in its discriminate expression. Beyond this, there must be, for the successful introduction of such a system of teaching, a gracefulness of presentation which shall not allow the figure to appear blunt, inadequate, or inappropriate. For all this, there is, perhaps, as real a demand for an original refinement of thought as for a practised cultivation of expression. When such qualifications are possessed and exercised, no one can wisely depreciate the employment of an illustrative habit of speaking, in addressing a public audience. It gives to an address all the life and demonstration which the experiments of the skilful chemist give to the abstract theories and distinctions of his lecture. And the speaker who is able skilfully and effectively to illustrate his theme of discourse will retain possession of the attention and interest of his audience far longer and far more completely than by any mere skill in logic, however manifest, or accuracy in statement, however undeniable. As a helpful provision for the acquisition and exercise of this art, the present varied compilation of themes and analogies will be found most valuable and important. Stephen H. Tyng. St. George’s Rectory, New York, January, 1870 . PREFACE. The practice of illustration in religious teaching is sanctioned by the example of prophets, apostles, the great preachers of all ages, and, most of all, by our Lord himself; for “ without a parable spake he not unto them.” Its importance has never been more appreciated than now, and that, too, by the most earnest laborers, both in the pulpit and in the Sunday school. The aim of this work has been to furnish a treasury of illustrations so complete, that the preacher or teacher need not look in vain for some apt analogy, fable, simile, proverb, or anecdote with which to make clear or impress any subject he may wish to discuss. Its success cannot be decided by a casual glance. The more it is used and studied, the richer its contents will be discovered to be. While this work has this specific adaptation, it is not without interest for casual or fireside reading. The field from which these illustrations are drawn is very broad. More than five hundred different authors have been quoted; and more than six thousand distinct illustrations are given. Here nature and art, literature and science, sculpture and painting, eloquence and imagination, astronomy and geology, mythology and history, legend and anecdote, parable and metaphor, blend their most fascinating strains in the enforcement of the lessons of the Christian religion. An enumeration of the many works from which the matter has been drawn would only be tiresome to the reader: the names of authors, given wherever known, except as to original items, will sufficiently indicate this. In the arrangement of the work, we have followed the alphabetical method as the most simple and practicable. Turn to the subject as to a word in a dictionary, and look not only for the subject, but also for the predicate of the subject. For example, if you wish to illustrate the compassion of Christ, turn to Christ, and follow down the predicates till you find Christ, Com¬ passion of. If a satisfactory illustration is not found under the subject, turn to the same topic in the index, and trace out the numbers appended to it, which will lead you to synonymous and affiliated subjects and scattered items. Each illustration has been numbered, and a copious index prepared on the basis of these numbers. So many of them are adapted to more than one subject, that it was thought best to bring them together in a general index. This affords all the advantage of a logical arrangement. In reference, the numbers enable you to find the item 7 8 PREFACE. desired at once, which otherwise might not be found without reading a whole page. In using this work, the numbers may be set down for reference in the preacher’s or teacher's notes, and the labor of transcription be avoided. Out of the material collected in the preparation of this work, many volumes might have been made, with less labor than the single one now presented. It was thought best to limit the Cyclopjedia to one volume to bring it within the reach of the masses of Christian laborers. To do this, the best matter only could be used, diffusiveness had to be avoided, and compression as to type secured. This book contains as much printed-matter as six ordinary 12mo volumes. It presents and utilizes many of the gems of literature. Many go hunting as travellers through the world, or labor through volume after volume in search of appropriate illustrative matter. If they were search¬ ing for gold or diamonds, they would go to Australia or Golconda. This book opens the treasure-house, and invites each to take and use for the Master. Elon Foster. NEW CYCLOPEDIA OF PROSE ILLUSTRATIONS. FIRST SERIES. ABITJTIES. 1. ABILITIES, Human. The abilities of man must fall short on one side or other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed : if you pull it upon your shoulders, you leave your feet bare; if you thrust it down upon your feet, your shoulders are uncovered. Sir W. Temple. 2 . ABILITIES, Useful. The raven was an unclean bird; God makes use of her to feed Elijah: though she was not good meat, yet it was good meat she brought. A lame man may with his crutch point out to you the right way, and yet not be able to walk in it himself. Mead. 3. ABSENT-MINDEDNESS, Example of. Mr. Lawson once left his lecture-room, taking with him a student’s hat, instead of his own book, which he was to carry home. Once he was on the point of leaving his house, having put on his head a lady’s bonnet, which had been left hanging on the peg where his own hat ought to have been. Once, walking in a co¬ pious shower, a friend took pity on him and loaned him an umbrella, which the meditative divine put under his coat, through fear of wet¬ ting and thus injuring what had been kindly loaned to him. While intent on his books, his frightened servant opened his study door, and shrieked out abruptly, “ Sir, the house is on fire I ” The doctor did not intermit his studies for a minute, but simply remarked, “ Go and tell your mistress: you know I have no charge of household matters.” 4. ABSTINENCE, as a Remedy. An elderly gentleman, accustomed to indulge, entered the room of a certain inn, where sat a grave friend by the fire. Lifting a pair of green spectacles upon his forehead, rubbing his inflamed eyes, and calling for hot brandy and water, he com¬ plained that “his eyes were getting weaker and weaker, and that even spectacles didn’t seem to do them any good.” — “I’ll tell thee, friend,” replied the Quaker, “ what I think. If thee was to wear thy spectacles over thy mouth for a few months, tliy eyes would get round again.” ABSTINENCE. 5. ABSTINENCE, Compulsory. A drunkard was often urged by his wife to sign the pledge. He would reply, “ I’ll sign it after a while; but I don’t like to break off at once. The best way is to get used to a thing.” — “ Very well, old man,” said she, “ see if you don’t fall into a hole, one of these days, with nobody to help you out.” Strangely enough, as he returned home, drunk, one day, he fell into a shallow well, and shouted for help. His forbearing wife came to his rescue, saying, “ Didn’t I tell you so ? It’s lucky I was in hearing, or you might have drowned.” Then she let down the bucket, and told him to “ take hold.” She tugged at the windlass; but, when he was near the top, her grasp slipped, and down he went into his cold bath again. This was repeated till he grew suspicious and furious, and screamed, “ Look here 1 you’re doing that on purpose: I know you are.” — “ Well, now, I am,” said the woman, conscious of her opportunity. “ Don’t you remember telling me it’s best to get used to a thing by degrees ? I’m afraid, if I bring you up sudden, you would not find it whole¬ some.” He could but laugh at this application of his own logic, but felt liis case growing des¬ perate, and promised to sign the pledge at once, if she would lift him out. This she did, and started him off immediately to sign the pledge; warning him, that, if he ever fell into the ditch again, she would leave him there. 6. ABSTINENCE, Decided. A heathen king, who had been for years confirmed in the sin of drunkenness, had been led to forsake the habit, lie said to a missionary, “ Suppose you put four thousand dollars in one hand, and a glass of rum in the other. You say, ‘ You drink this ruin, I give you four thousand dollars.’ I no drink it. You say you kill me. I no drink it.” 7. ABSTINENCE, Gain of. A man, long noted for intemperate habits, was induced by Rev. John Abbott to sign the pledge “ in his own way,” which he did in these words: “ I pledge myself to drink no more intoxicating drinks for one year.” Near the end of the 9 10 ■ABSTESTENCIE. ACTION. year, he again appeared at a temperance meet¬ ing, without having once touched a drop. “Are you not going to sign again ? ” asked Mr. Ab¬ bott. “Yes,” replied he, “ if I can do it in my own way.” And, accordingly, he wrote, “ I sign this pledge for nine hundred and nine¬ ty-nine years; and, if I live to that time, I in¬ tend to take out a life-lease ! ” A tew days after, he called upon the tavern-keeper, who ■welcomed him back to his old haunt. “ Ob 1 landlord,” said he, as in pain, “ I have such a lump on my side ! ” — “ That’s because you have stopped drinking,” said the landlord : “ you won’t live long if you keep on.” — “ Will drink take the lump away ? ” — “ Yes ; and, if you don’t drink, you’ll soon have a lump on the other side. Come, let’s drink together; ” and he poured out two glasses of whiskey. “ I guess I won’t drink,” said the former inebriate, “ especially if keeping the pledge will bring another lump; for it isn’t very hard to bear, alter all.” And with this he drew the lump — a bag of dollars — from his side-pocket, and walked off, leaving the landlord to his re- flections. 