and nine hundred, and sometimes nearly a thousand days; but that in successive ages they were gradually shortened, from the vessels being unable to hold out for so long a period; and on further perusal, I found that the voyagers whom I saw before me, all expected it to last for eighty or ninety days; I found too that the voyage was attended with considerable danger, and that a very large proportion of those who embarked on it, not only never reached the port they expected, but were shipwrecked, some at the commencement of the voyage, others when they had scarcely left the harbour, and not a few when fairly out

at sea.

I further found that they were all directed to take with them a chart and compass to guide them in the voyage, and to secure them against deviating from their course; and they were assured that these would prove of infinite value to them, in encountering the many storms they might anticipate, and shoals they would encounter in their

progress.

Upon this, I raised my eyes from the chart I had been studying, and began to notice particularly the different voyagers. I observed that the vessels, although partaking of one general character and appearance, were very different in many parts of their structure; in some, the timbers were of slight construction, and but feebly bound together; others were strong and firm in their build, and calculated to withstand the influence of a rough and stormy sea. I saw upon their bows the names which they bore,-such as, the Henry, the William, the James, the Charlotte, the Elizabeth, and many others of a similar kind; and the owners of these little barks, as they began to get out from the land and to venture upon the ocean, seemed in high spirits, and greatly delighted with the prospect of the voyage. Almost all seemed to wish, and even to feel certain, that they should have a long one, and they promised themselves a great amount of pleasure and enjoyment in their course. Few seemed willing to think that theirs could be less than ninety days, even although they felt assured, that along with their pleasure, on so long a voyage, they must meet with manifold dangers, and, perhaps, have to struggle with hardships not a few.

Having taken a general survey of the great crowd of vessels, that I might not be confused with their number, I withdrew my gaze from the expanse before me, and fixed it upon a little creek or inlet of the sea, from which I saw issuing a number of little vessels, all equipped for the voyage. I looked for their designations, and found they were all of one class, such as the Helen, the Fanny, the Mary; their sails were set, and under a fair breeze they were making for the open sea, and sailing along in company.

I noticed that there seemed to be some difference of opinion amongst them, with regard to the taking on board the chart and compass for the voyage. Some did not see any pressing necessity for taking them so soon, and thought they would easily find them afterwards when they required them, at some port by the way. Others, although willing to take them on board, thought it would not be easy to abide by the directions laid down in the charts, and perhaps it would be better not

to consult them too often, but just when they had a mind, or when they were in the midst of any pressing danger or difficulty; others still, and these seemed to me by far the wisest and most consistent, resolved not only to take them with them, but to consult them very often, and to abide implicitly by the instructions they gave.

I observed, moreover, that those who acted so wisely, felt much more secure than the others—their vessels, under the directions they received, were preserved in much better order, and therefore were more sea-worthy. Now, they would take in sail when the wind was too high-now, they would prepare for those sudden squalls which are apt sometimes to take by surprise the unwary mariners, and to send their vessels in an instant to the bottom; ever and anon they would keep a close look-out a-head, and sound their depth whenever they suspected shallow water; and again they would skillfully navigate their vessels amongst the rocks, by a constant reference to their charts, and often escaped thereby from being dashed in pieces. It drew my notice also, that although they often looked into their chart, and endeavoured to steer by their compass, yet were they sometimes at a loss; so intricate was their course, and so small their vessels, amidst such howling winds and wintry storms, that they had recourse to another method of ensuring their preservation and safety. In their charts, they were directed to hold secret intercourse with an invisible Guide: whose eye was ever upon them, and whose word could at all times control the troubled waves, and still the winds into a calm, Thus, they never needed to be long in perplexity; for if they earnestly wished the presence of their promised Guide, and asked his help, he was always ready, and always near to relieve them.

