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to be mentioned or even thought of in comparison of that shock

Your brother and sincere friend.

A Letter to a new married couple, from a Brother.

DEAR BROTHER & SISTER,

ness and forbearance of God!— he is infinitely gracious to the evil and unthankful, or long be-ing ingratitude, which you will fore now we should have been be guilty of to the kind bestower plunged in the depths of despair. of all good, unless you immeBut what kind of improve- diately chuse him for your God ment do you intend to make of and portion. the late alarming dispensation of Providence towards you? I see not on what pretence you can receive it as any other than the voice of God, loudly proclaiming to you the vanity of the world, and warning you to make haste in securing that better part which death itself cannot take from you. When groaning under the violence of a discase, which threatened your dissolution, did you not resolve, that, if spared, you would never be overtaken again by sickness unprepared for death? Whatever your thoughts might be, it will certainly be folly and even madness not to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Very soon, you must be, not on a sick bed, but in the silent grave.

In view of these reflections, dare you indulge the thought of living a single day in a careless neglect of your soul?

But

should you do it for a number of years, and then on a sick bed, should be alarmed with the apprehensions of appearing before your judge, and with a view of your aggravated guilt, could you forgive yourself or expect forgiveness from your abused Sovereign, for having neglected your present opportunities, and disregarded the late admonition of Providence? What your views or resolutions are at this time, I know not, God knoweth. Not to regard the advice of an affectionate brother will be ungrateful; but this is unworthy

HE following is a testimony

TH

of my affectionate concern for your welfare and happiness. United in a most important relation, one to another, you will probably be partners of each other's joys and sorrows, till the bonds, by which you are connected, shall be broken by the hand of death. The mutual happiness of the sexes is one important end, designed in the marriage institution; nor will it ordinarily fail of being answered, unless by some criminal fault in the parties united. To them, it is, therefore, exceedingly important, that neither of them should do any thing to plant, or nourish the seeds of misery.Every wise precaution should be used to prevent the beginning of evil. Multitudes, surrounded by many circumstances favorable to a life of happines, are miserable in a great measure, through their own fault.— Did those who enter the marriage relation begin and persevere, as they ought, in a firm resolution to promote eath other's happiness, in every way consistent with a good conscience, the bitter plant of domestic misery would be nipped in the bud-it would not spring up and flourish

The avenues to domestic wretchedness are exceedingly numerous. An unguarded expression, where no evil was intended, or even thought of, has, sometimes, given rise to a tide of miseries sufficient to deluge whole families in irretrievable ruin. In regard to this matter, it is highly important, therefore, to shun the appearance of evil. If possible, nothing should ever be done which | will express the least want of that solid affection which the parties have an absolute right to expect one from another. A small degree of this may create the most uncomfortable feelings and lead on to a train of evils which will not end even in the grave, but last, in their deplorable consequences, through an immortal existance. Those, there fore, who think they stand safely in regard to this matter, will do well to take heed, lest they fall.

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as it now does, and bring forth | take each other by the hand, and fruit an hundred fold. apparently joyful, travel all their days, alas! in the road to endless pain. Do you believe this?Doubtless you do. And is not madness in their hearts while they live? You answer, "Yes certainly it is." Can you then be guilty of imitating their example? I am sorry to think of believing it. In many instances, you are very sensible, the distance between a marriage bed and a dying bed is small indeed. The natural inference is, how important to be immediately and always ready! How great is the hazard of delay in a matter so deeply interesting! How insupportable must be the bitterness of parting, should one of you be called away, without leaving the other a rational ground of hope!Those who mourn without hope are unhappy mourners indeed. But for this as well as all other evils there is a remedy. Were it applied, death would not be the terrible and unwelcome messenger, which he now is, either to the living or dying. Nor is the application difficult or ungrateful, if there be only a willing mind. What God requires is a most reasonable service. It would be acting the part of wisdom to serve him, and of extreme folly to do otherwise, were no punishment prepared for the wicked. Wisdom's ways are pleasant in themselves, and not merely because they furnish an escape from future pain. And can you ex

But there is a more deeply interesting subject, which must not be passed over in silent neglect. When I look over into eternity, your present happiness, considered by itself, is stripped of its importance. The life we here live in the flesh, is of very little value, for any thing, but to prepare for another state. Whatever may be your thoughts of the matter, you are swiftly hastening to a world of unseen realities. A preparation for your departure therefore, ought to be your first and chief object of at-pect a season more convenient tention. While this is neglect- than the present for beginning ed, however pleasing your situa- to prosecute the great business tion in this life, you still can have of life? Any better opportu no rational prospect of substan-nity for becoming followers of tial felicity. It is sought by Christ in good earnest? If you multitudes, with eagerness, who refuse when he calls, you may VOL. V. No. 5.

Y

justly fear lest he should laugh | But before I proceed to advise

at your calamity, and disregard your cry, when trouble cometh. Had I therefore but one request to make to you, whether in perfect health, or sinking in the embraces of death, it should be this, that you immediately make your peace with God and engage in his service. The bare thought of being at enmity against the author of our existence and of all the good we expect or enjoy, is shocking indeed. Now is the time to be reconciled-to-morrow may be forever too late. If the price in your hands to get wisdom be finally misimproved, as doubtless it will by very many, what a cloud of witnesses will rise against you, on the day of decisive trial?

What you have now been reading will probably then come into remembrance, and, if misimproved, will sharpen the the stings of a self-condemning conscience. But that the God of grace may give you the wisdom, which is from above, and enable you to live usefully and die peaceably is the earnest prayer of yours sincerely.