8. ABSTINENCE, Pledge of. A young sol¬ dier was promoted to he a second lieutenant in one of the colored regiments. “ Now let me sign the pledge,” said he. Free drinking was then too common in officers’ quarters. “ Why, you don’t like drink,” said one of his com¬ rades : “ there is no danger of your drinking too much.” — “ No,” answered the young sol¬ dier, “ I don’t like the taste of liquor, and, what is more, 1 don’t mean to like it; so I in¬ tend to take my stand as an officer pledged against it.” Not finding a temperance society to join, he wrote a pledge of total abstinence, signed his name to it, and put it in his pocket. “ Let this never witness against me, so help me God,” he said. 9. ABSTINENCE, Reason for. “ 1 took the pledge,” said an old man, “ at the foot of the gallows, when I saw a young man hung. The sheriff took out his watch, and said, ‘ If you have anything to say, speak now, for you have only five minutes to live.’ The young man burst into tears, and said, ‘ I have to die ! I had only one little brother; he had beautiful blue eyes and flaxen hair; and I loved him. But one day I got drunk, and, coming home, found him gathering berries in the garden, and I became angry without cause, and killed him with one blow with a rake. Drink has done it: it has ruined me 1 I have but one word more to say : Never ! never 1 NEVER 1 touch any thing that can intoxicate 1 ’ ” 10. ABSTRACTION, Dangerous. Sir Isaac New¬ ton, finding himself extremely cold, one evening in winter, drew his chair very close to the grate, in which a large fire had recently been lighted. By degrees, the fire having completely kindled, Sir Isaac felt the heat intolerably intense, and rang his bell with unusual violence. His ser¬ vant was not at hand at the moment, but he soon made his appearance. By this time, Sir Isaac was almost literally roasted. “ Remove the grate, you lazy rascal 1 ” he exclaimed, in a tone of irritation very uncommon with that amiable and bland philosopher ; “ remove the grate, before I am burnt to death 1 ” — “ And pray, master,” said the servant, “ might you not rather draw back your chair ? ” — “ Upon my word,” said Sir Isaac, smiling, “I never thought of that.” Percy. 11. ABSTRACTION, Fatal. When Syracuse was taken, Archimedes was describing mathe¬ matical figures upon the earth; and when one of the enemy came upon him, sword in hand, and asked his name, he was so engrossed with the desire of preserving the figures entire, that he answered only by an earnest request to the soldier to keep off, and not break in upon his circle. The soldier, conceiving himself scorned, ran Archimedes through the body, the purple streams gushing from which soon obscured all traces of the problem on which he had been so intent. Thus fell this illustrious man, from the mere neglect to tell his name. Percy. 12. ACTION, Bible Rale of. Boleslaus, one of the kings of Poland, carried about him the picture of bis father; and when he was to do any great work, or set upon any design extra¬ ordinary, he would look on the picture, and pray that he might do nothing unworthy of such a father’s name. Thus it is that the Scriptures are the picture of God’s will. Be¬ fore a man engages in any business whatso¬ ever, let him look there, and read what is to be done, what to be omitted. 13. ACTION, Effect of. “ Don’t write there,” said one to a lad, who was writing with a dia¬ mond pin on a pane of glass in the window of a hotel. “ Why ? ” said he. “ Because you can’t rub it out.” The glass may be destroyed, but the human soul is immortal. How careful, then, should we be of the impressions we make on death¬ less souls ! 14. ACTION, Enduring. The famous rose-tree planted a thousand years ago by the Emperor Louis le Debonnaire, in the eastern choir of the Cathedral at Ilildersheim, has been in par¬ ticularly fine bloom this season, and looks fresher and greener than ever. Two shoots, which sprang up from the knotty millennial roots in 1863, have attained already the height of the roof. 15. ACTION, Exhortation to. Let not your exertions end in tears; mere weeping will do nothing without action. Get on your feet: ye that have voices and might, go forth and preach the gospel; preach it in every street and lane of this huge city ; ye that have wealth, go forth and spend it for the poor and sick and needy and dying, the uneducated, the unen¬ lightened ; ye that have time, go forth and spend it in deeds of goodness; ye that have power in prayer, go forth and pray ; ye that can handle the pen, go forth and write down iniqui¬ ty, — every one to his post; every one of you to your gun in this day of battle ; now for God and for his truth; for God and for the right; let every one of us who knows the Lord seek to fight under his banner. Spurgeon. ACTION'. ACTIVITY. 11 16. ACTION, Important. A certain king would build a cathedral; and, that the credit of‘ it might be all his own, he forbade any from con¬ tributing to its erection in the least degree. A tablet was placed in the side of the building, and on it his name was carved, as the builder. But that night he saw, in a dream, an angel, who came down and erased his name, and the name of a poor widow appeared in its stead. This was three times repeated; when the en¬ raged king summoned the woman before him, and demanded, “ What have you been doin^ ? and why have you broken my commandment ? ” The trembling woman replied, “ I love the Lord, and longed to do something for his name, and for the building up of his church. I was forbidden to touch it in any way; so, in iny poverty, I brought a wisp of hay lor the horses that drew the stones.” And the king saw that he had labored for his own glory, but the widow for the glory of God; and he command¬ ed that her name should be inscribed upon the tablet. Ralph Well s. 17. ACTION, Motive of. Zinzendorf owed much of his religious fervor to the casual sight of a picture of the crucifixion, with this sim¬ ple inscription at the bottom: “All this for thee: hoio much for me f ” 18. ACTION, Necessary to Life. Whilst the stream keeps running, it keeps clear; but if it comes once to a standing water, then it breeds toads and frogs, and all manner of filth. The keys that men keep in their pockets, and use everyday, wax brighter and brighter; but if they be laid aside, and hang by the walls, they soon grow rusty. Thus it is that action is the very life of the soul: whilst we keep going and running in the ways of God’s commandments, we keep clear and free from the world’s pollu¬ tions ; but if we once flag in our diligence, and stand still, oh, what a puddle of sin will the heart be 1 How rusty and useless will the graces grow! Spencer. 19. ACTION, Quality of. The Hebrews have a saving, that God is more delighted in adverbs than in” nouns; ’tis not so much the matter that’s done, but the matter how ’tis done, that God minds. Not how much, hut how well! ’Tis the well-doing that meets with a well- done. Let us, therefore, serve God not nomi¬ nally or verbally, but adverbially. Venning. 20. ACTION, Universal. Man was not made to live merely for the possible reception of ex¬ ternal impressions, a harp upon which every fitful wind might blow: he was made to act, to will, to influence, to become a power, and the living centre of ever-radiating impressions. It were strange, indeed, if, in a laborious uni¬ verse, man should be the only idler among the works of the Creator’s hands. While all around are working, from the wavelet’s tiniest ripple, and from the rosebud’s heart, ever glow¬ ing into deeper crimson, to the tireless ocean, and the menial and monarch sun ; whilst un¬ wearied labor was the condition of Paradise, and angels cease not in their ministry, and there is no faltering in the march of the heav¬ ens, and the Son went about doing good, and the Eternal Father, the Watchman of Israel, neithei slumberetli nor sleepeth, you will not wonder that, by a law as benign as it is authoritative, God has impressed activity upon his favorite creature, man, and has provided that his shall not be a zoophite existence, clinging in blind helplessness as a parasite to its guardian rock, but a life beautiful and holy, a life of quickened pulses, and an activity and an energy of which insensate matter knows not; and finding in the rapturous doing of every-day life its very soul and essence of joy. There is a necessity in man, then, for activity. Act he must and will; and it is the province of religion to direct and control this tendency, so that his doing may be according to that which is right. IF. M. Punshon. 21. ACTIONS, Record of. Every man, says a Turkish allegory, has two angels, one on the right shoulder and another on his left. When he does any thing good, the angel on the right shoulder writes it down and seals it, because what is done is done forever. When he does evil, the angel on the left shoulder writes it down. He waits till midnight. If before that time the man bows down his head, and ex¬ claims, “ Gracious Allah ; I have sinned : for¬ give me 1 ” the angel rubs it out; and if not, at midnight he seals it, and the angel upon the right shoulder weeps. 22. ACTIONS, Responsibility for. Just as the tiny shells make up the chalk hills, and the chalk hills together make up the range, so the trifling actions make up the whole account, and each of these must be pulled asunder separately. You had an hour to spare the other day — what did you do? You had a voice — how did you use it ? Each particular shall be brought out, and there shall be de¬ manded an account tor each one. Spurgeon. 23. ACTIONS, Usefulness of Common. It is the bubbling stream that flows gently; the little rivulet which runs along day and night by the farm-house, that is useful, rather than the swollen flood or warring cataract. Niagara excites our wonder; and we stand amazed at the powerful greatness of God there, as he pours in from the hollow of his hand. But one Niagara is enough for the continent of the world, while the same world requires thou¬ sands and tens of thousands of silver fountains and gently flowing rivulets that water every farm and meadow, and every garden, and shall flow on every day and night with their gentle, quiet beauty. So with the acts of our lives. It is not by great deeds, like those of the martyrs, good is to be done, but by the daily and quiet virtues of life. Rev. Albert Barnes. 