are dead or lifeless, the effect is trifling; but if they I heard Mr. K this evening with much pleaare so, all feel it-all discover it; and if this dis- sure. Every sentence he uttered was weighty. covery invariably urged us to wrestle with God on Good man! his race is almost run, and very soon behalf of his servants, what a change might we he will be gathered to his fathers. The young mifrequently witness in our families and our churches.nister, who is all zeal in the service of his Master, Send me word on what evening the poor people assemble for their lecture. I like to meet them in spirit. LETTER VIII. TO MISS H MY DEAREST L: To-day my prospect has been bounded by the opposite houses; my walk has been the length of the room in which I sit; and yet, perhaps, I have enjoyed the works of nature in imaginary rambles, as much as those who have actually taken them. How great are the pleasures of imagination! How kind is our Creator in allowing us so many sources of delight! Exquisite, indeed, was my pleasure while strolling down the shady lanes of Frampton, listening to the music of the birds, or the gentle rippling of the water, surveying the yellow grain, and the busy laborers gathering it in their bosoms. and the aged veteran, who has borne the heat and burden of the day, excite peculiar emotions; for one we pray much, for the other our souls are melted into gratitude. There were some excellent petitions offered up for you, in which I most heartily united. How could we live at a distance from those who were dear to us as life itself, if we are not permitted to indulge our affection for them at the throne of Mercy? Pray, my dearest brother, that my life may be a useful one. I would fain be like a gentle stream, that glides quietly through the vale, refreshing and fertilizing wherever it goes? LETTER X. TO MRS. B A HAPPY, a prosperous year to you, my beloved friend, in every sense, but especially in a spiritual one! How long it is since I heard from you! The It has been justly observed, that solitude and si-occupations of life press on us, and steal away our lence, properly enjoyed, exalt the mind above its time; so that, at the close of each successive week, natural tone, fire the imagination, and prepare it for we are ready to exclaim, Can it be Saturday? How the most sublime and exalted conceptions. Retire- perpetually, too, are we constrained to lament, that ment gives birth to new and undefined emotions; the things of time and earth have engrossed too but when every thing else is favorable to his hap large a portion of our attention! If we are conpiness, without the smiles of his Heavenly Father scious of misimproving the past, let us seek to he the Christian's enjoyments are scarcely worth the doubly diligent in future. A new year is comIt is the combination of spiritual and intel-menced: what new plans of doing good can we lectual delights, that can transport and satisfy his longing spirit! Let us endeavor, my dear friend, to connect every thing with God. name. form? What is most likely to increase our zeal in the pursuit of those which exist already? Are there not some individuals over whom we possess a deIf we are contented to pass through the present gree of influence, which has not been sufficiently state as pilgrims, we shall meet with much to refresh exerted? Are there not many for whom we have and gratify us; but if we attempt to rest in the not done all we might do? Ó how little do Chriswilderness, we shall soon feel a thorn in our pillow. little do they evince the Spirit of Him who came to tians go out of their way for the good of souls! How You did not say whether you went to the Sundayschool, or whether you were able to drop a few seek and to save that which was lost! Blessed Jetracts in your journey. If beautiful scenery ele-sus, make us, and make all thy people, increasingly like thyself! vates and expands the heart, may our increasing sensibility discover itself in our fervent love to Jesus, and in our simple-hearted efforts to promote the interests of our fellow-creatures! LETTER IX. TO HER BROTHER. AND does my dearest brother love me? Cheering assurance! There is nothing of which I am more confident, yet nothing I delight more to be told. O, it is pleasing to dwell on the love of a brother! What, then, should we feel in dwelling on the love of a Saviour! I am now seated in your study, and you can hardly tell the pleasure this simple circumstance occasions. Since you did not tell me what book I should read next, I have ventured to begin Allison on Taste. I love knowledge for its own sake; but I wish also to acquire information, that I may be worthy to be called your sister. The sun shines delightfully this morning; I hope you and dear E. are able to enjoy its beams. When you said she was poorly, I was wishing to be with her, to pay her any little attentions she might require. Were I to indulge my feelings, how I should amplify in my wishes for you; but I forbear, well knowing the expression of our attachment must be restrained and regulated in order to be valuable. When clothed in action, however, it