,archive_/,children's ,library7         
,a                        ,,practical   
,,directory                             
,,for                      ,,young      
,,christian ,,females2                  
,,being ,a                              
,,series ,,of ,,letters                 
,,from ,a                     ,,brother 
,,to ,a ,,younger ,,sister4             
,,by ,,harvey ,,newcomb4                
,,written ,,for ,,the ,,massachusetts   
,,sabbath ,,school ,,society1 ,,and     
,,approved ,,by ,,the ,,committee ,,of  
,,publication4                          
,seventh ,edition4                      
,,boston3                               
,,massachusetts ,,sabbath ,,school      
,,society                               
,depository1 ,no4 #ac ,cornhill4        
,entered according to ,act of ,congress1
 in the year #ahcc1 by                  
,,christopher ,c4 ,,dean1    ,in the    
,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court
 of ,massachusetts4                     
,stereotyped by                         

,,hobart  ,,robbins2                    
,,new ,,england ,,type ,,and            
,,stereotype ,,foundry1                 
,,boston4     ,,preface4   ,the         
following ,letters were truly1 as they  
profess to have been1 written to a      
younger sister of the author4 ,by the   
death of her parents1 she was left1 in a
 measure1 dependent upon him1 at an     
early age4 ,she had been the subject of 
many prayers1 and endeared by many ties4
 ,his house1 as he humbly trusts1 was   
the place of her second birth4 ,as she  
was about to leave his roof1 for a      
residence among strangers1 the idea     
occurred to him of imbodying his        
fraternal counsel in such a form that it
 might be a friendly monitor to her1 in 
the midst of those dangers and          
difficulties which beset the path of    
inexperienced youth4 ,in prosecuting    
this design1 it appeared hardly proper  
to bestow so much time upon the         
interests of one individual4 ,hence the 
writer concluded to commit these        

,letters to the press1 with the hope    
that they might be the means of doing   
some good4 ,this work is intended not   
merely to be read and laid aside2 but1  
as its title imports1 to be kept as a   
kind of practical directory for daily   
living4 ,this edition has been revised  
with great care1 and much new matter    
added4  ,,boston1 #ahea4     ,,contents4
   ,preface1                            
#e   ,,letter ,i4  ,the ,christian's    
,mark1                                  
#ag    ,introduction1                   
#ag   ,a ,great ,mistake1               
#ag   ,the ,grace of ,god a ,growing    
,principle1                             
#ah   ,the ,spring that never dries nor 
freezes1                            #ai 
,growth in ,grace1                      
#bj   ,the ,glory of ,god1 how          
manifested1                             
#ba   ,the true ,standard of ,holiness1 
#ba   ,paul's desire for ,higher        
,attainments1                           
#bb   ,how ,eminent ,holiness is        

attained1                               
#bc   ,examples of ,eminent ,persons1   
#bc   ,mrs4 ,edwards1                   
#bd   ,earnestness in ,religion1        
#be   ,religion the great ,business of  
,life1                                  
#be   ,,letter ,,ii4  ,importance of a  
thorough ,knowledge of the ,doctrines of
 ,christianity2 ,means of obtaining it1 
#bf    ,connection of ,doctrine and     
,practice1                              
#bf   ,religion compared to a ,building1
                                    #bg 
,the ,holy ,spirit operates through the 
,truth1                         #bh     
,genuine and ,spurious ,religious       
,affections distinguished1              
#bh   ,office of the ,truth in          
,sanctification1                        
#bi   ,doctrinal ,knowledge without     
,practice1                              
#bi  ,directions1                       
#cj    #a4 ,becomes a ,little ,child1   
#cj      ,the ,starting ,point of       
,error1                                 

#ca   #b4 ,avoid a ,controversial       
,spirit1                                
#ca      ,an ,error of ,young ,persons1 
#ca   #c4 ,use ,helps1                  
#cb      ,writings of ,men1 why studied1
                                    #cb 
,bible the ,text ,book1                 
#cb   #d4 ,seek the ,aid of the ,holy   
,spirit1                                
#cb   ,,letter ,,iii4  ,true ,religion a
 ,work of ,grace in the ,heart1 but must
 be carried out in the ,conduct1        
#cc    ,inconstancy of ,false ,religion1
                                        
#cd   ,fruitfulness of ,true ,piety1    
#cd   ,fruits of the ,true and ,false   
,professor contrasted1                  
#ce   ,fruit-bearing the test of        
,christian ,character1                  
#cf   ,the ,fruits of the ,spirit1      
#cf   ,love1 as in the ,experience of   
,david1                                 
#cg   ,manifested in willing ,obedience1
                                    #ch 
,love of the ,brethren1                 

#ch   ,spiritual ,joy4 ,peace1          
#ci   ,peace of ,mind2 its              
,manifestations1                        
#dj   ,meekness the ,twin ,sister of    
,peace1                                 
#da   ,long-suffering1 ,gentleness1     
#da   ,goodness1                        
#db   ,faith1 a ,common ,principle of   
,action1                                
#db   ,an ,operative ,principle1        
#dc   ,power of ,faith4 ,temperance1    
#dc   ,,letter ,,iv4  ,reading and      
,study of the1 ,bible1                  
#dd    ,search the ,scriptures1         
#de   ,we must set our ,hearts to it1   
#de  ,directions1                       
#df    #a4 ,read the ,bible in your     
,closet1                                
#df   #b4 ,preparation of the ,heart1   
#dg   #c4 ,seek the ,aid of the ,holy   
,spirit1                                
#dg   #d4 ,read with ,self-application1 
#dg   #e4 ,read the ,scriptures         
regularly1                              
#dh   #f4 ,study the ,bible             

systematically1                         
#dh      ,variety and ,harmony of the   
,bible1                                 
#di      ,things to be observed1        
#di      ,wisdom of ,divine             
,inspiration1                           
#di      ,how to remove ,difficulties1  
#ej      ,commentaries4 ,tasks1         
#ej      ,read in ,course1              
#ea      ,close ,study of the ,bible1   
#ea      ,constant ,subjects of         
,inquiry1                               
#eb      ,the ,bible a ,history of the  
,church1                                
#eb      ,periods of the ,history of the
 ,church1                            #eb
      ,take notice what ,period you are 
reading1                         #ec    
,inquire what ,doctrine or ,principle is
 taught1 recognized1        illustrated1
 or enforced1                           
#ec      ,note the ,promises and        
,predictions1                           
#ec      ,take ,notes1                  
#ec      ,read the ,gospel to study the 

,character of ,christ1                  
#ec      ,things to be observed in      
,sacred ,history and ,biography1        
#ed      ,poetic and ,didactic ,parts of
 the ,bible1                            
#ee      ,the ,prophecies1              
#ee   ,,letter ,v4  ,prayer and         
,fasting1                               
#eg    ,duty of ,prayer1                
#eg   ,prayer defined1                  
#eh   ,examples1                        
#ei   ,the ,lord's ,prayer2 its ,use1   
#ei   ,the ,power of ,prayer1           
#fj   ,the ,promises1                   
#fa   ,the ,promises exemplified1       
#fa   ,the ,arians4 ,francke4 ,dr4      
,west1                                  
#fc   ,the ,slave liberated by ,prayer1 
#fd   ,asking amiss1                    
#fd   ,we must desire the ,things we    
ask1 for the ,glory of ,god1            
#fe  ,we must ask1--    ,for ,things    
agreeable to the ,will of ,god1         
#fe   ,in ,faith1                       
#ff   ,with ,humble ,submission1        

#fg  ,practical ,hints1                 
#fg    #a4 ,maintain a ,constant ,spirit
 of ,prayer1                            
#fg   #b4 ,observe ,stated and ,regular 
,seasons of ,prayer1                    
#fh   #c4 ,observe ,special ,seasons of 
,prayer1                                
#ga      ,fasting1                      
#gb   #d4 ,preparation of ,heart1       
#gd   #e4 ,persevere in ,prayer1        
#gd   ,,letter ,,vi4  ,temptation1      
#gf    ,existence of the ,devil1        
#gf   ,his ,character1                  
#gf   #a4 ,he is ,powerful1             
#gg      ,his ,power limited1           
#gg      ,why he is permitted to        
exercise ,power1                        
#gg   #b4 ,he has much ,knowledge1      
#gh   #c4 ,he is ,wicked1               
#gh   #d4 ,he is ,crafty1 ,deceitful1   
and ,treacherous1                       
#gh   #e4 ,he is a ,liar1               
#gh   #f4 ,he is ,malicious1            
#gi   ,the ,devices of ,satan1          
#gi   ,he suits his ,temptations to our 

,circumstances1                      #hj
   ,impulses to be tried by the ,word of
 ,god1                            #ha   
,subtlety of ,satan1                    
#hb   ,temptations from the ,world1     
#hb   ,from our own ,hearts1            
#hb   ,the ,heart a ,castle1            
#hc   ,we must set a ,watch1            
#hc   ,the ,double ,watch1              
#hc   ,watch unto ,prayer1              
#hc   ,watch in ,prayer1                
#hd   ,watch on the ,mount1             
#hd   ,watch in ,despondency1           
#hd   ,watch when ,cheerful1            
#hd   ,watch in ,prosperity1            
#he   ,watch in ,adversity1             
#he   ,watch over the ,tongue1          
#he   ,watch when doing ,good1          
#he   ,watch against ,besetting ,sins1  
#he   ,watch over the ,imagination1     
#he   ,,letter ,,vii4  ,self-,denial1   
#hf    ,nature and ,consequences of     
,selfishness1                           
#hg   ,the ,selfish ,principle          
surrendered1                            

#hg   ,self-,denial defined and applied1
                                    #hi 
,essential to ,christian ,character1    
#hi   ,christ's ,example1               
#hi   ,a ,caution1                      
#ij   ,,letter ,,viii4  ,public and     
,social ,worship1 and ,sabbath          
,employments1                 #ij       
,duty of ,public ,worship1              
#ia   ,example of ,holy ,men of ,old1   
#ia   ,of ,christ and the ,apostles1    
#ia   ,public ,worship an ,imperative   
,duty1                                  
#ic   ,sin and ,danger of neglecting it1
                                    #id 
,attend the stated ,ministry of your    
,pastor1                          #ie   
,be ,punctual at ,church1               
#if   ,go with ,preparation of ,heart1  
#if   ,deportment in the ,house of ,god1
                                     #ig
   ,singing4 ,prayer4 ,wandering        
,thoughts1                              
#ig   ,take heed how you hear1          
#ih   ,ambassadors4 ,the ,check ,book1  

#ih   ,the ,noble ,bereans1             
#ii   ,fault-,finding1                  
#ii   ,self-,application1               
#ajj   ,hearing for ,others1            
#ajj   ,hear with a ,prayerful ,frame1  
#ajj   ,remember and ,practise what you 
hear1                               #ajj
   ,meetings for ,social ,prayer1       
#ajj   ,be governed by ,principle1      
#aja   ,female ,prayer ,meetings1       
#aja   ,the ,sabbath-school1            
#ajb   ,three ,requisites1              
#ajb   ,hints on ,sabbath-school        
,instruction1                           
#ajc   ,skill in ,teaching1             
#ajc   ,study the ,juvenile ,mind1      
#ajd   ,use ,helps1                     
#ajd   ,aim at drawing out the ,minds of
 ,children1                             
#ajd   ,catechising1                    
#aje   ,dependence1                     
#aje   ,let your own ,heart be affected1
                                    #aje
   ,personal ,application1              
#aje   ,earnestly seek ,god's ,blessing1

                                        
#ajf   ,private ,sabbath ,duties1       
#ajf   ,spend much ,time in your        
,closet1                                
#ajg   ,spend none in seeking ,ease or  
,pleasure1                              
#ajg   ,watch over your ,thoughts1      
#ajg   ,set a ,guard over your ,lips1   
#ajh   ,,letter ,,ix4  ,meditation1     
#ajh    #a4 ,its ,importance1           
#aji   #b4 ,time and ,manner of1        
#aji   #c4 ,subjects of ,meditation1    
#aaa  ,,subjects ,,proposed ,,and       
,,arranged4  ,i4 ,character and         
,attributes of ,god1                    
#aab    #a4 ,self ,existence1           
#aab   #b4 ,eternity and ,immortality1  
#aab   #c4 ,omnipresence and            
,omniscience1                           
#aac   #d4 ,omnipotence and             
,independence1                          
#aac   #e4 ,benevolence1                
#aad   #f4 ,justice1                    
#aad   #g4 ,truth1                      
#aae   #h4 ,mercy1                      

#aaf   #i4 ,wisdom1                     
#aaf  ,,ii4 ,doctrines1                 
#aag    #a4 ,decrees of ,god1           
#aag   #b4 ,sovereignty of ,god1        
#aah   #c4 ,human ,depravity1           
#aah   #d4 ,regeneration1               
#aai   #e4 ,condition of ,fallen ,man1  
#aai   #f4 ,plan of ,redemption1        
#aai   #g4 ,justification1              
#aai   #h4 ,adoption1                   
#abj   #i4 ,sanctification1             
#abj   #aj4 ,death1                     
#abj   #aa4 ,heaven1                    
#aba   #ab4 ,the ,resurrection1         
#aba   #ac4 ,the ,judgment1             
#aba   #ad4 ,the ,world of ,woe1        
#abb  ,,iii4 ,character of ,christ1     
#abb  ,,iv4 ,names and ,offices of      
,christ1                                
#abd    #a4 ,saviour1                   
#abd   #b4 ,redeemer1                   
#abd   #c4 ,prophet1                    
#abd   #d4 ,priest1                     
#abd   #e4 ,king1                       
#abd   #f4 ,mediator1                   

#abe   #g4 ,advocate1 and ,intercessor1 
#abe   #h4 ,friend1                     
#abf   #i4 ,elder ,brother1             
#abf   #aj4 ,husband1                   
#abf  ,v4 ,the ,christian ,graces1      
#abf    #a4 ,faith1                     
#abf   #b4 ,hope1                       
#abf   #c4 ,charity or ,love1           
#abg   #d4 ,joy1                        
#abg   #e4 ,peace1                      
#abg   #f4 ,brotherly ,kindness1        
#abg   #g4 ,humility1                   
#abg   #h4 ,patience1                   
#abg   #i4 ,long-suffering1             
#abh   #aj4 ,a ,forgiving ,temper1      
#abh   #aa4 ,meekness1                  
#abh   #ab4 ,gentleness1                
#abh   #ac4 ,temperance1                
#abh   #ad4 ,virtue or ,moral ,courage1 
#abh   ,,letter ,x4  ,the ,preservation 
of ,health1                             
#abi    ,connection of ,health and      
,usefulness1                            
#abi   ,duty of ,preserving ,health1    
#acj   ,physiology4 ,habits1            

#aca   ,influence of ,ladies1           
#aca  ,rules for ,preserving ,health1   
#aca    #a4 ,make ,conscience of it1    
#aca   #b4 ,be ,cheerful1               
#acb   #c4 ,be ,regular in your ,habits1
                                        
#acc   #d4 ,exercise1                   
#acd      ,delicate ,training of ,young 
,ladies1                                
#ace   #e4 ,practise frequent           
,ablutions1                             
#ace   #f4 ,pay ,attention to the       
,quantity and ,quality of ,food1        
#acf      ,effects of bad or excessive  
,diet1                                  
#acg      ,how to glorify ,god in       
,eating and ,drinking1                  
#ach   #g4 ,taking ,medicine1           
#aci   ,,letter ,,xi4  ,mental          
,cultivation4 ,reading1                 
#ada    ,object of ,education1          
#ada   ,written ,exercises1             
#adb   ,discipline4 ,perseverance1      
#adc   ,reading1                        
#add   ,hints on ,reading ,history1     

#add   ,biography1                      
#adg   ,doctrinal and ,miscellaneous    
,reading1                               
#adh   ,newspapers and ,periodicals1    
#adh   ,light ,reading4 ,english        
,classics1                              
#aej   ,,letter ,,xii4  ,improvement of 
,time4 ,present ,obligation1            
#aea    ,value of ,moments1             
#aea   ,how to redeem ,time1            
#aeb   ,systematic ,arrangements1       
#aec   ,motives for being ,systematic1  
#aec   ,nature of ,obligation1          
#aed   ,,letter ,,xiii4  ,christian     
,activity1                              
#aef    ,female ,influence1             
#aef   ,may be felt in the ,bible       
,society1                               
#aef   ,in the ,tract ,society1         
#aeh   ,monthly ,tract ,distribution1   
#aeh   ,the ,missionary ,cause1         
#aei   ,influence in ,behalf of the     
,poor1                                  
#afj   ,a ,plea for the ,poor1          
#afa   ,example of ,christ1             

#afb   ,temperance1                     
#afc   ,interest of ,females in the     
,subject1                               
#afc   ,conversation1                   
#afd   ,influence in bringing ,people   
under the ,sound of the ,gospel1        
#afd   ,influence directly on the       
,impenitent1                            
#afd  ,the ,duty enjoined1              
#afd    #a4 ,by the ,example of ,christ1
                                        
#afe   #b4 ,by ,love to ,god1           
#afe   #c4 ,by ,love to our ,neighbor1  
#afe   #d4 ,by the ,injunctions of      
,scripture1                             
#aff      ,facts1                       
#afh      ,wonderful ,influence exerted 
by one ,woman1                          
#afi  ,cautions1                        
#agb    #a4 ,avoid ,ostentation1        
#agb   #b4 ,prudence and ,discretion1   
#agb   #c4 ,be ,resolute and            
,persevering1                           
#agc   #d4 ,be much in ,prayer1         
#agc   ,,letter ,,xiv4  ,dress1         

#agd    ,design of ,dress1              
#agd   ,things to be observed1          
#age   #a4 ,all you have is the ,lord's1
                                        
#age   #b4 ,your ,time is the ,lord's1  
#agf   #c4 ,personal ,appearance1       
#agg      ,influence of ,christianity1  
#agg   #d4 ,regard to ,health1          
#agh      ,compression of the ,chest1   
#agh   #e4 ,do not make too much of it1 
#agi   ,,letter ,,xv4  ,social and      
,relative ,duties1                      
#ahj    ,the ,family ,relation1         
#ahj   ,household ,law1                 
#aha  ,rules1                           
#ahc    #a4 ,in ,relation to the        
,family1                                
#ahc   #b4 ,to the ,church1             
#ahd   #c4 ,to ,society in general1     
#ahf   #d4 ,visiting1                   
#ahg   #e4 ,worldly ,society1           
#ahh   #f4 ,conversation1               
#ahh   #g4 ,discussion of ,absent       
,characters1                            
#ahi   #h4 ,speaking of one's self1     

#aia   #i4 ,a ,suspicious ,disposition1 
#aia   #aj4 ,intimate ,friendships1     
#aib   #aa4 ,before going into ,company1
 visit your ,closet1                    
#aib   ,,letter ,,xvi4  ,charity1       
#aic    ,general ,description of1       
#aic   ,long ,suffering1                
#aid   ,kindness1                       
#aid   ,envy1                           
#aif   ,self-,conceit1                  
#aig   ,description of a ,self-conceited
 ,person1                               
#aig   ,self-conceited ,confidence not  
,independence of ,mind1                 
#aih   ,unseemliness1                   
#aii   ,forwardness1                    
#aii   ,impertinence1                   
#bjj   ,taking the ,lead in             
,conversation1                          
#bjj   ,fierce ,contention for ,rights1 
#bja   ,rudeness1 ,grossness1           
#bja   ,disinterestedness1              
#bja   ,selfishness1                    
#bja   ,churlishness1                   
#bjc   ,good ,nature1                   

#bjc   ,jealousy1                       
#bjd   ,fault ,finding1                 
#bje   ,telling others their ,faults1   
#bjf   ,christian ,watch not ,espionage1
                                        
#bjf   ,effects of ,ruminating upon the 
,faults of ,others1                     
#bjf   ,sours the ,temper and leads to  
,misanthropy1                           
#bjf   ,charitable ,joy1                
#bjf   ,censoriousness1 a ,mark of an   
,impenitent ,heart1                     
#bjg   ,apostates1 before their ,fall1  
noted far ,censoriousness1              
#bjh   ,humble ,christians not          
,censorious1                            
#bji   ,duty of ,rejoicing in the       
,goodness of ,others1                   
#baj   ,charity1 positively1            
#baa   ,charity beareth all ,things1    
#baa   ,believeth all ,things1          
#bab   ,endureth all ,things1           
#bab   ,,letter ,,xvii4  ,harmony of    
,christian ,character1                  
#bad    ,harmony of ,sounds1 ,colors1   

and ,proportions1 delights the ,senses1 
#bad   ,harmonious ,development of the  
,christian ,graces1                     
#bae   ,effects of the ,disproportionate
 ,development of ,character1            
#bag   ,how ,young ,christiana fall into
 this ,error1                           
#bah   ,,letter ,,xviii4  ,marriage1    
#bbj    ,marriage ,desirable1           
#bbj   ,marriage not ,indispensable1    
#bba  ,qualifications ,indispensable in 
a ,companion for ,life1                 
#bbb    #a4 ,piety1                     
#bbb   #b4 ,an ,amiable ,disposition1   
#bbd   #c4 ,a ,well-cultivated ,mind1   
#bbd   #d4 ,congeniality of ,sentiment  
and of ,feeling1                        
#bbe   #e4 ,energy of ,character1       
#bbe   #f4 ,suitableness of ,age1       
#bbf  ,qualifications ,desirable1       
#bbf    #a4 ,a ,sound ,body1            
#bbf   #b4 ,refinement of ,manners1     
#bbf   #c4 ,a ,sound ,judgment1         
#bbg   #d4 ,prudence1                   
#bbg   #e4 ,similarity of ,religious    

,sentiment and ,profession1             
#bbg      ,treatment of ,gentlemen1     
#bbh      ,a ,peculiar ,affection       
necessary1                              
#bbi      ,social ,intercourse with     
,gentlemen1                             
#bbi      ,general ,remarks1            
#bcj   ,,letter ,,xix4                  
,submission--,contentment--,dependence1 
#bcc    ,the ,hand of ,god in all       
,things1                                
#bcc   ,comforting ,considerations1     
#bce   ,supply of ,temporal ,wants1     
#bcf   ,duty of ,contentment1           
#bcg   ,,letter ,,xx4                   
,self-,examination1                     
#bch    ,danger of ,neglecting it1      
#bch   ,assurance ,attainable1          
#bci   ,witness of the ,spirit1         
#bci  ,objects1                         
#bda    #a4 ,to discover ,sin1          
#bda   ,questions for ,saturday         
,evening1                               
#bdc            for ,sabbath ,evening1  
#bdd   ,questions for every             

,evening1--7several sets17              
#bde   7#a47 ,when ,time is limited1    
#bde   7#b47 ,for ,ordinary ,occasions1 
#bdf   7#c47 ,dr4 ,doddridge's          
,questions1                             
#bdg   7#d47 ,when you have more ,time  
than usual1                             
#bdh   #b4 ,to ascertain why ,prayer is 
not answered1                           
#bea   #c4 ,as to the ,cause of         
,afflictions1                           
#bec   #d4 ,whether we are ,christians1 
#bec  ,am ,i a ,christian8--,questions1 
#bee    7#a47 ,as to ,views of ,sin1    
#bee   7#b47 ,of the ,government of     
,god1                                   
#bef   7#c47 ,faith in ,christ1         
#beg   7#d47 ,love to ,god1             
#beh   7#e47 ,christian ,character in   
,general1                               
#bfj   #e4 ,preparation for the ,lord's 
,table1                                 
#bfb   ,questions1                      
#bfb  ,conclusion1                      
#bfd   ,,appendix4       ,a ,course of  

,reading1                               
#bfg   ,i4 ,sacred ,history1            
#bfg      ,profane ,history1            
#bfg  ,,ii4 ,christian ,doctrine1       
#bfh ,,iii4 ,biography1                 
#bfh  ,,iv4 ,miscellaneous1             
#bfh     ,,letters1 c4     ,,letter ,i4 
,the ,christian's ,mark4                
,forgetting those things which are      
behind1 and reaching forth unto         
those things which are before1 ,i press 
towards the mark for the     prize of   
the high calling of ,god in ,christ     
,jesus4--,,phil4 #c3ac1     #ad4   ,,my 
,,dear ,,sister1  ,ever since the death 
of our dear mother1 ,i have felt a deep 
interest in your welfare4 ,and your     
being left1 while young1 in a measure   
dependent upon me1 has increased my     
affection for you4 ,you have now left my
 roof1 to sojourn among strangers4 ,you 
have little knowledge of the world1 and 
your religious experience has been      
short4 ,i trust1 therefore1 you will    
cordially receive a few hints from one  

whose fraternal affection has been      
strengthened by many peculiar           
circumstances1 and who1 for many years1 
has not ceased to remember you in his   
prayers4  ,young ,christians1 when they 
first obtain peace and comfort in       
,christ1 are prone to think the struggle
 over1 the victory won4 ,but nothing can
 be farther from the truth4 ,they have  
but just enlisted under the banner of   
the great ,captain of their salvation1  
in a warfare which will never cease till
 they shall have obtained the final     
victory over sin and death1 and entered 
into the joy of their ,lord4 ,this      
mistake often leads them to be satisfied
 with what they have already            
experienced1 and to cease that constant 
inward strife and earnestness1 which    
they exercised while under conviction1  
before they found joy and peace in      
believing4 ,they see such a heavenly    
sweetness in divine things1 that they   
think it impossible they should lose the
 relish all their days4 ,this begets    

self-confidence1 and they trust in their
 own strength to keep where they are1   
instead of eagerly pressing forward1 in 
the strength of ,christ1 after higher   
attainments4 ,the consequence is1 they  
soon lose their lively sense of divine  
things1 backslide from ,god1 and become 
cold and barren in their religious      
affections4 ,a little child1 when it    
first begins to walk1 is safe while it  
keeps hold of the hand of its mother1 or
 faithful nurse4 ,but1 when it begins to
 feel confident of its own strength1 and
 lets go its hold1 it soon totters and  
falls4 ,so with the ,christian4 ,he is  
safe while he keeps a firm hold of      
,christ's hand4 ,but the moment he      
attempts to walk alone1 he stumbles and 
falls4  ,the ,scriptures represent the  
grace of ,god in the heart1 as a growing
 principle4 ,it is compared to a        
mustard-seed1 which is the least of all 
seeds4 ,but1 when it springs up1 it     
rises and spreads its branches1 till it 
becomes the greatest of all herbs4 ,the 

beauty and appropriateness of this      
figure will not be appreciated1 unless  
we take into consideration the luxuriant
 growth of plants in ,eastern countries4
 ,the ,jews have a fable of a           
mustard-tree whose branches were so     
extensive as to cover a tent4 ,there are
 two things that no one would expect to 
see1 in the growth of such a plant3     
7#a47 ,to spring at once into full      
maturity4 7#b47 ,to become stationary in
 its growth1 before it arrives at       
maturity4 ,if it ceases to grow1 it must
 wither away and die4  ,the spiritual   
reign of ,christ in the heart is also   
compared to a little leaven1 which a    
woman took and hid in three measures of 
meal1 till the whole was leavened4 ,it  
was so little at first that it was said 
to be hid4 ,it could not be seen4 ,so   
grace1 when first implanted in the      
heart1 is often so little in degree1 and
 so much buried up in remaining         
corruption1 that it can scarcely be     
discovered at all4 ,but the moment the  

leaven begins to work1 it increases     
without ceasing1 till the whole is      
leavened4  ,again2 ,christ says1 the    
water that ,i shall give him shall be in
 him a well of water1 springing up into 
everlasting life4 ,when these words were
 uttered1 our ,lord was sitting upon a  
deep well1 in conversation with the     
woman of ,samaria4 ,as his custom was1  
he drew instruction from the objects    
around him4 ,he directed her attention  
away from the water which can only      
quench animal thirst1 to that living    
water which refreshes the soul4 ,but    
she1 not understanding him1 wished to   
know how he could obtain living water   
from a deep well1 without anything to   
draw with4 ,in order to show the        
superiority of the water of life1 he    
told her that those who drank it should 
have it in them1 constantly springing up
 of itself1 as if the waters of the well
 should rise up and overflow1 without   
being drawn4 ,the very idea of a living 
spring seems to cut off the hope of     

backsliders4 ,you remember the cold     
spring that used to flow from the rock1 
before our father's door4 ,the severest 
drought never affected it1 and in the   
coldest season of a northern winter it  
was never frozen4 ,oft1 as ,i rose in   
the morning1 when the chilling blasts   
whistled around our dwelling1 and       
everything seemed sealed up with        
perpetual frost1 the ice and snow would 
be smoking around the spring4 ,thus1    
like a steady stream1 let your graces   
flow1 unaffected by the drought or      
barrenness of others1 melting the icy   
hearts around you4  ,this living water1 
in the soul1 is intended to represent   
the indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in
 the new birth1 there is formed a holy  
union between the ,spirit of ,god and   
the faculties of the soul1 so that every
 correct feeling1 with every good act1  
is produced by the ,holy ,spirit acting 
in unison with those faculties4 ,hence1 
our bodies are called the temple of the 
,holy ,ghost1 and he is said to dwell in

 us4 ,what a solemn truth6 ,what holy   
fear and carefulness ought we to feel   
continually2 and how softly should we   
walk before the ,lord of ,hosts6  ,the  
righteous1 says ,david1 shall flourish  
like a palm-tree2 he shall grow like a  
cedar in ,lebanon4 ,but if the cedar    
should cease to grow as soon as it      
springs up1 it would never become a     
tree4 ,it must wither and die4--,again2 
it is said1 ,ye shall go forth and grow 
up as calves of the stall4 ,a healthy   
calf1 that is fed in the stall1 cannot  
but grow and thrive4 ,and surely the    
,lord has furnished us1 in his holy     
word1 abundant food for our spiritual   
growth and nourishment4 ,if the calf is 
diseased1 or if he refuses to eat1 he   
will pine away and die2 and so with us4 
,the apostle ,paul speaks of growing up 
into ,christ1 in all things2 and of     
increasing in the knowledge of ,god4 ,by
 this he evidently means1 that          
experimental knowledge of ,god in our   
hearts1 by which we are changed into his

 image4 ,the apostle ,peter exhorts us  
to grow in the grace1 and in the        
knowledge of our ,lord and ,saviour     
,jesus ,christ4 ,again1 he directs us to
 feed upon the sincere and simple truths
 of the gospel1 as the infant is        
nourished by its mother's milk1 and to  
grow thereby4 ,as conversion is called  
being born again1 the young convert is  
very properly compared to a new-born    
babe4 ,as a babe is least when first    
born1 so the ,christian1 when first     
converted1 has the least grace2 unless1 
indeed1 he becomes diseased1 and pines  
away1 like a sickly infant4 ,and such is
 truly the deplorable case of the       
backslider4  ,the motives which urge us 
to seek and maintain an elevated        
standard of piety are the highest that  
can be presented to our minds4 ,the     
glory of ,god requires it4 ,this is the 
greatest possible good4 ,it is the      
manifestation of the divine perfections 
to his intelligent creatures4 ,this     
manifestation is made by discovering to 

them his works of creation1 providence1 
and grace1 and by impressing his moral  
image upon their hearts4 ,in this their 
happiness consists4 ,in promoting his   
own glory1 therefore1 ,god exercises the
 highest degree of disinterested        
benevolence4 ,nothing can add to his    
happiness2 nothing can diminish it4 ,if 
the whole creation were blotted out1 and
 ,god were the only ,being in the       
universe1 he would still be perfectly   
glorious and happy in himself4 ,there   
can be1 therefore1 no selfishness in his
 desiring his own glory4 ,it is the good
 of the creature alone that is promoted 
by it4 ,a desire to glorify ,god must1  
then1 be the ruling principle of all    
your conduct1 the moving spring of all  
your actions4 ,but how is the glory of  
,god promoted by your growth in grace8  
#a4 ,it is manifested to yourself1 by   
impressing his image upon your heart2   
and by giving you a spiritual discovery 
of the excellence1 purity and           
loveliness1 of his moral character4  #b4

 ,it is manifested to others1 so far as 
you maintain a holy life and            
conversation2 for thereby the moral     
image of ,christ is exhibited4 ,the     
glory of ,christ is manifested by the   
holy walk of his people1 just as the    
glory of the sun appears by the         
reflected light of the moon4  #c4 ,the  
glory of ,god is promoted by making     
others acquainted with the exhaustless  
riches of free grace1 and bringing them 
to ,christ2 for1 by that means1 they    
receive spiritual light to behold the   
beauty and glory of the divine          
perfections1 and his image is stamped   
upon their souls4 ,but your usefulness  
in this respect depends mainly upon the 
measure of grace you have in your own   
heart4 ,the reason why many ,christians 
do so little good in the world is1 that 
they have so little piety4 ,if you would
 be eminently useful1 you must be       
eminently holy4  ,but1 you may ask1     
,what is the standard at which ,i must  
aim8 ,i answer3 ,the law of ,god is the 

only true standard of moral excellence2 
and you have the pattern of that law    
carried out in action1 in the perfect   
life of our blessed ,lord and ,master4  
,no standard short of this will answer  
the requirements of the word of ,god4   
,he that abideth in him1 ought himself  
also so to walk1 ,,even ,,as ,,he       
,,walked4 ,all that we fall short of    
this is sin4 ,there is no want of       
ability in the case1 but what arises    
from our own voluntary wickedness of    
heart4 ,christ says that he came not to 
destroy the law1 but to fulfil it4 ,we  
are not released from the obligation of 
perfect obedience2 though grace has     
taken away the necessity of such        
obedience as the ground of our          
acceptance with ,god4 ,the law is not   
made void1 but established1 by grace4   
,we cannot be saved by our obedience2   
because we have already broken the law1 
and we cannot mend it4 ,but1 while we   
trust alone in ,christ1 independent of  
anything in ourselves1 for justification

 before ,god1 the signs or evidences of 
our faith must be found within us4      
,there must be a new and holy principle 
in our hearts2 and just as far as this  
principle prevails1 so far it will show 
itself in obedience to the law of ,god4 
,there is no resting-place1 in the      
agonizing conflict1 till we are holy as 
,god is holy4 ,i do not say that        
,christians ever do become perfectly    
holy in this life4 ,the contrary        
appears1 from the testimony both of     
,scripture and experience1 to be the    
universal fact4 ,but this is the measure
 of obligation1 and we should strive    
after it with all the earnestness of    
which we are capable4  ,we must not     
settle down contented with our          
attainments1 while one sin remains      
unsubdued in our hearts4 ,the           
,scriptures are full of this doctrine4  
,the apostle ,paul expresses far more   
earnestness of desire after higher      
attainments in the divine life than is  
ever felt by such ,christians as have   

only a feeble and glimmering hope of    
entering the abodes of the blessed4 ,if 
by any means1 says he1 ,i might attain  
unto the resurrection of the dead2 or   
that state of perfect holiness which the
 saints will have attained at the       
resurrection4 ,and the kind of effort   
which he put forth to obtain the object 
of his desires is most forcibly         
described in the passage quoted at the  
beginning of this letter4 ,in view of   
this standard1 you will be able to see1 
in some measure1 the exceeding          
sinfulness of sin2 and it will drive you
 more entirely out of yourself to the   
cross of ,christ4 ,you will see the     
necessity of daily renewing your        
repentance1 submission1 and faith4  ,you
 see1 from what the apostle says of his 
own experience1 that high spiritual     
attainments are not to be expected      
without great labor and strife4 ,true   
piety is indeed the work of the ,holy   
,spirit2 but the fact that ,god works in
 us to will and to do of his good       

pleasure1 is made the ground of ,paul's 
exhortation to work out our own         
salvation with fear and trembling4  ,the
 attainments of eminent saints are too  
generally looked upon as out of the     
reach of common ,christians4 ,they seem 
to think ,god is not willing to give all
 his children the same measure of grace4
 ,but he could not have said more than  
he has in his holy word1 to convince    
them to the contrary4 ,open thy mouth   
wide1 and ,i will fill it4 ,our ,lord   
repeatedly assures us that ,god is more 
willing to give good things to those    
that ask him1 than earthly parents are  
to give good gifts to their children4   
,and whoever will read the lives of such
 eminent ,christians as ,edwards1       
,whitefield1 ,brainerd1 ,martyn1        
,payson1 ,mrs4 ,edwards1 ,mrs4 ,anthony1
 ,mrs4 ,huntington1 ,james ,b4 ,taylor1 
and many others which might be          
mentioned1--and take notice of the means
 which they used1 will not be surprised 
at their attainments4 ,the ,bible       

represents the ,christian as in the     
constant exercise of holy affections2   
and we should never rest with anything  
short of this4 ,some of the persons ,i  
have mentioned did arrive at such a     
state of feeling4 ,president ,edwards   
enjoyed1 for many years1 the constant   
light of ,god's countenance1 and        
habitual communion with him4 ,and so did
 ,mrs4 ,edwards1 ,james ,b4 ,taylor1 and
 many others4  ,she1 for a long time1   
enjoyed1 as she said1 ,,the ,,riches    
,,of ,,full ,,assurance4 ,she felt an   
uninterrupted and entire resignation to 
,god1 with respect to health or         
sickness1 ease or pain1 life or death2  
and an entire resignation of the lives  
of her nearest earthly friends4 ,she    
also felt a sweet peace and serenity of 
soul1 without a cloud to interrupt it2 a
 continual rejoicing in all the works of
 nature and ,providence2 a wonderful    
access to ,god by prayer1 sensibly      
conversing with him1 as much as if ,god 
were here on earth2 frequent1 plain1    

sensible1 and immediate answers to      
prayer2 all tears wiped away2 all former
 troubles and sorrows of life forgotten1
 except sorrow for sin2 doing everything
 for ,god's glory1 with a continual and 
uninterrupted cheerfulness1 peace1 and  
joy4 ,at the same time1 she engaged in  
the common duties of life with great    
diligence1 considering them as a part of
 the service of ,god2 and1 when done    
from this motive1 she said they were as 
delightful as prayer itself4 ,she also  
showed an extreme anxiety to avoid every
 sin1 and to discharge every moral      
obligation2 she was most exemplary in   
the performance of every social and     
relative duty2 exhibited great          
inoffensiveness of life and             
conversation2 great meekness1           
benevolence1 and gentleness of spirit2  
and avoided1 with remarkable            
conscientiousness1 all those things     
which she regarded as failings in her   
own character4  ,how did these persons  
arrive at this eminence in the          

,christian life8 ,although by free      
sovereign grace1 yet it was by no       
miracle4 ,if you will use the same      
means1 you may attain the same end4 ,in 
the early part of his ,christian life1  
,president ,edwards says1--,i felt a    
burning desire to be1 in everything1 a  
complete ,christian1 and conformed to   
the blessed image of ,christ4 ,i had an 
eager thirsting after progress in these 
things1 which put me upon pursuing and  
pressing after them4 ,it was my         
continual strife1 day and night1 and    
constant inquiry1 how ,i should be more 
holy1 and live more holily1 and more    
becoming a child of ,god1 and a disciple
 of ,christ4 ,i now sought an increase  
of grace and holiness1 and a holy life1 
with much more earnestness than ever ,i 
sought grace before ,i had it4 ,i used  
to be continually examining myself1 and 
studying and contriving for likely ways 
and means1 how ,i should live holily1   
with far greater diligence and          
earnestness than ever ,i pursued        

anything in my life2 yet1 with too great
 a dependence on my own strength--which 
afterwards proved a great damage to me4 
,mrs4 ,edwards had been long in an      
uncommon manner growing in grace1 and   
rising1 by very sensible degrees1 to    
higher love to ,god1 weanedness to the  
world1 and mastery over sin and         
temptation1 through great trials and    
conflicts1 and long-continued struggling
 and fighting with sin1 and earnest and 
constant prayer and labor in religion1  
and engagedness of mind in the use of   
all means4 ,this growth had been        
attended1 not only with a great increase
 of religious affections1 but with a    
most visible alteration of outward      
behavior2 particularly in living above  
the world1 and in a greater degree of   
steadfastness and strength in the way of
 duty and self-denial2 maintaining the  
,christian conflict under temptations1  
and conquering1 from time to time1 under
 great trials2 persisting in an unmoved1
 untouched calm and rest1 under the     

changes and accidents of time1 such as  
seasons of extreme pain and apparent    
hazard of immediate death4  ,you will   
find accounts of similar trials and     
struggles in the lives of all eminent   
saints4 ,this is what we may expect4 ,it
 agrees with the ,christian life1 as    
described in ,god's word4 ,it is through
 much tribulation that we enter the     
kingdom of heaven4 ,this is the way in  
which you must go1 if you would ever    
enter there4 ,you must make religion the
 great business of your life1 to which  
everything else must give place4 ,you   
must engage with your whole soul in the 
work1 looking to the cross of ,christ   
for strength against your spiritual     
enemies2 and you will come off conqueror
 at last1 through him that hath loved   
us1 and given himself for us4           
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,ii4  ,the ,importance of a   
thorough ,knowledge of the ,doctrines of
 ,christianity--means of obtaining it4  
,sanctify them through thy truth2 thy   

word is truth4--,john #ag3ag4   ,,my    
,,dear ,,sister1  ,some people are      
frightened at the idea of ,doctrine1 as 
though it were a mere abstraction1 which
 has nothing to do with practical life4 
,this notion is founded on a            
misapprehension not only of the meaning 
of the term1 but of the connection of   
actions with established principles of  
the mind4 ,the general signification of 
the word doctrine is1 the principles    
upon which any system is founded4 ,as   
applied to ,christianity1 it means      
divine truth2 for this is the foundation
 upon which the ,christian religion     
rests4 ,although the truths of ,god's   
,word are not reduced to a regular      
system in the ,bible1 yet1 when brought 
together1 they make the most beautiful  
and perfect of all systems4 ,it is      
proper1 therefore1 that we should       
contemplate them in a body1 as they     
appear with the most perfect symmetry1  
in the plan of ,god's moral government4 
,there is a disposition1 at the present 

day1 to undervalue doctrinal knowledge4 
,many people think it of little         
consequence what they believe1 if they  
are only sincere1 and manifest much     
feeling on the subject of religion4 ,but
 this is a ruinous mistake4 ,there is a 
most intimate connection between faith  
and practice4 ,those principles which   
are believed and received into the heart
 govern and control our actions4 ,the   
doctrines which ,god has revealed in his
 ,word are the principles of his moral  
government4 ,as we are the subjects of  
that government1 it cannot be a matter  
of small moment for us to understand1 so
 far as we are capable1 the principles  
upon which it is administered4 ,if we   
mistake these principles1 we may be     
found in open rebellion1 while we think 
we are doing ,god service4 ,for example3
 ,god commands us not to steal4 ,but1 if
 we do not believe that he has given    
this commandment1 we shall feel under no
 obligation to obey it4 ,and every truth
 which ,god has revealed is as          

intimately connected with practice as   
this1 although the duty enjoined be1 in 
itself considered1 of less consequence4 
,christianity is called a spiritual     
building4 ,ye are built up a spiritual  
house4 ,whose house are we8 ,we are     
,god's building4 ,now the foundation and
 frame-work of this building are the    
doctrines or truths of the ,bible4 ,some
 of these doctrines are called          
fundamental or essential1 because they  
lie at the foundation of the whole      
building2 and are so essential to it1   
that1 if taken away1 the whole would    
fall to the ground4 ,these are1 ,the    
,existence of ,god in three persons1    
,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 the    
,fall1 and consequent ,depravity of     
,man2 the ,atonement of ,christ2        
,justification by faith in him alone1   
and the ,office of the ,holy ,spirit in 
the work of ,regeneration4 ,if any one  
of these were taken away1 it would      
overturn the whole building4 ,these may1
 therefore1 well be called the          

foundation4 ,but you see there are other
 very important parts of a frame besides
 the foundation4 ,so there are many     
other very important truths of          
,christianity1 besides its essential    
doctrines4 ,but some of these are of    
more consequence than others4 ,if a post
 or a beam is taken away1 the building  
is greatly marred and in danger of      
falling2 yet1 if well covered1 it may   
still be a comfortable dwelling4 ,again1
 although a brace or a pin is of service
 to strengthen the building1 yet either 
may be taken away without very serious  
injury4 ,but a frame may be complete in 
all its parts1 and yet be no building4  
,without a covering1 it will not answer 
a single design of a house2 and just in 
proportion as it is well covered1 will  
it be a comfortable residence4 ,just so 
with ,christianity4 ,the covering of the
 house is the work of the ,holy ,spirit 
in the heart1 producing gracious        
affections1 which manifest themselves in
 a holy life4 ,but the covering of a    

house cannot exist without some kind of 
frame-work4 ,so experimental and        
practical piety cannot exist without a  
belief of the principal doctrines of the
 gospel4 ,the ,holy ,spirit operates    
upon the heart through the truth4 ,he   
gives it a personal application2 brings 
it home to the heart and conscience1 and
 makes it effectual in changing the     
heart and life4 ,sanctify them through  
thy truth3 thy word is truth4 ,of his   
own will begat he us1 with the word of  
truth4 ,seeing ye have purified your    
souls1 in obeying the truth through the 
,spirit4 ,being born again by the word  
of ,god4 ,thus1 the agency of the       
,spirit is always acknowledged in       
connection with the truth4 ,any         
religious feeling or experience1        
therefore1 which is not produced by the 
truth made effectual by the ,holy       
,spirit1 is not genuine4 ,there is a    
kind of indefinite religious feeling1   
which many mistake for ,christian       
experience4 ,they feel1 and perhaps     

deeply2 but they know not why they feel4
 ,such religious feeling is to be       
suspected as spurious4 ,it may be the   
delusion of the devil4 ,by persuading   
people to rest upon this spurious       
religious feeling1 he accomplishes his  
purpose as well as if he had kept them  
in carnal security4 ,and the clearer our
 views of truth1 the more spiritual and 
holy will be our religious affections4  
,thus1 godly sorrow arises from a sight 
of our own depravity1 with a sense of   
the exceeding sinfulness of sin1 as     
committed against a holy ,god1 and      
against great light and mercy4 ,faith is
 produced by a spiritual view of the    
atonement of ,christ1 and of his        
infinite fulness as a complete and      
perfect ,saviour4 ,love is excited by a 
discovery of the excellence of ,god's   
moral perfections4 ,holy fear and       
reverence arise from a sight of the     
majesty and glory of his natural        
attributes1 and a sense of his presence4
 ,joy may come from a sense of the      

infinite rectitude of his moral         
government2 from the sight of the glory 
of ,god1 in his works of providence and 
grace2 or from a general view of the    
beauty and excellence of divine truth4  
,comfort may be derived from evidence of
 the divine favor2 and confidence1 from 
an appropriation of ,god's promises to  
ourselves4 ,and in many other ways1     
also1 the ,holy ,spirit produces        
spiritual feelings through the          
instrumentality of the truth4 ,but all  
religious feeling1 produced by impulse1 
without any rational view of the truth1 
is to be suspected4 ,it may be the work 
of ,satan1 who is very busy in          
counterfeiting religious experiences for
 those he wishes to deceive4 ,every     
religious affection has its counterfeit4
 ,thus1 sorrow may be produced by the   
fear of hell1 without any sense of the  
evil of sin2 a presumption of our own   
good estate may be mistaken for faith1  
and this will produce joy2 we may       
exercise a carnal or selfish love to    

,god1 because we think he loves us1 and 
has made us the objects of his special  
favor2 and the promises of ,god1 so far 
as they concern the personal good of the
 believer1 may administer as much       
comfort to the hypocrite as to the real 
saint4  ,how exceedingly important is   
it1 then1 that you should not only      
exercise a general belief of the great  
doctrines of the gospel1 but that you   
should have a right apprehension of     
them4 ,the truth is so necessary in the 
,christian warfare1 that it is called   
the sword of the ,spirit4 ,but of what  
benefit is the sword to the soldier who 
knows not how to use it8 ,the sword is  
used as much to ward off the blows of   
the enemy1 as to attack him4 ,but the   
novice1 who should engage an enemy1     
without knowing the use of his weapon1  
would be thrust through in the first    
onset4 ,hence1 the peculiar force of the
 prayer of our ,lord1 ,sanctify them    
through thy truth4 ,it is by the use of 
the truth1 as the sword of the ,spirit1 

in the ,christian warfare1 that the work
 of satisfaction is carried on4  ,but1  
as the frame-work of a building1 though 
complete in all its parts1 would be no  
house without a covering2 so we may have
 a perfect knowledge of the abstract    
doctrines of the ,christian religion1   
and be no ,christians4 ,it is the       
practical and experimental application  
of these doctrines to our own hearts and
 lives1 that makes the building         
complete4 ,regard yourself as a subject 
of ,god's moral government1 and the     
doctrines of the ,bible as the laws of  
his kingdom2 and you will feel such a   
personal interest in them1 that you     
cannot rest in abstract speculation4    
,study these doctrines1 that you may    
know how to live to the glory of ,god4  
,i will now give you a few simple       
directions for obtaining a correct      
knowledge of the doctrines of the       
,bible4  #a4 ,approach the subject with 
the spirit of a little child4 ,as       
new-born babes desire the sincere milk  

of the word4 ,except ye be converted and
 become as little children1 ye shall not
 enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,a   
little child is always satisfied of the 
truth of what his father tells him4 ,my 
father says so1 is reason enough for    
him4 ,he does not say1 ,i will not      
believe it1 because ,i cannot understand
 it4 ,so it should be your first object 
to ascertain what the ,bible teaches1   
and then submit to it with the          
confidence of a little child4 ,you      
cannot expect fully to comprehend the   
ways of an infinite ,being4 ,you can see
 but a very small part of the system of 
his moral government4 ,it cannot be     
strange1 then1 if you are unable to     
discover the reasonableness of every    
truth which he has revealed4 ,do not try
 to carry out difficult points beyond   
what is plainly taught in the           
,scriptures4 ,god has revealed all that 
is necessary for us to know in this     
life4 ,he knows best where to leave     
these subjects4 ,if there were no       

difficulties in the truths revealed1    
there would be no trial of our faith4   
,it is necessary that we should take    
some things upon trust4 ,there are also 
some truths taught which we find it     
difficult to reconcile with others as   
plainly revealed4 ,be content to believe
 both1 on the authority of ,god's word4 
,he will reconcile them hereafter4 ,what
 ,i do1 thou knowest not now1 but thou  
shalt know hereafter4 ,let this         
consideration always satisfy you3 ,even 
so1 ,father1 for so it seemed good in   
thy sight4 ,i am the more particular on 
this point1 as it is the place where    
error always begins4 ,the setting up of 
feeble reason in opposition to the word 
of ,god1 has been the foundation of all 
mistakes in religion4 ,and1 if we       
determine to be satisfied of the        
reasonableness of the truth before we   
believe it1 and carry out the principle1
 we shall land in downright atheism4 ,by
 this1 ,i do not mean that any truth is 
unreasonable4 ,it is not so4 ,divine    

truth is the perfection of reason4 ,but 
there are some truths which may appear  
unreasonable1 because we cannot see the 
whole of them4 ,thus1 a fly1 on the     
corner of a splendid edifice1 cannot see
 the beauty and symmetry of the         
building4 ,so far as his eye extends1 it
 may appear to be sadly lacking in its  
proportions4 ,yet this is but a faint   
representation of the narrow views we   
have of ,god's moral government4 ,there 
is1 however1 no truth which he has      
revealed1 in relation to that           
government1 that is more difficult to   
understand1 than many things that       
philosophy has discovered in the natural
 world4 ,yet1 even infidels do not think
 of disputing facts conclusively proved 
by philosophy1 because they cannot      
understand them4 ,it becomes us1 then1  
with the deepest humility and           
self-abasement1 to submit our reason to 
the word of ,god4  #b4 ,avoid a         
controversial spirit4 ,do not study for 
the sake of finding arguments to support

 your own opinions4 ,take the place of a
 sincere inquirer after truth1 with a   
determination to embrace whatever you   
find supported by the word of ,god1     
however contrary it may be to your      
favorite notions4 ,but when objections  
arise in your mind against any doctrine1
 do not suppose you have made some new  
discovery1 and therefore reject it      
without farther inquiry4 ,the same      
objections have perhaps occurred to the 
mind of every inquirer1 on the same     
subject2 and very probably they have    
often been satisfactorily answered by   
able writers4 ,this is a common error of
 young inquirers4 ,they are apt to think
 others take things upon trust1 and that
 they are the only persons who have     
thought of the difficulties which start 
up in their minds4 ,but1 when their     
reading becomes more extensive1 they    
learn1 with shame1 that what appeared to
 them to be original thought1 was only  
following an old1 beaten track4  #c4    
,use such helps as you can obtain4 ,read

 carefully selected and judicious       
authors1 on doctrinal subjects4,a ,the  
advantages arising from the perusal of  
other books than the ,scriptures1 to    
obtain doctrinal knowledge1 are these3  
#a4 ,you may profit by the experience of
 others4 ,you see how the difficulties  
which arise in your own mind appeared to
 them1 and how they solved them4 #b4    
,much light may be thrown upon many     
difficult passages of ,scripture1 by an 
intimate acquaintance with the times and
 circumstances under which they were    
written2 and men who undertake to write 
on these subjects generally search      
deeply into these things4 #c4 ,god has  
been pleased1 in every age1 to raise up 
men mighty in the ,scriptures4 ,by the  
extraordinary powers of mind which he   
has given them1 they may have clearer   
perceptions of divine truth than you are
 able to obtain by the exertion of your 
own faculties alone4 ,you may also      
employ the sermons which you hear1 for  
an increase of doctrinal knowledge1 as  

well as an excitement to the performance
 of duty4 ,but all these things you must
 invariably bring to the test of ,god's 
word4 ,we are commanded to try the      
spirits1 whether they be of ,god4 ,do   
not take the opinions of men upon trust4
 ,compare them diligently with the word 
of ,god1 and do not receive them till   
you are fully convinced that they agree 
with this unerring standard4 ,make this 
your text-book2 and only use others to  
assist you in coming to a right         
understanding of this4  #d4 ,in all your
 researches after doctrinal knowledge1  
seek the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit4 
,make it a subject of daily prayer1 that
 ,god would enable you to understand his
 word1 that you may be rooted and       
grounded in the faith4 ,the influences  
of the ,holy ,spirit are two-fold4 ,he  
enlightens the understanding1 to lead it
 into a correct knowledge of the truth2 
and he applies the truth to the         
sanctification of the heart4 ,pray      
diligently that you may have both4 ,if  

you persevere in the proper observance  
of this direction1 you cannot fail to   
profit by the others4 ,but1 if you      
neglect this1 your pursuit of doctrinal 
knowledge will serve only as food to    
your pride1 self-confidence and         
vain-glory1 and exert a blighting       
influence upon your soul4               
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,footnote ,a3 ,the reader will find a   
list of suitable books in the           
,appendix4     ,,letter ,,iii4  ,true   
,religion a ,work of ,grace in the      
,heart2 but it must be carried out in   
all our ,conduct4      ,and he 7the     
righteous7 shall be like a tree planted 
by the rivers     of water1 that        
bringeth forth his fruit in his season3 
his leaf     shall not wither4--,,ps4   
#a3c4      ,blessed is the man that     
trusteth in the ,lord1 and whose hope   
the     ,lord is2 for he shall be as a  
tree planted by the waters1 and that    
spreadeth out her roots by the river1   
and shall not see when heat     cometh1 

but her leaf shall be green2 and shall  
not be careful in     the year of       
drought1 neither shall cease from       
yielding     fruit4--,,jer4 #ag3g1 #h4  
,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,in my first     
letter ,i spoke of the indwelling of the
 ,holy ,spirit1 as represented by our   
,lord under the similitude of a living  
spring4 ,in my last ,i endeavored to    
show that the operation of the ,spirit  
of ,god upon the heart is inseparably   
connected with the truth4 ,my present   
object will be to show the effects      
produced by both these agents acting    
together4 ,this is most beautifully     
described in the passages quoted above4 
,here the ,christian is represented     
under the similitude of a tree planted  
by the rivers of water4 ,the grace of   
,god1 or the ,holy ,spirit acting in    
unison with the word1 to carry on the   
great work of regeneration and          
sanctification in the soul1 is          
represented by the constant flowing of  
rivers of water4 ,this shows the        

abundance of the provision4 ,but a tree 
may stand so near a river as to be      
watered when it overflows its banks2 and
 yet1 if its roots only spread over the 
surface of the ground1 and do not reach 
the bed of the river1 it will wither in 
a time of drought4 ,this aptly          
represents the professor of religion who
 appears engaged and in earnest only    
during remarkable outpourings of the    
,spirit4 ,he is all alive and full of   
zeal when the river overflows1 but when 
it returns to its ordinary channel1 his 
leaf withers2 and if a long season of   
spiritual drought follows1 he becomes   
dry and barren1 so that no appearance of
 spiritual life remains4 ,but1 mark how 
different the description of the true   
child of ,god4 ,he shall be as a tree   
planted by the rivers of water4 ,this   
figure appears to have been taken from  
the practice of cultivating trees4 ,they
 are removed from the wild state in     
which they spring up1 and their roots   
firmly fixed in a spot of ground        

cultivated and prepared1 to facilitate  
their growth4 ,this planting well       
represents the fixed state of the       
renewed soul1 as it settles down in     
entire dependence upon the word and     
,spirit of ,god1 for nourishment and    
growth in grace4 ,but the figure is     
carried out still farther1--and         
spreadeth out her roots by the river4   
,when the roots of the tree are spread  
out along the bed of the river1 it will 
always be supplied with water1 even when
 the river is low4 ,this steadiness of  
,christian character is elsewhere spoken
 of under a similar figure4 ,the root of
 the righteous shall not be moved4 ,he  
shall cause them that come of ,jacob to 
take root4 ,being rooted and grounded in
 love4 ,hence the prophet adds1 that the
 heat and the drought shall not affect  
it2 but its leaf shall be green1 always 
growing2 and it shall not cease to bring
 forth fruit4 ,and throughout the       
,scriptures1 the righteous are          
represented as bringing forth fruit4    

,and the remnant that is escaped out of 
the house of ,judah shall again take    
root downward1 and bear fruit upward4   
,here is first a taking deep root       
downward1 or the sanctification of the  
faculties of the soul1 by which new     
principles of action are adopted2 and a 
bearing fruit upward1 or the exercise of
 those principles1 in holy affections   
and corresponding outward conduct4      
,again1 ,israel shall blossom and bud1  
and fill the face of the world with     
fruit4 ,the bud and blossom represent1  
in a very striking manner1 the first    
exercises of ,christian experience4     
,however1 this may be easily            
counterfeited4 ,every tree bears a      
multitude of false blossoms1 which1 by  
the superficial observer1 may not be    
distinguished from the true4 ,they may  
for a time appear even more gay and     
beautiful4 ,as it appears in full bloom1
 it would be impossible for the keenest 
eye to discover them4 ,but as soon as   
the season arrives for the fruit to     

begin to grow1 these fair blossoms are  
withered and gone1 and nothing remains  
but a dry and wilted stem4 ,but the real
 children of ,god shall not only bud and
 blossom1 but they shall fill the face  
of the world with fruit4 ,in the ,song  
of ,solomon1 the church is compared to  
an orchard of pomegranates1 with        
pleasant fruits4 ,this is a beautiful   
figure4 ,the pomegranate is a kind of   
apple4 ,the tree is low1 but spreads its
 branches1 so that its breadth is       
greater than its height4 ,so the true   
,christian is humble and lowly2 while   
his good works spread all around him4   
,the blossoms of this tree are large and
 beautiful1 forming a cup like a bell4  
,but when the flowers are double1 no    
fruit follows4 ,so the double-minded    
hypocrite brings forth no fruit4 ,the   
pomegranate apple is exceedingly        
beautiful and delicious2 and so the real
 fruits of ,christianity are full of    
beauty and loveliness4 ,again1 the      
church is said to lay up for ,christ all

 manner of pleasant fruit1 new and old4 
,but1 backsliding ,israel is called an  
empty vine1 bringing forth fruit unto   
himself4 ,here we may distinguish       
between the apparent good fruits of the 
hypocrite and those of the real         
,christian4 ,the latter does everything 
for ,christ4 ,he really desires the     
glory of ,god1 and the advancement of   
,christ's ,kingdom2 and this is his     
ruling motive in all his conduct4 ,but  
the former1 though he may do many things
 good in themselves1 yet does them all  
with selfish motives4 ,his ruling desire
 is to gratify himself1 and to promote  
his own honor and interest1 either in   
this world1 or in that which is to come4
  ,the fruit which his people bring     
forth is that on which ,christ chiefly  
insists1 as a test of ,christian        
character4 ,every good tree bringeth    
forth good fruit2 but a corrupt tree    
bringeth forth evil fruit4 ,he compares 
himself to a vine1 and his followers to 
branches2 and informs them that every   

branch which beareth not fruit shall be 
taken away4 ,in the passage quoted from 
the first ,psalm1 the righteous is said 
to bring forth fruit in his season4 ,and
 in the #ib;d ,psalm and #adth verse1 it
 is said1 ,they shall still bring forth 
fruit in their old age2 they shall be   
fat and flourishing2 thus exhibiting a  
constancy of fruit-bearing1 and an      
uninterrupted growth1 even down to old  
age4  ,but1 it becomes a matter of      
serious inquiry to know what is meant by
 bringing forth fruit in his season4    
,the apostle ,paul says1 ,the fruit of  
the ,spirit is in all goodness1 and     
righteousness1 and truth4 ,hence1 we    
conclude1 that bringing forth fruit in  
season must be carrying out the         
principles of the gospel into every part
 of our conduct4 ,in another place1 the 
same apostle informs us more            
particularly what are the fruits of the 
,spirit3 ,the fruit of the ,spirit is   
love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1       
gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1  

temperance4 ,let us1 then1 carry out    
these principles1 and see what influence
 they will have upon the ,christian     
character4 ,love is something that can  
be felt4 ,it is an outgoing of heart    
towards the object loved1 and a feeling 
of union with it4 ,when we have a strong
 affection for a friend1 it is because  
we see in him something that is lovely4 
,we love his society1 and delight to    
think of him when he is absent4 ,our    
minds are continually upon the lovely   
traits of his character4 ,so ought we to
 love ,god4 ,the ground of this love    
should be the infinite purity1          
excellence1 and beauty of his moral     
perfections1 independent of our         
relations to him4 ,he is infinite       
loveliness in himself4 ,there is such a 
thing as feeling this love in exercise4 
,in the ,song of ,solomon1 love is said 
to be strong as death4 ,surely1 this is 
no faint imagery4 ,is it possible for a 
person to exercise a feeling as strong  
as death1 and yet not be sensible of it8