24. ACTIVITY, Achievements of. Dr. Adam Clarke said that •* the old proverb about having too many irons in the fire was an abominable old lie. Have all in it, — shovel, tongs, and poker.” Wesley said, “ I am always in haste, but never in a hurry: leisure and I have long taken leave of each other.” He travelled about five thousand miles in a year; preached about three times a day, commencing at five o’clock 12 ACTIVITY. ADAPTATION. in the morning; and his published works amounted to about two hundred volumes. Asbury travelled six thousand miles a year, and preached incessantly. Coke crossed the Atlantic eighteen times, preached, wrote, trav¬ elled, established missions, begged from door to door for them, and labored in all respects as if, like the apostles, He would “ turn the world upside down.” At nearly seventy years of age he started to Christianize India. Dr. Stevens. 25. ACTIVITY, Importance of. It is good policy to strike while the iron is hot: it is still better to adopt Cromwell’s procedure,' and make the iron hot by striking. The master-spirit who can rule the storm is great, but he is much greater who can both raise and rule it. To attain that grand power, one must possess the brave and indomitable soul of activity which prompted Edmund Burke to exclaim to his constituents in his famous speech at Bristol, “Applaud us when we run; console us when we fall; cheer us when we recover: but let us pass on, — for God’s sake, let us pass on.” E. L. Magoon. 26. ACTIVITY, Incitement to. Were the Olympian Agonistae inspired by the admiring gaze of applauding thousands ? Did the thun¬ ders of acclamation which awoke the echoes of Olympus excite the Athletse to higher ener¬ gies? llow, then, shall we be affected, who believe that we are under the watchful eye of the Dread Supreme ? The King looks on those who are running the heavenly race, vi ho are wrestling with spiritual antagonists, and who are handing “ a cup of cold water ” to some drooping and thirsty disciple 1 As the King’s eye brightens with approbation, let us resolve to climb the highest steps of duty, and to walk on the loftiest mountains of holy enter¬ prise. Dr. J. Parker. 27. ACTIVITY, Result of. If we travel slowly, and loiter on the road, Jesus will go on before us, and sin will overtake us. If we are dilatory and lazy in the vineyard, the Master will not smile on us when he walks through his garden. Be active, and expect Christ to be with thee : be idle, and the thorns and briers will grow so thickly, that he will be shut out of thy door. Spurgeon. 28. ACTIVITY, Reward of. History informs us of an old Roman soldier who served forty years in the cause of his country, — ten as a pri¬ vate, and thirty as an officer. He had been present in one hundred and twenty battles, and had forty-five times been severely wounded. He had obtained fourteen civic crowns for having saved the life of a Roman citizen, three mural crowns for having been the first to mount the breach, and eight golden crowns for having rescued the standard of a Roman legion from the hands of the enemy. He had in his house eighty-three gold chains, sixty bracelets, eighteen golden spears, and twenty-three horse- trappings. the spoil of war. Let the Christian be equally faithful to his Saviour, and the elory and value of his reward shall far exceed that of this old Roman soldier. Bate. 29. ADAPTATION, Force of. A French¬ man of infidel principles was walking one evening beneath the shade of some noble trees, in the neighborhood of B. “ How grand and beautiful, are these noble trees I ” said the wanderer, as he looked up into their branches; “ but how singular that so large a tree should bear a fruit so small as the acorn! ” Still wondering, he cast his eye upon a gourd-vine running along the hedgerow, with its stem so tender, that the slightest pressure would have severed it, and yet yielding a fruit weighing one hundred pounds. “ IIow singular,” said the wanderer, “ that so small a plant should grow so large a fruit! If I had been God,” said he, “ I would have managed creation better than this. I would have put the small fruit on the small plant, and I would have placed the large gourd on this noble oak.” And then, wearied with the heat of the day, he laid himself beneath the shade of its spread¬ ing branches, and fell asleep. An acorn, already ripe, fell on the face of the sleeper. Awakened by the falling of the little fruit, the thought flashed upon his mind, “ Had that been the gourd of one hundred pounds weight, I should probably, by this time, have been a corpse.” He immediately went on his knees to ask forgiveness of God. He saw that the Author of all good had rightly disposed of every tree, and the fruit thereof. Conviction went on, under Divine direction, until conver¬ sion took its place, and the thoughtless blas¬ phemer became a servant of the Most High God. Clements. 3®. ADAPTATION, in Nature. The bodies of animals hold in their constitution and prop¬ erties a great and important relation to the elements by which they are surrounded. The wings of birds bear a relation to air, and the fins of fishes to water. Throughout the universe there is a won¬ derful proportioning of one thing to another. The size of animals, of man especially, when considered with respect to other animals, or to the plants which grow around him, is such as a regard to his conveniency would have pointed out. A giant or a pygmy could not have milked goats, reaped corn, or mowed grass; a giant could not have rode a horse, trained a vine, or shorn a sheep, with the same bodily ease as we do, if at all. A pygmy would have been lost amongst rushes, or carried off by birds of prey. It may be observed, likewise, that the model and the materials of the human body being what they are, a much greater bulk would have broken down by its own weight. The persons of men who much exceed the ordinary stature betray this tendency. How close is the suitableness of the earth and sea to their several inhabitants, and of these inhabitants to the places of their ap¬ pointed residence 1 Take the earth as it is; and consider the correspondency of the powers of its inhabitants with the properties and condition of the soil which they tread. Take the inhabitants as they are; and consider the substances which ADAPTATION. the earth yields for their use. They can open its surface; and its surface supplies all which they want. Such is the length of their facul¬ ties, and such the constitution of the globe, that this is sufficient for all their occa¬ sions. When we pass from the earth to the sea, from land to water, we pass through a great change; but an adequate change accompanies us of animal forms and functions, of animal capacities and wants. The earth in its nature is very different from the sea, and the sea from the earth; but one accords with its inhabitants as exactly as the other; and the correspondency instituted by Divine Wisdom pervades and harmonizes the whole. Paley. 31. ADAPTATION, Proves a Creator. The earth is adapted as the home of man. The sun is at the right distance from the earth to give light, heat, and life. The opposite wants of animal and vegetable life secure the purity of the atmosphere. Animals consume oxygen and exhale carbon, while with plants the opera¬ tion is reversed. Without the plants the animals would soon perish, and the plants could not exist without the carbonic acid which animals are constantly imparting to the air. The equilibrium of the atmosphere is further maintained by the great system of the winds, which force the air in perpetual currents from the equator to the poles, and the reverse. 32. ADAPTATION, Wisdom of. He alone is wise who can accommodate himself to all the contingencies of life ; but the fool contends, and is struggling like a swimmer against the stream. From the Latin. 33. ADOPTION, Definitions of. Adoption is that act of God by which we who were alien¬ ated, and enemies, and disinherited, are made the sons of God, and heirs of his eternal glory. — R. IKats-cm.-Adoption is an action whereby a man takes a person into his family, in order to make him part of it, acknowledges him for his son, and receives him into the number, and gives him a right to the privileges of his children. Pharaoh’s daughter adopted young Moses, and Mordeeai Esther. Ex. ii. 10 ; Esther ii. 7, 15. A. Cruden. 34. ADOPTION, Dignity of. IIow high is this dignity ! To be called the sons of God 1 this is our prerogative royal. We tell you not of a kindred imperial, adopted into some of the Ctesars’ families; nor of David matching into the house of Saul, which seemed to him no small preferment; we blazon not your arms with the mixture of noble ingressions, nor fetch your lineal descents from heroes and monarchs. You are made the sons and daugh¬ ters of God: this is honor amply sufficient. T. Adams. 35. ADOPTION, Honor of. When the Dan¬ ish missionaries stationed at Malabar set some of their converts to translate a Catechism, in which it was asserted that believers became the sons of God, one of the translators was so startled that he suddenly laid down his pen, and exclaimed, “ It is too much : let me rather ADVERSITY. 13 render it, ‘ They shall be permitted to kiss his feet! ’ ” 30. ADOPTION, Sacred and Secular. Betwixt civil and sacred adoption, there is a two-fold agreement and disagreement. They agree in this, that both flow from the pleasure and good will of the adoptant; and in this, that both confer a right to privileges which we have not by nature; but in this they differ: one is an act imitating nature, the other transcends na¬ ture : the one was found out for the comfort of them that had no children, the other for the comfort of them that had no Father. Divine adoption is in Scripture either taken properly for that act or sentence of God by which we arc made sons, or for the privileges with which the adopted are invested. We lost our inher¬ itance by the fall of Adam: we receive it by the death of Christ, which restores it again to us by a new and better title. ./. Flavel. 