May soon the work of grace be done, Then high, eternal songs of praise, O come and with Clarissa* rest, In this "Sweet Home," Jerusalem. My life is now with Christ in GOD, Southampton. I'm happy in Jerusalem. Clarissa died at Broughton, Hants, May 13th, 1844. YOUTH AND AGE. "To young persons life commonly appears a shining and flowery spring, which yields a thousand present delights, and promises a summer richly laden with precious fruits. They have heard, indeed, that it sometimes happens that storms and tempests rise to darken the brightest sky, and they are told that the summer and autumn of mature life must be at length succeeded by the gloomy winter of old age; but they think it wholly unnecessary to damp the ardour of their present pursuits by turning their attention to events so uncertain, and apparently so remote. From these and other causes, young people enter upon life with the most sanguine expectations of find ing in every event an inexhaustible fund of delight, and of seeing all their schemes and enterprises crowned by success. They behold fame standing ready to sound the praise of their talents and merit, and fortune waiting to reward their industry. Thus delighted with themselves and their prospects, they contemplate human life as an enchanting scene, inviting to action, pregnant with pleasure, and rich in hope; and they wonder at the peevishness and perverseness of those who can find in the world nothing but causes of vexation and complaint. Such is human life in prospect. Let us now for a moment consider how it appears to those who view it in retrospect. The gay illusions of youthful fancy are now all vanished. Through life they have met with many disappointments, perhaps with many heavy calamities. Plans which promised great things have failed: those in whom they confided have deserted them. With this appearance of the uncertainty and vanity of all earthly possessions, they are at length arrived at the period when youthful strength and beauty are exchanged for feebleness and deformity,-when the senses are benumbed, and desire fails. The companions of their youth having dropped one after another into the grave, what wonder if at fourscore they ask, where is the world into which we were born? What wonder if, with all their own experience of misfortune, with their long observation of the ills of life, the world should appear to them a dreary wilderness? If the former of these views of life be too great, the latter is certainly too gloomy. The true medium is the aspect under which life is seen at the middle station, in passing from youth to age. By the help of long experience and cool reflection, it is clearly ascertained that this world is neither a paradise of flowers nor a wilderness of thorns; that though trouble and sorrow are the common lot of mortals, this sad account is, through the bounty of Divine Providence, commonly far over-balanced by enjoyments and gratification of various kinds, animal, social, and intellectual." The above interesting extract was taken from a "Common Place Book" by one of our young friends, H. O.; and we think it right to add, that these are the views which the world generally takes of youth and age; but he who looks beyond the short life of man to that glorious world where youth and age will be known no more, will bless the name of Him who came to bring life and immortality. For the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. THE LORD'S PRAYER. OUR Father which art in heaven, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, Give us this day our daily bread, Into temptation lead us not, For thine's the kingdom, mighty Lord, And thine's the power and glory too, J. R. G. |