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you, I must say something relative to myself. I consider myself as having done with mortal things, and all to come is vast, boundless and endless eternity. For several years past my mind has been fixed on death and judgment. They are now brought near and in some measure realized. But to give you the feelings I have on these awful subjects is altogether beyond the power of language.— When millions of years multiplied by millions have elapsed I shall be no nearer the end of my existence than I am now. What then must be my condition if I am cast out of the favorable presence of God?

Previous to the death of your eldest sister, I thought I had, in a good measure, discharged my duty to my children with regard to their spiritual concerns. But alas! I then found my great mistake, and resolved that I would ever after be more careful to bring up the remainder of my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But the cares of the world, my incessant hurry in my profession, and my love of literature (when I had a moment's leisure) prevented putting my resolution in practice as I ought to have done. And now with heartfelt anxiety and regret, I have to lament my great negligence.

My children are as dear to me as my life. What then must be my feelings with respect to their future happiness? And what can I say upon the subject? I can only say, remember now your creator in the days of your youth. First seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, and other

We must all very soon ap

things shall be added to you. | is cut down. He fleeth also as Strive to enter in at the straight a shadow and continueth not. gate; for straight is the gate and narrow the way which lead-pear before the awful tribunal of eth unto life, and few there be Christ. And what if myself who find it. Give all possible with some of you should be cast diligence to make your calling into utter darkness; and you and election sure. Not that you should say, if my father had can merit your own salvation. done his duty towards me I All that you can do is to prosshould not have come into this trate yourselves before the Great place of torment? Oh, dreadSupreme, and beseech him to ful! inexpressibly dreadful tho't! have mercy on you. I can add no more, only my dying prayer for mercy and forgiveness; and that the merits of the great Redeemer may prevent our everlasting destruction and bring us all at the great day to meet together in the New Jerusalem?

Most of you have families, and the others may hereafter have them. Let me, therefore, exhort you to constant family prayer for the benefit of yourselves and children; and to constant secret prayer for the salvation of your own souls. What would it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? If one of your children should live to adult years and then die; and you had never prayed with it nor for it, the reflections which would wound and sting your heart, would be next to the worm that never dies and the fire which is never quenched. Each of you carry in your bosom an immortal part, destined to endless existence, and of more worth than ten thousand such worlds as this. Oh! then be admonished to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold on eternal life.

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When I have passed through the dark valley of the shadow of death, and am covered with the clods of the valley, and my body above hints may be of great is enrapt in cold marble, the use to each of you.

The advice given me by my mother on her death bed, tho' much neglected in middle life, has of latter years been of very great use to me. My mother, in some of her last moments, said to me, tho' you are so near my heart, yet, at the last day, if you should be cast off, I shall doubtless glorify the sentence of God in your perdition; because the judge of all the earth will do right.

Sabbath Evening, July
24th, 1804.

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From the Christian Observer. Extracts from the CommonPlace Book of a Country Clergyman.

ON RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS."

Factions only were required,

If by Home, me

amiable and perfect a scheme of virtue presented to the world? Surely, a virtuous man would wish such a religion to be true, though he could not think it so! He would see it to be of so much importance to the peace and good order of society, and to the welfare of all mankind individually, that he would rejoice if other men believed it, though he could not. He would do nothing to impede its reception, but rather would promote its influence to the utmost of his power. Nay more, he would practise it himself, in spite of his unbelief. If a good rule be given us, that will promote our own happiness and that of others, we ought to embrace and follow it, whoever be the author, and whatever its authority. Our own interest is obligation e

of religion would be compara-
tively easy. Men may pro-
nounce prayers, wear sackcloth,
keep fasts, give alms, &c. These
external acts are in their power,
and however irksome in them-
selves, many would be found to
observe them as the price of
their salvation. But the affec-
tions of the heart are out of our
own power-we cannot at plea-
sure change the objects of our
love and aversion. We may per-
form religious actions as a task,
but we cannot make ourselves
delight in them as a privilege.-
And yet nothing short of this is
true religion. Religion de-
mands the affections-" Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God."-
"My son, give me thy heart."
Here then appears the necessity
of divine grace, and the efficacy
of its operation. It actually pro-
duces this change in the affec-nough.
tions, and thus the work proves
itself to be of God.

Is it not plain, that every man, who acts contrarily to these maxims, deceives himself, when he supposes that he loves Virtue, while, in truth, he only talks of it?

ON VITAL RELIGION.

THAT vital religion is a bless

On the PRINCIPLE of FRIENDSHIP. THE principle of friendship is an indication of the dignity for which we were designed. We sigh for union with other intelligent beings-seek a commerce ed reality needs no better proof of hearts cannot realize our than the exact coincidence of ideas and wishes here below-judgment, taste, principles and human friendships and unions deceive our expectations--to find what we want, we must ascend to God himself.

ON THE LOVE OF VIRTUE.

INFIDELS talk much of the love of virtue. And why then do they not love the Bible?Let any man read the thirteenth chapter of St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians-the preceptive parts of all the Apostolic episles-Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, &c. Was ever so

habits, which prevails amongst its professors. Papists and Protestants, men in the wilds of America, and in the cultivated countries of Europe, persons who lived under the Jewish economy, and multitudes who live under the Christian institution now, have all spoken, in spite of their several peculiarities, one common language of the heart about God and Christ, sin and holiness, time and eternity. Their religious hopes and fears, their joys and their sor

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