264 THE PASSION-FLOWER. 



livering over our young men and maidens to the 

 fatal wiles of modern Babylon. The division of 

 languages thus leads to dividing many a soul from 

 its God ; and this indulgence of the " pride of 

 life," this fulfilling of " the desires of the mind," 

 will furnish a theme for endless lamentation to 

 many who, in their greedy pursuit of outward dis- 

 tinction, close their eyes to the scriptural warnings 

 which God has not given in vain, however little 

 we may regard them. 



This chapter is sombre — its subject and its type 

 are equally so. No external brightness rests upon 

 the Passion-flower ; but that from which it takes 

 its name contains even the brightness of the glory 

 of God. Dark, sad, and comfortless was all that 

 met my view, in the brief and clouded course of 

 my poor E., but the eye of faith, brightened by 

 the recollection of many a fervent prayer sent up 

 on her behalf, can discern a glorious beam, em- 

 anating from the land that is very far off, with the 

 figure of the nun, among a multitude of "backslid- 

 ing children," whom the Lord has reclaimed, re- 

 joicing in the splendours that surround the throne 

 of the Lamb. 