never ceases to be agreeable; and in this way will I ever seek to discover the affection of my spirit. LETTER XI. TO HER BROTHER. Ir is Wednesday night, my beloved brother: consequently I am a little out of spirits, because I cannot fly to the chapel. I hope, however, to cheer myself by a few moments converse with you. First, permit me to return my sincere thanks for your very kind loan of Stewart, especially as you may have sacrificed some pleasure in foregoing his delightful society. But while to offer thanks may be most gratifying to myself, I am aware that, to a heart like yours, it will be a higher gratification to know that the perusal has afforded me no small pleasure. Among other benefits I hope to derive from it, is a more profound veneration for the Author of my intellectual faculties. I wish to cultivate my rational powers, that I may form more enlarged views of the Divine Being, and that I may have another talent to dedicate to his service. O, my dear brother, what an exalted motive does religion supply to every pursuit! tend to my physician's advice, and walk twice a day. This morning I crept slowly down a lane, which commands on one side a very fine prospect. Every now and then my book was shut, and I gazed around me like one enamored. Then I looked within, and said The stillness of this hour expels All tumult from my breast. Yes, my dear, I felt invigorated by the pure air, and tranquillized by the delightful scenery. Then I leaned on a bridge, contemplating the present, the past, and the future. I thought of the Hand that had led me all my life long, and hoped I should never be unwilling to submit to its guidance, whether the path it shall select for me be rough or smooth. I then sauntered home, but not without feeling grateful to my dear parents for all their kindness. So much for the passing day: now for something more substantial. To-morrow is the Sabbath. O, my dear, how fast is time rolling away! It is a common observation, but how little does it affect us! Let it not only solemnize our minds, but comfort inem. The faster time flows, the sooner we hope to be released from sin, and admitted to the presence of our Lord. Is the time short? then let us do what we do with all diligence; not waiting, as I am apt to do, for great occasions of usefulness, but seizing with avidity all the lesser ones that offer; remembering that, as by repeated touches of the pencil, the artist completes the piece which remains to be admired for ages, so by a multiplicity of exertions, in themselves apparently trivial, we may hope finally to promote, in no small degree, the good of our fellow-sinners and the glory of our Lord. with diligent exertion. I need not inform you, my eternal interests of our fellow-creatures. I enclose "Taylor on Self-cultivation." I trust you pray for me, that I may be a blessing in this comforted by the hope, that perhaps God will render place. Great, indeed, are my privations; but I am me the instrument of promoting his glory. Write as soon and as much as you can. I THINK, my dear friends, of your kindness by day and dream of it by night. May the Father of Mercies recompense all your affection. Poor Mrs. M is fast declining. O how much we suffer from the transitory nature of terrestrial good. At You say, my dear, I tell you but little about my five-and-twenty we look around for the friends who Sabbaths. Shall I explain the reason. I do not cheered us at sixteen; but-where are they? Where like the language of complaint, and therefore I am are they? Not lost, my Ann; they are only gone silent. Indeed I have cause to be very jealous of before us to their heavenly home. O to view every myself, lest I should sink into carelessness and in- thing in the light of faith, and not in those gloomy difference of spirit. I well remember -'s say-shades which unbelief throws over the actions of ing, "One of the causes of declension in religion the Divine Providence! is, our attendance on a ministry by which we are not benefited." But let me not forget to remind you of the kindness of God. He has said, "the soul of the righteous shall not famish;" and I have never gone looking to him but I have received a portion. LETTER XIII. TO HER YOUNGER BROTHER. MY DEAR BROTHER:-You are kind enough to soncit a frequent correspondence; and I comply with this request the more cheerfully, because it affords me an opportunity of expressing those sisterly feelings, which, at the present eventful period of your life, cannot fail to pervade my heart. I feel that you are about to enter on the stage of life for yourself. I feel that your character is about to be stamped: and I am anxious, anxious with all the tenderness of a sister, for that character to be stamped by respectability and eminent piety. We have a brother, LETTER XV. TO THE SAME. Now, my dear Ann, you must imagine me in a snug cottage, far away from the bustle of the town, and removed even from the little noise of the village street. In fact, the quietude which reigns here would often lead me to suppose myself really at F-, did I not look in vain for the countenances