 ,love takes hold of every faculty of   
soul and body4 ,it must1 then1 be no    
very dull feeling4 ,again2 the warmth   
and the settled and abiding nature of   
love are represented by such strong     
language as this3 ,many waters cannot   
quench love1 neither can the floods     
drown it4 ,surely this can be no fitful 
feeling1 which comes and goes at        
extraordinary seasons4 ,it must be a    
settled and abiding principle of the    
soul2 though it may not always be       
accompanied with strong emotions4 ,we   
may sometimes be destitute of emotion   
towards the friends we love most4 ,but1 
the settled principle of esteem and     
preference is abiding2 and our attention
 needs only to be called to the lovely  
traits in our friend's character1 to    
call forth emotion4  ,david1 under the  
influence of this feeling1 breaks forth 
in such expressions as these3 ,my soul  
thirsteth for thee2 my flesh longeth for
 thee3 ,as the hart panteth for the     
water-brooks1 so panteth my soul after  

thee1 ,o ,god3 ,my soul thirsteth for   
,god1 for the living ,god3 ,my soul     
longeth1 yea1 even fainteth1 for the    
courts of the ,lord2 my heart and my    
flesh crieth out for the living ,god3   
,my soul breaketh for the longing it    
hath unto thy judgments at all times4   
,surely there is no dulness1 no         
coldness1 in such feelings as these4    
,they accord with the spirit of the     
command1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy 
,god with all thine heart1 and with all 
thy soul1 and with all thy might4 ,and  
this was not1 with the ,psalmist1 an    
occasional lively frame4 ,this          
soul-breaking longing was the habitual  
feeling of his heart2 for he exercised  
it at all times ,and what was it that   
called forth these ardent longings8 ,was
 it the personal benefits which he had  
received or expected to receive from    
,god8 ,by no means4 ,after expressing an
 earnest desire to dwell in the house of
 the ,lord1 all the days of his life1 he
 tells us why he wished to be there3 to 

behold the beauty of the ,lord1 and to  
inquire in his temple4 ,the object of   
his love was the beauty of the ,lord2   
doubtless meaning his moral perfections4
 ,intimately connected with this was his
 desire to know the will of the ,lord4  
,for this he wished to inquire in his   
temple4 ,and whenever the love of ,god  
is genuine1 it will call forth the same 
desire4 ,the apostle ,john1 whose very  
breath is love1 says1 ,this is the love 
of ,god1 that we keep his commandments4 
,the child that loves his parents will  
delight in doing everything he can to   
please them4 ,but the child that cares  
for his parents only as he expects to be
 benefited by them1 will always do as   
little as possible for them1 and that   
little unwillingly4 ,so1 in our         
relations with ,god4 ,the hypocrite may 
have a kind of love to him1 because he  
thinks himself a peculiar object of     
divine favor1 and because he still      
expects greater blessings4 ,but this    
does not lead him to delight in the     

commands of ,god4 ,he rather esteems    
them as a task4 ,his heart is not in the
 doing of them2 and he is willing to    
make them as light as possible4 ,but1   
the real ,christian delights in the law 
of ,god2 and the chief source of his    
grief is1 that he falls so far short of 
keeping it4  ,again1 if we love ,god1 we
 shall love the image of ,god1 wherever 
we find it4 ,every one that loveth him  
that begat1 loveth him also that is     
begotten of him4 ,our love to           
,christians1 if genuine1 must arise from
 the resemblance which they bear to     
,christ2 and not from the comfort which 
we enjoy in their society1 nor because  
they appear friendly to us4 ,this       
hypocrites also feel4 ,if we really     
exercise that love1 we shall be willing 
to make personal sacrifices for the     
benefit of our ,christian brethren4 ,we 
are directed to love one another as     
,christ loved us4 ,and how did ,christ  
love us8 ,so strong was his love that he
 laid down his life for us8 ,and the    

apostle ,john says1 we ought1 in        
imitation of him1 to lay down our lives 
for the brethren2 that is1 if occasion  
require it4 ,such is the strength of    
that love which we are required to      
exercise for our ,christian brethren4   
,but1 how can this exist in the heart1  
when we feel unwilling to make the least
 sacrifice of our own feelings or       
interests for their benefit8  ,again2   
there is another kind of love required  
of us4 ,this is the love of compassion1 
which may be exercised even towards     
wicked men4 ,and what must be the extent
 of this love8 ,there can be but one    
standard4 ,we have the example of our   
,lord before us4 ,so intense was his    
love1 that it led him to make every     
personal sacrifice of ease1 comfort1 and
 worldly good1 for the benefit of the   
bodies and souls of men2 yea1 he laid   
down his life for them4 ,this is the    
kind of love which is required of us1   
and which was exercised by the apostles 
and early ,christians4  ,another fruit  

of the ,spirit is ,,joy4 ,we are        
commanded to rejoice in the ,lord at all
 times4 ,if we have a proper sense of   
the holiness of ,god's moral character2 
of the majesty and glory of his power2  
of the infinite wisdom which shines     
through all his works2 the infinite     
rectitude of his moral government2 and  
especially of that amazing display of   
his love1 in the work of redemption--it 
will fill our hearts with ,,joy         
,,unspeakable ,,and ,,full ,,of ,,glory4
 ,nor is rejoicing in ,god at all       
inconsistent with mourning for sin4 ,on 
the contrary1 the more we see of the    
divine character1 the more deeply shall 
we be abased and humbled before him4    
,says ,job1 ,i have heard of thee by the
 hearing of the ear2 but now mine eye   
seeth thee4 ,wherefore1 ,i abhor myself1
 and repent in dust and ashes4 ,it was a
 sight of ,god which brought this holy  
man so low before him4  ,another fruit  
of the ,spirit is ,,peace4 ,this is of  
two kinds2 peace with ,god1 and peace   

with man4 ,the impenitent are at war    
with ,god2 there is therefore no peace  
for them4 ,god is angry with them1 and  
they are contending with him4 ,but the  
,christian becomes reconciled to ,god   
through ,christ4 ,he finds peace in     
believing in him4 ,the ,lord is no      
longer a ,god of terror to him1 but a   
,god of peace4 ,hence the gospel is     
called the way of peace2 and ,christ the
 ,prince of ,peace4 ,jesus1 in his      
parting interview with his beloved      
disciples1 says1 ,peace ,i leave with   
you1 my peace ,i give unto you4         
,righteousness1 or justice and peace1   
are said to have met together and kissed
 each other4 ,we have peace with ,god1  
through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the  
,bible is full of this subject1 but ,i  
cannot dwell upon it4 ,i wish you to    
look out the following passages2 read   
and compare them diligently1 and        
meditate upon the blessed truth which   
they contain ,ps4 #cg3cg2 #he3h2        
#aai3afe4 ,prov4 #af3g4 ,isa4 #bj3c2    

#eg3ai4 ,lu4 #b3ad4 ,john #af3cc4 ,rom4 
#h3f2 #ad3ag4 #a ,cor4 #g3ae4 ,eph4     
#b3aa1 #ae4 ,phil4 #d3g4 ,col4 #c3ae4   
,i know not how to speak of this        
exercise of the mind4 ,it is better felt
 than described4 ,it is a calm and holy 
reconciliation with ,god and his        
government2 a settled feeling of        
complacency towards everything but sin4 
,it begets a serene and peaceful temper 
and disposition of the heart4 ,but this 
gracious work of the ,holy ,spirit does 
not stop with these exercises of the    
mind4 ,however we may seem to feel1 in  
our moments of retirement and           
meditation1 if this peaceful disposition
 is not carried out in our intercourse  
with others1 and our feelings towards   
them1 we have reason to suspect         
ourselves of hypocrisy4 ,whatever is in 
our hearts will manifest itself in our  
conduct4 ,if we exercise a morose1 sour1
 and jealous disposition towards others2
 if we indulge a censorious spirit1 not 
easily overlooking their faults2 if we  

are easily provoked1 and irritated with 
the slightest offence2 if we indulge in 
petty strifes and backbiting--surely the
 peace of ,god does not rule in our     
hearts4 ,so much does ,christ esteem    
this peaceful spirit1 that he says      
peacemakers shall be called the children
 of ,god4 ,again1 he tells his disciples
 to have peace one with another4 ,the   
apostle ,paul1 also1 gives frequent     
exhortations to the exercise of this    
grace4 ,be at peace among yourselves4   
,follow peace with all men4 ,if it be   
possible1 live peaceably with all men4  
,that we may lead a quiet and peaceable 
life4  ,,meekness is a twin-sister of   
,peace4 ,it is a temper of mind not     
easily provoked to resentment4 ,the word
 used in the original signifies easiness
 of mind4 ,the cultivation of this grace
 resembles the taming of wild animals4  
,it is the bringing of all our wild and 
ungovernable passions under control4 ,it
 is an eminent work of the ,spirit2 and 
we may judge of our spiritual           

attainments by the degree of it which we
 possess4 ,the ,scriptures abound with  
exhortations to the cultivation of it4  
,it is preeminently lovely in the female
 character4 ,hence1 the apostle ,peter  
exhorts women to adorn themselves with  
the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1
 which is1 in the sight of ,god1 of     
great price4  ,,long-,,suffering and    
,,gentleness are twin-daughters of      
,meekness4 ,the latter is the           
disposition of the heart4 ,the former   
are the actions which flow out from that
 disposition1 in our intercourse with   
others4 ,long-suffering is godlike4 ,it 
is an imitation of the forbearance of   
,god towards his rebellious creatures4  
,he is long-suffering1 and slow to      
anger4 ,he does not let his anger burn  
hot against sinners1 till all means of  
bringing them to repentance have failed4
 ,o1 how should this shame us1 who      
cannot bear the least appearance of     
insult or injury from our               
fellow-sinners1 without resentment6     

,but1 if we would be the children of our
 ,father in heaven1 we must learn to    
bear ill treatment with a meek and quiet
 and forgiving temper4 ,gentleness is   
one of the most lovely of all the graces
 of the ,spirit4 ,it is a softness or   
mildness of disposition and behavior1   
and stands opposed to harshness and     
severity1 pride and arrogance4 ,it      
corrects whatever is offensive in our   
manner1 and1 by a constant train of     
humane attentions1 studies to alleviate 
the burden of common misery2 the        
constant exercise of this spirit is of  
the greatest importance to the          
,christian who would glorify ,god in his
 life1 and do good to his               
fellow-creatures4  ,,goodness is another
 fruit of the ,spirit4 ,i suppose the   
apostle here means the same that he     
expresses in another place by bowels of 
mercies and kindness4 ,it is doing good 
both to the bodies and souls of others1 
as we have opportunity4 ,be kindly      
affectioned one to another4 ,be ye kind 

one to another1 tender-hearted4 ,this is
 a distinguishing trait in the          
,christian character4 ,it shone forth in
 all its loveliness in our divine       
,redeemer4 ,he went about doing good4   
,so ought we to imitate his example4 ,it
 should be our chief aim and study to   
make ourselves useful to others2 for we 
thereby glorify ,god4 ,if we have the   
,spirit of ,christ1 this will be the    
great business of our lives4  ,another  
fruit of the ,spirit is ,,faith4        
,although this is mentioned last but two
 in the catalogue1 yet it is by no means
 the least important4 ,indeed1 it may be
 called the father of all the rest4 ,the
 proper definition of faith is1 a belief
 of the truth4 ,faith is a very common  
principle of action1 by which is        
transacted all the business of this     
life4 ,people universally act according 
to their faith4 ,if a person is fully   
convinced that his house is on fire1 he 
will make haste to escape4 ,if a man    
really believes a bank-note is good1 he 

will receive it for its professed value4
 ,if the merchant believes that his     
customer is able to pay for them1 he    
will give him goods upon credit4 ,if a  
child really believes his parent will   
punish him for doing mischief1 he will  
keep out of it4 ,and so1 in everything  
else1 we act according to our belief4   
,no person ever fully believes a truth  
which concerns himself1 without acting  
accordingly4 ,that faith which is the   
fruit of the ,spirit is a hearty belief 
of all the truths of ,god's word4 ,and  
in proportion as we believe these       
truths1 in their application to         
ourselves1 we shall act according to    
them4 ,the reason why the sinner does   
not repent and turn to ,god1 is that he 
does not fully believe the word of ,god1
 as it applies to himself4 ,he may      
believe some of the abstract truths of  
the ,scriptures1 but he does not really 
believe himself to be in the dreadful   
danger which they represent him4 ,the   
reason why ,christians live so far from 

the standard of ,god's word is that     
their belief in the truths contained in 
it is so weak and faint4 ,we all profess
 to believe that ,god is everywhere     
present4 ,yet1 ,christians often        
complain that they have no lively sense 
of his presence4 ,the reason is1 that   
they do not fully and heartily believe  
this truth4 ,so strong and vivid is the 
impression when this solemn truth takes 
full possession of the soul1 that the   
apostle compares it to seeing him that  
is invisible4 ,now1 but for our         
unbelief1 we should always have such a  
view of the divine presence4 ,o1 with   
what holy awe and reverence would this  
inspire us6 ,on examination1 we shall   
find that all the graces of the ,spirit 
arise from faith1 and all our sins and  
short-comings from unbelief4 ,it is a   
belief of the moral excellence of ,god's
 character which inspires love4 ,it is a
 belief of our own depravity1 and the   
exceeding sinfulness of sin1 which      
creates godly sorrow4 ,it is a strong   

and particular belief of all the        
overwhelming truths of the ,bible1 which
 overcomes the world4 ,this is the      
victory2 even our faith4 ,it is a firm  
and unshaken belief in these truths1    
presenting the glories of heaven just in
 view1 which supports the ,christian in 
the dark and trying hour of death4 ,it  
is the same belief which makes him as   
bold as a lion in the performance of his
 duty4 ,this is what supported the      
martyrs1 and enabled them cheerfully to 
lay down their lives for ,christ's sake4
 ,it is this which must support you in  
the ,christian warfare4 ,and in         
proportion to your faith will be your   
progress4 ,i would be glad to say more  
on this subject4 ,it is large enough to 
fill a volume4  ,,temperance is another 
fruit of the ,spirit4 ,this consists in 
the proper control of all our desires1  
appetites1 and passions4 ,the exercise  
of this grace is of vital importance1   
not only as it concerns the glory of    
,god1 but our own health and happiness4 

,i have felt much straitened in giving a
 description of the fruits of the       
,spirit in a single letter4 ,i have not 
pretended to do justice to the subject4 
,my principal object has been to show   
the beautiful symmetry of the ,christian
 character1 as it extends from the heart
 to all our actions1 in every relation  
of life4 ,and this will serve as an     
introduction to the more particular     
consideration of the various ,christian 
duties4                                 
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,iv4  ,on the ,reading and    
,study of the ,holy ,scriptures         
,search the ,scriptures4--,,john #e3ci4 
,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,i feel persuaded
 that you will take a deep interest in  
the subject of this letter2 for1 to a   
true child of ,god1 nothing is so       
precious as the volume of inspiration4  
,it is like rubies in a case of gold4   
,that which is most valuable for        
practical use lies on the surface2 while
 every examination discovers new gems of

 surpassing beauty4  ,there is this     
difference between the devotional       
reading and the thorough study of the   
,holy ,scriptures1--that the object of  
the former is to affect the heart1 while
 that of the latter is chiefly to inform
 the understanding4 ,although this      
blessed book should never be used       
without practical application1 yet1 when
 all the powers of the mind are taxed to
 ascertain the critical meaning of the  
text1 there is less opportunity for the 
exercise of the affections of the heart 
than when the mind is suffered simply to
 dwell upon obvious truth4 ,for the     
systematic study of the ,bible1 portions
 of time should be set apart1 if        
possible1 separate from our regular     
seasons of devotion2 or1 perhaps1       
immediately after4 ,for the former1 a   
small portion should be selected from   
the more practical and devotional parts 
of the ,bible4  ,we are commanded to    
search the ,scriptures4 ,searching is a 
difficult and laborious work4 ,to induce

 us to engage in it1 we must have a     
strong desire for something valuable4   
,here is a treasure of sufficient value 
to call forth this desire4 ,this blessed
 book contains the revealed will of     
,god4 ,all who love ,god will be anxious
 to know his will4 ,they will make it   
the rule of their conduct4 ,thy word1   
says the ,psalmist1 is a lamp1 unto my  
feet1 and a light unto my path4 ,the    
will of ,god1 as made known in his word1
 is like a lantern1 which sheds a light 
on our path1 and directs the steps of   
our feet4 ,the sincere ,christian will  
search after a knowledge of ,god's will1
 with more eagerness than he would      
search for hidden treasures of gold and 
silver4 ,he will set his heart to the   
work4 ,this is what ,god commands4      
,after ,moses had given the law of ,god 
to the children of ,israel1 he said unto
 them1 ,set your hearts unto all the    
words which ,i testify among you this   
day4 ,this is a very strong expression4 
,to set our hearts to any work1 is to go

 about it in earnest1 with all the      
energies of our souls4 ,again2 when we  
make great search for anything we very  
much desire and highly prize1 and find  
it1 we are very apt to keep it4 ,hence  
,david says1 ,thy word have ,i hid in my
 heart4 ,but mark the reason of his     
conduct4 ,why did he hide ,god's word in
 his heart8 ,he explains his motive3    
,that ,i might not sin against thee4    
,his object1 in hiding ,god's word in   
his heart1 was to know how to regulate  
his conduct so as not to sin against    
him4 ,you must feel a personal interest 
in the truth4 ,you must study it as the 
directory of your life4 ,when you open  
this blessed book1 let this always be   
the sincere inquiry of your heart3      
,lord1 what wilt thou have me to do8    
,come to it with this childlike spirit  
of obedience1 and you will not fail to  
learn the will of ,god4 ,but when you   
have learned your duty in ,god's word1  
do it without delay4 ,here are two very 
important points of ,christian          

character1 quite too much overlooked4   
7#a47 ,an earnest desire to know present
 duty4 7#b47 ,a steadfast and settled   
determination to do it as soon as it is 
known4 ,here lies the grand secret of   
high spiritual attainments4 ,a person   
who acts from these principles may make 
greater progress in a single day than a 
tardy1 procrastinating spirit in a long 
life4 ,the pressure of obligation rests 
upon the present moment4 ,remember1 when
 you have ascertained present duty1 the 
delay of a single moment is sin4 ,with  
these remarks1 ,i submit a few practical
 directions for the profitable reading  
and study of the ,holy ,scriptures4  #a4
 ,read the ,bible in your closet1 or    
under circumstances which will secure   
you from interruption1 either by the    
conversation of others1 or the          
attractions of other objects4 ,do not   
attempt to fill up little broken        
intervals of time with the reading of   
,god's word4 ,leave these seasons for   
lighter reading4 ,remember1 the reading 

of the ,scriptures is nothing less than 
conversing with ,god4 ,when any one pays
 so little attention to your            
conversation as not to understand what  
you say1 you consider it a great breach 
of politeness4 ,god speaks to you       
whenever you read his holy word4 ,his   
all-seeing eye rests upon your heart2   
and he knows whether you are engaged in 
solemn trifling4 ,if you read his word  
so carelessly as not to understand its  
meaning and drink in its spirit1 you    
treat him as you would disdain to be    
treated by an earthly friend4 ,o the    
forbearance of ,god1 who suffers such   
indignity from those who call themselves
 his children6 ,never approach the word 
of ,god but with feelings of reverence  
and godly fear4  #b4 ,come to the work  
with a preparation of heart4 ,if you    
were going to visit some person of great
 consequence1 whose favor and esteem you
 wished to secure1 you would take care  
to have everything about your person    
adjusted in the most becoming manner4   

,so let it be with your mind1 when you  
come to converse with ,god4 ,shut out   
all worldly thoughts4 ,strive to bring  
yourself into a tranquil1 holy1 and     
tender frame1 so that the truths you    
contemplate may make their proper       
impression upon your heart4  #c4 ,seek  
the aid of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,christ   
promised his disciples that1 when the   
,holy ,spirit should come1 he would     
guide them into all truth4 ,without his 
enlightening influences1 we cannot      
understand the word of ,god2 and without
 his gracious influences upon the heart1
 we shall not be disposed to obey it4   
,we have the most abundant encouragement
 to seek the aid of this ,divine        
,instructor4 ,christ assures us that    
,god is more willing to give his ,holy  
,spirit to them that ask him1 than      
earthly parents are to give good gifts  
to their children4 ,before opening      
,god's word1 pray that he would show you
 the truth1 the rule of your duty1 and  
incline your heart to obey it4 ,as you  

proceed1 keep your heart silently lifted
 up to ,god for the same object4  #d4   
,read with self-application4 ,whenever  
you have discovered any truth1 ask what 
bearing it has upon your present duty4  
,if it relates to spiritual feelings1   
compare it with the exercises of your   
own heart4 ,if they do not correspond1  
you have work for repentance4 ,go       
immediately to the cross of ,christ2    
give yourself away to him anew1 and seek
 for pardon and needed grace4 ,this you 
may do instantly1 either in a silent or 
an audible prayer4 ,if it relates to the
 spirit and temper of ,christians1 in   
their intercourse with one another1 or  
with the world1 compare it with your own
 conduct4 ,if you find yourself         
condemned1 you have the same course to  
pursue1 with a steadfast determination  
to exhibit more of the spirit of        
,christ4 ,if it relates to some positive
 duty1 inquire whether you have done it4
 ,if not1 you have to go through the    
same work of repentance and application 

to the blood of ,christ4 ,but do not    
stop here4 ,do your duty immediately4   
#e4 ,read the ,scriptures regularly4 ,to
 sustain these frail bodies1 a daily    
supply of nourishment is required4      
,equally necessary is daily food for the
 soul4 ,the word of ,god is the bread of
 eternal life4 ,take1 then1 your regular
 supplies of spiritual food1 that your  
soul may not famish4 ,choose for this   
purpose those seasons when you are least
 liable to interruption2 when you can   
retire and shut out the world2 when you 
can best command the energies of your   
mind4 ,there is no time more fit and    
suitable for this than the morning4     
,then the mind is clear1 vigorous1      
unincumbered1 and prepared to receive an
 impression4 ,there is also a propriety 
in consulting ,god's word at the close  
of the day4 ,but this depends much upon 
the state of bodily feeling4 ,if you    
become exhausted and dull1 after the    
labors of the day1 ,i would rather      
recommend taking the whole time in the  

morning4 ,but by no means confine       
yourself to these stated seasons4       
,whenever the nature of your pursuits   
will admit of your seclusion for a      
sufficient length of time to fix your   
mind upon the truth1 you may freely     
drink from this never-failing fountain  
of the water of life4  #f4 ,study the   
,scriptures systematically4 ,if you read
 at random1 here a little and there a   
little1 your views of divine truth will 
be partial and limited4 ,this method may
 indeed be pursued in regard to reading 
strictly devotional2 but only when other
 time is taken for obtaining a connected
 view and a critical understanding of   
the whole ,bible4 ,the ,bible is like a 
dish of savory meats4 ,there is almost  
every variety of style and matter4      
,there is ,history1 ,biography1         
,argumentative and ,didactic ,essays1   
and ,poetry4 ,although these various    
kinds of writing are contained in a     
great number of books1 written by       
various authors1 at different times1    

without concert1 yet a remarkable unity 
of design runs through the whole4 ,they 
all aim at the development of the plan  
of ,god's moral government2 and a most  
striking harmony of sentiment prevails  
throughout4 ,we find everything1 from   
the very beginning1 pointing to the     
glorious plan of redemption revealed in 
the ,gospel4 ,although we may1 at first 
view1 feel the want of a regular system 
of divinity1 yet1 a careful attention to
 the subject will convince us that      
,god's plan is best4 ,we have here the  
principles of his government exhibited  
in living examples2 which give us a     
clearer view1 and more vivid impression 
of them1 than we could obtain from the  
study of an abstract system4 ,there are 
several things to be observed1 in the   
systematic and thorough study of the    
,bible1 some of which ,i shall mention4 
7#a47 ,always keep distinctly before you
 the grand design of the ,scriptures2   
which is1 to convince mankind of their  
lost and ruined condition1 make known   

the way of salvation1 and persuade them 
to embrace it4  7#b47 ,make it your     
constant aim to ascertain what is the   
plain and obvious meaning of the writer2
 for this is the mind of the ,spirit4   
,to aid you in this1 observe the        
following particulars3 #a4 ,endeavor to 
become acquainted with the peculiarity  
of each writer's style4 ,although the   
matter and words of ,scripture were     
dictated by the ,holy ,spirit1 yet it   
was so done that each writer employed a 
style and manner peculiar to himself4   
,this does not invalidate the evidence  
of their divine origin4 ,on the         
contrary1 it shows the wisdom of the    
,spirit4 ,for1 if the whole ,bible had  
been written in a uniform style1 it     
would have given opposers a strong      
argument against its authenticity2 while
 the want of that uniformity furnishes  
conclusive evidence that it could not   
have been the work of a single impostor4
 ,again2 a continued sameness of style  
would make the reading of so large a    

book as the ,bible tedious and          
unpleasant2 but the rich variety        
presented by the various authors of this
 blessed book1 helps our infirmities1   
and makes the reading of it pleasing and
 delightful4 #b4 ,inquire into the      
character1 situation1 and office of the 
writer2 the time1 place1 and occasion of
 his writing2 and the people for whose  
immediate use he intended his work4     
,this will enable you to understand his 
allusions to particular circumstances   
and customs1 and to see the practical   
application of the principles he        
advances4 #c4 ,consider the principal   
scope or aim of the book2 or1 what was  
the author's object1 design1 or         
intention1 in writing it4 ,notice also  
the general plan or method which he has 
pursued4 ,this will enable you to       
discover his leading ideas1 if it be an 
argumentative work2 or the particular   
instructions of ,god's providence1 if it
 be historical4 #d4 ,where the language 
is difficult to be understood1 pay      

strict attention to the context1 and you
 will generally find the author's       
meaning explained4 ,but1 if you do not1 
consider whether the difficult phrase is
 a peculiarity of the writer's style4   
,if so1 look out the place where he has 
used it in a different connection1 and  
see what meaning is attached to it      
there4 ,but1 if this does not satisfy   
you1 examine the passages1 in other     
parts of the ,scriptures1 which relate  
to the same subject1 and compare them   
with the one under consideration4 ,this 
will generally clear up the darkest     
passages4 ,but1 if you still feel in    
doubt1 you may find assistance from     
consulting commentators1 who have made  
themselves thoroughly acquainted with   
all the particulars ,i have mentioned2  
which1 with a knowledge of the language 
in which the book was originally        
written1 may have enabled them to remove
 the difficulty4 ,but1 do not trust the 
opinions of commentators any farther    
than you see they agree with the general

 system of revealed truth2 and1 above   
all1 do not follow them in any scheme of
 fanciful interpretation or visionary   
speculation4  7#c47 ,do not task        
yourself with a certain quantity of     
reading at the regular seasons devoted  
to the study of the ,bible4 ,this may   
lead you to hurry over it1 without      
ascertaining its meaning1 or drinking in
 its spirit4 ,you had better study one  
verse thoroughly1 than to read half a   
dozen chapters carelessly4 ,the         
nourishment received from food depends  
less on the quantity than on its being  
perfectly digested4 ,so with the mind2  
one clear idea is better than a dozen   
confused ones2 and there is such a thing
 as overloading the mind with undigested
 knowledge4 ,ponder upon every portion  
you read1 until you get a full and clear
 view of the truth it contains4 ,fix    
your mind and heart upon it1 as the bee 
lights upon the flower2 and do not leave
 it till you have extracted all the     
honey it contains4  7#d47 ,read in      

course4 ,by studying the whole ,bible in
 connection1 you will obtain a more     
enlarged view of the plan of ,god's     
moral government4 ,and you will see how 
it all centres in the ,lord ,jesus      
,christ4 ,but ,i would not have you     
confine yourself entirely to the regular
 reading of the whole ,bible in course4 
,some portions of the historical part do
 not require so much study as that which
 is more argumentative and doctrinal2   
and some parts of the word of ,god are  
more devotional than others1 and        
therefore better fitted for daily       
practical use4 ,a very good plan is1 to 
read the ,old and ,new ,testaments in   
course1 a portion in each1 every day4   
,if you begin at ,genesis1 ,job1 and    
,matthew1 and read a chapter every day1 
at each place1 omitting the first1 and  
reading three ,psalms1 on the ,sabbath1 
you will read the whole ,bible in a     
year1 while on every day you will have a
 suitable variety4 ,besides this1 the   
more devotional and practical books     

should be read frequently4 ,the ,psalms 
furnish a great variety of ,christian   
experience1 and may be resorted to with 
great profit and comfort1 under all     
circumstances4 ,this is the only book in
 the ,bible which does not require to be
 read in course4 ,the ,psalms are       
detached from each other1 having no     
necessary connection4 ,the other books  
were originally written like a sermon or
 a letter4 ,they have1 for convenience1 
since been divided into chapters and    
verses4 ,if you read a single chapter by
 itself1 you lose the connection2 as1 if
 you should take up a sermon and read a 
page or two1 you would not get a full   
view of the author's subject4 ,i would  
therefore recommend that1 in addition to
 your daily reading in the ,old and ,new
 ,testaments1 you have also some one of 
those books which require most study1 in
 a course of reading1 to take up        
whenever you have an occasional season  
of leisure to devote to the study of the
 ,bible4 ,but1 when you have commenced  

one book1 finish it before you begin    
another4 ,you will find great advantage 
from the use of a reference ,bible and  
concordance4 ,by looking out the        
parallel passages1 as you proceed1 you  
will see how one part of the ,scriptures
 explains another1 and how beautifully  
they all harmonize4 ,this will also give
 you a better view of the whole         
,scriptures than you can obtain in any  
other way4 ,but if you are a            
,sabbath-school teacher or scholar1 your
 regular lesson will furnish as much    
study of this description as you will be
 able thoroughly to accomplish4  7#e47  
,in reading the ,scriptures1 there are  
some subjects of inquiry which you      
should carry along with you constantly3 
#a4 ,what do ,i find here which points  
to ,christ8 ,unless you keep this before
 your mind1 you will lose half the      
interest of many parts of the ,old      
,testament4 ,indeed1 much of it will    
otherwise be almost without meaning4 ,it
 is full of types and prophecies        

relating to ,christ1 which1 by          
themselves1 appear dry1 but1 when       
understood1 most beautiful and full of  
instruction4 #b4 ,remember that the     
,bible contains a history of the church4
 ,endeavor1 then1 to learn the state of 
the church at the time of which you are 
reading4 ,for the sake of convenience1  
and a clearer view of the subject1 you  
may divide the history of the church    
into six periods3 7#a47 ,from the fall  
of ,adam to the flood4 7#b47 ,from ,noah
 to the giving of the law4 7#c47 ,from  
that time to ,david and the prophets4   
7#d47 ,from ,david to the ,babylonish   
captivity4 7#e47 ,from that time till   
the coming of ,christ4 7#f47 ,from      
,christ to the end of time1 which is    
called the gospel dispensation4 ,from   
the commencement you will see a gradual 
development of ,god's designs of mercy1 
and a continually increasing light4     
,take notice of what period of the      
church you are reading2 and from this   
you may judge of the degree of          

obligation of its members2 for this has 
been increasing with the increase of    
light1 from the fall of ,adam to the    
present day2 and it will continue to    
increase to the end of time4 ,note1     
also1 the various declensions and       
revivals of religion which have occurred
 in every period of the church1 and     
endeavor to learn their causes and      
consequences4 ,by this1 you will become 
familiar with ,god's method of dealing  
with his people2 from which you may draw
 practical lessons of caution and       
encouragement for yourself4 #c4 ,inquire
 what doctrinal truth is either taught1 
illustrated1 or enforced1 in the passage
 you are reading2 and also1 what        
principle is recognized4 ,great and     
important principles of the divine      
government and of practical duty are    
often implied in a passage of history   
which relates to a comparatively        
unimportant event4 ,let it be your      
business to draw out these principles1  
and apply them to practice4 ,thus1 you  

will be daily increasing your knowledge 
of the great system of divine truth1 the
 necessity of which ,i need not urge4   
#d4 ,note every promise and every       
prediction2 and observe ,god's          
faithfulness in keeping his promises and
 fulfilling his prophecies4 ,this will  
tend to strengthen your confidence in   
him4 ,you will find it profitable1 as   
you proceed1 to take notes of these     
several matters1 particularly2 and1 at  
the close of every book1 review your    
notes1 and sum them up under different  
heads4  7#f47 ,read the gospels with    
great care1 for the particular purpose  
of studying the character of the blessed
 ,jesus4 ,dwell upon every action of his
 life1 and inquire after his motives4   
,by this course you will be surprised to
 find the ,godhead shining through the  
manhood1 in little incidents which you  
have often read without interest4 ,look 
upon him at all times in his true       
character1 as ,mediator between ,god and
 man4 ,observe his several offices of   

,prophet1 ,priest1 and ,king4 ,see in   
which of these characters he is acting  
at different times2 and inquire what    
bearing the particular action you are   
considering has upon his mediatorial    
character4 ,observe1 also1 the          
particular traits of character which    
appear conspicuous in particular        
actions2 as power1 energy1 manly        
hardihood1 dignity1 condescension1      
humility1 love1 meekness1 pity1         
compassion1 tenderness1 forgiveness1 c4 
,take notes2 and when you have finished 
the course1 draw from them1 in writing1 
a minute and particular description of  
his character4 ,this will be of great   
service to you as a pattern4 ,you will  
also1 by this means1 see a peculiar     
beauty and fitness in ,christ for the   
office he has undertaken1 which you     
would not otherwise have discovered4    
,but1 do not stop with going through    
this course once4 ,repeat it as often as
 you can consistently with your plan of 
a systematic study of the ,holy         

,scriptures4 ,you will always find      
something new2 and upon every fresh     
discovery1 you can revise your old      
notes4  7#g47 ,in reading the historical
 and biographical parts of ,scripture1  
several things are necessary to be      
observed3 #a4 ,the histories contained  
in the ,bible are the histories of      
,god's providence4 ,observe his hand in 
every event4 ,you will there find some  
principle or law of his moral government
 exemplified4 ,inquire what that        
principle is1 and carefully observe its 
application to the conduct of nations1  
communities1 and individuals4 #b4       
,whenever you read of particular mercies
 or judgments1 as experienced by        
nations1 communities1 or individuals1   
look back for the cause4 ,by this you   
will discover the principles upon which 
,god acts in these matters4 #c4 ,in the 
biographies of the ,bible1 study the    
motives and conduct of the characters   
described4 ,if they are unconverted men1
 you will learn the workings of human   

depravity1 and discover what kind of    
influence a correct religious public    
sentiment has in restraining that       
depravity4 ,if they are good men1 you   
will see1 in their good actions1 living 
illustrations of the great doctrines of 
the ,bible4 ,endeavor to learn by what  
means they made such eminent attainments
 in holiness1 and strive to imitate     
them4 ,if their actions are bad1 look   
back and inquire into the cause of their
 backslidings4 ,if you discover it1 you 
will find a way-mark1 to caution you    
against falling into the same pit4      
7#h47 ,the poetical and didactic parts  
of the ,scriptures are scattered        
throughout the whole ,bible4 ,these     
abound with highly wrought figures4     
,this is probably owing partly to the   
insufficiency of ordinary language to   
express the sublime and lofty ideas     
presented to the minds of the writers by
 the ,spirit of truth4 ,endeavor to     
obtain a clear and correct understanding
 of the figures used4 ,these are often  

taken from prevailing habits and        
customs1 and from circumstances peculiar
 to the countries where the ,scriptures 
were written4 ,these habits and         
circumstances you must understand1 or   
you will not see the force of the       
allusions4 ,others are taken from       
circumstances peculiar to particular    
occupations in life4 ,these must also be
 thoroughly studied1 in order to be     
understood4 ,but1 where the figures are 
drawn from things perfectly familiar1   
you will not perceive their surprising  
beauty and exact fitness to express the 
idea of the sacred pen-man1 until you   
have carefully studied them1 and noted  
the minutest circumstances4 ,beware1    
however1 that you do not carry out those
 figures so far as to lead you into     
fanciful and visionary interpretations4 
7#i47 ,the books of the prophets consist
 of reproofs1 exhortations1 warnings1   
threatenings1 predictions1 and promises4
 ,by carefully studying the             
circumstances and characters of those   

for whom they were written1 you will    
find the principles and laws of ,god's  
moral government set forth1 in their    
application to nations1 communities1 and
 individuals4 ,from these you may draw  
practical rules of duty1 and also learn 
how to view the hand of ,god1 in his    
providence1 in different ages of the    
world4 ,the predictions contained in    
these books are the most difficult to be
 understood of any part of the ,bible4  
,in reading them you will notice1 #a4   
,those predictions whose fulfilment is  
recorded in the ,bible1 and diligently  
examine the record of their fulfilment4 
,you will see how careful ,god is to    
fulfil every jot and tittle of his word4
 #b4 ,there are other prophecies1 the   
fulfilment of which is recorded in      
profane history2 and others still which 
are yet unfulfilled4 ,to understand     
these1 it will be necessary to read     
ancient and modern history1 in          
connection with the explanation of the  
prophecies by those writers who have    

made them their study4 ,an attention to 
this1 so far as your circumstances will 
admit1 will be useful in enlarging your 
views of the kingdom of ,christ4 ,but1  
beware of becoming so deeply absorbed in
 these matters as to neglect those of a 
more practical nature2 and especially be
 cautious of advancing far into the     
regions of speculation as to what is yet
 future4  7#aj47 ,you will find it an   
interesting and profitable employment   
occasionally to read a given book       
through1 for the purpose of seeing what 
light it throws upon some particular    
subject1--some point of ,christian      
doctrine1 duty1 practice1 character1 c4 
,for example1 go through with ,acts1    
with your eye upon the doctrine of      
,christ's divinity4 ,then go through    
with it a second time1 to see what light
 it throws on the subject of ,revivals4 
,pursue the same course with other      
books1 and in respect to other subjects4
 ,in this way you will sometimes be     
surprised to find how much you have     

overlooked in your previous reading4    
,it will be perceived that ,i have laid 
out a very extensive and laborious work4
 ,but this is the great business of our 
lives2 and1 indeed1 the contemplation of
 the glorious truths revealed in the    
,bible will form the business of        
eternity2 and even that will be too     
short to learn the length and breadth1  
and height and depth1 of the ways of the
 ,almighty4                             
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,v4  ,prayer and ,fasting4     
,in everything1 by prayer and           
supplication1 with thanksgiving1 let    
your requests be made known unto        
,god4--,,phil4 #d3f4   ,,my ,,dear      
,,sister1  ,the subject of this letter  
is one of vital interest to every       
,christian4 ,it is1 therefore1 of the   
utmost consequence1 that it be both well
 understood and diligently practised4   
,it seems hardly necessary to urge      
prayer upon the ,christian as a duty4   
,every true ,christian must feel it to  

be a soul-exalting privilege4 ,it is his
 breath2 without it1 he can no more     
maintain his spiritual life1 than animal
 life can be sustained without          
breathing4 ,prayer is an intimate       
communion with ,god1 by which we unbosom
 our hearts to him1 and receive         
communications of his grace1 and fresh  
tokens of his love4 ,what ,christian1   
then1 whose soul burns with divine love1
 will be disposed to apply to this holy 
employment the cold appellation of duty8
 ,yet1 ,god sees so much the importance 
of prayer1 that he has not only         
permitted1 but commanded us to pray4    
,our ,lord frequently directed his      
disciples1 and us through them1 to watch
 and pray4 ,he also teaches us to       
persevere in prayer3 ,men ought always  
to pray1 and not to faint4 ,the apostle 
,paul is frequent in exhorting          
,christians to pray3 ,pray without      
ceasing4 ,i will that men pray          
everywhere4 ,praying always1 with all   
prayer and supplication in the ,spirit4 

,i exhort1 therefore1 that1 first of    
all1 supplications1 prayers1            
intercessions1 and giving of thanks1 be 
made for all men4 ,continuing instant in
 prayer4 ,the duty of prayer is also    
enforced by the example of all the holy 
men whose biography is given in         
,scripture4 ,moses1 ,samuel1 ,david1    
,elijah1 and all the prophets1 were     
mighty in prayer4 ,so were also the     
apostles4 ,but1 above all1 the ,lord    
,jesus1 our blessed pattern1 has set    
before us a life of prayer4 ,you will   
find it very profitable to read the     
lives of these holy men1 but especially 
that of our blessed ,saviour1 for the   
special purpose of noticing how much    
they abounded in prayer4 ,our ,lord     
never undertook anything of importance1 
without first observing a special season
 of prayer4 ,oft we find him retiring   
into the mountains1 sometimes a great   
while before day1 for prayer4 ,indeed1  
on several occasions1 he continued all  
night in prayer to ,god4 ,if1 then1 it  

became the ,lord of life and glory to   
spend much time in prayer1 how much     
more1 such weak and sinful creatures as 
we1 who are surrounded with temptations 
without1 and beset with corruptions     
within6 ,prayer is necessarily so       
intermingled with every duty1 that the  
idea of a prayerless ,christian is an   
absurdity4  ,prayer not only secures to 
us the blessings which we need1 but it  
brings our minds into a suitable frame  
for receiving them4 ,we must see our    
need1 feel our unworthiness1 be sensible
 of our dependence upon ,god1 and       
believe in his willingness to grant us1 
through ,christ1 the things that are    
necessary and proper for us4 ,an        
acknowledgment of these things1 on our  
part1 is both requisite and proper2 and1
 without such acknowledgment1 it might  
not be consistent with the great ends of
 his moral government for ,god to grant 
us our desires4  ,prayer is the offering
 up of the sincere desires and feelings 
of our hearts to ,god4 ,it consists of  

adoration1 confession1 supplication1    
intercession1 and thanksgiving4         
,adoration is an expression of our sense
 of the infinite majesty and glory of   
,god4 ,confession is an humble          
acknowledgment of our sins and          
unworthiness4 ,by supplication1 we ask  
for pardon1 grace1 or any blessing we   
need for ourselves4 ,by intercession1 we
 pray for others4 ,by thanksgiving1 we  
express our gratitude to ,god for his   
goodness and mercy towards us and our   
fellow-creatures4 ,all these several    
parts are embraced in the prayers       
recorded in ,scripture1 though all of   
them are not generally found in the same
 prayer4 ,the prayer of ,solomon1 at the
 dedication of the temple1 commences    
with adoration1 and proceeds with       
supplication and intercession4 ,the     
prayer of ,daniel1 in the time of the   
captivity1 commences with adoration1 and
 proceeds with confession1 supplication1
 and intercession4 ,the prayer of the   
,levites1 in behalf of the people1 after

 the return from captivity1 commences   
with thanksgiving and adoration1 and    
proceeds with confession1 supplication1 
and intercession4 ,the prayers of ,david
 are full of thanksgiving4 ,the prayer  
of ,habakkuk consists of adoration1     
supplication1 and thanksgiving4 ,the    
prayer of the disciples1 after the      
joyous return of the apostles from the  
council of their persecutors1 consists  
of adoration1 a particular rehearsal of 
their peculiar circumstances1 and       
supplication4 ,the apostle ,paul        
particularly enjoins prayer and         
supplication1 with thanksgiving4 ,if you
 wish to learn how to pray1 ,i would    
advise you to look out and study all the
 prayers recorded in ,scripture4        
,although most of them are probably but 
the substance of what was said on the   
several occasions when they were        
offered1 yet you will find them much    
better patterns than the prayers of     
,christians at the present day4 ,there  
is a fervent simplicity about them1 very

 different from the studied1 formal     
prayers which we often hear4 ,there is a
 definiteness and point in them1 which  
take hold of the feelings of the heart4 
,the ,lord's prayer furnishes a         
comprehensive summary of the subjects of
 prayer3 and you will take particular   
notice what a prominent place is        
assigned to the petition for the coming 
of ,christ's kingdom4 ,this shows that1 
in all our prayers1 the glory of ,god   
should be the leading desire of our     
hearts4 ,but1 it is evident that ,christ
 did not intend this as a particular    
form of prayer1 to be used on all       
occasions2 although it includes all that
 is necessary4 ,we are so made as to be 
affected with a particular consideration
 of the subjects in which we are        
interested4 ,we find our ,lord himself  
using other words to suit particular    
occasions2 although the subjects of his 
prayers were all included in this4 ,the 
same thing1 also1 we observe in the     
practice of the apostles and early      

,christians4 ,this is only intended as a
 general pattern2 nor is it necessary   
that all the petitions contained in the 
,lord's prayer should ever be made at   
the said time4  ,prayer must always be  
offered in the name of ,christ4 ,there  
is no other way by which we can approach
 ,god4 ,there is no other channel       
through which we can receive blessings  
from him4 ,jesus is our ,advocate and   
,intercessor4 ,our blessed ,lord1       
speaking of the time of his             
glorification1 says to his disciples1   
,verily1 ,i say unto you1 whatsoever ye 
shall ask the ,father in my name1 he    
will give it you4 ,this1 however1 does  
not forbid us to pray directly to       
,christ1 as ,god manifest in the flesh1 
which was a common practice with the    
apostles4  ,when the power of prayer is 
properly understood1 it becomes a       
subject of amazing interest4 ,i am      
persuaded there is a vast amount of     
unbelief1 in relation to this matter1   
among ,christians4 ,if it were not so1  

the chariot wheels of ,god's salvation  
would roll on with mighty power4 ,there 
would be a glorious movement in every   
part of the world4 ,the ,spirit of the  
,lord would be shed forth like a mighty 
rushing wind4 ,the promises of ,god to  
his people are so large and full1 that  
the utmost stretch of their faith cannot
 reach them4 ,the great and eternal ,god
 has condescended to lay himself under  
obligation to hear and answer the       
prayers of mortal worms4 ,if we collect 
the promises relating to this subject1  
we shall be astonished at the amount of 
assurance which is given4 ,so confident 
was ,david on this point1 that he       
addresses ,god as the hearer of prayer1 
as though that were a distinguishing    
trait in his character4 ,again1 he says1
 ,he will regard the prayer of the      
destitute1 and not despise their prayer4
 ,solomon says1 ,the prayer of the      
upright is his delight2 and again1 ,he  
heareth the prayer of the righteous4    
,the apostle ,james ,bays1 ,the         

effectual1 fervent prayer of a righteous
 man availeth much4 ,the apostle ,peter 
says1 ,the eyes of the ,lord are open to
 the righteous1 and his ears are open   
unto their prayers4 ,and ,christ himself
 has assured us1 in the strongest       
possible terms1 of the willingness of   
,god to give spiritual blessings to     
those that ask for them4 ,he says1 ,ask1
 and it shall be given you2 seek1 and ye
 shall find2 knock1 and it shall be     
opened unto you4 ,for every one that    
asketh receiveth2 and he that seeketh1  
findeth2 and to him that knocketh1 it   
shall he opened4 ,but1 as if this       
assurance were not sufficient to        
convince us of this most interesting    
truth1 he appeals to the tenderest      
sympathies of our natures4 ,he asks if  
any father would insult the hungry cries
 of his beloved son1 when fainting for a
 morsel of bread1 by giving him a stone2
 or1 if he ask an egg1 to gratify his   
appetite1 will he give him a venomous   
scorpion1 to sting him to death8,b ,he  

then argues1 that if sinful men exercise
 tender compassion towards their        
children1 how much more shall our       
heavenly ,father1 whose very nature is  
love1 regard the wants of his children  
who cry unto him4 ,is it possible to    
conceive a stronger expression of the   
willingness of ,god to answer the       
prayers of his people8    ,footnote ,b3 
,the scorpion is a little animal1 of the
 shape of an egg1   whose sting is      
deadly poison4  ,and these precious     
promises are confirmed by striking      
examples1 in every age of the church4   
,thus1 ,abraham prayed for ,sodom2 and1 
through his intercession1 ,lot was      
saved4 ,his servant1 when sent to obtain
 a wife for ,isaac1 received a direct   
answer to prayer4 ,when ,jacob heard    
that his brother ,esau was coming       
against him1 with an army of four       
hundred men1 he wrestled all night in   
prayer1 and prevailed2 so that ,esau    
became reconciled to him4 ,moses prayed 
for the plagues to come upon ,egypt1 and

 they came2 again1 he prayed for them to
 be removed1 and they were removed4 ,it 
was through his prayers that the ,red   
,sea was divided1 the manna and the     
quails were sent1 and the waters gushed 
out of the rock ,and through his        
prayers1 many times1 the arm of the     
,lord was stayed1 which had been        
uplifted to destroy his rebellious      
people4 ,samuel1 that lovely example of 
early piety1 and the judge and deliverer
 of ,israel1 was given in answer to the 
prayer of his mother4 ,when the children
 of ,israel were in danger of being     
overthrown by the ,philistines1 ,samuel 
prayed1 and ,god sent thunder and       
lightning1 and destroyed the armies of  
their enemies4 ,again1 to show their    
rebellion against ,god1 in asking a     
king1 he prayed1 and ,god sent thunder  
and lightning upon them in the time of  
wheat harvest4 ,in order to punish the  
idolatry and rebellion of the           
,israelites1 ,elijah prayed earnestly   
that it might not rain2 and it rained   

not for three years and six months4     
,again2 he prayed that it might rain1   
and there arose a little cloud1 as a    
man's hand1 which spread and covered the
 heavens with blackness1 till the rain  
descended in torrents4 ,again2 when     
wicked ,ahab sent a band of men to take 
him1 he prayed1 and fire came down from 
heaven1 and consumed them4 ,hezekiah1   
upon the bed of death1 prayed1 and ,god 
lengthened his life fifteen years4      
,jerusalem was invaded by the army of   
,sennacherib1 and threatened with       
destruction4 ,hezekiah prayed1 and the  
angel of the ,lord entered the camp of  
the invader1 and in one night slew one  
hundred and eighty-five thousand men4   
,when all the wise men of ,babylon were 
threatened with destruction1 because    
they could not discover                 
,nebuchadnezzar's dream1 ,daniel and his
 companions prayed1 and the dream and   
its explanation were revealed4 ,jonah   
prayed1 and was delivered from the power
 of the fish4 ,it was in answer to the  

prayer of ,zacharias1 that the angel    
,gabriel was sent to inform him of the  
birth of ,john the ,baptist4 ,it was    
after a ten days' prayer-meeting1 that  
the ,holy ,ghost came down1 on the day  
of ,pentecost1 like a mighty rushing    
wind4 ,again2 while the disciples were  
praying1 the place was shaken where they
 were assembled1 to show that ,god heard
 their prayers4 ,it was in answer to the
 prayers of ,cornelius1 that ,peter was 
sent to teach him the way of life4 ,when
 ,peter was imprisoned by ,herod1 the   
church set apart the night before his   
expected execution1 for special prayer  
in his behalf4 ,the ,lord sent his      
angel1 opened the prison doors1 and     
restored him to the agonizing band of   
brethren4 ,and when ,paul and ,silas    
were thrown into the dungeon1 with their
 feet fast in the stocks1 they prayed1  
and there was a great earthquake1 which 
shook the foundations of the prison1 so 
that all the doors were opened4  ,but   
the faithfulness of ,god to his promises

 is not confined to ,scripture times4   
,although the time of miracles has      
passed1 yet every age of the church has 
furnished examples of the faithfulness  
of ,god in hearing the prayers of his   
children4 ,but these are so numerous    
that it is difficult to make selections 
from them4 ,however1 ,i will mention a  
few4 ,when the ,arians1 who denied the  
divinity of ,christ1 were about to      
triumph1 the ,bishop of ,constantinople1
 and one of his ministers1 spent a whole
 night in prayer4 ,the next day1 ,arius1
 the leader of his party1 was suddenly  
cut off1 by a violent and distressing   
disease4 ,this prevented the threatened 
danger4 ,augustine was a wild youth1    
sunk in vice1 and a violent opposer of  
religion4 ,his mother persevered in     
prayer for him nine years1 when he was  
converted1 and became the most eminent  
minister of his age4 ,the life of       
,francke exhibits the most striking and 
signal answers to prayer4 ,his orphan   
house was literally built up and        

sustained by prayer4 ,if you have not   
already read this work1 ,i would advise 
you to obtain it4 ,it is a great help to
 weak faith4 ,mr4 ,west 7afterwards ,dr4
 ,west7 became pastor of the            
,congregational church in ,stockbridge1 
,massachusetts1 while destitute of vital
 piety4 ,two pious females often        
lamented to each other that they got no 
spiritual food from his preaching4 ,at  
length1 they agreed to meet once a week1
 to pray for his conversion4 ,they      
continued this for some time1 under much
 discouragement4 ,but1 although the     
,lord tried their faith1 yet he never   
suffered them both to be discouraged at 
the same time4 ,at length1 their prayers
 were heard4 ,there was a sudden and    
remarkable change in his preaching4     
,what is this8 said one of them4 ,god is
 the hearer of prayer1 replied the      
other4 ,the ,spirit of ,god had led ,mr4
 ,west to see that he was a blind leader
 of the blind4 ,he was converted1 and   
changed his cold morality for the cross 

of ,christ1 as the basis of his sermons4
 ,a pious slave in ,newport1 ,rhode     
,island1 was allowed by his master to   
labor for his own profit whatever time  
he could gain by extra diligence4 ,he   
laid up all the money he earned in this 
way1 for the purpose of purchasing the  
freedom of himself and family4 ,but1    
when some of his ,christian friends     
heard what he was doing1 they advised   
him to spend his gained time in fasting 
and prayer4 ,accordingly1 the next day  
that he gained1 he set apart for this   
purpose4 ,before the close of the day1  
his master sent for him1 and gave him a 
written certificate of his freedom4     
,this slave's name was ,newport         
,gardner4 ,he was a man of ardent piety2
 and in #ahbe1 he was ordained deacon of
 a church of colored people1 who went   
out from ,boston to ,liberia4 ,instances
 of surprising answers to prayer1 no    
less striking than these1 are           
continually occurring in the revivals of
 religion of the present day4  ,with the

 evidence here presented1 who can doubt 
that ,god hears and answers prayer8     
,but1 the objection arises1 ,if this    
doctrine be really true1 why is it that 
,christians offer up so many prayers    
without receiving answers8 ,the apostle 
,james gives some explanation of this   
difficulty3 ,ye ask and receive not1    
because ye ask amiss4 ,it becomes us1   
then1 seriously and diligently to       
inquire how we may ask aright so as to  
secure the blessings so largely promised
 in answer to prayer4 ,in relation to   
this subject1 there are several things  
to be observed3  #a4 ,we must sincerely 
desire the things which we ask4 ,if a   
child should ask his mother for a piece 
of bread1 when she knew he was not      
hungry1 but was only trifling with her1 
it would not he proper for her to give  
it4 ,indeed1 she would have just cause  
to punish him for mocking her4 ,and do  
we not often come to the throne of      
grace1 when we do not really feel our   
perishing need of the things we ask8    