37. ADORNMENT, Rebuked. A Quaker gen¬ tleman, riding in a carriage with a fashionable lady decked with a profusion of jewelry, heard her complain of the cold. Shivering in her lace bonnet and shawl as light as cobweb, she exclaimed, — “ What shall I do to get warm ? ” “ 1 really don’t know,” replied the Quaker solemnly, “ unless thee should put on another breast-pin ! ” 38. ADVENT, The Second. Did you ever hear the sound of the trumpets which are blown before the judges as they come into a city to open the assizes ? Did you ever reflect how different are the feelings which those trumpets awaken in the minds of different men ? The innocent man, who has no cause to be tried, hears them unmoved. They proclaim no terrors to him. lie listens and looks on quietly, and is not afraid. But often there is some poor wretch waiting his trial, in a silent cell, to whom those trumpets are a knell of despair. They tell him that the day of trial is at hand. Yet a little time, and he will stand at the bar of justice, and hear witness after witness telling the story of his misdeeds. Yet a little time and all will be over, — the trial, the verdict, the sentence; and there will re¬ main nothing for him but punishment and dis¬ grace. No wonder the prisoner’s heart beats when he hears the trumpet’s sound ! So shall the sound be of the archangel’s trump. J. C. Ryle. 30. ADVERSITY, Discipline of. As weeds grow fastest in a fat and rank soil, so our cor¬ ruptions grow and thrive, and are ready to overrun our souls, when our outward state and condition is most prosperous and successful; and, therefore, God’s love and care of us con¬ strain him sometimes to use severe discipline, to nip those luxuriances, and to cut us short in our temporal enjoyments ; which else, he sees, we should only turn into provision for our lusts. Bp. Hopkins. 40. ADVERSITY, Effect of. Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which, in pros¬ perous circumstances, would have lain dor¬ mant. Horace. 14 .AJDATFCRSITY. -A^DVTCE. 41. ADVERSITY, Friendlessness in. As it is •with tlie deer that is hunted, when the hunts¬ man goes into the park, lie rouses the whole herd, and they all run together; but if one be shot, and they see the blood run down, they will soon push him out of their company. Or, as a man being in his travel upon the road, and there being a sun-dial set up in the way, if the sun shine, he will step out of his way to take notice of it; but if the sun do not shine, he will go by a hundred times and never re¬ gard it. So let but the sun of prosperity shine upon a man, then who but he ? he shall have friends more than a good many ; but if a cloudy day come, and take away the sunshine, he may easily number his acquaintance. And so when a man goes on in the credit of the world, he 6hall be welcome into all companies, and much made of by every one; but if he come once to be shot, and disgrace put upon him, then he shall soon perceive a cloud in every man’s face, no one so much as regardinshim. y o o Spencer. 42. ADVERSITY, Influence of. There are minerals called hydrophanous, which are not transparent till they are immersed in water, when they become so; as the hydrophane, a variety of opal. So it is with many a Chris¬ tian. Till the floods of adversity have been poured over him, his character appears marred and clouded by selfishness and worldly in¬ fluences. But trials clear away the obscurity, and give distinctness and beauty to his piety. Prof. Hitchcock. 43. ADVERSITY, Lesson of. Should the native of some distant world, on which the sun always shines, visit our globe, he would be filled with dismay as he beheld the sun disap¬ pear, and darkness envelope nature as in a funeral pall. Mow would his astonishment increase, as, amid the increasing darkness, myriads of worlds, of which he never dreamed, blazed forth upon his vision. Thus, often, adversity affrights us ; but, instead of contract¬ ing our blessings, it reveals to us new sources of comfort, worlds of joy, hidden while the veil of prosperity hung about us. 44. ADVERSITY, Philosophy of. It was a high speech of Seneca (after the manner of stoics), that the good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be ad¬ mired : “ Bona veram secundarwn optabilia , adoersarum mirabilia.” Certainly, if miracles be the command over nature, they appear most in adversity. It is yet a higher speech of his than the other (much too high for a heathen), “ It is true greatness to have in one the frailty of a man and the security of a God.” “ Vcre magnum habere fragilitatem hominis, securilalem Dei." This would have done bet¬ ter in poesy, where transcendencies are more allowed ; and the poets, indeed, have been busy with it; for it is, in effect, that strange thing which is figured in that strange fiction of the ancient poets, which seemeth not to be without mystery; nay, and to have some approach to the state of a Christian: “ That Hercules, when he went to unbind Prometheus (by whom human nature is represented) sailed the length of the great ocean in an earthen pot or pitcher, lively describing Christian resolution, that saileth in the frail bark of the flesh through the waves of the world.” But to speak in a mean, the virtue of prosperity is temperance, the virtue of adversity is fortitude, which in morals is the more heroical virtue. Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament: adversity is the blessing of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God’s favor. Yet, even in the Old Testa¬ ment, if you listen to David’s harp, you shall hear as many hearse-like airs as carols; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more in describing the affliction of Job than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without many fears and distaste; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. Lord Bacon. 45. ADVERSITY, a Test. Ask the man of adversity how other men act towards him; ask those others how he acts towards them. Adversity is the true touchstone of merit in both; happy if it does not produce the dis¬ honesty of meanness in one, and that of inso¬ lence and pride in the other. Lord Greville. 46. ADVERSITY, Use of. A man who had enjoyed great prosperity, and amassed considerable wealth, without thought of God, was at length overwhelmed with calamities. His life was imperilled, his property was lost, his family were sick nigh unto death, he lost his eyes, and, last of all, his boy died. He desired to be led to the side of his dead son, and handled the loved form which he could no longer see. There he exclaimed, “ O God 1 it is enough ! Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, the wandering child of pious parents, who have long since gone to heaven, will yield. I will kiss the rod that smites me; and, though I cannot now see thee in all nature, as once I might have done, yet I do and will hear thee in the silence of my heart.” They came to re¬ move him; but he said, “ Oh, no 1 not yet; not until here, audibly, in your presence, and, above all, in the presence of the all-seeing God, I make my vows. Samuel 1 dearest Samuel 1 thou wilt never come to me, but I will go to thee, in that world where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” 47. ADVICE, Danger of Disregarding. “ Be sure, Herbert,” said Mr. Wise to his son, “ not to go beyond your depth in the river: the surface looks very fair and sparkling, but there is an ugly eddy beneath, that may prove too strong for you.” “ How do you know, father ? ” asked Her¬ bert. “ I have tried it,” was the reply. “ It nearly overcame me; but I could swim, and so got beyond it. Remember what I tell you : be¬ ware of the undertow.” Herbert went in to bathe, and was very careful to keep near the shore every time. “ It cannot be very dangerous here,” he thought, and uttered it aloud to his companion. ajd'vtce:. .AJF'IT'ECTION'. 15 “ It is as smooth as glass; and I can easily re¬ turn if it is rough beneath, for I can swim now.” “ You had better not go,” urged his friend : “ my father knows this river well, and he says the undertow is very dangerous.” “ I will go in a little ways,” replied Herbert, “ and, if I find it dangerous, come back.” And he started vigorously for the middle of the river. Ilis companion, watching him, saw him throw up his arms wildly, and heard his shout for help; but, when help reached him, it was too late. The undertow had got him. He was drowned in the treacherous river! Mrs. M. L. Rai/ne. 48. ADVICE, Taking. He who can take advice is sometimes superior to him who can give it. Von Ktteble. 49. ADVOCATE, Advantage of an. Juvenalis, a widow, complained to Theodoric, king of the Romans, that a suit of hers had been in court three years, which might-have been decided in a few days. The king, being informed who were her judges, gave orders that they should give all expedition to the poor woman’s cause; and in two days it was decided to her satisfac¬ tion. Theodoric then summoned the judges before him, and inquired how it was that they had done in two days what they had delayed for three years. “ The recommendation of your majesty,” was the reply. “ How,” said the king: “ when I put you in office, did I not consign all pleas and proceedings to you ? You deserve death for having delayed that justice, for three years, which two days could accomplish.” And, at that instant, he com¬ manded their heads to be struck olF. Percy. 50. AFFECTATION, Avoiding. Be yourself. Ape no greatness. Be willing to pass for what ou are. A good farthing is better than a ad sovereign. Affect no oddness; but dare to be right, though you have to be singular. A. Coley. 51. AFFECTATION, Cure of. When Cicero consulted the oracle at Delphos, concerning what course of studies he should pursue, the answer was, “ Follow Nature.” If every one would do this, affectation would be almost un¬ known. J. Beaumont. 52. AFFECTATION, Ridiculous. We are never rendered so ridiculous by qualities which we have, as by those which we aim at, or affect to have. From the French. 53. AFFECTION, Conjugal. A woman who had not seen her husband for three long years, caught sight of him in the ranks of one of the returning regiments in Portland recently, as it was marching through the streets. The over¬ joyed woman rushed to the ranks, embraced and kissed her husband, and marched along by his side amid the cheers of the spectators. 