which greeted me in that peaceful spot. Here my companions are a good-natured widow, and my faithful attendant Maria. Their kindness is a remembrance of yours. I visit but little; and the principal guests I entertain are some fine rosy children. They often beguile my solitary moments; and when I can indulge a hope of doing good to them, I can think of home without a sigh. O the word home! how many ideas does it recall to mind! how many tender regrets does it occasion! and, in defiance of all our efforts to look on the bright side, how many sighs escape us! Well, we will think of our eternal home; we will meditate on its ecstaLet us not disgrace him by neglecting to improve tic pleasures-on their nature and durability, till any opportunity either for our intellectual or spirit-our spirits learn even to rejoice in tribulation, since ual advantage. We have parents who watch our we are assured that our light afflictions prepare us conduct with inexpressible solicitude. O that their for a weight of glory. last days may be cheered and comforted, by seeing their children steadily pursuing their footsteps! I am well aware that your heart joins with mine in fervently wishing that you may be the ornament and honor of your family; but how is this desirable end to be brought about? By uniting fervent prayer O, my dear friends, what heights of piety have been attained by some of those who are now in the presence of their Lord, even in circumstances less favorable to religion than ours!-and what forbids our reaching the same eminence ? Let us pra more fervently for each other. LETTER XVI. TO MISS N. * MY DEAREST M--I was concerned to hear you had not received the attentions from ✶ ✶ ✶ which you expected. Let me remind you, my dear, of what you already know, that every individual has his own standard of kindness, and by that he is regulated. We must not permit ourselves to every occasion to think how we should have acted; but remember, that what would be real unkindness in us is not so possibly in the case of another person, who views the subject in a different light. After all, however, we are often unable to repress a sigh at the little attention paid by the generality of persons to the finer feelings of the heart. The truth is, we are by nature selfish; and it is only in proportion as religion prevails in the soul, that it becomes benevolent, and concerned to promote the happiness of every human being in every possible way. It is our felicity to know, that a capacity for doing good is by no means confined to the learned; so far from it, they are often tempted to devote that time to literary pursuits which ought to be employed in the active duties of benevolence. Moderate talents, like small coin, may be brought into use every hour; while those talents we so often wish to enjoy, can perhaps be seldom turned to advantage, except for the gratification of the possessor. Indeed, I have often asked myself with severity, Why do I so much lament not having enjoyed the advantages which others possess? Is it because I could have done more good than is now in my power? Foolish reasoning! does not my Creator know best what means are necessary to fit me for the station he designs? Let me, then, in this, as well as in every thing else, acquiesce in his will, while I diligently strive to improve the opportunities he has bestowed. By the vigilant improvement of one talent, it may be increased sevenfold. Part of our discipline here, my love, is to learn contentment; and, to render this more easy in an intellectual sense, let us remember the period is fast arriving when we shall be perfect in knowledge. I have done myself the pleasure of working you a flounce. May you feel half the pleasure in wearing it which I have realized from your last token of affection. Indeed, I often think of the kindness I received from you and dear Mr. B.; and when depressed by long absence from almost all who are dear to me, I transport myself to F, once more take my seat at your hospitable board, and listen to the supplications at the family altar. May the fire of devotion ever burn bright and clear on that altar, and the sacrifice of praise ascend to your heavenly Father, like incense perfumed in the merits of the dear Redeemer. Ah, my dear Ann, we sometimes think wealth important, health important, ease important; but, after all, what is there of any importance, compared to walking closely with God? Let us then aim, my dear, so to enjoy our comforts as to be led nearer to God by them, and let us cheerfully resign them when called upon, knowing that in all our sorrows, privations, and conflicts, Jehovah designs the good of our spirits. I have lately suffered so much from pain, that I am the more gratified to hear of your health. I hope that invaluable blessing will be iong continued to you. Since I last wrote, I have been much better; but within this fortnight unpleasant symptoms have returned, and I fear After this statement, I need not tell you that I suffer both by night and day; but O, my dear friend, it is in the hour of suffering that we experience most of the