,god sees our hearts2 and he is not only
 just in withholding the blessing we    
ask1 but in chastising us for solemn    
trifling4  #b4 ,we must desire what we  
ask1 that ,god may be glorified4 ,ye ask
 amiss1 that ye may consume it upon your
 lusts4 ,we may possibly ask spiritual  
blessings for self-gratification2 and   
when we do so1 we have no reason to     
expect that ,god will bestow them upon  
us4  #c4 ,we must ask for things        
,,agreeable ,,to ,,the ,,will ,,of      
,,god4 ,and this is the confidence that 
we have in him1 that if we ask anything 
according to his will1 he heareth us4   
,the things that we ask must be such1 in
 kind1 as he has indicated his          
willingness to bestow upon us4 ,such    
are1 spiritual blessings on our own     
souls2 the supply of our necessary      
temporal wants2 and the extension of his
 kingdom4 ,these are the kind of        
blessings that we are to ask2 and the   
degree of confidence with which we are  
to look for an answer must be in        

proportion to the positiveness of the   
promises4 ,our ,lord assures us that our
 heavenly ,father is more willing to    
give good things1 and particularly his  
,holy ,spirit1 to them that ask him1    
than earthly parents are to give good   
gifts to their children2 and he declares
 expressly1 that our sanctification is  
agreeable to the will of ,god4 ,the     
promises of the daily supply of our     
necessary temporal wants are equally    
positive4 ,what1 then1 can be more      
odious in the sight of ,god1 than for   
those who profess to be his children to 
excuse their want of spirituality on the
 ground of their dependence upon him8   
,and what more ungrateful1 than to fret 
and worry themselves1 lest they should  
come to want8 ,we may also pray for a   
revival of religion in a particular     
place1 and for the conversion of        
particular individuals1 with strong     
ground of confidence1 because we know   
that ,god has willed the extension of   
,christ's kingdom1 and that the         

conversion of sinners is1 in itself1    
agreeable to his will4 ,but we cannot   
certainly know that he intends to       
convert a particular individual1 or     
revive his work in a particular place2  
nor can we be sure that the particular  
temporal blessing that we desire is what
 the ,lord sees to be needful for our   
present necessities4  #d4 ,we must ask  
in faith4 ,but let him ask in faith1    
nothing wavering4 ,for he that wavereth 
is like a wave of the sea1 driven with  
the winds1 and tossed4 ,for let not that
 man think that he shall receive        
anything of the ,lord4 ,a difference of 
opinion exists among real ,christians1  
as to what constitutes the prayer of    
faith spoken of by the apostle4 ,some   
maintain that we must believe that we   
shall receive the very thing for which  
we ask4 ,this opinion is founded on some
 promises made by our ,lord to the      
apostles1 which those who hold the      
contrary opinion suppose to have been   
intended only for them4 ,i shall not    

attempt to determine this point2 nor do 
,i think it very important which of     
these theories is embraced2 because1 in 
examining the history of those persons  
whose prayers have received the seal of 
heaven1 ,i find some of them embraced   
one1 and some the other2 while many who 
embrace either of them seem not to live 
in the exercise of prevailing prayer4   
,the main point1 therefore1 seems to be1
 that we should maintain such a nearness
 of communion with ,god as shall secure 
the personal exercise of the prayer of  
faith4 ,two things1 however1 are        
essential to this3 7#a47 ,strong        
confidence in the existence and         
faithfulness of ,god4 ,he that cometh   
unto ,god must believe that he is1 and  
that he is a rewarder of them that      
diligently seek him4 7#b47 ,the prayer  
of faith must be dictated by the ,holy  
,spirit4 ,faith itself is declared to be
 the gift of ,god2 and the apostle says1
 ,the ,spirit also helpeth our          
infirmities2 for we know not what we    

should pray for as we ought1 but the    
,spirit itself maketh intercession for  
us1 with groanings which cannot be      
uttered4 ,he maketh intercession for the
 saints1 according to the will of ,god4 
,when this wonderful truth is made      
known1 we are no longer astonished that 
,god should assure us1 by so many       
precious promises1 that he will hear and
 answer our prayers4 ,we are called the 
temples of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,if the    
,holy ,ghost dwell in us1 to guide and  
direct us in all our ways1 will he      
forsake us in so important a matter as  
prayer8 ,o1 then1 what a solemn place is
 the ,christian's closet1 or the house  
of prayer6 ,there the whole ,trinity    
meet in awful concert4 ,the ,holy       
,spirit there presents to the           
everlasting ,father1 through the eternal
 ,son1 the prayers of a mortal worm6 ,is
 it any wonder that such a prayer should
 be heard8 ,with what holy reverence and
 godly fear should we approach this     
consecrated place6  #e4 ,we must ask in 

a spirit of humble submission1 yielding 
our wills to the will of the ,lord1     
committing the whole case to him1 in the
 true spirit of our ,lord's agonizing   
prayer in the garden1 when he said1 ,not
 my will but thine be done4 ,if ,i had a
 house full of gold1 and had promised to
 give you as much as you desire1 would  
you need to be urged to ask8 ,but1 there
 is an inexhaustible fulness of         
spiritual blessings treasured up in     
,christ2 and he has declared repeatedly 
that you may have as much as you will   
ask4 ,need you be urged to ask8 ,need   
you want any grace8 ,it is unbelief that
 keeps us so far from ,god4 ,from what  
has been said on this subject1 ,i think 
you may safely conclude that your       
progress in the divine life will be in  
proportion to the real prayer of faith  
which you exercise4  ,but ,i come now to
 give a few practical directions        
respecting the exercise of prayer4      
,several things are necessary to be     
observed by every one who would live    

near the throne of grace4  #a4 ,maintain
 a constant spirit of prayer4 ,pray     
without ceasing4 ,continuing instant in 
prayer4 ,praying always1 with all prayer
 and supplication in the ,spirit4 ,and  
he spake a parable unto them1 to this   
end1 that men ought always to pray1 and 
not to faint4 ,the meaning of these     
passages is not that we should be always
 upon our knees1 but that we should     
maintain such a prayerful frame1 that   
the moment our minds are disengaged1 our
 hearts will rise up to ,god4           
,intimately connected with this is the  
practice of ejaculatory prayer1 which   
consists of a short petition1 silently  
and suddenly sent up from the heart4    
,this may be done anywhere1 and under   
all circumstances4 ,frequent examples of
 this kind of prayer are recorded in    
,scripture4 ,it has also been the       
practice of living ,christians in all   
ages4 ,it is a great assistance in the  
,christian warfare4 ,it helps us in     
resisting temptation2 and by means of   

it1 we can seek divine aid in the midst 
of the greatest emergencies4 ,to        
maintain this unceasing spirit of prayer
 is a very difficult work4 ,it requires 
unwearied care and watchfulness1 labor1 
and perseverance4 ,yet no ,christian can
 thrive without it4  #b4 ,observe staled
 and regular seasons of prayer4 ,some   
professors of religion make so much of  
the foregoing rule as to neglect all    
other kinds of prayer4 ,this is         
evidently unscriptural4 ,our ,saviour   
directs us to enter into our closets1   
and1 when we have shut the door1 to pray
 to our ,father who is in secret4 ,and  
to this precept he has added the        
sanction of his own example4 ,in the    
course of his history1 we find him often
 retiring to solitary places1 to pour   
out his soul in prayer4 ,other examples 
are also recorded in ,scripture4 ,david 
says1 ,evening and morning1 and at noon1
 will ,i pray4 ,and again2 ,seven times 
a day do ,i praise thee4 ,and it was the
 habitual practice of ,daniel1 to kneel 

down in his chamber1 and pray three     
times a day4 ,but this practice is so   
natural1 and so agreeable to ,christian 
feeling1 that no argument seems         
necessary to persuade real ,christians  
to observe it4 ,it has been the delight 
of eminent saints1 in all ages1 to      
retire alone1 and hold communion with   
,god4  ,with regard to the particular   
times of prayer1 no very definite rule  
can be given1 which will suit all       
circumstances4 ,there is a peculiar     
propriety in visiting the throne of     
grace in the morning1 to offer up the   
thanksgiving of our hearts for our      
preservation1 and to seek grace for the 
day3 and also in the evening1 to express
 our gratitude for the mercies we have  
enjoyed2 to confess the sins we have    
committed and seek for pardon2 and to   
commit ourselves to the care of a       
covenant-keeping ,god1 when we retire to
 rest4 ,it is also very suitable1 when  
we suspend our worldly employments in   
the middle of the day1 to refresh our   

bodies1 to renew our visit to the       
fountain of life1 that our souls may    
also be refreshed4 ,the twilight of the 
evening is also a favorable season for  
devotional exercises4 ,but1 let me      
entreat you to be much in prayer4 ,if   
the nature of your employment will admit
 of it1 without being unfaithful to your
 engagements1 retire many times in the  
day to pour out your soul before ,god1  
and receive fresh communications of his 
grace4 ,our hearts are so much affected 
by sensible objects1 that1 if we suffer 
them to be engaged long at a time in    
worldly pursuits1 we find them          
insensibly clinging to earth1 so that it
 is with great difficulty we can        
disengage them4 ,but1 by all means1 fix 
upon some stated and regular seasons1   
and observe them punctually and         
faithfully4 ,remember they are          
engagements with ,god4  ,for your       
devotional exercises1 you should select 
those times and seasons when you find   
your mind most vigorous1 and your       

feelings most lively4 ,as the morning is
 in many respects most favorable1 you   
would do well to spend as much time as  
you can in your closet1 before engaging 
in the employments of the day4 ,an hour 
spent in reading ,god's word1 and in    
prayer and praise1 early in the morning1
 will give a heavenly tone to your      
feelings2 which1 by proper watchfulness1
 and frequent draughts at the same      
fountain1 you may carry through all the 
pursuits of the day4  ,as already       
remarked1 our ,lord1 in the pattern left
 us1 has given a very prominent place to
 the petition1 ,,thy ,,kingdom ,,come4  
,this is a large petition4 ,it includes 
all the instrumentalities which the     
church is putting forth for the         
enlargement of her borders and the      
salvation of the world4 ,all these ought
 to be distinctly and separately        
remembered2 and not1 as is often the    
case1 be crowded into one general       
petition at the close of our morning and
 evening prayers4 ,we are so constituted

 as to be affected by a particular      
consideration of a subject4 ,general    
truths have very little influence upon  
our hearts4 ,i would therefore recommend
 the arrangement of these subjects under
 general heads for every day of the     
week2 and then divide the subjects which
 come under these heads1 so as to       
remember one or more of them at stated  
seasons1 through the day1 separate from 
your own personal devotions4 ,thus1 you 
will always have your mind fixed upon   
one or two objects2 and you will have   
time to enlarge1 so as to remember every
 particular relating to them4 ,this1 if 
faithfully pursued1 will give you a     
deeper interest in every benevolent     
effort of the times4 ,the following plan
 of a daily concert of prayer was1 some 
years since1 suggested by a             
distinguished clergyman in ,new         
,england4 ,it gives something of the    
interest of the monthly concert to our  
daily devotions4  ,,sabbath4 ,sabbath   
duties and privileges2--as preaching1   

,sabbath-schools1 family instruction1 c4
 ,eph4 #f3ah-bj4 #b ,th4 #c3a4          
,,monday4 ,conversion of the world2--the
 prevalence of peace1 knowledge1        
freedom1 and salvation4 ,ps4 #b3h4 ,isa4
 #aa3f-aj2 #fb3a-g2 #ff3h1 #ab4         
,,tuesday4 ,our country2--our rulers1   
our free institutions1 our benevolent   
societies2 deliverance from slavery1    
,romanism1 infidelity1                  
,sabbath-breaking1 intemperance1        
profaneness1 c4 ,ez4 #i3f-ae4 ,dan4     
#i3d-ai  ,,wednesday4 ,the rising       
generation3--colleges1 seminaries1 and  
schools of every description2 the       
children of the church1 the children of 
the ungodly1 and orphan children4       
,,thursday4 ,professing                 
,christians2--that they may much more   
abound in all the fruits of the ,spirit1
 presenting their bodies a living       
sacrifice1 and offering gladly of their 
substance to the ,lord1 to the extent of
 his requirement2 that afflicted saints 
may be comforted1 backsliders reclaimed1

 and hypocrites converted2 that ,zion1  
being purified1 may arise and shine4    
,isa4 #fb3a4 ,rom4 #a3h4 ,col4 #d3ab4   
,,friday4 ,the ministry1 including all  
who are looking forward to that office1 
and also the ,education ,society4 #a    
,thess4 #e3be4 ,luke #aj3b4  ,,saturday4
 ,the ,jews4 ,isa4 #ed3h4 #ei3bj4 ,ezek4
 #cf3bg4 ,rom4 #aa3aa-ca4 ,also1 our    
friends4  #c4 ,observe special seasons  
of prayer4 ,before engaging in any      
important matter1 make it a subject of  
special prayer4 ,for this you have the  
example of the blessed ,jesus4 ,when he 
was baptized1 before entering upon his  
ministry1 he prayed4 ,before choosing   
his twelve apostles1 he went out into a 
mountain1 and spent a whole night in    
prayer4 ,the ,old ,testament saints were
 also in the habit of inquiring of the  
,lord1 before engaging in any important 
enterprise4 ,and the apostle ,paul      
enjoins upon the ,philippians1 in       
everything1 by prayer and supplication1 
with thanksgiving1 let your requests be 

made known unto ,god4 ,also1 whenever   
you are under any particular temptation 
or affliction2 whenever you are going to
 engage in anything which will expose   
you to temptation2 whenever you perceive
 any signs of declension in your own    
soul2 when the state of religion around 
you is low2 when your heart is affected 
with the condition of individuals who   
are living in impenitence2 or when any  
subject lies heavily upon your          
mind2--make the matter1 whatever it is1 
a subject of special prayer4            
,independent of ,scripture authority1   
there is a peculiar fitness in the      
course here recommended1 which must     
commend itself to every pious heart4    
,in seasons of peculiar difficulty1 or  
when earnestly seeking any great        
blessing1 you may find benefit from     
setting apart days of fasting1          
humiliation and prayer4 ,this is        
especially suitable1 whenever you       
discover any sensible decay of spiritual
 affections in your own heart4 ,fasting 

and prayer have been resorted to on     
special occasions1 by eminent saints1 in
 all ages of the world4 ,the examples   
recorded in ,scripture are too numerous 
to mention here4 ,if you look over the  
lives of the old ,testament saints1 you 
will find this practice very common4    
,nor is the ,new ,testament without     
warrant for the same4 ,our ,lord himself
 set the example1 by a long season of   
fasting1 when about to endure a severe  
conflict with the tempter4 ,and he has  
farther sanctioned the practice1 by     
giving directions respecting its        
performance4 ,we have also examples in  
the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,the        
prophets and teachers1 in the church at 
,antioch1 fasted before separating      
,barnabas and ,paul as missionaries to  
the heathen4 ,and when they obtained    
elders in the churches1 they prayed1    
with fasting4 ,paul1 in his epistle to  
the ,corinthians1 speaks of their giving
 themselves to fasting and prayer1 as   
though it were a frequent custom4 ,you  

will find1 also1 in examining the lives 
of persons of eminent spiritual         
attainments1 that most of them were in  
the habit of observing frequent seasons 
of fasting and prayer4 ,there is a      
peculiar fitness in this act of         
humiliation4 ,it is calculated to bring 
the body under1 and to assist us in     
denying self4 ,the length of time it    
gives us in our closets also enables us 
to get clearer views of divine things4  
,but there is great danger of trusting  
in the outward act of humiliation1 and  
expecting that ,god will answer our     
prayers for the sake of our fasting4    
,this will inevitably bring upon us     
disappointment and leanness of soul4    
,this is the kind of fasting so common  
among ,roman ,catholics1 and other      
nominal ,christians4 ,but it is no      
better than idolatry4 ,most of the      
holidays which are usually devoted by   
the world to feasting-and mirth are very
 suitable occasions for ,christians to  
fast and pray2 and this for several     

reasons3 7#a47 ,they are seasons of     
leisure1 when most people are disengaged
 from worldly pursuits4 7#b47 ,the      
goodness of ,god should lead us to      
repentance4 ,instead of spending these  
days in mirth over the blessings we have
 enjoyed1 we should be looking into our 
hearts1 to examine the manner in which  
we have received them2 humbling         
ourselves on account of our ingratitude2
 and lifting up our hearts and voices in
 thanksgiving for them4 7#c47 ,the first
 day of the new year1 birth-days1 c41   
are very suitable occasions for renewing
 our past lives1 repenting of our       
unfaithfulness1 making resolutions of   
amendment1 and renewing afresh the      
solemn dedication of ourselves to ,god4 
,when you set apart a day of fasting and
 prayer1 you ought to have in view some 
definite and particular objects4 ,the   
day should be spent in self-examination1
 meditation1 reading the ,scriptures1   
confession of sin1 prayer for the       
particular objects which bear upon your 

mind1 and thanksgiving for mercies      
received4 ,your self-examination should 
be as practical as possible2            
particularly looking into the motives of
 your prayers for the special objects   
which bear heavily upon your heart4     
,your confession of sin should be minute
 and particular2 mentioning every sin   
you can recollect1 whether of thought1  
word1 or deed1 with every circumstance  
of aggravation4 ,this will have a       
tendency to affect your heart with a    
sense of guilt1 produce earnest longings
 after holiness1 and make sin appear    
more hateful and odious4 ,your          
meditations should be upon those        
subjects which are calculated to give   
you a view of the exceeding sinfulness  
of sin1 and the abounding mercy of ,god 
in ,christ4 ,your reading of the        
,scriptures should be strictly          
devotional4 ,your prayers should be very
 particular1 mentioning everything      
relating to the object of your desires1 
and all the hindrances you have met in  

seeking after it4 ,carry all your       
burdens to the foot of the cross1 and   
there lay them down4 ,your thanksgiving1
 also1 should be very minute and        
particular1 mentioning every mercy and  
blessing which you can recollect1 with  
your own unworthiness1 and every        
circumstance which may tend to show the 
exceeding greatness of ,god's love1     
condescension1 and mercy4  #d4 ,come to 
the work with a preparation of heart4   
,the best preparation at all times is to
 maintain an habitual spirit of prayer1 
according to the first direction4 ,but  
this is not all that is necessary4 ,we  
are unavoidably much occupied with the  
things of this world4 ,but when we come 
before the great ,jehovah1 to ask his   
favor and seek his grace1 our minds     
should be heavenly4 ,when you go into   
your closet1 shut out the world1 that   
you may be alone with ,god4 ,bring your 
mind into a calm and heavenly frame1 and
 endeavor to obtain a deep sense of the 
presence of ,god1 as seeing him who is  

invisible4 ,think of the exalted nature 
of the work in which you are about to   
engage4 ,think of your own unworthiness1
 and of the way ,god has opened to the  
mercy seat4 ,think of your own wants1 or
 of the wants of others1 according to   
the object of your visit to the throne  
of grace4 ,think of the inexhaustible   
fulness treasured up in ,christ4 ,think 
of the many precious promises of ,god to
 his children1 and come with the spirit 
of a little child to present them before
 him4  #e4 ,persevere in prayer4 ,if you
 are seeking for any particular object1 
which you know to be agreeable to the   
will of ,god1 and your prayers are not  
heard1 you may be sure of one of two    
things3 7#a47 ,you have been asking     
amiss4 ,something is wrong in yourself4 
,perhaps you have been selfish in your  
desires2 you have not desired supremely 
the glory of ,god2 you have not felt    
your dependence3 you have not humbled   
yourself sufficiently to receive a      
blessing2 or perhaps you regard iniquity

 in your heart1 in some other way4      
,examine yourself1 therefore1 in all    
these particulars4 ,repent1 where you   
find your prayers have been amiss4 ,bow 
very low before ,god1 and seek the      
influences of his ,spirit to enable you 
to pray aright4 7#b47 ,or1 perhaps the  
,lord delays an answer for the trial of 
your faith4 ,consider then the          
encouragements which he has given us to 
be importunate in prayer4 ,in the       
eleventh chapter of ,luke1 our ,lord    
shows us that our friends may be        
prevailed upon to do us a kindness      
because of our importunity1 when they   
would not do it on account of           
friendship4 ,and in the eighteenth      
chapter1 he shows us that even an unjust
 judge may be persuaded by importunity  
to do justice4 ,hence he argues the     
importance of persevering in prayer2 and
 adds with emphasis1 ,and shall not ,god
 avenge his own elect1 which cry day and
 night unto him1 though he bear long    
with them8 ,i tell you he will avenge   

them speedily4 ,again2 look at the case 
of the ,syrophenician woman4 ,she       
continued to beseech ,jesus to have     
mercy on her1 although he did not answer
 her a word4 ,the disciples entreated   
,christ to send her away1 because she   
troubled them with her cries2 yet she   
persevered4 ,and even when ,christ      
himself told his disciples that he was  
only sent to the lost sheep of the house
 of ,israel1 and compared her to a dog  
seeking for the children's bread2 yet1  
with all these repulses1 she would not  
give up her suit2 but begged even for   
the dog's portion--the children's       
crumbs4 ,when by this means our ,lord   
had sufficiently tried her faith1 he    
answered her prayer4 ,so likewise       
persevere in your prayers1 and in due   
time you shall reap1 if you faint not6  
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,vi4  ,temptation4      ,watch
 and pray1 that ye enter not into       
temptation4 ,,matt #bf3da4   ,,my ,,dear
 ,,sister1  ,that there is an evil      

spirit1 who is permitted to exert an    
influence upon the hearts of men1 is    
abundantly evident from ,scripture4     
,this truth is referred to in the       
beginning of the gospel of ,christ1     
where it is said ,jesus went up into the
 wilderness1 to be tempted of the devil4
 ,he is often represented in the        
,scriptures as the father of the wicked4
 ,the tares are the children of the     
wicked one4 ,thou child of the devil4   
,he is also represented as putting evil 
designs into the hearts of men4 ,and    
,satan stood up against ,israel1 and    
provoked ,david to number ,israel4 ,the 
devil having now put into the heart of  
,judas ,iscariot1 ,simon's son1 to      
betray him4 ,ananias1 why hath ,satan   
filled thy heart1 to lie to the ,holy   
,ghost8 ,wicked men are spoken of as    
being carried captive by him at his     
will4 ,he is also represented as the    
adversary of the people of ,god1 seeking
 to lead them into sin1 and1 if         
possible1 to destroy them4 ,your        

adversary1 the devil1 as a roaring lion1
 walketh about1 seeking whom he may     
devour4 ,these1 and numerous other      
passages1 which might be quoted1 fully  
establish the fearful truth1 that we are
 continually beset by an evil spirit1   
who is seeking1 by every means in his   
power1 to injure and destroy our souls4 
,when we have to contend with an enemy1 
it is very important that we should know
 his character4 ,from the ,scriptures1  
we learn several characteristics of the 
great enemy of our souls4  #a4 ,he is   
powerful4 ,he has other fallen spirits  
at his command4 ,our ,saviour speaks of 
the fire prepared for the devil and his 
angels4 ,he is called prince of the     
world1 prince of darkness1 and the god  
of this world4 ,all these titles denote 
the exercise of great power4 ,he is also
 called destroyer2 and is said to walk  
about1 seeking whom he may devour4      
,indeed1 so great was his power1 and so 
mighty his work of ruin and destruction 
in this lost world1 that it became      

necessary for the son of ,god to come   
into the world to destroy his works4    
,for this purpose was the ,son of ,god  
manifested1 that he might destroy the   
works of the devil4  ,but1 although he  
is powerful1 yet his power is limited4  
,this you see in the case of ,job4 ,no  
doubt1 his malice would have destroyed  
that holy man at once4 ,but he could do 
nothing against him till he was         
permitted2 and then he could go no      
farther than the length of his chain4   
,god reserved the life of his servant4  
,and the apostle ,jude speaks of the    
devils as being reserved in chains1     
under darkness4 ,but the objection      
arises1 ,as ,god is almighty1 why is    
,satan permitted to exercise any power  
at all8 ,to this objection the ,bible   
furnishes satisfactory answers4 7#a47   
,it is to try the faith of his children4
 ,this was the case with ,job4 ,the     
devil had slandered that holy man1 by   
accusing him of serving ,god from       
selfish motives4 ,by suffering ,satan to

 take away all he had1 the ,lord proved 
this accusation to be false2 and ,job   
came out of the furnace1 greatly        
purified4 ,the apostle ,james says1 ,my 
brethren1 count it all joy1 when ye fall
 into divers temptations2 knowing this1 
that the trying of your faith worketh   
patience4 ,if the children of ,god were 
never tempted1 they would never have an 
opportunity to prove the sincerity of   
their faith4 ,but they have the blessed 
assurance1 that ,god will not suffer    
them to be tempted above what they are  
able to bear1 but will1 with the        
temptation1 also make a way to escape1  
that they may be able to bear it4 7#b47 
,again2 the devil is permitted to       
exercise his power1 for the discovery of
 hypocrites and for the punishment of   
sinners4 ,these have no root1 which for 
a while believe1 and in time of         
temptation fall away4 ,but1 if our      
gospel be hid1 it is hid to them that   
are lost4 ,in whom the god of this world
 hath blinded the minds of them that    

believe not4  #b4 ,he has much          
knowledge4 ,he knew the command of ,god 
to our first parents1 and therefore     
tempted them to break it4 ,when those   
that were possessed with devils were    
brought to ,christ1 they cried out1 ,we 
know thee1 who thou art1 the holy one of
 ,god4 ,he has also a knowledge of the  
,bible2 for he quoted ,scripture1 in his
 temptation of our ,saviour4 ,and as he 
has great experience in the world1 he   
must have a great knowledge of human    
nature1 so to be able to suit his       
temptations to the peculiar             
constitutions of individuals4  #c4 ,he  
is wicked4 ,the devil sinneth from the  
beginning4 ,he is called the wicked one2
 or1 by way of eminence1 ,the ,wicked4  
,he is altogether wicked4 ,there is not 
one good quality in his character4  #d4 
,he is crafty1 and full of deceit and   
treachery4 ,he lays snares for the      
unwary4 ,that he may the more readily   
deceive the people of ,god1 he appears  
to them in the garb of religion4 ,satan 

himself is transformed into an angel of 
light4 ,in consequence of his cunning   
and craft1 he is called the serpent4,c  
,he is also represented as deceiving the
 nations4,d ,hence we are cautioned     
against the wiles of the devil4,e       
,footnote ,c3 ,gen4 #c2 ,isa4 #bg3a2    
,rev4 #ab3i    ,footnote ,d3 ,rev4      
#bj3h4    ,footnote ,e3 ,eph4 #f3aa4    
#e4 ,he is a liar4 ,the first thing     
recorded of him is the lie which he told
 our first parents1 to persuade them to 
disobey ,god4 ,hence our ,saviour calls 
him a liar from the beginning4,f        
,footnote ,f3 ,john #h3dd4  #f4 ,he is  
malicious4 ,as ,satan is the enemy of   
,god1 so he hates everything that is    
good4 ,he is continually bent on        
mischief4 ,if his power were not        
restrained1 he would introduce general  
disorder1 anarchy and confusion1 into   
the government of ,god4 ,he loves to    
ruin immortal souls2 and he takes       
delight in vexing the people of ,god4   
,hence he is called ,destroyer1,g       

,adversary1 ,accuser1 ,tormentor1 and   
,murderer4,h    ,footnote ,g3 ,abaddon  
signifies destroyer4    ,footnote ,h3   
,rev4 #i3aa2 ,i ,pet4 #e3h2 ,rev4       
#ab3aj2 ,matt4 #ah3cd2 ,john #h3dd4     
,now1 since we are beset by an adversary
 of such knowledge and power1 so sly and
 artful1 so false1 and so malicious1 it 
becomes us to be well acquainted with   
all his arts1 that we maybe on our guard
 against them4 ,the apostle ,paul says1 
,for we are not ignorant of his devices4
 ,o1 that every ,christian could say so6
 ,how many sad falls would be prevented6
 ,i ,will mention a few of the devices  
of ,satan1 which are manifest both from 
the ,holy ,scriptures1 and from the     
experience of eminent saints who have   
been enabled to detect and distinguish  
his secret workings in their own hearts4
 ,it is the opinion of some great and   
good men1 that the devil can suggest    
thoughts to our minds only through the  
imagination4 ,this is that faculty of   
the mind by which it forms ideas of     

things communicated to it through the   
senses4 ,thus1 when you see1 hear1 feel1
 taste1 or smell anything1 the image of 
the thing is impressed upon the mind by 
the imagination4 ,it also brings to our 
recollection these images1 when they are
 not present4 ,it is thought to be only 
by impressing these images upon the     
imagination1 that he can operate upon   
our souls4 ,hence1 we may account for   
the strange manner in which our minds   
are led off from the contemplation of   
divine things1 by a singular train of   
thought1 introduced to the mind by the  
impression of some sensible object upon 
the imagination4 ,this object brings    
some other one like it to our           
recollection1 and that again brings     
another1 until we wander entirely from  
the subject before us1 and find our     
minds lost in a maze of intellectual    
trifling4  ,satan adapts his temptations
 to our peculiar tempers and            
circumstances4 ,in youth1 he allures us 
by pleasure1 and bright hopes of worldly

 prosperity4 ,in manhood1 he seeks to   
bury up our hearts in the cares of life4
 ,in old age1 he persuades to the       
indulgence of self-will and obstinacy4  
,in prosperity1 he puffs up the heart   
with pride1 and persuades to            
self-confidence and forgetfulness of    
,god4 ,in poverty and affliction1 he    
excites feelings of discontent1         
distrust1 and repining4 ,if we are of a 
melancholy temperament1 he seeks to sour
 our tempers1 and promote habitual      
sullenness and despondency4 ,if         
naturally cheerful1 he prompts to the   
indulgence of levity4 ,in private       
devotion1 he stands between us and ,god1
 prevents us from realizing his         
presence1 and seeks to distract our     
minds1 and drive us from the throne of  
grace4 ,in public worship1 he disturbs  
our minds by wandering thoughts and     
foolish imaginations4 ,when we have     
enjoyed any happy manifestations of     
,god's presence1 any precious tokens of 
his love1 then he stirs up the pride of 

our hearts1 and leads us to trust in our
 own goodness1 and forget the ,rock of  
our salvation4 ,even our deepest        
humiliations he makes the occasion of   
spiritual pride4 ,thus we fall into     
darkness1 and thrust ourselves through  
with many sorrows4 ,if we have performed
 any extraordinary acts of self-denial1 
or of ,christian beneficence1 he stirs  
up in our hearts a vain-glorious spirit4
 ,if we have overcome any of the        
corruptions of our hearts1 or any       
temptation1 he excites a secret feeling 
of self-satisfaction and                
self-complacency4 ,he puts on the mask  
of religion4 ,often1 during the solemn  
hours of public worship1 he beguiles our
 hearts with some scheme for doing good2
 taking care1 however1 that self be     
uppermost in it4 ,when we are in a bad  
frame1 he stirs up the unholy tempers of
 our hearts1 and leads us to indulge in 
peevishness1 moroseness1 harshness1 and 
anger1 or in levity and unseemly mirth4 
,there is no ,christian grace which     

,satan cannot counterfeit4 ,he cares not
 how much religious feeling we have1 or 
how many good deeds we perform1 if he   
can but keep impure and selfish motives 
at the bottom4 ,there is great danger1  
therefore1 in trusting to impulses1 or  
sudden impressions of any kind4 ,such   
impressions may be from the ,spirit of  
,god2 but they may also be from ,satan4 
,the fact that your religious feelings  
are not produced by yourself1 but that  
they arise in your mind in a manner for 
which you cannot account1 is no         
evidence1 either that they come from the
 ,spirit of ,god1 or that they do not4  
,there are many false spirits1 which are
 very busy with people's hearts4 ,as    
before remarked1 ,satan sometimes       
appears to us like an angel of light4   
,he is often the author of false        
comforts and joys1 very much like those 
produced by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we are1 
therefore1 directed to try the spirits1 
whether they be of ,god4 ,nor is it     
certain that religious feelings are holy

 and spiritual because they come with   
texts of ,scripture1 brought to the mind
 in a remarkable manner4 ,if the feeling
 is produced by the truth contained in  
the ,scripture so brought to the mind1  
and is1 in its nature1 agreeable to the 
word of ,god1 it may be a spiritual and 
holy affection4 ,but if it arises from  
the application of the ,scripture to    
your own case1 on account of its being  
so brought to your mind1 you may be sure
 it is a delusion of the devil4 ,he has 
power to bring ,scripture to your mind  
when he pleases1 and he can apply it    
with dexterity1 as you see in his       
temptations of the blessed ,saviour4    
,our own hearts are exceedingly         
deceitful2 and our indwelling           
corruptions will gladly unite with him  
in bringing false peace and comfort to  
our souls4 ,satan1 no doubt1 often      
brings the most sweet and precious      
promises of ,god to the minds of those  
he wishes to deceive as to their own    
good estate4 ,but we must be satisfied  

that the promises belong to us1 before  
we take them to ourselves4 ,we have a   
more sure word of prophecy1 by which we 
are to try every impulse1 feeling1 and  
impression1 produced upon our minds4    
,anything which does not agree with the 
written word of ,god does not come from 
him1 for he cannot deny himself4  ,satan
 manages temptation with the greatest   
subtlety4 ,he asks so little at first1  
that1 unless our consciences are very   
tender1 we do not suspect him4 ,if he   
can persuade us to parley1 he perhaps   
leaves us for a while1 and returns      
again1 with a fresh and more vigorous   
attack4 ,he is exceedingly persevering2 
and1 if he can persuade us to give place
 to him at all1 he is sure to overcome  
us at last4  ,we are also liable to     
temptation from the world without1 and  
from the corruptions of our own hearts  
within4 ,they that will be rich fall    
into temptation and a snare4 ,the       
riches1 honors1 pleasures1 and fashions1
 of this world1 are great enemies to    

serious piety4 ,every man is tempted    
when he is drawn away of his own lusts  
and enticed4 ,remaining corruption is   
the sorest evil that besets the         
,christian4 ,the temptations of ,satan  
alone would be light1 in comparison with
 the inward conflict he is compelled to 
maintain against the lusts of his own   
heart4 ,but the devil makes use of both 
these sources of temptation to          
accomplish his ends4 ,the former he uses
 as outward enticements1 and the latter 
act as traitors within4 ,thus you may   
generally find a secret alliance between
 the arch deceiver and the corruptions  
of your own heart4 ,it is not sin to be 
tempted3 but it is sin to give place to 
temptation4 ,neither give place to the  
devil4  ,the heart is very properly     
compared to a castle or fort4 ,before   
conversion it is in the possession of   
the great enemy of souls1 who has       
fortified himself there1 and secured the
 allegiance of all our moral powers4    
,but when ,jesus enters in1 he binds the

 strong man armed1 and takes possession 
of the heart himself4 ,yet ,satan1      
though in a measure bound1 loses no     
opportunity to attempt regaining his    
lost dominion4 ,hence we are directed to
 keep the heart with all diligence4 ,now
 we know how a castle1 fort1 or city1 is
 kept in time of war4 ,the first thing  
done is to set a watch1 whose business  
is to keep constantly on the look out1  
this way and that way1 to see that no   
enemy is approaching from without1 and  
no traitor is lurking within4 ,hence we 
are so frequently exhorted to watch4    
,watch and pray1 that ye enter not into 
temptation4 ,take heed1 watch and pray2 
for ye know not when the time is4 ,and  
what ,i say unto you1 ,i say unto all1  
,watch4 ,watch ye1 stand fast in the    
faith1 quit you like men1 be strong4    
,continue in prayer1 and watch in the   
same1 with thanksgiving4 ,praying       
always1 with all prayer and supplication
 in the ,spirit1 and watching thereunto 
with all perseverance4 ,let us watch and

 be sober4 ,watch then in all things4   
,watch unto prayer4 ,blessed is he that 
watcheth1 and keepeth his garments1 lest
 he walk naked1 and they see his shame4 
,set a watch1 ,o ,lord1 before my mouth2
 keep the door of my lips4 ,if we were  
in a house surrounded by a band of      
robbers1 and especially if we knew there
 were persons in it who held a secret   
correspondence with them1 we should be  
continually on our guard4 ,every moment 
we should be watching1 both within and  
without4 ,but such is the state of our  
hearts4 ,surely1 no ordinary danger     
would have called forth from our ,lord  
and his apostles such repeated warnings4
 ,we are directed to watch in all       
things4 ,keep a continual guard over    
your own heart1 and over every word and 
action of your life4 ,but there are     
particular seasons when we should set a 
double watch4  #a4 ,we are directed to  
watch unto prayer4 ,when you approach   
the mercy seat1 watch against a careless
 spirit4 ,suffer not your mind to be    

drawn away by anything1 however good and
 important in itself1 from the object   
before you4 ,if the adversary can divert
 your mind on the way to that           
consecrated place1 he will be almost    
sure to drive you away from it without a
 blessing4  #b4 ,we are required to     
watch not only unto but in prayer4      
,satan is never more busy with          
,christians than when he sees them on   
their knees4 ,he well knows the power of
 prayer2 and this makes him tremble4    
,satan trembles when he sees   ,the     
weakest saint upon his knees4  ,you     
should1 therefore1 with the most        
untiring vigilance1 watch in prayer     
against all wandering thoughts and      
distraction of mind4 ,you will often    
experience1 on such occasions1 a sudden 
and vivid impression upon your mind of  
something entirely foreign from what is 
before you4 ,this is no doubt the       
temptation of ,satan4 ,if you are       
sufficiently upon your watch1 you can   
banish it1 without diverting your       

thoughts or feelings from the subject of
 your prayer1 and proceed as though     
nothing had happened4 ,but1 if the      
adversary succeeds in keeping these wild
 imaginations in view1 so that you      
cannot proceed without distraction1 turn
 and beseech ,god to give you help      
against his wiles4 ,you have the        
promise1 that if you resist the devil he
 will flee from you4 ,these remarks     
apply both to secret prayer and public  
worship4  #c4 ,we have need of special  
watchfulness when we have experienced   
any comfortable manifestations of ,god's
 presence4 ,it is then that ,satan      
tempts us to consider the conflict over1
 and relax our diligence4 ,if we give   
way to him1 we shall bring leanness upon
 our souls4  #d4 ,we have need of double
 watchfulness when gloom and despondency
 come over our souls2 for then the      
adversary seeks to stir up all the      
perverse passions of the heart4  #e4    
,watch1 also1 when you feel remarkably  
cheerful4 ,satan will then1 if possible1

 persuade you to indulge in levity1 to  
the wounding of your soul1 and the      
dishonor of religion4  #f4 ,we have need
 of special watchfulness in prosperity1 
that we forget not ,god2 and in         
adversity1 that we murmur not at his    
dealings with us4  #g4 ,set a watch over
 your tongue1 especially in the presence
 of the unconverted4 ,the tongue is a   
fire1 a world of iniquity4 ,david says1 
,i will keep my mouth with a bridle1    
while the wicked is before me4 ,i do not
 mean that you should ever engage in any
 sinful conversation in the presence of 
,christians4 ,i know some professors of 
religion will indulge in senseless      
garrulity among themselves1 and put on  
an air of seriousness and solemnity     
before those whom they regard as        
unconverted4 ,this they pretend to do   
for the honor of ,christ4 ,but ,christ  
says1 ,out of the abundance of the heart
 the mouth speaketh4 ,god hates lip     
service4 ,however1 in the company of    
sinners and formal professors we are    

peculiarly exposed to temptation1 and   
have need therefore to set a double     
guard upon our lips4 ,a single unguarded
 expression from a ,christian may do    
great injury to an unconverted soul4    
#h4 ,watch over your heart when engaged 
in doing good to others4 ,it is then    
that ,satan seeks to stir up pride and  
vain-glory4  #i4 ,set a double watch    
over your easily besetting sin4 ,let us 
lay aside every weight1 and the sin     
which doth so easily beset us4 ,most    
persons have some constitutional sin1   
which easily besets them4 ,satan takes  
the advantage of this infirmity1 to     
bring us into difficulty4  #aj4         
,finally1 keep a constant watch over the
 imagination4 ,since this is the medium 
through which temptation comes1 never   
suffer your fancy to rove without       
control4 ,if you mortify this faculty of
 the soul1 it may be a great assistance 
to your devotion4 ,but1 if you let it   
run at random1 you will be led captive  
by ,satan at his will4 ,strive1 then1   

after a sanctified imagination1 that you
 may make every power of your soul      
subservient to the glory of ,god4       
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,vii4  ,self-,denial4      ,if
 any man will come after me1 let him    
deny himself1 and take up     his cross 
daily1 and follow me4--,,luke #i3bc4    
,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,the duty of     
self-denial arises from the unnatural   
relation which sin has created between  
us and ,god4 ,the first act of          
disobedience committed by man was a     
setting up of himself in opposition to  
,god4 ,it was a declaration that he     
would regard his own will in preference 
to the will of his ,creator4 ,self      
became the supreme or chief object of   
his affections4 ,and this is the case   
with all unregenerate persons4 ,their   
own happiness is the object of their    
highest wishes4 ,they pursue their own  
selfish interests with their whole      
hearts4 ,when anything occurs1 the first
 question which arises in their minds   

is1 ,how will this affect me8 ,it is    
true1 they may often exercise a kind of 
generosity towards others4 ,but1 if     
their motives were scanned1 it would    
appear that self-gratification is at the
 bottom of it4 ,the correctness of these
 assertions1 no one will doubt1 who is  
acquainted with his own heart4 ,all     
unconverted persons live for themselves4
 ,they see no higher object of action   
than the promotion of their own         
individual interests4 ,the duty in      
question consists in the denial of this 
disposition4 ,and a moment's attention  
will show that nothing can be more      
reasonable4 ,no individual has a right  
to attach to himself any more importance
 than properly belongs to the station he
 occupies in the grand scale of being1  
of which ,god is the centre4 ,it is by  
this station that his value is known4   
,if he thinks himself of more           
consequence than the place he occupies  
will give him1 it leads him to seek a   
higher station4 ,this is pride4 ,it is  

setting up the wisdom of the creature in
 opposition to that of the ,creator4    
,this was probably the origin of the    
first act of disobedience4 ,satan       
thought himself entitled to a higher    
station in the scale of being than ,god 
gave him2 therefore1 he rebelled against
 the government of the ,most ,high ,this
 act of rebellion was nothing more than 
setting up his own selfish interests    
against the interests of the universe4  
,and what would be the consequence1 if  
this selfish principle were carried out 
in the material universe8 ,take1 for    
example1 our own planetary system4 ,if  
every planet should set up an interest  
separate from the whole1 would they move
 on with such beautiful harmony8 ,no2   
every one would seek to be a sun4 ,they 
would all rush towards the common       
centre1 and universal confusion would   
follow4 ,god is the sun and centre of   
the moral universe1 and the setting up  
of private individual interests as      
supreme objects of pursuit1 if permitted

 to take their course1 would produce the
 same general confusion4 ,this it has   
done1 so far as it has prevailed4 ,its  
tendency is to create a universal       
contention among inferior beings for the
 throne of the universe1 which belongs  
to ,god alone4 ,but1 the interests of   
,god1 if ,i may be allowed the          
expression1 are identified with the     
highest good of his intelligent         
creation4 ,hence we see the perfect     
reasonableness of the first commandment1
 ,thou shalt have no other gods before  
me4 ,there can be no selfishness in     
this1 because the best interests of the 
universe require it4 ,but1 by pursuing  
our own selfish interests as the chief  
good1 we make a god of self4  ,the      
religion of ,jesus ,christ strikes at   
the root of this selfish principle4 ,the
 very first act of the new-born soul is 
a renunciation or giving up of self--the
 surrender of the whole soul to ,god4   
,the entire dedication which the        
,christian makes of himself--soul1 body 

and property--to the ,lord1 implies that
 he will no longer live to himself1 but 
to ,god4 ,present your bodies1 a living 
sacrifice1 holy and acceptable unto     
,god4 ,for none of us liveth to himself4
 ,they which live1 should not henceforth
 live unto themselves1 but unto him     
which died for them and rose again4     
,whether therefore ye eat or drink1 or  
whatsoever ye do1 do all to the glory of
 ,god4 ,self-denial is1 then1 an entire 
surrender of our own wills to the will  
of ,god4 ,it is an adoption of the      
revealed will of ,god as the rule of    
duty2 and a steadfast1 determined1 and  
persevering denial of every selfish     
gratification which comes between us and
 duty4 ,it is a seeking of the glory of 
,god and the good of our                
fellow-creatures1 as the highest object 
of pursuit4 ,in short1 it is to love the
 ,lord our ,god with all our heart1     
soul1 might1 mind and strength1 and our 
neighbor as ourselves4  ,by carrying out
 this principle1 in its application to  

the feelings1 desires1 and motives of   
the heart1 and the actions of the life1 
we learn the practical duty of          
self-denial4 ,this is a very important  
matter2 for the ,scriptures most fully  
and clearly cut off all hope for such as
 are destitute of the true spirit of    
self-denial4 ,let us hear what our      
blessed ,lord and ,master says upon this
 subject4 ,he that loveth father or     
mother more than me1 is not worthy of   
me2 and he that loveth son or daughter  
more than me1 is not worthy of me4 ,if  
any man will come after me1 let him deny
 himself1 and take up his cross and     
follow me4 ,for1 whosoever will save his
 life shall lose it2 and whosoever will 
lose his life for my sake shall find it4
 ,if any man come to me1 and hate not   
his father and mother1 and wife and     
children1 and brethren and sisters1 yea1
 and his own life also1 he cannot be my 
disciple4 ,he that loveth his life1     
shall lose it2 and he that hateth his   
life in this world shall keep it unto   

life eternal4 ,if thy right eye offend  
thee1 7or cause thee to offend17 pluck  
it out and cast it from thee4 ,we must  
follow ,christ4 ,here we are taught     
that1 unless we put away all            
self-seeking1 and willingly surrender   
the dearest objects of our affections on
 earth1 yea1 and our own lives also1 if 
need be1 we have no claim to the        
character of disciples of ,christ4 ,the 
glory of ,god and the general good must 
be our ruling principle of action2 and  
we must not gratify ourselves in        
opposition to the will of ,god1 or the  
interest of our fellow-beings4 ,every   
action must be brought to this test4    
,here is heart-work and life-work4 ,self
 must be denied in all our spiritual    
feelings1 and in all our devotions1 or  
they will be abominable in the sight of 
,god4 ,here is work for                 
self-examination4 ,every exercise of our
 minds should be tried by this standard4
 ,again2 we must deny self in all our   
conduct4 ,and here we have the examples 

of many holy men1 recorded in           
,scripture1 with a host of martyrs and  
missionaries1 but especially of our     
,lord himself1 to show what influence   
the true spirit of self-denial exerts   
upon the ,christian life4 ,in the       
passage quoted above1 our ,lord         
expressly declares that1 in order to be 
his disciples1 we must follow him4 ,and 
how can this be done1 but by imitating  
his example8 ,he was willing to make    
sacrifices for the good of others4 ,he  
led a life of toil1 hardship1 and       
suffering1 and gave up his own life1 to 
save sinners4 ,his immediate disciples  
did the same4 ,they submitted to        
ignominy1 reproach1 suffering1 and death
 itself1 for the sake of promoting the  
glory of ,god1 in the salvation of men4 
,cultivate1 then1 this spirit4 ,prefer  
the glory of ,god to everything else4   
,prefer the general good to your own    
private interest4 ,be willing to make   
personal sacrifices for the benefit of  
others4 ,carry this principle out in all

 your intercourse with others1 and it   
will greatly increase your usefulness4  
,it will also really promote your own   
interest and happiness4 ,there is       
nothing which renders a person so       
amiable and lovely1 in the sight of     
others1 as disinterested benevolence4   
,think no sacrifice too great to make1  
no hardship too painful to endure1 if   
you can be the means of benefiting      
perishing souls4 ,remember1 it was for  
this that ,jesus gave up his life2 and  
he requires you to be ready to give up  
everything you have1 and even life      
itself1 if the same cause shall require 
it4  ,but let me caution you against    
placing self-denial chiefly in outward  
things4 ,we are not required to         
relinquish any of the comforts and      
enjoyments of this life1 except when    
they come in competition with our duty  
to ,god and our fellow-creatures4 ,every
 creature of ,god is good1 and nothing  
to be refused1 if it be received with   
thanksgiving2 and godliness has the     

promise of this life as well as of that 
which is to come4 ,the religion of some 
people seems to consist chiefly in      
denying themselves of lawful enjoyments2
 and you will find them very severe and 
censorious towards others1 for partaking
 freely and thankfully of the bounties  
of ,god's providence4 ,this1 however1 is
 but a species of self-righteous        
mockery1 characterized by ,paul as a    
voluntary humility4 ,instead of being   
self-denial1 it is the gratification of 
self in maintaining an appearance of    
external sanctity4 ,it may1 however1 be 
not only proper1 but obligatory upon us1
 to sacrifice these lawful enjoyments1  
when we may thereby promote the         
interests of ,christ's kingdom2 which   
requires the exercise of a              
self-sacrificing spirit4                
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,viii4  ,public and ,social   
,worship1 and ,sabbath ,employments4    
,not forsaking the assembling of        
ourselves together4--,,heb4 #aj3bc4     

,it is lawful to do well on the ,sabbath
 days4--,,matt4 #ab3ab4      ,call the  
,sabbath a delight1 the holy of the     
,lord1     honorable1--honor him1 not   
doing thine own ways1 nor finding       
thine own pleasure1 nor speaking thine  
own words4--,,isa4 #fh3ac4   ,,my ,,dear
 ,,sister1  ,the duty of public worship 
is clearly taught in the ,holy          
,scriptures3 #a4 ,from the appointment  
of one day in seven1 to be set apart    
exclusively for the service of ,god1 we 
may argue the propriety of assembling   
together1 to acknowledge and worship him
 in a social capacity4 ,god has made us 
social beings2 and all the institutions 
of his appointment contemplate us as    
such4 ,the public worship of the        
,sabbath is preeminently calculated to  
cultivate the social principle of our   
nature4 ,it brings people of the same   
community regularly together1 every     
week1 for the same general purpose4 ,in 
the house of ,god all meet upon a level4
  #b4 ,if we look forward from the      

institution of the ,sabbath to the      
organization of the ,jewish church1 we  
find that ,god did actually establish a 
regular system of public worship4 ,an   
order of men was instituted whose       
special business was to conduct the     
public worship of ,god4 ,after the      
return of the ,jews from captivity1     
social meetings1 held every ,sabbath1   
for public religious worship1 became    
common all over the land4 ,they were    
called synagogues4,i ,although we have  
no particular account of the divine     
origin of these assemblies1 yet they    
were sanctioned by the presence of      
,christ1 who often took part in the     
public exercises4  ,under the gospel    
dispensation1 the plan of synagogue     
worship is continued1 with such         
modifications as suit it to the clearer 
and more complete development of ,god's 
gracious designs towards sinful men4 ,a 
new order of men has been instituted1 to
 conduct public worship and teach the   
people4 ,as religion consists very much 

in the exercise of holy affections1 ,god
 has appointed the preaching of the     
,word as a suitable means for stirring  
up these affections4 ,our desires are   
called forth1 our love excited1 our     
delight increased1 and our zeal         
inflamed1 by a faithful1 earnest1 and   
feeling representation of the most      
common and familiar truths of the       
,bible1 from the pulpit4 ,it is evident1
 then1 that the private reading of the  
best books1 though highly useful1 cannot
 answer the end and design of public    
worship4    ,footnote ,i3 ,the term     
synagogue was applied both to the place 
of   meeting and to the congregation    
assembling for public worship1 as the   
term church is now used4  #c4 ,the duty 
of public worship may be inferred from  
the fitness and propriety of a public   
acknowledgment of ,god1 by a community1 
in their social capacity4  #d4 ,this    
duty is enforced by the example of holy 
men of old2 but especially of ,christ   
and his apostles4 ,david took great     

delight in the public worship of ,god's 
house4 ,my soul thirsteth for thee2 my  
flesh longeth for thee in a dry and     
thirsty land1 where no water is1 to see 
thy power and glory1 so as ,i have seen 
thee in the sanctuary4 ,i went into the 
sanctuary of ,god2 then understood ,i   
their end4 ,lord1 ,i have loved the     
habitation of thy house1 and the place  
where thine honor dwelleth4 ,i went with
 them to the house of ,god1 with the    
voice of joy and praise1 with a         
multitude that kept holy day4 ,we took  
sweet counsel together1 and walked to   
the house of ,god in company4 ,i will   
dwell in the house of the ,lord forever4
 ,one thing have ,i desired of the      
,lord1 that will ,i seek after2 that ,i 
may dwell in the house of the ,lord all 
the days of my life1 to behold the      
beauty of the ,lord1 and to inquire in  
his temple4 ,such were the feelings of  
the man who has expressed1 in strains of
 sweetest melody1 the experience of     
,christians in all ages4 ,delight in the

 worship of ,god's house may be regarded
 as one of the tokens of the new birth4 
,if you are destitute of this feeling1  
you have reason to form sad conclusions 
respecting the foundation of your hopes4
 ,but1 the example of ,jesus is very    
clear on this point4 ,and he came to    
,nazareth1 where he had been brought up1
 and1 as his custom was1 he went into   
the synagogue on the ,sabbath day1 and  
stood up for to read4 ,from this it     
appears that ,jesus1 even before        
entering upon his ministry1 was in the  
habit of attending regularly upon the   
public worship of ,god in the synagogue 
of ,nazareth1 where he had been brought 
up4 ,this was the first time he had been
 there1 after the commencement of his   
ministry2 yet he went into the synagogue
 on the ,sabbath day1 as his custom was2
 evidently showing that he had always   
been in the habit of doing so4 ,again2  
after the crucifixion of our ,lord1 we  
find the disciples regularly assembling 
together upon the first day of the week1

 which is the ,christian ,sabbath4 ,and 
,jesus himself honored these assemblies 
by his presence1 after his resurrection4
 ,that this practice continued to be    
observed by the churches founded by the 
apostles1 is evident1 from the frequent 
allusions to it in the ,acts1 and in the
 writings of ,paul4 ,paul preached at   
,macedonia upon the first day of the    
week1 when the disciples came together  
to break bread4 ,in the sixteenth       
chapter of his first epistle to the     
,corinthians1 he gives directions for   
taking up collections for the poor      
saints on the first day of the week2    
which evidently means the time when they
 were in the habit of meeting for public
 worship4 ,and in the eleventh chapter  
of the same epistle1 he tells them how  
to regulate their conduct when they come
 together in the church4 ,again2 he     
exhorts the ,hebrews not to forsake the 
assembling of themselves together4 ,from
 all these passages1 ,i think the       
inference is plain1 that1 under the     

direction of the apostles1 the public   
worship of ,god1 upon the ,sabbath1 was 
observed in the primitive churches4 ,and
 this is confirmed by the fact1 that the
 same practice has since been uniformly 
observed by the church in all ages4     
,from the foregoing arguments ,i draw   
the following conclusions3 #a4 ,it is   
the imperative duty of every person to  
attend regularly upon the public worship
 of ,god1 unless prevented by           
circumstances beyond his control4 ,god  
has appointed public worship1 consisting
 of devotional exercises and the        
preaching of his ,word1 as the principal
 means of grace1 for edifying his       
people1 and bringing lost sinners to    
himself4 ,we cannot1 therefore1 excuse  
ourselves for not waiting upon these    
means2 nor can we expect the blessing or
 ,god upon any others which we may      
substitute in their place4  #b4 ,this   
duty remains the same1 even under the   
ministry of a cold and formal pastor1   
provided he preaches the essential      

doctrines of the gospel4 ,if he denies  
any of these1 his church becomes the    
synagogue of ,satan1 and therefore no   
place for the child of ,god4 ,this      
conclusion is drawn from the practice of
 ,christ himself4 ,he attended          
habitually upon the regularly           
constituted public worship of the ,jews1
 although there appears to have been    
scarce any signs of spiritual worship   
among them4 ,the ,scriptures were       
read--the truth was declared2 yet all   
was cold formality--a mere shell of     
outside worship4  #c4 ,no person1 who   
neglects public worship upon the        
,sabbath1 when it is in his power to    
attend1 can expect a blessing upon his  
soul4 ,when preaching is of an ordinary 
character1 and not very full of         
instruction1 or when the manner of the  
preacher is disagreeable1 people are    
frequently tempted to think they can    
improve their time better at home1 in   
reading1 meditation1 and prayer4 ,but   
this is a very great mistake1 unless    

they can spend the ,sabbath profitably  
without the presence of ,god4 ,if1 as ,i
 think ,i have already shown1 it is the 
duty of every one to attend upon the    
regularly instituted public worship of  
the ,sabbath1 when we neglect it we are 
out of the way of duty4 ,and ,god will  
never bless us in the neglect of any    
positive duty1 even if our whole time be
 spent upon our knees4 ,remember1 this  
is the condition of the promise1 ,if ye 
abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 
ye shall ask what ye will1 and it shall 
be done unto you4 ,when1 therefore1 we  
are living in sin1 or in the neglect of 
duty1 7which is the same thing17 ,god   
will not hear our prayers4 ,if ,i regard
 iniquity in my heart1 says the         
psalmist1 the ,lord will not hear me4   
,again2 it is the regular ministration  
of his word in the sanctuary1 that ,god 
most eminently blesses for the growth of
 ,christians and the conversion of      
sinners4 ,and when the appointed means  
of grace are slighted1 can any one      

expect the blessing of ,god8 ,will he   
bless the means which you have devised1 
and preferred to those of his own       
appointment8 ,do not1 then1 neglect the 
habitual and regular attendance upon the
 public worship of ,god1 whenever there 
is a properly conducted assembly of     
orthodox ,christians within your reach4 
,i would not dare neglect this1 even if 
the reading of a sermon were substituted
 for preaching4  ,having1 as ,i think1  
proved the obligation to attend public  
worship1 ,i will now notice a few       
particulars respecting the performance  
of the duty4  #a4 ,attend on the stated 
ministrations of your pastor4 ,if there 
is more than one church professing your 
own sentiments1 in the place where you  
reside1 select the pastor who is most   
spiritual1 and will give you the best   
instruction4 ,but1 when you have made   
this selection1 consider yourself bound 
to wait on his ministry4 ,do not indulge
 yourself in going from place to place1 
to hear this and that minister4 ,this   

will give you itching ears and cultivate
 a love of novelty1 and a critical mode 
of hearing1 very unfavorable to the     
practical application of the truth to   
your own soul4 ,if you wish to obtain   
complete views of truth1 if you wish    
your soul to thrive1 attend1 as far as  
possible1 upon every appointment of your
 pastor4 ,every minister has some plan4 
,he adapts his preaching to the peculiar
 state of his own people1 and frequently
 pursues a chain of subjects in         
succession1 so as to present a complete 
view of the great doctrines of the      
,bible4 ,whenever you absent yourself1  
you break this chain1 and lose much of  
your interest and profit in his         
preaching4 ,i do not say but on special 
occasions1 when some subject of more    
than visual importance is to be         
presented at another place1 it may be   
proper for you to leave your own church4
 ,but1 in general1 the frequent         
assistance which most pastors receive   
from strangers will furnish as great    

variety as you will find profitable4    
#b4 ,be punctual in attending at the    
stated hour of public worship4 ,this1   
though of great importance1 is sadly    
neglected by most congregations4        
,punctuality is so necessary in matters 
of business1 that a man is hardly       
considered honest1 when he fails to meet
 his friend at the hour of engagement4  
,and why should it be thought of less   
consequence to be exact and punctual in 
our engagements with ,god than with man8
 ,the person1 who enters the house of   
,god after the service has commenced1   
greatly embarrasses the preacher1 and   
disturbs the devotions of others4       
,besides1 he shows great want of        
reverence for the sacredness of the     
place1 time1 and employment4 ,god is    
greatly to be feared in the assembly of 
his saints1 and to be had in reverence  
of all them that are about him4 ,always 
calculate to be seated in the sanctuary 
a few minutes before the time appointed 
for the commencement of worship4 ,as    

precious as time is1 it would be much   
better to lose a few moments1 than to do
 so much injury4 ,but this time need not
 be lost4 ,you require a little time1   
after entering the house of ,god1 to    
settle your mind1 and to lift your soul1
 in silent prayer1 to ,god for his      
blessing4  #c4 ,several things are      
necessary to be observed1 in order to   
wait upon ,god1 in the sanctuary1 in a  
proper manner3--7#a47 ,go to the house  
of ,god with a preparation of heart4    
,first visit your closet1 and implore   
the influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 to 
prepare your heart for the reception of 
the truth1 and to bless it to your own  
soul and the souls of others2 and1 if   
possible1 go immediately from your      
closet to the house of worship4 ,on the 
way1 shut out all thoughts except such  
as are calculated to inspire devotional 
feelings2 and1 if in company1 avoid     
conversation4 ,whatever may be the      
nature of such conversation1 it will be 
very likely to produce a train of       

thought which will distract and disturb 
your mind during public worship4 7#b47  
,when you approach the house of worship1
 remember that ,god is there in a       
peculiar manner4 ,he has promised to be 
where two or three shall meet in his    
name4 ,it is in the assembly of his     
saints1 that he makes known the power of
 his ,spirit4 ,as you enter his house1  
endeavor to realize the solemnity of his
 presence1 and walk softly before him4  
,avoid carelessness of demeanor1 and let
 your deportment indicate the reverence 
due to the place where ,god's honor     
dwelleth4 ,keep thy foot1 when thou     
goest to the house of ,god4 ,but1 above 
all1 avoid that indecent practice of    
whispering and conversation in the house
 of ,god4 ,before service commences1 it 
unfits the mind for the solemn          
employments in which you are about to   
engage4 ,after the congregation is      
dismissed1 it dissipates the impression 
received4 ,when seated in the place of  
worship1 set a watch over the senses1   

that your eyes and ears may not cause   
your mind to wander upon forbidden      
objects4 ,there is great danger that the
 attraction of persons1 characters and  
dress1 may dissipate every serious      
thought with which you entered the      
sanctuary4 ,by this means1 you will lose
 the benefit of the means of grace1 and 
bring leanness upon your soul4 ,again2  
set a watch over your imagination4 ,this
 is a time when ,satan is particularly  
busy in diverting the fancy2 and1 unless
 you are doubly watchful1 he will lead  
away your mind1 by some phantom of the  
imagination1 before you are aware of it4
 ,keep these avenues of temptation      
guarded1 and seek to bring yourself into
 a prayerful frame of mind1 that you may
 be suitably affected by the various    
exercises of public worship4  #d4 ,unite
 in spirit with the devotional part of  
the service4 ,god is a ,spirit2 and they
 that worship him must worship in spirit
 and in truth4 ,be particularly careful 
that you do not mock ,god in singing4   

