'Oh! sweet and sacred is the rest,

Round the departed Christian's breast;
Serene the pillow of his head,

And sanctified his funeral bed.'

Mrs. D. Oh! what a loss must this dear young creature be to her family, but it is her own gain.

Eliza. What a blow is this! Oh! my sweet Amelia !

Mrs. C. rises from her seat in evident agitation.

Mrs. D. You are not going yet, surely, Mrs. C.

Mrs. C. You must excuse me, Mrs. D.; but my feelings are so shocked by this distressing account, that I am quite unwell, and I must beg to be excused going home a little sooner.

Mrs. H. Indeed, Mrs. C., I do not wonder at your being distressed, these are awful warnings, and I pray God that they may teach us all to number our days, and apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Mrs. C. takes very little notice of Eliza, and goes away in haste. Eliza. Oh! Mrs. D. what an eventful evening this has been. While Mrs. C. talked to me I was really puzzled; I began to think that the way in which I had been brought up was wrong, for it seemed to me, that if Amelia was wrong, my dear mother's opinions must be wrong too; but now all seems clear again before me, and clearer than it ever was before.

Mrs. D. You wonder, perhaps, that I was so silent while Mrs. C. was talking to you, but I wished you to hear all she had to say. You are now arrived at that age, when our principles should be so confirmed, that we are able to hear the truth disputed without being shaken in our belief of it; and I was quite sure, that however Miss Amelia F. might be misrepresented to you, one view of her steady consistent progress in the divine life, adorned as it was by every thing that is lovely and of good report, would soon blunt every dart which calumny might have cast against her.

Mrs. H. If your young friend has not been permitted to receive instructions from witnessing personally the beautiful life of Amelia, yet from your account, I think a remarkable testimony has been just borne to it by the mouth of an enemy; her death has borne another, and in the mouths of these two witnesses, the truth is established; the truth as it is, as it always has been, and always will be, in Christ Jesus.

Eliza. I am ashamed and grieved that I should have felt for one moment puzzled and shaken by what Mrs. C. said.

Mrs. D. This feeling of your weakness will lead you to fear the influence of the world, and mistrust your own strength, and will lead you to pray more earnestly for that spirit, which alone can enable you to form a right judgment in all things.

Mrs. H. Let it be our prayer, too, that the death of our beloved Amelia may be made the means of touching the hearts which her life could not soften, and may they too be led to fear the judgment which is according to truth.

C.

IS THINE HEART RIGHT?-2 KINGS X. 15.

SUCH was the question proposed by Jehu to Jehonadab, and such is the language which we would address to you, dear young

reader.

The duty to which we would now call your attention is that of self-examination: it is one of importance; it deserves your supreme regard; and if performed aright, will prove to you of incalculable advantage.

As accountable beings-as candidates for an unfading crown— surely the question now proposed to each and all will not be deemed a useless and unimportant one, when we say, in the language of Holy Writ, "Is thine heart right?" And let us consider this,

"The heart

First: As to ourselves-Is thine heart right? is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked;" and this is confirmed in our own experience, by the passing scenes of every day. It is mournful to behold how man has degraded himself. God created man holy and happy, a creature capable of loving and serving him. Man, my young friends, is created not for time only but for eternity; and hence the powers and energies of his mind should be spent not in grasping after the things of time and sense, but in seeking after and preparing for that happiness which lies beyond the grave. There is beyond the narrow bounds of earth and time a promised inheritance to those who take the Saviour's "yoke, which is easy, and his burden which is light."

Religion is a personal thing, one in which all are interested;

and the more deeply so, because it is for eternity. In this particular none can act in lieu of another. No! we must all seek for ourselves or we shall never obtain. It calls for persevering and personal efforts on our own part, " for whoso putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, is not fit to enter the kingdom of God;" We are commanded so to run that we may obtain, and through much tribulation we are to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

