AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION" FOR WHAT PURPOSE IS HUMAN LIFE?"

My dear young friends, you will all agree with me, that everything God has made exists for some wise end. For example, that great ball of fire you see up yonder, which shines so brightly during the day, and which dazzles your eyes so much when you look at it, exists for some wise purpose. Perhaps you can tell me what that purpose is. Methinks I hear you whispering to yourselves, "It exists to give light and heat to the worlds with which it is surrounded." In the same way, the mighty ocean you go to see occasionally, which at times seems smooth and gentle, while at other times it is rough and violent, and which roars like thunder, filling you with fear as you listen to it, has a purpose to fulfil. The same may be said of the wind, that sometimes nearly blows you away as it whistles through the trees, and of the trees and flowers, fields and hills, with which you are surrounded. In fact, it is so with respect to everything God has made. If such were not the case, God would not have made them, as he never does anything uselessly. We must remember, however, that the end for which all things exist, is not always of the same importance. Thus, the sun has a more important mission to fulfil than the obscure tree of the wood, or the humble flowers of the field. Now, of all God's works, none exist for a more important purpose than immortal What then, it is important to ask, is the chief purpose of man's being? To this question but one reply can be given, and that is, to glorify God. I hope, my dear young readers, you will ever bear this in mind. It is of the greatest moment that you should remember it, as it is intimately connected with your everlasting welfare.

man.

Let me try, then, to show you, what it is to glorify God, with as few words as possible, and in the plainest manner I can. To glorify God, is to please him. This, I think, you

will see, if you look at it, to be the very essence of glorifying God. Now you know that, you cannot please God without obedience to God; therefore obedience to him is the secret of pleasing him. It is on this account that sin displeases God, even because it is disobedience. As often then as you sin, so often you are displeasing God, and, therefore, dishonouring him. On the other hand, the oftener you obey God, the more you please and glorify him. The great principle, then, of glorifying that all-wise being, is to obey his commandments; or in other words, to do as he bids you. There is, therefore, a great many things included in gloryfying God. They are, however, comprised in these three particulars, forsaking and hating sin, consecrating our all to Christ, and conforming to the will of God. The first means repentance, the second conversion, and the third a consistent, godly, and useful life. Everything God commands his creatures to do, in order to enjoy his favour, is included in the above. Only let any of my young friends thus glorify God, then they will be happy in time, and safe in death, and honoured for ever.

To do this you need help from God. It is true, you will have to do your utmost; yet at the same time, God has a part to do. It is yours to do and obey; it is his to help and bless. To glorify God, therefore, you must love and act as if it depended all upon yourself, and then all the while you must look to God for grace and help just as if God had to do it all. If you do your part, God will be sure to do his. As then you need divine assistance in this work, keep crying to your Lord for it, and it shall be given. Like the seraphic Fletcher, keep panting for grace. With Mr. Wesley get to feel that you every moment need the merit of the Saviour's death. Thus a spirit of dependence upon God will be cultivated, while the grace you need will be abundantly bestowed.

You must not forget that, to glorify God is essential to your eternal welfare. It is as necessary for your soul's future happiness, as food is to the health and vigour of

your body. Hence you can no more get to Heaven without glorifying God than you can live without sustenance. Neglect then to glorify God, and you will miss Heaven; but attend to it, not for a season only, but up to your death, and Heaven will be your home. So requisite for your salvation is glorifying God, that upon it depends your future destiny, upon it hangs unending bliss or torment. Think, think, O think of its necessity. My Lord help you to do so.

As there is such a need of glorifying God, then is it not time you were beginning to attend to it? To be sure it is for we can never attend to it too soon, but we may put it off too long. While you are young and tender, and while you have the opportunity, resolve to begin to please God. If you don't soon commence, death may overtake you and prevent you for ever. Up then, ye young immortals, and begin at once to glorify God. Time, death, judgment, heaven, hell, all admonish you in the days of your youth to begin your Lord to please. Say from this time, I will live for the eternal world. F. RIVERS.

THE MOMENT OF SOLITUDE.

It is astonishing how the mental faculties travel from one point to another, and, apparently without any objectand yet, if at all concentrated, what beautiful ideas flow from the deep caverns of the human soul.

We can seldom, or indeed never, travel along the precincts of this old town without finding something to amuse or instruct. The beauties of spring! the charms of summer; anon-perhaps the icy draperies of winter,

With vases, cups, and flowers,
Gorgeous sheen at early hours,
Diamonds sparkling here and there,

A wintry diadem most fair.

Here every bush and tree wears its wintery coronet. The old hedge rows and rail sparkles with its thousand congelations, whilst, perhaps, the little robin in solitary chirpings seem to ask for the friendship of man.

Look at the old fir grove! Yonder is Roewood in all its quiet wintery grandeur, not a breath to rouse it from its quiet slumbers, all glittering in its silvery splendour as the sun just peeps above the distant hill. The quarries are all silent, and nothing is heard save the wild ery of the rook as he gyrates above the silent, solemn scene below.

How glorious this world to contemplate! and though the eye of the Almighty sweeps across this universe of worlds, yet, still, He deigns to look down upon the deep fissure and interstices of rocky solitudes. Here the multifarious charm of Autumn appears. The tender moss plant starts to life, in beautiful order, whilst upon the rugged cliff is found motley groups of Cryptogamic plants, awaiting only the revelation of some mighty philosophic mind.

Here learn we the lesson of life, not in the silent chamber of home alone, but amid the solitudes of nature, in converse with nature and nature's God!

Macclesfield.

THE WANDERER.

DYING WORDS.

William Grimshaw said :-"My greatest grief is, that I have done so little for Jesus; my greatest joy, that Christ has done so much for me. When Mr. Venn inquired how he did, he replied, "As happy as I can be on earth, and as sure of glory as if I was in it. I have nothing to do but to step out of this bed into heaven."

Sent by J. BELL, JUN., Wingate.