,this part of worship1 ,i fear1 is too  
often performed in a heartless manner4  
,try to sing with the spirit1 as well as
 the understanding4 ,and whenever you   
come to anything in the language of the 
psalm or hymn which you cannot adopt as 
your own1 omit it4 ,if you sing before  
him what you do not feel1 you lie to him
 in your heart4 ,and you know1 by the   
terrible example of ,ananias and        
,sapphira1 how ,god regards this sin4   
,in prayer1 strive to follow1 in your   
heart1 the words of the person who      
leads1 applying the several parts of the
 prayer to yourself in particular1 when 
they suit your case1 and yet bearing in 
mind the various subjects of petition1  
which relate to the congregation and the
 world4 ,in all the exercises of public 
worship1 labor and strive against       
wandering thoughts4 ,this is the time   
when ,satan will beset you with all his 
fury4 ,now you must be well armed1 and  
fight manfully4 ,be not discouraged1    
though you may be many times foiled4 ,if

 you persevere in the strength of       
,jesus1 you will come off conqueror at  
last4  #e4 ,take heed how you hear4     
7#a47 ,consider the speaker as the      
ambassador of ,christ1 sent with a      
message from ,god to yourself4 ,for such
 truly is every evangelical minister of 
,christ4 7#b47 ,diligently compare the  
doctrines1 which you hear from the      
pulpit1 with the ,holy ,scriptures1 and 
receive nothing which does not agree    
with them4 ,the figure used in the      
passage referred to1 7#b ,cor4 #e3bj17  
is borrowed from the practice of one    
government sending a person on a        
particular errand to another4 ,the      
analogy in this case1 however1 does not 
hold good throughout4 ,it is like a     
sovereign sending an ambassador to      
persuade rebels against his government  
to submit to him1 and accept of pardon4 
,but1 in such a case1 it would be       
possible1 either for some person1 who   
was not sent1 to deliver a false message
 in the name of the king1 or for one who

 was really sent1 to deliver a different
 message from the one sent by him4 ,so  
it is in relation to preachers of the   
gospel4 ,there are many1 whom ,christ   
has never sent1 who are spreading abroad
 lies over the land2 and there are      
others1 really sent by ,christ1 who     
have1 in some respects1 misapprehended  
his meaning1 and therefore do not       
deliver his message just as he has      
directed4 ,but1 our blessed ,lord1      
foreseeing this1 has wisely and kindly  
given us a check book1 by which we may  
discover whether those who speak in his 
name tell the truth4 ,hence we are      
commanded to search the ,scriptures1 and
 to try the spirits1 whether they be of 
,god4 ,and the ,bereans were commended  
as more noble1 because they searched the
 ,scriptures daily1 to know whether the 
things preached by the apostles were so4
 ,if1 then1 they were applauded for     
trying the preaching of the apostles by 
the word of ,god1 surely we may try the 
preaching of uninspired men by the same 

standard4 7#c47 ,beware of a            
fault-finding spirit4 ,there are some   
persons1 who indulge such a habit of    
finding fault with preaching1 that they 
never receive any benefit from it4      
,either the matter of the sermon1 the   
apparent feeling of the preacher1 or his
 style and manner of delivery1 does not 
suit them1 and therefore they throw away
 all the good they might have obtained  
from his discourse4 ,remember that      
preachers of the gospel are but men4 ,so
 weak are they1 that the apostle        
compares them to earthen vessels4 ,do   
not1 then1 expect perfection4 ,bear with
 their infirmities4 ,receive their      
instructions as the bread which your    
heavenly ,father has provided for the   
nourishment of your soul4 ,do not       
ungratefully spurn it from you4 ,what   
would you think1 to see a child throwing
 away the bread his mother gives him1   
because it does not suit his capricious 
notions8 ,surely1 you would say he did  
not deserve to have any4 ,but1 if your  

minister is cold and formal1 and does   
not exhibit the truth in a clear1       
pointed1 and forcible manner to the     
conscience1 mourn over the matter in    
secret1 before ,god4 ,you will do no    
good by making it a subject of common   
conversation4 ,it will lead to the      
indulgence of a censorious spirit1 to   
the injury of your own soul1 and the    
wounding of the cause of ,christ4 ,if   
you speak of it at all1 let it be in a  
spirit of tender concern for the welfare
 of ,zion1 to some pious friends1 who   
will unite with you in praying for your 
pastor4 ,you recollect the conversion of
 ,dr4 ,west1,j in answer to the prayers 
of two pious females4 ,so you may be    
instrumental in reviving the heart of   
your pastor4 7#d47 ,hear with           
self-application4 ,from almost any      
passage in the ,bible the ,christian may
 draw a practical lesson for himself4   
,some truths may not be immediately     
applicable to your present              
circumstances2 but they are1            

nevertheless1 calculated to affect your 
heart4 ,even a sermon1 addressed        
exclusively to impenitent sinners1 is   
calculated to rouse up the most intense 
feelings of the ,christian's soul4 ,it  
reminds him of the exceeding wickedness 
of his past life2 it shows him what an  
awful gulf he has escaped2 it leads him 
to mourn over his ingratitude2 and it   
calls forth his prayers and tears in    
behalf of perishing sinners4 ,strive to 
bring home the truth1 so far as it is   
applicable to yourself1 in the most     
searching manner4 ,examine your own     
heart diligently1 that you lose nothing 
which belongs to you4 7#e47 ,do not hear
 for others4 ,let every one make his own
 application of the truth4 ,many persons
 are so intent on finding garments for  
others1 that they lose their own4 7#f47 
,hear with a prayerful frame of mind4   
,if any part of the discourse is        
intended for professors of religion1 let
 your heart continually ascend to ,god1 
for the ,holy ,spirit to apply it to    

your own heart1 and to the heart of     
every ,christian present4 ,if any part  
of it is designed for impenitent        
sinners1 let your soul put forth an     
agony of prayer1 that it may be blessed 
for their conversion4 7#g47 ,remember   
and practise what you hear4 ,this is of 
great importance2 and1 unless you attend
 to it1 every other direction will be of
 little avail4    ,footnote ,j3 ,see    
page #fd4  ,intimately connected with   
public worship are social meetings for  
prayer4 ,we have examples of these in   
the primitive church4 ,the disciples met
 for prayer ten days in succession      
before the outpouring of the ,holy      
,spirit on the day of ,pentecost4 ,when 
the apostles returned from before the   
council1 they held a prayer-meeting1 and
 the place was shaken where they were   
assembled4 ,when ,peter was imprisoned1 
the church assembled for prayer in the  
night2 and an angel delivered him out of
 the prison4 ,we read of a place by the 
river side1 where prayer was wont to be 

made4 ,and at ,miletus1 ,paul attended a
 precious prayer-meeting with the elders
 of the church of ,ephesus4 ,these      
meetings have been maintained among     
evangelical ,christians in every age4   
,they are the life of the church4 ,they 
are the mainspring of human agency in   
all revivals of religion4 ,without a    
spirit of prayer1 sufficient to bring   
,god's people together in this way1 ,i  
see not how vital piety can exist in a  
church4 ,the feelings of a lively       
,christian will lead him to the place   
where prayer is wont to be made4 ,but it
 will not do to follow our feelings at  
all times1 because they are variable4   
,be governed in everything by religious 
principle4 ,if there are prayer-meetings
 in the place where you reside1 make it 
a matter of conscience to attend them4  
,let no slight excuse keep you from the 
house of prayer4 ,especially1 never let 
company prevent your attendance upon    
these meetings4 ,there is a time for    
visiting2 but to prefer the company of  

mortals to that of the living ,god is   
most unwise2 and if but two or three are
 really met for the purpose of holding  
communion with ,christ1 they have his   
promise that he will be with them4 ,in  
relation to punctuality1 preparation1   
watchfulness1 c41 the remarks already   
made in relation to public worship apply
 with equal force to social             
prayer-meetings4  ,but1 in addition to  
the ordinary prayer-meetings1 ,i would  
recommend to you always to attend a     
praying circle of females4 ,female      
prayer-meetings have often been blessed 
to the reviving of ,god's work2 and if1 
by the grace of ,god1 you are enabled to
 offer up the prayer of faith1 your     
influence may thus be felt to the       
remotest parts of the earth4  ,in       
relation to the duties of that portion  
of the holy ,sabbath not employed in    
public worship1 it naturally divides    
itself into two parts3 ,i4 ,the duty we 
owe to the souls of others4 ,we are     
bound to follow the example of ,christ1 

so far as it is applicable to the       
station we hold in his kingdom4 ,if we  
examine his life1 we shall find that the
 love of souls was everywhere           
predominant4 ,it was for this that he   
condescended to be made flesh1 and dwell
 among us4 ,it was for this that he     
labored and toiled4 ,for this he        
suffered1 bled1 and died4 ,if we can1 in
 any manner1 be instrumental in saving  
souls1 the love of ,christ must         
constrain us to do what we can4 ,if we  
have not his ,spirit1 we are none of    
his4 ,no one1 with the love of ,jesus   
burning in his breast1 can look upon    
dying sinners around him1 without       
feeling anxious to do something for     
their salvation4 ,the ,sabbath school   
opens a wide field of usefulness4 ,here 
every ,christian1 male and female1 may  
become the pastor of a little flock4    
,such1 truly1 is the relation between a 
,sabbath school teacher and his class4  
,he is appointed to watch for their     
souls4 ,this is no ordinary office4 ,it 

is one of high responsibility4 ,the     
,sabbath school teacher becomes an      
ambassador of ,christ to the little     
flock entrusted to his care4 ,every one 
of their souls is worth more than the   
world4  ,i shall offer no argument to   
persuade you to engage in this work1    
because ,i know your heart is in it1 and
 ,i cannot see how any ,christian can   
need urging to such a delightful        
employment4 ,i only wish to stir up your
 zeal in the cause1 and give a few plain
 and practical directions respecting    
this highly important duty4 ,in doing   
this1 it is necessary to consider the   
end and object of ,sabbath school       
instruction4 ,this is nothing less than 
the conversion of the children1 and     
their subsequent preparation for        
usefulness in the church of ,christ4 ,to
 this end1 three things are             
indispensably requisite3 #a4 ,that the  
children should have a clear and        
distinct knowledge of those great though
 simple truths of ,god's word1 which    

teach them their lost and ruined        
condition by nature1 and the way of     
salvation revealed in the gospel4       
,without this1 they cannot become the   
subjects of renewing grace2 for this    
work is carried on in the heart1 through
 the instrumentality of ,god's word4    
,these truths must1 therefore1 be so    
illustrated1 simplified1 and brought    
down to their capacities1 that they will
 see their application to themselves1   
and learn from them their own immediate 
duty4  #b4 ,that this great end may be  
accomplished1 it is necessary that the  
,holy ,spirit should apply the truth to 
their consciences1 and incline them to  
embrace it4 ,for even young sinners are 
so depraved that they will not listen to
 the most tender and melting invitations
 of ,god's word1 nor accept the offers  
of mercy and salvation in the gospel1   
until their dispositions are changed by 
the power of the ,holy ,ghost4  #c4 ,to 
prepare them to become laborers in the  
vineyard of the ,lord1 it is not only   

necessary that they should be converted1
 but that they should grow in grace1 and
 in the knowledge of our ,lord ,jesus   
,christ4 ,i have already shown what an  
intimate connection there is between    
high spiritual attainments and eminent  
usefulness1 and between a knowledge of  
truth and the work of sanctification in 
the heart4 ,but energy of mind1 and     
habits of deep thought and close study1 
are of great importance1 as talents to  
be employed in the service of ,god4     
,these must also be cultivated in the   
,sabbath school4  ,let it1 then1 become 
a subject of anxious inquiry how you may
 be instrumental in promoting these     
several objects1 so necessary to the    
great end you have in view4 ,in this    
matter1 the following directions may be 
of service to you3--  #a4 ,labor to     
obtain a clear1 full1 and discriminating
 view of gospel truth yourself4 ,this is
 indispensable1 if you would impress the
 same upon the minds of others4 ,if your
 general views of truth are obscure1    

indefinite1 and unsatisfactory to       
yourself1 your instructions will be of  
the same character4  #b4 ,study to      
become skilful in the sacred art of so  
communicating divine truth to children1 
that they will understand it4 ,little as
 this may be esteemed1 it is one of the 
most valuable talents you can possess4  
,i know of no other which females can so
 profitably employ in the service of    
,christ4 ,on this subject1 ,i will offer
 the following suggestions3--  7#a47    
,study the juvenile mind4 ,observe the  
principles by which it is developed and 
called forth into action4 ,see how you  
can apply these principles to effect the
 object in view4 ,be familiar with      
children4 ,become acquainted with their 
language and modes of thinking2 and     
strive to adapt yourself to their       
capacities4  7#b47 ,use such helps as   
you can obtain4 ,there are many works   
published on the subject of education1  
which develop important principles1 of  
great use in communicating knowledge to 

the young4 ,some of these are especially
 designed for ,sabbath school teachers4 
,study them with diligence2 treasure up 
all useful hints1 and apply them in     
practice4  7#c47 ,aim at drawing out the
 minds of the children1 and teaching    
them to study and think1 with clearness 
and precision1 for themselves4 ,there is
 a great difference between conversing  
with children and talking to them4 ,by  
the former1 you call their minds into   
exercise1 and get hold of their         
feelings4 ,thus you will secure their   
attention4 ,but the latter will be much 
less likely to interest them2 for1 being
 the recipients of thought1 instead of  
thinking for themselves1 they           
participate less in the exercise4 ,by   
engaging them in conversation1 and      
leading that conversation in the        
investigation of truth1 you teach them  
to think4 ,the mental discipline which  
this calls forth1 is a matter of no     
small consequence4 ,it may have an      
important bearing upon their whole      

future characters4  ,if we simply       
explain to a child the meaning of a     
passage of ,scripture1 the whole benefit
 lies in the instruction he receives at 
the time4 ,but1 if we show him          
practically how to ascertain the meaning
 himself1 and bring him under the mental
 discipline which it requires1 we give  
him a kind of key to unlock the meaning 
of other passages4 ,by an ingenious mode
 of catechizing1 children's minds may be
 led to perceive and understand almost  
any truth1 much more distinctly and     
clearly than by any direct explanation  
which1 a teacher can make4 ,by          
catechizing1 ,i do not mean the         
repeating of catechisms2 but the calling
 out of their minds upon any ,scripture 
truth that may be before them1 by a     
series of simple questions1 leading them
 to see the truth as though they had    
discovered it themselves4  ,this is a   
subject well worthy of your prayerful   
attention4 ,remember that you are       
dependent upon the ,holy ,spirit for the

 proper direction of the powers of your 
mind4 ,pray1 then1 for clearness of     
perception1 and discrimination of       
judgment1 that you may understand the   
truth2 and for skill to communicate it  
to your class4 ,study every ,sabbath    
school lesson in your closet1 with these
 ends in view4 ,persevere in your       
efforts till you become mistress of the 
art of teaching4  #c4 ,let your own     
heart be affected with the truth you are
 endeavoring to teach4 ,upon this1 so   
far as your instrumentality is          
concerned1 greatly depends your success4
 ,unless you feel the force of the truth
 yourself1 it will be very difficult for
 you to convince the children that you  
are in earnest4 ,while preparing the    
lesson1 in your closet1 try to obtain a 
realizing sense of the personal interest
 which you and your class have in the   
subject you are contemplating4 ,see what
 bearing it has upon your and their     
eternal destiny2 and pray for the ,holy 
,spirit to impress it powerfully upon   

your heart4 ,always1 if possible1 spend 
a little season in your closet1 as an   
immediate preparation for the duties of 
the ,sabbath school4 ,get your heart    
refreshed1 in view of the practical     
truth contained in the lesson2 and go   
before your class deeply impressed with 
its solemn import4  #d4 ,make a personal
 application of the practical truths    
contained in the lesson2 and embrace    
frequent opportunities of conversing    
separately and privately with every one 
of your scholars1 in regard to their    
religious feelings4 ,if they give no    
evidence of piety1 explain to them the  
duty of immediate repentance and        
submission to ,god1 and urge them to    
perform it without delay4 ,do this1     
under the solemn impression that it may 
be your last opportunity1 and that you  
will soon meet them at the judgment-seat
 of ,christ4  ,if you have reason to    
believe their hearts have been renewed1 
show them the importance of high        
spiritual attainments4 ,urge upon them  

the duties of watchfulness1             
self-examination1 studying the          
,scriptures1 and prayer4 ,show them also
 the necessity of carrying out their    
religion into every action of their     
lives4 ,show them that the design of    
religion is to make them better2 to give
 them better dispositions2 to keep them 
humble2 and make them more amiable1     
obedient1 and dutiful in everything4    
,teach them also the great importance of
 improving their minds1 while young1 to 
fit them for the service of ,christ4    
,you may have before you some future    
,harriet ,newell1 or ,mrs4 ,judson1 who 
may willingly surrender all the comforts
 of this life to carry the glad tidings 
of salvation to the benighted heathen4  
#e4 ,be earnest and importunate for the 
,holy ,spirit to bless your labors4     
,without this1 all your efforts will be 
in vain4 ,feel continually that you are 
but an instrument in the hand of ,god2  
and that all your success must depend   
upon him4 ,yet he has promised to give  

his ,holy ,spirit to them that ask him4 
,let no day pass without presenting     
before the throne of grace every        
individual of your class3 endeavor to   
remember as particularly as possible the
 peculiar circumstances and feelings of 
each4 ,visit them as often as you can2  
and1 if possible1 persuade them to meet 
with you once a week for prayer4 ,but   
make no effort in your own strength4    
,search well your motives1 and see that 
self-seeking has no place in your heart4
 ,if you seek the conversion of your    
class1 that you may be honored as the   
instrument1 you will be disappointed4   
,god must be glorified in all things4   
,,ii4 ,there are also duties that we owe
 to ,god1 in private1 which ought to    
occupy a portion of the holy ,sabbath4  
,in the present age1 when so much of the
 ,lord's day is spent in attendance upon
 public worship and the ,sabbath school1
 there is danger that secret communion  
with ,god will be neglected2 and thus1  
like the tree with a worm at its root1  

the soul will wither under the genial   
rain and sunshine of the gospel4 ,with a
 few practical directions on this point1
 ,i shall close this letter4  #a4 ,spend
 as large a portion as possible of the  
intervals of public duties in your      
closet4 ,the time thus spent should be  
employed principally in the devotional  
reading of the ,holy ,scriptures2       
meditation1 for the purpose of getting  
your own heart affected with divine     
truth2 self-examination1 and prayer4 ,if
 you have very much time to spend in    
this way1 you may employ a part of it in
 reading some devotional book2 but ,i   
think our reading on the ,sabbath should
 be principally confined to the         
,scriptures4 ,but prayer should be      
frequent1 and mingled with everything4  
#b4 ,spend no part of the ,lord's day in
 seeking your own ease or pleasure4 ,we 
are required to turn away our feet from 
finding our own pleasure on ,god's holy 
day4 ,all our time is the ,lord's2 but  
the ,sabbath is his in a peculiar       

manner4 ,on other days of the week he   
allows us to do our own work4 ,but on   
this day we must do his work only4      
,there is no room1 then1 for the        
indulgence of idleness1 indolence1 or   
sloth1 upon the ,sabbath4 ,the duties of
 this holy day are such as to require   
the active and vigorous exercise of all 
our faculties4 ,that you may not1 then1 
be tempted to indulge in sloth1 use     
every means in your power to promote a  
lively state of your bodily energies4   
,make all your preparations on the      
afternoon of ,saturday4 ,spend a portion
 of the evening in devotional exercises1
 for the purpose of banishing the world 
from your mind1 and bringing it into a  
heavenly frame2 and retire to rest at an
 early hour4 ,by this means1 your animal
 powers will be refreshed1 and you will 
be prepared early to meet the ,lord1 on 
the approach of his holy morning4  #c4  
,watch over your thoughts4 ,the ,sabbath
 is a season when ,satan is exceedingly 
busy in diverting our thoughts from holy

 things4 ,evil thoughts also proceed    
from our own depraved hearts4 ,but the  
,lord's day is as really profaned by    
vain and worldly thoughts1 as by the    
labor of our bodies4 ,o1 if we could    
realize this1 how much food should we   
find for bitter repentance in the       
thoughts of a single ,sabbath6 ,strive1 
then1 to bring into captivity every     
thought to the obedience of ,christ4 ,i 
hate vain thoughts1 says the ,psalmist2 
but thy law do ,i love4  #d4 ,set a     
guard over your lips4 ,conversing about 
the affairs of the world1 is a direct   
breach of the holy ,sabbath4 ,but we are
 not only required to refrain from      
worldly and vain conversation1 but from 
speaking our own words4 ,all            
unprofitable conversation1 even though  
it be about the externals of religion1  
should be avoided4 ,it has a tendency to
 dissipate the mind1 and to remove any  
serious impressions which the truth may 
have made4 ,our thoughts should be fixed
 on divine things1 and our conversation 

should be heavenly4 ,we are not only    
required to refrain from finding our own
 pleasure1 speaking our own words1 and  
doing our own ways2 but we are to call  
the ,sabbath a delight1 the holy of the 
,lord1 honorable4 ,and so will every one
 regard ,god's holy day1 who lives in   
the lively exercise of spiritual        
affections4                             
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,ix4  ,meditation4            
,meditate upon these things4--#a ,,tim4 
#d3ae4   ,,my ,,dear ,,sister3  ,the    
subject of this letter is intimately    
connected with that of the last2 and in 
proportion to your faithfulness in the  
duty now under consideration1 will be   
your interest in the word and worship of
 ,god4 ,religious meditation is a       
serious1 devout and practical thinking  
of divine things2 a duty enjoined in    
,scripture1 both by precept and example2
 and concerning which1 let us observe1  
#a4 ,its importance4 ,that ,god has     
required it1 ought to be a sufficient   

motive to its performance4 ,but its     
inseparable connection with our growth  
in grace magnifies its importance4 ,it  
is by beholding the glory of the ,lord1 
that we are changed into the same image4
 ,and how can we behold his glory1 but  
by the spiritual contemplation of his   
infinite perfections8 ,again3 the word  
of ,god is a lamp to our feet2 but if we
 do not open our eyes to its truths1 how
 can they guide our steps8 ,it is only  
by the practical contemplation of these 
truths1 that our souls can come into    
communion with them1 drink in their     
spirit1 and be guided by their precepts4
 ,hence1 the intimate connection of this
 devout exercise with growth in grace4  
#b4 ,the time and manner of ,meditation4
 ,it should be constant4 ,our minds and 
hearts should be so habitually fixed on 
heavenly things1 that1 after having been
 necessarily employed about our worldly 
affairs1 our thoughts will voluntarily  
revert back to spiritual things1 as to  
their proper element4 ,their tendency   

should be upward4 ,speaking of the godly
 man1 ,david says1 in his law doth he   
meditate1 day and night4 ,o how love ,i 
thy law1 says the ,psalmist2 it is my   
meditation all the day4 ,you may1       
perhaps1 find it profitable to select a 
subject every morning for meditation    
during the day2 and whenever your       
thoughts are not necessarily occupied   
with your ordinary employments1 turn    
them to that subject4 ,labor after clear
 and practical views of the truth2 and  
see that your heart is affected by it4  
,one of the most difficult points of    
,christian experience is1 to keep the   
mind habitually upon heavenly things1   
while engaged in worldly employments1 or
 surrounded by objects which affect the 
senses4 ,satan will be continually      
seeking to divert your mind2 but do not 
be discouraged by his assaults4 ,the    
,bible saints were fervent in spirit1   
even while engaged in business2 and we  
have accounts of pious persons in every 
age1 who have been like them4 ,a        

heavenly mind is worth the labor of     
years4 ,do not rest till you obtain it4 
,meditation should also be mixed with   
the reading of ,god's word4 ,it requires
 the closest meditation to understand   
the ,holy ,scriptures1 and apply them to
 our hearts4  ,but1 it is also necessary
 to set apart particular seasons of     
retirement for fixed and holy           
meditation4 ,this position is warranted 
by ,scripture4 ,holy men of old embraced
 the most favorable opportunities for   
this devout exercise4 ,isaac went out   
into the field to meditate in the       
stillness and solemnity of the evening4 
,david sometimes chose the calmness of  
the morning4 ,at other times1 he fixed  
his thoughts in holy meditation1 during 
the wakeful hours of the night4 ,i      
remember thee upon my bed1 and meditate 
on thee in the night-watches4 ,mine eyes
 prevent the night-watches1 that ,i     
might meditate in thy word4 ,but1 lest  
the adversary should get the advantage  
of you1 fix upon regular seasons for    

this sacred employment4 ,select some    
subject1 and think upon it deeply1      
systematically1 practically1 and        
devoutly4 ,system is a great assistance 
in everything4 ,we can never obtain     
clear views of any complex object1      
without separately viewing the various  
parts of which it is composed4 ,we      
cannot see the beautiful mechanism of a 
watch1 nor understand the principles    
which keep it in motion1 without taking 
it in pieces1 and viewing the parts     
separately4 ,so1 in contemplating any   
great truth1 which contains many        
different propositions2 if we look at   
them all at once1 our ideas will be     
confused and imperfect2 but if we       
separate them1 and examine one at a     
time1 our views will be clear and       
distinct4 ,our meditation must be       
practical1 because every divine truth is
 calculated to make an impression upon  
the heart2 and if it fails of doing     
this1 our labor is lost4 ,make1 then1 a 
direct personal application of the      

truth1 on which your thoughts are fixed4
 ,but1 our meditations must also be     
devotions4 ,they must all be mixed with 
prayer4 ,as an example of what ,i mean1 
examine the #aaith ,psalm4 ,there the   
,psalmist1 in the midst of his          
meditations1 was continually lifting up 
his soul in prayer4 ,his devout         
aspirations are breathed forth          
continually4 ,your success in this      
exercise1 and the profit you derive from
 it1 will very much depend on the manner
 you observe this direction4  #c4 ,the  
subjects of ,meditation4 ,the word of   
,god furnishes abundant matter for      
meditation4 ,this was the constant      
delight of the ,psalmist4 ,the #aaith   
,psalm consists almost entirely of      
meditations upon the word of ,god4 ,but1
 in our regular seasons of fixed and    
solemn meditation1 you will find        
assistance and profit from fixing your  
mind on some particular portion of      
divine truth2 and carrying it out in its
 various relations and applications4    

,that these subjects may be always at   
hand1 without loss of time in selecting 
and arranging them1 ,i here suggest a   
considerable variety of topics1 with    
references to passages of ,scripture    
calculated to illustrate or enforce the 
subjects4 ,it is not designed that you  
should confine yourself strictly to     
these1 but to use them as an aid to your
 own efforts4 ,they are intended as mere
 suggestions1 and are therefore both    
imperfectly stated and partially carried
 out2 ,one great difficulty1 in this    
exercise1 is1 always to be able to fix  
the mind on some portion of truth1 in   
such a manner as to secure variety1 and 
to contemplate truth in its proper      
proportions4 ,and probably this kind of 
meditation is often neglected1 for want 
of time to select a subject1 and fix the
 attention upon it4 ,if ,christians were
 always in a lively frame1 perhaps this 
would not be necessary4 ,the mind would 
spontaneously revert to spiritual       
things4 ,but1 humiliating as is the     

fact1 it is nevertheless true1 that our 
minds are often dull upon those subjects
 which ought always to operate as the   
touchstone of spiritual feeling4 ,yet1  
as right feelings can be produced only  
in view of truth1 the way to overcome   
this dulness is to direct the attention 
to objects calculated to call forth     
these emotions4  ,i have arranged these 
subjects in such a manner1 that1 if     
taken in course1 they will lead to the  
contemplation of divine truth1 with some
 reference to its proper proportions1   
although they do not completely cover   
the ground4 ,any particular topic1      
however1 can be selected1 according to  
the circumstances or inclination of the 
individual4 ,many of the subjects are   
divided under various heads2 and1 in    
some cases1 one or two heads may perhaps
 be found sufficient for one season of  
meditation4   ,i4 ,,character ,,and     
,,attributes ,,of ,,god4  #a4           
,self-existence--being underived4 ,how  
this can be proved from reason4 ,how    

this truth is recognized in ,scripture4 
,ex4 #c3ad4 ,rev4 #a3h4 ,jer4 #aj3aj4   
,dan4 #f3bf4 ,all other existence       
derived from him4 ,ps4 #cc3f4 ,john     
#a3c4 ,col4 #a3af1 #ag4 ,heb4 #aa3ac4   
,practical ,reflections4 7#a47 ,ps4     
#ec3a1 f4c41 7#b47 ,isa4 #bi3af1 l4c4   
#de3i1 #aj4 ,rom4 #i3bj1 #ba4 7#c47 ,ps4
 c4 #c1 #d4 ,isa4 #dc3g4 ,dan4 #e3bc1   
l4c4  #b4 ,eternity and ,immutability of
 ,god4 ,how one of these involves the   
other4 ,how these attributes can be     
discovered by reason4 ,how by           
,scripture4 ,gen4 #a3a4 ,deut4 #cb3dj4  
,ps4 #ij3b4 #ajb3bd-bg4 ,mal4 #c3f4     
,heb4 #ac3h4 ,jas4 #a3ag4 ,rev4 #a3d4   
#bb3ac4  ,consider these attributes     
separately3--7#a47 ,eternity--being     
without beginning or end--ever being4   
7#b47 ,immutability--subject to no      
change in his manner of being1 his      
perfections1 his thoughts1 desires1     
purposes1 or determinations4  ,practical
 ,reflections4 7#a47 ,how ,god appears  
to us in view of these attributes4 7#b47

 ,how necessary they are to the         
character of the ,supreme ,ruler4 7#c47 
,how these attributes make ,god appear  
to the sinner4 7#d47 ,how to holy       
beings4 7#e47 ,what encouragements to   
prayer4 ,suppose ,god were changeable in
 his character1 feelings1 and purposes1 
what confidence could be reposed in his 
promises8 7#f47 ,what feelings these    
attributes should inspire4  #c4         
,omnipresence and ,omniscience of ,god4 
7#a47 ,contemplate knowledge without    
limit1 and presence without bounds4     
7#b47 ,how these attributes are manifest
 from the works of creation4 7#c47 ,how 
declared in the ,word of ,god4 ,ps4     
#aci3a-ab4 ,jer4 #bc3bd4 ,ps4 #adg3e4   
,isa4 #dj3bh4  ,solemn ,thoughts4 7#a47 
,in what light ,god is manifested by    
these attributes4 7#b47 ,how necessary  
these attributes to the ,supreme        
,governor and righteous ,judge of all4  
7#c47 ,no individual so small or        
unimportant as to escape the attention  
of such a being4 ,matt4 #aj3bi1 #cj4    

,practical ,reflections4 7#a47 ,danger  
of forgetting or losing a sense of the  
presence of ,god4 ,ps4 #i3ag4 #ej3bb4   
7#b47 ,what feelings should be inspired 
in view of these attributes4 ,ps4 #d3d4 
,heb4 #d3ac4 7#c47 ,how sinners should  
feel in view of them4 ,job #cd3ba1 #bb4 
,prov4 #e3ba4 #ae3c4 ,jer4 #af3ag4 ,amos
 #i3b1 #c4 7#d47 ,what emotions these   
attributes should excite in the hearts  
of ,god's children4 #b ,chron4 #af3i1   
f4c4 7#e47 ,how these attributes will   
appear in the day of judgment4  #d4     
,omnipotence and ,independence of ,god4 
7#a47 ,how the omnipotence of ,god is   
manifested by the works of creation4    
,job1 chapters #ch-aa4 ,reflect on the  
works of creation as a whole1 and       
minutely and particularly1 and also how 
they were made4 ,gen4 #a3c1 #f1 #i1 #aa1
 #ad1 #bj1 #bd1 #bf4 7#b47 ,how the     
independence of ,god is manifested by   
his works4 ,creative power must be      
underived4 7#c47 ,how the omnipotence of
 ,god is displayed1 in his upholding and

 governing all things4 7#d47 ,how this  
attribute is declared in ,scripture4    
,gen4 #ag3a4 #ah3ad4 ,matt4 #ai3bf4     
7#e47 ,how omnipotence proves           
independence4  ,practical ,reflections4 
7#a47 ,how ,god is hereby qualified to  
be the ,supreme ,ruler4 7#b47 ,the      
condition of sinners1 while they remain 
at enmity with such a being4 ,deut4     
#cb3da4 7#c47 ,how ,christians should   
feel1 in view of this4 ,ex4 #cb3cb4     
,rom4 #i3b1 #c4 7#d47 ,what they ought  
to do4 ,acts #bj3ca4 ,jas4 #e3bj4 ,jude 
#bc4 7#e47 ,feelings of those who can   
view such a being as their ,friend and  
,father4 ,rom4 #h3bh1 #ch1 #ci4 #a ,cor4
 #c3bb1 #bc4 7#f47 ,appropriate emotions
 on contemplating the omnipotence of    
,god4 ,job #aa3g1 #h4 #bf3ad4 ,ps4 #ade4
  #e4 ,benevolence of ,god4 ,god is     
essentially benevolent4 #a ,john #d3h4  
7#a47 ,how the benevolence of ,god is   
exhibited to us by the light of reason4 
7#b47 ,how by his works of creation and 
providence4 7#c47 ,by ,revelation4      

,first1 by direct assertion4 ,exod4     
#cd3f4 ,ps4 #ade3i4 ,nah4 #a3g4 ,matt4  
#e3de4 ,second1 by the character of his 
law4 ,ps4 #ai3g1 #h4 ,matt4 #bb3cg-ci4  
,rom4 #g3ab4 ,third1 by the work of     
redemption4 ,john #c3af1 #ag4           
,inferential ,thoughts4 7#a47 ,the      
benevolence of ,god without bounds4     
7#b47 ,always active 7#c47 ,it          
constitutes his whole moral character4  
7#d47 ,a being of infinite benevolence  
must prefer the greater good to the     
less1 and the supreme good above all4   
7#e47 ,such a being must love the same  
disposition in his creatures1 and hate  
the opposite4  ,practical ,reflections4 
7#a47 ,how odious selfishness must be in
 the sight of ,god4 7#b47 ,sinners      
directly opposed in their characters and
 feelings to ,god4 ,exod4 #bj3e1 l4c4   
,rom4 #h3g4 7#c47 ,the exceeding great  
evil of sin1 as committed against       
infinite benevolence4 7#d47 ,the        
ingratitude and baseness of sinners4    
7#e47 ,what the goodness of ,god should 

lead them to4 ,isa4 #cj3ah4 ,rom4 #b3d4 
7#f47 ,what emotions the contemplation  
of the goodness of ,god should excite in
 the hearts of his children4 ,ps4 #aah4 
,isa4 #fc3g4 ,eph4 #e3bj4 7#g47 ,how we 
may apprehend the goodness of the ,lord4
 ,ps1 #ajg3dc4  #f4 ,the ,justice of    
,god4 7#a47 ,what justice is3 ,first1 as
 exercised by intelligent beings1 whose 
relations will admit of mutual giving   
and receiving2 ,second1 as exercised by 
a ruler towards his subjects2 ,third1 as
 relates to all actions1 with reference 
to the general good4 7#b47 ,which of    
these relations ,god sustains to the    
universe4 7#c47 ,the disposition which  
would lead him to act justly in all     
these cases4 7#d47 ,how ,god is just as 
respects himself 7#e47 ,as respects his 
creatures4 7#f47 ,how the justice of    
,god may be seen from the light of      
reason1 and from the system of his      
providence4 7#g47 ,how from the ,sacred 
,history4 7#h47 ,the positive           
declarations of ,scripture4 ,deut4      

#cb3d4 ,isa4 #de3ba4 ,zeph4 #c3e4 ,rev4 
#ae3c4 7#i47 ,from the revelation of a  
future day of righteous retribution4    
,eccl4 #ab3ad4 ,acts #ag3ca4 #b ,cor4   
#e3aj4  ,practical ,reflections4 7#a47  
,how1 by this attribute1 ,god is        
qualified to be the ,supreme ,governor4 
7#b47 ,how terrible this renders him to 
the wicked4 ,exod4 #cd3g1 l4c4 ,heb4    
#aj3bj-bi4 #ab3bi4 7#c47 ,how suffering 
the guilty to go unpunished1 without    
satisfaction and reformation1 would be  
doing injustice to the universe4 7#d47  
,why we ought to look with complacency  
and delight upon this attribute4  #g4   
,the ,truth of ,god4 7#a47 ,his         
veracity2 or a disposition always to    
speak according to the real state of    
things4 7#b47 ,faithfulness2 or a       
disposition to conform his actions to   
previous declarations of his ,word4     
7#a47 ,how the truth of ,god may be     
proved by reason4 ,first1 from his      
,benevolence4 ,second1 from his         
,independence and ,immutability4 ,third1

 from the excellence of truth and the   
turpitude of falsehood4 ,fourth1 from   
the estimation in which truth is held by
 the intelligent creatures he has made4 
7#b47 ,how proved from the ,scriptures4 
,first1 by direct declarations4 ,exod4  
#cd3f1 l4c4 ,ps4 #aag3b4 #adf3f1 l4c4   
,second1 by the accordance of the       
histories recorded in ,scripture with   
the facts substantiated by other        
evidence4 ,third1 by the predictions of 
events which have since been fulfilled4 
,fourth1 from the doctrines contained in
 his ,word4 ,fifth1 by the agreement of 
,scripture with itself4 ,sixth1 by the  
fulfilment of promises1 threatenings1   
covenants1 c41 recorded in his ,word4   
,seventh1 other proofs1 as they may be  
suggested to the mind4  ,practical      
,reflections4 7#a47 ,how ,god is        
qualified by this attribute to be the   
moral governor of intelligent creatures4
 7#b47 ,how necessary is faith to       
acceptance with ,god4 ,heb4 #aa3f4 7#c47
 ,how odious to a ,god of infinite      

veracity must be the sin of unbelief4 #a
 ,john #e3aj4 7#d47 ,how terrible to the
 wicked this renders the threatenings of
 ,god's word4 7#e47 ,how valuable his   
promises to the righteous4 7#f47 ,at    
what an infinite expense ,god has       
sustained his truth1 while pardoning    
rebels doomed to die4 ,ps4 #he3aj4 ,rom4
 #c3bf4  #h4 ,the ,mercy of ,god4 7#a47 
,what mercy is4 7#b47 ,contemplate mercy
 as a disposition inherent in the       
,divine character4 7#c47 ,the only way  
in which mercy can be exercised by ,him1
 towards those who have merited anger   
and punishment1 consistent with the     
moral rectitude of his character1 and   
the great ends of his government4 ,ps4  
#he3aj4 ,isa4 #ec3e1 #f1 #aj4 ,acts     
#d3ab4 #e3ca4 ,rom4 #c3be1 #bf4 7#d47   
,how this attribute is manifested in his
 providence4 ,matt4 #e3de4 7#e47 ,how in
 his ,word4 ,neh4 #i3ag4 ,ps4 #c3h4     
,matt4 #e3g4 ,rom4 #e3f4 7,these two may
 embrace several subdivisions47 7#f47   
,consider whether by the light of nature

 we could discover any possible way for 
,god to exercise mercy towards the      
guilty4  ,practical ,reflections4 7#a47 
,the loveliness and glory of this       
attribute4 7#b47 ,how we should feel in 
view of it4 ,ps4 #aah4 7#c47 ,the great 
guilt and danger of indulging an        
unmerciful or cruel disposition4 ,prov4 
#aa3ag1 l4c4 #ba3ac4 ,mark #aa3bf4 ,jas4
 #b3ac4 7#d47 ,the advantage of being   
merciful4 ,ps4 #ah3be4 ,prov4 #aa3ag1   
f4c4 ,matt4 #e3g4 ,mark #aa3be4  #i4    
,the ,wisdom of ,god4 7#a47 ,what wisdom
 is4 ,how it differs from knowledge4    
,how from cunning or subtilty4 ,whether 
that is wisdom which does not design to 
accomplish a good end4 ,whether this is 
a natural or moral attribute1 or both4  
7#b47 ,how the wisdom of ,god is        
manifested in the works of creation4    
,ps4 #ajd4 ,prov4 #c3ai4 ,examine       
particular objects and see how exactly  
everything is fitted for the end for    
which it is designed1 and that a good   
end2 such as the seasons2 day and night2

 provision made for the wants and for   
the comfort and pleasure of men and     
animals2 the body and mind of man2 the  
laws which govern the material world1   
carried put in a great variety of ways2 
in the infinite variety1 and yet        
extensive and convenient classification1
 of objects2 human languages2 moral     
agency of intelligent beings1 c4 7#c47  
,the wisdom of ,god1 as exhibited in his
 ,word2 ,first1 its perfect adaptation  
to the wants of the world2 its variety  
of authorship1 style1 matter1 manner1   
c42 ,second1 the truths revealed2       
particularly the plan of redemption4    
,rom4 #aa3cc4  ,practical ,reflections4 
7#a47 ,ps4 #dh3ad4 7#b47 ,the folly of  
setting up our own reason in opposition 
to the word of ,god4 ,isa4 #dj3ac1 #ad4 
,rom4 #aa3cd1 #ce4 7#c47 ,the folly of  
self-conceit4 ,prov4 #bf3ab4 7#d47 ,from
 whom all wisdom comes4 ,prov4 #b3f4    
7#e47 ,what is the only true wisdom4    
,job #bh3bh4   ,,ii4 ,,doctrines4  #a4  
,the ,decrees of ,god4 ,doctrine3 ,that 

,god foreordains whatsoever comes to    
pass4  ,proved1 7#a47 ,by reason4       
,otherwise1 he would work without a     
plan1 and could not certainly know what 
would take place hereafter2 which is    
inconsistent with the idea of infinite  
wisdom4 ,acts #ae3ah4 7#b47 ,from       
,scripture4 ,job #bc3ac4 ,isa4 #df3aj4  
,jer4 #aj3bc4  ,this doctrine does not  
destroy the freedom and accountability  
of the creature4 ,acts #b3bc4 ,this is  
not to be understood in any such sense  
as to make ,god the author of sin4 ,jas4
 #a3ac4 ,if the will of ,god is done1   
the greatest possible good will be      
accomplished4 ,ps4 #aai3fh1 f4c4 ,how we
 ought to feel1 in view of this         
doctrine4 ,phil4 #d3d4 ,duty of         
submission4 ,luke #bb3db4 ,jas4 #d3g4   
#b4 ,the ,sovereignty of ,god4          
,doctrine3 ,that ,god rules the         
universe1 according to his own pleasure1
 independently and without control1     
giving no further account of his conduct
 than he pleases4  ,proved1 7#a47 ,by   

reason3 ,first1 his will the greatest   
good2 ,second1 he has power to          
accomplish it2 ,third1 if he fails to   
accomplish his will1 he will be under   
constraint1 which is inconsistent with  
the idea of an infinite being4 ,were he 
to fail of accomplishing his own will1  
he would not be qualified for a         
righteous governor4 7#b47 ,from         
,scripture4 ,ps4 #aae3c4 ,dan4 #d3ce4   
,eccl4 #h3c1 l4c4 ,job #cc3ac4          
,reflections4 7#a47 ,god does not act   
arbitrarily1 without sufficient cause1  
or merely for the sake of doing his own 
will4 ,his actions are controlled by a  
supreme desire for the greatest good1   
and always founded on the best of       
reasons4 7#b47 ,the consummate folly of 
those who resist his will4 7#c47 ,the   
feelings with which we ought to regard  
the sovereignty of ,god4 #a ,chron4     
#af3bc-ca4 ,ps4 #ig3a4 7#d47 ,how       
terrible this doctrine to sinners4 ,ps4 
#ii3a4 ,isa4 #cc3aa4 7#e47 ,what ground 
of confidence1 comfort1 and joy to the  

righteous4 ,ps4 #ae3f4 ,hosea #ad3i4    
,rom4 #h3bh4  #c4 ,human ,depravity4    
7#a47 ,how extensive4 ,rom4 #c3bc4      
,corroborated by facts4 7#b47 ,how great
 in degree4 ,gen4 #f3e4 ,rom4 #c3aj-ah4 
7#c47 ,from whom derived4 ,rom4         
#e3ab-ai4 7#d47 ,how hereditary         
depravity becomes personal4 ,ps4 #eh3c4 
7#e47 ,how human depravity manifests    
itself4 ,rom4 #h3g4 ,john #c3ai1 #bj4   
#e3dj4 ,acts #g3ea4 ,gal4 #e3ai-ba4     
,practical ,reflections4 7#a47 ,how we  
ought to feel1 in view of our own       
depravity4 ,ezra #i3f4 ,job #db3f4 ,ps4 
#ch3a-g4 #ea3d1 #ag4 ,dan4 #i3h4 7#b47  
,the necessity of regeneration4 ,heb4   
#ab3ad1 l4c4 7#c47 ,how this load of    
guilt may be removed4 ,matt4 #aa3bh-cj4 
#a ,john #b3a1 #b4 7#d47 ,what it will  
bring us to1 if we do not obtain        
deliverance from it4 ,rom #f3bc1 f4c4   
#d4 ,regeneration4 7#a47 ,its nature4 #b
 ,cor4 #e3ag4 ,eph4 #d3bd4 7#b47 ,its   
author4 ,john #c3e1 #f4 7#c47 ,influence
 of the ,spirit2 how exerted2 not       

miraculous ,john #c3h4 7#d47 ,man's     
agency in the work of regeneration4     
,isa4 #ee3f1 #g4 ,acts #b3ch4 #af3ca4   
,phil #b3ab1 #ac4  #e4 ,the condition of
 fallen man4 7#a47 ,alienation from     
,god4 ,job #ba3ad1 #ae4 ,rom4 #a3bh4    
,eph4 #b3a1 #b4 7#b47 ,exposure to his  
wrath4 ,deut4 #cb3ce1 #da4 ,ps4 #g3aa1  
#ab4 ,john #c3ah1 #cf4 ,eph4 #b3c4 7#c47
 ,personal misery4 ,isa4 #eg3bj1 #ba4   
,misery the natural consequence of sin4 
,jer4 #b3ai4  ,practical ,reflections4  
7#a47 ,how ,christians should feel1 in  
view of this subject4 ,isa4 #ea3a4 #a   
,cor4 #ae3aj4 7#b47 ,how they should    
feel1 in view of the condition of the   
impenitent4 ,rom4 #i3a-c4 7#c47 ,how    
act4 ,acts #bj3ca1 l4c4 ,rev4 #bb3ag4   
7#d47 ,the necessity of a mediator      
between ,god and man4 ,gal4 #c3aj4  #f4 
,the plan of ,redemption4 7#a47 ,why sin
 could not be pardoned without an       
atonement4 ,gen4 #b3ag4 ,dent4 #bg3bf1  
compared with ,deut4 #cb3d1 l4c4 ,heb4  
#i3bb4 7#b47 ,what a mediator is4 ,job  

#i3cc4 #b ,cor4 #e3ah1 #ai4 7#c47 ,why  
it was necessary that our mediator      
should be ,god4 7#d47 ,why1 that he     
should be also man4 7#e47 ,why it was   
necessary that he should obey the law4  
,isa4 #db3ba4 ,gal4 #d3d1 #e4 7#f47     
,why1 that he should suffer4 ,gal4      
#c3ac4 #d3d1 #e4 ,heb4 #i3bb1 #bh4 7#g47
 ,why1 that he should rise from the     
dead4 ,rom4 #d3be4 #a ,cor4 #ae3ag4 #a  
,pet4 #a3ba4 ,heb4 #g3be4  ,practical   
,reflections4 #a4 ,how the love of ,god 
is manifested in the provision of such  
salvation4 ,john #c3af4 ,rom4 #e3h4 #b4 
,how we should feel and act in view of  
the amazing love of ,christ4 #b ,cor4   
#e3ad1 #ae4 #c4 ,what effect his love   
should have upon sinners4 ,zech4 #ab3aj4
 ,rom4 #b3d4 #d4 ,how ,christians should
 feel1 in view of the ingratitude of the
 impenitent4 ,ps4 #aai3acf1 #aeh4  #g4  
,justification #a4 ,what justification  
is4 #b4 ,why we cannot be justified by  
the law4 ,rom4 #c3bc4 #c4 ,the nature of
 all our good works1 religious          

exercises1 duties1 c4 ,luke #ag3aj4 #d4 
,the ground of justification4 ,isa4     
#ec3aa4 ,acts #ac3ci ,rom4 #h3c1 #d4 #e4
 ,the instrument or medium of           
justification4 ,rom4 #c3bh4 #f4 ,the    
effects of justification4 ,rom4 #e3a-e4 
#h3a-d4 #ae3ac4 #a ,pet4 #a3h4  #h4     
,adoption4 #a4 ,what adoption is4 ,exod4
 #b3i1 #aj4 #b4 ,through whom believers 
are adopted4 ,gal4 #d3d1 #e4 #c4 ,how   
their adoption is manifested to them4   
,rom4 #h3ae1 #af4 ,gal4 #d3f4 #d4 ,to   
what adoption entitles them4 ,rom4      
#h3ag4 ,gal4 #d3g4 #e4 ,what was the    
moving cause of adoption4 #a ,john #c3a4
 #f4 ,what emotions this should excite  
in the hearts of ,christians4  #i4      
,sanctification4 #a4 ,what              
sanctification is4 ,rom4 #f3f1 #aa--ac4 
#h3ac4 #b4 ,by whom believers are       
sanctified4 ,rom4 #h3ac1 l4c4 #ae3af1   
l4c4 #a ,pet4 #a3bb4 7#c47 ,the         
instrument of sanctification4 ,john     
#ag3ai4 7#a47 ,the procuring cause4 #a  
,cor4 #a3b4 #f3aa4 ,heb4 #aj3aj4 7#e47  

,the importance of sanctification1 or   
growth in grace4 ,john #ae3h4 ,col4     
#a3i-ab4 7#f47 ,how we are to strive for
 sanctification4 ,phil4 #b3ab1 #ac4     
#c3ac1 #ad4 7#g47 ,how we may secure the
 aid of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,luke #aa3ac4
 ,rom4 #h3bf4 7#h47 ,how ,christ regards
 us1 when we are not making progress in 
holiness4 ,rev4 #c3ae1 #af4  #aj4       
,death4 7#a47 ,its certainty4 ,heb4     
#i3bg4 7#b47 ,the uncertainty of life4  
,jas4 #d3ad4 7#c47 ,the shortness of    
life4 ,ps4 #ij3c-aj4 #a ,cor4 #g3bi-ca4 
,bring death near1 and commune with it2 
try to enter into the feelings of the   
death-bed4 7#d47 ,how we should live in 
view of the subject4 ,luke #ab3cc-dj4   
7#e47 ,the folly of laying up treasures 
for ourselves in this life4 ,luke       
#ab3af-ba4 7#f47 ,how death will appear 
to such4 ,isa4 #cc3ad4 7#g47 ,how death 
appears to those who set their          
affections on things above4 #b ,cor4    
#e3f1 #h4 ,phil4 #a3bc4 7#h47 ,the      
support which such have in the hour of  

death4 ,isa4 #dc3a1 #b4 #a ,cor4        
#ae3ed-eg4  #aa4 ,heaven4 7#a47 ,heaven 
a place4 ,john #ad3b1 #c4 ,heb4 #i3bd4  
7#b47 ,the glory of heaven4 ,rev4       
#ba3bb1 #bc4 7#c47 ,what constitutes the
 blessedness of heaven to the righteous4
 #a4 ,freedom from sin1 and sinful      
associations4 #b ,cor4 #e3b-d4 ,rev4    
#ba3bg4 #b4 ,freedom from pain1 and all 
evil4 ,rev4 #ba3d4 #c4 ,exercise of holy
 affections4 #a ,john #d3af4 #d4 ,the   
company of holy beings4 ,heb4 #ab3bb-bd4
 #e4 ,the immediate presence of ,god1   
and such communion and fellowship with  
him as will make us like him4 ,ps4      
#ag3ae4 ,isa4 #cc3ag1 f4c4 #a ,john     
#c3b4 #f4 ,the presence of ,jesus1 as   
our ,redeemer1 to whom we are indebted  
for all this glory4 ,john #ag3bd4 #a    
,thess4 #d3ag4 ,rev4 #e3i4 7#d47 ,the   
employments of heaven4 #a4 ,the         
contemplation of the infinite           
perfections of ,god1 and the glories of 
his moral government4 ,rev4 #ai3a1 #b4  
#b4 ,rendering cheerful obedience to his

 will4 ,ps4 #ajc3bj1 #ba4 ,matt4 #f3aj4 
#bb3cj4 #c4 ,singing his praises4 ,rev4 
#e3i4 #d4 ,and we may suppose holy      
conversation4 7#e47 ,contemplate this   
state as existing forever1 with the     
continual increase of the capacity for  
enjoyment1 and the discoveries of the   
divine character1 his government and    
works4  #ab4 ,the ,resurrection4 7#a47  
,what signal will usher in the glorious 
morn4 #a ,cor4 #ae3eb4 #a ,thess4 #d3af4
 7#b47 ,what will follow4 #a ,thess4    
#d3af1 l4c4 7#c47 ,what will come to    
pass in regard to the saints which shall
 then be alive on the earth4 #a ,cor4   
#ae3ea4 #a ,thess4 #d3ag4 7#d47 ,with   
what bodies the saints will arise4 #a   
,cor4 #ae3db-dd1 #ej1 #ec1 #ed4 7#e47   
,to whom the saints will ascribe their  
victory and triumph1 in that day4 #a    
,cor4 #ae3eg4 7#f47 ,how the wicked will
 rise4 ,dan4 #ab3b4  #ac4 ,the          
,judgment4 7#a47 ,this awful ceremony is
 to take place at a certain time1 fixed 
in the councils of eternity4 ,acts      

#ag3ca4 7#b47 ,it will come suddenly and
 unexpectedly4 ,matt4 #bd3cf-ci4 7#c47  
,who will be the judge4 ,matt4 #be3ca4  
,rev4 #bj3aa4 7#d47 ,who will stand     
before him to be judged4 ,rom4 #ad3aj4  
,rev4 #bj3ab4 7#e47 ,in respect to what 
they will be judged4 ,eccl4 #ab3ad4     
,matt4 #ab3cf4 ,rom4 #b3af4 #b ,cor4    
#e3aj4 7#f47 ,by what rule they will be 
judged4 ,john #g3ba4 ,rom4 #b3b4 7#g47  
,how any will be able to stand this     
awful test4 #a ,john #b3a1 #b4 7#h47    
,what separation will be made4 ,matt4   
#be3cb4 ,consider this in its           
application to friends1 and those who   
have in any way come under our          
influence4 7#i47 ,the final award of the
 righteous4 ,matt4 #be3cc-cf4 7#aj47    
,what state of feeling is indicated by  
their answer4 ,matt4 #be3cg-ci4 7#aa47  
,the final sentence of the wicked4      
,matt4 #be3da-dc4 7#ab47 ,what state of 
feeling is indicated by their answer4   
,matt4 #be3dd4  #ad4 ,the ,world of     
,woe4 ,contemplated for the purpose of  

arousing the attention to the condition 
of the impenitent4 7#a47 ,the place     
itself--the prison-house of the         
universe4 ,matt4 #be3df4 7#b47 ,in what 
manner it is described4 ,isa4 #cc3ad4   
,matt4 #ac3db1 f4c4 ,rev4 #bj3ad4 7#c47 
,what will constitute the misery of that
 dread abode4 #a4 ,the consciousness of 
guilt4 ,rom4 #c3ai4 #b4 ,the            
recollection of mercies abused4 ,rom4   
#i3bb4 #c4 ,the company that will be    
there4 ,matt4 #be3da4 ,rev4 #ba3h4 #d4  
,the wrath and curse of ,almighty ,god4 
,rom4 #b3h1 #i4 #e4 ,the reflection that
 this misery is to have no end4 ,mark   
#i3ad4 7#d47 ,what will be the          
employments of that place4 ,matt4       
#ac3db4 #bd3ea4 ,how we ought to feel1  
in regard to those who are exposed to   
this awful doom4 ,matt4 #bb3ci4 7#f47   
,what we should do for them4 ,jude #bc1 
f4c4   ,,iii4 ,,character ,,of ,,christ4
  #a4 ,it is unlike that of any other   
being in the universe  #b4 ,a mysterious
 complexity in his character1 which we  

call a union of two natures--a          
combination of attributes1 all of which 
can neither be ascribed to men1 nor to  
angels1 nor to ,god4 ,gen4 #ai3aj4 ,num4
 #bd3ag4 ,job #ai3bc-bg4 ,ps4 #b3g1 #ab1
 c4 #a4 ,isa4 #f3a-c4 #i3e1 #f4 #bh3af4 
#ae3aj-ab1 #ba--be4 ,ps4 #bb3 #f4 ,isa4 
#di3g4 #eb3ad4 #ec3b1 #c4  #c4 ,christ  
is a man4 ,phil4 #b3h4 ,john #a3ad4     
,luke #ba3ci4 ,heb4 #b3ag4 #e3h4  #d4   
,he is ,god4 7#a47 ,the ,scriptures     
represent ,christ as pre-existing1 in a 
glorious character1 before he appeared  
in this world4 ,john #a3a1 #b4 #c3ac4   
#f3ch4 #ag3e4 ,heb4 #a3aj4 7#b47 ,they  
represent that1 in passing from that    
state to this1 he suffered a humiliating
 change4 #b ,cor4 #h3i4 ,phil4 #b3f1 #g4
 7#c47 ,the ,scriptures directly assert 
that he possessed a superhuman nature4  
,heb4 #a3d1 #f4 ,col4 #b3i4 7#d47 ,this 
superhuman nature is divine--the names  
of ,god are ascribed to him--the        
attributes of ,god are ascribed to      
him--he is represented as performing the

 works of ,god4 ,com4 ,luke #a3af1 #ag1 
with ,isa4 #dj3c1 and ,isa4 #f3a-c1 with
 ,john #ab3da4 ,rom4 #i3e4 ,john #bj3bh4
 #a ,john #e3bj4 #a ,ti4 #c3af4 ,john   
#a3b4 ,rev4 #bb3ac4 ,isa4 #dd3f4 ,acts  
#a3bd4 ,john #b3bd4 ,jer4 #ag3aj4 #a    
,kings #h3ci4 ,matt4 #i3b4 #ah3bj4      
#bh3bj4 ,john #aj3ae4 ,isa4 #dd3bd4     
,gen4 #a3a4 ,heb4 #a3aj4 ,jer4 #aj3ab4  
,col4 #a3af4 ,john #a3c4 ,phil4 #c3ba4  
,john #e3ba4 ,rev4 #a3e1 #f4 ,he        
performed miracles in his own name4 ,he 
was worshiped by inspired men who knew  
his character2 and the ,scriptures      
encourage such worship4 ,acts #g3ei4 #b 
,ti4 #d3ah4 #b ,cor4 #ab3h4 ,acts #a3ba4
 #a ,thess4 #c3ab4 #b ,thess4 #b3af4    
,phil4 #b3aj4 ,heb4 #a3f4 ,rev4 #e3h-ad4
  ,contemplate the character of ,christ 
in its moral and practical relations2   
7#a47 ,as illustrating or exhibiting the
 character of ,god2 7#b47 ,as confirming
 and sustaining his moral government1   
while it admits the exercise of mercy2  
7#c47 ,as the medium through which all  

our duties are to be performed2 7#d47   
,as the foundation of our hopes4   ,,iv4
 ,,names ,,and ,,offices ,,of ,,christ4 
#a4 ,saviour4 7#a47 ,what salvation is4 
7#b47 ,why we need a ,saviour4 ,what it 
is to be lost--carry out the figure in  
imagination4 ,matt4 #ah3aa4 7#c47 ,from 
what ,christ saves us4 ,matt4 #a3ba4    
7#d47 ,how he saves us from sin4 ,acts  
#ae3h1 #i4 7#e47 ,his willingness to    
save4 ,matt4 #aa3bh-cj4 ,john #f3cg1    
l4c4 7#f47 ,his ,ability to save4 ,heb4 
#g3be4 7#g47 ,the expense of this       
salvation4 ,rom4 #e3g1 #h4 7#h47 ,the   
ingratitude of neglecting so great      
salvation4 ,heb4 #b3b1 #c4  #b4         
,redeemer4 7#a47 ,what it is to         
redeem--contemplate the figure1 and form
 a clear perception of the condition of 
captives taken in war1 and held in      
slavery4 7#b47 ,our condition by nature4
 ,rom4 #f3ac1 f4c4 #af1 #bj4 #g3ad1 l4c4
 ,gal4 #c3aj4 7#c47 ,how ,christ has    
redeemed us4 ,gal4 #c3ac4 7#d47 ,the    
price paid for our redemption4 #a ,peter

 #a3ah1 #ai4 7#e47 ,how we should feel  
in view of this4 ,rev4 #e3i1 #aj4 7#f47 
,what this should lead us to do4 #a     
,cor4 #f3bj4  #c4 ,prophet4 7#a47 ,what 
a prophet is4 7#b47 ,how ,christ teaches
 his people4 ,john #a3ah1 #e3ci4 #af3ac1
 #ad4 7#c47 ,what encouragement we have 
to go to him for direction1 in all cases
 of doubt and difficulty4 #a ,cor4      
#a3cj4 ,james #a3e4 7#d47 ,with what    
feelings we must receive him as our     
great ,teacher4 ,matt4 #ah3c1 #d4  #d4  
,priest4 7#a47 ,what a priest is4 ,heb4 
#e3a1 #b4 7#b47 ,why we need a priest4  
,deut4 #bg3bf4 ,rom4 #c3bj4 7#c47 ,how  
he was qualified to become our priest4  
,heb4 #e3g-i4 #g3bf-bh4 #d3ae4 7#d47    
,how he has made atonement and          
reconciliation for us4 ,heb4 #i3aa-ad1  
#bh4 7#e47 ,how this is rendered        
available to believers in all ages4     
,rom4 #h3cd4 ,heb4 #i3bd4 #g3be4 7#f47  
,what benefits believers may derive from
 his intercession4 ,rom4 #e3b4 ,heb4    
#d3af4 7#g47 ,the sympathy of ,christ   

with believers4 ,heb4 #d3ae4  #e4 ,king4
 7#a47 ,what a ,king is4 7#b47 ,in what 
sense ,christ is our king4 ,eph4 #a3ba1 
#bb4 7#c47 ,the nature of the control he
 exercises over us4 ,matt4 #aa3cj4 ,rom4
 #f3i-bb4 #aa3ag4 #b ,cor4 #aj3e4       
7#d47,the need we have of such a king4  
,matt4 #ab3bi4 7#e47,our duty to him as 
subjects4 #b ,cor4 #aj3e4  #f4          
,mediator4 7#a47 ,what a mediator is3   
one that undertakes to make             
reconciliation between two parties at   
variance4 ,job #i3cc4 ,we are at        
variance with ,god4 ,ps4 #g3aa4 ,ro4    
#h3g4 7#b47 ,what qualifications are    
required in a mediator4 #a4 ,he must be 
the mutual friend of both parties4      
,christ both ,god and man4 ,john #a3a1  
#ad4 ,the mutual friend of both4 ,luke  
#c3bb4 ,heb4 #b3af1 #ag4 #b4 ,he must be
 able to render satisfaction to the     
injured party4 ,christ has done this4   
,isa4 #ab3ba4 ,gal4 #c3ac4 ,he must be  
able to bring back the offender to his  
duty4 ,this ,christ is able to do4 ,rom4

 #f3a-ad4 7#c47 ,how we may become      
reconciled to ,god4 #b ,cor4 #e3ah1 #ai4
  #g4 ,advocate and ,intercessor4 7#a47 
,what an advocate is3 one that manages a
 cause for another at court1 and        
undertakes to procure his justification 
and discharge4 ,if his client is        
prosecuted for debt1 he must show that  
the debt has been paid2 if for crime1 he
 must show some reason why he should not
 be punished4 ,jesus ,christ can show   
both1 in regard to us4 #a ,peter #a3ah1 
#ai4 #a ,cor4 #f3bj4 ,isa4 #ec3e4 ,what 
an intercessor is3 one that undertakes  
to present the petitions of a criminal  
at the bar of his offended sovereign4   
,when a petition is presented for       
pardon1 the person presenting it must   
become responsible for the future good  
conduct of the criminal4 ,christ has    
become our surety4 ,when he asks for    
undeserved favor to be bestowed upon the
 criminal1 it must be on the score of   
his own merits4 ,jesus can present our  
petitions with assurance on this ground4

 ,how blessed are they who have such an 
,advocate and ,intercessor at the throne
 of heaven6 ,rom4 #h3cd4 ,heb4 #g3be4   
,how we may come to the throne of grace 
through his intercession4 ,heb4 #d3af4  
,no worship acceptable1 which is not    
offered through the intercession of     
,christ4 ,john #ad3ac4 ,acts #d3ab4     
,eph4 #e3bj4  #h4 ,friend4 ,what is     
implied in a friend4 #a4 ,he must be    
able and willing to help us4 ,christ is 
both able and willing to help all who   
come to him4 ,heb4 #g3be4 ,matt4        
#aa3bh-cj4 ,john #f3cg1 l4c4 #b4        
,friendship must be cordial4 ,such is   
the friendship of ,jesus4 ,john #ae3ae1 
#af4 #c4 ,a friend must possess a       
sympathizing heart4 ,such is the heart  
of ,jesus4 ,heb4 #d3ae4  #i4 ,elder     
,brother4 7#a47 ,the relation of an     
,elder ,brother to the younger members  
of the family4 7#b47 ,how we come into  
this relation to ,christ4 ,gal4 #d3d-f4 
7#c47,the blessings that we receive1    
through this relation4 ,gal4 #a3g4 ,rom4

