from the lips of their Judge at the last great day, “ Depart from me, I never knew you." Many have the lamp of profession; but what will that avail without the oil of divine grace? Alas! without repentance, it will only encrease their condemnation, and involve them deeper in future wretchedness. Awful indeed must be the situation of those, who while they name the name of Christ, crucify him afresh, and put him to open shame. They open. the mouths of sinners against our holy religion, harden the hearts of the careless, grieve the children of the most High, and are a stumbling block in the way of many. If they die strangers to the power of vital religion, what pen can describe their anguish, when they stand trembling before their Judge, and hear him speak in a voice like thunder," Who hath required this at your hands?” Their criminality must then appear in all its odious light, and cover them with confusion, consternation, and despair. They must lie down in endless sorrow, though once they vainly thought they were sure of heaven.

my friend, when I think of these things, I tremble for others, I tremble for myself. We have reason to fear, that through the deceitfulness of our own hearts, we shall at last come short, and prove that we are Christians only in name. Let us see whether Christ is formed in us the hope of glory; or whether we are not yet in our sins, walking in that broad road which leads to perdition. If we have been deceiving ourselves, it will be far better to discover it now, than when it is too late to rectify mistakes too late to repent, and work out our salvation. Olet us, with the greatest diligence, attend to the one thing needful, and so number our fleeting days as to ap ply our hearts to true wisdom. Soon our mortal years will be ended; and then we shall commence an eternal ound of joy or wo. And in eternity we shall reap the

reward of our doings on earth. We shall feel the effects of our present conduct, when time has finished his appointed course, when the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, when creation shall lie in mighty ruins, and when one vast eternity shall be all in all. Nay, we shall be sensible of their influence, as long as our existence endures.

O then how important it is, that we should awake from sleep, and sow to the Spirit, that we may of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation. To-morrow we may be where all is immutable and eternal. O could we realize these considerations as we ought, what solemnity and awe would fill our minds; how jealous should we be over ourselves, how afraid of deception, how watchful against sin and Satan, how engaged in duty, how constant and ardent in prayer, how earnest to approve ourselves to the Searcher of hearts. Let us then forsake our sins, and penitently return to the Lord; for our souls are infinitely precious; time is short, and eternity is near. May we both be made holy in heart and life, that we may glorify God on earth, and at death have an entrance ministered to us into that kingdom which consists in righteousness, peace, and eternal joy. O my friend, rest not unless you are created anew in Christ. FANNY WOODBURY.

LETTER TO MRS S. E. D. OF BEVERLY.

MY DEAR MRS D. Beverly, Sept. 1814. THE present is indeed a day of darkness, of thick darkness, illumined but with a few glimmering rays of cheering light. Our national iniquities are exceedingly numerous and aggravated, so that God in just judgment has poured out his wrath upon us, to show us that it is

an evil and bitter thing to forsake him. And if these afflictions might lead us to consider our ways, mourn with godly sorrow over our sins, and penitently return unto the Rock of our salvation, then we might hope that the Lord would spare us, defend and protect us, and favour us with his gracious smiles. But, alas! our pride, ambition, and vanity, have arisen to a greater height; and we seem to grow more hardened under divine rebukes. Much do we need a spirit of humility, of amity, and of dependence on the Almighty, and a thorough universal reformation, that again we may enjoy those blessings we once possessed, but which we so wickedly abused and forfeited. O may the saints of the Most High seek the good of Jerusalem, and pray and labour for her prosperity, till her brightness go forth as a lamp that burneth, and her rising glory fill the earth. The glorious appearing and power of Immanuel shall destroy the man of sin, subdue every enemy of his church, and cause the ran-sumed to travel the road that leads to the celestial Zion, with gladness and songs of joy. The day of the millennium is not far distant. Already with eager expectations we look for its dawn; and our bosoms glow with delight, when we contemplate what glory it will bring to God, what happiness to man. The desolations, persecutions, and afflictions of the church, and the miseries and sins of a wretched world, will soon come to an end. The happy saints will soon take the kingdom, and possess it for ever; while the King of saints shall display the banners of his cross through this wide earth, and all the numerous tribes of heathen nations of the world shall bow in homage at his feet. The church shall dry her tears, bid adieu to her sorrows, and shine in her beautiful garments, the joy of many generations. Hosannas

to the name of Jesus shall fall from the mouths of babest and every lip shall sing in cheerful strains the praises of the King of kings. O my sister, what a glorious period is just at hand, even at the door. And amidst all these calamities and commotions, when errors come in like a flood, and temptations to apostasy are on every side, how important it is that Christians should hold fast that which. they have, and be ever abounding in the work of the Lord! How closely should they walk with God, that they. may derive from him all those supplies of grace and strength which they need in the discharge of their various duties! Their faith and patience must be tried; but they will endure every trial, and in the end be more. than conquerors over all their enemies. The Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, their refuge and their salvation, and all his perfections are pledged to secure their complete redemption, and the final triumph of his cause.. over all the earth.

If we, my dear friend, can repose our trust in Jehovah, we need not despond, though there be great distress and perplexities among the nations; though all nature be convulsed and rent in dreadful anarchy. Amidst the most tremendous revolutions we may rejoice, and joy in the God of our salvation. O may we be favoured with holy confidence in him, that we may not hang our harps upon the willows, nor go mourning all the day long. It becomes Christians to rejoice in the Lord, that they may show to others that religion is not a melancholy thing, as many are prone to believe. And the Lord is pleased, when he sees his children abound in grateful joy and praise, united with penitence and humility.

My dear, dear sister, take comfort, and still hope in your covenant God; for he is a Rock upon which you may stand securely in time and to eternity. He has

been your helper in six troubles, and in seven, and he will be your refuge forever; giving you abundant reason still to sing of his mercy, faithfulness, and loving kindness. The soul that leans on him shall never be dismayed nor confounded; but shall go from strength to strength in this desert land, and hereafter appear in the Zion above, to join the innumerable company around the throne in songs of ceaseless praise. May this be the pri vilege of my dear sister, and her unworthy Fanny. O may grace, free grace, make us meet for the blessedness! of the redeemed above; and when time shall close with us, introduce us to that city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And to grace shall be all the

glory.

May the Lord bless you and yours with showers of the richest blessings. When you commune with God, sometimes think of me.

F. W.

LETTER TO MRS L. B. OF SALEM.

MY DEAR MRS B. Beverly, Sep. 11, 1814. I AM happy to acknowledge" the receipt of a few lines from you last evening, by which I understand the inten tion of your sisters to devote to prayer a part of the hour from two to three, when from one to two is not practi➡ cable. I rejoice that you have agreed to meet in spirit at the throne of grace; and I think the time you specify the best which could be selected, more especially on account of its nearness to ours. I shall often, in imagination, visit your retirements, and participate with you in the heavenly solace of communion with God, while my warmest wishes shall ascend in unison with yours, that our supplications may be those of humble faith and sincerity,