You will perceive from my communications thus far, that there is work enough to do; that there is some struggling for the prize; that the kingdom of heaven is to be taken by violence; that you are not to sit down and idly imagine that now you have joined the church, there remaineth no more for you to do; that you are to be carried along, as it were, by a sort of invisible influence to heaven, without any extraordinary exertions of your own. Determine, that if others act on the principles of the spiritual sluggard, you will leave them, and march forward towards the elevation of Christian character, which the Bible plainly marks out as your duty and your privilege. Onward, is the daily watchword of the faithful soldier of the cross. He sleeps not at his post. He hears the first note of alarm, and prepares for the conflict. He loves his king, and obedience is a pleasure, rather than a duty. Many a bright example still shines in your view. A Brainerd, a Martyn, a Graham, and a Newell, have left the light of their glorious career still lingering on earth. Plant your feet in their tracks, and if you cannot equal, at least make a near approximation to them. Dread the thought of being any thing less than they were; and re

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member that it is possible even to surpass them.

O may you aim high, in contending for the prize of your high calling! May you go from strength to strength, from victory to victory, from one attainment to another, until you shall stand, a glorious example on earth; until you shall inherit the highest rewards of the blessed in heaven!

16*

LETTER XXIX.

THE duties which I have been urging upon you, as important in forming an elevated standard of piety, are those especially which relate to God, and your own soul. Social obligations, and the relative duties of life, I have not considered. They are not first in importance. Besides, if you give heed to the advice which I have presented in these sheets; if you persevere in the path which I have marked out; if you give the diligence in prayer, in selfexamination, and the study of the Bible, which I have urged; you will, most certainly, not be a delinquent, in the various social and domestic duties of life.

The course recommended, if faithfully pursued, will have a controlling influence upon your intercourse with others. It will put every thing in its proper place, and give every duty its legitimate prominency and attention. It will make you the obedient child, the belovea sister, the diligent scholar, and the amiable and intelligent companion. It will render you

in every respect, lovely and interesting. It is under this impression, that I have given to this subject a protracted consideration, and that I have said so little about your general deportment. I have endeavoured first to erect the solid column; the Corinthian capital can be easily superadded.

I might have added something more, on the importance of Christian biography, as a means of stimulating the young Christian; but I take it for granted, that you are already familiar with most of the popular works of that kind, which are now so much read, and so justly admired. The memoirs of Brainerd, Pierce, Martyn, and Scott; the lives of Mrs. Graham, Ramsay, Newell, and Huntington, cannot be read too often, nor copied too closely. You will find it highly useful, in your daily retirement, to hold converse with some of these exalted saints.

It will furnish a humbling view of your own comparative sluggishness; and arouse you to emulate their noble self-denial and devotion. Next to your Bible, may they be your most intimate and beloved compa nions.

But ah. how small a number of such cha

racters have ever lived to grace this fallen world! "Like angel visiters, they have been few and far between." They have shot athwart our world, to evidence to scoffers and infidels, the genuine beauty of Christianity, and to exhibit for the imitation of their brethren, that high and noble character to which human nature, degraded as it is, can, by the spirit and grace of God, be elevated. When I read of their self-denial; their entire consecration of ali to the service of Christ; their agonizing prayers, which were offered less for themselves than for the perishing souls around them; their enlarged benevolence, which was satisfied with nothing short of blessing a world; when I consider their patience in suffering; their cheerfulness under repeated and severe afflictions; their composure and triumph in death; I view them as possessing a character, which nought but a superhuman power can confer; far, very far, transcending the brightest models of Grecian or of Roman virtue. They scarcely seem to belong to our species; and, if fancy were permitted to decide, we should almost say, that in them the glory and brightness of some seraph was displayed.