 #h3ag4 7#d47 ,the goodness of the ,son1
 who would of his own accord1 receive a 
stranger into his ,father's family1 to  
be adopted1 as a joint heir with him to 
his ,father's estate4  #aj4 ,husband4   
7#a47,proof of this relation between    
,christ and the church4 ,isa4 #ed3e4    
,eph4 #e3be-cb4 ,rev4 #ai3g1 #h4 #bb3ag4
 7#b47 ,what is implied in this         
relation4 #a4 ,union4 ,john #ae3e4 ,eph4
 #d3ca4 #b4 ,protection4 ,matt4 #af3ah4 
,ca4 #h3e1 f4c4 #c4 ,provision4 ,phil4  
#d3ai4 ,eph4 #e3bi4 #d4 ,sympathy and   
,love4 ,heb4 #d3ae4 #h3f1 #g4 #e4       
,fellowship4 ,ca4 #e3a4   ,v4 ,,the     
,,christian ,,graces4  #a4 ,faith4 7#a47
 ,what faith is4 ,heb4 #aa3a4 7#b47     
,it's object4 ,rom4 #d3c1 #e ,eph4      
#a3ab1 #ac4 ,heb4 #aa3f4 7#c47 ,the     
effects of faith on the heart4 ,acts    
#ae3i4 ,gal4 #e3f1 l4c4 7#d47 ,its      
effects on the life4 ,james #b3ad-bf4   
7#e47 ,necessary to acceptable prayer4  
,james #a3f4  #b4 ,hope4 7#a47 ,the     
object of hope4 #b ,cor4 #d3ag1 #ah4    

7#b47 ,the ground of hope4 ,col4 #a3bg4 
#a ,tim4 #a3a4 7#c47 ,the author of     
hope4 ,rom4 #e3e4 #ae3ac4 7#d47 ,the    
influence of hope upon the ,christian   
character4 #a ,thess4 #e3h4 #a ,john    
#c3c4 7#e47 ,effect of hope upon the    
comfort and religious enjoyment of the  
believer4 ,heb4 #c3f4 #f3ai4  #c4       
,charity1 or ,love4 7#a47 ,its nature4  
#a ,cor4 #ac3d-h4 7#b47 ,the object of  
love4 #a4 ,as a feeling of complacent   
delight1 ,god the chief object1 and his 
children1 as bearing his image4 ,matt4  
#bb3cg4 #a ,john #e3a4 #b4 ,as a feeling
 of universal benevolence1 it has for   
its object all mankind4 ,malt4 #bb3 #ci4
  #d4 ,joy4 7#a47 ,nature of spiritual  
joy4 ,rom4 #ad3 #ag4 7#b47 ,the ground  
of joy4 ,rom4 #ae3ac4 #a ,peter #a3     
#e--h4 7#c47 ,the object of joy4 ,psa4  
#af3aa4 #dc3d4 #ig3a4 #cc3a4 ,isa4      
#bi3ai4 #da3af4 #fa3aj4 ,hab4 #c3ah4    
,phil4 #d3d4 7#d47 ,the permanency of   
spiritual joy4 ,john #af3bb4  #e4       
,peace4 7#a47 ,peace of conscience4     

,rom4 #e3a4 #h3a4 #ae3ac4 7#b47 ,the    
ground of it4 ,psa4 #he3aj4 ,col4 #a3bj1
 #ba4 7#c47 ,a peaceable spirit4 ,matt4 
#e3i4 ,rom4 #ab3ah4 ,heb4 #ab3ad4 ,james
 #c3ag4  #f4 ,brotherly ,kindness4 7#a47
 ,its nature4 ,eph4 #d3cb4 7#b47 ,its   
fruits4 ,rom4 #ab3aj1 #ae4 #a ,john #c3 
#af1 #ag4  #g4 ,humility4 7#a47 ,its    
nature4 ,matt4 #e3c4 ,rom4 #ab3c4 7#b47 
,its manifestations4 ,job #db3e1 #f4    
,prov4 #cj3cb4 ,lam4 #c3bh4 ,matt4      
#be3cf-ch4 ,acts #bj3ai4 ,rom4 #ab3aj1  
l4c4 #af4 ,phil4 #b3c4 ,i ,pet4 #e3e4   
7#c47 ,how regarded of the ,lord4 ,psa4 
#ach3f4 ,prov4 #af3ai4 7#d47 ,its       
reward4 ,job #bb3bi4 ,ps4 #i3ab4 ,prov4 
#ae3cc4 ,isa4 #eg3ae4 ,matt4 #ah3d4     
7#e47 ,effects of humility4 ,gen4       
#ah3bg1 l4c4 #cb3aj4 ,job #db3a-f4 ,psa4
 #cb3e4 #ea3e4 ,isa4 #ea3a4 #fd3f4  #h4 
,patience4 7#a47 ,what is patience4     
,rom4 #h3 #be4 ,james #e3g4 #a ,peter   
#b3bj4 7#b47 ,how patience is           
cultivated4 ,rom4 #b3g4 #e3c4 ,james    
#a3c4 7#c47 ,apply this to the every-day

 concerns of life4 7#d47 ,the need we   
have of patience4 ,job #ad3a1 #b4       
,eccles4 #b3bc4 ,heb4 #aj3cf4 #ab3a4    
7#e47 ,motives to patience4 ,luke #h3ae4
 ,rom4 #e3d4 ,heb4 #f3ab4  #i4          
,long-,suffering4 #a4 ,what is          
long-suffering4 ,eph4 #d3b4 #b4         
,consider the long-suffering and        
forbearance of ,god towards us1 as a    
motive to its exercise4 ,lam4 #c3bb4    
#aj4 ,a ,forgiving ,temper4 #a4 ,motives
 to its exercise4 ,ps4 #ajc3c4 ,eph4    
#d3cb4 ,gal4 #f3a4 #b4 ,danger of the   
contrary spirit4 ,mark #aa3bf4  #aa4    
,meekness4 #a4 ,its nature4 #a ,cor4    
#ac3e ,col4 #c3ab1 #ac4 ,james #a3ba4   
#b4 ,how the ,lord regards1 and how he  
will bless the meek4 ,ps4 #bb3bf4 #be3i4
 #gf3i4 #adg3f4 #adi3d4 ,isa4 #bi3ai4   
,matt4 #e3e4 #c4 ,how it becomes the    
,christian4 #a ,pet4 #c3d4 #d4 ,its     
manifestations4 ,gal4 #f3a4 ,eph4 #d3b4 
#b ,tim4 #b3be4 ,james #c3ac4 #a ,peter 
#c3ae4  #ab4 ,gentleness4 #a4 ,twin     
sister of meekness4 #b4 ,its            

manifestations4 #a ,thess4 #b3g4 #b     
,tim4 #b3 #bd4 ,james #c3ag4 #c4 ,the   
pattern of gentleness4 #b ,cor4 #aj3a4  
#d4 ,how it adorns the ,christian       
character4  #ac4 ,temperance4 #a4 ,what 
is temperance4 ,moderation in all our   
desires1 affections1 appetites1 and     
conduct2 abstinence from injurious      
indulgences4 #b4 ,advantages of         
temperance4 #a ,cor4 #i3be4 #b ,pet4    
#a3f4  #ad4 ,virtue1 or ,moral ,courage4
 ,how this grace affects the ,christian 
character4 ,prov4 #bh3a4 ,see ,history  
of ,moses1 ,elijah1 ,elisha1 ,jeremiah1 
,daniel1 ,jesus1 and the ,apostles4     
,,letter ,x4  ,the ,preservation of     
,health4      ,i wish1 above all things1
 that thou mayest prosper1 and be in    
health4--#c ,john1 #b4   ,,my ,,dear    
,,sister1  ,if we feel suitably grateful
 to him who hath died for us1 and washed
 us from our sins in his own blood1 we  
shall desire to make ourselves useful in
 his vineyard to the highest degree of  
which our natures are capable4 ,but1 to 

be so1 we must preserve our bodies in a 
healthy and vigorous state4 ,no farmer  
would think of employing a weak and     
sickly man in his field1 upon full      
wages4 ,the nature of the service which 
,god requires of us is such as to call  
for vigor of body as well as strength of
 mind4 ,most of our efforts to benefit  
our fellow-creatures are attended with  
labor of body and sacrifices of personal
 ease4 ,and these efforts are greatly   
impeded by a feeble state of health4    
,again1 bodily feelings have a great    
influence upon the mind4 ,when the      
animal powers are prostrated1 the mind  
almost uniformly suffers with them4     
,hence1 a feeble state of the body may  
be a very great hindrance to us1 in     
maintaining the ,christian warfare4 ,i  
know that some individuals have lived   
very devoted lives1 and been eminently  
useful1 with frail and sickly bodies4   
,but this does not prove that1 with the 
same degree of faithfulness1 and a sound
 body1 they might not have made much    

higher attainments4 ,if you have read   
the lives of ,brainerd1 ,martyn1 and    
,payson1 ,i think you will be convinced 
of this4 ,yet1 ,i do not say that the   
affliction of ill health might not have 
been the means which ,god used to make  
them faithful4 ,but if they had been    
equally faithful1 with strong and       
vigorous bodies1 ,i have no doubt they  
would have done much more good in the   
world1 and arrived at a much higher     
degree of personal sanctification4      
,during much of their lives1 they were  
borne down and depressed by feeble      
health1 and they all died in the prime  
of life4 ,now1 suppose them to have been
 as devoted as they were1 with strong   
and vigorous constitutions1 until they  
had arrived at the period of old age2   
might they not have brought forth much  
more fruit8 ,if so1 then ,god would have
 been so much more glorified in them2   
for our ,lord says1 ,herein is my       
,father glorified1 that ye bear much    
fruit4  ,if the foregoing remarks are   

correct1 it then becomes the duty of    
every ,christian to use all proper means
 to maintain a sound1 healthful1 and    
vigorous bodily constitution4 ,and this 
is much more within the power of every  
individual than many imagine4 ,it is    
true1 that life1 and health1 and every  
blessing1 come from ,god4 ,but he does  
not give these things without the       
intervention of second causes4 ,he has  
made our animal nature subject to       
certain fixed laws2 and even when his   
own children violate these laws1 he will
 work no miracle to preserve their      
health or save their lives4 ,i am       
satisfied that the subject receives far 
too little attention from ,christians in
 general4 ,in this respect they seem to 
act upon the supposition that their     
lives are their own2 and that the injury
 they bring upon their bodies1 by       
imprudence and neglect of proper        
attention1 concerns nobody but          
themselves4 ,but this is a great        
mistake4 ,their lives belong to ,god4   

,he has bought them with the precious   
blood of his dear ,son4 ,they have      
dedicated them to his service4 ,they are
 bound1 therefore1 to use all proper    
means for their preservation1 that they 
may be prolonged for the glory of ,god  
and the good of their fellow-men4  ,but 
when ,i speak of the means to be used   
for the preservation of health1 ,i do   
not intend that excessive attention to  
remedies1 which leads so many people to 
resort to medicine upon every slight    
illness4 ,but ,i mean the study of the  
laws or principles of our animal        
existence2 and a diligent care to live  
according to those laws4 ,in short1 ,i  
mean living according to nature4        
,probably a large proportion of the     
diseases to which human life is subject1
 are the natural consequence of living  
contrary to nature2 or contravening the 
great laws which govern our present mode
 of existence4  ,within the compass of a
 single letter1 ,i cannot be very       
particular on this subject4 ,but ,i     

would recommend to you to read approved 
writers on health1 and the structure and
 constitution of the human body4 ,try to
 understand the principles upon which   
this truly wonderful machine is kept in 
motion4 ,you will find it a most        
interesting subject4 ,you will see the  
evidence of a mighty intellect in its   
construction4 ,you will also be able to 
draw from it practical lessons to guide 
you in the most common concerns of life4
 ,i am the more earnest in this         
recommendation1 because ,i think you    
will discover that many of those habits 
and customs of society1 which are       
peculiarly under the control of ladies1 
need reforming4 ,i am seriously of the  
opinion that the general health of      
society depends far more upon the ladies
 than upon the physicians4 ,the former  
direct the preparation of the daily     
supplies of food1 designed to sustain1  
refresh1 and keep in motion the human   
system4 ,the latter can only give       
prescriptions for regulating this       

delicate machinery1 when1 by            
mismanagement1 it has got out of order4 
,i will1 however1 give you a few simple 
rules for the preservation of health1   
which1 though incomplete1 will be of    
great benefit1 if faithfully pursued4   
,from experience1 study1 and            
observation1 you will no doubt be able  
to add to them many improvements4  #a4  
,make attention to health a matter of   
conscience1 as a religious duty4 ,pray  
daily that ,god would give you wisdom   
and self-denial1 that you may be able to
 avoid whatever is injurious1 and to    
persevere in the judicious use of such  
means as are necessary to promote sound 
health and energy of body4  #b4         
,maintain habitual cheerfulness and     
tranquillity of mind4 ,few persons are  
aware of the influence which this has   
upon the health of the body4 ,if you are
 subject to melancholy1 avoid it1 and   
fight against it as a sin1 dishonoring  
to ,god1 and destructive of your own    
health and happiness4 ,it is dishonoring

 to ,god1 because it is calculated to   
give the world a gloomy and repulsive   
idea of religion4 ,nor is this view of  
the subject at all inconsistent with the
 exercise of sorrow for sin1 and feeling
 for sinners4 ,godly sorrow is a melting
 exercise1 which softens the heart1 and 
brings it low before ,god3 while a sight
 of the cross of ,christ1 and a sense of
 pardoning love1 bring a holy calm and  
heavenly peace over all the soul4 ,but  
despondency comes over us like the      
withering blasts of winter4 ,it congeals
 the tender emotions of the heart1 and  
casts an icy gloom over every object4   
,it hides from our view everything      
lovely4 ,it makes us insensible to the  
mercies of ,god which he is daily       
lavishing upon us4 ,it shuts up the soul
 to brood alone1 over everything dark   
and hideous4 ,it is no less unfriendly  
to the exercise of holy affections than 
levity of conversation and manners4     
,although often created by bodily       
infirmity1 it reacts1 and renders       

disease doubly ferocious4 ,yet it is so 
far under the control of the will1 that 
grace will enable us to subdue it4      
,there is a very intimate connection    
between the mind and body4 ,the one acts
 upon the other4 ,depression of spirits 
enfeebles all the animal powers2 and    
particularly disturbs digestion1 thereby
 deranging the whole system4 ,if1       
therefore1 you ever feel a gloomy       
depression of spirits1 try to bring your
 mind into a serene and grateful frame1 
by meditating on the mercies you enjoy1 
and exercising a cheerful submission to 
the will of ,god4 ,remember that ,god   
directs all your ways1 and that you have
 just as much of every comfort and      
blessing as he sees fit to give you1 and
 infinitely more than you deserve4 ,rise
 above yourself1 and think of the       
infinite loveliness of the divine       
character4 ,but1 if this is not         
sufficient1 walk out and view the works 
of ,nature2 and try to forget yourself  
in contemplating the wisdom and glory of

 ,god1 as manifest in them2 and the     
bodily exercise will assist in          
driving-away this disturber of your     
peace4 ,or1 seek the society of some    
,christian friend1 who is not subject to
 depression of spirits1 and converse    
about those heavenly truths which are   
calculated to call forth the exercise of
 love1 joy1 and gratitude1 and make you 
lose sight of yourself in the fulness   
and glory of ,god4 ,any violent emotion 
of the mind1 or exercise of strong      
passions of any kind1 is likewise       
exceedingly injurious to the health of  
the body4  #c4 ,be ,,regular in all your
 habits4 ,ascertain1 as nearly as you   
can1 from your own feelings and         
experience1 how many hours of sleep you 
require4 ,no general rule can be        
adopted1 on this subject4 ,some people  
need more sleep than others4 ,the want  
of sleep1 and excessive indulgence in   
it1 alike operate to enervate both body 
and mind4 ,probably every constitution  
may be safely brought between five and  

eight hours4 ,of this you will judge by 
making a fair trial4 ,that period of    
sleep which renders both body and mind  
most energetic and vigorous1 should be  
adopted4 ,but1 if possible1 take all    
your sleep in the night4 ,fix upon an   
hour for retiring1 and an hour for      
rising1 and then conscientiously keep   
them4 ,let nothing but stern necessity  
tempt you to vary from them in a single 
instance2 for you may not be able in a  
week to recover from the effects of a   
single derangement of your regular      
habits4 ,we are the creatures of habit2 
but if we would control our habits1     
instead of suffering them to control us1
 it would be greatly to our advantage4  
,it is also important that the hours of 
retiring and rising should be early4    
,upon the plan proposed1 early retiring 
will be necessary to early rising1 which
 is a matter of the first importance4   
,early rising promotes cheerfulness2    
invigorates the system2 and in many     
other ways contributes to health4 ,it   

also assists devotion4 ,there is a      
solemn stillness before the dawn of day1
 in a winter morning1 peculiarly        
favorable to devotional feelings2 and   
nothing is better calculated to fill the
 mind with grateful and adoring views of
 the beneficence of the ,creator1 than  
the refreshing sweetness of a summer    
morn4 ,whoever sleeps away this period1 
loses half the pleasures of existence4  
,to sally forth and enjoy the calmness  
and serenity of such a season2 to listen
 to the sweet warbling of the birds2 to 
behold the sparkling dew-drops1 and the 
gayety of the opening flowers1 as all   
nature smiles at the approach of the    
rising sun2 to join the music of        
creation1 in lifting up a song of       
softest1 sweetest melody1 in praise of  
their great ,author1 is no common       
luxury4  #d4 ,spend at least two hours  
every day in active exercise in the open
 air4 ,this time may be divided into    
such portions as you find most          
convenient4 ,the proper seasons for     

exercise are1 about an hour either      
before or after a meal4 ,this you may do
 without regard to the weather1 provided
 you observe the following precautions1 
when it is cold1 damp1 or wet3--#a4     
,exert yourself sufficiently to keep    
moderately warm4 #b4 ,do not stop on    
your way1 to get chilled4 #c4 ,on       
returning1 change any garment that may  
be wet or damp1 before sitting down4    
,this course will not only keep up your 
regular habits1 but produce a hardiness 
of constitution which will greatly      
increase your usefulness in life4 ,it is
 a great mistake to suppose that        
exposure to a damp1 vapory atmosphere is
 injurious to health4 ,the danger lies  
in exposing yourself when the system is 
in a relaxed state1 as it is during     
rest1 after exercise4 ,but1 while a     
general action is kept up1 by vigorous  
exercise1 nature itself will resist the 
most unfriendly vapors of the           
atmosphere4 ,there is a great and       
growing evil in the education of ladies 

of the middling and higher classes1 at  
the present day4 ,the tender and        
delicate manner in which they are bred1 
enfeebles their constitutions1 and      
greatly diminishes their usefulness1 in 
every station of life4 ,many of them are
 sickly1 and few of them are able to    
endure the slightest hardships4 ,to show
 that this is the fault of their        
education1 we need only to refer to the 
condition of those young women whose    
circumstances in life render it         
necessary for them to labor4 ,in most   
cases they possess hale and vigorous    
constitutions1 and are even more capable
 of enduring hardships than most men of 
sedentary habits4 ,there may be some    
exceptions to this remark2 but if these 
cases were examined1 we should doubtless
 find that the laws of nature have been1
 in some other respects1 transgressed4  
,i do not see how this delicate training
 can be reconciled with ,christian      
principle4 ,if we have devoted ourselves
 to the ,lord1 it is our duty not only  

to do all the good we can in this world1
 but to make ourselves capable of doing 
as much as possible4 ,the man in the    
parable was condemned for not improving 
and increasing his talent4 ,anything1   
then1 which has a tendency to diminish  
our usefulness1 should be regarded as   
sin4  ,exposure to all kinds of weather 
has this advantage also4 ,it renders a  
person much less likely to take cold2   
and1 of course1 less subject to         
sickness4 ,for a great proportion of    
diseases owe their origin to common     
colds4  ,no part of a code of health is 
of more importance than exercise4       
,without it1 everything else will fail4 
,and it is as necessary that it should  
be regular every day1 and at nearly the 
same hours every day1 as it is that     
meals should be regular4 ,we might as   
well omit eating for a day1 as to       
neglect exercise4 ,the one is as        
necessary as the other1 to promote the  
regular operations of the animal        
functions4  ,but1 when your situation   

will admit of it1 ,i would advise you to
 take a portion of your exercise in     
those domestic employments which require
 vigorous exertion4 ,if you open your   
windows1 you will have the fresh air2 at
 the same time1 you will enjoy the      
satisfaction of rendering your hours of 
relaxation useful4  #e4 ,bathe          
frequently4 ,about five eighths of the  
food taken into the stomach passes off  
by insensible perspiration1 through the 
pores of the skin2 and with it is thrown
 off whatever impure matter is found in 
any part of the system4 ,when this      
perspiration is obstructed1 general     
derangement succeeds4 ,it is chiefly to 
promote this that exercise is required4 
,but the matter thrown off is of a very 
poisonous nature2 and if not removed may
 he absorbed again into the system ,it  
also collects upon the surface1 and     
obstructs the regular discharge from the
 pores4 ,frequent ablution is therefore 
highly necessary4  ,it is also essential
 to personal cleanliness4 ,there is an  

odor in this insensible perspiration1   
which becomes offensive when the        
impurities collecting upon the surface  
of the skin are not frequently removed4 
,the entire surface of the body should  
be washed every day2 and if this is done
 on rising in the morning1 with cold    
water1 and followed with brisk rubbing  
with a coarse towel1 it will furnish an 
effectual safeguard against taking cold4
 ,this1 however1 should be remitted1    
when there is any danger to be          
apprehended from the sudden application 
of cold2 or serious consequences may    
follow4 ,tepid water1 with soap1 should 
occasionally be used at night1 in order 
to remove all impurities from the skin4 
#f4 ,pay attention to the quality and   
quantity of food taken into the stomach4
 ,i know of nothing else which more     
necessarily affects both the health of  
the body1 and the vigor of the          
intellect4 ,it is from this that the    
blood is formed1 and the continual waste
 of the system supplied4 ,and through   

the blood it acts on the brain1 which is
 the seat of the intellect4 ,yet1       
notwithstanding this1 those whose       
peculiar province it is to direct the   
preparation of our food1 seldom inquire 
into the chemical effect any such       
preparation may have upon the stomach1  
and1 through it1 upon the whole system4 
,indeed1 the business is generally left 
to persons entirely ignorant of the     
principles which govern the human       
constitution4 ,it is no wonder1 then1   
that a large proportion of the culinary 
preparations of the present day are     
decidedly unfriendly to it4 ,but in     
relation to this matter1 ,i cannot here 
be very particular4 ,i will only give   
some general rules1 by which you may    
discover the bounds of moderation1 and  
what articles of food ought to be       
avoided4 ,the sensible effects arising  
from food unsuitable to the state of the
 stomach are generally the              
following3--,disagreeable eructations1  
accompanied with risings of food2 uneasy

 or burning sensations of the stomach2  
acidity2 and these symptoms are often   
succeeded by headache and dizziness or  
vertigo4 ,the effects of an excessive   
quantity of food are first felt by an   
uneasiness and oppressive fulness of the
 stomach4 ,this is succeeded by a       
general distension or fulness of the    
blood-vessels1 particularly about the   
head2 general lassitude2 sluggishness   
and dulness of intellect1 with a great  
aversion to mental effort4 ,these       
sensations are accompanied by a general 
uneasiness throughout the whole system1 
with more or less pain4 ,it also brings 
into exercise every unholy temper4 ,it  
makes people fretful1 impatient1 and    
peevish4 ,the best disposition may be   
ruined by the improper indulgence of the
 appetite4 ,i have been particular in   
describing these symptoms1 because      
people are often subject to many        
uncomfortable sensations1 for which they
 cannot account1 but which might be     
traced to this source4 ,a large share of

 our unpleasant feelings probably arises
 either from the improper quality1 or   
excessive quantity1 of the food taken   
into the stomach4 ,and the bounds of    
moderation are more frequently exceeded 
by all classes of people1 than many     
imagine4 ,but for a more full           
examination of this subject1 ,i must    
again refer you to the works of         
judicious writers on health1 and the    
means of preserving it4 ,this is a      
matter so intimately connected with the 
sphere of a lady's influence1 that every
 female should give it a thorough       
investigation4  ,carefully observe those
 articles of food which you find        
injurious1 and avoid them4 ,observe1    
also1 as nearly as you can1 the quantity
 which agrees with your stomach1 and see
 that you never exceed it4 ,take no food
 between your regular meals4 ,the       
stomach is employed from three to five  
hours in digesting a meal2 if more food 
is taken during that time1 it disturbs  
and impedes digestion1 and makes it more

 laborious4 ,and1 after one meal is     
digested1 the stomach needs rest before 
another is taken4 ,in connection with   
these general hints1 attention to the   
two following rules will generally be   
sufficient3  7#a47 ,avoid highly        
seasoned food1 fresh bread1 heating     
condiments1 and stimulating drinks4     
7#b47 ,select the simplest dishes1 and  
make your meal of a single course4      
,mixed dishes are more likely to be     
injurious2 and a second course will     
almost certainly lead to excess4  ,but1 
do not give your attention so much to   
this subject as to become splenetic4    
,the imagination has a great influence  
upon animal feeling2 and if you are     
always watching the digestion of your   
food1 you will be sure to find dyspeptic
 symptoms2 and if you humor your stomach
 too much1 you will weaken its capacity 
of accommodating itself to the kind of  
nutriment it receives4 ,having fixed    
your principles of regimen1 adhere to   
them as rigidly as you can without      

inconvenience to others2 but having done
 this1 let your mind dwell as little as 
possible on the subject1 and do not make
 it a matter of frequent conversation4  
,especially1 do not make trouble to the 
friends who entertain you1 when away    
from home1 by excessive particularity4  
,you may find some wholesome dish on the
 most luxurious table2 and if the table 
is lean1 you need not fear4  ,as we are 
commanded1 whether we eat or drink1 or  
whatsoever we do1 to do all to the glory
 of ,god1 it may not be amiss to inquire
 how we may glorify ,god in eating and  
drinking4 #a4 ,we may eat for the       
purpose of strengthening our bodies1 to 
enable us to engage in the active       
service of the ,lord4 #b4 ,when we      
partake in moderation of the bounties of
 ,providence1 it is right that our      
animal appetites should be feasted with 
the delicious taste of the fruits of the
 earth4 ,but we must see the glory of   
,god in it4 ,here the benevolence of his
 character shines forth1 in the         

wonderful provision which he has made   
for the gratification of our earthly    
appetites4 ,hence we may argue the      
ineffable sweetness of the bread of     
life--the food of the soul4 ,this mortal
 body is but a tent pitched in the      
wilderness1 for the residence of the    
soul during its pilgrimage4 ,if1 then1  
,god has opened the treasures of the    
animal and vegetable kingdoms to please 
the taste of this meaner part1 how much 
more abundant the provision for feasting
 the soul with pure spiritual food2 with
 eternally increasing knowledge of the  
divine character and perfections6 ,but  
we cannot so partake of those rich and  
hurtful dainties invented by man4 ,the  
delight thus experienced is the glory of
 man1 not of ,god4 ,and the effect      
produced is the destruction of those    
delicate organs of taste which he has   
provided1 that we may discern the       
exquisite sweetness of the natural      
fruits of the earth4 ,by the same means1
 also1 we destroy our health1 and unfit 

ourselves for his service4 #c4 ,but1 ,i 
suppose the apostle had in his mind     
chiefly the idea of acknowledging ,god1 
when we partake of his bounty1 and of   
honoring him by doing everything in     
obedience to his commands4 ,strict and  
intelligent regard to these two points  
would generally direct us aright in the 
matter of eating and drinking4  ,do not1
 by any means1 think this subject       
beneath your attention4 ,the greatest   
and best of men have made it a matter of
 practical study4 ,those who have given 
us the brightest specimens of           
intellectual effort have been remarkable
 for rigorous attention to their diet4  
,among them may be mentioned ,sir ,isaac
 ,newton1 ,john ,locke1 and ,president  
,edwards4 ,temperance is one of the     
fruits of the spirit4 ,it is therefore  
the duty of every ,christian1 to know   
the bounds of moderation in all things1 
and to practise accordingly4  #g4 ,as   
much as possible avoid taking medicine4 
,the practice of resorting to remedies  

for every unpleasant feeling cannot be  
too strongly reprobated4 ,medicine      
should be regarded as a choice of two   
evils4 ,it may throw off a violent      
attack of disease1 and save life2 but it
 must inevitably1 in a greater or less  
degree1 impair the constitution4        
,medicine is unfriendly to the human    
system4 ,its very effect1 which is to   
disturb the regular operation of the    
animal functions1 proves this4 ,but1    
when violent disease is seated upon any 
part1 this may be necessary2 and the    
injury received from the medicine may   
not bear any comparison with the        
consequences which would follow1 if the 
disease were left to take its course4   
,in such cases1 the physician should be 
called immediately1 as delay may be     
fatal4 ,but the great secret lies in    
avoiding such attacks1 by a scrupulous  
attention to the laws of nature4 ,such  
attacks may generally be traced either  
to violent colds1 or the interruption of
 some of the regular functions of the   

body4 ,the most important of these may1 
with proper attention1 be brought almost
 entirely under the control of habit2   
and all of them may generally be        
preserved in healthy action1 by proper  
attention to diet and exercise4 ,but    
careless and negligent habits1 in these 
respects1 will ruin the most hardy      
constitution1 and bring on a train of   
disorders equally detrimental to mind   
and body4 ,but1 in most cases of        
moderate1 protracted disease1 a return  
to the regular system of living         
according to nature will gradually      
restore lost health4 ,or1 in other      
words1 a strict examination will        
discover some violation of the          
principles of the human constitution1 as
 the cause of derangement2 and by       
correcting this error1 nature will      
gradually recover its lost energies1 and
 restore soundness to the part affected4
                                        
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xi4  ,mental ,cultivation4   

,reading4   ,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,our 
minds are given us as talents to improve
 in the service of ,god4 ,if we neglect 
the proper cultivation of them1 we shall
 come under the condemnation of the     
servant who hid his talent in the earth4
 ,but there is a very great difference  
between mental cultivation and the mere 
reception of knowledge4 ,so you will    
perceive that when ,i speak of the      
improvement of the mind1 ,i do not mean 
reading only2 but that discipline which 
calls into exercise the intellectual    
faculties1 and enables us to employ them
 in the investigation of the truth4     
,this discipline is a necessary         
preparation for profitable reading4 ,it 
is a great mistake to suppose that mind 
is entirely original2 or that only a few
 possess intellectual faculties capable 
of searching into the deep recesses of  
knowledge4 ,it is true some possess     
talents of a superior order2 but none1  
except idiots1 are incapable of         
improvement2 and many of the greatest   

minds have been formed upon a foundation
 which appeared to consist of little    
else than dullness and stupidity4 ,the  
most crooked and unpromising twig may1  
by proper care and culture1 become a    
great and beautiful tree4 ,the object of
 all education is to prepare us for     
usefulness1 either to ourselves or to   
others4 ,we are not to disregard        
ourselves4 ,the glory of ,god is as much
 concerned in our own spiritual growth1 
as in that of any other individual4 ,but
 we are to love others as ourselves1 and
 seek their good as our own4 ,although  
our heads may be filled with knowledge1 
yet if we have not the capacity of      
employing it for practical purposes1 it 
will be of little benefit1 either to    
ourselves or others4 ,many persons      
excuse themselves for neglecting to     
improve their minds1 upon the ground    
that they are incapable of doing        
anything great or brilliant4 ,but this  
arises from a foolish pride4 ,if we have
 but a single talent1 we are equally    

under obligation to improve it in the   
service of our ,master as if we had ten4
 ,and it was upon this principle that   
the servant was condemned to whom but   
one was given4  ,the discipline of which
 ,i speak may be effected in many ways4 
,but the method ,i shall propose is one 
that can be pursued without an          
instructor1 while employed most of the  
time in active pursuits4 ,the course    
already recommended1 in relation to     
meditation and the study of the         
,scriptures1 will be found a great      
assistance in the proper discipline of  
the mind4 ,but this is not all that is  
necessary4 ,i know of nothing which more
 effectually calls out the resources of 
the mind than writing4 ,to a person     
unaccustomed to this exercise1 it       
appears exceedingly difficult4 ,but a   
little practice will make it a pleasing 
and delightful employment4 ,the mind is 
far more richly feasted with ideas      
conceived and brought forth by itself1  
than by those produced by others1 and   

communicated through the medium of the  
senses2 and all the intellectual        
faculties are strengthened and improved 
by exertion4  ,i would1 therefore1      
advise you to pursue a regular plan of  
written exercises4 ,this will be very   
easy1 if you only learn to think        
methodically4 ,select1 chiefly1         
practical subjects2 which your          
,sabbath-school lessons1 your subjects  
of meditation1 and your daily study of  
the ,scriptures1 will furnish in great  
abundance4 ,the principal reason why    
young persons find this exercise so     
difficult is1 that they usually select  
abstract subjects1 which have scarce any
 relation to the common concerns of     
life4 ,on this account1 it will be      
greatly to your advantage to choose some
 ,scripture truth as the subject of your
 exercise4 ,the ,bible is a practical   
book1 and we have a personal interest in
 everything it contains4 ,when you have 
selected your subject1 carefully        
separate the different parts or         

propositions it contains1 and arrange   
them under different heads4 ,this you   
will find a great assistance in         
directing your thoughts4 ,if you look at
 the whole subject at once1 your ideas  
will he obscure1 indefinite1 and        
confused4 ,but all this difficulty will 
be removed1 by a judicious division of  
its parts4 ,set apart regular portions  
of time to be employed in writing4 ,let 
these seasons be as frequent as may     
consist with your other duties1 and     
observe them strictly4 ,do not indulge  
the absurd notion that you can write    
only when you feel like it4 ,remember   
your object is to discipline the mind1  
and bring it under the control of the   
will4 ,but1 to suffer your mind to be   
controlled by your feelings1 in the very
 act of discipline1 is absurd4 ,as well 
might a mother talk of governing her    
child1 while she allows it to do as it  
pleases4 ,finish one division of your   
subject every time you sit down to this 
exercise1 until the whole is completed4 

,then lay it aside till you have        
finished another4 ,after this1 review1  
correct1 and copy the first one4 ,the   
advantage of laying aside an exercise   
for some time1 before correcting it1 is1
 that you will be more likely to        
discover its defects than while your    
first thoughts upon the subject are     
fresh in your mind4 ,but never commence 
a subject1 and leave it unfinished4     
,such a course renders the mind fickle1 
and unfits it for close study and       
patient investigation4 ,finish what you 
begin1 however difficult you may find   
it4 ,scarce any habit is of more        
practical importance than perseverance4 
,do not be discouraged1 even if you     
should be able to bring forth but one   
idea under each division of your        
subject4 ,you will improve with every   
exercise4 ,i well recollect the first   
attempt ,i made at writing4 ,with all   
the study of which ,i was capable1 ,i   
could not produce more than five or six 
lines4 ,carefully preserve all your     

manuscripts4 ,by referring to them      
occasionally1 you will discover your    
progress in improvement4 ,in these      
exercises you can make use of the       
knowledge you acquire in reading1       
whenever it applies to your subject4    
,but1 in everything1 remember your      
dependence upon ,god1 and seek the      
direction of his ,holy ,spirit4         
,reading is also of great importance4   
,by this we call in the aid of others'  
minds1 with the experience of past ages4
 ,but1 unless you observe some system in
 your reading1 you will derive          
comparatively little benefit from it4 ,i
 will endeavor to mark out a simple     
plan1 which you may find useful4 ,for   
this purpose ,i shall arrange the       
various kinds of reading1 under four    
different heads1 to each of which you   
may assign particular days of the week4 
#a4 ,history1 two days2 #b4 ,biography1 
one day2 #c4 ,doctrinal1 one day2 #d4   
,miscellaneous1 two days4  ,the         
advantages of this plan are1 that the   

knowledge you acquire will be more      
complete than it would be if you were to
 pursue but one subject at a time2 and  
the variety will add interest to the    
employment4 ,but each of these different
 kinds of reading requires a separate   
notice4  7#a47 ,history is divided into 
two kinds1 sacred and profane4 ,it is   
for this reason that ,i have assigned   
two days in the week for the reading of 
it4 ,i would have one of these days     
devoted to the history of the church1   
and the other to the history of the     
world4 ,both these are highly necessary 
to every one who desires an enlarged    
view of the affairs of the world1 and   
the dealings of ,god with mankind in    
general1 and with his church in         
particular4 ,in reading profane history1
 several things are to be kept          
distinctly in view4  #a4 ,the providence
 of ,god in directing the affairs of    
men4 ,observe the hand of ,god in       
everything2 for he controls the actions 
even of wicked men1 to accomplish his   

own purposes4 ,the ,bible is full of    
this great truth4 ,scarcely a page can  
be found where it is not recognized4    
,the most ,high ruleth in the kingdom of
 men1 and giveth it to whomsoever he    
will4 ,he calls the king of ,assyria the
 rod of his anger1 for chastising the   
hypocritical ,jews2 but adds1 ,howbeit1 
he meaneth not so1 neither doth his     
heart think so2 but it is in his heart  
to destroy and cut off nations not a    
few4 ,and1 in a subsequent verse1 he    
says1 when he has performed his whole   
work1 by this wicked king1 he will      
punish his stout heart1 and the glory of
 his high looks4 ,but it is not in great
 matters alone1 that the hand of the    
,lord is to be seen4 ,he exercises a    
particular providence over the least as 
well as the greatest of his works4 ,even
 a single sparrow1 says our ,lord1 shall
 not fall to the ground without our     
heavenly ,father4 ,and this is one of   
the brightest glories of the divine     
character4 ,he who fills immensity with 

his presence1 condescends to care for   
the minutest beings in the universe4    
#b4 ,observe the connection of the      
events recorded in history1 with the    
fulfilment of prophecy4 ,i do not1      
however1 suppose you will be able to see
 this very clearly1 without reading some
 authors who have made the prophecies   
their particular study4 ,and this you   
will not be prepared to do with much    
profit1 till you have the leading events
 of history fixed in your mind4  #c4    
,observe the depravity of the human     
heart1 and the evil nature of sin1 as   
manifested in the conduct of wicked men1
 who have been left without restraint1  
and in the consequences resulting from  
such conduct4  #d4 ,see the hatred of   
,god towards sin1 as displayed in the   
miseries brought upon the world in      
consequence of it4 ,in reading history1 
we find that individuals1 whom ,god     
could have cut off by a single stroke of
 his hand1 have been permitted to live  
for years1 and spread devastation1      

misery1 and death1 everywhere around    
them4 ,the infidel would pronounce this 
inconsistent with the character of a    
,god of infinite benevolence4 ,but the  
whole mystery is explained in the       
,bible4 ,all this wretchedness is       
brought upon men for the punishment of  
their sins4  #e4 ,observe what bearing  
the events recorded have upon the church
 of ,christ4 ,one of the great laws of  
,god's moral government upon earth1     
appears to be1 that he directs and      
overrules all things with particular    
reference to the kingdom of ,christ4    
,often1 events which seem1 at first     
glance1 to be altogether foreign to the 
interests of this kingdom1 appear1 upon 
a closer examination1 to be intimately  
connected with it4 ,take1 for example1  
the conquests of ,alexander the ,great4 
,as the life of this extraordinary man  
stands out alone1 unconnected with the  
subsequent history of the church1 we see
 nothing but the wild career of mad     
ambition4 ,but1 in taking a more        

enlarged view of the subject1 we        
discover that he was the instrument     
which ,god employed for spreading over a
 large portion of the world one common  
language2 and so to prepare the way for 
the introduction of the gospel4         
,wherever the arms of ,alexander        
extended1 the ,greek language was made  
known2 and this was the language in     
which the books of the ,new ,testament  
were written4 ,and1 no doubt1 if we     
could discover it1 every event of       
history has a bearing1 equally direct1  
upon the interests of ,christ's kingdom4
  ,but1 in order to keep all these      
things distinctly before your mind1 you 
must maintain1 in the midst of your     
reading1 a constant spirit of prayer4   
,in reading church history1 you will    
have occasion to observe the same       
things1 because the history of the      
church is necessarily connected with the
 history of the world4 ,but there are   
also some things to be noticed1 wherein 
the history of the church differs from  

that of the world4 ,the dealings of ,god
 with his own people differ from his    
dealings with his enemies4 ,the         
afflictions which he brings upon the    
former are the wholesome corrections of 
a tender ,father1 and designed for their
 good2 those he brings upon the latter  
are designed either to lead them to     
repentance1 or they are just judgments1 
intended for the destruction of those   
who have filled up the measure of their 
iniquities4 ,but be careful1 in reading 
church history1 that you do not lose    
sight of the true church of ,christ4    
,most of the histories which have been  
written1 are filled either with accounts
 of individuals1 or of bodies of wicked 
men1 who could lay no claim to the      
character of the church of ,christ4 ,a  
church consists of a society of people1 
professing the fundamental doctrines of 
the gospel1 and practising them in their
 lives4 ,or1 in other words1 having both
 the form and power of godliness4       
,without these1 no body of men have any 

right to be called the church of        
,christ4 ,if you observe this1 you will 
relieve yourself from much perplexity of
 mind1 which the careless reader        
experiences from1 supposing that all the
 evils described in any period of the   
history of the nominal church1 do really
 exist in the true church4 ,these very  
evils prove that it is not the true     
church of ,christ4  7#b47 ,,religious   
,,biography1 or the lives of individuals
 of eminent piety1 is perhaps the best  
kind of practical reading4 ,it is in    
many respects very profitable4 ,it      
furnishes testimony to the reality and  
value of the religion of ,jesus1 by the 
exemplification of the truths of        
,revelation in the lives of its         
followers4 ,it also points out the      
difficulties which beset the            
,christian's path1 and the means by     
which they can be surmounted4 ,suppose a
 traveller just entering a dreary       
wilderness4 ,the path which leads       
through it is exceedingly narrow and    

difficult to be kept4 ,on each side1 it 
is beset with thorns1 and briers1 and   
miry pits4 ,would he not rejoice to find
 a book containing the experience of    
former travellers who had passed that   
way2 in which every difficult spot is   
marked2 all their contests with wild    
beasts and serpents1 and all their falls
 described2 and a beacon1 or            
guide-board1 set up1 wherever a beaten  
track turns aside from the true way8    
,all this you may find in religious     
biographies4 ,there1 the difficulties1  
trials1 temptations1 falls1 and         
deliverances of ,god's people are       
described4 ,you may profit from their   
examples4 ,but1 one caution is          
necessary4 ,bring every religious       
experience described in these works to  
the test of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,if  
you find anything contrary to this      
unerring standard1 reject it4 ,satan is 
ever busy1 and may deceive even good men
 with false experiences4 ,i would advise
 you1 so far as practicable1 to keep    

always the biography of some eminent    
person in a course of reading1 and      
devote to it what time you can spare    
from your ordinary pursuits1 one day in 
the week4  7#c47 ,in relation to        
doctrinal reading1 ,i have already given
 general directions4 ,if you devote to  
it the spare time of one day in the     
week1 regularly1 you will keep alive    
your interest in the investigation of   
truth1 and yet avoid becoming so much   
absorbed in abstract speculation as to  
overlook present duty4  7#d47 ,under the
 head of miscellaneous reading1 ,i shall
 comprehend the following3 ,works on the
 prophecies1 to be read in connection   
with history2 practical works on        
,christian character1 experience and    
duty2 on the instruction of the young2  
illustrations of ,scripture2 on the     
natural sciences2 on health3 to these   
you may add1 occasionally1 an           
interesting book which may fall in your 
way1 on subjects not included in this   
enumeration4 ,keep in a course of       

reading a book on some one of the above 
topics1 and devote to it the leisure of 
one day in the week4 ,the other day1    
which ,i have recommended to be devoted 
to miscellaneous reading1 ,i would have 
you employ in reading newspapers and    
periodical publications4 ,if you find   
one day insufficient for this1 you can  
keep by you a newspaper1 to fill up     
little broken intervals of time1 which  
cannot well be employed in regular      
study4 ,do not1 however1 read everything
 you find in the newspapers1 nor suffer 
yourself to acquire such a morbid       
appetite for the exciting subjects      
discussed in them1 as to tempt you to   
break in upon your systematic course of 
reading4 ,newspapers and periodicals    
contain much trash2 and you may fritter 
away all your leisure upon them1 to the 
great injury of your mind and heart4    
,your chief object in reading them      
should be1 to preserve in your mind the 
history of your own times2 and to       
understand the subjects which interest  

the public mind2 as well as to observe  
the signs of the times1 in relation to  
the progress of ,christ's kingdom4  ,i  
have sketched the above plan1 hoping you
 may find it a useful guide in the      
acquisition of knowledge4 ,the work here
 laid out may seem so great1 at first   
sight1 as to discourage you from making 
the attempt4 ,but a little calculation  
will remove every difficulty4 ,if you   
read but twenty pages in a day1 at the  
close of the year you will have read a  
thousand pages1 under each of the above 
divisions2 more than six thousand pages 
in all4 ,this would be equal to twenty  
volumes1 of three hundred pages each4   
,pursue this plan for ten years1 and you
 will have read two hundred volumes1    
containing sixty thousand pages4 ,you   
can read twenty pages in an hour1 at    
least2 and ,i think you will not say it 
is impossible to spare this portion of  
time every day1 for the purpose of      
acquiring useful knowledge4 ,think what 
a vast amount may thus be treasured up  

in the course of a few years6 ,but you  
may not always be able to obtain books1 
and keep them a sufficient length of    
time to pursue the above plan           
strictly4,k ,in such case1 you can vary 
it to suit your circumstances and       
convenience4 ,but always have a regular 
system4 ,you will find it very          
profitable to take notes in writing of  
such thoughts as occur to your own mind1
 in the course of your reading2 and     
particularly of the several points to be
 noted in history1 and of the practical 
lesson which you learn from biography4  
,and you ought always to give sufficient
 time to your reading to enable you to  
understand it thoroughly4    ,footnote  
,k3 ,in the ,appendix will be found a   
list of books1 suitable   for the course
 here recommended4  ,as you have never  
manifested a taste for what is commonly 
called light reading1 it is hardly      
necessary for me to say anything on the 
subject4 ,i cannot see how a ,christian1
 who has had a taste of angel's food can

 relish the miserable trash contained in
 novels4 ,the tendency of novel reading 
is most pernicious4 ,it enervates the   
mental powers1 and unfits them for close
 study and serious contemplation4 ,it   
dissipates the mind1 and creates a      
diseased imagination4 ,it promotes a    
sickly sensibility1 and renders its     
votaries unfit for the pursuits of real 
life4 ,it is a great waste of time1 and 
on this account alone may be regarded as
 sinful4 ,but ,i would not advise you to
 read any books1 merely because you can 
get nothing else2 nor because there is  
nothing bad in them4 ,there are many    
books which contain nothing particularly
 objectionable1 which1 nevertheless1 are
 not the best that can be obtained4     
,there are so many good books1 that     
there is no necessity for wasting your  
precious time upon crude1 ill-digested1 
or unprofitable works4 ,you may1        
however1 devote some time pleasantly and
 profitably1 to reading the best        
,english classics1 both in poetry and   

prose2 which1 for the want of a better  
term1 ,i shall include under the head of
 ,literary1 for the purpose of          
cultivating the imagination1 improving  
the taste1 and enriching your style4    
,these should be selected with great    
discrimination and care1 with reference 
both to their style and their moral     
tendency4 ,poetry1 to a limited extent1 
tends to elevate the mind1 cherish the  
finer sensibilities of the heart1 and   
refine the taste4  ,if you cannot obtain
 books which furnish you a profitable   
employment for your hours of leisure1   
devote them wholly to the study of the  
,bible4 ,this you always have with you2 
and you will find it a never-failing    
treasure4 ,the more you study it1 the   
more delight it will afford4 ,you may   
find new beauties in it1 and still      
increasing light1 as long as you live2  
and after death1 the unfolding of its   
glorious mysteries will furnish         
employment for a never-ending eternity4 
,your affectionate ,brother4            

,,letter ,,xii4  ,improvement of ,time4 
,present ,obligation4      ,remember how
 short my time is4--,ps4 #hi3dg4        
,to everything there is a1 season1 and a
 time to every purpose     under the    
heaven4--,eccl4 #c3a4      ,redeeming   
the time1 because the days are          
evil4--,eph4 #f3af4      ,behold ,,now  
is the accepted time4--#b ,cor4 #f3b4   
,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,when you entered
 into solemn covenant with the ,lord1   
you consecrated your whole life to his  
service4 ,your time1 then1 is not your  
own1 but the ,lord's4 ,if you waste it1 
or spend it unprofitably1 you rob ,god4 
,you are not at liberty even to employ  
it exclusively to yourself4 ,you are    
bound to glorify ,god with your time4   
,and how can this be done8 ,by so       
employing it that it will be most       
beneficial both to yourself and others4 
,the ,christian1 who properly considers 
the great work he has to perform in his 
own soul1 as well as the wide field of  
benevolent exertion which opens         

everywhere around him1 and reflects how 
exceedingly short his time is1 will not 
be disposed to trifle away any of the   
precious moments ,god has given him4    
,hence we are exhorted to redeem or     
rescue the time1 as it flies4 ,a very   
common fault lies in not estimating the 
value of a moment4 ,this leads to the   
waste of immense portions of precious   
time4 ,it is with time as with an       
estate4 ,the old adage is1 ,take care of
 the pennies1 and the pounds will take  
care of themselves4 ,so1 if we take care
 of the moments1 the hours will take    
care of themselves4 ,indeed1 our whole  
lives are made up of moments4 ,a little 
calculation may startle those who       
carelessly and foolishly trifle away    
small portions of time4 ,suppose you    
waste only ten minutes at a time1 six   
times in a day2 this will make an hour4 
,this hour is subtracted from that      
portion of your time which might have   
been devoted to active employments4     
,sleeping1 refreshment1 and personal    

duties1 generally occupy at least one   
half of the twenty-four hours4 ,you have
 then lost one twelfth part of the      
available portion of the day4 ,suppose1 
then1 you live to the age of seventy    
years4 ,take from this the first ten    
years of your life4 ,from the sixty     
remaining1 you will have thrown away    
five years6 ,these five years are taken 
from that portion of your time which    
should have been employed in the        
cultivation of your mind1 and in the    
practical duties of religion4 ,for1 the 
common excuse for neglecting the        
improvement of the mind1 and the        
cultivation of personal piety1 is want  
of time4 ,now1 if you employ one half of
 this time in reading1 at the rate of   
twenty pages an hour1 you will be able  
to read more than eighteen thousand     
pages2 or sixty volumes of three hundred
 pages each4 ,if you employ the other   
half in devotional exercises in your    
closet1 in addition to the time you     
would spend in this manner1 upon the    

supposition that these five years are   
lost1 what an influence will it have    
upon the health of your soul8 ,or1 if   
you spend the whole of it in the active 
duties of ,christian benevolence1 how   
much good can you accomplish8 ,think    
what you might do by employing five     
years in the undivided service of your  
,master4  ,but1 the grand secret of     
redeeming time is1 the systematic       
arrangement of all of our affairs4 ,the 
wise man says1--,to everything there is 
a season1 and a time for every purpose  
under heaven4 ,now1 if we so divide our 
time as to assign a particular season   
for every employment1 we shall be at no 
loss1 when one thing is finished1 what  
to do next1 and one duty will not crowd 
upon another4 ,for want of this system1 
many people suffer much needless        
perplexity4 ,they find a multitude of   
duties crowding upon them at the same   
time1 and they know not where to begin  
to discharge them4 ,they spend perhaps  
half of their time in considering what  

they shall do4 ,they are always in a    
hurry and bustle1 yet1 when the day is  
gone1 they have not half finished its   
duties4 ,all this would have been       
avoided1 had they parcelled out the day1
 and assigned particular duties to      
particular seasons4 ,they might have    
gone quietly to their work2 pursued     
their employments with calmness and     
serenity2 and at the close of the day   
laid themselves down to rest1 with the  
satisfaction of having discharged every 
duty4 ,form1 then1 a systematic plan to 
regulate your daily employments4 ,give  
to each particular duty its appropriate 
place2 and when you have finished one1  
pass rapidly to another1 without losing 
any precious intervals between4 ,bear   
continually in mind that every moment   
you waste will be deducted from the     
period of your earthly existence2 but do
 not try to crowd too much into the     
compass of a single day4 ,this will     
defeat your object4 ,you will always be 
liable to numerous and unavoidable      

interruptions4 ,you have friends who    
claim a portion of your time4 ,it is    
better to interrupt your own affairs    
than to treat them rudely4 ,you have    
also many accidental duties1 which you  
cannot bring into the regular routine of
 your employments4 ,give1 then1         
sufficient latitude to your system to   
anticipate these1 so that your affairs  
may not be thrown into confusion by     
their unexpected occurrence4  ,the duty 
of being systematic in all our          
arrangements is enforced by several     
considerations4 #a4 ,by the example of  
our ,creator4 ,by a careful perusal of  
the first chapter of ,genesis1 you will 
see that ,god assigned a particular     
portion of the creation to each day of  
the week1 and that he rested on the     
seventh day4 ,now the ,lord has some    
design in everything he does4 ,he never 
did anything in vain4 ,but he could as  
easily have made all things at once1 by 
a single word of his power1 as to have  
been occupied six days in the creation4 

,as for resting the seventh day1 the    
,almighty could not be weary1 and       
therefore needed no rest4 ,what1 then1  
could have been his design in this1 but 
to set before us an example for the     
regulation of our conduct8  #b4 ,this   
duty is also enforced by the analogy of 
the visible creation4 ,the most complete
 and perfect system1 order1 and harmony1
 may be read in every page of the book  
of nature4 ,from the minutest insect1 up
 through all the animal creation1 to the
 structure of our own bodies1 there is a
 systematic arrangement of every        
particle of matter4 ,so1 from the little
 pebble that is washed upon the         
sea-shore1 up to the loftiest worlds1   
and the whole planetary system1 the same
 truth is manifest4  #c4 ,this duty is  
enforced by our obligation to employ all
 our time for the glory of ,god4 ,if we 
neglect the systematic arrangement of   
all our affairs1 we lose much precious  
time1 which might have been employed in 
the service of the ,lord4  ,i shall     

close this letter with a few remarks    
upon the nature of obligation4 ,the very
 idea of obligation supposes the        
possibility of the thing being done that
 is required4 ,there can be no such     
thing as our being under obligation to  
do what is in its own nature impossible4
 ,the idea itself is absurd4 ,this      
principle is recognized by our ,lord in 
the parable of the talents4 ,the man    
only required of his servants according 
to their ability4 ,nothing1 then1 is    
duty except what can be done at the     
present moment4 ,there are other things 
which may be duty hereafter2 but they   
are not present duty4 ,now1 the great   
principle which ,i would here establish 
is1 as ,i have elsewhere remarked1 that 
the obligation of duty rests upon the   
present moment4 ,no principle can be of 
greater importance in practical life    
than this4 ,it lies at the foundation of
 all ,christian effort4 ,it is the      
neglect of it which has ruined thousands
 of immortal souls1 who have sat under  

the sound of the gospel4 ,it is the     
neglect of it which keeps the church so 
low4 ,if it is the duty of a sinner to  
repent1 it is his duty to do it now2 and
 every moment's delay is a new act of   
rebellion against ,god4 ,if it is the   
duty of a backslider to return and      
humble himself before ,god1 it is his   
duty to do it now2 and every moment he  
delays1 he is going farther from ,god1  
and rendering his return more difficult4
 ,if it is the duty of a ,christian to  
live near to ,god2 to feel his presence2
 to hold communion with him2 to be      
affected with the infinite beauty and   
excellence of his holy character2 the   
obligation of that duty rests upon the  
present moment4 ,every moment's delay is
 sin4 ,and so of every other duty4 ,our 
first object1 then1 is to know present  
duty2 our second1 to do it4 ,we cannot  
put off anything which we ought to do   
now1 without bringing guilt upon our    
,souls4                                 
,your affectionate ,brother4            

,,letter ,,xiii4  ,christian ,activity4 
,she hath done what she could4--,,mark  
#ad3h4   ,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,you    
doubtless feel a deep interest in the   
great benevolent enterprises of the     
present day4 ,no one who possesses the  
spirit of our ,master can be indifferent
 towards them4 ,it is important1 then1  
that you should know what you can do    
towards moving forward these            
enterprises4 ,for1 remember that your   
obligation is as extensive as your      
ability4 ,christ commended the woman1   
referred to in the passage above quoted 
for doing what she could4 ,if you do    
more than any within the circle of your 
acquaintance1 and yet leave undone      
anything that you can do1 you do not    
discharge your obligations4 ,you have   
entered into the service of the ,lord1  
and he requires you to do what you can4 
,it then becomes a matter of serious    
inquiry1 ,what can ,i do8 ,it is an     
interesting fact1 that the great moral  
enterprises of the present day1 both for

 the conversion of the world1 and for   
ameliorating the temporal condition of  
the poor1 are in a great measure        
sustained by the energy of female       
influence4 ,this influence is felt in   
every department of society2 and must   
be1 wherever the principles of the      
gospel prevail1 so as to elevate your   
sex to the station which properly       
belongs to them4 ,i will endeavor to    
point out some of the principal channels
 through which it can be exerted4  ,i4  
,you may make your influence felt in the
 ,bible ,society4 ,you know the grand   
object of this society is to put a copy 
of the ,holy ,scriptures within the     
reach of every individual of the human  
race4 ,the spirit of ,christ is that of 
the most expansive benevolence4 ,if you 
possess this spirit1 and value the      
sacred treasure contained in ,god's word
 as you ought1 you will feel a thrilling
 interest in this cause4 ,your heart    
will overflow with compassion for those 
poor souls who have not the word of     

life4 ,what1 then1 must be your         
emotions1 when you consider that more   
than six hundred millions of your       
fellow-beings1 as good by nature as     
yourself1 are destitute of the ,bible8  
,the population of the whole world is   
estimated at seven hundred and          
thirty-seven millions4 ,of these1 five  
hundred and nine millions are heathen1  
and one hundred and fifty-six millions  
are ,roman and ,greek ,catholics2 nearly
 all of whom are destitute of the word  
of ,god4 ,this leaves but seventy-two   
millions who are called ,protestants2   
but a vast number of these1 even in our 
highly favored land1 are living without 
the ,bible4 ,can you say with the       
,psalmist1 ,oh how love ,i thy law6 ,it 
is my meditation all the day8 ,how1     
then1 must your heart bleed in view of  
these facts6 ,but1 perhaps you reply1   
what can ,i do for these perishing      
millions8 ,i answer1 ,do what you can4  
,this is all that ,god requires of you4 
,although what you can do will be but as

 a drop of water in the ocean1 compared 
with what is to be done1 yet it may be  
the means of saving many perishing      
souls4 ,you can become a member of the  
,bible ,society4 ,you can act as a      
visitor and collector1 both to ascertain
 and supply those families which are    
destitute of the word of life1 and to   
obtain the means of supplying others4   
,and if no female ,bible ,society exists
 in the place where your lot is cast1   
you can exert your influence among the  
ladies of your acquaintance to form one4
 ,and in his measure ,i would advise you
 to persevere1 even though you find at  
first only two or three to unite with   
you4 ,all obstacles in the way of       
benevolent enterprises vanish before a  
spirit of prayerful perseverance1 and   
untiring exertion4  ,,ii4 ,you can make 
your influence felt in the ,tract       
,society4 ,the circulation of religious 
tracts has been abundantly owned and    
blessed of ,god's spirit4 ,it seems to  
be almost the only means of reaching    

some particular classes of people1 who  
never wait upon ,god in his house4 ,it  
is a cheap method of preaching the      
gospel both to the rich and the poor4   
,for a single cent1 or even less1 a     
sermon may be obtained1 containing a    
portion of divine truth sufficient1 with
 ,god's blessing1 to lead a soul to     
,christ4 ,engage actively in the various
 forms of this department of benevolent 
labor4 ,the distribution of a tract to  
every family in a town1 once a month1   
when properly conducted1 may be the     
means of doing great good4 ,it furnishes
 an easy introduction into families     
where ,god is not acknowledged2 and the 
matter contained in the tract will      
assist you to introduce religious       
conversation4 ,it will enable you to    
ascertain and relieve the wants of the  
poor1 without seeming to be obtrusive4  
,it will soften your own heart1 and     
excite your compassion1 in view of the  
objects of distress with which you meet4
 ,it also furnishes a convenient        

opportunity for collecting children into
 ,sabbath-schools4 ,in distributing     
tracts1 endeavor1 as far as courtesy and
 propriety will admit1 to engage those  
with whom you meet in direct personal   
conversation with regard to the concerns
 of their souls2 and when you meet only 
with the female members of the family1  
and circumstances favor it1 pray with   
them4 ,by so doing1 you may be the      
instrument of saving many precious      
souls4 ,your labor will also reflect    
back upon yourself1 and warm your own   
heart4 ,you will get a deeper sense of  
the dreadful condition of perishing     
sinners2 and this will be the means of  
exciting a spirit of prayer in their    
behalf4 ,those engaged in this work     
should meet every month1 after finishing
 the distribution1 report all cases of  
interest1 and spend a season in prayer  
for the divine blessing upon their      
labors4 ,i would advise you to begin    
your distribution early in the month1   
and always finish it before the middle2 

and be sure you make a written report to
 the superintendent1 as soon as you have
 finished it4  ,,iii4 ,you can make your
 influence felt in the missionary cause4
 ,this is a cause which must be near the
 heart of every ,christian4 ,the spirit 
of missions is in unison with every     
feeling of the new-born soul4 ,it is the
 spirit of universal benevolence2 the   
same spirit which brought our ,lord from
 the realms of glory1 to suffer and die 
for perishing sinners4 ,his last command
 to his disciples1 before ascending up  
again into heaven1 was1 that they should
 follow his example1 in the exercise of 
this spirit1 until the whole world      
should be brought to a knowledge of his 
salvation4 ,but more than eighteen      
hundred years have passed away1 and yet 
at least two thirds of the inhabitants  
of this fallen world have never heard   
the gospel2 and probably not more than  
one seventieth part of them have really 
embraced it4 ,this is a mournful        
picture1 and calculated to call forth   

every feeling of ,christian sympathy1   
and awaken a burning zeal for the honor 
and glory of ,god4 ,o1 think how ,jesus 
is dishonored by his own people1 who    
thus disregard his last parting request6
 ,but here again you may inquire1 ,what 
can ,i do8 ,you can do much more than   
most people think they can do4 ,although
 you may not be permitted to go to the  
heathen yourself1 yet you can help those
 that do go4 ,i know that your means are
 limited2 yet there are many ways in    
which you can do much for this cause    
with little means4 ,by regulating all   
your expenses by ,christian principle1  
you may save much1 even of a small      
income1 for benevolent purposes4 ,but   
you may also exert an influence upon    
others4 ,in all your intercourse with   
other ,christians1 especially ladies1   
you may stir up a missionary spirit4 ,to
 aid you in this1 become acquainted with
 what has been done1 and what is now    
doing1 for the conversion of the        
heathen4 ,make yourself familiar with   

the arguments in favor of this holy     
cause4 ,by this means1 you may become a 
zealous and successful advocate of the  
claims of five hundred millions of      
perishing heathen4 ,as an opportunity   
occurs once a month for all to          
contribute to this cause1 you know not  
what effect such efforts may have upon  
the purses of those whom ,god has       
blessed with an abundance of the good   
things of this life4 ,again2 you may do 
much for the heathen1 by forming a      
missionary association among the ladies 
where you reside4 ,let such an          
association employ their needless half a
 day in every week1 and apply the avails
 of their labor to the missionary cause4
 ,this would enable every one to        
contribute something for sending the    
gospel to the heathen4 ,but this is not 
all the benefit that would flow from it4
 ,some member of the association should 
be appointed to read missionary         
intelligence1 while the rest labor with 
their hands4 ,this will be the means of 

exciting a missionary spirit1 which may 
result in a much greater benefit than   
the amount of money contributed by the  
society4 ,another advantage of this plan
 is1 that it furnishes an opportunity of
 social intercourse1 with a great saving
 of time4 ,here you may meet your       
friends once a week1 without being      
exposed to the dissipating influence of 
parties of pleasure4 ,there is a little 
,sabbath-school book1 published in      
,boston1 entitled ,louisa ,palston1     
which ought to be in the hands of every 
young lady4 ,it presents the subject of 
missions to the heathen in a most       
interesting light1 and also contains an 
excellent example of an association of  
the kind here recommended4  ,,iv4 ,you  
can make your influence felt in behalf  
of the poor4 ,by frequenting the abodes 
of poverty and distress1 you may        
administer to the wants of the          
afflicted1 and call into active exercise
 the feelings of ,christian sympathy in 
your own bosom4 ,by this means1 also1   

you will be prepared to enlist others in
 the same cause4 ,female benevolent     
societies1 for assisting the poor1      
should be formed in all large towns2 and
 in most places1 much good may be done  
by forming societies for clothing poor  
children1 to enable them to attend      
,sabbath-schools4 ,but perhaps there is 
no way in which you can do so much for  
the poor1 as by assisting them with your
 own hands1 in their afflictions1 and   
aiding them by your advice4 ,be careful1
 however1 that you do not make them feel
 that you are conferring an obligation4 
,there is1 at the present day1 a very   
erroneous impression abroad1 in relation
 to the poor4 ,many wealthy people1 and 
many in moderate but comfortable        
circumstances1 seem to think ,god has   
given them their property solely for    
their own gratification4 ,go to their   
houses1 and you will find their tables  
groaning with luxuries1 their rooms     
garnished with costly furniture1 and    
their persons decorated with finery4    

