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tian Sybarite? Dare you murmur because the life of faith is not an eastern romance? Do you, in sober truth, desire to have your year all spring-your day all noon? So did not He "who pleased not himself;" so did not he who "had learned in whatsoever state he was therewith to be content,"-who knew how to suffer need, and, far harder task, knew also "how to abound." My dearest

think of these things; and instead of praying for resignation under troubles which do not exist, pray to have your heart filled with joy and thankfulness for the blessings which are showered upon you. If, in the mistaken spirit of an apostle, you shrink from contact with every thing that fastidiousness may call "common or unclean," where is the benevolence which bears to see, nay, which desires to see, the misery which has no recommendation beyond its reality? If, in occasional intercourse with those who are ungraced with the charms of mind and manner, you manifest cold, impatient civility, and all but cherish dislike and disdain, where is the charity which "seeketh not her

own, and endureth all things?" If, avowedly, and on system, you esteem none but the gifted, the distinguished, and the amusing, where is the spirit of Him whose gentlest words were ever to the weakest-who gave an everlasting memorial to one who had done "what she could?" If, just entered on life and your Christian career together, you already long for some bower of ease, and sigh for two heavens instead of one, where is the faith which professes to have here no continuing city-which proclaims, that it is enough for the servant to be as his master, and the disciple as his lord? Ah, my love! we all get wrong the moment we forget that this is not our rest. Midnight is not a more effectual shroud for the landscape, than unbelief for divine. things, when it interposes between them and our souls. Why else are we more anxious for seasons of enjoyment than for opportunities of usefulness? Why else do we call God our satisfying portion, yet grieve and murmur unless he satisfy us with a portion beside? Why else do we pronounce his fa

vour to be life, and prove too often in action that we value every thing in life more than his favour?

"Tis, by comparison, an easy task

Earth to despise; but to converse with Heaven-
This is not easy."—

Yet let us seek that spirituality of mind which renders it possible-which, at once satisfied and sober minded, is content that vanity should be inscribed on the world's best and brightest, because it has respect to "the recompence of reward "the undefiled and unfading inheritance of God. I will now, my dear offer three suggestions

for your assistance: I think you may find them beneficial. They have a threefold reference-religious, intellectual, and moral. Invigorate your soul, then, by frequent contemplations of the life of Christ, who, when

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the world was all before him where to choose," selected a path that led right through the vale of humiliation; had the cross ever before him as the termination of the vista, the painful close of a toilsome pil

grimage. This, for your spiritual employment. Next, employ your understanding upon works of thought: read moral philosophy as handled by sound authors; the critical discussions, not of meagre minds on meagre subjects, but of men of genius on works of genius. This, for your mental remedy : intel lectual abstractions afford the best counterpoise to a dreaming fancy. Lastly, occupy a stated, and as large a portion of your time as you can, in acting for others, and especially for those who "have no helper." Study benevolence, in reference to your equals as well as inferiors; in its passive form of forbearance, as well as its active guise of charity. Avoid solitude. Arouse from reveries. Command your attention to passing objects, and interest will by degrees follow. Oblige yourself to converse. Oblige yourself to listen to conversation. Withal, seek God's blessing on all your endeavours, and, ere long, the first sentence of this letter will cease to apply to my dearest

LETTER XII.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

I HAVE not been so long a SOjourner in the household of which you are members, without becoming tenderly interested in the welfare of each. As, too, the days approach when our pleasant intercourse must be broken up, and to most of you I must become but a name and a remembrance-dear girls, suffer me to leave one general record of my regard.

This is my birthday; and feeling on the one hand how frail I am, and on the other how short my remaining life may be, can I be otherwise than serious? Beholding your

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