54. Xenophon relates, that when an Arme¬ nian prince had been taken captive, with his princess, by Cyrus, and was asked what he would give to be restored to his kingdom and liberty, be replied, “ As for my kingdom and liberty, I value them not; but, if my blood would redeem my princess, I would cheerfully give it for her.” When Cyrus had liberated them both, the princess was asked, “ What think you of Cy¬ rus ? ” She replied, “ I did not observe him : my whole attention was fixed upon the gener¬ ous man who would have purchased my liberty with his life.” 55. AFFECTION, Cultivating. In the in¬ tercourse of social life, it is by little acts of watchful kindness, recurring daily and hourly; it is by words, by tones, by gestures, by looks, — that affection is won and preserved. He who neglects these trifles will rarely be loved. 56. AFFECTION, Emblem of. I lately read a very remarkable circumstance respecting the storks; namely, that, so strong is their affec¬ tion for their young, they are not afraid even to die for them. There have been instances of conflagrations, in which they flew to and fro, with water in their beaks, to save their nests upon the burning houses. Nay, it once happened at Delft in Holland, that, finding it impossible to preserve their brood, they placed themselves upon the nest, spread over them their wings, and so perished with them in the flames. That is what is called dying for love! Gotthold. 57. AFFECTION, Filial. Epaminondas was one of the greatest generals of Greece. When he had conquered Sparta and delivered Greece, in the midst of universal applause he was heard to say, “ My joy arises from my sense of that which the news of my victory will give my father and mother.” L. M. Stretch. 58. Valerius Maximus relates, that a woman of distinction, having been condemned to be strangled, was delivered to the triumvir, who caused her to be carried to prison in order to be put to death. The jailer who was ordered to execute her was struck with compunction, and could not resolve to kill her. He chose, however, to let her die with hunger; but. mean¬ while, suffered her daughter to visit her in prison, taking care that she brought her nothing to eat. Many days passed over in this man¬ ner, when the jailer, at length, surprised that the prisoner lived so long without food, and suspecting the daughter, took means of secretly observing their interviews. He then discovered that the affectionate daughter had all the while been nourishing her mother with her own milk. Amazed at so tender, and at the same time so ingenious, an artifice, he related it to the triumvir, and the triumvir to the praetor, who thought the fact merited stating in the assembly of the people. This produced the happiest effects: the criminal was pardoned, and a decree passed that the mother and the daughter should be maintained for the re¬ mainder of their lives at the expense of the public, and that a temple, sacred to filial piety, should be erected near the prison. Percy. 59. A boy of three years of age, hearing a visitor of his father’s make use of the popular saying, that “ an honest man is the noblest work of God,” made this innocent annotation upon it: “ No, sir : my mamma is the noblest work of God 1 ” 16 Ai’l^'ECTION. APFECTION. 60. An ancient city was besieged, and at length obliged to surrender. In the city were two brothers, who had obliged the conquering general, and received permission to leave the city before it was set on fire, taking with them as much of their property as each could carry. The two youths appeared at the gates of the city, one of them carrying their father, and the other their mother. 61. Olympias, Alexander’s own mother, was of such an unhappy disposition, that he would never let her have any concern in the affairs of the government. She used frequently to make very severe complaints on that account; but he always submitted to her ill humor with great mildness and patience. Antipater, one of his friends, having one day wrote a long letter against her, the king, after reading it, replied, “ Antipater does not know that one single tear shed by my mother will obliterate ten thousand such letters as this.” 62. A father and son were fishing near New- York city. The boat was suddenly capsized, and they were thrown into the water. The father, who was not an expert swimmer, while his son could not swim at all, at once com¬ menced to aid the lad. lie, seeing that his father was becoming exhausted, calmly said to him, “Never mind me: save yourself, for mother’s sake.” Both his father and himself were rescued. 63. AFFECTION, Fraternal. The Emperor Au¬ gustus having taken Adiatoriges, a prince of Cappadocia, together with his wife and chil¬ dren, in war, and led them to Rome in tri¬ umph, gave orders that the father and the elder of the brothers should be slain. The ministers of execution, on coming to the place of confinement, inquired which was the eldest? On this, there arose an earnest contention between the two young princes, each of them affirming himself to be the elder, that, by his own death, he might preserve the life of his brother. When they had continued this heroic and fraternal emulation for some time, the afflicted mother with much difficulty prevailed on her son Dytentus, that he would permit his younger brother to die in his stead, hoping that by him she might still be sustained. When Augustus was told of this example of brotherly love, he regretted his severity, and gave an honorable support to the mother and her sur¬ viving son. Percy. 64. Two days after the terrible battle of Chickamauga, I was passing over the battle¬ field. In a thick clump of bushes, on the side of a ravine, I saw a young man seated beside a tree, with his arm bandaged. Seeing that his arm was badly wounded, I asked why he had not gone to the hospital in the rear. He replied, pointing to a corpse that lay near by, “ That is my brother; and I have determined never to leave him until lie is buried.” I had the dead man buried, and the wounded brother taken care of. Memphis Advocate. 65. “ O Charlie ! be careful, little brother: you are skating too near that hole.” The words came too late. Charlie did not see the bole, and before his brother had finished speak¬ ing, he saw the little fellow go out of sight und&i the ice. With all speed Harry hastened to the spot; he could see his brother, and, creeping to the edge, he reached out his hand ; but the ice was not strong enough to hold him, and he fell in. Other boys, hearing their cries, were soon on the spot. Henry caught his little brother, held him up where Strong arms could reach him. “ Save, oh, save my brother 1 ” he cried ; then sank to rise no more. The elder brother gave his life for the vounger. 66. AFFECTION, "Paternal. While the citi¬ zens of Troy were deliberating over the wooden horse which the Greeks had left, there came two huge serpents from the sea directly to the spot where Laocoon and his two sons stood. They first attacked the children, winding around their bodies. Laocoon attempted to rescue them from the tightening coils of the serpents, but in vain. They enveloped him, also, and father and children perished together. The most famous piece of statuary in exist¬ ence — that of Laocoon and his children in the embrace of the serpents — commemorates this event. 6'J'. After the battle of Gettysburg, a sol¬ dier was found dead upon the field, holding in his hand the picture of three small children. No clew to his name could be found. In the terrors of battle he had comforted himself with this picture. It was published, and by this means the children were found in a village of Western New York. The sale of this picture resulted in the founding of the “ National Or¬ phan Homestead ” at Gettysburg, where the Humiston children, the originals of the pic¬ ture, find a home, and their mother is the matron. 68. AFFECTION, of the Poor. A poor little girl in the Fourth Ward, New York, as she was dying, said, “ I am glad I am going to die, because now my brothers and sisters will have enough to eat! ” 6D. AFFECTION, Rewarded. One beautiful evening in summer, a carriage drove up to a village inn. A stranger stepped out, and di¬ rected the landlord to prepare him a dinner. The stranger looked about him for a few mo¬ ments, and then directed his steps to the church. He entered the gate which opened into the graveyard, and walked around. While read¬ ing the various inscriptions on the tombstones, his attention was drawn to a corner of the yard by the sobs of a child. He went to the spot, where two ragged children sat weeping upon a newly-made grave. A piece of bard bread was between them. The stranger sat down upon the grave, and inquired into the cause of their dis¬ tress. The little boy, whose name was William, began to tell him that his sister Mary was naughty, and would not eat the piece of bread which he had begged for ber. She interrupted her brother here, and told the man that she had some bread yesterday, but that her brother had eaten none since the day before, and she wanted him to eat this. The boy told the stranger that about a year ago his father left ■AJFHLECTIOISr. ^jr^x.iCTioKr. 17 the village, and went to sea, and that in a storm he was drowned. “ And poor mother cried so hard, and said that she must soon die too; but that we must love each other, and that God would be our father. She called us to her bedside, kissed us both, and then died.” '1 he stranger listened to the tale of sorrow, and was moved with compassion for the wan¬ derers. He exclaimed, as he rose from the grave, “ Come with me, poor children. God will be your father. He has, no doubt, sent me here this night to befriend you.” He took them to the inn, and had them pro¬ vided for until he returned home. Then they were received into the bosom of his family, where they were well fed, clothed, and in¬ structed; and the stranger, in his declining years, witnessed them useful and honorable members of society. His hospitality was re¬ warded an hundred fold. 70. AFFECTION, Want of Parental. Saturn is represented in mythology as a monster who devoured his own children. Vulcan was born lame, and his mother Juno was so enraged that she threw him out of heaven. 71. AFFECTION, Want of Paternal. A mulatto youth one day called on a respectable gentle¬ man of Baltimore, and, with tears in his eyes, begged for assistance. — “ My father and mother,” says he, “ are about to sell me to Georgia.” — “Your father and mother!” re¬ plied the gentlemen with surprise : “ what right have they to sell you ? ” — “ My father, ” answered the boy, “ is a white man, Mr.