dying in sin, of appearing at the judgment-seat of Christ, destitute of a Saviour's righteousness. Now let us both Tesolve, in the strength of God, to seek the Lord, and spend our few remaining days in his service. Then he will be our friend and refuge when strength and heart fail, and our portion for ever. F. W.

LETTER TO MISS S. K. OF WENHAM, THEN AT ATKINSON ACADEMY.

MY DEAR SALLY,

Beverly, July 1811. I FELT a little anxiety on your account, as I understood you were in a state of debility; but I hope your health is now re-established. I enjoy remarkable health at present a blessing which in some degree I know how to estimate, having been so much deprived of it. May our hearts be grateful to the giver of every good and perfect gift for this and all his favours, of the least of which we are infinitely unworthy. But when we glance a thought on the transcendently glorious work of redemption, are we not lost in wonder and admiration? That Jesus should condescend to veil his divinity in humanity, come down into this lower region of sin and sorrow, endure numberless hardships and trials, and at last submit to the ignominious and agonizing death of the cross for rebel worms, is truly astonishing. "Heaven wept that man might smile; heaven bled that man might never die." Amazing! Stupendous thought! May it make a deep and salutary impression on our cold and marble hearts. The salvation of one soul is vastly important; but when millions are emancipated from the galling yoke of sin and Satan, and not only saved from all the corroding anguish of black despair, but raised to im

mortal glory and consummate felicity, to make progress in. knowledge and in grace, and to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb through a never ending eternity,-how august! how transcendent! how infinitely glorious the salvation Redemption! It is a theme studied by departed saints with increasing delight, and rapturous triumph! With. what ineffable joy do they gaze on the Redeemer, while they sing in sublime and melodious strains, " To him that, loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be honour, and glory, and power for ever!" But ah! how. inadequate and low are my conceptions of that exceeding and eternal weight of glory, reserved for those whose. robes have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb! How little do I know of the amiable character of Immanuel, who is the brightness of his Father's. glory, and the express image of his person. May we, my dear cousin, learn to sit with Mary at Jesus's feet, and with the beloved disciple recline our weary heads on his dear bosom. It is an inestimable privilege, which he has graciously offered to the weary and heavy laden, the. humble and contrite soul, and which we should endea, vour duly to appreciate..

We are poor ignorant creatures; and we should daily. strive to acquire useful literature; but especially to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. A knowledge of the sciences is very desirable, but how much more important is the knowledge of our own depraved hearts, and Jesus Christ the glori ous Saviour of sinners, whom to know aright is life eter nal. For the acquisition of the former, I imagine you are in a very eligible situation; and I hope in no unfavourable one for the cultivation of the latter. A mind stored with useful literature, enlarged and adorned with

genuine religion, an amiable deportment, suavity of dise position and manners, are in my view of infinitely more value, than the transient charms of personal beauty, and all the affluence the Indies can afford. I pity the deluded votaries of vanity and folly, and earnestly wish they had a disposition for study, and a propensity to piety and devotion, that they might find profitable employment in every changing scene and vacant hour. Whatever others do, my dear cousin, let us determine to improve our minds and hearts, by every proper mean in our power. Learning will not be inimicable to our felicity or usefulness, but on the contrary will augment both, if obtained from pure and noble motives, and judiciously improved. I hope you will strive to excel in every thing you undertake to learn, and make laudable proficiency in your various studies.

My dear friend, let us endeavour to realize the brevity and uncertainty of life, the worth of the soul, and the importance of being prepared for death. How awful the thought of dying in sin! How inevitable and tremendous the consequences. Despair and anguish shall be the por tion of impenitent sinners through the revolutions of e ternal ages. Eternity! Let us study the import of that amazing word: Millions of ages hence, our souls will exist in unutterable felicity or misery; and when millions more have run their rounds, we shall be no nearer the termination of our existence. O that we may be prepared to spend this eternity in immortal glory and bliss in the presence of Jehovah! Remember me to your brother and sister, and do not delay writing. Yours affec tionately.

FANNY WOODBURY.

JOURNAL, 1811.

Aug. Having supplicated the throne of the Almighty, I now desire to investigate my heart and life, and see whether I have evidence of being renewed, and am in a proper frame to approach the table of the Lord. On a review I find much to deplore. I have lived an unholy and an unprofitable life. I have too often omitted private meditation and prayer, and contented myself with a few ejaculations, which, though good in their place, ought not to supersede constant devotion morning and evening in secret. By this neglect I have not only lost many happy hours, which I might have enjoyed in the exercise itself, but have brought darkness aud leanness into my soul. I have used too much freedom in speaking of the failings of others, but not palliated where I might, and where I could not vindicate, have not always been silent; not duly considering this injunction of our Lord, "What soever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." I have been, and am still, too much addicted to impatience and momentary fretfulness on account of trivial disappointments and petty accidents. This I am convinced is unbecoming and sinful. But alas! though I repent I sin again! These are the signs of my being destitute of saving faith. Many more I might enumerate. Their name is legion, for they are

many.

I shall now advert to a few evidences of grace, which I humbly hope I possess. I do hope I hate and detest, not only what I have mentioned above, but all my sins, my most latent failings; and desire to implore pardoning mercy of him who said, "Him that cometh unto me I will in no ways cast out." I think I do try to deny

myself, and mortify my sins and lusts, though I ought to be more strict and resolute. I think I love God and am disposed to acknowledge him just and righteous in all his ways, and his character infinitely perfect and glorious, though I too often am discontented, especially under one poignant and peculiar trial. Yet generally I acquiesce in his allotments; and O that I might find reason to say through eternity, "it is good for me that I have been afflicted." The Saviour appears amiable. I think if I know any thing of my own heart, I love him, and esteem him the chief among ten thousand and altogether lovely. I long to be assimilated to his likeness, and transformed into his image; and I do wish to serve and glorify him, and to be useful to the church and the world. O that I may not be deceived in a matter of infinite importance!

Sept. 12. I have been to see Mrs Francis to day, who is very weak, troubled with an incessant cough, and accute pain. But it is more than counterbalanced by the serenity and composure of her mind. She wishes to be entirely resigned to the will of God, whether it be life or death, and hopes she is not deceived. "O what a com"fort," said she, "to have a God to go to, and pour out "our souls to him! O the forlorn state of him who has "no such refuge in trouble! This world is less than no"thing and vanity! My own righteousness is filthy rags. "I hope I depend entirely upon Christ." She longs to have all see the reality and beauty of religion, and come to the knowledge of the truth. She observed, she had been delighted with some chapters in Isaiah, and with a number of the lyric poems, particularly that entituled, A sight of Heaven in sickness." O could the sceptical