here we see Solomon the wise, the rich, the glorious, but the unstable, who has become the world's teacher by his Proverbs, and its monitor by his solemn Ecclesiastes.

The time would fail to tell of Elijah, and Elisha, of Amos, of Daniel, and Jeremiah, and many more recorded in the Old Testament. Nor is the New Testament less full of examples. We see John the Baptist strangely spending his youth in the solitude of a wilderness, conversing by prayer with God, and by meditation with his works and ways, and his own soul. Then he emerges from his retirement, and like another Jonah, but without his fickleness preaches repentance till it costs him his head. Here, too, are John, Peter, Paul, and Thomas-the amiable-the ardent-the unwearied-the doubting! And let us not forget Martha-the busy and anxious; nor Mary-the quiet and devout; nor Aquila and Priscilla, the friends and helpers of the Apostles; nor Timothy the lovely and beloved youth, who when a child studied the Scriptures at his mother's feet, and becoming early a servant of Christ, soon became the favorite of his most eminent followers, and a useful and devoted minister of the Gospel.

Here, too, is the life of Jesus, of whom I will not speak but to repeat the testimony of God concerning him. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased;" and to say with John, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world !"

In Scripture, biographies of another class, but equally preceptive, abound. How grieved but how instructed we are when we read the brief sketch of Cain, the cruel murderer of his brother, to his everlasting shame! And Esau, the wild, rude youth, so fond of field sports, and so heedless of the privileges he possessed; and Samson, that strange young man possessing so much strength of body, but so much weakness of character; and Absalom, poor Absalom! so beautiful, joyous, and light-hearted, but so false, so destitute of principle! How we are shocked at his unkindness to his too fond father, his ingratitude, rebellion, and awful end! Even while we seem to hear David, heart-broken, uttering his piteous lament, God's Word whispers "The way of transgression is hard," "Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long."

Solemnly monitory are the life, sin, and fate of Judas; the glimpse of Herod Agrippa, from the height of his pride and glory, cast down to the grave; Felix trembling before the prisoner Paul, and Agrippa almost persuaded to be a Christian, but both alike returning to the follies of the world.

The lessons which are taught by these two classes of Scripture Biography are almost innumerable, and those who will read any of the above named examples, asking at each step what does this teach? with a desire to profit, and an effort to improve, will find the truth of what has been said; that the Bible contains the most delightfully interesting and truly instructive "preceptive biography" in the world. London.

B. H. C.

WHO IS MY FRIEND?

"They went and told Jesus."-Matt. xiv. 12.

THE human heart yearns for companionship from the earliest years. It is curious to notice how even the baby-face brightens at the approach of another countenance as tiny as its own; and the playmates of infancy often form more endeared associations in after life. Some moral philosophers regard the susceptibility to friendship as existing in its fullest intensity during the joyous exhilaration of youth; others place its climax in extreme old age, when the parties having survived their former cotemporaries, become all in all to each other. We need not pause to balance the facts and arguments by which each theory could be plausibly sustained. So varied are the conditions and events of life, that each may be equally true in the case of different individuals. Suffice it to remark, that an absolutely friendless being is so rare, that perhaps none but the actual misanthrope could justly claim the title.

The ideas clustering round the phrases-" my young friend,” "my tried friend," "my old friend," are widely diverse : even the same man or woman seems like a different person in passing from the buoyancy of budding vigour, to the gravity of middle age, or the chastened cheerfulness of a venerable patriarch: this is especially noticeable among those who, still retaining their warm hearts, meet only at distant intervals of

Who does not covet the

busy duty, or patient endurance. privilege of listening to a final interview between the aged pilgrims who could recount the mutual experience of threescore years and ten, and still encourage one another as they paced the borders of the land of Beulah, with the Celestial City full in view?

There is, perhaps, scarcely any item in the formation of character so important as the influence of friendship; so that Solomon affirms that "a companion of wise men shall be wise, but that the companion of fools shall be destroyed." A peep into the journals of prisons and reformatories would afford fearful commentaries upon the last clause; while everywhere the ear is assailed by invectives against "the unfaithful friend," "the treacherous friend," "the deceitful friend." Youthful friendship has ofttimes effected, what parental love has failed to gain, both for good and evil. How sad when a youth suffers himself to become the medium of the Tempter, and urge a hesitating companion the downward road. The forlorn heart of an inexperienced stranger in the workroom is easily won by kindness no wonder that it should cling as the ivy to the form whose soothing voice first spoke a welcome, and be disposed to hearken to all its propositions. The more winsome the manners, the greater the responsibility of possessing this talent-this gift of attracting friendship. Is it always used conscientiously for right purposes?