I continued to follow these little barks with my eye, long after they had sailed out from the pleasant harbour where first I saw them. By and by, they were ploughing their way amidst the billows of the deep, not sheltered as before in the bosom of the bay, or by the hills which environed it on almost every side. Now, I saw them borne aloft upon the crested waves, then they would disappear for a time in the deep abyss between, yet still they held on their course, and rode gallantly amidst the storm. I saw besides, that some of them were accompanied in their progress by older vessels, and in the midst of their difficulties and dangers, often were they cheered on their way by such pleasant company-and one by one, these more ancient vessels parted company from them, and they were left to struggle with the storm alone. At first, methought I heard proceeding from them the bitter exclamation," All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me," but when I listened more attentively, I heard them singing,— If it had not been our Guide who was on our side, then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul, then the proud waters had gone over our soul."

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My strained eye could now scarcely see them in the distance, and I thought I should lose sight of them for ever. But I remembered I had a glass which brought far things near, and so applying it to my

eye, I had them still in view. While I gazed upon them with attention, I noticed that one of the little vessels, through stress of weather and the weakness of its materials, was labouring heavily amidst the billows, and I feared she might go down. I saw the voyager look wistfully around, and especially to cast a longing look above for help. The chart was lying open, and I observed her countenance to kindle with renewed hope, and to be animated with a look of joy, as the eye caught the delightful words,-" When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."

I now directed my glass to another spot on the distant horizon, where a glorious prospect burst upon my view. I beheld, and saw another weather-beaten vessel, one of the little barks that first issued from the cove; her sails were almost torn to shreds, her straining timbers creaked at every blast, but she was standing for a fair and beauteous harbour which was full in view. Many a dark and dreary night she had sped her course, but a silver star had risen in the heavens, and was now streaming in lovely radiance, and shedding a light upon her course. Soon I saw her pass within the harbour, and my ear was ravished with sounds of music so soft and sweet, as methought I had never heard before; the words I cannot tell, because it was a new song," but while I tried to catch that song, I heard the notes of the happy voyager, and these I can record :

Once on the raging seas I rode,

The storm was loud, the night was dark;
The ocean yawn'd, and rudely blow'd
The wind, that toss'd my found'ring bark.

Deep horror then my vitals froze,
Death-struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem,
When suddenly a star arose !
It was the Star of Bethlehem!

It was my guide, my light, my all!
It bade my dark forebodings cease;
And through the storm and danger's thrall,
It led me to the port of peace.

Now safely moored-my perils o'er,
I'll sing, first in night's diadem,

For ever, and for evermore,
The Star! the Star of Bethlehem!

The song had ceased, and I could not help exclaiming," Thrice happy voyager, thy toils are over, thy dangers are past, thy days of mourning are ended!-thou hast reached the happy port of everlasting rest, and unending joy; there shalt thou see thine unseen Guide, whose mighty arm and power preserved thee in thy voyage from ten thousand dangers; there He will be thy king for ever, and thou shalt behold him in his beauty and his glory; no darkening cloud shall veil his presence from thy ravished sight, for he himself shall be thine everlasting light; thou shalt have a crown everlasting-a diadem of beauty, and shalt wear a robe that is pure and white, and shalt minister even as a king and a priest for ever in the upper temple."

But whilst I was musing on this happy scene, accents of deep distress were borne upon my ear, and I directed my glass to the quarter whence they came. On looking attentively, I saw another vessel, which I soon recognized to be one of those where the chart and compass for the voyage had been rejected by the voyager. I had great difficulty in discovering the vessel, for in that quarter of the horizon all

was dark and dreary; no ray of light broke in upon the settled gloom, or was able to penetrate the thick and gathering cloud. I listenedand the tear of sorrow stood in my eye, whilst I heard the hapless voyager's complaint :

O Lord my God, in mercy turn,
In mercy hear a sinner mourn!
To thee I call, to thee I cry,

O leave me, leave me not to die!

I strove against thee, gracious Lord,

I spurned thy grace! I mocked thy word!
The hour is past, the day's gone by,

And I am left alone to die.

O pleasures past, what are ye now,
But thorns about my bleeding brow!

Spectres that hover round my brain,
And aggravate and mock my pain.

For pleasure I have given my soul!
Now justice let thy thunders roll---
Now vengeance smite, and with a blow
Lay the rebellious ingrate low.