tender compassion of our Saviour. Pray that I may glorify him under all circumstances. "How short are all our trials here, Give each of the dear little ones a kiss for us. LETTER XVIII. TO MISS H * MARTHA. I know of no species of knowledge which may not in some way, or at some time, be consecrated to the service of the Most High. It is an insult to the I NEED not inform you, my dear, that some of Almighty, while we profess to devote our talents to the adverse scenes of life are literally trials. They his honor, to let them lie aside and rust. Unwor- try the character. They reveal that character thy, indeed, is the most highly cultivated intellect of his acceptance; yet we know He will graciously accept the surrender of the meanest. Let us labor to render our intellectual faculties as little unworthy of an offering to him as possible. LETTER XVII. TO MRS. B AFTER your very long silence, my dear Ann, your letter was exceedingly welcome; but really I must not be put off as I have been. I shall most certainly call on Mr. B. to interpose his authority, unless I perceive an immediate reformation. Seriously, though, my dear friend, I am too much interested in your welfare not to be anxious for you to be a good correspondent. Happy am I to hear such a good account of you and the family. What is the infant's name? I hope dear William's mamma will be no way concerned, that he does not yet begin to display his eloquence; she must remember that many have been long before they began to speak; but then, in after life they have often abundantly compensated for their delay by speaking much to the purpose. How I should lize to have been present at the baptism. May all ne peutions offered be abundantly fulfilled. both to ourselves and others. Sometimes they call for the utmost strength of mind, the greatest selfdenial, and the constant exercise of prudence. If the individual possess none of these qualities, or possess them only in a small degree, the mind becomes enervated, and perhaps never recovers its proper tone. On the contrary, if these qualities are brought into action, they are strengthened, and the whole character becomes far more exalted. You complain, my dear, of want of time. Now, I do not exactly know how you distribute it; but I certainly agree with you, that it is very desirable to appropriate some part of every day to the cultivation of your mind. In attempting this, you must not be discouraged. Remember, my dear, it is not crowding the mind that makes us wise; hence, many who have comparatively little leisure, have more real knowledge than others, who have all their time at their disposal. In one instance, knowledge has time to take root; in the other, one plant is continually preventing the growth of another. It is frequently found, that where there has been most blossom there has been the least fruitfulness. Let us always endeavor to discriminate between a well cultivated mind and an overburdened memory. * O, when shall I be able to be actively employed in the service of God? I am resigned and thank ful for my present comparative ease, because I hope it will fit me for doing some good at a future period. If, however, I am not favored with the ability, pray, my dear, that I may never want the inclina tion. LETTER XIX. TO MRS. B—. HAPPINESS attend you, my dear friend! It really appears a long time since I held communion with you through this medium; so I believe I must even indulge myself with scribbling a letter, especially as I hope it will be the means of obtaining a benefit. Yes, my dear friends, I have a favor to ask of you. I want your special prayers. After Christmas I am going to take a few little girls for the purpose of undertaking their education. I feel it is sometuing to engage to impart knowledge, even of the lowest description; but what is that, compared to cuitivating the understanding and the heart, with a view to the eternal welfare of the immortal spirit! Pray for me, my dear friends, that in this and every other pursuit I may glorify our God and Saviour. LETTER XX. TO HER BROTHER. Ir is enough, my dearest brother-I will try to wait patiently, and say, with you, The will of the Lord be done. These few words, "It is the Lord!" seem to me omnipotent. They hush the loudest storm. I suppose, before you receive this, dear E. will have left Cannon-street. I shall long for the time when you will meet at S- -; and hope the pain of separation will be amply compensated by the pleasure you will enjoy at your retreat. As for me, I must be comforted by the idea of your happiness. O the rest of heaven! who can tell what it will be after the common toils of life, but especially after pastoral anxieties and sorrows! Ah, my brother, how often I think what he must be called to endure. LETTER XXI. TO THE SAME. AH, it was all in vain! The hearth was touched and re-touched in vain; the fire was made to blaze in vain; in vain the dinner was prepared, and the homely dessert was spread! He came not to cheer our spirits and strengthen our faith. Well, the weather is bad, and perhaps he might have taken cold; so I will even bear