which we implore. Immediately after making a profession of religion, I left home for New York, and had a week's passage. During this time, my private duties were much interrupted, and I felt the effect of it upon my spiritual state, until about one year since. In this last year, the dealings of Providence have, I humbly hope, restored my soul. Had I not joined the church when I did, I fear the duty would have been neglected, perhaps for life. The privileges of a visible standing in the church, impose obligations which do not operate so powerfully out of it. Our father mentioned his conversation with you respecting your making a profession. If a certainty of your having passed from death unto life could be granted, I should wish you not to hesitate a moment; but as a trial of your faith is necessary, perhaps it is well to defer it for a season. Love to Christ and your own soul, demands a vigorous and watchful devotion to his service until the duty be made plain. It is always easy to depart from God, but more especially so when no open profession has been made; therefore, in postponing this act for a little while, do not permit sloth or presumption to destroy and darken your evidences. You will excuse me, dear brother, for offering such advice in your present circumstances. It is dictated by love; and perhaps the experience of seven years may enable me to give you a few hints, which you will receive in kindness."

She renews her advice on the subject of secret prayer in the following extract: "Do not allow yourself to be hurried when you go to converse with God; feel that time thus spent is the most profitable portion of each day; and be as constant in the evening, before nature is exhausted, as you are in the morning. First try to find Christ there,' and then let all your petitions be the simple expression of your wants, and not the repetition of familiar phrases. Expect the assistance of the Spirit, and wait, as it were, for his inditings, I have found much profit from this

course, and from the reflection that as 'my times are in God's hands,' if I am faithful to this duty, he will prosper my other labors.

"Do not, I entreat you, take for your standard any Christian that ever lived; but go to the pure oracles of truth for guidance. Ask yourself continually, 'How would my divine Master conduct under these circumstances?'"

Respecting some seasons of prayer, with this brother, while he was at home in vacation, she thus writes: "You cannot, more than myself, desire to be again engaged in my chamber as formerly. Those were to me delightful moments, and, I may truly say, furnished me more heartfelt enjoyment than I ever before experienced. I told mamma, at the close of your first day's visit at home, that it had been the happiest day of my life. Oh! if we are both God's children, we may anticipate an eternity of happiness similar to that; though far more pure, and transcending our highest conceptions. Let us be faithful. There is no true elevation of character without the control of Christian principle. To live a holy life is never easy, or, I should say, is never attainable by the indolent; though some circumstances are more favorable than others. College life must be a tempting one; but it may prove as the refiner's fire and fuller's soap, through the grace of Him who giveth us 'strength equal to our day,' when we seek it.

"My dear brother, what is the present bent of your spiritual mind? If your closet be a pleasant resort, I need not inquire further, for it is the avenue to Christian faithfulness and joy. If we are fellow-travellers on the road to heaven, it is important that we should occasionally exchange a word of recognition and inquiry."

Miss Huntington delighted to cherish hope, on the basis of good evidence, for those who indulged hope for themselves. And yet her solicitude that they should have the hope which maketh not ashamed," kept her awake to

whatever were their dangers of self-deception and of ruin. And when she feared, or "stood in doubt" of her dearest friends, as to their spiritual condition, she was most tenderly and solemnly faithful in her endeavors to lead them to self-examination and careful testing of their evidences. The following, with some other extracts, illustrates these remarks:

:

"WEDNESDAY MORNING.

"Dearest Brother: Your last letters led us to fear that your religious hopes have become darkened.

* * *

* * I will write freely, for I am your sister in the flesh, and we are members of the same body. You will receive what I say in tenderness, I am confident. Oh! you can form no adequate conception of the agonized feelings into which I was thrown last evening, on your account. The view which I had of the holiness of God's character, of the evil of sin, and the obligations which we are under to serve our Creator, even were reward and punishment out of the question; the possibility that your heart was still alienated from him, and the dishonor which such a fact would cast upon religion; and my own insubmissiveness under it ; all conspired to render me, for an hour, the most wretched being imaginable. My anguish of body and mind was unequalled by any thing I ever before endured.

"I do not believe that you have yielded to the grosser temptations to which you have been exposed; but I fear that the commendations which have been bestowed upon you, have become a snare, imperceptibly leading you to be too much engrossed by worldly pursuits; curtailing your seasons. of retirement, and producing self-exaltation and desire of human praise, which are incompatible with the meekness of the gospel. Alas! what is the applauding breath of mortals, that we should sacrifice for it our eternal concerns! Satan is a subtle foe; for by leading to the abuse of lawful pursuits, his artful policy most frequently insnares our mind. He well knows, by his own history, and the snares which he

has so successfully laid for others, that the native haughtiness of our hearts is the principle by which he can most effectually drag us down to his own inevitable doom. You are now at the most critical point of your life. This fallen and murderous foe stands on one side, striving to delude you by the false glare of worldly honor and popularity; cherish. ing the pride of your heart, and striving to make you in all respects like himself, that you may be the companion of his misery. On the other hand stands the gracious Saviour, who has paid the price of your redemption from the galling chains of sin and Satan; presenting to you the simplicity of his gospel, which can purify the affections, elevate the soul, give true dignity to the understanding, make the subjects of it 'kings and priests' before the throne of God, where the happy intelligences become more and more like Him who is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, purity, and felicity. 'Choose you this day whom ye will serve,' - there is no neutral spot; it must be God or Mammon. And what have you professed solemnly before many witnesses? What language is conveyed to you through the symbols of your Saviour's love? What would be the effects of your apostasy?

"Beloved brother, what more shall I say? Perhaps you will be surprised at the strain of my remarks; but be not offended. I have written very plainly, yet with feelings of tenderness which I cannot express. I beg you to write me immediately. I shall wait anxiously for a reply. Write ingenuously. I believe that you love me; and I love you too much for my own comfort. The last was, with me, a happy year; a year of spiritual gladness. My hopes respecting you, contributed not a little to my joy. upon me with less tranquillity; perhaps I acquainted with my own heart. If so, it will be a profitable period. The arrows of the Almighty are dipped in love, and they will make my heavenly rest more sweet. 'The will of the Lord be done.'"

This year opens am to be made

Letters subsequent to these indicate relief to the anxious

feelings of Miss Huntington. Through divine goodness, and in answer to prayer, she was permitted to rejoice in seeing his soul restored, and found much comfort and satisfaction in him; and more especially in anticipating his entrance on the work of the gospel ministry.

"MONDAY EVE.

"Your good letter, my beloved brother, afforded me heartfelt pleasure. The expression, 'I have, with the assistance of God, determined to devote myself to the Gospel Ministry,' preceded as it was by earnest desires after holiness, was indeed like music to my soul. You have been borne upon my feeble prayers, with more energy and constancy, than any other dear ones, from the peculiar temptations of your constitution and circumstances. Since I began to pray for you, it has been my earnest petition that you might be an ambassador for Christ; until you requested that I would not ask any thing definitely for you. The last time, however, that I approached the throne of grace, previous to the arrival of your letter, I did once more, in submission, supplicate that you might preach the gospel. Dear brother, it is a 'good work;' and for a young man, in these days, the best and most important. May God abundantly prepare you to become a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.""

Miss Huntington's correspondence with this brother was rich in various counsels, adapted to his case, like those from which we have already quoted. Among the subjects were the following:-Engagement in Sabbath school instruction, as a means of usefulness to others and to himself— The dangers of entrance into the circles of the gay and thoughtless-Religious reading-The importance of decision of Christian character -The habit of lively faith in Christ as promoting growth in grace-Activity and efficiency in the service of Christ- Commitment of his way to God in faith Prayer for unconverted relatives-Christian in