How important then that our hearts should be right! that they should be fixed on a firm foundation, even the "Rock of ages." How important that there should be no hindrance or stone of stumbling between our souls and the Majesty of heaven, that so we may be enabled to fly to him for refuge and help when temptations assail, and when the enemy would beguile us into his ways. In the gospel, heaven is set before us, shall we then be satisfied with present pursuits and present enjoyments, and forfeit for ever the inestimable blessings held out to us by the God of grace? As to this matter, is thine heart right? Have you determined to pursue the vain things of the world, and to cheat your own soul, or have you determined to follow Christ whithersoever he goeth, being assured that although persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ await you here, yet hereafter you will receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Secondly: As to your neighbour-" Is thine heart right? We are called upon to "shine as lights in the world,” holding forth to those around us the words of eternal life. We should be circumspect in every action, because, by the world our conduct is watched, and narrowly scrutinized in every point; let us then diligently cultivate the true christian temper, that we may be ensamples to the flock, and followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. In our intercourse with the world we have a direct influence on our fellow men either for good or evil; that which we do, to a certain extent they strive to imitate: it is of importance then that our example be brilliant as to holiness of life and regularity of conduct, that those with whom we dwell may feel the influence of our example working upon them, and producing in them conformity to the will of God, and that they may feel the happier and be the wiser and better for our having lived amongst them. Now allow me to ask of you, my

young friends, as touching these things, "Is thine heart right?" Have you labored to obtain such a knowledge of the word of God as that your life may in all points be conformed to the spirit of the gospel, "that men seeing your orderly walk and conversation in life, may follow in your steps and glorify your Father who is in heaven"? Again, Have you endeavored to win men to Christ, by exemplifying in your conduct the loveliness and beauty of a religious life, that all may perceive "religion's ways to be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace." And have you by earnest prayer sought for the influences of the Holy Spirit to rest upon those who neglect to seek for it themselves, that their hearts may be changed and their minds enlightened by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts, that they may find pardon and peace in believing, trusting alone in the merits and righteousness of a crucified Redeemer for acceptance with God? O my dear young friends, in this matter, "Is thine heart right?" liveth unto himself." How then has your life been?—have you possessed that charity which hopeth, beareth, and endureth all things, which emphatically seeketh not its own but its neighbours' good?

"No man

Ponder over these things; let them not slip from thy mind; we all have a work to do for our fellow men; 'tis of importance that it should engage our early and devout attention. See that you delay it not, for now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.

Thirdly: As to God!" Is thine heart right?" God is the author of life, “in Him we live, and move, and have our being." His arm upholds and sustains us through all the various scenes of life, and it is from him we receive every good and perfect gift. In all our distresses He is our guide, guard, and tower of defence: His watchful eye is ever upon us.

What then is our duty to God for all his goodness towards us? Is it not that we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God: that we glorify him here below, that we may dwell with him hereafter in heaven. And what is required of us by God? Simply, that we believe on his Son Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and that we rely implicitly on him for a whole salvation as lost, guilty, depraved, and helpless creatures. And have we done so? Let us now come to the test, and ask ourselves, as in

Flee from the Behold the God of

the presence of God, “Have I given myself wholly unto God?" Methinks some will say, I have often resolved to do so, but I have as often delayed; others, I have long ere this striven to walk in the ways of God, but the cares of the world have choked the good seed, and I have turned back to the world again; while others will say, Ah! as for me, I am not holy enough, I cannot give myself to God, I am so vile he will not notice me. But what, my friends, are all these excuses but the artful insinuations of Satan to keep you still longer from God. Arise, get thee hence, my young friends, "call upon thy God." tempter lest ye be overtaken in his snares. heaven invites you to draw near, and draw water from the wells of salvation." He does not say you are so vile and guilty that he cannot receive you, if you desire to come to him; and why then should you frame excuses and urge such things as these as a plea for keeping from God. Is He not able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto him? O delay no longer; but now while his hand is extended towards you-now, while He waits to be gracious, come and fall down before him, and yield yourselves up unto him a living sacrifice, which is your reasonable service.

"Whosoever will let him come

But some perhaps may say, It is in vain for me to make resolutions for I never keep them. It may have been so, but try once more. Let a friend persuade you to retire to your chamber, and there bowing before the throne of God in secret, make your resolution, not in your own strength, but by calling upon God in earnest prayer for the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit to assist you, that you may henceforth be "steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the good work of the Lord."

Thus shall you be happy and honorable while on earth, be a blessing to those around you, and when you part with earth and time it will be to gain heaven, to dwell for ever in the presence of the Lamb; and the testimony borne to you at death will be "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." T. F. P.