February First.
THE COCKATRICE' EGGS AND SPIDER'S WEB.
"They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web."—Isa. lix. 5.
ALTHOUGH it is a delightful employment to contemplate the state of the good, and to dwell upon their peaceful pleasures, yet it is right occasionally to cast a glance on the sad condition of those whose evil practices and corrupt thoughts are ever followed by distress and sorrow of mind. How striking is the contrast drawn in Scripture between the good and the evil, the righteous and the wicked!—"Great peace have they who love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm cxix. 165.) "There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." (Isa. xlviii. 22.) The good have an abundance of peace, while the wicked have none.
The worthless and fruitless labours of the wicked are described by the prophet in such striking language, that it is impossible to misunderstand its meaning. Such are grounded in the love of evil, and their actions, consequently, are treacherous and deceitful. They conceive mischief and bring forth injustice, and of such it is said, that "They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web."