my disappointment as heroically as I can. I believe, however, I must begin by confessing, that notwithstanding all my efforts, my spirits are lower than usual. I hoped, and hoped; but here is the very day come that I thought would open to me a scene of usefulness, and provide me with the means of comfort; but my hopes are disappointed. Pray for me! Well, we will change the subject. Do you wish to take a peep at us just as we are at this moment? Here is Miss C at the desk, F- sitting by the drawers, working away briskly. Charley is on my bed, playing with a few toys, and calling out every minute, Look, look, look, at which I have enough to do to express my feigned astonishment. Andrew is at the table building a house, and taking a geometrical lesson; by-the-by, I should tell you how learned we are. No, no, I will not boast. I must not tell you how carefully we cultivate the heart and the understanding; nor what pains we take to draw forth the affections, regulate the temper, fix the attention, quicken the perceptions, strengthen the memory, &c. But here is Mrs. D. with some plums for the little ones. What heart that feels and knows any ining & love, but is refreshed and soothed by the simplicity of childhood! O to be as a little child! My dear baby, I am so glad to hear she is pretty well; and yet I seem to grudge her growth, when I cannot mark her daily progress; but I am consoled for this loss by knowing that she comforts you. Her brothers talk of her; and many a fair dream, my dearest brother and sister, no doubt we mutually indulge, as we look forward and see these little creatures spring into life. May Almighty God bless them, and make them blessings, is all the full heart can utter. And surely God will bless them; yes, he will. LETTER XXII. TO MRS. B MY BELOVED ANN-You will be surprised to hea that I have relinquished my intention of receiving pupils; not, indeed, from choice, but from necessity. It is no small disappointment, at the moment I was hoping to live to some useful purpose, to be thrown back into a state of unusual infirmity and partiai helplessness. My days and my nights are wearisome; but we know affliction springeth not from the dust. Pray for me, that the language of my heart may ever be, "The will of the Lord be done LETTER XXIII. TO MISS H▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬. THE pain I am enduring would, my dearest L fection for you than I do; but as it is, while I can form a ready excuse for my silence, if I felt less afIndeed, my weakness makes me more anxious to guide the pen, it must be employed in your service. write; for I long for you, my love, to be benefited by my afflictions. God Almighty bless you, my dear, and help you to view all compromises with the world in the light that sickness, death, and judgment throw upon them! Let us beware of approaching to the verge of what we may suppose to be innocent. Let us remember, that whatever destroys our sobriety of mind and renders us unfit for communion with God, is dangerous, highly dangerous. Pardon me this strain, but I am jealous of you. LETTER XXIV. TO HER YOUNGER BROTHER. MY DEAREST BROTHER-I am not able to write to you, but I avail myself of a hand which is ever at my service. Much it relieved the anxiety I felt on your account, to see you and hear from your own lips that you were comfortable. I think of you while lying on the bed or reclining on the chair. I think of you, and the ardent wish of my heart is, that you may be useful; useful by your exertions, your example, and your prayers. I, alas, can do no good. I am laid aside early in life; but you, my brother, have still the prize of health, with alf its advantages, in your hand. May Jehovah hear me while I pray, that you may make the most diligent use of them, and that my affliction may stir you up to renewed devotedness. I know we to sympathize in the changes you have experienced; but be of good cheer; for though the ways of Providence are mysterious, they are ways of love; and ere a few years have rolled away, you will give thanks for those trials which seem the most severe. I have had the advice of an eminent surgeon : sometimes I think he may be of service to me; but ow I am more inclined to fear, that neither medicine Your ever affectionate LETTER XXV. MARTHA. LETTER XXVI. TO MR. B kind remembrance of me. It is indeed no small DEAR SIR-I am obliged to you for your very privilege to have a share in the good wishes and fervent prayers of the excellent of the earth. afflictions. May those consolations you so benevoI was much concerned to hear of your repeated lently wish for others, be ever realized by yourself and your dear family, in the hour of perplexity and sorrow. I long to hear how the concern fares in which you have recently engaged. Permit me to wish, that the blessing of the Almighty may rest on all the labors of your hands. I feel much my absence from that dear spot in which you are so deeply interested. May I solicit you to supplicate not only that I may be blessed here, but made a blessing! O how fast is life passing away, and as yet how little have