,but1 if you ask them for a small       
contribution for suffering poverty1 you 
will perhaps be compelled to listen to a
 long complaint against the improvidence
 of the poor2 their want of industry and
 economy2 and possibly be put off with  
the plea1 that supplying their          
necessities has a tendency to make them 
indolent1 and prevent them from helping 
themselves4 ,this may be true to some   
extent2 for intemperance has brought    
ruin and distress upon many families1   
and we cannot expect either industry1   
economy1 or any other virtue1 in a      
drunkard4 ,but this is far from being a 
full view of the case4 ,i know there is 
much suffering even among the virtuous  
poor4 ,sickness and misfortune often    
bring distress upon deserving people4   
,the only way we can realize the        
sufferings of the poor is to suppose    
ourselves in their situation4 ,let a    
wealthy gentleman and lady1 with five or
 six small children1 be suddenly        
deprived of all their property1 and     

compelled to obtain a support for their 
family by daily labor1 and the lowest   
employments4 ,would they think they     
could live comfortably upon perhaps no  
more than seventy-five cents a day1 as  
the proceeds of the husband's labor8    
,yet such is the situation of thousands 
of families1 even in this land of       
plenty4 ,i have myself recently met with
 families of small children1 in the     
severity of winter1 destitute of        
clothing sufficient to cover them1 and  
without shoes4 ,and1 upon inquiry into  
their circumstances and means of        
support1 ,i could not see how the       
parents could make any better provision4
 ,again2 ever supposing that the        
wretchedness of the poor is brought upon
 them by their own vices1 is it         
agreeable to the spirit of ,christ to   
refuse to relieve their distresses8 ,has
 not sin brought upon us all our        
wretchedness8 ,if the ,lord ,jesus had  
reasoned and acted upon this principle1 
would a single soul have been saved8    

,but1 he has commanded us to be         
merciful1 even as our ,father which is  
in heaven is merciful4 ,and how is he   
merciful8 ,he is kind unto the          
unthankful and to the evil4 ,again2 ,if 
any man have not the spirit of ,christ1 
he is none of his4 ,and are we to       
suppose that the poor in our day are any
 worse than they were when ,christ was  
upon earth8 ,yet we find him frequently 
exhorting the rich to give to the poor4 
,this is one of the most common precepts
 of the ,new ,testament4 ,indeed1 our   
,lord has greatly honored the poor1 in  
appearing himself in a condition of     
extreme poverty4 ,at his birth1 his     
parents could provide him no better bed 
than a manger2 and while wearing out his
 life in the service of a lost world1 he
 had no place to lay his head6 ,yet1    
poor as he was1 he has set us an example
 of giving4 ,at the last supper1 when he
 told ,judas1 ,that thou doest1 do      
quickly1 his disciples supposed he had  
sent him to give something to the poor4 

,from this we may safely infer that he  
was in the habit of frequently doing so4
 ,for what else could have brought this 
thought to their minds8  ,a ,christian  
has nothing that is his own4 ,he is but 
the steward of ,god's property4 ,by     
withholding it1 when the kingdom of     
,christ or the wants of the suffering   
poor require it1 and spending it in     
extravagance1 or hoarding it up for     
himself and family4 ,he robs ,god4      
,but1 even on the principle upon which  
the world acts1 shall we neglect the    
suffering of a deserving woman1 because 
her husband is intemperate and vicious8 
,or1 should we suffer the children to   
grow up without instruction1 in         
ignorance and vice1 because their       
parents are vicious8 ,be1 then1 my dear 
sister1 the devoted friend of the poor2 
and seek to relieve distress wherever   
you find it1 or whatever may be its     
cause4  ,v4 ,you may make your influence
 felt in the cause of temperance4 ,a    
false delicacy prevails among many      

ladies1 in relation to this subject4    
,they seem to think that1 as            
intemperance is not a common vice of    
their own sex1 they have no concern with
 it4 ,but this is a great mistake4 ,no  
portion of society suffers so much from 
the consequences of intemperance as     
females4 ,on them it spends its fury4   
,my heart sickens when ,i contemplate   
the condition of the drunkard's wife4 ,i
 turn from the picture with horror and  
disgust4 ,but1 is there no danger that  
females themselves may become partakers 
of this monstrous vice8 ,my soul would  
rejoice if it were so4 ,but every town1 
and village1 and hamlet1 furnishes      
evidence to the contrary4 ,even while ,i
 am writing1 ,i can almost hear the     
groans of a woman in an adjoining house1
 who is just on the borders of the      
drunkard's grave4 ,but1 independent of  
this1 it is scarcely possible to dry up 
the secret elements of this wasting     
pestilence1 without the aid of female   
influence4 ,i have no doubt1 if the     

curtain were lifted from the domestic   
history of the past generation1 it would
 appear that most of the intemperate    
appetites which have exerted such a     
terrific influence upon society were    
formed in the nursery4 ,but1 besides the
 formation of early habits1 females     
exert a controlling influence over the  
public sentiment of the social circle4  
,here is the sphere of your influence4  
,if young ladies would1 with one        
consent1 set their faces against the use
 of all intoxicating liquors1 their     
influence could not fail to be felt     
throughout society4 ,make yourself      
thoroughly acquainted with the subject1 
and lose no opportunity of advocating   
the cause in every circle in which you  
move2 or1 of doing whatever is right and
 proper for a lady to do1 in advancing  
it4  ,,vi4 ,you may make your influence 
felt in every circle in which you move1 
by directing conversation towards       
profitable subjects4 ,here the honor of 
your ,master is concerned4 ,there is a  

lamentable tendency1 even among         
professors of religion1 when they meet  
for social intercourse1 to spend1 their 
time in light and trifling conversation4
 ,the consequence is1 they bring        
leanness upon their own souls2 and if   
any impenitent sinners witness their    
conduct1 it helps to rivet upon them    
their carnal security4 ,let your        
conversation be as it becometh the      
gospel4 ,and remember1 ,christ has      
declared that every idle word shall be  
brought into judgment4 ,seeing1 then1   
that all these things shall be          
dissolved1 what manner of persons ought 
we to be1 in all holy conversation and  
godliness4  ,,vii4 ,you may make your   
influence felt in bringing people within
 the sound of the gospel4 ,there are    
multitudes in this land of gospel light 
who live like the heathen4 ,they do not 
appreciate the privileges which they    
might enjoy4 ,they live in the habitual 
neglect of public worship1 and the means
 of grace4 ,this is especially the case 

with the poor in large towns4 ,poverty  
depresses their spirits1 and they seem  
to feel that no man cares for their     
souls4 ,it is impossible to conjecture  
how much good one devoted female may do1
 by gathering these people into places  
of worship4 ,a lady can much more       
readily gain access to such families    
than a gentleman2 and1 by a pleasing    
address1 and an humble and affectionate 
demeanor1 she may secure their          
confidence and persuade them to attend  
public worship4 ,in this way she may be 
the means of saving their souls4        
,,viii4 ,lastly4 ,you may make your     
influence directly felt by the          
impenitent4 ,that it is the duty of     
,christians to warn impenitent sinners  
of their danger1 and to point them to   
the ,lamb of ,god1 which taketh away the
 sin of the world1 will appear from     
several considerations3--  #a4 ,the     
,apostle ,peter says1 ,christ suffered  
for us1 leaving us an example that we   
should follow his steps4 ,let us1       

therefore1 inquire what was his example1
 with reference to the subject under    
consideration8 ,the spirit of ,christ1  
in the great work of redemption1        
manifests itself in ,,compassion ,,for  
,,sinners1 and ,,zeal ,,for ,,the       
,,glory ,,of ,,god4 ,while we were yet  
sinners1 ,christ died for us4 ,and in   
the near prospect of his agonies1 his   
prayer was1 ,father1 glorify thy name4  
,it was that mercy might be extended to 
the guilty1 consistently with the honor 
of ,god1 that he laid down his life4    
,behold him1 deeply feeling the dishonor
 done to ,god by ungrateful and         
rebellious men1 constantly reproving    
sin1 weeping over the impenitence and   
hardness of heart of his country-men1   
and even exerting his power to drive out
 those who were profaning the temple4   
,and he says1 ,if any man will come     
after me1 let him deny himself and take 
up his cross and follow me4 ,to follow  
,christ is to imitate his example4      
,hence1 unless we follow ,christ1 in his

 general spirit1 we have no right to be 
called after his name4 ,and this we must
 do to the extent of our ability1 and at
 the expense of any personal sacrifice1 
not excepting1 if need be1 even our own 
lives4 ,this is the true spirit of the  
gospel2 and if it were carried out in   
the life of every professor of the      
religion of ,jesus1 the millennial glory
 would soon appear4  #b4 ,we are        
required to love ,god with all our      
heart1 soul1 mind1 and strength4 ,when  
we love a friend we are careful of his  
honor4 ,if we hear him defamed1 or      
lightly spoken of1 or see him           
ill-treated1 it gives us pain4 ,we take 
part with him1 and vindicate his        
character4 ,but we see ,god dishonored1 
and his goodness abused1 continually4   
,multitudes of impenitent sinners around
 us habitually cast off his authority1  
and refuse to honor him as the moral    
governor of the universe4 ,what can we  
do more for his honor and glory than to 
reclaim these rebellious subjects of his

 government1 and bring them back to     
loyalty and obedience8  #c4 ,we are     
required to love our neighbor as        
ourselves4 ,we profess to have seen the 
lost condition of perishing sinners4 ,we
 think ,god has taken our feet from the 
horrible pit and miry clay4 ,we profess 
to believe that all who have not        
embraced ,christ are every moment       
exposed to the horrors of the second    
death4 ,can we love them as ourselves1  
and make no effort to open their eyes to
 their awful danger1 and persuade them  
to flee from it8 ,said a young man1 ,i  
do not believe there is any truth in    
what they tell us about eternal         
punishment2 nor do ,i believe           
,christians believe it themselves4 ,if  
they did1 they could not manifest so    
little concern about it4  #d4 ,the      
business of reclaiming a lost world is  
committed to the ,church in conjunction 
with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is the      
business of the ,church to apply the    
truth to the consciences of lost        

sinners4 ,it is the office of the       
,spirit to make it effectual to their   
salvation4 ,the ,spirit and the bride   
the ,church say1 come4 ,and even the    
hearer of the word is allowed to say1   
come4 ,the ,scriptures recognize the    
conversion of the sinner as the work of 
the ,christian4 ,he which converteth a  
sinner from the error of his way1 shall 
save a soul from death1 and shall hide a
 multitude of sins4 ,others save with   
fear2 pulling them out of the fire4     
,then will ,i teach transgressors thy   
ways1 and sinners shall be converted    
unto thee4 ,it is true1 we cannot1 of   
our own power1 convert souls4 ,but1 if  
we are faithful in the use of the means 
of ,god's appointment1 he may make use  
of us as instruments for accomplishing  
this great work4 ,every one who has     
truly come to ,christ knows the way1 and
 can direct others to him4 ,and in no   
way1 perhaps1 can the truth be rendered 
more effectual1 than by personal        
application to the conscience4 ,david   

did not understand ,nathan's parable1   
till the prophet said1 ,thou art the    
man6  ,as this is a plain1 positive     
duty1 it cannot be neglected with       
impunity4 ,god will not bless his       
children while they refuse to obey him4 
,if ,i regard iniquity in my heart1 the 
,lord will not hear me4 ,you may spend  
all your time on your knees1 while      
living in the neglect of a plain duty1  
and get no blessing4 ,we cannot expect  
to enjoy the presence of ,god1 while we 
refuse to point sinners to ,christ4 ,it 
is probable that the neglect of this    
duty is one of the principal causes of  
spiritual barrenness in the church4 ,if1
 then1 ,christians wish their own hearts
 revived1 they must try to persuade     
others to come to ,christ4 ,he that     
watereth shall be watered also himself4 
,if we wish to maintain constant        
communion with ,god1 we must live in the
 habitual exercise of the spirit of     
,christ4  ,but many ,christians content 
themselves with speaking to the         

impenitent whenever they meet them under
 favorable circumstances1 in the        
ordinary intercourse of life4 ,this is a
 duty2 but it does not appear to be the 
extent of duty4 ,it is only following   
part of the example of ,christ4 ,he came
 to seek and to save that which was     
lost4 ,he went about doing good4 ,is it 
not1 then1 the obvious duty of every one
 of his followers1 to seek opportunities
 of conversing with the impenitent upon 
the great subject of their soul's       
salvation8 ,we are bound to labor for   
the conversion of every sinner1 for whom
 we have an opportunity of laboring4    
,god requires us to do all we can4 ,the 
primitive ,christians carried out this  
principle in its fullest extent4 ,in the
 #hth chapter of ,acts1 we read that the
 church at ,jerusalem were all scattered
 abroad except the apostles4 ,and they  
that were scattered abroad went         
everywhere1 preaching the word4 ,and    
afterwards1 in the #aath chapter1 #aith 
verse1 we hear of them as far as        

,phenice and ,cyprus1 where they had    
travelled1 preaching in the ,greek      
talking the word as they went4 ,it is to
 be particularly remarked that these1 or
 at least most of them1 were the private
 members of the church3 for the apostles
 still remained at ,jerusalem4 ,and what
 was the result of these joint labors of
 the whole church8 ,revivals of religion
 immediately spread all over the land of
 ,judea and its vicinity4 ,and so might 
we see revivals spreading over this     
land1 and continuing1 with increasing   
power1 and multitudes of sinners        
converted1 if the church1 as one1 united
 in ,christ1 would come up to her duty4 
,nor would it stop here4 ,the fire thus 
kindled would burn brighter and         
brighter1 and extend with increasing    
rapidity1 till it spread over the whole 
world4 ,should not all ,christians1     
then1 consider themselves placed1 to    
some extent1 at least1 in the situation 
of watchmen upon the walls of ,zion8 ,if
 they neglect to warn sinners1 will they

 be guiltless of the blood of souls8    
,how can they meet them at the bar of   
,god8 ,ezek4 #cc3a-i4         99        
99       99       99       99  ,few     
persons are aware of what they might    
accomplish1 if they would do what they  
can4 ,i once knew a young lady1 who was 
the moving spring of nearly every       
benevolent enterprise1 in a town of     
seven or eight thousand inhabitants4    
,the ,bible ,society of the town        
appointed a number of gentlemen as      
visitors1 to ascertain who were         
destitute of ,bibles1 and make          
collections to aid the funds of the     
society4 ,but the time passed away in   
which the work was to have been         
accomplished1 and nothing was done4 ,the
 books were handed over to this lady4   
,she immediately called in the          
assistance of a few pious friends2 and  
in a very short time the whole town was 
visited1 collections made1 and the      
destitute supplied4 ,she imparted life  
and energy to the ,tract ,society4 ,she 

set on foot1 and with the aid of a few  
friends1 sustained the monthly          
distribution4 ,there had been1 for some 
time1 a small temperance society in the 
town2 but its movements were slow and   
inefficient4 ,she undertook to impart to
 it new life and vigor4 ,the plans and  
efforts which she1 in conjunction with  
her friends1 put in operation1 produced 
a sensation which was felt in every part
 of the town1 and in a few months the   
number of members was increased1 from   
about fifty1 to three hundred4  ,the    
amazing influence of one ,christian1 who
 lives out the spirit of ,christ1 is    
illustrated1 in a still more striking   
manner1 in the life of a lady1 who died 
not long since1 in one of the principal 
cities of the ,united ,states4 ,i am not
 permitted to give her name1 nor all the
 particulars of her life4 ,but what ,i  
relate may be relied upon1 not only as  
facts1 but as far below the whole truth4
 ,she had been1 for a long time1        
afflicted with a drunken husband4 ,at   

length the sheriff came and swept off   
all their property1 not excepting her   
household furniture1 to discharge his   
grog bills4 ,at this distressing crisis1
 she retired to an upper room1 laid her 
babe upon the bare floor1 kneeled down  
over it1 and offered up the following   
petition3 ,o ,lord1 if thou wilt in any 
way remove from me this affliction1 ,i  
will serve thee upon bread and water all
 the days of my life4 ,the ,lord took   
her at her word4 ,her besotted husband  
immediately disappeared1 and was never  
heard of again till after her death4    
,the church would now have maintained   
her1 but she would not consent to become
 a charge to others4 ,although in feeble
 health1 and afflicted with the sick    
headache1 she opened a small school1    
from which she obtained a bare          
subsistence2 though it was often no more
 than what was contained in the         
condition of her prayer--literally bread
 and water4 ,she had also another motive
 for pursuing some regular employment4  

,she wished to avoid the reproach which 
would have arisen to the cause of       
,christ from her being maintained upon  
the bounty of the church1 while engaged 
in the system of ,christian activity    
which she adopted4 ,she remembered the  
duty of being diligent in business1 as  
well as fervent in spirit4 ,she was a   
lady of pleasing address1 and of a mild 
and gentle disposition4 ,in her lips was
 the law of kindness4 ,yet she possessed
 an energy of character1 and a spirit of
 perseverance1 which the power of faith 
alone can impart4 ,when she undertook   
any ,christian enterprise1 she was      
discouraged by no obstacles1 and        
appalled by no difficulties4 ,she       
resided in the most wicked and abandoned
 part of the city1 which afforded a     
great field of labor4 ,her benevolent   
heart was pained at seeing the          
grog-shops opened upon the holy         
,sabbath4 ,she undertook the difficult  
and almost hopeless task of closing     
these sinks of moral pollution upon the 

,lord's day1 and succeeded4 ,this was   
accomplished by the mild influence of   
persuasion1 flowing from the lips of    
kindness1 and clothed with that power   
which always accompanies the true spirit
 of the gospel4 ,but she was not        
satisfied with seeing the front doors   
and windows of these moral pest-houses  
closed4 ,she knew that little confidence
 could be placed in the promises of men 
whose consciences would permit them to  
traffic in human blood4 ,she would1     
therefore1 upon the morning of the      
,sabbath1 pass round and enter these    
shops through the dwellings occupied by 
the families of the keepers1 where she  
often found them engaged secretly in    
this wickedness4 ,she would then        
remonstrate with them1 until she        
persuaded them to abandon it1 and attend
 public worship4 ,in this manner she    
abolished almost entirely the sale of   
liquors upon the ,sabbath in the worst  
part of the city4  ,she also looked     
after the poor1 that the gospel might be

 preached to them4 ,she carried with her
 the numbers of those pews in the church
 which were unoccupied4 ,and upon       
,sabbath mornings she made it her       
business to go out into the streets and 
lanes of the city1 and persuade the poor
 to come in and fill up these vacant    
seats4 ,by her perseverance and energy1 
she would remove every objection1 until 
she had brought them to the house of    
,god4 ,she was incessant and untiring in
 every effort for doing good4 ,she would
 establish a ,sabbath-school1 and       
superintend it until she saw it         
flourishing1 and then deliver it into   
the hands of some suitable person1 and  
go and establish another4 ,she collected
 together a ,bible class of apprentices1
 which she taught herself4 ,her pastor  
one day visited it1 and found half of   
them in tears1 under deep conviction4   
,she was faithful to the church and to  
impenitent sinners4 ,she would not      
suffer sin upon a brother4 ,if she saw  
any member of the church going astray1  

she would1 in a kind1 meek1 and gentle  
spirit1 yet in a faithful manner1       
reprove him4 ,she was the first to      
discover any signs of declension in the 
church1 and to sound the alarm          
personally to every conscience4 ,it was 
her habitual practice to reprove sin1   
and to warn sinners wherever she found  
them4 ,at the time of her death1 she had
 under her care a number of pious young 
men1 preparing for the ministry4 ,these 
she had looked after1 and brought out of
 obscurity4 ,as soon as their piety had 
been sufficiently tested1 she would     
bring them to the notice of her         
,christian friends4 ,she persuaded pious
 teachers to give them gratuitous       
instruction1 and pious booksellers to   
supply them with books4 ,in the same    
way1 she procured their board1 in the   
families of wealthy ,christians4 ,and   
she formed little societies of ladies1  
to supply them with clothing4 ,there was
 probably no person in the city whose   
death would have occasioned the shedding

 of more tears1 or called forth more    
sincere and heartfelt grief4 ,her memory
 is still deeply cherished in the heart 
of her pastor4,l ,he has been heard to  
say1 that he should not have felt as    
severely the loss of six of the most    
devoted men in his church4    ,footnote 
,l3 ,this was first written in #ahcb4   
,he has since gone to   that better     
land1 where he has no doubt met the     
hearty greetings   not only of his dear 
fellow-laborer1 but of scores whom he   
has   been instrumental in plucking as  
brands from the burning4  ,now1 what    
hinders you to go and do likewise8 ,it  
is amazing to see what can be           
accomplished by a single individual1 by 
earnest effort and untiring             
perseverance1 accompanied with a simple 
and hearty dependence upon ,god4 ,if    
every member of the church would do what
 he or she can1 what a tremendous shock 
would be felt in ,satan's kingdom6 ,what
 a glorious triumph would await the     
church6 ,therefore1 whatsoever thy hand 

findeth to do1 do it with thy might2 for
 there is no work1 nor device1 nor      
knowledge1 nor wisdom1 in the grave1    
whither thou goest4  ,but the work of   
directing sinners to ,christ is one of  
vast responsibility4 ,how distressing   
the consequences1 when the weary        
traveller is directed in the wrong way6 
,how deeply so1 if his way lie through  
the forest1 where he is exposed1 if     
night overtake him1 to stumble over     
precipices1 sink in the mire1 or be     
devoured by wild beasts6 ,yet1 what is  
this1 in comparison to leading astray   
the soul that is inquiring for the way  
of salvation8 ,he that winneth souls is 
wise4 ,i cannot1 however1 pursue this   
subject here2 but must refer you to a   
little work1 entitled ,friendly         
,counsel1 in which ,i have endeavored to
 give at length suitable directions for 
this work4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,in your active efforts1   
several cautions should be              
observed3--#a4 ,avoid every appearance  

of ostentation4 ,suppress every rising  
of self-complacency1 on account of what 
you do1 and of the success which attends
 your efforts4 ,such feelings are       
abominable in the sight of ,god2 and if 
indulged1 will make you appear          
contemptible in the eyes of men4 ,the   
,pharisees were active in many religious
 duties4 ,they made long prayers1 and   
were so particular in outward things as 
to pay tithes of the most common herbs4 
,they also gave to the poor4 ,but all   
this they did that they might have      
praise of men4 ,they chose public places
 to pray2 and when they were about to   
give anything to the poor1 they caused a
 trumpet to be sounded before them1 to  
give notice of their approach4 ,all this
 was done to feed the pride of the      
carnal heart2 and1 notwithstanding their
 loud professions1 and apparent good    
deeds1 the heaviest curses the ,lord    
,jesus ever pronounced were directed    
against them4 ,be modest1 unobtrusive1  
and courteous1 in all you do and say4   

,let the love of ,jesus animate your    
heart1 and the glory of ,god be your    
object4 ,make as little noise as        
possible1 in everything you do4 ,never  
speak of what you have done1 unless you 
see that some good can be accomplished  
by it4 ,when thou doest thine alms1 let 
not thy left hand know what thy right   
hand doeth4 ,keep yourself out of view1 
and give all the glory of your success  
to ,god4  #b4 ,great prudence and       
discretion are necessary in everything4 
,do nothing rashly4 ,when you have any  
enterprise in view1 first sit down and  
consider the matter seriously4 ,pray    
over it4 ,look at it in all its         
bearings1 and inquire what good will be 
likely to result from it4 ,when you have
 satisfied yourself on this point1      
inquire whether you have reasonable     
ground to hope for success4 ,then summon
 all your wisdom to contrive a judicious
 plan of operations4 ,when this is done1
 proceed with energy and perseverance1  
till you have either accomplished your  

object1 or become convinced that it is  
impracticable4 ,pay especial regard to  
the feelings and advice of those who act
 with you4 ,keep as much in the         
back-ground as you can without          
embarrassing your efforts2 and whenever 
you can do it1 put others forward to    
execute the plans you have devised4     
,this will save you from becoming the   
object of jealousy1 and also serve to   
mortify your pride4  #c4 ,be resolute   
and persevering4 ,when satisfied you are
 in the way of duty1 do not be moved by 
the scoffs and sneers of the giddy      
multitude4 ,if some good people         
disapprove your conduct1 thinking that  
you attempt too much1 let it lead you to
 a candid and impartial reexamination of
 your course4 ,if by this you become    
convinced that you are wrong1 in the    
particular matter in question1 confess  
it1 and change your conduct4 ,but1 if   
this review of the affair confirms you  
in the opinion that your course is      
right1 pursue it with decision and      

firmness4 ,there are some well-meaning  
people1 of limited views1 and excessive 
carefulness1 who disapprove of the best 
of measures1 if they happen to be at    
variance with their long-established    
customs2 or1 more frequently1 if they   
were not consulted before the particular
 enterprise was undertaken4  #d4 ,,be   
,,much ,,in ,,prayer4 ,upon this will   
greatly depend your success in all      
things4 ,feel that of yourself you can  
do nothing2 but that you can do all     
things through ,christ strengthening    
you4 ,before undertaking anything1 pray 
that ,god would give you wisdom to      
direct and strength to perform2 and if  
it is anything in which the efforts of  
others will be required1 pray that he   
would incline their hearts to engage in 
the work4 ,before you go out on an      
errand of mercy1 first visit your       
closet1 and commit yourself to the      
direction of the ,lord4 ,pray that he   
would give you wisdom1 courage1 and     
discretion2 and that he would keep down 

the pride of your heart1 and enable you 
to do all things for his glory4         
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xiv4  ,dress4      ,in like  
manner also that women adorn themselves 
in modest     apparel1 with             
shame-facedness1 and sobriety2 not with 
broidered     hair1 or gold1 or pearls1 
or costly array4--#a ,,tim4 #b3i4   ,,my
 ,,dear ,,sister3  ,we are required to  
do everything to the glory of ,god4     
,your first inquiry1 then1 in relation  
to dress1 must be1 ,how can ,i glorify  
,god in my apparel8 ,i know of no other 
way than by making it answer just the   
end for which it was originally         
designed4 ,in the third chapter of      
,genesis1 we learn that the object of   
dress1 when first instituted1 was to    
provide a decent covering for our       
bodies4 ,it was the shame brought upon  
man by transgression which made this    
covering necessary4 ,and1 it is         
undoubtedly in consequence of sin1 that 
the elements have been turned against   

him1 so as to make clothing a necessary 
defence against the hostile influence of
 heat and cold4 ,the immediate discovery
 of their nakedness1 by our first       
parents1 after their disobedience1 is   
probably intended to show the nakedness 
and shame which sin has brought upon our
 souls2 and the consequent exposure to  
the hostile elements aptly represents   
the exposure of the naked soul to the   
wrath of ,god4 ,the invention of        
fig-leaf aprons may perhaps represent   
the self-righteousness of the carnal    
heart4 ,impenitent sinners are always   
seeking out some invention of their own1
 by which they expect to be saved from  
the consequences of sin4 ,but all their 
self-righteousness will be no better    
defence against the storms of ,god's    
wrath1 than fig-leaf aprons against the 
withering influence of a vertical sun1  
or the perpetual frosts of the arctic   
regions4 ,the coats of skin1 which the  
,lord made for our first parents1 were  
perhaps designed to represent the       

righteousness of ,christ1 with which he 
would clothe his people4 ,this opinion  
appears the more probable1 from the     
common use of this figure1 when the     
righteousness of ,christ is spoken of1  
as imputed to ,christians3 ,he hath     
clothed me with the garments of         
salvation1 he hath covered me with the  
robe of righteousness4 ,and to her the  
church was granted1 that she should be  
arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white2 
for the linen is the righteousness of   
the saints4 ,for in this we groan1      
earnestly desiring to be clothed upon   
with our house which is from heaven2 if 
so be that being clothed1 we shall not  
be found naked4 ,for we that are in this
 tabernacle do groan1 being burdened3   
not for that we would be unclothed1 but 
clothed upon4 ,and being found in him1  
not having mine own righteousness1 which
 is of the law1 but that which is       
through the faith of ,christ1 the       
righteousness which is of ,god by faith4
 ,the real design of clothing1 then1 may

 be summed up in the following          
particulars3 #a4 ,a modest covering for 
our bodies4 #b4 ,a defence against the  
hostile elements4 #c4 ,an acknowledgment
 of our spiritual nakedness and exposure
 to the wrath of ,god2 and our need to  
be clothed with the righteousness of    
,christ4 ,whenever we pervert it from   
these ends1 to the gratification of our 
pride or vanity1 we not only do not     
glorify ,god therein1 but we commit     
actual sin4  ,a few things are necessary
 to be observed1 in relation to your    
apparel3--#a4 ,all that you have is the 
,lord's4 ,you have nothing but what he  
has given you2 and this you have        
solemnly promised to employ in his      
service4 ,you have no right1 therefore1 
needlessly to squander it upon your     
person4 ,the apostle ,paul1 in the text 
quoted at the commencement of this      
letter1 directs women to adorn          
themselves with modest apparel2 and     
forbids the wearing of costly ornaments 
and jewelry4 ,the apostle ,peter also   

repeats the same exhortation4 ,the love 
of finery displayed by many of the      
females of our congregations1 some of   
whom are professors of religion1 is     
directly at variance with these passages
 of ,scripture4 ,but1 if the ,bible had 
been entirely silent on the subject1 ,i 
cannot see how ,christians could        
reconcile so much needless expense upon 
their persons with the spirit of        
benevolence which the gospel breathes1  
when so many millions of precious souls 
are perishing without any knowledge of  
the only way of salvation1 or while so  
many around them are suffering from     
penury and want4 ,this is certainly     
contrary to the spirit of ,christ4 ,he  
who1 for our sakes1 became poor2 who led
 a life of self-denial1 toil1 and       
suffering1 that he might relieve        
distress1 and make known the way of     
salvation1--could never have needlessly 
expended upon his person what would have
 sent the gospel to the destitute1 or   
supplied the wants of poverty4          

,extravagance in dress is1 therefore1   
obviously inconsistent with the         
,christian character4 ,but1 no precise  
rule can be laid down in relation to    
this matter4 ,it must be left to the    
sober judgment of ,christians1 and a    
sanctified conscience will readily      
discern the bounds of propriety4 ,by    
asking yourselves two or three          
questions1 whenever you think of        
purchasing a new article of dress1 you  
may very easily decide upon the path of 
duty4 ,do ,i need this8 ,is it necessary
 for my comfort1 or for my decent       
appearance in society8 ,can ,i glorify  
,god in wearing it8  #b4 ,your time is  
the ,lord's4 ,you have no right to waste
 it in useless attention to dress4 ,one 
of the greatest evils of the present    
extravagant modes of dress is1 that so  
much precious time is consumed at the   
toilet4 ,i have already shown the value 
and importance of time1 and the         
obligations of ,christians to spend it  
in the most profitable manner4 ,i need  

not here advance any new arguments to   
show that1 if you spend any more time   
than is necessary in the adjustment of  
your apparel1 you sin against ,god4  #c4
 ,it is the duty to pay some regard to  
personal appearance4 ,a ,christian lady1
 by making herself a slattern1 brings   
reproach upon the cause of ,christ1     
instead of glorifying ,god4 ,the apostle
 enjoins upon women to adorn themselves 
with modest apparel4 ,modesty signifies 
purity of sentiment and manners4 ,when  
this idea is applied to dress1 it       
immediately suggests to the mind a      
neatness1 taste1 and simplicity of      
dress1 alike opposed both to            
extravagance and finery1 and to         
negligence and vulgar coarseness4 ,the  
exercise of a refined taste1 in the     
adaptation and adjustment of apparel1   
may also be justified by the analogy of 
nature4 ,look abroad over the landscape1
 and see with what exquisite taste ,god 
has clothed the flowers of the field4   
,there is a symmetry of proportion1 a   

skilfulness of arrangement1 and a       
fitness and adaptation of colors1 which 
strike the eye with unmingled pleasure4 
,and if ,god has shown a scrupulous     
regard to the pleasure of the eye1 we   
may do the same4 ,this opinion is also  
confirmed by the practical influence of 
the gospel4 ,this is particularly       
observable among the poor in our own    
land4 ,just in proportion as the        
religion of ,jesus prevails among this  
class of people1 you will see a         
scrupulous attention to personal        
appearance4 ,by this1 ,i do not mean the
 pride of appearance2 but a decency1    
modesty1 and propriety1 opposed to      
negligence1 coarseness1 and vulgarity4  
,but this is more strikingly manifest   
among those people who have been but    
recently raised1 by the influence of the
 gospel1 from the lowest depths of      
heathenism4 ,of this1 you will be       
convinced by examining the history of   
the missions among the ,north ,american 
,indians1 and the ,south ,sea ,islands4 

,the same principles will also apply to 
equipage and household arrangements4    
,such regard to comfort and decency of  
appearance as will strike the eye with  
pleasure1 and shed around an air of     
cheerfulness1 doubtless contributes to  
moral improvement1 and is not only      
authorized1 but required1 by the spirit 
of the gospel4  ,but this is a dangerous
 point4 ,there is such a tendency in the
 human mind to mistake gayety and       
extravagance for neatness and propriety2
 and so much temptation to the          
indulgence of pride and vanity1 that you
 have need of constant watchfulness1    
that in no respect your heart may lead  
you astray in this matter4 ,you ought to
 make it a subject of daily prayer4  #d4
 ,have a regard to health4 ,the duty of 
using all proper means for the          
preservation of health1 ,i have already 
considered4 ,among these means1         
attention to dress is not the least     
important4 ,great care should always be 
taken that it be suited to the season1  

and a defence against the inclemency of 
the weather4 ,this is a ,christian duty2
 and any pride of appearance1 or        
carelessness of habit1 which leads you  
to neglect it1 is sin4 ,but1 above all  
things1 avoid the compression of any    
part of the body1 for the purpose of    
improving the appearance4 ,this is a    
most pernicious practice4 ,it is        
astonishing that intelligent ladies can 
so blindly follow the mandates of       
fashion1 as to indulge a habit so       
destructive of comfort and life4 ,there 
is no part of the system1 not even the  
extremity of a limb1 which can suffer   
violent compression1 without            
interrupting the regular circulation of 
the blood4 ,but1 when this pressure is  
about the chest1 the effect is most     
destructive4 ,the lungs1 subject as they
 are to alternate distension and        
compression1 from receiving and         
discharging both the blood and the      
breath1 require the most perfect        
freedom4 ,but when the chest is so      

compressed as to prevent the free play  
of the lungs1 the whole system of       
respiration and circulation is deranged4
 ,the consequences are1 shortness of    
breath1 faintness1 impeded circulation1 
producing listlessness and languor2 and 
inclination of the blood to the head1   
producing headache and distressing      
dizziness4 ,and1 if this course is long 
persisted in1 destruction of health is  
the inevitable conscience2 and often the
 poor deluded victim of a barbarous     
fashion pays the forfeit of her life4 ,i
 have heard of many cases of death from 
this cause2 three of which occurred in  
one family1 within the circle of my     
acquaintance4 ,i need use no argument1  
then1 to convince a ,christian lady1    
that it is her duty to avoid this       
species of conformity to the world4 ,i  
can regard it in no other light than a  
palpable violation of the sixth         
commandment4  #e4 ,do not make too much 
of the matter of dress4 ,it is our duty 
to avoid every species of conformity to 

the world which requires the sacrifice  
of religious principle4 ,but1 in things 
indifferent1 we are allowed to conform  
to the customs of society4 ,i do not    
think there is much danger of observing 
excessive plainness of apparel2 but     
there is danger of making so much       
account of it as to cultivate a         
self-righteous spirit4 ,it is remarkable
 that in almost every system of false   
religion1 precise forms of dress are    
prescribed2 especially for those who are
 devoted to what is termed a religious  
life2 whereas1 in the ,bible1 it is left
 to be regulated by the general         
principles and spirit of ,christianity1 
with an occasional caution against      
extravagance2 and it does not appear    
that ,christ and the apostles and the   
early ,christians adopted any           
peculiarity of dress4 ,from the         
description given of the wardrobe of our
 ,saviour1 it is probable that he wore  
the common dress of a religious teacher4
 ,there is such a thing as a pride of   

singularity2 and this is often          
manifested in the preparation and       
adjustment of the wardrobe4 ,satan is   
ever on the alert1 to observe the bent  
of the mind1 and carry it to extremes4  
,be not ignorant of his devices4 ,watch 
and pray1 that you enter not into       
temptation4                             
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xv4  ,social and ,relative   
,duties4      ,all things whatsoever ye 
would that men should do to you1 do ye  
even so to them4 ,,matt4 #g3ab4   ,,my  
,,dear ,,sister1  ,we are formed for    
society2 and whoever refuses social     
intercourse with his fellow-beings1 and 
lives to himself1 violates an           
established law of nature4 ,but the     
operation of this general principle     
creates the necessity of particular laws
 for the regulation of that intercourse4
 ,hence1 a numerous train of duties     
arise out of our social relations4 ,and 
those duties enter more or less into the
 common concerns of life1 according as  

these relations are more or less remote4
 ,the first relation which the ,lord has
 established among men1 is that of the  
family4 ,this was established in        
,paradise2 and it has been preserved1 in
 all ages of the world1 and in all      
countries1 with more or less            
distinctness1 according to the degree of
 moral principle which has prevailed4   
,the ,scriptures are very particular in 
describing this relation1 as it existed 
in the patriarchal ages4 ,it has its    
foundation in the fitness of things2 and
 hence the duties arising out of it are 
very properly classed as moral duties4  
,of such consequence does the ,lord     
regard this relation1 that he has given 
it a place in the decalogue4 ,three of  
the ten commandments have particular    
reference to the family relation4 ,from 
the first institution of this relation1 
we learn that the father and mother are 
to constitute the united head of the    
family4 ,they twain shall be one flesh4 
,authority is therefore doubtless vested

 in them both1 to exercise jointly4     
,but1 since the fall1 when mankind      
became perverse and self-willed1 the    
nature and fitness of things seem to    
require that there should be a          
precedence of authority1 in case of a   
division of the united head4 ,this      
precedence1 the ,scriptures clearly and 
distinctly point out4 ,one of the curses
 pronounced upon the woman1 after the   
fall1 was1 that her husband should rule 
over her4 ,this principle was carried   
out in the families of the patriarchs4  
,the apostle ,peter says1 that the holy 
women of old adorned themselves with a  
meek and quiet spirit1 and were in      
subjection to their own husbands3 and   
particularly notice the conduct of      
,sarah1 the mother of the ,jewish       
nation1 who obeyed ,abraham1 calling him
 lord4 ,the same principle is repeatedly
 taught in the ,new ,testament4 ,wives1 
submit yourselves unto your own         
husbands1 as unto the ,lord4 ,as the    
,church is subject unto ,christ1 so let 

the wives be to their own husbands in   
everything4 ,let the wife see that she  
reverence her husband4 ,likewise ye     
wives be in subjection to your own      
husbands4 ,there can be no room for     
doubt1 then1 on this subject4 ,but1     
where ,christian principle prevails with
 both parties1 there will be rarely1 if 
ever1 occasion to exercise this         
authority4  ,the fifth commandment      
teaches the duty of subordination to the
 head of the family1 not only on the    
part of the children themselves1 but of 
every member of the household4 ,so far  
as the general interests of the family  
are concerned1 persons residing in it   
are regarded in the same light as       
children2 subject to all its laws1 rules
 and regulations4 ,thus the ,lord speaks
 of ,abraham3 ,i know him that he will  
command his children and his household  
after him1 and they shall keep the way  
of the ,lord4 ,the principle is here    
recognized1 that ,abraham had a right to
 command1 not only his own children1 but

 all his household4 ,and the same may   
also be inferred from the language of   
the fourth commandment4 ,it is addressed
 to the head of the family1 and enjoins 
upon him to see that no labor is        
performed on the ,sabbath1 by any of his
 household1 not even excepting the      
stranger that is within his gates4  ,the
 duty of the younger members of the     
family to respect the elder1 may be     
inferred1--#a4 ,from the nature and     
fitness of things4 ,the elder brethren  
and sisters are the superiors of the    
younger1 in age and experience1 and     
generally in wisdom and knowledge4 ,they
 are better qualified to take the lead1 
and therefore entitled to respect and   
deference4 #b4 ,the same thing may also 
be inferred from the precedence always  
given in ,scripture to the first-born4  
,but the great household duty is ,,love4
 ,if this is properly discharged1 it    
will set all other matters right4 ,if   
this is wanting1 there will be a lack of
 everything else4 ,the ,scriptures      

insist upon the duty of brotherly love4 
,behold1 how good and how pleasant it is
 for brethren to dwell together in      
unity6 ,christ1 in his sermon on the    
mount1 severely rebukes the indulgence  
of anger1 and the want of kindness and  
courtesy among brethren4 ,and the       
apostle ,john says1 that whosoever      
hateth his brother1 is a murderer4 ,a   
kind1 tender-hearted1 affectionate1 and 
peaceful temper1 should be maintained1  
in all the intercourse of different     
members of the same family4  ,but as    
mankind began to multiply1 it became    
necessary that the social relations     
should be extended4 ,a number of        
families1 residing near each other1     
formed a neighborhood1 or community4    
,this gave rise to the new relation of  
neighbor1 from the necessity of         
intercourse between families4 ,this was 
again extended1 to the formation of     
nations and kingdoms4 ,but all these    
various relations are subject to the    
same great laws as those of the family2 

for they have grown out of them4 ,the   
same principle which requires           
subordination to the head of the family1
 requires also deference to the elders  
of a community1 and subordination to the
 rulers of the nation4 ,and the same    
principle which requires the exercise of
 kindness1 gentleness1 meekness1        
forbearance1 condescension and love1    
between the members of the same family1 
requires the exercise of similar        
dispositions between individuals of the 
same community and nation4 ,the         
principle is also still farther         
extended1 embracing the whole world as  
one great family2 and requiring the     
exercise of love and the practice of    
benevolence towards all mankind4 ,submit
 yourselves to every ordinance of man1  
for the ,lord's sake4 ,thou shalt love  
thy neighbor as thyself4  ,but1 in      
consequence of the fall1 another most   
interesting relation has been           
established4 ,out of this apostate      
world1 ,god has chosen himself a family4

 ,of this family1 ,christ is the head1  
and his people are the members4 ,here   
are the same relations as in the natural
 family2 but they are different in their
 nature4 ,they are spiritual1 and1 of   
course1 of higher obligation4 ,we are   
required to love ,christ more than      
father or mother4 ,and the ,lord ,jesus 
says with emphasis1 ,this is my         
commandment1 that ye love one another4  
,i have no doubt that1 when grace is in 
full exercise in the heart1 the         
brotherly love which ,christians        
exercise towards one another is far     
stronger than the natural affection     
which exists between brothers and       
sisters of the same family4  ,from this 
general view of the social relations1 we
 may gather the following rules of      
conduct3  #a4 ,endeavor to render to all
 the members of the family in which you 
reside just that degree of deference and
 respect which belongs to them4         
,conscientiously regard the rules and   
regulations introduced by the head of   

the family1 unless they are contrary to 
the word of ,god4 ,in such case you     
should leave the family2 because your   
relative duties would interfere with    
your duty to ,god4,m ,remember1 it is in
 the domestic circle where your         
character is to be formed4 ,it is here  
that your disposition is to be tried1   
and your piety cultivated4 ,endeavor1   
then1 to maintain1 in your family       
intercourse1 the same dignity and       
propriety of deportment which you wish  
to sustain in society4 ,never descend to
 anything at the fireside which you     
would despise in a more extended circle4
 ,bring the most minute actions of your 
daily life to the test of ,christian    
principle4 ,remember that1 in the sight 
of ,god1 there are no little sins4 ,the 
least transgression is sufficient to    
condemn the soul forever4 ,he that      
offendeth in one point is guilty of all4
 ,especially avoid the indulgence of a  
selfish disposition4 ,it is both        
unamiable and unchristian4 ,be always   

ready to sacrifice your own feelings1   
when by so doing you can give pleasure  
to others4 ,study the wishes and        
feelings of others1 and prefer them to  
your own4 ,manifest a disinterestedness 
of feeling4 ,strive to be helpful to    
others1 even at the expense of personal 
feeling and interest4 ,look not every   
man on his own things1 but every man on 
the things of others4 ,charity seeketh  
not her own4 ,be kind to all2 respectful
 towards superiors1 courteous to equals1
 and condescending to inferiors4 ,be    
particularly careful not to trample upon
 the feelings of servants4 ,nothing can 
be more unamiable4 ,if you cultivate    
these dispositions and principles of    
action habitually1 in the domestic      
circle1 they will become so natural and 
easy as to flow out spontaneously in    
every circle in which you move4 ,and    
this will call forth the love and esteem
 of all your acquaintance4 ,it will     
bring honor upon your profession1       
increase your influence1 and thereby    

enable you to do more for the glory of  
,god4    ,footnote ,m3 ,this direction  
would not be proper for a minor1 in     
her father's house1 or in the place     
provided by a guardian4 ,in   such      
cases1 it would be duty to remain1 and  
submit to the penalty   of disobedience2
 remembering that it is a blessing to be
   persecuted for righteousness' sake4  
#b4 ,there are special duties growing   
out of your relation to the church4     
,some of these ,i have considered in    
former letters4 ,but ,i have particular 
reference now to social duties4 ,you are
 to regard all the members of the church
 as brothers and sisters4 ,you are to   
love them just in proportion as they are
 like ,christ4 ,it is the appearance of 
the image of ,jesus1 alone1 in our      
,christian brethren1 which can call     
forth the spiritual exercise of         
brotherly love4 ,i say the appearance of
 the image of ,christ1 because we may be
 deceived as to the existence of that   
image in the hearts of others1 and yet  

our love may be as sincere and fervent  
as if the image were genuine4 ,no       
,christian duty is more insisted on in  
,scripture than brotherly love4 ,it is  
repeatedly enjoined by our ,lord and his
 apostles4 ,it is so essential a part of
 the ,christian character1 that it is   
mentioned by the beloved disciple as one
 of the principal evidences of the new  
birth4 ,now1 how do we manifest our love
 to our brothers and sisters8 ,we       
delight in their society4 ,we love to   
meet them1 to talk about each other's   
interests1 and the interests of the     
family in general4 ,so1 if you love your
 brethren and sisters in the church1 you
 will delight in their society2 you will
 love to meet with them1 to interchange 
kind offices2 to talk of the            
difficulties1 trials1 hopes1 fears1     
joys1 and sorrows1 of the way to the    
heavenly ,canaan2 and to speak of the   
interests of the great spiritual family 
to which you belong4 ,hence1 ,i argue   
the duty of social intercourse among    

,christians4 ,but1 it is to be greatly  
feared that the real object of such     
intercourse is too frequently           
overlooked4 ,how often do ,christians   
meet1 and talk about trifles light as   
air1 without once speaking of subjects  
which1 according to their profession1   
lie nearest their hearts4 ,this ought   
not so to be4 ,it is a sinful conformity
 to the spirit of the world4 ,the great 
object of social intercourse among      
,christians should be1 to promote       
brotherly love and ,christian           
fellowship4 ,and how can these ends be  
answered1 when their conversation is    
altogether about the affairs of the     
world8 ,i do not say that it is wrong to
 talk about these things4 ,the smallest 
matters claim a portion of our          
attention4 ,but it is wrong to make them
 the principal topics of conversation1  
to the exclusion of heavenly things4    
,when we do speak of them1 it should be 
with some good end in view2 and our     
conversation should always be seasoned  

by the application of ,christian        
principle to all subjects4  ,in addition
 to the general obligation of social    
intercourse among ,christians1 there are
 some particular duties which they owe  
to one another4 ,they are to exercise   
mutual forbearance and tenderness       
towards each other's faults1 and1 at the
 same time1 to watch over and admonish  
one another4 ,whenever you see a brother
 or a sister out of the way1 it is your 
duty1 with meekness1 tenderly and kindly
 to administer reproof4 ,if a man be    
overtaken in a fault1 ye which are      
spiritual restore such an one in the    
spirit of meekness4 ,with all lowliness 
and meekness1 with long-suffering1      
forbearing one another in love4 ,in all 
cases1 where one is to be selected for  
the performance of a particular duty1   
which may seem to confer honor1 prefer  
others to yourself4 ,in honor preferring
 one another4 ,in lowliness of mind1 let
 each esteem other better than          
themselves4 ,yea1 all of you1 be subject

 one to another1 and be clothed with    
humility4 ,submitting yourselves one to 
another in the fear of ,god4 ,yet1 do   
not carry this principle so far as to   
refuse to act where duty calls4 ,a      
disposition to be backward in such      
matters is often a serious hindrance to 
benevolent effort4 ,be always ready to  
engage in any enterprise for doing good2
 but prefer the office which requires   
the most labor with the least honor4    
,christians ought also to take delight  
in assisting each other2 and to feel    
personally interested in each other's   
welfare4 ,in short1 the feeling that    
pervades the church should be           
preeminently a ,,family ,,feeling4  #c4 
,there are also some special duties     
growing out of your relations to general
 society4 ,be ever ready to interchange 
kind offices with every one who         
maintains a decent moral deportment2 and
 be kind and compassionate1 even to the 
vicious1 so far as you can1 without     
associating with them on terms of       

equality4 ,by this means you may win the
 affections of impenitent sinners1 and  
thereby secure their attention to direct
 efforts for the salvation of their     
souls4 ,but1 you should never suffer    
your feelings of complacency and        
good-will towards those who are         
destitute of piety1 to lead you to      
conform to the spirit of the world which
 influences their conduct4 ,your social 
intercourse with them should be         
regulated upon this principle4 ,never go
 any farther into their society than you
 can carry your religion with you4 ,be  
not conformed to this world4  #d4       
,although it be your duty to visit1 yet1
 in this matter1 be careful to be       
governed by religious principle4 ,there 
is1 in the human mind1 a tendency to run
 into extremes in everything4 ,against  
this you need especially to be on your  
guard in social intercourse4 ,when      
visiting is excessive1 it dissipates the
 mind1 and unfits it for any laborious  
employment4 ,when this state of mind    

becomes habitual1 a person is never easy
 except when in company4 ,the most      
vigorous mind may thus be rendered      
comparatively inert and powerless4 ,but1
 on the other hand1 by shutting yourself
 out from society1 you will dry up the  
social feelings of the heart2 you will  
acquire a monkish love of solitude2 and 
your temper will become soured towards  
your fellow-beings4 ,you must therefore 
give to visiting its proper place in the
 routine of ,christian duty4 ,that place
 is just the one which it can occupy    
without encroaching upon more important 
duties4 ,it should be the ,christian's  
recreation4 ,seasons of relaxation from 
the more laborious duties of life are   
undoubtedly necessary2 and ,i know of   
nothing which can better answer this end
 than the intelligent and pious         
conversation of ,christian friends4     
,your friends have claims upon your time
 and attention4 ,but1 these claims can  
never extend so far as to encroach upon 
more important duties1 or to impair your

 ability to do good to yourself and     
others4 ,as soon as you discover a      
secret uneasiness1 when out of company1 
or whenever you find that the demands of
 the social circle have led you to      
neglect other duties1 it is time to     
diminish the number of your visits4 ,but
 do not1 on such occasions1 violate     
,christian sincerity1 by inventing      
excuses to satisfy your friends4 ,tell  
them plainly your reasons1 and if they  
are really what they profess to be1 they
 will see the propriety of your conduct1
 and be satisfied4  #e4 ,never go into  
company where the spirit and maxims of  
the world predominate4 ,i know this will
 cut you off from a large portion of    
society1 yet1 ,i believe it to be a rule
 founded upon the word of ,god4 ,if we  
would not be conformed to the world1 we 
must not follow its maxims nor partake  
of its spirit4 ,i know it is often said 
we should go into such society for the  
purpose of exerting a religious         
influence4 ,but the practical result is 

directly the contrary4 ,the spirit which
 prevails in such company is destructive
 of all religious feeling3 it freezes up
 the warm affections of the ,christian's
 heart4 ,the consequence is1 he is      
ashamed to acknowledge his ,master1 and 
avow his principles1 where the          
prevailing current is against him4 ,he  
therefore moves along with it1 to the   
injury of his own soul1 and the wounding
 of his ,master's cause4 ,his worldly   
companions see no difference between his
 conduct and their own2 and conclude1   
either that all is right with           
themselves1 or that he is a hypocrite4  
,large parties1 as a general rule1 are  
unfriendly to the health both of body   
and soul4 ,the most profitable kind of  
social intercourse is the informal      
meting of small circles1 of which a     
sufficient number are pious to give a   
direction and tone to conversation4  #f4
 ,when in company1 labor to give a      
profitable direction to conversation4   
,if there are elder persons present1 who

 introduce general discourse of a       
profitable character1 let your words be 
few4 ,it is generally better1 in such   
cases1 to learn in silence4 ,when an    
opportunity offers1 however1 for you to 
say anything that will add interest to  
the conversation1 do not fail to improve
 it4 ,but let your ideas be well        
conceived1 and your words well chosen4  
,a word fitly spoken is like apples of  
gold in pictures of silver4 ,the        
interest of conversation does not depend
 so much upon the multitude of words1 as
 upon the matter they contain1 and their
 appropriateness to the subject4 ,but1  
when no other person introduces         
profitable conversation1 take it upon   
yourself4 ,if you will study to be      
skilful in the matter1 you may turn any 
conversation to good account4 ,this was 
one of the peculiar beauties of our     
,saviour's discourse4 ,whatever subject 
was introduced1 he invariably drew from 
it some important lesson4 ,if you are on
 the alert1 you may always give a proper

 turn to conversation in this way4 ,i do
 not say that conversation should always
 be exclusively religious4 ,but it      
should be of a kind calculated to       
improve either the mind or heart1 and it
 should at all times partake of the     
savor of piety4 ,let your speech be     
always with grace1 seasoned with salt4  
,no proper opportunity1 however1 should 
be lost1 of making a direct religious   
impression4 ,if the solemn realities of 
divine things were always present to our
 minds1 as they ought to be1 we should  
never be at a loss to speak of them in a
 becoming manner4 ,when you meet with   
persons who are living without hope1    
lose no proper occasion to warn them of 
their danger1 and show them the         
sinfulness of their lives1 and the guilt
 of rejecting the ,saviour4 ,but this   
should be done as privately as possible4
 ,speaking to them abruptly1 in the     
presence of company1 often has a        
tendency to provoke opposition1 and     
harden them in sin4 ,however1 this      

caution is not always necessary4 ,if    
there is much tenderness of conscience1 
admonition will be well received1 even  
in the presence of others4 ,great care  
should be taken1 on both sides1 that you
 neither injure them by your imprudence1
 nor neglect your duty to their souls1  
through excessive carelessness4 ,study  
wisdom1 skilfulness1 and discretion1 in 
all things4  #g4 ,set your face against 
the discussion of the characters of     
those who are absent4 ,this is a most   
pernicious practice1 quite too prevalent
 at the present day4 ,i would have you  
avoid1 as much as possible1 speaking    
even of the good qualities of those who 
are absent1 for two reasons3 #a4 ,i see 
no good likely to result from it2       
therefore it must be an unprofitable    
method of spending time4 #b4 ,it leads  
us to speak also of their faults1 so as 
to give their whole characters2 and this
 is evil speaking4 ,never allow yourself
 to say anything to the disadvantage of 
any person1 unless your duty to others  

may require it4 ,this1 however1 will    
rarely happen2 but it may sometimes be  
your duty to caution others against     
being ensnared by one whose character   
you know to be bad4 ,the ,scriptures    
condemn backbiting and evil speaking in 
the most pointed terms4 ,speak not evil 
one of another1 brethren4 ,he that      
speaketh evil of his brother1 speaketh  
evil of the law4 ,speak evil of no man4 
,let all bitterness1 and wrath1 and     
anger1 and clamor1 and evil speaking1 be
 put away from you4 ,debates1 envyings1 
wrath1 strifes1 backbitings1            
whisperings1 swellings1 tumults4        
,whisperers1 backbiters1 haters of ,god1
 despiteful4 ,here we see how the ,lord 
regards this sin2 for he has classed it 
with the exercise of the most abominable
 passions of the human heart4 ,yet1 how 
common is it for professors of religion 
to speak freely1 and without reserve1 of
 the characters of others1 and even of  
their own brethren and sisters in the   
church4 ,this is a great sin1 and it is 

productive of much evil in the church   
and in society4 ,it creates             
heart-burnings1 jealousies1 and strife2 
and furnishes employment for            
tale-bearers1 that most despicable set  
of mischief-makers4 ,but this sin is    
often committed without saying anything 
directly against another4 ,a sly        
insinuation is often productive of more 
mischief than direct evil speaking4 ,it 
leaves a vague1 but strong impression   
upon the mind of the hearer1 against the
 character of the person spoken of2 and 
often creates a prejudice which is never
 removed4 ,this is most unjust and      
unfair1 because it leaves the character 
of the injured person resting under     
suspicion1 without his having an        
opportunity to remove it4 ,this is      
probably what the apostle means by      
whisperers4 ,solomon1 also1 speaking of 
the naughty person and wicked man1 says1
 ,he winketh with his eyes1 he speaketh 
with his feet4 ,he that winketh with the
 eye causeth shame4 ,how often do we see

 this winking and speaking by gestures  
and knowing looks1 when the characters  
of others are under discussion6 ,open   
and unreserved evil speaking is         
unchristian2 but this winking and       
speaking with the feet is mean and      
dishonorable4 ,whenever you perceive a  
disposition to make invidious remarks   
about others1 refuse to join in the     
conversation1 and manifest your decided 
disapprobation4 ,the north wind driveth 
away rain2 so doth an angry countenance 
a backbiting tongue4 ,bear in mind the  
words of the apostle ,james3 ,if any man
 among you seemeth to be religious1 and 
bridleth not his tongue1 but deceiveth  
his own heart1 this man's religion is   
vain4 ,so you see the habitual          
indulgence of this sin will cut off the 
hope of the loudest professors4  #h4    
,avoid speaking of yourself4 ,when any  
person makes himself and his own affairs
 the principal topics of conversation1  
he shows himself to be supremely        
selfish1 and ridiculously vain4 ,it is  

also treating others with great         
disrespect3 as though one's self were of
 more consequence than the whole        
company4 ,endeavor to keep yourself as  
much as possible out of view1 and to    
direct the thoughts and conversation of 
the company away from personal affairs1 
to intellectual1 moral and religious    
subjects4 ,but1 when any of your friends
 make known their difficulties to you1  
manifest an interest in their affairs1  
sympathize with them1 and render them   
all the assistance in your power4  #i4  
,never indulge a suspicious disposition4
 ,many persons destroy their own peace1 
and gain the ill-will of others1 by the 
exercise of this unhappy temper4 ,you   
have no right to think others dislike   
you1 until they have manifested their   
dislike4 ,accustom yourself to repose   
confidence in your associates4 ,it is   
better to be sometimes deceived1 than   
never to trust4 ,and if you are always  
jealous of those around you1 be sure you
 will soon alienate their affections4   