-, a merchant in this place. My mother is a yel¬ low woman. She lias had several children by him, all of whom have been sold to Georgia but myself. He is this moment bargaining with a slave-trader for me.” The gentleman promised his assistance, but too late ; the bar¬ gain was already made. The unfortunate youth was immediately borne off, in spite of tears, execrations, and entreaties, handcuffed and chained, and driven like a brute to a distant market! 72. AFFECTIONS, Earthly. It is storied of Henry the Fourth of France asking the Duke of Alva if he had observed the eclipses hap¬ pening in that year: he answered, that he had so much business on earth, that he had no leisure to look up to heaven. So it is. Most men are of this Spanish general’s mind: wit¬ ness the oxen, the farms, the pleasures, the profits and preferments, that men are so fast glued unto, that they have hardly leisure to entertain a thought of any goodness. Spencer. 73. AFFECTIONS, Enrich God. If we should gather all the flowers that grow upon the mountain-sides and in the valleys, and heap them up before God, he would not be richer than he is now ; but when we bring ourselves to him, and affection after affection opens and exhales in his presence, he is richer, and his joys are greater. Beecher. 74. AFFECTIONS, Governing the. Hethatrid- eth a fierce horse, let the horse keep what pace he will, so long as the rider commands him by the bridle, ■we say he rides strongly; but if the 2 horse get the bit in his mouth, and run away, the faster his pace, the weaker the rider, be¬ cause he cannot check him. Our affections are just like that fierce horse, and our reason should be as a strong bridle, stir they never so much : if reason command, we are strong ; but if reason have no power, and our affections run loose, then, certainly, the more violent we are, the more weak we are. Spencer. 75. AFFLICTION, Bearing. One in affliction, when asked how he bore it so well, replied, “It lightens the stroke to draw near to him who handles the rod.” 76. AFFLICTION, Benefit of. In a journal of a tour through Scotland by the Rev. C. Simeon of Cam' ridge, we have the following passage: — “ Went to see Lady Ross’s grounds. Here also I saw blind men weaving. May I never forget the following fact: One of the blind men, on being interrogated with respect to his knowledge of spiritual things, answered, ‘ I never saw till I was blind ; nor did I ever know contentment when I had my eyesight, as I do now that I have lost it. I can truly affirm, though few know how to credit me, that I would on no account change my present situation and circumstances with any that I ever enjoyed before !■ was blind.’ He had enjoyed eyesight till twenty-five, and had been blind now about three years. My soul,” Mr. Simeon adds, “ was much affected and comforted with his declaration. Surely, there is a reality in religion I ” 77. AFFLICTION, Blessedness of. “ Why should I murmur ? ” said Henry Martyn, in his last sickness : “ weakness, peril, and pain are but the ministering angels whose office it is to conduct me to glory.” The holiest weep, but their tears, as rain-drops in the springtime, are shot through with sunbeams : “ they sorrow not as those without hope.” S. Coley. 78. AFFLICTION. Brevities. Sanctified afflic¬ tions are spiritual promotions. — Dodd. God may east thee down , but he will not cast thee off. — Case. Adversity, like winter weather, is of use to kill those vermin which the sum¬ mer of prosperity is apt to produce and nour¬ ish.— Arrowsmitli. A great deal of rust re¬ quires a rough file. — Moses Browne. The wise Lord loves to feed us with hunger, and make us fat with wants and desertions. — Rutherford. Christ is the best physician : he never takes down the wrong bottle. Berridge. 79. AFFLICTION, Healthful. The air from the sea of affliction is extremely beneficial to invalid Christians. Continued prosperity, like a warm atmosphere, has a tendency to unbind the sinews and soften the bones ; but the cold winds of trouble make us sturdy, hardy, and well-braced in every part. Un¬ broken success often leads to an undervaluing of mercies, and forgetfulness of the giver ; but the withdrawal of the sunshine leads us to look for the sun. Spurgeon. 80. AFFLICTION, Kinds of. We may ob¬ serve in this the difference between Christ and the Tempter. Christ hath his fan in his hand, IS AFFLICTION-. AFFLICTION-. anil he fanncth us: the Devil hath a sieve in his hand, and he sifteth us. Now, a fan casteth out the worst, and keepeth in the best; a sieve keepeth in the worst, and castcth out the best. So Christ and his trials purgetli chaff and corruption out of us, and nourisheth his graces in us. Contrariwise, the Devil, what evil soever is in us, he confirmeth it : what faith or good thing soever, he weakcneth it. Trapp. 81. AFFLICTION, Legend of. “The Apostle Peter had a daughter born in lawful wedlock, who accompanied him in his journey from the East. Being at Rome with him, she fell sick of a grievous infirmity which deprived her of the use of her limbs. And it happened, that, as the disciples were at meat with him in his house, one said to him, ‘ Master, how is it that thou, who healest the infirmities of others, dost not heal tliy daughter Pctronilla ? ’ And St. Peter answered, ‘ It is good tor her to remain sick ; ’ but, that they might see the power that was in the word of God, he commanded her to get up and serve them, at table, which she did ; and having done so, she lay down again helpless as before ; but many years afterwards, being per¬ fected by her long suffering, and praying fer¬ vently, she was healed. Petronilla was won¬ derfully fair; and Valerius Flaccus, a young and noble Roman, who was a heathen, became enamoured of her beauty, and sought her for his wife; and he being very powerful, she feared to refuse him. She therefore desired him to return in three days, and promised that he uhould then carry her home. But she prayed earnestly to be delivered from this peril; and when Flaccus returned in three days, with great pomp, to celebrate the marriage, lie found her dead. The company of nobles who at¬ tended him carried her to the grave, in which they laid her, crowned with roses ; and Flac¬ cus mourned greatly.” 82. AFFLICTION, Ministry of. An invalid of twenty years, whose sufferings were extreme, was one night thinking of the reason of this long-continued infliction. Suddenly the room filled with light, and a beautiful form bent over her, saying, “ Daughter of sorrow, art thou impatient V ” — “ No; but I am full of pain and disease, and I see no end; nor can I see why I must suffer thus. I know that I am a sinner; but I hoped that Christ’s sufferings, and not mine, would save me. Oh 1 why does God deal thus with me ? ” —“ Come with me, daugh¬ ter, and I will show thee.” — “But I cannot walk.”— “ True, true ! There, gently, gently 1 ” He tenderly took her up in his arms, and car¬ ried her over land and water, till he set her down in a far-off city, and in the midst of a large workshop. The room was full of win¬ dows, and the workmen seemed to be near the light, and each with his own tools; and all seemed to be so intent upon their work, that they neither noticed the new-comers, nor spoke to one another. They seemed to have small, brown pebbles, which they were grinding and shaping and polishing. Her guide pointed her to one who 6eemed to be most earnestly at work. He had a half-polished pebble, which was now seen to be a diamond, in a pair of strong iron pincers. lie seemed to grasp the little thing as if he would crush it, and to hold it on to the rough stone without mercy. The stone whirled, and the dust flew, and the jewel grew smaller and lighter. Ever and anon he would stop, hold it up to the light, and examine it carefully. “ Workman,” said the sufferer, “ will you please to tell me why you bear on, and grind the jewel so hard ?”— “I want to grind off every flaw and crack in it.” — “ But don’t you waste it ? ” — “ Yes; but what is left is worth so much the more. The fact is, this diamond, if it will bear the wheel long enough, is to occupy a very important place in the crown we are making up for our king. We take much more pains with such. We have to grind and polish them a great while; but, when they are done, they are very beautiful. The king was here yesterday, and was much pleased with our work, but wanted this jewel, in partic¬ ular, should be ground and polished a great deal. So you see how hard I hold it down on this stone. And, see 1 there is not a crack nor a flaw in it! What a beauty it will be 1 ” Gently the guide lifted up the poor sufferer, and again laid her down on her own bed of pain. “ Daughter of sorrow, dost thou under¬ stand the vision ? ” — “ Oh, yes ! but may I ask you one question ? ” — “ Certainly.” — “ Were you sent to me to show me all this V ” — “ Assur¬ edly.” — “ Oh ! may I take to myself the con¬ solation that I am a diamond, and am now in the hands of the strong man, who is polishing it for the crown of the Great King V ” “ Daughter of sorrow, thou mayest have that consolation; and every pang of suffering shall be like a flash of lightning in a dark night, revealing eternity to thee; and here¬ after thou shalt ‘ run without weariness, and walk without faintness,’ and sing with those who have ‘ come out of great tribulation.’ ” I)r. Todd. 83. AFFLICTION, Profit of. The bee is ob¬ served to suck honey from the thyme, a most hard and dry herb; so the good and faithful- minded man sucketh knowledge and obedience from the bitter potion of adversity and the cross, and turneth all to the best. The scour¬ ing and rubbing which fret others make him shine the brighter; the weight which crusheth others makes him, like the palm- tree, grow the better; the hammer which knocks others all in pieces makes him the broader and the larger. In incude et maleo dilatantur, they are made broader on the anvil, and with the hammer; although it be with the hammer, yet, dilatantur, they are made to grow ■the wider. Spencer. 