PITY THE POOR.

THE Proverbs of King Solomon fully justify his great reputation for wisdom: in them is contained, in a condensed form, the results of a life of profound reflection and great experience. That grand and magnificent monarch said, that these brief and eloquent sentences were written for the promotion of "wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man knowledge and discretion." They embrace almost all subjects; contain advice upon nearly every event that might arise in life; and, altogether, constitute an elevated and sublime code of morals.

The twenty-second chapter, from which our artist has chosen the subject for his illustration, refers to a considerable extent to our duties to the poor. With an eloquence more impressive in its simplicity than any florid display of words could make it, it tells us that, "The rich and the poor meet together, the Lord is the maker of them all." What a sermon of charity and benevolence do these few words contain! The sovereign on his throne, and the smith at his anvil, are both God's creatures, and equal in his eyes; the most feeble and decrepid wretch that crawls the streets is not forgotten. or despised by him, and why then by us? Do not close your heart or permit prosperity to harden it, but remember that Solomon not only directed us to perform acts of charity and kindness, but that God loves them and those who do them.

King Solomon here supposes the case of a helpless destitute man, who, from misfortunes, cannot meet the demands of his creditors: and he inquires, "If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" We leave this question to the consideration of the merciless and avaricious.

VIOLENCE SHALL BE PUNISHED.

ALL the books of Scripture speak of the savage crime of murder with horror and condemnation, and every thing in nature points to it as a revolting and awful crime; such a crime as God alone can pardon, but which man is bound to punish. But it is as certain as it is remarkable that crime prepares its own punishment, and that sin for ever calls into activity the stern implacable spirit of retribution. Solomon understood and taught this doctrine; in the twenty-eighth chapter of the Proverbs he tells us that "a man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him." This sentence appears to admit of more than one interpretation, and has accordingly been differently understood. I fancy its meaning to be this, that the murderer, the person who doeth violence to the blood or life of any one, though he may perhaps escape, is still only hurrying on towards his punishment; that is, to the pit or grave that yawns to receive him. The justice of the Lord so directs his steps that he meets with vengeance where he sought for safety. The words, "and no man shall stay him," seem to imply that none shall interfere to stay the wretch from the effects of his crime. Men shall abandon the murderer to the vengeance of the Lord.

This chapter also warns us against the sin of avarice; it tells us "a faithful man shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." There is something startling in this association of avarice with murder; but perhaps the connection may be more natural than is apparent; avarice corrupts the heart, expels from it all holy and virtuous principles, and finally renders it fit for the execution of the darkest

and most terrible sins.