spirit in heaven, after having dwelt with her as an angel in the fles on earth? O, who that has tasted the sweet and holy influence which religion imparts to the intercourse of a holy couple, their mingled love and piety, would willingly forego this sacred and solemn delight?

We are not however to suppose, that religion is the only thing to be thought of as a suitable pre-requisite for the formation of this union between Christians. There must be a general suitableness in age, rank, education, temper, and taste. It would be an extravagant enthusiasm to imagine that religion, because it is the first thing, is every thing, and that any one who presents himself should be accepted, provided he can make good his pretensions to the character of a Christian Christianity does not level distinctions, and annihilate dissimilarities; does not convert age into youth, deformity into beauty, ignorance into knowledge, nor absolute clownishness into elegance; nor does it offer an amalgamation to make these things blend in a harmonious and agreeable compound. Religion is offended by all unseemly things, as well as all unholy ones. Under the law, an ox and an ass were not to be yoked together in ploughing; nor linen and woollen to be woven into the same texture for garments. And, under the gospel, we are to do nothing unlovely or of bad report, in the way of incongruous marriage mixtures: they are an offence against the dignity, if not a violation of the sanctity, of the institute of matrimony.

Much less is it allowable to professors to treat the preliminary course with fickleness, or levity. The very steps to the altar of marriage are sacred, and no one should act the flirt, the coquette, or the traitor, there. A darker stain, short of gross and palpable immorality, can scarcely rest upon the

character of a professor than faithlessness to his engagements as a lover. To desert a female, after he has engaged her affections, is a hateful compound of many vices in one; it is a cruelty which has sent many a lovely girl to her grave or a madhouse; and, where it has not gone so far as this, has withered that peace, which he once cherished with his smiles: it is a treachery of the basest kind; a cold, heartless, and often remorseless baseness of mind which should never once be named amongst saints. Nor ought only this extreme of the act to be avoided, but all approaches to it also; all those attentions which, though unaccompanied by direct proposals, indicate a preference, and may be fairly construed into an intention, should be carefully abstained from, if nothing ulterior be contemplated. It is wrong for any one to inveigle the affections of an. other, and then to defend himself after he has retired, by the excuse, that he never made any proposals, nor even a declaration of attachment. It may be asked, "How are we to know the suitableness of a person for such a union with us, without being with them, and paying attentions which cannot be mistaken; and if we are not at liberty to retire after we have once committed ourselves, how perilous a thing is marriage?" To this I reply, hold your heart in abeyance, till suitable inquiry, and silent, unnoticed observation have been made. All trifling with the affection of another, is most dishonourable in every one, and especially in a Christian: and yet this is too often done, and the credit of the religious profession has been materially injured by it. any thing of importance, any thing likely to affect the future happiness of the parties, should come out during the progress of the acquaintance, which was, in the commencement of it, concealed by either of

them, such as liability to serious bodily or mental disease, or deranged worldly circumstances, or insincerity of religious profession, in that case no blame can attach to the one that retires. Nor is any censure merited in those cases where the connection is dissolved by mutual consent. Much reproach has been brought upon some young professors by rash, precipitate, offers to unsuitable persons, from whom it has become, at length, almost absolutely necessary they should withdraw. Nor can some be cleared from the reproach of imprudently marrying before they had a rational prospect of supporting a family. Expenses increased faster than they were able to meet them. Debts were contracted, means resorted to for liquidating them, forbidden by every principle of honour, and disgrace soon followed. It pains me to think of the instances which I have witnessed of young people, once bidding fair to be respectable and respected, not only in the world but in the church also, ruined as to their prospects and reputation, by an imprudent marriage. It is, then, an absolute sin, for any one to marry without the rational prospect of supporting a family.

It is also a great discredit to young professors, especially while living at home, to form any acquaintance, and carry it on without the knowledge, and especially against the wishes of their parents. I admit there are exceptions to this general rule, but they rarely occur. Disobedience to parental authority in this matter, where the children are under age, and in most cases where they are beyond it, is a deep blot upon a Christian profession. The social and domestic virtues should always shine forth with peculiar lustre in the character of a Christian.

A union for life is so serious a matter, so deeply involving not only our own and our companion's

comfort, but our piety also; so powerfully affecting, perhaps, the welfare for both worlds of a family; so greatly influencing the church of Christ, and the cause of religion in the world-that it cannot be treated with too much solemnity, or approached, even in its preliminary steps, with too much caution. Nor is there any thing next to our own salvation, which should be made the subject of so much earnest prayer to God, for direction and guidance.

CHAPTER XIV,

THE PROFESSOR IN PROSPERITY.

"I know how to abound."-Phil. iv. 12. The Apostle claims for himself in these words, one of the most rare and difficult attainments ever made in this world of imperfection and probation; I mean the right use of prosperity. How few are his imitators! Prosperity is a comparative term, and signifies an improved or an improving state of our temporal affairs; in its most emphatic sense it imports a cansiderable improvement, a great elevation in our affairs, or a rapid accumulation of wealth: some employ the term as denoting any advancement, whether it be the humbler or more exalted stations of life. A workman or servant is in prosperity whose wages are doubled; a female is in prosperity who is raised by marriage, from a lower to a higher grade of society; the small tradesman is in pros perity who is delivered from the difficulties he once experienced, and is enabled to provide, though it be only a competency, for his family. Still it is usually expressive of a somewhat higher state of things than this, and as indicating a thriving trade, or the pos session of considerable property.

A professor is to let his light shine before men. This of course extends to every situation in which he is placed. It is to be an ever shining light; a radiance that is every where to attend him; it must