no! we know too well the corruption of our own hearts. But we do expect that religion will affect you in every feature of your character, in every relation you sustain in life; or else that change which we ascribe to grace, is unworthy to be called a new birth―a new creation. Your cov enant engagements require you to be a better daughter, a better sister, and a better member of the Church. Baptism made you a member of the Church; in Conformation, you profess to be a living member. Now all this will require you to live by rule. He who lives without rule, is like a mariner who sails without a compass, chart or polar star. Let the word of God be your chart, conscience your compass, and the glory of God your polar star to steer your course by; then you will neither make shipwreck of faith nor a good conscience. Yours will be a prosperous voyage, and so an abundant entrance shall be ministered to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; the meaning is, you shall enter heaven like a richly laden vessel under full sail. "Your aunt has just brought to light some extracts, which I made from Bishop Beveridge's pious thoughts, when I began, as I trust by God's grace, to lead a new life, which is now twenty-eight years ago. They will aid me in saying some things that I wish to say, and if you like the specimens, then let me recommend to you the whole work; I think you will find it in your father's library. Concerning his general conversation, the pious Bishop says; I am resolved by the grace of God, to make Christ the pattern of my life here, that so Christ may be the portion of my soul hereafter.' Concerning his thoughts. am resolved, &c, to watch as much over the inward motions of my heart, as the outward actions of my life.' 'I am re 'I solved, &c., to be always exercising my thoughts upon good objects, that the Devil may not exercise them upon bad.' Concerning his affections. I am resolved, &c., to love God as the best of gods, and to hate sin as the worst of evils.' 'I am resolved, &c., to desire spiritual mercies more than temporal; and temporal mercies only in reference to spiritual.' 'I am resolved, &c., to hope for nothing so much as the promises, and to fear nothing so much as the threatenings of God.' 'I am resolved, &c., so to be angry as not to sin, and therefore to be angry at nothing but sin.' Concerning his actions. I am resolved &c., never to set my hand, my head, or my heart about any thing but what I verily believe to be good in itself, and will be so esteemed by God.' Concerning his words. I am resolved, &c., never to speak much, lest I speak too much, and not to speak at all rather than to no purpose.' "I might select more, but these will be enough to show you what you ought to be, and what it is your happiness to be. And oh! my dear girl, be particularly mindful of the manner in which he introduces each resolution-' I am resolved by the grace of God; that is the great secret of Christian holiness and if ever we forget it, like Peter we shall be reminded of our folly by our sin. And while you look for sanctification by the grace of the Spirit, ever look for justification by the righteousness of Christ, and thus being justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, all our heart's desire will be accomplished concerning you. "And now my dear C., I must bring this to a close, to allow for a little family news, which your aunt has agreed to tell you. I have not said all that I wished, nor as I wished. Interruptions have broken up my ideas, and the thermometer is at ninety. Give my love to L., and say that 6 some day I shall remember her in this way; in the meantime, she must read this, as though it were to herself. "Your ever affectionate uncle, "WM. JACKSON." To another young friend on the same subject. "I need not say, my dear L., how my heart rejoices to hear you have confirmed the act, by which you were admitted into the ark of Christ's Chnrch. This is my prayer for you, that the Lord may shut you in; and that through His grace, you, being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally you may pass to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with Him, world without end.' You will ere this, have seen a long letter I wrote to dear C. on this subject, which was designed for yourself, no less than for her. I have almost forgotten what I then said; all that I remember is, that I aimed to give such hints, as might be useful to young Christians. Let me now remind you, that you have not yet attained, you have but just begun to make gracious attainments; the victory is not won; you have but just buckled on your heavenly armour; you have not reached the stature of a man in Christ; you are but just born into his family. A young Christian is like a little child; a newly enlisted soldier; a fresh scholar; and just as much lies before him, of growth, conflict, study, as before the child, the soldier, the scholar, before he apprehends that for which he is apprehended of God, in Christ Jesus.' If you ask me what is the greatest danger to which young Christians are exposed, I should answer, pride. They are different from what they once were, they differ from many around them, and they excite the interest, and have the esteem of pious ministers and friends. The great adversary takes advantage of this, and too often leads them into his own condemnation, and makes every grace a snare. The best remedy against pride, is to be looking much into our own hearts, making frequent visits to Calvary and Gethsemane, and reflecting on what we should have been without the grace of God. Thus holy David kept himself humble. 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake.' 'Lord, forever at thy side, Let my place and portion be; "If you ask what are the best means to grow in grace, I answer, to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Christ. The scriptures testify of him; the scriptures are the face of Jesus Christ.' Christ,' says one, 'is so exactly represented in the Gospel, that, when we come into his personal and real presence, we shall be able truly to say, this is indeed the person who was, long since, in his Gospel so clearly exhibited to my faith.' Search the Scriptures then, dear L., that you may find Christ in them. He is in them every where, as the sun is every where in the heavens, but He shines more brightly in some places than in others. "To reading add prayer. Having found Christ, let Him not go till He has given you a blessing. And finally, exercise yourself unto godliness. An idle Christian cannot be a growing Christian. Godliness is godlikeness: to be like God in all His inimitable perfections; and there is no time, place, nor circumstance, in which we have not opportunity for this exercise. Christ was as holy as a child, as the head of his disciples; in His trade, as in His ministry; in Nazareth, as in Gethsemane. The exercise of godliness has reference to our tempers, spirit, behavior, and conduct towards others in doing them good. But I must not enlarge. May the author of all godliness, perfect in you that which I trust He has begun. Extract. To a niece on the death of her sister. My dear C. will hardly believe me when I say, it has scarcely been possible for us to acknowledge the receipt of hers, communicating the sad intelligence which we had so long been anticipating. It came to hand just as I was starting for convention, and your aunt, whose intention it was to write during my absence, was called to the discharge of other duties. Our dear little Maria was taken extremely ill, so much so, that fears were entertained for her recovery; but God has been better to us than our fears; she is now running about, quite cheerful, but very feeble; still we do not flatter ourselves that many years are before her. She is a frail flower, and a sweet one too. Too sweet to blossom long in the desert. We should not be surprised at any time, to see her transplanted to a more genial clime, where so many of our kindred are, and where our dear S. now is. We thank you and Wm. H., for the minute account you have given us of her last days. "You do not know how happy it made us, to learn that she gave a sure pledge at the end of her days, of rising in brighter array.' She had gained a strong hold upon our affections. She was lovely without grace, (if indeed she could be said to be destitute of it, even when we saw her.) How much more lovely must she have been, when it shone |