NOAH'S CARPENTERS.

Ir was a late hour at night. The city of N, with its many turrets and spires, was sleeping under the shadow of those rocky sentinels which have guarded the plain since the flood. The waves of the ocean fell gently and soothingly on the beach. The moon waded through the fleecy autumn clouds, now playing with the waters and lighting up the scene, and then concealing her glory, as if to make her revelations more prized. It was a night for pious thought and conversation.

Two persons were leaving the city, and passing along the water-side to a beautiful valley, where one was a resident and the other a guest. The taller, the elder of the two, was actively engaged in a work of benevolence, and he invited his young friend, of whom we will speak as Henry, to aid him.

Hitherto not a word had been addressed to the obliging lad about his soul. The fitting occasion seemed to have arrived. A quaint but fitting manner was chosen.

Henry," asked the elder of the younger, what became of Noah's carpenters?"

"do you know

"Noah's carpenters!" exclaimed Henry, "I didn't know that Noah had any carpenters."

"Certainly he must have had help in building one of the largest and best proportioned ships ever put upon the stocks. There must have been many ship-carpenters at work for a long time, to have constructed such a vessel in such an age. What became of them, think you, when all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened?"

"What do you mean by such a queer question?" Henry replied.

"No matter what, just now. Please answer the enquiry. And you may also tell me, if you will, what you would have done in that dreadful hour, when the storm came in its fury, and Noah's prophecies were all fulfilled, and all but the family of the preacher of righteousness were ready to be engulfed in those black waters?"

"I don't know," said Henry, in a half-thoughtful, halftrifling manner; "perhaps I should have got on the rudder." "This is human nature exactly, Henry. It would 'climb

NOAH'S CARPENTERS.

up some other way,' rather than enter the fold by the only door. It would get on the rudder,' in its pride and shortsightedness, rather than go into the ark of safety.

It would 'save itself,' by hanging on at the hazard of being swept into the gulf of despair, instead of being saved by the provisions of infinite love.

But I'll tell you plainly what I mean, Henry, by Noah's carpenters. You have kindly and generously given me your aid, day by day, in building an ark in N-, by which many, I trust, will be saved. I feel grateful for your help. But I greatly fear, that while others will be rejoicing in the fruits of our labours, you will be swept away in the storm of wrath which will by and by beat on the heads of those who enter not the ark of Jesus Christ. No human device will avail for you. Getting on the rudder' will not answer; you must be in Christ, or you are lost. Remember Noah's carpenters, and flee to the ark without delay."

They reached the house and parted. The winter came. The lad was placed at a boarding school, in. He visited home during the winter vacation, and presented himself to the church for admission to its communion. He then stated that the conversation detailed above had never passed from his memory. It led him to serious reflections, and ultimately, we trust, to the ark of safety. He is now entering a career of public usefulness. He will never forget Noah's carpenters.

Though Noah's carpenters were all drowned, there are a great many of the same stock now alive; of those who contribute to promote the spiritual welfare of others, and in the up-building of the Redeemer's kingdom, but personally neglect the great salvation.

Sabbath-school children, who contribute their money to send tracts and books to the destitute, or to aid the work of missions, and yet remain unconverted, are like Noah's carpenters.

Teachers in Bible-classes and Sabbath-schools, who point their pupils to the Lamb of God, but do not lead the way, are like guide-boards that tell the road, but are not travellers on it; or like Noah's carpenters who built an ark, and were overwhelmed in the waters that bore it aloft in safety.

Careless parents, who instruct their children and servants, as every parent should, in the great doctrines of the gospel, yet fail to illustrate these doctrines in their lives, and seek not

NOAH'S CARPENTERS.

a personal interest in the blood of Christ, are like Noah's carpenters, and must expect their doom.

Printers, sewers, folders, and binders, engaged in making bibles and other religious books, booksellers and publishers of religious periodicals, who are doing much to increase the knowledge of the gospel and to save souls, but so many of whom are careless about their own salvation will have the mortification of knowing, that while their toils have been instrumental in the spiritual good of thousands, they were only like the pack-mules that carried a load to market without tasting it, or like Noah's carpenters who built a ship they never sailed in.

Wealthy and liberal but unconverted men, who help to build churches, and sustain the institutions of the gospel, but who "will not come unto Christ that they may have life," are hewing the timbers and driving the nails of the ark, which they are too proud or too careless to enter. Perhaps they think they will be safe on the "rudder;" but they may find too late that when they would ride they must swim-that when they would float they must sink, with all their good deeds unmixed with faith, as a millstone about their necks.

