There cannot be a truer em­blem of the state of infancy, than in this of the vine, which, when it is reared with care, rewards us with its luscious fruit; but, if neglected, pre­sents us with nothing but leaves and stalks.

When we behold but the little, seemingly insignificant ant, what a moral and instruc­tive lesson may be drawn from it, in that excellent proverb, "Employ well the hour pre­sent." Idleness is the cause of many evils; it brings both mi­sery and want; it destroys the health of body, and the peace of mind. But industry, besides giving us plenty, gives us health, without which there can be no solid enjoyment.

The bee, like unto the ant, is one of those little insects that teaches us to provide in due time, what we may have occa­sion for at a future period.—The bee is ever busy in the summer season, and there is no flower but yields something for their winter's support. Fol­low her example.

Shun all temptations, if you are wise, and be not deceived by appearances. Vice, folly and danger, lurk often under the most inviting charms.—

This is an apt emblem of the impetuosity of youth, who with a blind precipitancy pur­sues vain pleasures, that can afford no solid enjoyment. Be moderate in the pursuit of pleasures, and you will then truly enjoy them.

Like the proud peacock is the son of vanity; and surely it is more ridiculous in a ration­al creature to indulge this pride than in an unreasonable ani­mal. How worthless is man, however finely clad, without mental qualifications! A fine house unfurnished is but an un­comfortable dwelling.

This is a just emblem of those who seek their own good at the expence of that of others, and often meet with a bitter disappointment, and lament too late the evils which themselves have occasioned. Hence learn the danger of fraud, lest, like the boy in the emblem, you prove the author of your own destruction.

The lion is a fit emblem of tyranny; his royalty consists in cruelty, strength, and pow­er; in raising terror, instead of confidence and love; in be­ing a destroyer, and not a safe­guard; hence he is called the sovereign of the forrest.

What a fit emblem is this of those heedless persons who suf­fer themselves to be deluded by glittering temptations, or drawn into snares by the arti­fices of the vicious and design­ing! The offers of some men are dangerous; let the charac­ter of the giver, and the con­ditions he is likely to exact be well considered before you re­ceive the gift.

By this emblem we are in­formed that man was by na­ture framed for society, and that there can be no happiness without the benefit of friend­ship. By this we mutually sup­ply the wants of each other, and enjoy those blessings of life, which, without it, we could seldom purchase.

The dog is of all animals the most faithful and sagacious.—There are few things which a good dog may not be trained up to do to serve his master; and, if he be well used, there are fewer still that he will not do to defend him.

Gratitude and fidelity to our friends, are the best qualities that can adorn our natue. In this respect, the emblem of the dog is a very just one, and a good example for man.

The pelican is the only bird that feeds her young with her own blood. In this emblem is expressed the state of depend­ence we are in, on the one hand, and the great goodness of God on the other, who e­qually supplies our temporal and our spiritual wants, and who sent his only Son to be a propitiation for our sins, who [Page 30] for us shed his own blood, and by whose stripes we are healed—The pelican, indeed, grants this supply but to her own brood; but the great Author of our salvation did this for wicked offenders, he died e­ven for his greatest enemies, and bore our sins, that we might be made righteous, and that we might proceed from grace to grace, till at last we are made heirs of his glorious inheritance.