Eighteenth Day. Of deceitful joys

T, ''1 said of laughter it is

Miad: and of mirth what docth it?'' Eccles. ii. S. The joys of worldly minded men are like those of the delirious who have heen deprived of their reason by distemper. Delusion is the only cause of their pleasures: they thinli themselves in abundance, when in reality they are quite destitute. Death will end this dream of folly, and, when they awake they shall be confounded at their poverty. Miserable, therefore, are those whom the false pleasures of the world render incapable of true consolation. Let us say continually of such vain " mirth, what doeth it?'' Nothing is a solid subject of joy, but our hopes of God's favour; all other delight is but' a dream.

JI. Jesus said to the woman ©f Samaria, '' whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. ' John iv. 13, This may be applied to all worldly satisfactions, tlie more of which we enjoy, the more we want. The possession of riches does but increase our thirst after them. Avarice and ambition eagerly seek for what they have not; and are dissatisfied with what they have. The enjoyment of pleasure softens the soul, and renders it insatiable. The more we divert ourselves, the more we want diversion; and it is easier to persevere in a state of fervor and penitence than to recover it again when we have given way to pleasure and relaxation. Let us, therefore, watch over ourselves, and abstain from those waters which will but increase our thirst. Let us keep our heart with care, that it be not seduced by the vain joys of the world, which will end only iu despair. -