Moralists, who attend church and support the ministry, but who do not receive into their hearts the gospel they thus sustain, are like Noah's carpenters.

Professed ministers of the gospel who preach the truth without practising it, who commend the love of Christ without experiencing it, who guide the wandering to the fold of Christ without entering in themselves-are they not like Noah's carpenters? If Paul might indulge the apprehension lest, when he had "preached to others," he should himself be a 66 cast-away," may not those of us who follow at a sad distance from Paul in the christian race, well see to it that we are not left to buffet the waves of an overwhelmed world, when some of those whom we have led into the ark are borne triumphantly above the billows in which we are engulfed.

Perhaps the christian reader will be encouraged by this narrative, to speak a word in season to some of these arkbuilders. Their kindness should be acknowledged. "These things ought they to have done." The danger is that the great thing will be left undone. Speak to that young man. Tell him that the storm of wrath will come. Tell him that "getting on the rudder" of the ark, and all other human

POETRY.

devices, for salvation, are vain refuges of lies. Tell him that the ark is open, that it is safe, that it waits for him. The dove and the olive-branch are in this ark. The bow of mercy spans the heavens above it. Peace, and hope, and salvation are there. But if scorned or neglected, when once the door is shut, they only that are in the ark will "remain alive." Who can abide that storm? Who can buffet those waves ? Who will survive that deluge?

Poetry.

ETERNITY.

HAST thou numbered the drops of diamond dew

That sparkle in the morning's golden hue?

Hast thou counted the flowers that perfume the breeze,
Or numbered the leaves of the forest trees?

Hast thou counted the birds on wanton wing,

That make the glad air with sweet melody ring?

Hast thou numbered the waves of the deep blue sea,
Or counted the billows how many they be?

Hast thou number'd the stars that emblaze the sky,
And roll in the fields of immensity?

Or counted the moments now passed away,
Since chaotic night was dispelled by day?

Now add together the mighty sum

Of things that are, and are yet to come:
And fast as the gathering numbers swell,
There are numbers yet that none can tell :-
No! by nothing in earth, or air, or sea,
Can we number the days of Eternity!

Yet every throb of our beating hearts;

Every scene that so soon departs;

Every moment from the day of our birth;
Every turn of the revolving earth;
Every billow of life's great sea,

Is rolling us on to Eternity.

And now, as the old year sinks into its tomb,
And another year springs from futurity's womb;
Let each ask himself where his soul will be,
When time is engulphed in Eternity!

Fly to the Saviour, and thy soul shall be,
Safe through all ages of Eternity.

W. J. L.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

Anecdotes and Selections.

A GLORIOUS THING TO DIE.-Mr. N. B. Cobb, of Boston, so much noted for his benevolence, a short time before his death said, "Within the few last days, I have had some glorious views of heaven; it is indeed a glorious thing to die. I have been active and busy in the world, and have enjoyed it as much as any one. God has prospered me, and I have everything to tie me here: I am happy in my family, and have property enough; but how small and mean does this world appear when we are on a sick bed! Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near prospect of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infinitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ! the blood of Christ! none but Christ!"

"AND HE DIED."-A certain vain youth happened to stroll into a church, where he heard the fifth chapter of Genesis read, stating that such and such persons lived so long a time, and yet the conclusion was, they "died;" Seth lived 912 years, "and he died;" Enos, 905, "and he died." The frequent repetition of the words "and he died," notwithstanding the great length of years they had lived, impressed him so forcibly with the thought of death and eternity, that, through Divine grace, he became an exemplary christian.

LAST WORDS OF HALYBURTON.-"O blessed be God that I was born," said this holy man when dying. "I have a father and a mother, and ten brethren and sisters in heaven, and I shall be the eleventh. O blessed be the day that I was ever born! If there be such a glory in Christ's conduct towards me now, what will it be to see the Lamb in the midst of the throne! My peace has been like a river. Blessed be God that I was ever born."

GOOD REASON FOR SOBRIETY.-A gentleman, on entering a stage coach, rubbing his head, with a yawn, said, "My head aches dreadfully; I was very drunk last night." A person, affecting surprise, replied, Drunk, sir! do you get drunk?" "Yes," said he, "and so does every one at times, I believe. I have no doubt that you do." "No, sir!" he replied, "I do not." "What, never ?" No, never; and amongst other reasons I have for it, one is, I never find, being sober, that I have too much sense; and I am loth to lose what little I have." This remark put an end to the conversation.

THE MINISTER AND the PROFLIGATE.-A minister having made several attempts to reform a profligate, was at length repulsed with, "It is all in vain, doctor; you cannot get me to change my religion." "I do not want that," replied the good man: "I wish religion to change you."