prove an effectual warning! Gracious God! imprint it on their memories, that they too must die; and make them willing in the day of thy power. Sept. 21. O the worth of an immortal soul! It will continue to exist when time is swallowed up in eternity. This surely should be the theme of constant reflection. In all our worldly concerns, we should keep eternity in view. Then would the amusements of this world become insipid, and religion appear of all things the most impor tant. Sept. 24. Attended a lecture, but alas! could not hear. O ye dear children of God, who can hear sermon after sermon, may you make a wise improvement of all these advantages, while it is in your power! Come, O my soul, bow in holy submission to the will of God! Let not a repining thought arise in this heart. Let not a word flow from these lips, which indicates discontentment with the allotments of Providence. Sept. 26. Saturday. Visited Mr D.O thou who art perfectly acquainted with the inmost recesses of my heart! O, I beseech thee, if I am deceived, to make known to me the deception! O may my affections, desires, and hopes, centre in Christ! May I build upon this sure Foundation for time and eternity! O thou blessed Jesus! condescend to visit me early with thy mercy, that I may be glad and rejoice all my days. O be thou the guide of my youth, the strength of my riper years, and my everlasting portion, and I am satisfied. Alas! I intended to devote the night to prayer; but feel so unwell and so drowsy, that I fear I shall hold out but a short time. O gracious God! fit me for the solemn duties before me; greater part of this of every worldly thought, and fit me to divest my mind partake of the sacramental bread and wine. Blessed Saviour, con< descend to grant my request. O be with me in to-mor row's solemn transaction. Sept. 27. Sabbath eve. This day I publicly gave myself to God, and was permitted to commemorate my Saviour's dying love. O what a wonder that I, the most unworthy of mortals, should be brought to the marriagesupper of the Lamb! A most excellent sermon was preached from these words, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Much was said to the youth. I have now made a profession of the Christian religion, and given myself up to God in my youthful years. I trust I shall ever find satisfaction in what I have done. I have done it in the vigour of health, in the prime of my age. I choose to take up the cross, and daily to follow the blessed Jesus, rather than indulge myself in youthful pleasures. Indeed I have not the least wish for the vain amusements of life. Religion only is capable of giving that happiness which will remain, when every earthly comfort fails. If we are destitute of this, we are destitute of every thing which can render us truly amiable in life, and happy through death and eternity. [The high estimation in which Miss Woodbury's epistles were held by the accomplished and pious Miss Atwood, so frequently and unequivocally expressed, must excite a very deep regret that so few of them have been preserved. The following letter is from that young lady, in answer to one from Miss Woodbury, on occasion of her joining, for the first time, in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.] FROM HARRIET ATWOOD, TO MISS WOODBURY. Once more, my dear Miss W. tempt writing a few lines to you. Haverhill, Oct. 1807. I take my pen and at- How little do theme? What other subject can I choose, that will be of any importance to our immortal souls? we realize that we are probationers for eternity? We have entered upon an existence that will never end; and in the future world shall either enjoy happiness unspeak ably great, or suffer misery in the extreme, to all eternity, We have every inducement to awake from the sleep of death, and to engage in the cause of Christ. In this time of awful declension, God calls loudly upon us to en◄ list under his banners, and promote his glory in a sinful, stupid world. If we are brought from a state of darkness into God's marvellous light, and are turned from Satan to the Redeemer, how thankful ought we to be! Thousands of our age are at this present period going on in thoughtless security; and why are we not left?. It is of God's infinite mercy and free unbounded grace. Can we not with our whole hearts bow before the King of kings, and say, "Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy name be all the glory?" Oh, my dear Miss W. why are our affections placed one moment upon this world, when the great things of religion are of such vast importance?' Oh, that God would rend his heavens and come down, and awaken our stupid, drowsy senses. What great reason have I to complain of my awfully stubborn will, and mourn my unworthy treatment of the Son of God? Thou alone, dear Jesus, canst soften the heart of stone, descend to grant my request. O be with me in to-morrow's solemn transaction. Sept. 27. Sabbath eve. This day I publicly gave myself to God, and was permitted to commemorate my Saviour's dying love. O what a wonder that I, the most unworthy of mortals, should be brought to the marriagesupper of the Lamb! A most excellent sermon was preached from these words, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Much was said to the youth. I have now made a profession of the Christian religion, and given myself up to God in my youthful years. I trust I shall ever find satisfaction in what I have done. I have done it in the vigour of health, in the prime of my age. I choose to take up the cross, and daily to follow the blessed Jesus, rather than indulge myself in youthful pleasures. Indeed I have not the least wish for the vain amusements of life. Religion only is capable of giving that happiness which will remain, when every earthly comfort fails. If we are destitute of this, we are destitute of every thing which can render us truly amiable in life, and happy through death and eternity. The high estimation in which Miss Woodbury's epistles were held by the accomplished and pious Miss Atwood, so frequently and unequivocally expressed, must excite a very deep regret that so few of them have been preserved. The following letter is from that young lady, in answer to one from Miss Woodbury, on occasion of her joining, for the first time, in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.] FROM HARRIET ATWOOD, TO MISS WOODBURY, I Haverhill, Oct. 1807. take my pen and atShall religion be my Once more, my dear Miss W. tempt writing a few lines to you. theme? What other subject can I choose, that will be of any importance to our immortal souls? How little do we realize that we are probationers for eternity? We have entered upon an existence that will never end; and in the future world shall either enjoy happiness unspeak ably great, or suffer misery in the extreme, to all eternity. We have every inducement to awake from the sleep of death, and to engage in the cause of Christ. In this time of awful declension, God calls loudly upon us to enlist under his banners, and promote his glory in a sinful, stupid world. If we are brought from a state of darkness into God's marvellous light, and are turned from Satan to the Redeemer, how thankful ought we to be! Thousands of our age are at this present period going on in thoughtless security; and why are we not left?. It is of God's infinite mercy and free unbounded grace. Can we not with our whole hearts bow before the King of kings, and say, "Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy name be all the glory?" Oh, my dear Miss W. why are our affections placed one moment upon this world, when the great things of religion are of such vast importance ? Oh, that God would rend his heavens and come down, and awaken our stupid, drowsy senses. What great reason have I to complain of my awfully stubborn will, and mourn my unworthy treatment of the Son of God? Thou alone, dear Jesus, canst soften the heart of stone, |