ifested your disapprobation of their amusements by refusing to partake of them ?”

Emily felt afraid of conceding too much, and yet she thought Clara's question so unexceptionable, that she could not avoid answering in the affirmative; for she had not yet experience enough to know that the light and trifling conversation of irreligious people, was at least, equally seductive, and quite as adverse to a calm and holy frame of mind, as their frivolous diversions.

"Well then," continued Clara, "as you own there is no sin in meeting and conversing with the people of the world, I need not fear a refusal when I ask you to make one of a select and friendly party next Friday. I only intend to invite eight

or ten."

Emily did not refuse; and Clara, having gained this point, no longer blamed her for unnecessary strictness, but gradually changed the subject.

They went to bed early, but as Clara preferred sleeping with Emily, she was in some measure prevented from fulfilling the usual duties of the evening. Since her return from Elmwood, she had, in compliance with Mr. Leslie's advice, devoted a short time after retiring to her chamber to reading a portion of the New Testament, and to self-examination; after which she was accustomed to offer up "the sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving," and this practice she had found very beneficial to her spiritual welfare. But as Clara was

DITE

present, she now, for the first time, omitted ther two former duties, and endeavoured to satisfy herma conscience by the discharge of the latter one,1 though that monitor warned her against being "ashamed of Jesus." Alas! never since she had! given religion a place in her thoughts, did Emily1 need to examine herself more strictly than on this m night! The conversation of Clara had made an impression on her mind, though as yet it was al-ins most an imperceptible one; and her dangerous {+ flattery, however unintentional, had awakened evil passions which had for some time lain dormant in Emily's heart. Vanity, which had once been a besetting sin, was again aroused, and whispered to her that she was indeed beautiful and accomplished,.. as Clara had told her; and that the sacrifice of admiration, and of the smiles of the world, which she had made to religion, was not so trifling as she had persuaded herself. It is true, she checked these thoughts, and silently prayed to be preser ved from them, but they returned again and again, gradually becoming more pleasing to her, until sleep closed her eyes, and these vain and trifling ideas were exchanged for the wandering and unreal, visions of the night.

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When she arose in the morning, the study of the Scriptures was again omitted, and instead of the serious reflections to which her mind had been accustomed while dressing, she knelt down to pray with her thoughts full of the useless and unprofit

able conversation in which she had been engaged since her waking. She perceived the change, and resolved to return to her chamber when Clara was gone, that she might perform those duties which the latter had interrupted; thus endeavouring to reconcile herself to the sin she knew she was committing. Greater, indeed, than she was aware of, must have been the change which a few hours of trifling conversation had effected, since she could think of making amends for her fault by her after conduct, not considering that the sin lay less in the omission of a customary duty, which she had imposed upon herself, than in the evidence which it afforded of her being already, in some measure, "ashamed of the gospel of Christ."

Clara had an engagement that evening with another of her friends, and was therefore compelled to decline Emily's invitation to remain with her the whole of the day. She returned home in the course of the morning, and Emily then "entered into her closet," and spent some time in reading the Bible, and examining her own heart, after which she prayed to her "Father which seeth in secret," for his pardoning mercy, well knowing how much she stood in need of it. She felt she had given way to her own foolish and vain thoughts, and though the sin was concealed from all but the God who "looketh on the heart"-yet that she had acted inconsistently with her profession of religion, by suffering herself to feel so much in

terested in Clara's conversation, while it related wholly to the things of this world, and by yielding to the trifling ideas which' that conversation suggested. She confessed her sinfulness before God, and implored his forgiveness for Christ's sake, but confession and prayer did not bring the peace which they had formerly imparted to her, for her heart was less in her petitions than it had been in the time when religion was all to her, and earth and its concerns but "as dust in the balance." It was the same with her other pursuits; she was compelled to acknowledge that she was not so much interested in them as she had hitherto been, and the perusal of the most pious and delightful authors gave her but little pleasure, when compared with that which she had been accustomed to feel. Her eye glanced almost with carelessness, over the pages which but yesterday she had found so interesting; and dissatisfied with herself, suspecting her own heart, yet unwilling more closely to examine it, she put aside her books,and seated herself at the piano, trusting that music, of which she was passionately fond, would dissipate the listlessness and discontent which were stealing over her.

No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

"OH! that I were as in months past!" was Emily's exclamation, a few weeks after the foregoing cir cumstances occurred, and well indeed, might she take the words of Job upon her lips! Gradually, but surely, had she fallen; and now, though but a few months had elapsed since she had so earnestly enquired, "What must I do to be saved ?" she was one of that unhappy number to whom it may so well be said, in the solemn language of the Spirit of the living God, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."

In yielding to the solicitations of Clara Wilford,