I 1811. Sept. 17. How sweet is this text; "Be careful for nothing but in every thing, by prayer and supplications let your requests be made known unto God." When the difficulties of my future life depress me, how often am I insensibly relieved, and comforted by this, and similar invitations. How precious, how exceedingly valuable is the word of God! Sept. 20. Life like an empty vapor flies.Soon will my mortal state be ended.-The objects which now occupy so large a portion of my thoughts, will shortly lose their importance, and vanish as though I saw them not. Vanity is stamped on every earthly enjoyment. But pleasure without the least alloy will be found in heaven. To a Friend. Haverhill, Sept. 1811. "FORGIVE, my dear M. the liberty I take in addressing you in this manner. From my first acquaintance with you, I have felt deeply interested for your happiness. Nothing but an affectionate regard for you would induce me to write to you on a subject, which the world will undoubtedly ridicule, but which engages the attention and constitutes the felicity of the holy inhabitants of heaven. This subject is the religion of the gospel-a subject which is infinitely interesting to us both. You have of late witnessed a scene, trying indeed, and solemn as eternity. You have watched You fondly groans of your beloved sister. hope that she was interested in the covenant of redemption, and is now perfectly happy in the enjoyment of her God in heaven. When standing by the dying bed of this dear sister, say, my friend, did you not ardently wish for piety similar to hers, for that faith, which could triumph over the horrors of a dying hour? Was the hope then cherished that you should meet her in yonder world, when the trials of this short life are over? and did this hope support your sinking spirits in the trying hour of separation? She has gone for ever but we are still prisoners of hope. Could we now draw back the covering of the tomb, and listen to her language, how earnestly would she beseech us to become reconciled to GOD, and devote our lives wholly to his service. My dear M. these are not idle dreams. If we reflect for a moment, we feel conscious that there is an immortal principle within, which will exist when time and nature dies. This princi ple is corrupted by sin, and without the sanctifying grace of God, we should be unhappy even though admitted to Heaven. Do but examine the feelings of your heart one hour, and you cannot for a moment doubt the truth of this assertion. How important then that we should have this work of grace begun in our hearts before it is too late. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Tomorrow our probation may be closed, and we may be irrecoverably lost. M. my heart is full. What inducements can I offer you to reccive Jesus into your heart, and willingle sacrifice your all for him? O think of the worth of the soul, the price made to redeem it, the love of Immanuel, your obligations to live to him, the joys prepared for the righteous;and Oh, think of the torments in reserve for the finally impenitent and be induced to flee from the wrath to come. If nothing in Providence prevents, before the return of another Autumn, Harriet will be a stranger in a strange land. I go, my friend, where heathens dwell, far from the companions of my playful years, far from the dear land of my nativity. My contemplated residence will be-not among the refined and cultivated, but among females degraded and uncivilized, who have never heard of the religion of Jesus. How would it gladden my sad heart, in the trying hour of my departure, could I but leave a dear circle of females of my own age, engaged for GoD, and eminent for their usefulness in Haverhill. Weil; I hope to find a circle of Hindoo sisters in India, interested in that religion which many of my companions reject, though blest with innumer able privileges. But my friend M. will not treat with indifference this religion. O no: I will cherish the fond hope, that she will renounce the world, become a follower of Immanuel, and be unwearied in her exertions to spread the triumphs of the cross through the world. I must leave you my dear M. with GOD. May you become a living witness for him. When our journey through this barren wilderness is ended, may we meet in heaven. HARRIET. 1811. Oct. 10. I have this day entered upon my nineteenth year. O how great the goodness of God which has followed me, through the last twelve months! And shall I be wholly des titute of gratitude? O no; let me this year, if my life should be spared, become a living witness for the truth, as it is in Jesus. How great a change has the last year made in my views and prospects for life! Another year will probably affect, not merely my prospects, but my situation. Should my expectations be realized, my dwelling will be far from the dear land of my nativity; and from beloved friends, whose society rendered the morning of my life cheer ful and serene. In distant India-every earthly prospect will be dreary. "But even there, content can spread a charm, "Redress the clime, and all its rage disarm." Extracts of a Letter to Mr. Newell. Haverhill, Oct. 10, 1311. "THIS is the eve of my birth-day. Pensive and alone, I have this evening given full scope to recollection of the past, and anticipation of the future. The retrospect of departed years affords but little solid satisfaction. How has my life been replete with vanity, and with sorrows occasioned by frequent depar. tures from God! But still the recollection of some seasons, ever worthy of grateful remembrance, excites in me sensations of unuttera joy in the God of my salvation. I could willingly then renounce the world, for it had lost its power to charm. How sweet was the idea of suffering for Jesus. How sweet to take a decided part in his cause. Were it not for the continual mercy of Jehovah, I should sink under the remembrance of my many backslidings, since that hour. O for a heart to repair to that Fountain, where sinners, vile and guilty, can be washed and cleansed.". 1811. Oct. 13. How important it is, that I should be in a peculiar manner devoted to God, and dead to the world. I shall need a large sup ply of the graces of the gospel, and of the consolations of religion, to support me amid the numberless trials of a missionary life. When dangers stand thick around, and the world is utterly incapable of affording me the least solid comfort-what will sustain me, but entire confidence in God, as my shield, my only sure defence? my Father, let a sense of thy love to mysoul,influence me to yield implicit obedience to thy commands; and while this love is constraining me to walk in the path which thou hast selected for me, may thy grace be sufficient for me-as my day is, so may my strength be. Oct. 20. "Soon I hope-I feel, and am assured, "That I shall lay my head-my weary, aching head, "On its last rest; and on my lowly bed, "The grass green sod will flourish sweetly." The perusal of the Life, Letters, and Poems of Henry Kirke White, has been productive of |