DANGER, OR NO DANGER.

But our

THE day was dull and rainy, the sky dark and foreboding, while the huge waves, rolling in gigantic magnitude, rose ever and anon before us, like mountains in incessant motion, and threatened, as they violently dashed against the sides of the ship, a momentary destruction. proud bark indifferent to the roaring of the waves or the threatening aspect of the sky, rapidly swept on her way, impelled by the fury of the tempest, which filled her bellying sails, and bent her tall masts like reeds.

By degrees, however, the sky becomes darker, the rain descends incessantly, the waves rise higher and press more closely upon us, the screaming sea-birds seem watching for the coming wreck, but still our brave bark rushes onward, and, conqueror like, marches over all before her. Now she plunges into the thickest of the foam, and, rising again, shakes off the silvery spray; but the creaking of her sides, the rattling cordage, and the quivering masts, affect us with terror.

There are some on board, however, who are probably unconscious of their danger, or, if conscious, are unconcerned about it. But is there no danger? Yes, there is imminent danger, if we are left to the mercy of these raging elements; but God is with us, and without his consent nothing shall harm us.

How grand! How noble and how majestic an appearance does a ship make as she pursues her way through the angry element, braving every danger, and a stranger to fear! Such was the appearance presented by the Pestonjee Bomanjee on the 16th day of June 1852.

Let us picture to ourselves the reality of such a ship in

distress. She has been combating with the fierce waves, which threaten her with destruction. Through numerous leaks they find a way into her hold, and she is sinking fast. The pumps are set agoing, but notwithstanding all efforts, the water gains upon her. Consternation has seized upon the crew; each eyes the other with a look of despair; they wildly gaze around, in the vain hope of finding assistance; they fall down upon their knees, and in deep agony they cry out to God to have mercy on them.

Their prayer is heard: "A boat!—a boat!—the lifeboat!" a number of voices shout, as a boat is observed coming to their assistance. The people on the beach (for we suppose the wreck to be near land) had seen them in danger, and immediately determined to save them at the risk of their own lives. Amid shouts of joy the boat comes alongside the sinking vessel. Now comes a fearful rush of those anxious to save themselves at the expense of their neighbours. Some are precipitated into the sea, and perish; others are maimed, by being crushed against the bulwarks. A few are to be seen more solicitous of their companions' safety than their own, trying to rescue them from the stupefying effects of the intoxicating cup, by shewing them the imminent danger of their position. All entreaty and remonstrance was, however, unsuccessful; they are engulfed in the unfathomable sea, while those who were anxiously trying to deliver them, by guarding the means of escape, are in safety on the hospitable shore.

Such is a true picture of the state of this world; it is a wreck, and we are part of the crew, either flying for safety, or carelessly refusing to accept the means of attaining it. The storm of sin has reached us, and the anger

of an offended God threatens us with inevitable destruction, if we persist in remaining by the wreck. There is, however, a way of escape; the life-boat of the Gospel is alongside, and we are invited to enter; nay! we are even warned of our danger, exhorted to repent, and be saved. By believing in Jesus Christ we shall find our salvation.

Like the besotted wretches in the sinking ship, there are multitudes, however, who seem unconscious of their danger; who are drunk with the intoxicating cup of sin, steeped in iniquity, and refuse to take refuge in the lifeboat. They are exhorted, intreated, and encouraged, but every effort appears to have been made in vain. The promises of eternal joys, and the threatenings of everlasting woe, appear alike unavailing, and the doomed ones are slowly settling down into that awful gulf, from which no human effort can rescue them.

But, thanks be to God, there are a few who have taken refuge in the life-boat of the Gospel, who saw their lost condition, and have embraced the means of safety. It is still alongside, and every poor penitent believing sinner is invited to enter, for there is plenty of room, and to spare, for all. Oh! let us leave this wreck, where misery and ruin awaits us, and hasten into the life-boat, which will carry us into realms of eternal peace.

J. A.*

THE TEACHER AND THE TAUGHT.

BLEST is the power which teaches man to quell
The base desires which in his bosom swell;
Which gives him will to curb, with strong control,
His sensual passions, and uplift the soul!

* Vide Note, p. 41.

The first in rank, by mighty God revealed,
Art thou, Religion. To thee must yield
All grovelling lusts, the deadly thrall of sin,
And all the unhallowed fires that burn within.
Tranquil and bright to them life's fitful stream,
Whose souls are lit with Thy seraphic beam;
And when Death comes, with grim malignant leer,
No conquering triumphs glut his avarice here:
Smiling, they greet the tyrant as a friend;
Unmoved by grief, they hail their 'proaching end;
Then, winged with joy, the spirits take their flight,
And burst triumphant on celestial light.

Heavenly love! bright salutary dower!
Dawns on the soul, a living kindred power!
Hail, holy light! attribute of God on high,
Streaming from golden portals of the sky!

August Intelligence! how fair art thou! Stamping man's lofty and majestic brow With immortality. Without thy ray The human form would be but sordid clay; Darkling we'd grope amid Cimmerian gloom, Till time should wrap us in oblivion's tomb. But, blest with thee, and learning's milder power— Learning, that fragrant amaranthine flowerHow wondrous different and changed the scene! All now is bright, where darkness late had been. The giant Ignorance, growling, quits his lair, And all his brutish minions follow in his rear. Man, thus intelligent, and learned too, And humbly religious, how fair to view! All else created to his form must nod;

He stands confessed, "the noblest work of God."* * "An honest man's the noblest work of God."-PoPE.

How fair a sight it was from day to day,
As Pestonjee Bomanjee kept her way,
To see the clustering groups in cheerful mood
For school assemble, all in order good,

While in their midst the willing teacher stood.
Here old and young, the feeble and the strong,
The hopeless, now hopeful grown, a varied throng,
With book in hand in circling classes sit,
Their faces serious, and their eyebrows knit,
Eager to set their struggling spirit free,
And conquer ignorance-cursed slavery!
Hoar-headed age-strange sight-might here be seen,
Learning the alphabet with ardour keen;
And the sad child of waywardness and crime
Reading the page of virtuous deeds sublime!
How sweet it was to mark the fervid glow
Suffuse the cheek, and mantle o'er the brow,
As some new light, faint dawning, inward spread
Its holy influence on the spirit dead!

And now the school a lively scene appears,
The hum of business breaks upon the ears;
Some spelling slow, and some on writing bent,
Others are reading with a grave intent :
Of ciphering, too, is seen an ample share,
And even grammar claims a partial care.
But look at yonder group with straining eyes,
And as they trace the map, see speculation rise,
"'Bout where we are, what latitude we're in?
Not past the Cape! what does the captain mean?”
As thus the well-spent day fast onward stole,
The chaplain, sedulous, surveyed the whole;
And from her seat in ambient ether mild,
Heaven-born Philanthropy looked down and smiled.

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