84. AFFLICTION, Purification by. A few ladies met at each other’s houses to study the Scrip¬ tures. When they came to the third chapter of Malachi, the conversation turned on the method of purifying silver. One lady under¬ took to inquire of a silversmith how he con¬ ducted the process. “ Do you sit during the operation ? ”— “ Yes,” was the reply, “ for I AFFLICTION'. AGE. 19 must keep my eye steadily on the furnace, lest the silver become injured by the intense heat.” As the lady was about to retire, the silver¬ smith said that he knew the process was perfect when he saw his own face in the metal. The molten silver continues in a state of agitation till all impurity is thrown off, and then it becomes quite still. 85. AFFLICTION, Rejoicing in. A colporteur in a Southern city thus sketches an interview with a humble Christian: “ Here is Uncle Jack C-, an old, white-headed black man. ‘ Uncle Jack, how are you ? ’—‘ I is very pain¬ ful in my knee; but, thank my heavenly Mas¬ ter, I’m cause to be thankful. My good Mas¬ ter jus’ gib me ’nuf to make me humble.’ — * And do you enjoy religion as much now, Uncle Jack, as when you could go to church and class-meeting ? ’— ‘ Yes; I joys him more. Den I trust to de people, to de meetin’, to de sarment; an’ when I hear de hym sing, and de pray, I feels glad. But all dis ain’t like de good Lord in de heart. God’s love here ’ — striking his breast — 1 makes all de hard heart go ’way, and make Jack sit down and wonder what de good Master gwine to do wid dis ole nigger.’— ‘ Then you love God, if he does afflict you ? ’—‘ Ob, yes ! God — Him do all dis for me good. God wise. Jack don’t know. At night hear a noise. Me no know what him is; but when me get light, and me hear noise, den me see, me know, me got sense den. Here, in dis painful life, all dark ; me no know : but dare, tout God, all is light— see all, know all. Glory, hallelujah 1 ’ ” 86. AFFLICTION, Reward of. When the Christian’s last pit is digged, when he is de¬ scended into his grave, and finished his state of sorrows and suffering, then God opens the river of abundance, the rivers of life, and never-ceasing felicities. As much as moments are exceeded by eternity, and the sighing of a man by the joy of an angel; and a salutary frown by the light of God’s countenance; a few groans by the infinite and eternal hallelu¬ jahs,— so much are the sorrows of the saints to be undervalued, in respect of what is deposited for them in the treasures of eternity. Their sorrows can die, but so cannot their joys. . . . Every chain is a ray of light, and every prison is a palace, and every loss is the purchase of a kingdom, and every affront in the cause of God is an eternal honor, and every da}’ of sor¬ row is a thousand years of comfort, multiplied with a never-ceasing numeration: days with¬ out night; joys without sorrow; sanctity with¬ out sin; charity without stain; possession without fear; society without envying; com¬ munication of joys without lessening ; and they shall dwell in a blessed country, where an enemy never entered, and from whence a friend never went away. Bishop Taylor. 87. AFFLICTION, Saved by, “ I would gladly take your tract,” said a soldier in the hospital; “ but I have lost both my arms in battle; and I would gladly lose them again, were it pos¬ sible, rather than not enjoy what I now pos¬ sess. While I was far away in the woods, and did not know I should ever live to get back to camp, I cried unto the Lord in good earnest; and he had mercy on my soul.” 88. AFFLICTIONS, Similes of. God often lays the sum of his amazing providences in very dismal afflictions; as the limner first puts on the dusky colors, on which he intends to draw the portraiture of some illustrious beauty. Charnock. 89. I feel that repeated afflictions come, not as lightning on the scathed tree, blasting it yet more and more, but as the strokes of the sculptor on the marble block, forming it into the image of beauty and loveliness. Let but the Divine Presence be felt, and no lot is hard. Let me but see his hand, and no event is un¬ welcome. Power of Illustration. 99. Every vessel of mercy must be scoured in order to brightness. And however trees in the wilderness may grow without cultivation, trees in the garden must be pruned to be made fruitful; and cornfields must be broken up, when barren heaths are left untouched. Arrowsmith. 91. AFFLICTIONS, Sympathy of Jesus in. They tell us, that, in some trackless lands, when one friend passes through the pathless forests, he breaks a twig ever and anon as he goes, that those who come after may see the traces of his having been there, and may know that they are not out of the road. Oh! when we are journeying through the murky night, and the dark woods of affliction and sorrow, it is some¬ thing to find here and there a spray broken, or a leafy stem bent down with the tread of His foot and the brush of his hand as he passed; and to remember that the path he trod he has hal¬ lowed, and that there are lingering fragrances and hidden strengths in the remembrance, “ in all points tempted as we are,” bearing grief /or us, bearing grief with us, bearing grief like us. J. Maclaren. 92. AFFLICTIONS, Use of. Two painters were employed to fresco the walls of a magnificent cathedral. Both stood on a rude scaffolding constructed for the purpose, some distance from the floor. One, so intent upon his tvork, forgetting where he was, stepped back slowly, surveying critically the work of his pencil, until he had neared the edge of the plank on which he stood. At this moment his companion, just perceiving his danger, seized a wet brush, flung it against the wall, spattering the picture with unsightly blotches of coloring. The painter (lew forward, and turned upon his friend with fierce upbraidings, till made aware of the danger he had escaped; then, with tears of gratitude, he blessed the hand that saved him. Just so, sometimes we get so absorbed with the pictures of the world, unconscious of our peril, when God in mercy dashes out the beautiful images, and draws us, at the time we are complaining of his dealings, into his outstretched arms of love. 93. AGE, Changed to Youth. Jason asked Me¬ dea, whose magic arts lie had proved to be remarkable, to take some years of his life and give them to his then aged father. She. con- 20 AGE. AGED. sented to add years to the father’s life, but re¬ fused to shorten his. She sacrificed to the gods, then wrought a mighty enchantment, fill¬ ing her caldron with magic herbs, heads of crows and owls, the entrails of a wolf, and remnants of other things tenacious of life: Tnen she cut the throat of the old man iEson, who was laid beside her on a bed of herbs, and poured into his mouth and his wounds the juices of her caldron. When he had imbibed them, his beard and hair laid otf their white¬ ness, and resumed the blackness of youth ; the signs of age were gone; his veins were full of blood, his limbs of vigor and robustness. rEson is amazed at the change, and remembers that such as he now is he was forty years before. Religion has a greater than Medea’s power to renew the age. It gives perpetual youth. 91. AGE, Cheerfulness with. Cheerfulness ought to be the viaticum vitce of their life to the old. Age without cheerfulness is a Lapland winter without a sun ; and this spirit should be encouraged in our youth, if we would wish to have the benefit of it in our old age. Time will make a generous wine more mellow; but it will turn that which is early on the fret into vinegar. Colton. 95. AGE, The Golden. This was the first period of history in which truth, right, inno¬ cence, and happiness universally prevailed. There were no instruments of war, and the earth brought forth her fruits spontaneously. Spring was perpetual, llowers grew up spon¬ taneous, the rivers flowed with milk and wine, and honey dropped from the boughs of the oaks. Then came the declining silver age; then the savage brazen age ; then the murder¬ ous iron age, followed by the flood of Deuca- leon. 96. AGE, Happiness of. As ripe fruit is sweeter than green fruit, so is age sweeter than youth, provided the youth were grafted into Christ. As harvest-time is a brighter time than seed-time, so is age brighter than youth ; that is, if youth were a seed-time for good. As the completion of a work is more glorious than the beginning, so is age more glorious than youth; that is, if the foundation of the work of God were laid in youth. As sailing into port is a happier thing than the voyage, so is age happier than youth; that is, when the voyage from youth is made with Christ at the helm. J. Pulsford. 97. AGE, Human. Five or six times the pe¬ riod of growth, which in man averages twenty, years, gives the term of life. Five is pretty near the average : some animals greatly exceed it. But man, of all the animals, is the one that seldom comes up to his average. He ought to live a hundred years, according to his physio¬ logical law, for five times twenty are a hun¬ dred ; but instead of that, he scarcely reaches, on the average, four times his growing period; whilst the dog reaches six times, the cat six times, the rabbit even eight times his standard of measurement. The reason is obvious: man is not only the most irregular and most intemperate, but the most laborious and hard- 1 worked of all animals. He is also the most irritable of all animals; and there is reason to believe, though we cannot tell what an animal secretly feels, man cherishes wrath to keep it warm, and consumes himself with the fire of his own secret reflections. Blackwood. 98. AGE, Lesson of Old. The son of Crabbe gives, in the biography of the poet, a brief scene in the last days of Wesley: “At Lowestoft, one evening, all adjourned to a Dissenting chapel to hear the venerable John Wesley on one of the last of his peregrinations. He was exceedingly old and infirm, and was attended, almost supported, in the pulpit by a young min istcr on each side. The chapel was crowded to suffocation. In the course of the sermon he repeated, though with an application of his own, the lines from ‘ Anacreon : ’ — “ ‘ Oft am I by woman told, Poor Anacreon! thou grow’st old: See, thine hairs are falling all; Poor Anacreon! how they foil! Whether I grow old or no, By these signs I do not know; By this I need not to be told ’Tis time to live, if I grow old! ’ “ My father was much struck by his reverend appearance and cheerful air, and the beautiful cadence he gave to these lines; and, after the service, he was introduced to the patriarch, who received him with benevolent politeness.” Dr. Stevens. 