upon which the morning and evening sacri fice ascended to heaven; so that I had line up. on line, and precept upon precept. But I, fool that I was, hardened myself in iniquity, till the harvest was past, and the summer was ended. My day of probation closed Fear, desolation and destruction came upon me, as a whirlwind. And now I must cry in accents of doleful despair, "How have I hated instruc tion, and my heart despised reproof."

Dreadful as this representation is, my young friend, it is realized, fully and awfully realized, by many wretched beings in the lake of fire; and the number will probably be increased. O make not one of the company. You are fa vored with many advantages for the acquirement of true piety. But, should you misimprove or neglect them, they will aggravate your condemnation, and enhance the misery of hell. In this case you would envy the poor untutored Hottentot, who had spent his days in wandering over burning sands, whose eyes had never seen a Bible nor a Christian, whose ears had never been saluted with a Savior's name. My heart gladdens at the thought of your privileges; but when I think of the depravity of nature, and the deceitfulness of sin, I rejoice with trembling.

But, my friend, why will you not be a Christian? Why will you not give joy to your parents, to your pious friends, to the holy spirits in heaven, by your early devotion of heart, and soul, and life, and all, to your glorious Creator?

Peculiarly blest are those, who turn to God in the morning of life, and consecrate to the services of religion the vigor of their affec

tions, powers and faculties. Commencing in the bloom of youth a journey to yon celestial world, being planted early in the courts of their God, they shall flourish in usefulness and felicity, exhibit eminent examples of the native excellence of piety, reflect honor on their divine Savior, and hereafter shine in the kingdom of God with immortal splendor. By embracing religion and declaring themselves pilgrims and strangers here, when earth appears in its most alluring attire, and presents its most powerfully attractive temptations, their piety is not only almost unquestionable, but singularly lovely. They will rejoice that they gave to God the dew of their youth, and forever adore that grace, which led them to adopt a course so wise, so happy, so honorable to God, so fraught with heaven. And will you not, my dear friend, select this course for yours? Will you not early repent of your sins, sek pardoning mercy, and secure an interest in the merits of the Savior? Will you not ensure a seat in the regions of a glorious immortality, where the righteous shall reign in everlasting light, when the earth shall be destroyed, and all the wicked shall be turned into hell?

You are now destitute of all good, inclined to evil, and without new feelings you can never see God in peace. As you now are, you are totally unfit for heaven; you are lingering about the entrance of eternal perdition; and nothing but the mere mercy of God, that mercy which you forfeit every moment, continues you in this land of hope. Should God in awful vengeance cut you off now, say, my dear

Would And will

young friend, where would you be? you not be lost and ruined forever? you, can you, rest in this hazardous situation? Shall I not urge you to flee from the threatening danger to the refuge, which the gospel exhibits? Come then to Jesus Christ. Boy to his sceptre; welcome him to your heart; and you will be happy forever. You will find him all that you can wish-a Redeemer mighty to save a Physician able to make you whole-a Sun to enlighten and guide a Shield to guard and defend-a Friend infinitely powerful and compassionate a glorious Resting place through all the changes of time, through all the ages of eternity.

if

Shall he not be yours? I intreat you, you have any regard for your future wellbeing, if you wish to be holy and blessed forever, resign yourself cordially into his dear faithful bands, and choose him for your por tion, your God, and your all. Defer not another moment, lest that moment should place you beyond the reach of mercy, beyond the solace of hope. Death cannot be far distant, Many, younger than you, have taken their flight to the bar of God. In some unexpec

ted instant, you may fall before the universal conqueror, and go to receive your doom for eternity. You know you must die, and let me affectionately tell you, that you may die soon. O then I intreat you to prepare with out delay. You will never, never repent of loving and serving God, nor of doing it too early. Religion is the only thing you will want on the agonizing pillow of death, and if it is needful then, is it not important, that you

should possess it now; since this night your soul may be required of you. God is waiting to be gracious; the Savior's arms are open to receive you; but if you continue to rebel, He that sits upon the throne may swear in his wrath you shall never see his rest.

What more shall I say? What more can I say? O that I could tell you of that eternity, to which you are hastening. O that I could lead you to think of those ages on ages, which shall never end; which you, and I, and all rational beings, must spend in heaven or hell. This eternity we must soon enter; and become acquainted with joy or sorrow greater than we can now conceive. My beloved friend, think of these things. Attend to the things that make for your peace, before they are forever hidden from your eyes. Listen to the voice of conscience, to the warnings and invitations you daily receive, to Him who speaks from above in accents of love, "Give me thy heart."

I commend you to the pious instructions of your parents and friends. I commend you to the counsel, benediction and keeping of your father's God. May the Lord renovate and sanctify your heart, guide you in life, comfort you in death, and bless you with his love through eternity.

Remember me with affection to your honored parents, with a wish for the best of Heav en's blessing to rest upon their souls and the souls of their children. Love dear Betsy, and listen to her advice.

*22

F.

Letter to Mrs. E. C. of Wenham,

My dear Mrs. C.

Beverly, Sept. 2, 1814.

You requested me to write, and my own inclination urges me to comply with your request. In treating on the great truths of the gospel, truths of more importance to your soul and mine than language can express, I shall write with plainness; and you cannot surely wish me to do otherwise.

In reply to my question, whether you had a hope, I think you observed, that you some, times feared you had no evidence. It remains then to inquire, what are the evidences of a well grounded hope, that hope which none but a Christian can possess. I apprehend these evidences are, love, supreme love to the glorious character of God, as exhibited in his word and works, a governing regard to his glory, a conformity of heart to his moral image, a cordial delight in his holy law, a constant and vigorous endeavor to keep all his com. mandments, a hatred to sin in all its various forms and actings, a most endearing affection and union to Jesus Christ, and entire reliance on his merits. I might enumerate many more; but these are sufficient to enable you to decide, whether your hope be true or false. Permit me to say, that no person in a state of nature, ever possessed one of these evidences, and every Christian possesses all, and other concomitant on s.

Great, my friend, is that change of heart, necessary to an entrance into the kindgom of heaven. It is a radical change of the views, feelings and dispositions of the soul, effected