Yet Jesus! Jesus! there I'll cling,
I'll crawl beneath thy shelt'ring wing;

I'll clasp thy cross, and holding there,
Even me! Oh bliss! thy wrath may spare.

I looked again at the little bark, and amidst the darkness of the scene, a faint light seemed to issue from the parted clouds; as I gazed, it waxed stronger and stronger, until it glanced with almost dazzling brightness, and methought I saw the form of The Crucified!-his countenance beaming with ineffable grace and majesty, and from his lips there broke the accents of tenderness and love:- "I will set thee as a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon mine arm; for my love is strong as death—many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it. I will draw thee, and thou shalt follow after me; I will bring thee into my chambers, and I will be glad and rejoice in thee." Again I looked at the voyager, and saw him, with streaming eyes, fall prostrate, and exclaim,-"O Lord, thou wast angry with me, but thine anger is turned away, and thou hast comforted me!" And once more I heard a chorus of song, swelling upon the breeze, and it seemed to come from far above the clouds,-then I remembered that it was written in the chart, "there is joy amongst the angels of God, over one sinner

that repenteth."

:

Would that my musings had closed with this delightful vision! But a sound more solemn and awful than ever I had heard before, now filled the air around. It came sometimes as a low and sorrowful plaint; at others, it burst forth as a loud and bitter wailing, so that I trembled as I heard it was the agony of despair; and while looking anxiously to discover whence it proceeded, I saw a foundering bark and a wretched voyager, sinking down into the deep abyss; and whilst the waves were closing over her, I heard those awful words,-" I have trodden under foot the Son of God, I have counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and have done despite unto the Spirit of grace; and now I am a lost soul! a wicked spirit to be doomed to eternal woe! Oh! I perish, I perish! and that for ever. How shall

I endure to drink the wine cup of the wrath of God? How shall I dwell with devouring fire, where I shall never have even a drop of water to cool my burning tongue."-My mind was deeply and sorrowfully impressed with this dreadful scene, and I could not avoid thinking of the solemn warning given to the voyager, but which she had set

at nought and despised," Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little."

My musings are now closed, and to drop my simple allegory, happy shall I be, if what I have written shall conduce to the pleasure or the profit, the encouragement or the warning of my youthful readers. May they all set out on the voyage of life, guided by the counsel, upheld by the care, and protected by the grace of "the God of love;" and through the atoning death of the blessed Jesus, who for sinners was crucified and slain, may they escape the horrors of the second death, and be landed safely in the port of peace!

THE PILGRIM FATHERS.

Continued from page 298.

There were not wanting statesmen, whose more profound philosophy favoured a liberal toleration. Lord Bacon, in whose vigorous mind the truths of political wisdom had been sown by Burleigh in deep furrows, cherished the established worship, and yet advised concessions, regarding the church as the eye of England, in which there might yet be a blemish. The divisions in religion seemed to him a less evil than the violent measures of prevention. The wound, said he, is not dangerous, unless we poison it with our remedies.-The wrongs of the Puritans may hardly be dissembled or excused.-The silencing of ministers, for the sake of enforcing the ceremonies, is, in this scarcity of good preachers, a punishment that lighteth upon the people. The bishops should keep one eye open to look upon the good that those men do.-On subjects of religion, he says of himself, he was always for moderate counsels. Nor did he fear enquiry; for he esteemed controversy "the wind by which truth is winnowed."

But what relation could subsist between such philosophy and the selfish arrogance of King James? The tolerant views of Bacon were disregarded in his own time; like L'Hopital and Grotius, he scattered the seeds of truth, which were not to ripen till a late generation. The English hierarchy had feared, in the new monarch, the approach of a "Scottish mist;" but apprehension was soon dispelled. The borders of Scotland were hardly passed, before James began to identify the interests of the English church with those of his prerogative. No bishop, no king, was a maxim often in his mouth. Whitgift was aware that the Puritans were too numerous to be borne down; I have not been greatly quiet in mind," said the disappointed archbishop, "the vipers are so many." But James was not as yet fully conscious of their strength. While he was in his progress to London, more than seven hundred of them presented the "millenary petition" for a redress

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