,in your intercourse with others of your
 own age and sex1 be willing always to  
advance at least half way1 and with     
those whose habits are very retiring1   
you may even go farther4 ,many persons  
of sterling worth have so low an opinion
 of themselves1 as to doubt whether even
 their own equals wish to form an       
acquaintance4 ,a man that hath friends  
must show himself friendly4 ,always put 
the best construction upon the conduct  
of others4 ,do not attach more meaning  
to their language and conduct than they 
properly express4 ,if at any time you   
really believe yourself slighted1 take  
no notice of it4 ,yet be careful never  
to intrude yourself into society where  
you have good reason to believe your    
company is not desired4  #aj4 ,be       
cautious in the formation of intimate   
friendships4 ,christians should always  
regard one another as friends4 ,yet     
peculiar circumstances1 together with   
congeniality of sentiment and feeling1  
may give rise to a personal attachment  

much stronger than the common bond which
 unites all ,christians4 ,of this1 we   
have a most beautiful example in the    
case of ,david and ,jonathan4 ,this     
appears to be a perfect pattern of      
,christian friendship4 ,they both       
doubtless loved other pious people4 ,but
 there was existing between them a      
peculiar personal attachment4 ,their    
souls were knit together4 ,friendships  
of this kind should not be numerous1 and
 the objects of them should be well     
chosen4 ,long acquaintance is necessary 
that you may be able to repose unlimited
 confidence in the friend to whom you   
unbosom your whole heart4 ,form no such 
friendships hastily4 ,think what would  
have been the consequence if ,david had 
been deceived in this friend4 ,he would 
most certainly have lost his life4  #aa4
 ,before going into company1 visit your 
closet4 ,pray that the ,lord would so   
direct your steps that you may do all   
things for his glory2 that he would     
enable you to spend the time profitably 

to yourself and others2 that he would   
keep you from evil speaking1 levity1 and
 foolish jesting1 and every impropriety2
 and that he would enable you to exert a
 religious influence over those with    
whom you may meet4 ,be assured1 if you  
go out without observing this           
precaution1 you will return with a      
wounded soul4                           
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xvi4  ,charity4      ,charity
 suffereth long1 and is kind2 charity   
envieth not2 charity     vaunteth not   
itself1 is not puffed up1 doth not      
behave itself     unseemly2 seeketh not 
her own2 is not easily provoked2        
thinketh no     evil2 rejoiceth not in  
iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the truth2   
beareth all things1 believeth all       
things1 hopeth all things1     endureth 
all things4--#a ,cor4 #ac3d-g4   ,,my   
,,dear ,,sister3  ,although ,i have     
often alluded1 in the course of these   
letters1 to the work of the ,holy       
,spirit1 and his blessed fruit in the   

heart and life1 yet so deeply do ,i feel
 impressed with the excellency and      
amiable sweetness of the grace of       
,charity1 that ,i feel constrained to   
commend it to your notice in a separate 
letter4 ,charity is the queen of the    
graces1 excelling even faith and hope1  
and enduring when all those gifts which 
add brilliancy to the character shall   
cease their attractions2 and1 though you
 may not possess great personal charms1 
superior accomplishments1 or great      
powers of mind1 yet if you do but put on
 charity1 you will1 like the blessed    
,saviour1 grow in favor both with ,god  
and man4  ,the apostle calls charity the
 bond of perfectness2 alluding to the   
girdle of the ,orientals1 which was not 
only ornamental and expensive1 but was  
put on last1 serving to adjust the other
 parts of the dress1 and keep the whole 
together4 ,it is a bond which holds all 
the ,christian graces in harmonious     
union1 and1 by keeping them together1   
secures a permanent completeness and    

consistency of character4 ,without the  
girdle1 the flowing robes of ,oriental  
dress would present a sad appearance2   
hardly serving the purposes of decency4 
,so the apostle concludes that the most 
brilliant gifts and heroic actions are  
all nothing without charity4  ,charity1 
however1 is not to be understood in the 
popular sense of almsgiving4 ,it is the 
same word which is elsewhere rendered   
love4 ,it means a benevolent disposition
 of heart--love to ,god and good will to
 man1 diffused through the whole        
character and conduct4 ,but the         
description of charity given by the     
apostle relates chiefly to its          
manifestations in our intercourse with  
our fellow-men4 ,my principal object in 
this letter will be to apply this       
description so as to discover negatively
 what conduct is inconsistent with      
charity1 and positively the effect of   
charity on the human character4  ,i4    
,charity suffereth long4 ,it will endure
 ill-treatment1 and prefer suffering to 

strife4 ,it will not resent the first   
encroachments1 but patiently bear with  
injuries as long as they can be borne4  
,if charity reigns in your heart1 you   
will consider how many and aggravated   
are your offences against ,god1 and yet 
that his long-suffering bears with your 
perverseness1 and he is daily loading   
you with benefits2 and shall you be     
impatient of the slightest offences from
 a fellow worm8 ,consider also how      
liable you are to encroach upon the     
rights of others1 and to try their      
patience by your infirmities4 ,do not1  
therefore1 be hasty in the indulgence of
 hard thoughts of others1 nor impatient 
of their faults and infirmities4 ,how   
much contention and strife might be     
avoided by a little forbearance6 and who
 is there so perfect as not sometimes to
 need it to be extended toward himself8 
,the ills of social life are greatly    
mitigated by the exercise of mutual     
forbearance2 and they find no place     
under the sweet reign of charity4  ,,ii4

 ,but charity not only suffereth long1  
but is kind4 ,it is benign1 bountiful1  
courteous1 and obliging4 ,but why did   
the apostle couple these two            
dispositions together8 ,charity         
suffereth long1 ,,and ,,is ,,kind4      
,evidently1 because long-suffering      
without kindness would be unavailing4   
,if you bear with the injuries or       
supposed offences of another1 and yet   
suffer your mind to be soured1 and your 
kind offices remitted1 the wound will   
corrode and inflame1 till it breaks out 
with tenfold violence4 ,but benignity of
 temper1 and the constant practice of   
friendly offices and benevolent actions1
 will disarm ill-nature1 and bring the  
offender to see the folly of his        
conduct4 ,a soft answer turneth away    
wrath2 and the kind treatment of an     
enemy will pour coals of fire on his    
head4 ,what can be more lovely than a   
kind and obliging disposition1 which    
delights in occasions and opportunities 
of contributing to the comfort and      

happiness of others6 ,this disposition  
adorns with peculiar grace the female   
character4 ,solomon1 describing a       
virtuous woman1 says1 ,in her tongue is 
the law of kindness4 ,if you cultivate  
this disposition at all times1 and in   
all places1 your presence will add a    
charm to every circle2 you will honor   
your ,master2 and your ability to       
advance his cause will be greatly       
enhanced4 ,in your efforts to do good1  
with the law of kindness in your lips1  
you can penetrate where1 without it1 you
 could gain no admittance2 and in your  
expostulations with the impenitent1 you 
can reach the heart1 by the exhibition  
of a kind and tender spirit1 where      
otherwise you would be repulsed like the
 seven sons of ,seeva1 who              
presumptuously attempted1 in imitation  
of ,paul1 to cast out devils in the name
 of ,jesus4 ,especially is this         
disposition requisite in a              
,sabbath-school teacher4 ,without it1 he
 can accomplish very little4 ,children  

cannot be won without kindness4 ,if1    
then1 you would be successful in this   
enterprise of love1 cultivate a tender  
regard for the little lambs1 and be kind
 to them whenever you meet them4 ,never 
see a child in trouble without relieving
 him2 or1 if you can do no more1 show   
your sympathy for his sufferings by such
 kind offices as are within your power4 
,,iii4 ,charity envieth not4 ,it is not 
grieved but gratified to see others more
 prosperous and wealthy1 more           
intelligent and refined1 or more holy4  
,the extension of holiness and happiness
 is an object of rejoicing to the       
benevolent mind1 without regard to      
himself4  ,there are some persons who   
are always complaining of the rich1 and 
fretting about the aristocratic spirit  
of those whose rank and station1        
education or mental endowments1 place   
them in any respect above themselves4   
,this is a sure indication of an envious
 disposition4 ,there may be1 in these   
respects1 some ground of complaint2 but 

place these persons in the situation of 
those of whom they complain1 and where  
the latter are proud1 the former would  
probably be aristocratic2 and where     
these are aristocratic1 those would be  
tyrannical4  ,an envious disposition    
argues1 #a4 ,a want of self-respect4 ,if
 we respect ourselves1 we shall not     
desire the factitious importance arising
 from wealth so much as to grieve that  
others have more of it than ourselves2  
nor shall we be willing to concede so   
much merit to the possession of wealth  
as to suspect those who have it of      
esteeming us the less because we have it
 not4 #b4 ,it argues a want of          
benevolence4 ,the truly benevolent mind 
desires the increase of rational        
enjoyment1 and will therefore rejoice in
 the happiness of others1 without       
respect to his own4 #c4 ,it argues a    
want of magnanimity4 ,the truly great   
will rejoice in the intellectual and    
moral elevation of others1 as adding so 
much to the sum of human excellence4    

,but the envious person cannot bear to  
see any other one elevated above        
himself4 ,this is the spirit that       
brought ,haman to the gallows1 and      
,satan from the seat of an archangel to 
the throne of devils4 #d4 ,it argues a  
narrow1 selfish spirit--a little and    
mean mind4 ,the law of ,god requires us 
to love our neighbor as ourselves1 and  
reason sanctions the requisition4 ,but1 
the envious person will hate his        
neighbor1 because he is not permitted to
 love him less than himself4  ,if you   
regard your own happiness1 ,i conjure   
you to suppress the first motions of    
this vile and hateful temper2 for1 while
 indulged1 it will give you no peace4   
,its envenomed darts will rankle and    
corrode in your bosom1 and poison all   
your enjoyments4 ,it is a disposition   
which can never be satisfied so long as 
there is a superior being in the        
universe4 ,it is aimed ultimately at the
 throne of ,god2 and the envious person 
can never be happy while ,god reigns4   

,the effects of this disposition upon   
human character and happiness are       
strikingly illustrated in the story of  
,haman1 which ,i commend to your serious
 attention4 ,cultivate1 then1 the habit 
of being pleased and gratified with the 
happiness and prosperity of others2 and 
constantly seek the grace of ,god to    
enable you to exercise benevolent       
feelings toward all1 but especially     
those who are elevated in any respect   
above you4  ,,iv4 ,charity vaunteth not 
itself1 7or1 as in the margin17 is not  
rash--is not puffed up4 ,it does not act
 precipitately1 inconsiderately1 rashly1
 thoughtlessly4 ,some people mistake a  
rash and heedless spirit for genuine    
zeal2 and this puffs them up with pride 
and vain-glory1 and sets them to railing
 at their betters in age1 experience1 or
 wisdom1 because they will not fall into
 their views and measures4 ,there is    
scarcely any trait of character more    
unlovely1 especially in a young person1 
than self-conceit4 ,if the youth who is 

puffed up with a sense of his own       
consequence could but see the mingled   
emotions of pity and disgust which his  
conduct excites in the bosom of age and 
wisdom1 he would be filled with         
confusion and shame4  ,you will hear    
such persons prating much of            
independence of mind4 ,they have respect
 to the opinions of the ancients8 ,not  
they6 ,they think for themselves2 and   
form their own opinions without respect 
to what others have thought1 and said1  
and written4 ,they would scorn to       
consult a commentary to assist them in  
determining a difficult passage of      
,scripture1 or the writings of a learned
 divine1 to help them out of a          
theological difficulty4 ,that would be  
subjecting their minds to the influence 
of prejudice1 or betraying a want of    
confidence in their own infallible      
powers6--which is the last idea they    
would think of entertaining4 ,the       
long-cherished opinions of great1 and   
wise1 and good men1 are disposed of with

 a sneer4 ,they be influenced by great  
names8 ,not they6  ,you will hear them  
delivering their opinions1              
pragmatically1 and with strong          
assurance1 on points of great           
difficulty1 which good men of the       
greatest learning and ability have      
approached with diffidence2 and boldly  
advancing ideas which they suppose to   
have originated in the depths of their  
own recondite minds1 which they         
afterwards learn1 with chagrin1 are but 
some old1 cast-off1 crude theories or   
speculations1 which had been a hundred  
times advanced1 and as many times       
refuted1 before they were born4 ,but the
 matter appears so plain to them that   
they cannot imagine how any honest mind 
can come to any other conclusion4       
,hence1 they are ready to doubt the     
piety of all who differ with them1 if   
not to assume the office of judge1 and  
charge them with insincerity or         
hypocrisy4 ,whereas1 in truth1 their    
strong confidence in their opinions     

arises from having examined the subject 
partially and superficially1 and        
overlooked the objections and           
difficulties which readily occur to a   
well-balanced and discriminating mind4  
,i would not1 however1 be understood to 
recommend implicit submission to the    
judgment and opinions even of the       
greatest or even the best of men4 ,this 
is ,popery4 ,the mind must be convinced 
before it yields assent to any position4
 ,but it would be the height of         
self-conceited arrogance for any person1
 but especially for a youth1 to presume 
himself too wise to gain instruction    
from the writings of men who have       
devoted their lives to the investigation
 of truth2 or summarily to set aside1 as
 unworthy of his attention1 opinions    
which have been embraced by the greatest
 and best of men for successive         
generations4 ,nor does it argue any     
uncommon independence of mind2 for1 you 
will generally find such persons        
arranged under the banner of some one of

 the various schools of theology1       
morals1 philosophy1 or politics1 and    
following on with ardor the devious     
course of their leader receiving        
whatever falls from his lips as the     
voice of an oracle1 and running with    
enthusiasm into all his extravagances4  
,like the vane upon the spire1 that     
lifts up itself with proud eminence to  
the clouds1 they are ready to be carried
 about by every wind of doctrine4       
,whereas true independence of mind      
consists in weighing evidence and       
argument impartially1 and forming a     
decision independent of prejudice1 party
 feeling1 pride of opinion1 or          
self-will2 and1 when coupled with       
humility1 it will always rejoice to     
receive instruction from any source4    
,the person who knows himself will be   
deeply humbled under a sense of his own 
weakness and ignorance1 and will advance
 his opinions with modesty1 while he    
treats the opinions of others with      
becoming respect4  ,v4 ,again1 ,charity 

doth not behave itself unseemly4 ,it    
does not disregard the courtesies of    
life1 nor break over the bounds of      
decency and decorum2 but pays a strict  
regard to propriety of conduct under all
 circumstances4 ,but1 it may not be     
amiss to enumerate some of those things 
which1 by their unseemliness1 render the
 conduct of any person repulsive and    
disgusting4  #a4 ,forwardness1 or a     
disposition to be conspicuous1 is       
unseemly1 especially in a young person4 
,it is indeed the duty of every one to  
be always ready to engage in every good 
work2 and it is wrong to be backward1   
and refuse to cooperate with others1 in 
carrying on any useful enterprise4 ,but 
the heart is deceitful3 and1 while we   
satisfy our consciences with the idea   
that we are going forward in the        
discharge of duty1 we may be but feeding
 our own vain-glorious spirits1 by      
bringing ourselves into notice4 ,an     
humble ,christian has a low estimate of 
his ability to do good2 and is generally

 disposed to prefer others1 as better   
qualified than himself1 to occupy any   
conspicuous post4 ,in honor preferring  
one another4 ,he will1 therefore1 be    
modest and retiring2 though1 when the   
course of duty is plain1 he will by no  
means shrink from it4 ,the righteous are
 hold as a lion4 ,there are several     
characteristics1 however1 which         
distinguish the forward1 unseemly       
spirit4 ,he is jealous and testy4 ,you  
will hear him complaining of the        
aristocratic spirit of others2 and if he
 is not noticed as much as he thinks he 
deserves1 he will take offence4 ,he will
 rarely he found cordially coperating   
with others1 in any good work1 unless he
 is foremost in it himself4 ,if you wish
 to secure his aid1 or forestall his    
opposition1 you must he careful to      
consult him before you undertake any    
enterprise4 ,should you neglect to do   
so1 however good your object1 or well   
chosen your measures1 you may expect him
 to find fault1 and throw obstacles in  

the way1 at every step of your progress4
 ,such persons often exhibit a fiery    
zeal and restless activity1 which seem  
for a time to eclipse all their         
contemporaries4 ,but it is a zeal and   
activity for self3 for it is never      
roused except for the promotion of an   
object with which self is in some manner
 identified4  #b4 ,to assume1 in a      
dictatorial manner1 to catechise others 
as to their views on any subject1       
especially if they are older than       
yourself1 is unseemly4 ,you will meet   
with some persons who seem to take it   
for granted that they have a right to   
call you to account for your opinions1  
and to determine authoritatively your   
claim to the character which you        
profess4 ,i do not question the         
propriety of kind and modest inquiries  
as to the opinions and views of others2 
nor of endeavoring1 by fair and candid  
arguments1 to convince them of what we  
suppose to be their errors4 ,but then we
 must never forget that they are our    

equals1 possessing the same right to    
judge of the truth with ourselves1 and  
accountable for their errors to the same
 tribunal4 ,this will leave no ground   
for the exercise of a dogmatical or a   
dictatorial spirit4  #c4 ,it is unseemly
 for young persons to be foremost in    
speaking1 in company1 or to give advice 
with confidence in regard to anything   
which is to influence the conduct of    
their superiors in age1 wisdom1 or      
experience4 ,elihu1 although a man of   
superior knowledge and abilities1 did   
not presume to speak to ,job till his   
aged friends had ceased2 for he said1   
,days should speak1 and multitude of    
years should teach wisdom4 ,young       
persons sometimes render themselves     
ridiculous by such unseemly conduct4    
,the prophet ,isaiah gives this as one  
of the marks of a degenerate age1 that  
the child shall behave himself proudly  
against the ancient1 and the base       
against the honorable4  #d4 ,fierce     
contention about personal rights1 is    

unseemly4 ,it begets a selfish1 jealous 
spirit4 ,you never hear this where love 
reigns2 for love is a yielding spirit4  
,the spirit that can never brook the    
least encroachment upon his rights1 is  
an unseemly spirit1 which will always be
 embroiled in some difficulty or other4 
#e4 ,all coarseness1 grossness1 or      
rudeness of character1 is unseemly4     
,this negative description of one of the
 characteristics of charity is          
sufficiently comprehensive1 if exhibited
 in all its details1 to fill a volume4  
,it conveys the idea of an exquisite    
propriety of deportment1 free from      
everything indelicate1 obtrusive1       
repulsive1 or unamiable4  ,,vi4 ,charity
 seeketh not her own4 ,it is not        
selfish4 ,the temper here described is  
inculcated in a beautiful manner in     
,paul's epistle to the ,philippians4 ,he
 exhorts them1 in lowliness of mind1    
each to esteem other better than        
themselves2 and not to look exclusively 
on their own things1 but also on the    

things of others2 and then commends to  
them the example of our ,lord1 who1     
though ,king of kings1 humbled himself  
to the condition of a servant1 enduring 
hardship1 contumely1 and an ignominious 
death1 for our sakes4 ,this does not    
mean that we are not to love ourselves  
at all1 nor be entirely regardless of   
our own interests2 for the rule which   
requires us to love our neighbor as     
ourselves1 recognizes the right of      
self-love2 and the command1 ,thou shalt 
not steal1 establishes the right of     
private property4 ,but it forbids us to 
make our own interest and happiness our 
chief concern1 to the disregard of the  
rights of others and the general good2  
and requires us to make sacrifices of   
feeling and interest for the benefit of 
others1 and even sometimes to prefer    
their happiness and interest to our own4
 ,this is the spirit of genuine         
benevolence2 and the exercise of it will
 impart far more elevated enjoyment than
 can be derived from private advantage4 

,were this disposition in exercise1 it  
would cut off all ground of envy and    
jealousy2 it would remove the cause of  
most of the contentions that arise in   
society2 and mitigate1 in a wonderful   
degree1 all the ills of life4 ,indeed1  
this principle lies at the foundation of
 all social enjoyment4 ,the reciprocity 
of mutual affection depends upon the    
exercise of a self-sacrificing          
disposition2 and the society where this 
does not exist is intolerable4 ,nor is  
it feeling or interest alone that must  
be given up4 ,there is yet a more       
difficult sacrifice to be made1 before  
we can be1 in any considerable degree1  
comfortable companions4 ,it is the      
sacrifice of the will4 ,this is the last
 thing the selfish heart of man is      
disposed to yield4 ,he has taken his    
stand1 and the pride of his heart is    
committed to maintain it4 ,he deceives  
himself1 and compels conscience to come 
to his aid2 while1 in reality1 it is a  
matter with which conscience has nothing

 to do1 for the point might have been   
yielded without doing violence to that  
ever-wakeful monitor1 whose office is   
thus perverted1 and made to subserve the
 purposes of stiff-necked obstinacy4 ,a 
disposition to yield to the judgment and
 will of others1 so far as can be done  
conscientiously1 is a prominent         
characteristic of that charity which    
seeketh not her own2 while an obstinate 
adherence to our own plans and purposes1
 where no higher principle than         
expediency is concerned1 is one of the  
most repulsive and uncomfortable forms  
of selfishness4  ,a selfish person never
 willingly makes the smallest sacrifice 
of feeling or interest to promote the   
welfare or happiness of others4 ,he     
wraps himself up in his own interests   
and pursuits1 a cheerless and forbidding
 object4 ,he would gladly know no law   
but his own will4 ,he has a little world
 of his own1 in which he lives1 and     
moves1 and has his being4 ,he makes     
every one1 with whom he comes in        

contact1 contribute something to his own
 selfish purposes4 ,his overweening     
desire to promote his own interests1    
disposes him constantly to encroach upon
 the rights of others2 or1 if not to    
encroach upon their rights1 to take     
advantage of their good nature1 to drag 
them into his service4 ,you might as    
well walk for pleasure in a grove of    
thorn-bushes1 or seek repose on a bed of
 nettles1 as to look for comfort in the 
society of selfish persons4  ,,vii4     
,charity is not easily provoked4 ,it    
corrects a sharpness of temper1 and     
sweetens and softens the mind4 ,it does 
not take fire at the least opposition or
 unkindness1 nor make a man an offender 
for a word4 ,one of the servants of     
,nabal described his character in this  
significant manner3 ,he is such a son of
 ,belial that a man cannot speak to him4
 ,there are many such sons and daughters
 of ,belial4 ,they are so sulky and     
sour1 so fretful and peevish1 that you  
can hardly speak to them1 but they will 

snap and snarl like a growling          
watch-dog2 and if they were equally     
dangerous1 it might not be less         
necessary to chain them4 ,all this is   
the opposite of charity4 ,the quality   
here negatively described may be        
summarily comprehended in the term good 
nature2 but in a more elevated sense    
than this term is usually employed1 it  
being the fruit1 not of natural         
amiableness1 but of gracious affection4 
,this temper is essential to any        
considerable degree of usefulness4 ,if  
you are destitute of it1 your ,christian
 character will be so marred as in a    
great measure to counteract the         
influence of your positive efforts4 ,a  
bad temper1 even in connection with many
 excellent qualities1 may render a      
person an uncomfortable companion and an
 intolerable yoke-fellow1 and bring     
great reproach upon the cause of        
,christ4 ,nor need any one excuse       
himself on the ground of natural        
disposition2 for the ,lord has said1 ,my

 grace is sufficient for thee4 ,the     
gospel of ,jesus ,christ is a remedy for
 all our natural corruptions2 and we are
 required to lay aside every weight1    
even the sin that most easily besets us4
  ,,viii4 ,charity thinketh no evil--is 
not suspicious--does not lay up slight  
expressions or equivocal conduct1 and   
reason out evil from them1 and suffer it
 to corrode and sour the mind against an
 individual2 but puts the best          
construction upon the words and conduct 
of others that they will bear1 not      
yielding to an ill opinion of another1  
but upon the most indisputable evidence4
 ,there is1 perhaps1 no more fruitful   
source of disquiet and unhappiness1 both
 to ourselves and others1 than a        
suspicious disposition4 ,jealousy1 says 
,solomon1 is cruel as the grave3 the    
coals thereof are the coals of fire1    
which hath a most vehement flame4 ,nor  
is this language too intense4 ,a jealous
 person always sees a snake in the      
grass4 ,he is afraid to trust his most  

intimate friend4 ,he puts the worst     
construction upon the language and      
conduct of others that they will bear3  
hence he conceives himself grossly      
insulted1 when no ill was designed2 and 
a gentle rebuke1 or a good-humored      
repartee1 constitutes an unpardonable   
offence4 ,he always looks on the dark   
side of human character1 so that a      
single foible or one glaring fault will 
eclipse a thousand real excellences4 ,he
 is always complaining of the degeneracy
 of the times1 and especially of the    
corruption of the church2 for he can see
 nobody around him who is perfect1 and  
therefore he comes to the conclusion    
that there is very little piety in the  
world2 forgetting that1 were he to find 
a church of immaculate purity1 his own  
connection with it would introduce      
corruption4 ,should such a person       
conceive it to be his duty to tell you  
all your faults1 woe betide you6 for    
desirable as self-knowledge is1 it is no
 kindness to have our faults aggravated 

a hundred-fold1 and concentrated before 
our minds like the converging rays of   
the sun1 in one focal blaze1 nor poured 
upon our heads like the sweeping        
torrent1 nor eked out like the incessant
 patterings of a drizzling rain4 ,thus  
did not ,paul4 ,when he felt it his duty
 to reprove1 he was careful to commend  
what was praiseworthy1 and to throw in  
some expressions of kindness along with 
his censures4 ,and here1 though it be a 
digression1 let me conjure you never to 
undertake the unthankful office of      
censor4 ,you will find some             
inexperienced persons who will desire   
you1 as an office of friendship1 to tell
 them all their faults4 ,be sure1 if you
 undertake this with a friend1 your     
friendship will be short4 ,it will lead 
you to look continually at the dark side
 of your friend's character1 and1 before
 you are aware1 you will find yourself  
losing your esteem for it4 ,very soon1  
you will beget the suspicion that you   
have conceived some dislike4 ,if the    

cause is continued1 this suspicion will 
corrode and increase2 and the result    
will be1 a mutual alienation of         
affection4 ,however sincerely such an   
experiment may be entered upon1 it can  
hardly fail1 in the nature of things1 to
 produce this result4  ,it may1 however1
 be said1 that we are bound1 by our     
covenant obligations1 to watch over our 
brethren4 ,but there can scarcely be a  
greater misapprehension than to         
understand this duty in the sense of an 
incessant lookout to discern and        
discover the little faults and foibles1 
or even the more marked and glaring     
defects of character1 in our brethren4  
,the injunction is1 ,if thy brother     
trespass against thee1 go and tell him  
his fault1 c4 ,but ,i know of no passage
 of ,scripture which requires us to     
procure a magnifying-glass1 and go about
 making a business of detecting and     
exposing the faults of our brethren4 ,on
 the contrary1 there are many cautions  
against a meddlesome disposition1 and   

against being busy bodies in other men's
 matters4 ,we are required1 with great  
frequency and solemnity1 to watch       
ourselves2 but where is the injunction1 
,watch thy brethren8 ,even the ,saviour 
himself did not thus attempt to correct 
the faults of his disciples4 ,he rebuked
 them1 indeed1 and sometimes sharply2   
but he was not continually reminding    
them of their faults4 ,he was not       
incessantly brow-beating ,peter for his 
rashness1 nor ,thomas for his           
incredulity1 nor the sons of ,zebedee   
for their ambition4 ,but he taught them 
as they were able to bear it2 and that  
rather by holding up before their minds 
the truth1 than by direct personal      
lectures4  ,our covenant obligations    
unquestionably make it our duty to watch
 and see that our brethren do not pursue
 a course of life inconsistent with     
their ,christian profession1 or which   
tends to backsliding and apostasy2 and  
if they are true disciples1 they will be
 thankful for a word of caution1 when   

they are in danger of falling into sin4 
,and when they do thus fall1 we are     
required to rebuke them1 and not to     
suffer sin upon them4 ,but this is a    
very different affair from that of      
setting up a system of espionage over   
their conduct1 and dwelling continually 
upon their faults and deficiencies4     
,this latter course cannot long be      
pursued1 without an unhappy influence   
upon our own temper4 ,the human mind is 
so constituted as to be affected by the 
objects it contemplates1 and often      
assimilated to them4 ,show me a person  
who is always contemplating the faults  
of others1 and ,i will show you a dark  
and gloomy1 sour and morose spirit1     
whose eyes are hermetically closed to   
everything that is desirable and        
excellent1 or amiable and lovely1 in the
 character of man--a grumbling1 growling
 misanthrope1 who is never pleased with 
anybody1 nor satisfied with anything--an
 ,ishmaelite1 whose hand is against     
every man1 and every man's hand against 

him4 ,if there is nothing in the human  
character1 regenerated by the grace of  
,god1 on which we can look with         
complacency and delight1 then it is     
impossible for us to obey the sacred    
injunction1 ,love the brethren4  ,,ix4  
,charity rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but 
rejoiceth in the truth4 ,one mark by    
which the people of ,god are known is1  
that they sigh and cry over the         
abominations that are done in the land1 
and weep rivers of water because men    
keep not the law of ,god2 while the     
wicked rejoice to do evil1 and delight  
in the frowardness of the wicked4 ,but  
we may deceive ourselves1 and be        
indulging a morbid appetite for         
fault-finding and slander1 while we     
suppose ourselves to be grieving over   
the sins of others4 ,grief is a tender  
emotion4 ,it melts the heart1 and sheds 
around it a hallowed influence4 ,hence1 
if we find ourselves indulging a sharp1 
censorious spirit1 eagerly catching up  
the faults of others1 and dwelling on   

them1 and magnifying them1 and judging  
harshly of them1 we may be sure we have 
another mark1 which belongs not to the  
fold of the ,good ,shepherd4 ,one of the
 prominent characteristics of an        
impenitent heart is a disposition to    
feed upon the faults of professors of   
religion4 ,those who indulge this       
disposition will not admit that they    
take delight in the failings of         
,christians4 ,they will condemn them    
with great severity1 and lament over the
 dishonor they bring upon religion4 ,yet
 they catch at the deficiencies of      
,christians as eagerly as ever a hungry 
spaniel caught after his meat4 ,this is 
the whole of their spiritual meat and   
drink4 ,it is the foundation of their   
hopes4 ,they rest their claim for       
admittance into the celestial paradise  
on being quite as consistent in their   
conduct as those who profess to be      
,god's people2 hence1 every deficiency  
they discover gives them a new plea to  
urge at the portals of heaven4 ,thus    

they secretly1 though perhaps           
unwittingly1 rejoice in iniquity4 ,but  
it is to be feared1 if we may judge from
 the exhibition of the same spirit1 that
 many who make high pretensions to      
superior sanctity rest their hopes1 to a
 great extent1 on a similar foundation4 
,with the ,pharisaical ,jews1 they think
 if they judge them that do evil1 even  
though they do the same1 they shall     
escape the judgment of ,god4 ,they are  
as eager to catch up and proclaim upon  
the house-top the deficiencies of their 
brethren1 as the self-righteous         
moralist1 who prides himself on making  
no profession1 and yet being as         
consistent as those that do4 ,if such   
persons do not rejoice in iniquity1 it  
is nevertheless sweet in their mouth1   
and they drink it in like water4 ,their 
plea is1 that they do not speak of it   
with pleasure1 but with grief bear their
 testimony against it4 ,but grief is a  
very different passion from that which  
swells in their bosoms4 ,grief is       

solitary and silent4 ,he sitteth alone  
and keepeth silence4 ,who ever heard of 
a man's proclaiming his grief to every  
passing stranger8 ,yet1 you may not be  
five minutes in the company of one of   
these persons1 till he begins to        
proclaim his grief at the delinquencies 
of his ,christian brethren4 ,and the    
harsh and bitter spirit1 which palms    
itself on the conscience as a testimony 
against sin1 is but an exhibition of    
impenitent pride4 ,it bears not the most
 distant semblance of ,christian        
humility and fidelity4 ,brethren1 says  
the apostle1 if a man be overtaken in a 
fault1 restore such an one in the spirit
 of meekness2 considering thyself1 lest 
thou also be tempted4 ,but1 from the    
fault-finding and censorious spirit of  
some people1 one would suppose it never 
came into their minds to consider       
whether it might not be possible for    
them to fall into the same condemnation2
 although an examination of the         
lamentable falls that have taken place  

might show a fearful list of delinquents
 from this class of persons4 ,david1    
while in his fallen state1 pronounced   
sentence of death upon the man in       
,nathan's parable1 whose crime was but a
 faint shadow of his own4 ,the ,scribes 
and ,pharisees were indignant at the    
wretched woman who had been taken in    
sin2 yet they afterwards1 by their own  
conduct1 confessed themselves guilty of 
the same crime4 ,judas was one of your  
censorious fault-finders4 ,he was the   
one that found fault with the           
tender-hearted ,mary1 for her           
affectionate tribute of respect to the  
,lord of ,life1 before his passion4 ,he 
thought it a great waste to pour such   
costly ointment on the feet of ,jesus2  
and that it would have been much better 
to have sold it and given the money to  
the poor4 ,he was very compassionate to 
the poor1 and a great enemy of          
extravagance2 but a little while        
afterwards1 he sold his ,lord for thirty
 pieces of silver4 ,so1 in every age1 if

 you examine into the character of      
apostates1 you will find that they have 
been noted for their severity against   
the sins of others2 and particularly in 
making conscience of things indifferent1
 and pronouncing harsh judgment against 
those who refuse to conform to their    
views4 ,especially will such persons be 
grieved with their brethren on account  
of their dress1 or style of living1 or  
their manner of wearing the hair2 or    
some such matter that does not reach the
 heart4 ,i was once acquainted with a   
woman1 who 7except in her own family and
 among her neighbors7 had the reputation
 of being very devotedly pious1 who went
 to her pastor1 7an aged and venerable  
man17 greatly grieved because he was in 
the habit of combing his hair upwards1  
so as to cover his baldness4 ,she was   
afraid it was pride4 ,she was a great   
talker1 and often had difficulties with 
her brethren and sisters in the church2 
for she thought it her duty to exercise 
a watchful care over them4 ,whether she 

was self-deceived1 or hypocritical1 ,i  
cannot say2 but she used to shed tears  
freely in her religious conversations4  
,she1 however1 as ,i have since learned1
 after maintaining her standing in the  
church for many years1 apostatized and  
became openly abandoned4 ,you need not  
look over half a dozen parishes1        
anywhere1 to find cases of a kindred    
character4  ,the humble ,christian1 who 
looks back to the hole of the pit whence
 he was digged1 and remembers that he   
now stands by virtue of the same grace  
that took his feet out of the horrible  
pit and miry clay1 will be the last     
person to vaunt over the fallen         
condition of his fellow-creatures4 ,he  
will look upon them with an eye of      
tender compassion2 and his rebukes will 
be administered in a meek1 subdued1 and 
humble spirit1 remembering the          
injunction of ,paul1 ,let him that      
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he  
fall4 ,but the spirit of which ,i have  
been speaking is not only carnal1 but   

devilish4 ,the devil is the accuser of  
the brethren4  ,but charity not only    
rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but1         
positively1 rejoiceth in the truth--is  
glad of the success of the gospel1 and  
rejoices in the manifestation of the    
grace of ,god1 by the exhibition of the 
fruits of his ,spirit in the character  
and conduct of his people4 ,hence1 it   
will lead us to look at the bright side 
of men's characters2 and if they give   
any evidence of piety1 to rejoice in it1
 and glorify ,god for the manifestation 
of his grace in them1 while we overlook1
 or behold with tenderness and          
compassion1 their imperfections4 ,and   
this accords with the feelings of the   
humble ,christian4 ,he thinks so little 
of himself1 and feels such a sense of   
his own imperfections1 that he quickly  
discerns the least evidence of          
,christian character in others2 and he  
sees so much to be overlooked in        
himself1 that he is rather inclined to  
the extreme of credulity1 in judging the

 characters of others4 ,he is ready1    
with ,paul1 to esteem himself less than 
the least of all saints2 and where he   
sees any evidence of piety in others1 he
 can overlook many deficiencies4  ,i am 
persuaded1 that in few things we are    
more deficient than in the exercise of  
joy and gratitude for the grace of ,god 
manifested in his children4 ,there are  
few of the epistles of ,paul which do   
not commence with an expression of joy  
and thanksgiving for the piety of those 
to whom he was writing4 ,i have been    
surprised1 on looking over them1 to find
 these expressions so full and so       
frequent4 ,they are too numerous to be  
quoted in this place2 but ,i entreat you
 to examine them for yourself4 ,even in 
regard to the ,corinthians1 among whom  
so many evils existed1 he says1 ,i thank
 my ,god always on your behalf1 for the 
grace of ,god which is given you by     
,jesus ,christ4 ,but who among us is    
ever heard thanking ,god for the piety  
of his brethren8 ,on the contrary1 how  

many of the prayers that are offered up 
in our social meetings resemble the     
errands of a churlish man1 who never    
visits his neighbor's house without     
entering some complaint against his     
children6 ,yet1 we are under greater    
obligations for the least exhibition of 
gracious fruits in the lives of his     
people1 than for the daily bounties of  
his providence1 inasmuch as the gift of 
the ,holy ,ghost is greater than food   
and raiment4  ,x4 ,thus far1 with the   
exception of the first two heads1 and a 
part of the last1 we have had the       
negative character of ,charity4 ,we now 
come to its positive manifestations1    
which have1 however1 to a considerable  
extent1 been anticipated in the previous
 consideration of the subject4  #a4     
,charity beareth all things2 or1 as it  
may be rendered1 covereth all things4   
,this seems to be more agreeable to the 
context2 for otherwise it would mean the
 same as endureth all things1 in the    
latter clause of the verse1 and thus    

make a tautology2 while it leaves a     
deficiency in the description1 indicated
 by the passage in ,peter1 ,charity     
shall cover the multitude of sins4      
,charity will draw a vail over the      
faults of others1 so far as is          
consistent with duty4 ,what trait of    
character can be more amiable and       
lovely8 ,it is the genuine spirit of the
 gospel1 which requires us to do unto   
others as we would they should do to us4
 ,and who would like to have his faults 
made the subject of common conversation 
among his acquaintances8 ,if no one     
would like to be thus served up1 let him
 be cautious how he treats others4 ,and1
 if it is contrary to charity thus to   
speak of the faults of individuals1 it  
is not the less so to speak of the      
faults of masses of men1 as of the      
clergy or of the church4 ,the injustice 
is the more aggravated1 because it is   
condemning by wholesale4 ,a member of   
the church of ,christ1 who speaks much  
of its corruptions1 is guilty of the    

anomalous conduct of speaking evil of   
himself2 for the members of ,christ's   
body are all one in him4 ,it may        
sometimes be our duty to speak of the   
faults of others2 but1 where charity    
reigns in the heart1 this will be done  
only in cases of unavoidable necessity1 
and then with great pain and sacrifice  
of feeling4 ,the benevolent heart feels 
for the woes of others1 and even        
compassionates their weakness and       
wickedness4 ,it will desire1 therefore1 
as much as possible1 to hide them from  
the public gaze1 unless the good of     
others should require their exposure2   
and even then1 will not do it with      
wanton feelings4 ,but these remarks     
apply with much greater force to the    
practice of ,christians speaking of one 
another's faults4 ,where is the heart   
that would not revolt at the idea of    
brothers and sisters scanning each      
other's faults1 in the ears of          
strangers8 ,yet the relation of ,god's  
children is far more endearing than the 

ties of consanguinity4  #b4 ,charity    
believeth all things1 hopeth all things4
 ,this is the opposite of jealousy and  
suspicion4 ,it is a readiness to believe
 everything in favor of others2 and even
 when appearances are very strong       
against them1 still to hope for the     
best4 ,this disposition will lead us to 
look at the characters of others in     
their most favorable light2 to give full
 weight to every good quality1 and full 
credit for every praiseworthy action2   
while every palliating circumstance is  
viewed in connection with deficiencies  
and misconduct4 ,charity will never     
attribute an action to improper motives 
or a bad design1 when it can account for
 it in any other way2 and1 especially1  
it will not be quick to charge hypocrisy
 and insincerity upon those who seem to 
be acting correctly4 ,it will give      
credit to the professions of others1    
unless obviously contradicted by their  
conduct4 ,it does not1 indeed1 forbid   
prudence and caution--,the simple       

believeth every word2 but the prudent   
man looketh well to his going--but it is
 accustomed to repose confidence in     
others1 and it will not be continually  
watching for evil4  ,a charitable spirit
 is opposed to the prevailing           
disposition for discussing private      
character4 ,it will not willingly listen
 to criticisms upon the characters of   
others1 nor the detail of their errors  
and imperfections2 and it will turn away
 with disgust and horror from petty     
scandal and evil-speaking1 as offensive 
to benevolent feeling4 ,it is a kind of 
moral sense1 which recoils from         
detraction and backbiting4  #c4 ,charity
 endureth all things4 ,this is nearly   
synonymous with long-suffering2 and yet 
it is a more extensive expression4 ,it  
will endure with patience1 and suffer   
without anger or bitterness of feeling1 
everything in social life which is      
calculated to try our tempers1 and      
exhaust our patience4 ,it is not testy1 
and impatient at the least opposition1  

or the slightest provocation2 but       
endures the infirmities1 the            
unreasonableness1 the ill-humor1 and the
 hard language of others1 with a meek   
and quiet spirit4  ,finally1 charity is 
the practical application of the golden 
rule of our ,saviour1 and the second    
table of the law1 to all our intercourse
 with our fellow-men1 diffusing around  
us a spirit of kindness and benevolent  
feeling4 ,it comprehends all that is    
candid and generous1 bland and gentle1  
amiable and kind1 in the human          
character1 regenerated by the grace of  
,god4 ,it is opposed to all that is     
uncandid and disingenuous1 coarse and   
harsh1 unkind1 severe1 and bitter1 in   
the disposition of fallen humanity4 ,it 
is the bond1 which holds society        
together1 the charm which sweetens      
social intercourse1 and the ,,universal 
,,panacea1 which1 if it cannot cure1    
will at least mitigate1 all the diseases
 of the social state4 ,that you may     
possess it in its highest earthly       

perfection1 is the sincere prayer of    
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xvii4  ,harmony of ,christian
 ,character4      ,and besides this1    
giving all diligence1 add to your faith1
     virtue2 and to virtue1 knowledge2  
and to knowledge1 temperance2     and to
 temperance1 patience2 and to patience1 
godliness2 and to     godliness1        
brotherly kindness2 and to brotherly    
kindness1     charity4--#b ,,pe4 #a3e-g4
   ,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,in my first  
letter1 ,i spoke of the importance of   
growth in grace1 and enumerated some of 
the fruits of the ,spirit4 ,i revert to 
the same subject again1 for the purpose 
of showing the importance of cultivating
 the several ,christian graces in due   
proportion1 so as to attain to a uniform
 consistency of character4  ,nothing    
delights the senses like harmony4 ,the  
eye rests with pleasure on the edifice  
which is complete in all its parts1     
according to the laws of architecture2  
and the sensation of delight is still   

more exquisite1 on viewing the          
harmonious combination of colors1 as    
exhibited in the rainbow1 or the flowers
 of the field4 ,the ear1 also1 is       
ravished with the harmony of musical    
sounds1 and the palate is delighted with
 savory dishes4 ,but take away the      
cornice1 or remove a column from the    
house1 or abstract one of the colors of 
the rainbow1 and the eye is offended2   
remove from the scale one of the musical
 sounds1 and give undue prominence to   
another1 and harmony will become        
discord2 and what could be more insipid 
than a savory dish without salt8  ,so it
 is with the ,christian character4 ,its 
beauty and loveliness depend on the     
harmonious culture of all the ,christian
 graces4 ,if one is deficient1 and      
another too prominent1 the idea of      
deformity strikes the mind with painful 
sensations1 somewhat similar to those   
produced by harsh1 discordant musical   
sounds1 or by the disproportionate      
exhibition of colors4  ,it was1         

probably1 with an eye to this1 that the 
apostle gave the exhortation above      
quoted4 ,he was exhorting to growth in  
grace2 and he would have the new man    
grow up with symmetrical proportions1 so
 as to form the stature of a perfect man
 in ,christ ,jesus1 not having all the  
energies concentrated in one member1 but
 having the body complete in all its    
parts1 giving a due proportion of       
comeliness1 activity1 and strength to   
each4 ,thus1 he says1 ,add to your faith
 virtue4 ,by faith1 ,i suppose we are to
 understand the elementary principle of 
the ,christian character1 as exhibited  
in regeneration2 or the act which takes 
hold of ,christ4 ,but we are not to rest
 in this4 ,we are to add virtue1 or     
strength and courage1 to carry out our  
new principle of action4 ,but this is   
not all that is needed4 ,we may be full 
of courage and zeal2 yet1 if we are     
ignorant of truth and duty1 we shall    
make sad work of it1 running headlong1  
first into this extravagance1 and then  

into that1 disturbing the plans of      
others1 and defeating our own1 by a rash
 and heedless course of conduct4  ,young
 ,christians are in danger of making    
religion consist too exclusively in     
emotion1 which leads them to undervalue 
knowledge4 ,but while emotion is        
inseparable from spiritual religion1    
knowledge is no less essential to       
intelligent emotion4 ,ignorance is not  
the mother of devotion2 and though a    
person may be sincerely and truly pious1
 with only the knowledge of a few simple
 principles1 yet1 without a thorough and
 comprehensive knowledge of religious   
truth1 the ,christian character will be 
weak and unstable1 easily led astray1   
and carried about by every wind of      
doctrine4 ,knowledge is also essential  
to a high degree of usefulness4 ,it     
expands and invigorates the mind1 and   
enables us1 with divine aid1 to devise  
and execute plans of usefulness1 with   
prudence and energy4  ,but knowledge    
alone is not sufficient2 nor even       

knowledge added to faith4 ,temperance   
must be added1 as a regulator1 both of  
soul and body4 ,all our appetites and   
passions1 desires and emotions1 must be 
brought within the bounds of moderation4
 ,and to temperance must be added       
patience1 that we may be enabled to     
endure the trials of this life1 and not 
to faint under the chastening hand of   
our heavenly ,father4 ,as it is through 
much tribulation that we are to enter   
into the kingdom of heaven1 we have need
 of patience1 both for our own comfort1 
and for the honor of religion4 ,indeed1 
no grace is more needful1 in the        
ordinary affairs of life4 ,it is the    
little1 every-day occurrences that try  
the ,christian character3 and it is in  
regard to these that patience works     
experience4 ,many of these things are   
more difficult to be borne than the     
greater trials of life1 because the hand
 of ,god is less strikingly visible in  
them4 ,but patience enables us to endure
 those things which cross the temper1   

with a calm1 unruffled spirit2 to       
encounter contradictions1 little        
vexations1 and disappointments1 without 
fretting1 or repining2 and saves us from
 sinking under severe and protracted    
afflictions4  ,to patience must be added
 godliness1 which is profitable unto all
 things1 having promise of the life that
 now is1 and of that which is to come4  
,to be godly1 is to be1 in a measure1   
like ,god4 ,it is to be renewed in      
knowledge1 after the image of him that  
created us1 and to have the same mind in
 us that was in ,christ ,jesus4 ,this is
 the fruit of that patience which works 
experience1 and results in hope1 which  
maketh not ashamed4  ,to godliness must 
be added brotherly kindness2 which is   
but acting out the state of heart       
expressed by godliness1 which indicates 
a partaking of divine benevolence4      
,then comes the crowning grace of       
,,charity1 which is the bond of         
perfectness1 comprehending the whole    
circle of the social virtues4  ,where   

all these qualities exist1 in due       
proportion1 they will form a lovely     
character1 harmonious and beautiful as  
the seven colors of the rainbow2 yea1   
with the addition of an eighth1 of      
crowning lustre4 ,but1 if any one       
suffers his religious feelings to       
concentrate on one point1 as though the 
whole of religion consisted in zeal1 or 
devotional feeling1 or sympathy1 or the 
promotion of some favorite scheme of    
benevolence1 you will find an exhibition
 of character as unlovely and repulsive 
as though the seven colors of the       
rainbow should concentrate in one1 of   
livid hue1 or pale blue1 or sombre gray2
 as disagreeable as though the sweet    
melody of a harmonious choir were       
changed into a dull1 monotonous bass2   
and as unsavory as a dish of meats      
seasoned only with bitter herbs4  ,this 
disproportionate development of         
,christian character is more frequently 
seen in young converts3 especially such 
as have not received a thorough         

,christian education1 and are1          
consequently1 deficient in religious    
knowledge4 ,they find themselves in a   
new world1 and become so much absorbed  
in the contemplation of the new objects 
that present themselves to their        
admiring gaze1 that they seem almost to 
forget that they have any other duties  
to perform than those which consist in  
devotional exercises4 ,if these are     
interrupted1 they will fret and worry   
their minds1 and wish for some          
employment entirely of a religious      
nature4 ,they wonder how it is possible 
for ,christians to be so cold1 as to    
pursue their worldly employments as     
diligently as they do who take this     
world for their portion2 and often you  
will hear them breaking out in          
expressions of great severity against   
older ,christians1 because they do not  
sympathize with them in these feelings4 
,their daily employments become irksome2
 and they are tempted even to neglect   
the interests of their employers1 with  

the plea1 that the service of ,god has  
the first claim upon them4 ,but they    
forget that the service of ,god consists
 in the faithful performance of every   
social and relative duty1 as unto the   
,lord1 and not to men1 as well as the   
more direct devotional exercises2 and   
that the one is as essential to the     
,christian character as the other4 ,the 
,bible requires us to be diligent in    
business1 as well as fervent in spirit2 
and the religion of the ,bible makes us 
better in all the relations of this     
life1 as well as in our relations with  
,god4  ,young ,christians are also prone
 to undervalue little things4 ,the      
greater things of religion take such    
strong possession of their souls1 that  
they overlook many minor things of      
essential importance4 ,in seasons of    
special religious awakening1 this       
mistake is very common2 in consequence  
of which1 many important interests      
suffer1 and the derangement which       
follows1 makes an unfavorable impression

 as to the influence of revivals4 ,the  
spirit of the ,christian religion       
requires that every duty should be      
discharged in its proper time4 ,the     
beauty of the ,christian character      
greatly depends on its symmetrical      
proportions4 ,a person may be very      
zealous in some things1 and yet quite   
defective in his ,christian character4  
,and the probability is1 that he has no 
more religion than shows itself in its  
consistent proportions4 ,the new energy 
imparted by the regenerating grace of   
,god may unite itself with the strong   
points of his character1 and produce a  
very prominent development2 while1 in   
regard to those traits of character     
which are naturally weak1 in his        
constitutional temperament1 grace may be
 scarcely perceptible4 ,for instance1 a 
person who is naturally bold and        
resolute1 will be remarkable1 when      
converted1 for his moral courage2 while1
 perhaps1 he may be very deficient in   
meekness4 ,and the one who is naturally 

weak and irresolute1 will perhaps be    
remarkable for the mild virtues1 but    
very deficient in strength and energy of
 character4 ,now1 the error lies in     
cultivating almost exclusively those    
,christian graces which fall in with our
 prominent traits of character4 ,we     
should rather bend our energies1 by the 
grace of ,god1 chiefly to the           
development of those points of character
 which are naturally weak1 while we     
discipline1 repress1 and bring under    
control1 those which are too prominent4 
,this will prevent deformity1 and       
develop a uniform consistency of        
character4  ,there is1 perhaps1 a       
peculiar tendency to this one-sided     
religion in this age of excitement and  
activity2 and the young convert1 whose  
,christian character is not matured1 is 
peculiarly liable to fall into this     
error4 ,the mind becomes absorbed with  
one object4 ,the more exclusively this  
object is contemplated1 the more its    
importance is magnified4 ,it becomes1 to

 his mind1 the main thing4 ,it is       
identified with his ideas of religion4  
,he makes it a test of piety4 ,then he  
is prepared to regard and treat all who 
do not come up to his views on this     
point as destitute of true religion2    
though they may exhibit a consistency of
 character1 in other respects1 to which 
he is a stranger4 ,this leads to        
denunciation1 alienation of feeling1    
bitterness1 and strife4 ,but one of     
,god's commands is as dear to him as    
another2 and we cannot excuse ourselves 
before him1 for disobeying one1 on the  
ground that we practise another4 ,the   
perfection of ,christian character      
consists in the harmonious development  
of the ,christian graces4 ,this is what 
,i understand by the stature of a       
perfect man in ,christ ,jesus2 a man who
 has no deformity2 who is complete in   
all his members and all his faculties4  
,that you may attain to this1 is the    
sincere prayer of                       
,your affectionate ,brother4            