I done or suffered for the Redeemer! MY DEAR FRIEND-That part of your letter relative to the Sunday school gave me real pleasure. I assure you, before twelve months are elapsed, I of love among the dear children. I believe many I hope ere this you are able to renew your work expect to have the gratification of hearing that you of them are more attentive to your exhortations rival us. Expect much, my dear, and then you are than you allow yourself to imagine. May the seed likely to pray for much; and where much is asked, which has been sown with so much care, take deep much will be given. After all, the best plans will root, and finally spring up to yield an abundant go but a very little way towards the prosperity of a harvest; and in that great day, when hidden things school. Its teachers must be persons of prayer, shall be made manifest, may it appear that your persons whose minds are deeply impressed with sacrifices, your anxieties, and your prayers were by their infinite obligations to redeeming love, and no means in vain. In that day, how many will bitwho are anxiously concerned to bring the dear terly regret, that they made no more sacrifices for children to Jesus. Let this, my dear, be our con- the good of souls! but, who will regret that they stant aim, and then, though we should see no fruit made too many? O to act, to think, and to speak year after year, we need not be discouraged, know-as having that day ever in view! Then, when we ing who hath said, “In due time ye shall reap if ye faint not." Those who sow in the youtniu mind must in general wait long ere the seed spring up; but oh, when the time of reaping comes, who does not exclaim, "This is worth all our exertions, all our prayers, and all our tears?" Similar to this were my feelings lately, when I saw one of our scholars go forward to the sacred board. With this I send the rules we adopt. The accompanying papers are pasted on boards, and hung up at the head of each class. By this means all the children are taught at once, and considerable time is saved for their spiritual instruction. Winter is making rapid advances. How admirably the changing seasons are adapted to impress our spirits with a sense of our own mortality; and surely if we are properly affected with this consideration, it will lead us to self-examination. It is long since we met. A winter and a summer have passed away. meet the Redeemer, may we be felicitated by hear. the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, LETTER XXVII. TO MISS H R. WITH what cheerfulness, my dear Miss H., should I take up my pen, might I hope to be of any service to you. But what arguments can I use that have not been used? What promise can I point out to you with which you are not already acquainted? I can sympathize with you, I can pray for you; but alas! what can I do more? Yet I must write a few lines, merely to show you, that though it is not in my power, yet it is in my will to comfort you. One During this period what advances have we made cause of your present distress I doubt not is your in faith, in holiness, in love, in humility, in peni- viewing the character of the Deity in a wrong tence, in spirituality, in gratitude, in meekness? light, or looking at some of his perfections to the For myself, I have deeply to lament, that, notwith- exclusion of others. Surely you have forgotten standing the rich culture I enjoy, I am continually that the Divine Being is love. Ah, do not, I be compelled to exclaim, "My leanness, my leanness!" seech you, think of him merely as an inexorable Yet I hope I have learned to exercise more depend-judge; but think of him as the God and Father of ance on the Saviour. As we see more of ourselves, our Lord Jesus Christ. Be thankful, my dear, that my dear friend, Jesus will be more precious in our you feel your need of the Saviour; and wait paeyes. Let us rejoice that God has promised to com-tiently till he reveals to you your personal interest plete his work; and that we have not been permitted in the covenant of his grace. Many eminent saints to return to the world. If we have any desires for have been suffered to walk in darkness for years; communion with him, any faith in the Redeemer, but what sinner did we ever hear of, who wished to any dependance on the Holy Spirit, let us praise be made holy and accepted through the Redeemer, him for his past goodness, and supplicate still larger that was finally rejected? blessings. Remember me very kindly to Mr. B- and tell him, if you can, how anxious I am for his prosperity. May the Lord bless you temporally and spiritually, and finally administer to you individually an abundant entrance to his everlasting kingdom. Yours, affectionately, MARTHA As it relates to your departed relative, let me beg you to endeavor to dismiss the subject. When once an individual has quitted our world, it is not for us to decide on his state. I hope and believe, that God will render the preaching of his word effectual to your comfort and consolation. I well recollect being in a similar state of mind to yours. Fearfulness came upon me, and horror |