99. AGE, Religion in Old. “ I am on the bright side of seventy,” said an aged man of God ; “ the bright side, because nearer to ever* lasting glory.” “ Nature fails,” said another, “ but I am happy.” “ My work is done,” said the Countess of Huntingdon, when eighty-four years old : “ I have nothing to do but to go to my Father.” To a humble Christian it was remarked, “ I fear you are near another world.” “ Fear it, sir 1 ” he replied, “ I know I am ; but, blessed be the Lord 1 I do not fear it: I hope it.” 16®. AGE, Unhappy. There cannot live a more unhappy creature than an ill-natured old man, who is neither capable of receiving pleas¬ ures, nor sensible of doing them to others. Sir W. Temple. 191. AGED, Conversion of the. I have been twenty years in the ministry of the gospel, and I do not believe I could enumerate three persons over fifty years of age whom I have heard ask the solemn question, “ What shall I do to be saved ? ” Dr. Bedell. 192. AGED, Difference in the. Mrs. G-was one day visiting an aged man, a friend of of her father, and one who was associated with him in early life. Though differing widely in sentiment, the two old men still felt a deep in¬ terest in each other. Mr. S-had been one of those who run after the world and overtake it. All that it can give he had obtained. Now, he inquired of the state of his friend, whom he knew to be in circumstances of far less external comfort than himself. As he listened to the story of his patience in suffering, and of the cheerfulness with which he could look forward AGED. AELUEEMENT8. 21 either to a longer pilgrimage in this world or to I the hour of death, his conscience applied the unexpressed reproach, and he exclaimed, “ Yes, yes; you wonder I cannot be as quiet and happy too; but think of the difference: he is going to his treasure, and I — I must leave mine.” Tract Journal. 103. AGED, Duties of the. An agent of mis¬ sions says, “ I was deeply impressed by an aged brother who gave me forty thousand dollars to be divided between the Freedman’s and For¬ eign Missions. When I called on this brother, he asked, ‘ Have you come on a money tour ? For,’ said he, ‘I have just been thinking that I have a little money which I should like to give for some benevolent purpose. I am an aged man. My pilgrimage is almost ended. What I do, I must do quickly. I wish to show that I am a Christian by my works; but I do not depend on tins for salvation. My depend¬ ence is on Jesus.’ He said, 1 If I could write, I would tell the aged, that what they do, they must do quickly.’ ” 104. AGED, Heathen. Mr. Moffat, a mission¬ ary in Africa, found an old woman, sick and almost starved, deserted by her own children, and exposed in the forest to die. Her bony limbs did not tempt the wild beasts to end her misery. The missionary could not take her to his home, but placed food by her side to relieve her till lie could send for her. Heathenism disregards life, both in infancy and age; but to Christianity it is always sacred. 105. AIM, A Christian. The artist, when he paints, knows right well that he shall not be able to excel Apelles; but that does not discourage him : he uses his brush with all the greater pains, that he may, at least in some humble measure, resemble the great master. So the sculptor, though persuaded that he will not rival Praxiteles, will hew out the marble still, and seek to be as near the model as pos¬ sible. Thus the Christian man : forgetting all he has attained, he will press forward, crying, Excelsior! going upwards still, desiring to be conformed more and more to the image of Christ Jesus. Spurgeon. IOC. AIM and Effort. At the battle of the Alma, when one of the regiments was being beaten back by the hordes of Russia, the en¬ sign in front stood his ground as the troops retreated. The captain shouted to him to bring back the colors; but the reply of the en¬ sign was, “ Bring up the men to the colors.” 107. AIM, High. Some time ago, half a dozen young men, dressed in green, were shooting at a target with bows and arrows, when the ar¬ rows of one of them invariably struck the earth, on account of his aiming too low. “ Aim higher,” cried out one of his companions. ‘■'■Aim higher, for your arrow-head is always pointed to the ground. He that aims at a barn-door will never hit the weather-cock on the church-spire.” A father, giving advice to his son, said, “ Let your objects be high and holy, and then the High and Holy One will give you strength and grace to attain them.” “What would you advise me to aim at?” asked a young man of a Christian friend. “ At riches and honors,” replied his friend, “ if you mean to be satisfied with earth; but at Chris¬ tian graces if you have any desire ever to enter heaven.” G. Mogridge. 108. AIM, Importance of Definite. Lieut.-Col. M'Leroth, of the 95th British regiment, re¬ lates the following anecdotes of the skill of sharp-shooters, and the inefficacy of ordinary musketeers: — In an action of some importance, a mounted officer of the enemy was on the point of being made prisoner. One only way presented itself, by which he had a chance of escaping : this was along the front of our line, within musket range. He embraced this alternative; and, although the whole brigade fired at him, both man and horse escaped with impunity. Another fact, from the same authority, is equally curious : — In order to cover themselves as much as possible from the enemy’s aim, at the siege of Yorktown, our soldiers had each three bags of sand to lay on the parapet. Two of these were placed with their ends at a little distance from each other, and the third crossed over the interval, leaving a small loop-hole for the sol¬ diers to fire through. The American riflemen however, were so expert, that, on seeing a piece protruded through the hole, they levelled to¬ wards it, and, penetrating the opening, fre¬ quently shot the men through the head. Percy. 109. ALLUREMENTS, Satanic. Rowland Hill began his sermon one morning by saying, “ My friends, the other day I was going down the street, and I saw a drove of pigs following a mail. This excited my curiosity so much that I determined to follow. I did so; and, to my great surprise, I saw them follow him to the slaughter-house. I was anxious to know how this was brought about; and I said to the man, ‘ My friend, how did you manage to induce these pigs to follow you here ? ’ — ‘ Oh ! did you not see? ’ said the man. ‘ I had a basket of beans under my arm; and I dropped a few as I came along, and so they followed me.’ Yes,” said the preacher; “ and I thought, so it is the devil has his basket of beans under his arm; and he drops them as he goes along : and what multi¬ tudes he induces to follow him to an everlast¬ ing slaughter-house 1 Yes, friends ; and all your broad and crowded thoroughfares are strewn with the beans of the devil.” HO. ALLUREMENTS, Worldly. The Sirens were sea-nymphs who had the power of charm- ing by their song all who heard them. The listener was seized with an irresistible desire to cast himself into the sea to his destruction. Ulysses passing their coast, for safety filled the ears of his seamen with wax, and caused him¬ self to be bound firmly to the mast, with direc¬ tions to his sailors to bind him even more firmly, though in passing the island he should order otherwise. As they approached the en¬ chanting coast, most ravishing music came over the waters, so that Ulysses struggled and begged to be unloosed; but they only bound him more 90 •AJLJLiTT REBIKNTS. ^VMTBITIOlSr. tightly. When they had passed beyond the sound of the music, Ulysses’ wisdom returned to him. He was unbound and the sailors’ ears were unsealed. 111. ALLUREMENTS, Yielding to. Travellers who visit the Falls of Niagara are directed to a spot on the margin of the precipice over the boiling current below, where a gay young lady, a few years since, lost her life. She was delighted with the wonders of the unrivalled scene, and ambitious to pluck a flower from a cliff where no human hand had before ventured, as a me¬ morial of the cataract and her own daring. She leaned over the verge, and caught a glimpse of the surging waters far down the battlement of rocks, while fear for a moment darkened her excited mind. But there hung the lovely blos¬ som upon which her heart was fixed; and she leaned, in a delirium of intense desire and anticipation, over the brink. Her arm was outstretched to grasp the beautiful flower which charmed her fancy ; the turf yielded to the pressure of her feet; and, with a shriek, she descended like a falling star to the rocky shore, and was borne away, gasping in death. 112. AMBITION, Check to, Philip of Mace- don, wrestling in the games, was thrown in the sand. Rising, he saw the marks of his body, and exclaimed, “ How little a parcel of earth will hold us, when we are dead, who are ambitiously seeking after the whole world while living I ” 113. AMBITION, Danger of. Daedalus was a skilful artificer, who built the famous labyrinth for King Minos of Crete, but afterwards fell under his displeasure, and was not allowed to leave the island. He then designed and formed wings of wax and feathers, for himself and his son Icarus, that, if they could not escape by sea, they would defy the king by flying through the air. He equipped himself and then his son for flight, giving him the following directions : “ Icarus, my son, I charge you to keep at a moderate height; for if you fly too low, the damp 1 will clog your wings ; and if too high, the heat will melt them. Keep near me, and you will be safe.” They rose, and flew through the air, and the ploughmen beneath mistook them for gods. At length the boy Icarus grew confident and exultant, and, leaving his father’s care, soared upward. The sun’s blaze softened the wax that held the feathers of his wings in place, and they fell out. His arms moved, but would not sustain him; and down, down he fell, and was drowned in the sea beneath. 114. AMBITION, End of. Take the four greatest rulers, perhaps, that ever sat upon a throne. Alexander , when he had so completely subdued the nations that he wept because there w