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There is a vast difference between mere companionship, and that higher connection termed friendship: the one seeks its own enjoyment-the other strives to impart pleasure: the one is based upon convenience or accident-the other is cordially chosen the one is contented with placid courtesy-the other pursues the welfare of its object.

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Certain duties appertain to friendship not always of the most agreeable kind. Holy Writ declares, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

"Faithful! yet hard to bear,"-so that those who fulfil these duties to each other, and yet maintain their full and free affection, are well entitled "tried friends." "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him," was the old Law; but with how delicate a touch should these

wounds of rebuke be inflicted! What strong confidence is required both in the physician and his patient during the process! As an old writer quaintly remarks, "the snuffers and snuff-dishes must be of pure gold” to remove the excrescences which hinder the diffusion of moral light; and the Saviour enforces the same duties, with added caution against its abuse, by enjoining the most scrutinizing self-examination before we set about reforming our neighbours: "First cast out the beam which is in thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote from thy brother's eye." How severe a test of friendship is the exercise of "wise reproof;" none but those possessing "an obedient car" can adequately imagine. Deserved censure is more painful than unjust vituperation, and yet it enhances the blessing, and the wound once healed, a glance at the scar only recals the gratitude due for so essential a service.

Friendship has been described as "the soft green" on which the spirit loves to repose, secure from molestation about trifles; at liberty to pursue one's own predilections-to talk, or be silent, as the mood of the hour prompts. Those who wish to cultivate a permanent friendship, will be careful to avoid an exacting temper. The delay of the expected letter, or some apparent negligence will not be unpardonable offences with those loving beings, whose own multifarious claims will readily suggest some absorbing consideration which may have occasioned unintentional reserve. "The heart knoweth its own bitterness," and there are trials which ought to be confided to none but the Allwise Ear, and for the endurance of which the soul falls back upon itself and its God with an intensity which almost secludes the sufferer from any human sympathy. At such seasons, the kindly trustfulness of "my real friend," is especially needed, and the unwavering tones of affection-the unchanged manner of one who will not misconstrue, brings healing balm to the wounded spirit, and grateful love for the delicate sympathy which can thus "bear one another's

burdens."

Again, how greatly is joy multiplied by sharing it with a congenial friend. Like a sunbeam infusing light and cheerfulness everywhere, the enjoyments and activities of life are

quickened by the association of kindred spirits. The Christian pilgrim while even drinking at the Fountain of Life, is refreshed in every stage of his progress by the companionship of the Hopefuls and Standfasts of his day. ""Tis happy," remarked an aged pastor as he looked round upon his numerous flock, " 'tis happy to see so large a company professing to be on their way to glory; how happy will be our re-union in the palace of the Great King!"

Illustrious instances of devoted attachment bestud the pages of classic lore, wherein property, reputation, life itself have been sacrificed at the shrine of friendship. Still more delightful is it to peruse the records of those sacred bonds which have enriched our native land with so many institutions which are at once its glory and its bulwark. The Bible Society, the Tract Society, the various Missionary and other institutions, owe their existence to the hallowed intercourse of pious friends. Endued with liberal hearts, and intent upon devising liberal things, they provoked one another unto good works, and ventured upon new ground which, having long lain fallow, has since yielded a rich harvest of wheat safely gathered into the heavenly garner.

Passing over these, even the brotherhoods of Holy Writ fade into dimness before that attractive model of friendship exhi bited by our blessed Saviour in the days of his humanity. That which excited the "the favor of men" in his earthly childhood and youth, expanded in his maturity to qualities which won the confidence of those companions of his wanderings who "went and told Jesus" both their joys and their sorrows. His mother communicated the domestic perplexity at the marriage feast at Cana, as if secure of his willingness and power to aid in trifles, while the bereaved sisters of Lazarus invoked his help with equal confidence as the last extremity of their brother drew on. But even where his assistance was not sought, it was a relief to the full hearts of John the Baptist's sorrowing disciples to go and tell Jesus, when they had deposited the mutilated remains of their beloved teacher in the silent tomb. Yet there was none of that familiar and undignified intimacy to which mystic Romanists have almost blasphemously aspired. Our Lord himself con