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Our Saviour came from Gallilee into the land of Judea, beyond Jordan. His fame had already spread far and wide, and people of every description, both rich and poor, respected and despised, learned and ignorant, went out to meet him on his arrival. Among the number, there came to him one day, a young man of great wealth and high standing, who enquired what he should do that he might have eternal life. He was told to keep the commandments. He replied that these he had obeyed from his childhood, but wished to become still more perfect. Then our Saviour was resolved to try the firmness of the youth, and answered-if thou wilt become perfect, thou must take courage and sacrifice every thing that thou hast. Thou art rich. Go, sell thy goods, give to the poor, and follow me. When the youth heard this, he went away sorrowful, and disappeared in the crowd. He placed great confidence in his own courage, but he could not comply with such an unexpected demand. Verily, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Supposing that the Almighty had decreed that his son, instead of appearing upon the earth two thousand years ago, should come among us at the present time, amid the altars we have erected to his worship, and require as here

What would be the consequence? How many are the who would resign their professions, to follow him in persecutions? Many believe they are ready to part wi their wealth and take up the cross; but what is the res when they are brought to the trial? Are they firm, res lute and unwavering? Alas, no!

Wealth has a dangerous and paralyzing effect upon t mind, and greatly retards its improvement. Therefo did our Redeemer exclaim, "it is easier for a camel go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to e ter into the kingdom of God." And still, at the prese day, it seems to be the paramount concern of all to ama large fortunes. Each one is striving to be richer than neighbor. They disregard the sacred precept: for wh shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, a lose his own soul?" How often is innocence, truth a equity; life, liberty and the hope of eternal glory, co temptuously bartered for a handful of gold?

It is no wonder that avarice has become a prevali vice of the age. The art of accumulating wealth, seer to be one of the most prominent features of our educatio It is the first lesson that children receive from their p rents. For this alone they are sent to school-instruct in the arts and sciences, or learnt a trade or professio For this, mankind engage in the most degrading pursuit and oftentimes mark their career with crime. For thi matrimony is entered into with all the critical nicety of problem. Is there one man, who, in his poverty, despis and weighs it as nothing in comparison to hone

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virtue or intelligence? If so, how is he gazed at by the crowd, and derided as a fool. How is he pitied, even by those who pretend to admire the precepts of the wise king who prayed for wisdom instead of riches. But to them, this wisdom is a folly, and what they applaud in him they censure in others.

A desire for wealth, is the great moving principle of almost every family at the present day. They toil not for a decent livelihood, or a simple gratification of their wants; but like madmen, they heap up riches in the vain hope that it may add a lustre to their characters. They desire wealth, that they may have honor, influence and power. They think a man is esteemed in proportion to the amount of his gold. The learning and integrity of the poor are mere atoms in the scale with the ignorance and immorality of the rich. To be sure, there are some exceptions, but they are very few, and will be found modestly concealed in a corner. Well may it be said, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." They seem to think that they can attain the joys of heaven with the same ease that they would acquire a fortune. But they know not what they do. They trifle away their souls without heeding their danger. They live only for the enjoyments of earth; and make a sacrifice of their virtue, religion, and eternal salvation.

Wealth, if not a positive, is at least a very formidable barrier to our entrance into the kingdom of God. But why should it destroy the sublime and holy aspirations of

the soul? We answer that the children of affluent parare so educated, that they receive at the commencem of life, a wrong bias to their minds. They are indul and flattered by their teachers and others, on accoun their parentage or wealth. They grow idle, luxurious, feminate, proud, overbearing and haughty. These are evils of wealth. It is common, therefore, to observe most worthy and learned men, growing out of poverty a obscurity; while others, who have been accustomed to lu ury and wealth, too often degenerate into all the vices an weakness of the age.

Iron necessity is the best instructor we can have. drives us to the development of our own powers; it is th foster-mother of great and excellent minds. In glitterin palaces and halls, we may look in vain for virtue or noble ness of soul. Ignorance and flattery stand as sentinels a the gates to guard against their entrance.

The marriages of the affluent (more frequently in con sideration of wealth and power, than affection or love, greatly contribute to the weakness and degeneracy of the age by the bringing up of their offspring in effeminate habits Look at the children of the middle classes, and compare their glowing cheeks with the pale faces of the rich. It is true, the latter may be more polished in their manners, but does this give them a more benevolent disposition? Are not these formalities too often their exclusive aim? A decent deportment, without the affectation to assume an appearance of wisdom or virtue which does not really belong to us, should be one of the chief designs of our education

Religion and piety are mere subordinate things, when a claim is laid to them only because custom seems to demand it.

We only begin to think of God, when the world is beginning to forget us. After the body is worn away with sickness, then the soul claims our attention; and we enquire about the reality of an eternity, when our worldly ambition is blighted or withered away. The heart cannot be improved without a perfect consciousness of its wickedness and deceit; and he who has struggled with adversity, is the most inclined to rely upon his own strength and energy. Self-knowledge will more frequently be found among the poor than the rich. The latter are too much accustomed to adulation, and thereby overrate their powers. Their sycophantic friends are ever ready to exhibit their faults as insignificant, and to magnify some every-day act of charity into a great and unexampled virtue. They listen with an eager ear, and are willing to be deceived, because they are not acquainted with their own infirmities, and love to have their vanity gratified.

A life of affluence, divested of care and trouble, often produces an inequality of mind. Undisturbed repose is a barrier to great and exalted pursuits. Thus, we often find the children of the rich seldom acquainted with any thing that does not relate to the art of gaining wealth. The wisdom and beneficence of their Creator is a secondary ; nay, even worthless reflection. While the poor man, struggling with adversity, turns to his God for consolation, they content themselves with the wise deductions of some