,,letter ,,xviii4  ,marriage4           
,marriage is honorable in all4--,,heb4  
#ac3d4   ,,my ,,dear ,,sister1  ,some   
young persons indulge a fastidiousness  
of feeling1 in relation to the subject  
of marriage1 as though it were          
indelicate to speak of it4 ,others make 
it the principal subject of their       
thoughts and conversation2 yet they seem
 to think it must never be mentioned but
 in jest4 ,but both these extremes      
should be avoided4 ,marriage is an      
ordinance of ,god1 and therefore a      
proper subject of thought and           
discussion1 with reference to personal  
duty4 ,but it is a matter of great      
importance1 having a direct hearing upon
 the glory of ,god1 and the happiness of
 individuals4 ,it should1 therefore1    
never be approached with levity4 ,but1  
as it requires no more attention than   
what is necessary in order to understand
 present duty1 it would be foolish to   
make it a subject of constant thought1  
and silly to make it a common topic of  

conversation4 ,it is a matter which     
should be weighed deliberately and      
seriously by every young person4 ,in    
reference to the main subject1 two      
things should be considered3  ,i4       
,marriage is desirable4 ,it was ordained
 by the ,lord1 at the creation1 as      
suited to the state of man as a social  
being1 and necessary to the design for  
which he was created4 ,whoever1         
therefore1 wilfully neglects it1        
contravenes the order of nature1 and    
must consequently expect a diminution of
 those enjoyments which arise from the  
social state4 ,there is a sweetness and 
comfort in the bosom of one's own       
family1 which can be enjoyed nowhere    
else4 ,in early life1 this is supplied  
by our youthful companions1 who feel in 
unison with us4 ,but1 as a person who   
remains single advances in life1 the    
friends of his youth form new           
attachments1 in which he is incapable of
 participating4 ,their feelings undergo 
a change1 of which he knows nothing4 ,he

 is gradually left alone4 ,no heart     
beats in unison with his own4 ,his      
social feelings wither for want of an   
object4 ,as he feels not in unison with 
those around him1 his habits also become
 peculiar1 and perhaps repulsive2 so    
that his company is not desired3 hence  
arises the whimsical attachment of such 
persons to domestic animals1 or to other
 objects which can be enjoyed in        
solitude4 ,as the dreary winter of age  
advances1 the solitude of his condition 
becomes still more chilling4 ,nothing   
but that sweet resignation to the will  
of ,god which religion gives1 under all 
circumstances1 can render such a        
situation tolerable4 ,but religion does 
not annihilate the social affections4   
,it only regulates them4 ,it is evident1
 then1 that by a lawful and proper      
exercise of these affections1 both our  
happiness and usefulness may be greatly 
increased4  ,,ii4 ,on the other hand1 do
 not consider marriage as absolutely    
essential to happiness4 ,although it is 

an ordinance of ,god1 yet he has not    
absolutely enjoined it upon all4 ,you   
may1 therefore1 be in the way of duty   
while neglecting it4 ,and the apostle   
,paul hints that there may be1 with     
those who enter into this state1 a      
greater tendency of the heart towards   
earthly objects4 ,there is also an      
increase of care4 ,the unmarried woman  
careth for the things of the ,lord1 that
 she may be holy both in body and       
spirit2 but she that is married1 careth 
for the things of the world1 how she may
 please her husband4 ,but much more has 
been made of this than the apostle      
intended4 ,it has been greatly abused   
and perverted by the church of ,rome4   
,it must be observed that1 in the same  
chapter1 he advises that every man have 
his own wife1 and every woman have her  
own husband4 ,and1 whatever may be our  
condition in life1 if we seek it with   
earnestness and perseverance1 in the way
 of duty1 ,god will give us grace       
sufficient for the day4 ,but he says1   

though it is no sin to marry1           
nevertheless1 such shall have trouble in
 the flesh4 ,it is undoubtedly true1    
that the enjoyments of conjugal life    
have their corresponding difficulties   
and trials2 and if these are enhanced by
 an unhappy connection1 the situation is
 insufferable4 ,for this reason ,i would
 have you avoid the conclusion that     
marriage is indispensable to happiness4 
,single life is certainly to be         
preferred to a connection with a person 
who will diminish1 instead of           
increasing1 your happiness4 ,however1   
the remark of the apostle1 such shall   
have trouble in the flesh1 doubtless had
 reference chiefly to the peculiar      
troubles of the times1 when ,christians 
were exposed to persecution1 the loss of
 goods1 and even of life itself1 for    
,christ's sake2 the trials of which     
would be much greater in married than in
 single life4  ,having these two        
principles fixed in your mind1 you will 
be prepared calmly to consider what     

qualifications are requisite in a       
companion for life4 ,these ,i shall     
divide into two classes3 #a4 ,those     
which are indispensable4 #b4 ,those     
which are desirable4 ,of the first      
class1 ,i see none which can be         
dispensed with1 without so marring the  
character of a man as to render him an  
unfit associate for an intelligent      
,christian lady4 ,but1 although the     
latter are very important1 yet1 without 
possessing all of them1 a person may be 
an agreeable companion and a man of real
 worth4   ,,first ,,class4  #a4 ,the    
first requisite in a companion for life 
is piety4 ,i know not how a ,christian  
can form so intimate a connection as    
this with one who is living in rebellion
 against ,god4 ,you profess to love     
,jesus above every other object2 and to 
forsake all1 that you may follow him4   
,how1 then1 could you unite your        
interest with one who continually       
rejects and abuses the object of your   
soul's delight8 ,indeed1 ,i am at a loss

 to understand how a union can be formed
 between the carnal and the renewed     
heart4 ,they are in direct opposition to
 each other4 ,the one overflows with    
love to ,god2 the other is at enmity    
against him4 ,how1 then1 can there be   
any congeniality of feeling8 ,can fire  
unite with water8 ,a desire to form such
 a union must be a dark mark against any
 one's ,christian character4 ,the       
,scriptures are very clear and decided  
on this point4 ,the intermarrying of the
 righteous with the wicked was the      
principal cause of the general          
corruption of the inhabitants of the old
 world1 which provoked ,god to destroy  
them with the flood4 ,abraham1 the      
father of the faithful1 was careful that
 ,isaac1 the son of promise1 should not 
take a wife from among the heathen4 ,the
 same precaution was taken by ,isaac and
 ,rebecca1 in relation to ,jacob4 ,the  
children of ,israel were also expressly 
forbidden to make marriages with the    
heathen1 lest they should be turned away

 from the ,lord1 to the worship of      
idols4 ,and we see a mournful example of
 the influence of such unholy           
connections in the case of ,solomon4    
,although he had been so zealous in the 
service of the ,lord as to build him a  
temple--although he had even been       
inspired to write portions of the ,holy 
,scriptures--yet his strange wives      
turned away his heart1 and persuaded him
 to worship idols4 ,although we are now 
under a different dispensation1 yet     
principles remain the same4 ,the union  
of a heathen and a ,jew was1 as to its  
effect on a pious mind1 substantially   
the same as the union of a believer and 
an unbeliever2 and the former would be  
no more likely to be drawn away from    
,god by it than the latter4 ,hence we   
find the same principle recognized in   
the ,new ,testament4 ,the apostle ,paul1
 speaking of the woman1 says1 ,if her   
husband be dead1 she is at liberty to be
 married to whom she will1 only in the  
,lord4 ,the phrase in the ,lord1 denotes

 being a true ,christian2 as will appear
 from other passages where the same form
 of expression is used4 ,if any man be  
in ,christ1 he is a new creature4 ,it is
 plainly implied1 then1 in this         
qualifying phrase1 that it is unlawful  
for a ,christian to marry an unbeliever4
 ,the same doctrine is also taught by   
the same apostle in another place4 ,be  
not ye1 therefore1 unequally yoked with 
unbelievers4 ,in this passage the       
apostle lays down a general principle2  
which applies to all intimate           
associations with unbelievers4 ,and what
 connection could be more intimate than 
this8 ,i conclude1 therefore1 that it is
 contrary both to reason and ,scripture 
for a ,christian to marry an impenitent 
sinner4 ,and1 in this respect1 look not 
only for an outward profession1 but for 
evidence of deep-toned and devoted      
piety4 ,the are many professors of      
religion who show very few signs of     
spiritual life4 ,and there are doubtless
 many that make loud professions of     

religious experience1 who know nothing  
of the power of godliness4 ,look for a  
person who makes religion the chief     
concern of his life2 who is determined  
to live for ,god1 and not for himself4  
,make this the test4 ,worldly-minded    
professors of religion are worse        
associates than those who make no       
profession4 ,they exert a more withering
 influence upon the soul4  #b4 ,another 
indispensable requisite is an ,,amiable 
,,disposition4 ,whatever good qualities 
a man may possess1 if he is selfish1    
morose1 sour1 peevish1 fretful1 jealous1
 or passionate1 he will make an         
uncomfortable companion4 ,grace may do  
much towards subduing these unholy      
tempers2 yet1 if they were fostered in  
the heart in childhood1 and suffered to 
grow up to maturity before grace began  
to work1 they will often break out in   
the family circle4 ,however1 you will   
find it exceedingly difficult to judge  
in this matter4 ,the only direction ,i  
can give on this subject is1 that1 if   

you discover the exercise of any        
unhallowed passions in a man1 with the  
opportunity you will have of            
observation1 you may consider it        
conclusive evidence of a disposition    
which would render you miserable4  #c4  
,the person of your choice must possess 
a ,,well-,,cultivated ,,mind4 ,in order 
to produce a community of feeling1 and  
maintain a growing interest in each     
other's society1 both parties must      
possess minds well stored with useful   
knowledge1 and capable of continued     
expansion4 ,we may love an ignorant     
person for his piety2 but we cannot long
 enjoy his society1 as a constant       
companion1 unless that piety is mingled 
with intelligence4 ,to secure your      
esteem1 as well as your affections1 he  
must be capable of intelligent          
conversation on all subjects of general 
interest4  #d4 ,his sentiments and      
feelings on general subjects must be    
,,congenial with your own4 ,this is a   
very important matter4 ,persons of great

 worth1 whose views and feelings1 in    
relation to the common concerns of life 
are opposite1 may render each other very
 unhappy4 ,particularly1 if you possess 
a refined sensibility yourself1 you must
 look for delicacy of feeling in a      
companion4 ,a very worthy man may render
 you unhappy1 by an habitual disregard  
of your feelings4 ,and there are many   
persons who seem to be utterly          
insensible to the tender emotions of    
refined delicacy4 ,a man who would      
subject you to continual mortification  
by his coarseness and vulgarity1 would  
be incapable of sympathizing with you in
 all the varied trials of life4 ,there  
is no need of your being deceived on    
this point4 ,if you have much delicacy  
of feeling yourself1 you can easily     
discover the want of it in others4 ,if  
you have not1 it will not be necessary  
in a companion4  #e4 ,another requisite 
is ,,energy ,,of ,,character4 ,most     
people think some worldly prospects are 
indispensably necessary4 ,but a man of  

energy can1 by the blessing of ,god1    
make his way through this world1 and    
support a family1 in this land of       
plenty1 by his own industry1 in some    
lawful calling4 ,and you may be certain 
of the blessing of ,god1 if you obey and
 trust him4 ,a profession or calling1   
pursued with energy1 is therefore all   
the estate you need require4 ,but do not
 trust yourself with a man who is       
inefficient in all his undertakings4    
,this would be leaning upon a broken    
staff4  #f4 ,the person of your choice  
must be ,,nearly ,,of ,,your ,,own      
,,age4 ,should he be younger than       
yourself you will be tempted to look    
upon him as an inferior2 and old age    
will overtake you first4 ,i should      
suppose the idea of marrying a man      
advanced in years would be sufficiently 
revolting to the feelings of a young    
female to deter her from it4 ,yet such  
things often happen4 ,but ,i consider it
 as contravening the order of nature1   
and therefore improper4 ,in such case1  

you will be called upon rather to       
perform the office of a daughter and    
nurse1 than a wife4   ,,second ,,class4 
#a4 ,it is desirable that the man with  
whom you form a connection for life     
should possess a ,,sound ,,body4 ,a man 
of vigorous constitution will be more   
capable of struggling with the          
difficulties and trials of this world1  
than one who is weak in body4 ,yet1 such
 an erroneous system has been pursued1  
in the education of the generation just 
now coming upon the stage of action1    
that the health of very few sedentary   
persons remains unimpaired4 ,it would1  
therefore1 be cruel selfishness to      
refuse to form a connection of this     
kind1 on this ground alone1 provided    
they have no settled disease upon them4 
,a person of feeble constitution        
requires the comfort and assistance of a
 companion1 more than one in vigorous   
health4 ,but1 it certainly would not be 
your duty to throw yourself away upon a 
person already under the influence of an

 incurable disease4  #b4 ,,refinement   
,,of ,,manners is a very desirable      
quality in a companion for life4 ,this  
renders a person's society more         
agreeable and pleasant1 and may be the  
means of increasing his usefulness4 ,yet
 it will not answer to make it a test of
 character2 for it is often the case1   
that men of the brightest talents1 and  
of extensive education1 who are in every
 other respect amiable and worthy1 have 
neglected the cultivation of their      
manners2 while there are very many1     
destitute alike of talent and education1
 who seem to be adepts in the art of    
politeness4 ,however1 this may be       
cultivated4 ,a person of good sense1 who
 appreciates its importance1 may soon   
acquire a courteous and pleasing        
address1 by mingling with refined       
society4  #c4 ,a ,,sound ,,judgment is  
also very necessary1 to enable a man to 
direct the common affairs of life4      
,however1 this may also be cultivated by
 experience1 and therefore cannot be    

called indispensable4  #d4 ,,prudence is
 very desirable4 ,the rashest youth1    
however1 will learn prudence by         
experience4 ,after a few falls1 he will 
look forward before he steps that he may
 foresee and shun the evil that is      
before him2 but1 if you choose such a   
one1 take care that you do not fall with
 him1 and both of you break your necks  
together4  #e4 ,it is a matter of great 
importance that the person with whom you
 form a connection for life1 should     
belong to the same denomination of      
,christians with yourself4 ,the         
separation of a family1 in their        
attendance upon public worship1 is      
productive of great inconvenience and   
perplexity2 and there is serious danger 
of its giving rise to unpleasant        
feelings1 and becoming an occasion of   
discord4 ,i think it should be a very   
serious objection against any man1 that 
he belongs to a different communion from
 yourself4 ,yet1 ,i dare not say that ,i
 would prefer single life to a          

connection of this kind4  ,in addition  
to these1 your own good sense and taste 
will suggest many other desirable       
qualities in a companion for life4      
,upon receiving the addresses of a man1 
your first object should be to ascertain
 whether he possesses those prominent   
traits of character which you consider  
indispensable4 ,if he lack any one of   
these1 you have no further inquiry to   
make4 ,inform him openly and ingenuously
 of your decision2 but spare his        
feelings as far as you can consistently 
with ,christian sincerity4 ,he is       
entitled to your gratitude for the      
preference he has manifested for        
yourself4 ,therefore1 treat him         
courteously and tenderly2 yet let him   
understand that your decision is        
conclusive and final4 ,if he possess    
only the feelings of a gentleman1 this  
course will secure for you his esteem   
and friendship4 ,but if you are         
satisfied1 with respect to these        
prominent traits of character1 next look

 for those qualities which you consider 
desirable1 though not indispensable4 ,if
 you discover few or none of these1 it  
will be a serious objection against him4
 ,but you need not expect to find them  
all combined in any one person4 ,if you 
seek for a perfect character1 you will  
be disappointed4 ,in this as well as    
every other relation of life1 you will  
need to exercise forbearance4 ,the best 
of men are compassed about with         
imperfection and infirmity4 ,besides1 as
 you are not perfect yourself1 it would 
seem like a species of injustice to     
require perfection in a companion4      
,while deciding these points1 keep your 
feelings entirely under control4 ,suffer
 them to have no influence upon your    
judgment4 ,a ,christian should never be 
governed by impulse4 ,many persons have1
 no doubt1 destroyed their happiness for
 life1 by suffering their feelings to   
get the better of their judgment4 ,make 
the matter a subject of daily prayer4   
,the ,lord directs all our ways1 and we 

cannot expect to be prospered in        
anything1 wherein we neglect to         
acknowledge him1 and seek his direction4
 ,but1 when you have satisfied yourself1
 in relation to these things1 and the   
person whose addresses you are receiving
 has distinctly avowed his intentions1  
you may remove the restraint from your  
feelings2 which1 as well as your        
judgment1 have a deep concern in the    
affair4 ,a happy and prosperous union   
must have for its basis a mutual        
sentiment of affection1 of a peculiar   
kind4 ,if you are satisfied that this   
sentiment exists on his part1 you are to
 inquire whether you can exercise it    
towards him4 ,for1 with many persons of 
great worth1 whom we highly esteem1     
there is often wanting a certain        
undefinable combination of qualities1   
not improperly termed the soul of       
character2 which alone seems to call out
 the exercise of that peculiar sentiment
 of which we are speaking4 ,but ,i      
seriously charge you never to form a    

connection which is not based upon this 
principle2 and that1 for the following  
reasons3  #a4 ,such depraved creatures  
as we are1 need the aid of the warmest  
affection1 to enable us to exercise that
 mutual forbearance1 so indispensable to
 the peace and happiness of the domestic
 circle4  #b4 ,that the marriage        
covenant should be cemented by a        
principle of a peculiar kind1 will      
appear from the superiority of the soul 
over the body4 ,when two human beings   
unite their destinies1 there must be a  
union of soul1 or else such union is but
 partial4 ,and the union of soul must be
 the foundation of the outward union1   
and of course precede it4  #c4 ,we may  
infer the same thing from the existence 
of such a principle in the human breast4
 ,that it does exist1 may be abundantly 
proved1 both by ,scripture and          
experience4 ,when ,adam first saw ,eve1 
he declared the nature of this union1   
and added1 ,for this cause shall a man  
leave his father and mother1 and cleave 

unto his wife2 implying that the        
affection between the parties to this   
connection1 should be superior to all   
other human attachments4 ,the frown of  
,god must then rest upon a union founded
 upon any other principle2 for by it the
 order of nature is contravened1 and    
therefore the blessings of peace and    
happiness cannot be expected to attend  
it4  ,however1 love is not a principle  
which is brought into existence as it   
were by magic4 ,it must always be       
exercised in view of an object4 ,do not1
 therefore1 hastily decide that you     
cannot love a man who possesses the     
prominent traits of character necessary 
to render you happy4 ,however1 be fully 
satisfied that such a sentiment of a    
permanent character1 does really exist  
in your own bosom1 before you consent to
 a union4  ,in your ordinary intercourse
 with gentlemen1 much caution should be 
observed4 ,always maintain a dignity of 
character1 and never condescend to      
trifle4 ,in your conversation1 however1 

upon general subjects1 you may exercise 
the same sociability and freedom which  
you would with ladies2 not seeming to be
 sensible of any difference of sex4     
,indignantly repel any improper         
liberties2 but never decline attentions 
which are considered as belonging to the
 rules of common politeness1 unless     
there should be something in the        
character of the individual which would 
justify you in wishing wholly to avoid  
his society4 ,some men are so           
disagreeable in their attentions1 and so
 obtrusive of their company1 that they  
become a great annoyance to ladies4 ,i  
think the latter justifiable in refusing
 the attentions of such men1 till they  
learn better manners4 ,pay the strictest
 regard to propriety and delicacy1 in   
all your conduct2 yet do not maintain   
such a cold reserve and chilling        
distance1 as to produce the impression  
in the mind of every one you meet1 that 
you dislike his society4 ,no gentleman  
of refined and delicate feelings1 will  

intrude his company upon ladies1 when he
 thinks it is not desired2 and you may  
create this impression1 by carrying the 
rules of propriety to the extreme of    
reserve4 ,but the contrary extreme1 of  
manifesting an excessive fondness for   
the society of gentlemen1 is still more 
to be avoided4 ,by cultivating an acute 
sense of propriety in all things1 with a
 nice discrimination of judgment1 you   
will be able generally to direct your   
conduct aright in these matters4  ,never
 indulge feelings of partiality for any 
man until he has distinctly avowed his  
own sentiments1 and you have            
deliberately determined the several     
points already mentioned4 ,if you do you
 may subject yourself to much needless  
disquietude1 and perhaps the most       
unpleasant disappointments4 ,and the    
wounded feeling thus produced1 may have 
an injurious effect upon your subsequent
 character and happiness4  ,i shall     
close this letter with a few brief      
remarks1 of a general nature4  #a4 ,do  

not suffer this subject to occupy a very
 prominent place in your thoughts4 ,to  
be constantly ruminating upon it1 can   
hardly fail of exerting an injurious    
influence upon your mind1 feelings1 and 
deportment2 and you will be almost      
certain to betray yourself1 in the      
society of gentlemen1 and1 perhaps1     
become the subject of merriment1 as one 
who is anxious for a husband4  #b4 ,do  
not make this a subject of common       
conversation4 ,there is1 perhaps1       
nothing which has a stronger tendency to
 deteriorate the social intercourse of  
young people than the disposition to    
give the subject of matrimonial         
alliances so prominent a place in their 
conversation1 and to make it a matter of
 jesting and mirth4 ,there are other    
subjects enough1 in the wide fields of  
science1 literature1 and religion1 to   
occupy the social hour1 both profitably 
and pleasantly2 and a dignified reserve 
on this subject will protect you from   
rudeness1 which you will be very likely 

to encounter1 if you indulge in jesting 
and raillery in regard to it4  #c4 ,do  
not speak of your own private affairs of
 this kind1 so as to have them become   
the subject of conversation among the   
circle of your acquaintances4 ,it       
certainly does not add to the esteem of 
a young lady1 among sensible people1 for
 her to be heard talking about her      
beaux4 ,especially is this caution      
necessary in the case of a matrimonial  
engagement4 ,remember the old adage3    
,there's many a slip   ,between the cup 
and the lip2  and consider how your     
feelings would be mortified1 if1 after  
making such an engagement generally     
known among your acquaintances1 anything
 should occur to break it off4 ,in such 
case1 you will have wounded feeling     
enough to struggle with1 without the    
additional pain of having the affair    
become a neighborhood talk4  #d4 ,do not
 make an engagement a long time before  
you expect it to be consummated4 ,such  
engagements are surrounded with peril4  

,a few years may make such changes in   
the characters and feelings of young    
persons as to destroy the fitness and   
congeniality of the parties2 while1 if  
the union had been consummated1 they    
would have assimilated to each other4   
,in short1 let me entreat you to        
cultivate the most delicate sense of    
propriety in regard to everything having
 the most distant relation to this      
matter2 and let all your feelings1      
conversation1 and conduct1 be regulated 
upon the most elevated principles of    
purity1 refinement1 and religion2 but do
 not carry your delicacy and reserve to 
the extreme of prudery1 which is an     
unlovely trait of character1 and which  
adds nothing to the strength of virtue4 
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xix4  ,submission to the     
,will of ,god2 ,dependence upon ,him for
 ,temporal ,things1 and ,contentment    
under all ,circumstances4      ,having  
food and raiment1 let us be therewith   
content4--#a ,,tim4     #f3h4   ,,my    

,,dear ,,sister1  ,the secret of all    
true happiness lies in a cordial        
acquiescence in the will of ,god in all 
things4 ,it is    ,sweet to lie passive 
in his hand1   ,and know no will but    
his4  ,the great doctrine that ,god     
exercises a particular providence over  
every event1 is most precious to the    
heart of every ,christian4 ,it enables  
him to see the hand of ,god1 in         
directing all his affairs4 ,hence1 the  
exceeding sinfulness of a repining1     
discontented1 and unhappy temper4       
,indeed1 it is difficult to reconcile   
the habitual indulgence of such a       
disposition with the existence of grace 
in the heart4 ,the very first emotion of
 the new-born soul is submission to the 
will of ,god4 ,many people lose sight of
 the hand of ,god in those little       
difficulties and perplexities1 which are
 of every day occurrence1 and look only 
at second causes4 ,and so they often do 
in more important matters4 ,when they   
are injured or insulted by others1 they 

murmur and complain1 and give vent to   
their indignation against the immediate 
causes of their distress2 forgetting    
that these are only the instruments     
which ,god employs for the trial of     
their faith or the punishment of their  
sins4 ,thus1 ,god permitted ,satan to   
try the faith of ,job4 ,thus1 he        
permitted ,shimei to curse ,david4 ,but 
the answer of this godly man is worthy  
of being imitated by all ,christians    
under similar circumstances4 ,let him   
curse1 because the ,lord hath said unto 
him1 curse ,david4 ,thus1 also1 the     
,lord employed the envy of ,joseph's    
brethren1 to save the lives of all his  
father's family4 ,but as for you1 ye    
thought evil against me2 but ,god meant 
it unto good1 to bring to pass1 as it is
 this day1 to save much people alive4   
,the principal reason why the histories 
of the ,bible are so much more          
instructive than other histories is1    
that the motives of men and the secret  
agency of divine ,providence are brought

 to light4 ,hence1 also1 the reason why 
the events recorded in ,scripture appear
 so marvellous4 ,if we could see how the
 hand of ,god is concerned in all things
 that occur within our observation1 they
 would appear no less wonderful4  ,in   
this doctrine1 we have the strongest    
possible motive for a hearty and        
cheerful resignation to all the crosses 
and difficulties1 trials and            
afflictions1 which come upon us in this 
life1 whatever may be their immediate   
cause4 ,we know that they are directed  
by our heavenly ,father1 whose tender   
mercies are over all his works2 and who 
doth not afflict willingly1 nor grieve  
the children of men4 ,and1 whether we   
are ,christians or not1 the duty of     
submission remains the same4 ,when we   
consider the relation which man sustains
 to ,god1 as a guilty rebel against his 
government1 we must see that1 whatever  
may be our earthly afflictions1 so long 
as we are out of hell1 we are the living
 monuments of his mercy4 ,wherefore doth

 a living man complain1 a man for the   
punishment of his sins4  ,but1 if we    
have evidence that we are the children  
of ,god1 his promises furnish the most  
abundant consolation1 in every trial4   
,we are assured that all things work    
together for good to them that love     
,god4 ,and of this we have many examples
 in the ,holy ,scriptures1 where the    
darkest providences have in the end1 to 
be fraught with the richest blessings4  
,it was so in the case of ,joseph1      
already mentioned4 ,we are also taught  
to look upon the afflictions of this    
life as the faithful corrections of a   
kind and tender ,parent4 ,for whom the  
,lord loveth1 he chasteneth1 and        
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4  
,how consoling the reflection1 that all 
our sufferings are designed to mortify  
and subdue our corruptions1 to wean us  
from the world1 and lead us to a more   
humble and constant sense of our        
dependence upon ,god4 ,besides1 the     
people of ,god have the most comforting 

assurances of his presence1 in          
affliction1 if they will but trust in   
him4 ,in all thy ways acknowledge him1  
and he shall direct thy steps4 ,cast thy
 burden upon the ,lord1 and he shall    
sustain thee3 he shall never suffer the 
righteous to be moved4 ,god is our      
refuge and strength1 a very present help
 in trouble3 therefore will not we fear1
 though the earth be removed1 and though
 the mountains be carried into the midst
 of the sea2 though the waters thereof  
roar and be troubled1 though the        
mountains shake with the swelling       
thereof4 ,the steps of a good man are   
ordered by the ,lord2 and he delighteth 
in his way4 ,though he fall1 he shall   
not be utterly cast down2 for the ,lord 
upholdeth him with his hand4 ,o1 how    
ungrateful for a child of ,god to repine
 at the dealings of such a tender and   
faithful parent6 ,o1 the ingratitude of 
unbelief6 ,who can accuse the ,lord of  
unfaithfulness to the least of his      
promises8 ,why1 then1 should we refuse  

to trust him1 when the assurances of his
 watchful care and love are so full1 and
 so abundant8  ,we have not only strong 
ground of confidence in the ,lord1 under
 the pressure of afflictions in general1
 but we are particularly directed to    
look to him for the supply of all our   
temporal wants4 ,if we have evidence    
that we are living members of the body  
of ,christ1 growing in grace and the    
knowledge of him1 we have the most      
direct and positive assurances that all 
things needful for this life shall be   
supplied4 ,our ,saviour1 after showing  
the folly of manifesting an anxious     
concern about the supply of our temporal
 wants1 since the ,lord is so careful in
 feeding the fowls of the air1 and      
clothing the lilies and the grass of the
 field1 says1--,but seek ye first the   
kingdom of ,god1 and his righteousness1 
and all these things shall be added unto
 you4 ,by this1 however1 we are not to  
understand that the ,lord will give us  
every earthly blessing which we desire4 

,we are so short-sighted as often to    
wish for things which would prove       
positively injurious to us4 ,but we are 
to understand that he will give us all  
that he sees best for us4 ,and surely we
 ought to be satisfied with this2 for he
 who sees the end from the beginning    
must know much better than we what is   
for our good4 ,the ,scriptures abound   
with similar promises4 ,o fear the      
,lord1 ye his saints2 for there is no   
want to them that fear him4 ,the young  
lions do lack and suffer hunger2 but    
they that seek the ,lord shall not want 
any good thing4 ,trust in the ,lord1 and
 do good1 and verily thou shall be fed4 
,i have been young and now am old2 yet  
have ,i not seen the righteous forsaken1
 nor his seed begging bread4 ,no good   
thing will he withhold from them that   
walk uprightly4 ,but my ,god shall      
supply all your need1 according to his  
riches in glory by ,christ ,jesus4      
,godliness is profitable unto all       
things1 having promise of the life that 

now is1 and of that which is to come4   
,it must1 then1 be a sinful distrust of 
the word of ,god1 to indulge in anxious 
fears about the supply of our           
necessities4 ,if we believed these      
promises1 in their full extent1 we      
should always rest in them1 and never   
indulge an anxious thought about the    
things of this life4 ,this1 ,god        
requires of us4 ,and seek not ye what ye
 shall eat1 or what ye shall drink1     
neither be ye of doubtful mind4         
,therefore take no thought1 saying1     
,what shall we eat8 or what shall we    
drink8 or wherewithal shall we be       
clothed8 ,be careful for nothing4 ,and  
nothing can be more reasonable than this
 requirement1 when he has given us such 
full and repeated assurances that he    
will supply all our wants4 ,the silver  
and the gold1 and the cattle upon a     
thousand hills1 belong to our heavenly  
,father4 ,when1 therefore1 he sees that 
we need any earthly blessing1 he can    
easily order the means by which it shall

 be brought to us4  ,from the precious  
truths and promises which we have been  
considering1 we infer the duty of       
contentment in every situation of life4 
,if ,god directs all our ways1 and has  
promised to give us just what he sees we
 need1 we surely ought to rest satisfied
 with what we have2 for we know it is   
just what the ,lord1 in his infinite    
wisdom1 and unbounded goodness1 sees fit
 to give us4 ,but the apostle ,paul     
enforces this duty with direct precepts4
 ,but godliness with contentment1 is    
great gain4 ,having food and raiment1   
let us be therewith content4 ,be content
 with such things as ye have2 for he    
hath said1 ,i will never leave thee1 nor
 forsake thee4 ,here he gives the       
promise of ,god1 as a reason for        
contentment4 ,it is1 then1 evidently the
 duty of every ,christian to maintain a 
contented and cheerful spirit1 under all
 circumstances4 ,this1 however1 does not
 forbid the use of all lawful and proper
 means to improve our condition4 ,but   

the means must be used with entire      
submission to the will of ,god4 ,the    
child of ,god should cast all his care  
and burden upon him2 and when he has    
made all suitable efforts to accomplish 
what he considers a good object1 he must
 commit the whole to the ,lord1 with a  
perfect willingness that his will should
 be done1 even to the utter             
disappointment of his own hopes4        
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,letter ,,xx4  ,self-,examination4     
,examine yourselves1 whether ye be in   
the faith3 prove your own               
selves4--#b ,,cor4 #ac3f4   ,,my ,,dear 
,,sister1  ,in view of the positive     
injunction of ,scripture1 above quoted1 
no argument is necessary to show that   
self-examination is a duty4 ,but if the 
word of ,god had been silent upon the   
subject1 the importance of              
self-knowledge would have been a        
sufficient motive for searching into the
 secret springs of action which         
influence our conduct4 ,a person        

ignorant of his own heart1 is like a    
merchant1 who knows not the state of his
 accounts1 while every day liable to    
become a bankrupt2 or1 like the crew of 
a leaky vessel1 who are insensible to   
their danger4 ,the professed follower of
 ,christ1 who knows not whether he is a 
true or false disciple1 is in a         
condition no less dangerous4 ,and1 as   
the heart is deceitful above all things1
 it becomes a matter of the utmost      
importance that we should certainly know
 that we are the children of ,god4      
,although we may be ,christians1 without
 the assurance of our adoption1 yet we  
are taught in the ,holy ,scriptures1    
that such assurance is attainable4 ,job1
 in the midst of his affliction1        
experienced its comforting support4 ,i  
know1 says he1 that my ,redeemer liveth4
 ,david says with confidence1 ,i shall  
be satisfied1 when ,i awake with thy    
likeness4 ,paul also expresses the same 
assurance4 ,i know whom ,i have         
believed1 and am persuaded that he is   

able to keep that which ,i have         
committed unto him against that day4    
,all ,christians are taught to expect   
the same1 and exhorted to strive after  
it4 ,and we desire that every one of    
you1 do show the same diligence to the  
full assurance of hope1 unto the end4   
,let us draw near with a true heart1 in 
full assurance of faith4 ,beloved1 if   
our heart condemn us not1 then have we  
confidence toward ,god4 ,he that        
believeth on the ,son of ,god hath the  
witness in himself4 ,for ye have not    
received the spirit of bondage again to 
fear2 but ye have received the spirit of
 adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba        
,father4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth    
witness with our spirit1 that we are the
 children of ,god4 ,grieve not the ,holy
 ,spirit of ,god1 whereby ye are sealed 
unto the day of redemption4  ,but1 as   
gold dust is sometimes concealed in the 
sand1 so grace in the heart may be      
mingled with remaining corruption1 so   
that we cannot clearly distinguish its  

motions4 ,it might not be for the       
benefit of a person of such low         
attainments in the divine life1 to      
receive an assurance of ,god's favor1   
until these corruptions have been so far
 subdued1 as to give the principle of   
grace an ascendency over all the        
faculties of the soul4 ,hence ,god has  
wisely directed that the sure evidence  
of adoption can be possessed only by    
those who have made such eminent        
progress in holiness1 as to be able to  
discern the fruits of the ,spirit in    
their hearts and lives4 ,the witness of 
the ,spirit must not be sought in any   
sudden impulses upon the mind2 but in   
the real work of grace in the heart1    
conforming it to the image of ,god4     
,even if ,god should indulge us with    
such impulses or impressions1 they would
 not be certain evidence of our         
adoption2 because ,satan can counterfeit
 the brightest experiences of this kind4
 ,hence1 we may account for the strong  
confidence which is sometimes expressed 

by young converts1 who afterwards fall  
away4 ,but when the image of ,god can be
 seen in our hearts and lives1 we may be
 certain that we are his children4 ,that
 this is the true witness of the        
,spirit1 maybe inferred from the passage
 last quoted4 ,when this epistle was    
written1 it was the custom of princes to
 have their names and images stamped    
upon their seals4 ,these seals1 when    
used1 would leave the impression of the 
name and image of their owners upon the 
wax4 ,so1 when ,god sets his seal upon  
the hearts of his children1 it leaves an
 impression of his name and image4 ,the 
same thing may be intended in           
,revelation1 where ,jesus promises to   
give him that overcometh a white stone1 
and in the stone a new name written4 ,a 
figure somewhat similar is also used in 
the third chapter of ,malachi4 ,speaking
 of the ,messiah1 the prophet says1 ,he 
shall sit as a refiner and purifier of  
silver4 ,a refiner of silver sits over  
the fire1 with his eye steadily fixed   

upon the precious metal in the crucible1
 until he sees his own image in it1 as  
we see our faces in the glass4 ,so the  
,lord will carry on his purifying work  
in the hearts of his children1 till he  
sees his own image there4 ,when this    
image is so plain and clear as to be    
distinctly discerned by us1 then the    
,spirit of ,god bears witness with our  
spirits1 that we are his children4 ,as  
love is the most prominent and abiding  
fruit of the ,spirit1 it may be the     
medium through which the union between  
,god and the soul is seen2 and by which 
the child of ,god is assured of his     
adoption4 ,a strong and lively exercise 
of a childlike1 humble love1 may give a 
clear evidence of the soul's relation to
 ,god1 as his child4 ,love is of ,god1  
and every one that loveth1 is born of   
,god1 and knoweth ,god4 ,he that loveth 
not1 knoweth not ,god1 for ,god is love4
 ,as ,god is love1 the exercise of that 
holy principle in the heart of the      
believer shows the impression of the    

divine image4 ,god is love1 and he that 
dwelleth in love1 dwelleth in ,god1 and 
,god in him4 ,hence the apostle ,john   
says1 ,we know that we have passed from 
death unto life1 because we love the    
brethren4 ,but1 if this love is genuine1
 it will regulate the emotions of the   
heart1 and its effects will be visible  
in the lives of those who possess it4   
,the same apostle says1 ,by this we know
 that we love the children of ,god1 when
 we love ,god and keep his commandments4
 ,so that in order to have certain      
evidence of our adoption into the       
blessed family1 of which ,jesus is the  
,elder ,brother1 all the fruits of the  
,spirit must have grown up to some      
degree of maturity4  ,from the foregoing
 remarks1 we see the great importance of
 self-examination4 ,we must have an     
intimate acquaintance with the          
operations of our own minds1 to enable  
us to distinguish between the exercise  
of gracious affections and the selfish  
workings of our own hearts4 ,and1 unless

 we are in the constant habit of        
diligent inquiry into the character of  
our emotions1 and the motives of our    
actions1 this will be an exceedingly    
difficult matter4 ,the ,scriptures      
specify several objects for which this  
inquiry should be instituted3  ,i4 ,to  
discover our sins1 that we may come to  
,christ for pardon1 and for grace to    
subdue them4 ,david prays1 ,search me1  
,o ,god1 and know my heart2 try me1 and 
know my thoughts2 and see if there be   
any wicked way in me1 and lead me in the
 way everlasting4 ,the prophet ,jeremiah
 says1 ,let us search and try our ways1 
and turn again unto the ,lord4 ,this    
examination should be a constant work4  
,we should search into the motives of   
every action1 and thoroughly examine    
every religious feeling1 to know1 if    
possible1 whether it comes from the     
,spirit of ,god1 or whether it is a fire
 of our own kindling4 ,we must be       
cautious1 however1 lest1 by diverting   
our attention from the truth1 to examine

 the nature of the emotions produced by 
it1 we should lose them altogether4     
,this can better be determined          
afterward1 by recalling to recollection 
these emotions1 and the causes which    
produced them4 ,if they were called     
forth by correct views of truth1 and if 
they correspond in their nature with the
 descriptions of gracious affections    
contained in the ,bible1 we may safely  
conclude them to be genuine4  ,but1 as  
we are often under the necessity of     
acting without much deliberation2 as we 
are so liable to neglect duty2 and as   
every duty is marred by so much         
imperfection1 it is not only proper1 but
 highly necessary1 that we should have  
stated seasons for retiring into our    
closets1 and calmly and deliberately    
reviewing our conduct1 our religious    
exercises1 and the prevailing state of  
our hearts1 and comparing them with the 
,word of ,god4 ,there are two very      
important reasons why this work should  
be performed at the close of every day4 

#a4 ,if neglected for a longer period1  
we may forget both our actions and our  
motives4 ,it will be very difficult for 
us afterwards to recall them1 so as to  
subject them to a thorough examination4 
#b4 ,there is a great propriety in      
closing up the accounts of every day4   
,sufficient unto the day is the evil    
thereof4 ,every day will bring with it  
work enough for repentance4 ,again1 when
 we lie down1 we may awake in eternity4 
,what then will become of those sins    
which we have laid by for the           
consideration of another day8 ,let us1  
then1 never give sleep to our eyes till 
we have searched out every sin of the   
past day1 and made fresh application to 
the blood of ,christ for pardon4 ,i know
 this is a very difficult work2 but1 by 
frequent practice1 it will become less  
so4 ,i have prepared several sets of    
questions1 from which you may derive    
some aid in the performance of this     
duty4 ,by sitting down in your closet1  
after finishing the duties of the day1  

and seriously and prayerfully engaging  
in this exercise1 you may try your      
conduct and feelings by the rules laid  
down in the ,word of ,god4 ,you may thus
 bring to remembrance the exercises of  
your heart1 as well as your actions2 and
 be reminded of neglected duty1 and of  
those great practical truths1 which     
ought ever to be kept before your mind4 
,you may bring up your sins1 and set    
them in order before you2 and discover  
your easily besetting sins4 ,you may be 
led to exercise penitential sorrow of   
heart1 and be driven anew to the cross  
of ,christ for pardon1 and for strength 
to subdue indwelling corruption4        
,whenever you discover that you have    
exercised any correct feeling1 or that  
your conduct has in any respect been    
conformed to the word of ,god1          
acknowledge with gratitude his grace in 
it1 and give him the glory4 ,wherein you
 find you have been deficient1 confess  
your sin before ,god1 and apply afresh  
to the blood of ,christ1 which cleanseth

 from all sin4 ,but be cautious that you
 do not put your feelings of regret1    
your tears and sorrows1 in the place of 
the great sacrifice4 ,remember that no  
degree of sorrow can atone for sin2 and 
that only is godly sorrow which leads to
 the blood of ,jesus4 ,any peace of     
conscience1 obtained from any other     
source1 must be false peace4 ,it is in  
believing1 only1 that we can have joy   
and peace4  ,you will find advantage    
from varying this exercise4 ,when we    
frequently repeat anything in the same  
form1 we are in danger of acquiring a   
careless habit1 so that it will lose its
 effect4 ,sometimes take the ten        
commandments1 and examine your actions  
and motives by them4 ,and1 in doing     
this1 you will find great help from the 
explanation of the commandments         
contained in the ,assembly's ,shorter   
,catechism4 ,this shows their           
spirituality1 and brings them home to   
the heart4 ,again1 you may take some    
portion of ,scripture1 which contains   

precepts for the regulation of our      
conduct1 and compare the actions of the 
day with them4 ,or1 you may take the    
life of ,christ as a pattern1 compare   
your conduct and motives with it1 and   
see whether in all things you have      
manifested his spirit4  ,but do not be  
satisfied till the exercise1 however    
performed1 has taken hold of the heart1 
and led to penitence for sin1 and a     
sense of pardon through the blood of    
,christ1 which accompanies true         
contrition2 for the ,lord is nigh unto  
them that are of a broken heart2 and    
saveth such as be of a contrite spirit4 
,i have inserted several sets of        
questions for every day in the week1    
differing in length1 to prevent         
monotony1 and to accommodate those      
occasions when you have more or less    
time4   ,,questions ,,for ,,saturday    
,,evening4  ,how was my heart improved  
by the last ,sabbath8 ,how have ,i since
 improved the impressions ,i then       
received8 ,what vows did ,i then make8  

,how have ,i performed them8 ,what      
progress have ,i made in the divine     
life8 ,what conquests have ,i made by   
the grace of ,god over sin8 ,what       
temptations have ,i encountered8 ,what  
victories have ,i gained8 ,what falls   
have ,i suffered8 ,what lessons have ,i 
learned by them8 ,what improvement have 
,i made in divine knowledge8 ,what good 
have ,i done8 ,what was my frame of     
mind1 on ,monday1 ,tuesday1 c4          
7specifying and considering each day by 
itself47 ,what meetings have ,i         
attended8 ,how was my heart affected by 
them8 ,what business have ,i done8 ,was 
it all performed to the glory of ,god8  
,do ,i now hail the approach of the     
,sabbath with delight8 ,or do ,i indulge
 a secret regret that my worldly schemes
 should be interrupted by this hallowed 
season of rest8   ,,questions ,,for     
,,sabbath ,,evenings4  ,did ,i yesterday
 make all needful preparations for the  
holy ,sabbath8 ,what was my frame of    
mind1 on retiring to rest1 at the close 

of the week8 ,when ,i awoke1 on this    
holy morning1 towards what were my first
 thoughts directed8 ,how did ,i begin   
the day8 ,what public or private duties 
have ,i neglected8 ,what has been my    
general frame of mind this day8 ,with   
what preparation did ,i go to the       
sanctuary8 ,how were my thoughts        
occupied on the way8 ,what were my      
feelings1 on entering the house of ,god8
 ,what was my general frame of mind1    
while there8 ,what my manner8 ,have ,i  
felt any sensible delight in the        
exercises of public worship8 ,with what 
feelings did ,i join the devotional     
exercises of singing and prayer8 ,in    
what character did ,i view the preacher8
 ,as whose message did ,i receive the   
word8 ,for whom did ,i hear--for myself1
 or for others8 ,was the word mixed with
 faith8 ,how much prayer did ,i mingle  
with hearing8 ,what evidence have ,i    
that it was attended by the ,holy       
,spirit to my heart ,i ,did ,i indulge  
wandering thoughts1 in any part of the  

public services8 ,how much progress have
 ,i made1 in overcoming these           
heart-wanderings8 ,how were my thoughts 
occupied on my return from public       
worship8 ,with what preparation did ,i  
go to the ,sabbath-school8 ,when ,i went
 before my class1 what were my feelings 
in regard to their souls1 and my own    
responsibility8 ,how was my own heart   
affected with the truths contained in   
the lesson8 ,what direct efforts have ,i
 made for their conversion8 ,what       
general efforts to impress their minds  
with the truth8 ,what prayers have ,i   
offered in their behalf8 ,what have been
 my motives for desiring their          
conversion8 ,how much time have ,i spent
 this day in my closet8 ,what have been 
my feelings in prayer8 ,what in reading 
,god's word8 ,what in meditation8 ,have 
,i felt and acknowledged my dependence  
upon the ,holy ,spirit for every right  
exercise of heart8 ,what discoveries    
have ,i had of my own guilt and         
helplessness1 and my need of a ,saviour8

 ,how has ,jesus appeared to me8 ,what  
communion have ,i enjoyed with ,god8    
,how have ,i felt1 in view of my sins1  
and of ,god's goodness to me8 ,what have
 been my feelings1 on coming anew to the
 cross of ,christ8 ,have ,i1 at any time
 this day1 indulged vain or worldly     
thoughts8 ,have ,i sought my own ease or
 pleasure8 ,have ,i engaged in worldly  
or unprofitable conversation8 ,do ,i now
 feel my soul refreshed1 and my strength
 renewed1 for the ,christian warfare8   
,,questions ,,to ,,be ,,used ,,in       
,,self-,,examination ,,at ,,the ,,close 
,,of ,,every ,,day ,,in ,,the ,,week4   
,i4  ,to be used when time is very      
limited4  ,with what feelings did ,i    
compose myself to sleep last night8 ,how
 were my thoughts employed during the   
wakeful hours of the night8 ,what were  
my feelings on awaking8 ,how did ,i     
begin the day8 ,with what feelings and  
spirit have ,i engaged in the various   
devotions of the day8 ,how have ,i      
enjoyed my hours of leisure8 ,how have  

,i performed the business of the day8   
,what has been the spirit of my         
intercourse with others8 ,what errors or
 what sins have ,i committed1 in        
thought1 word1 or deed8 ,what spiritual 
affections have ,i experienced1 and what
 has been their effect upon me since8   
,have ,i made any progress in the       
,christian race8   ,,ii4  ,to be used on
 ordinary occasions4  ,with what frame  
of spirit did ,i close the last day8    
,upon what were my thoughts occupied    
during the wakeful hours of the night8  
,what were my first emotions1 as ,i     
awoke this morning8 ,how did ,i begin   
the day8 ,what communion have ,i held   
with ,god1 in secret1 this day8 ,for    
whom have ,i lived8 ,what has been my   
frame of spirit1 while engaged in the   
employments of the day8 ,what tempers   
have ,i exercised1 in my intercourse    
with others8 ,what temptations have ,i  
encountered8 ,what has been the result8 
,what conflicts have ,i had with my own 
corruptions8 ,what progress have ,i made

 in subduing them8 ,what trials have ,i 
experienced8 ,how have ,i borne them8   
,have ,i felt my dependence upon ,god   
for everything8 ,have ,i indulged undue 
anxiety about the affairs of this world8
 ,have ,i murmured at the dispensations 
of ,providence8 ,have ,i indulged       
self-complacency or self-seeking8 ,what 
views have ,i had of myself8 ,how did   
they affect me8 ,what discoveries have  
,i made of the divine character8 ,how   
have ,i been affected by them8 ,have ,i 
felt any longing desires after          
conformity to the divine image8 ,how has
 my heart been affected with my         
short-comings in obedience and duty8    
,has this driven me to ,christ8 ,have ,i
 found pardon and peace in him8 ,what   
sense of the divine presence have ,i    
maintained through the day8 ,what spirit
 of prayer have ,i exercised this day8  
,what has been the burden of my         
petitions8 ,why have ,i desired these   
things8 ,how constant and how strong    
have been these desires8 ,how often and 

how fervently have ,i carried them to   
the throne of grace8 ,how have ,i felt  
in regard to the interests of ,zion1 the
 salvation of souls1 and the glory of   
,god8 ,how have ,i felt towards my      
,christian brethren8 ,have ,i spoken    
evil of any1 or listened with           
complacency to evil speaking8 ,have ,i  
exercised harshness1 or an unforgiving  
temper1 towards any8 ,what have ,i done 
for the glory of ,god1 or the good of my
 fellow-creatures8 ,have ,i watched over
 my heart1 my tongue1 and my actions8   
,have ,i maintained spirituality of mind
 through the day8   ,,iii4  ,dr4        
,doddridge's ,questions4  ,did ,i awake 
as with ,god this morning1 and rise with
 a grateful sense of his goodness8 ,how 
were the secret devotions of the morning
 performed8 ,did ,i offer my solemn     
praises1 and renew the dedication of    
myself to ,god1 with becoming attention 
and suitable affections8 ,did ,i lay my 
scheme for the business of the day      
wisely and well8 ,how did ,i read the   

,scriptures1 or any other devotional or 
practical piece which ,i afterwards     
found it convenient to review8 ,did it  
do my heart good1 or was it a mere      
amusement8 ,how have the other stated   
devotions of the day been attended1     
whether in the family or in public8     
,have ,i pursued the common business of 
the day with diligence and spirituality1
 doing everything in season1 and with   
all convenient despatch1 and as 'unto   
the ,lord8' ,col4 #c3bc4 ,what time have
 ,i lost this day1 in the morning1 or   
the forenoon--in the afternoon1 or the  
evening8 7for these divisions will      
assist your recollection27 and what has 
occasioned the loss of it8 ,with what   
temper1 and under what regulations1 have
 the recreations of this day been       
pursued8 ,have ,i seen the hand of ,god 
in my mercies1 health1 cheerfulness1    
food1 clothing1 books1 preservation in  
journeys1 success of business1          
conversation1 and kindness of friends1  
c48 ,have ,i seen it in afflictions1 and

 particularly in little things1 which   
had a tendency to vex and disquiet me8  
,have ,i received my comforts           
thankfully1 and my afflictions          
submissively8 ,how have ,i guarded      
against the temptations of the day1     
particularly against this or that       
temptation1 which ,i foresaw in the     
morning8 ,have ,i maintained a          
dependence on divine influence8 ,have ,i
 'lived by faith on the ,son of ,god1'  
7,gal4 #b3bj17 and regarded ,christ this
 day as my teacher and governor1 my     
atonement and intercessor1 my example   
and guardian1 my strength and           
forerunner8 ,have ,i been looking       
forward to death and eternity this day1 
and considered myself as a probationer  
for heaven1 and1 through grace1 an      
expectant of it8 ,have ,i governed my   
thoughts well1 especially in such or    
such an interval of solitude8 ,how was  
my subject of thought this day chosen1  
and how was it regarded8 ,have ,i       
governed my discourses well1 in such and

 such company8 ,did ,i say nothing      
passionate1 mischievous1 slanderous1    
imprudent1 impertinent8 ,has my heart   
this day been full of love to ,god1 and 
to all mankind8 and have ,i sought1 and 
found1 and improved1 opportunities of   
doing and getting good8 ,with what      
attention and improvement have ,i read  
the ,scriptures this evening8 ,how was  
self-examination performed the last     
night8 and how have ,i profited this day
 by any remarks ,i then made on former  
negligences and mistakes8 ,with what    
temper did ,i then lie down and compose 
myself to sleep8   ,,iv4  ,to be used   
when you have more time than usual4     
,did ,i last night compose myself to    
sleep with a sweet sense of the divine  
presence8 ,did ,i meditate upon divine  
things in the wakeful hours of the      
night8 ,when ,i awoke this morning1 did 
my heart rise up with gratitude to my   
merciful ,preserver8 ,did ,i remember   
that ,i am indebted for life1 and       
health1 and every enjoyment1 to the     

sufferings and death of my dear         
,redeemer8 ,did ,i renewedly consecrate 
my spared life to his service8 ,and have
 ,i lived this day for ,god1 and not for
 myself8 ,have ,i denied self1 whenever 
it has come between me and duty8 ,have  
,i indulged a self-seeking spirit8 ,have
 ,i refused to make any personal        
sacrifice1 whereby ,i might glorify     
,god1 or do good to others8 ,has my     
heart been affected with any discoveries
 of the infinite loveliness of the      
divine perfections8 ,have ,i had a view 
of the exceeding sinfulness of sin1 and 
the corruptions of my own heart in      
particular8 ,has this driven me from    
resting upon anything in myself1 to put 
my trust alone in ,christ8 ,have ,i felt
 any longing desires after conformity to
 the divine image8 ,have ,i felt any    
delight in the law of ,god8 ,has my     
heart been grieved to see that ,i fall  
so far short of keeping it8 ,has my soul
 been filled with joy and peace in      
believing in ,christ8 ,have ,i felt a   

lively sense of the divine presence     
continually8 ,have ,i maintained a      
cheerful1 serene1 and peaceful temper of
 heart8  ,have ,i studied the word of   
,god with an earnest desire to know     
present duty8 ,have ,i neglected or     
delayed to perform any duty when it has 
been made known8 ,have ,i felt that ,god
 was speaking to me through his word8   
,have ,i sought the aid of the ,holy    
,spirit8 ,have ,i read ,god's word with 
a prayerful spirit8 ,have ,i read it    
with self-application8 ,have ,i felt any
 sensible delight while reading it8     
,have ,i spent any time in heavenly     
meditation8 ,was this exercise performed
 in a prayerful spirit8 ,did the truth  
,i was contemplating deeply affect my   
own heart8 ,have my thoughts been       
habitually directed towards heavenly    
things8  ,have ,i observed my regular   
seasons of prayer8 ,has my frame of     
spirit been1 lively1 and my thoughts    
collected1 in this exercise8 ,have ,i   
felt my dependence upon the ,spirit of  

,god8 ,have ,i earnestly and sincerely  
desired the things for which ,i have    
asked8 ,have ,i desired them for the    
glory of ,god1 or for the gratification 
of myself8 ,have ,i laid hold of the    
promises of ,god8 ,have ,i maintained a 
constant spirit of prayer8 ,have ,i sent
 up frequent ejaculations to ,god8 ,in  
all my approaches to the throne of      
grace1 have ,i come with a suitable     
preparation of heart8 ,has a sense of   
the divine presence filled me with holy 
awe and reverence8 ,has my heart been   
drawn out to ,god with filial affection 
and humble confidence1 through ,jesus   
the ,mediator8 ,have ,i felt my need8   
,have ,i humbled myself low before ,god8
 ,have ,i not regarded iniquity in my   
heart8 ,have ,i felt an humble          
submission to the will of ,god8  ,have  
,i watched over my heart continually1   
against the temptations of ,satan8 ,have
 ,i indulged wandering thoughts1 during 
any of the devotional exercises of the  
closet8 ,have ,i watched over my fancy1 

and kept under my imagination8 or have  
,i suffered it to wander without        
control8  ,have ,i exercised a proper   
control over all my appetites1 desires1 
and passions8 ,have ,i used all         
diligence to improve my mind1 that ,i   
might be capable of doing more for the  
glory of ,god1 and the good of my       
fellow-creatures8 ,have ,i sought the   
aid of the ,holy ,spirit in this1 also8 
,have ,i felt continually that my time  
is not my own8 ,have ,i employed every  
moment of the past day in the most      
profitable manner8 ,have ,i felt the    
pressure of present obligation8  ,have  
,i neglected any opportunity of doing   
good1 either to the souls or bodies of  
others8 ,have ,i been modest1           
unobtrusive1 and courteous1 in all ,i   
have done and said8 ,have ,i been       
prudent and discreet in all things8     
,have ,i first sought the direction of  
,god1 and then entered upon these duties
 in a spirit of prayer8  ,have ,i       
glorified ,god in my dress8 ,have ,i    

been influenced1 in this respect1 by the
 pride of appearance8 ,have ,i wasted   
any time at the toilet8  ,have ,i felt  
any emotions of love for ,christians8   
,has this love arisen from the image of 
,christ manifest in them2 or from their 
friendship for me1 and the comfort ,i   
have enjoyed in their society8 ,have ,i 
refused to make personal sacrifices for 
their benefit8 ,have ,i felt any love   
for the souls of sinners8 ,what has this
 led me to do for their conversion8     
,have ,i exercised any feelings of      
compassion for the needy8 ,what has this
 led me to do for them8  ,have ,i       
manifested a morose1 sour1 and jealous  
disposition towards others8 ,have ,i    
been easily provoked8 ,have ,i been     
irritated with the slightest offences or
 crosses of my will8 ,have ,i indulged  
an angry1 fretful1 peevish temper8 ,have
 ,i spoken evil of any1 or listened with
 complacency to evil-speaking8 ,do ,i   
now harbor ill-will towards any being on
 earth8 ,in all my intercourse with     

others1 have ,i manifested a softness   
and mildness of manner1 and a kind and  
tender tone of feeling8 ,or have ,i     
indulged in harshness and severity1     
pride and arrogance8 ,have ,i exercised 
forbearance towards the faults of       
others8 ,have ,i from my heart forgiven 
them8 ,have ,i esteemed myself better   
than others8 ,have ,i felt the secret   
workings of spiritual pride8 ,have ,i   
engaged in trifling and vain            
conversation1 or in any other manner    
conformed to the spirit of the world8   
,have ,i maintained ,christian sincerity
 in all things8 ,when in company1 have  
,i improved every opportunity of giving 
a profitable direction to conversation8 
,have ,i improved every opportunity to  
warn impenitent sinners8 ,have ,i gone  
into company1 without first visiting my 
closet8 ,have ,i been diligent and      
faithful in the business of the day8    
,have ,i done the same to others as ,i  
would wish them to do to me8  ,,ii4     
,another object of self-examination may 

be1 to ascertain the reason why the     
,lord does not answer our prayers4 ,this
 reason may generally be found in       
ourselves4 ,i know of but two           
exceptions4 ,one is1 when the thing we  
ask is not agreeable to the will of     
,god4 ,the other is1 when the ,lord     
delays to answer our prayers for the    
trial of our faith4 ,the obstacles which
 exist in ourselves1 to prevent him from
 granting our requests1 are generally   
some of the following3--#a4 ,we may be  
living in the practice of some sin1 or  
the neglect of some duty4 ,if ,i regard 
iniquity in my heart1 says the          
,psalmist1 the ,lord will not hear me4  
,he that turneth away his ear from      
hearing the law1 even his prayer shall  
be abomination4 ,we may weep day and    
night1 on our knees1 before ,god1 all   
our lives2 yet if we are living in the  
habitual neglect of duty1 or if any sin 
cleaves to us1 for which we have not    
exercised repentance1 and faith in the  
atoning blood of ,christ1 he will not   

hear our prayers4 #b4 ,we may not be    
sufficiently humble before ,god4 ,though
 the ,lord be high1 yet hath he respect 
unto the lowly2 but the proud he knoweth
 afar off2 ,god resisteth the proud1 but
 giveth grace unto the humble4 ,humble  
yourselves in the sight of the ,lord1   
and he shall lift you up4 ,whosoever    
shall exalt himself shall be abased2 and
 he that shall humble himself shall be  
exalted4 ,hence1 if our hearts are      
proud1 and we refuse to humble ourselves
 deeply before ,god1 he will not answer 
our prayers4 #c4 ,we may not desire the 
things we ask1 that ,god may be         
glorified1 but that it may minister to  
our own gratification4 ,ye ask1 and     
receive not1 because ye ask amiss1 that 
ye may consume it upon your lusts4 ,when
 we ask with such motives1 we have no   
right to expect that ,god will hear our 
prayers4 #d4 ,we may not be asking in   
faith4 ,but let him ask in faith1       
nothing wavering4 ,for he that wavereth1
 is like a wave of the sea1 driven with 

the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that  
man think that he shall receive anything
 of the ,lord4 ,without faith1 it is    
impossible to please ,god4 #e4 ,we may  
be exercising an unforgiving-temper2    
and1 if so1 the ,lord has declared that 
he will not hear our prayers4 ,mark     
#aa3be1 #bf4 ,mat4 #ah3ce4  ,when1      
therefore1 you have been for some time  
praying for any particular object       
without receiving an answer1 carefully  
examine yourself1 with reference to     
these points2 and wherein you find      
yourself deficient1 endeavor1 in the    
strength of ,christ1 immediately to     
reform4 ,if your circumstances will     
permit1 set apart a day of fasting and  
prayer for this object4 ,and1 if the    
answer is still delayed1 repeat the     
examination1 until you are certain that 
you have complied with all the          
conditions of the promises4  ,,iii4     
,another object of self-examination is1 
to ascertain the cause of afflictions1  
whether spiritual or temporal4 ,if the  

,lord sends distress upon us1 or hides  
from us the light of his countenance1 he
 has some good reason for it4 ,by       
reading the book of ,haggai1 you will   
discover the principles upon which ,god 
deals with his people4 ,if1 therefore1  
the work of your hands does not prosper1
 or1 if the ,lord has withdrawn from you
 his special presence1 be sure that     
something is wrong2 it is time for you  
to consider your ways4 ,in this book the
 ,lord informs the ,jews of the cause of
 their poverty and distress4 ,they had  
not built the house of ,god4 ,he also   
tells them that the silver and the gold 
are his2 and that he will bless them as 
soon as they do their duty4 ,we are as  
dependent upon ,god's blessing now as   
his people were then4 ,if we withhold   
from him what he requires of us for     
advancing the interests of his kingdom1 
can we expect temporal prosperity8 ,if  
we refuse to do our duty1 can we expect 
his presence8 ,these1 then1 should be   
the subjects of inquiry1 under such     

circumstances4 ,in such cases1 also1 it 
may be very proper to observe a day of  
fasting and prayer4  ,,iv4 ,another     
object of self-examination is1 to know  
whether we are ,christians4 ,examine    
yourselves whether ye be in the faith4  
,this is a very important inquiry4 ,it  
is intimately connected with every      
other1 and should enter more or less    
into all4 ,in order to prosecute this   
inquiry1 you must make yourself         
thoroughly acquainted with the evidences
 of ,christian character4 ,these are    
clearly exhibited in the holy           
,scriptures4 ,study the ,bible          
diligently for this purpose2 and1       
wherever you discover a mark of         
,christian character1 inquire whether   
you possess it4 ,you may also find      
benefit from the writings of men of     
great personal experience1 who have had 
much opportunity of observing the       
effects of true and false religion4 ,in 
particular1 ,i would recommend to you   
the careful study of ,president         

,edwards' ,treatise on ,religious       
,affections4 ,he was a man of great     
piety1 who had attained to the full     
assurance of hope4 ,he had also passed  
through a number of revivals of         
religion4 ,the work of which ,i speak   
contains a scriptural view of the       
evidences of the new birth2 and also    
points out1 with great clearness and    
discrimination1 the marks of false      
religion4 ,he distinguishes between     
those things which may be common both to
 true and false religion1 and those     
which are the certain marks of true     
conversion4  ,self-examination1 for this
 object1 should be habitual4 ,in reading
 the ,bible1 in meditation1 in hearing  
the word1 wherever you see an evidence  
of ,christian character1 inquire whether
 you possess it4 ,but this is not       
sufficient4 ,you ought frequently to set
 apart seasons for the solemn and       
prayerful consideration of the important
 question1--,am ,i a ,christian8 ,a     
portion of the ,sabbath may be very     

properly spent in this way4 ,you should 
enter upon this work with the           
solemnities of the judgment-day before  
you4 ,the ,scriptures furnish abundant  
matter for self-examination4 ,bring the 
exercises of your heart1 and the conduct
 of your life1 to this unerring         
standard4 ,you will also find much      
assistance in this exercise by the use  
of the following tracts1 published by   
the ,american ,tract ,society3--,no4    
#ba1 entitled ,a ,closet ,companion2    
,no4 #adf1 entitled ,helps to           
,self-,examination2 and ,no4 #afe1      
entitled ,true and ,false ,conversions  
,distinguished2 and likewise from a     
little work entitled ,are you a         
,christian8 by ,rev4 ,hubbard ,winslow4 
,you have also probably noticed several 
chapters in ,doddridge's ,rise and      
,progress1 admirably adapted to this    
object4 ,i mention these1 because it is 
advantageous frequently to vary the     
exercise4 ,the subject of true and false
 conversion is continually undergoing   

discussion2 and those who feel truly    
anxious to know the foundations upon    
which they rest will not fail to avail  
themselves of every approved treatise on
 the subject4 ,but1 above all1 study the
 ,bible diligently and prayerfully1 for 
the purpose of ascertaining the genuine 
marks of saving grace2 take time to     
perform the work of self-examination    
thoroughly1 bringing to your aid all the
 information you can obtain from these  
sources--varying the exercise1 at       
different times1 that it may not become 
superficial and formal4  ,i have also   
prepared some questions for this        
purpose1 which you will find below4 ,in 
these questions1 ,i have not aimed at   
covering the whole ground of ,christian 
experience1 so much as to bring before  
the mind1 in connection1 some of the    
most prominent passages of ,scripture   
relating to the evidences of ,christian 
character4 ,nor have ,i taken particular
 pains to prevent the questions from    
involving each other2 as we may detect  

our deficiencies on the same points the 
more readily by having them held up in a
 variety of views4 ,the chief design of 
these questions will be lost1 if you do 
not examine the passages of ,scripture  
referred to4 ,some of the traits of     
character here presented may not be     
certain evidence of piety2 while1 in    
other cases1 a person may be a          
,christian while possessing the graces  
mentioned in a much less degree than    
they are here represented4 ,it is not   
necessary1 where time is limited1 to go 
through the whole of these questions at 
once2 and probably in most cases it will
 be found more edifying to take up a    
portion of them at a time4   ,,am ,i ,a 
,,christian8  #a4 ,let me examine as to 
my views of ,sin4 ,have ,i beheld sin   
with an abhorrence far greater than the 
delight it ever gave me8 ,has that      
abhorrence arisen from an apprehension  
of the evil consequences to which it has
 exposed me1 or of its odious nature1   
and its exceeding sinfulness as         

committed against ,god8 ,ps4 #ea3d4     
,isa4 #a3b-d4 ,have ,i had a full       
apprehension of my own exceeding        
sinfulness8 ,ps4 #ea3d4 ,isa4 #a3e1 #f4 
,eph4 #b3a-c4 ,have ,i felt my sins to  
be an insupportable burden8 ,ps4        
#ch3b-g4 ,have ,i ceased attempting to  
justify myself8 ,job #dj3d4 ,luke       
#ah3aa-ad4 ,have ,i utterly despaired of
 all help from myself8 ,rom4 #c3bj4     
,have ,i abandoned all attempts to      
establish my own righteousness1 by      
resolutions of amendment and future     
obedience8 ,rom4 #i3cb4 #aj3c4 ,have ,i 
exercised sincere and heartfelt sorrow  
on account of my sins8 ,ps4 #ch3ag1 #ah4
 ,has this been the sorrow of the world 
which worketh death8 #b ,cor4 #g3aj1    
l4c4 #b ,sam4 #ag3bc4 ,matt4 #bg3c-e4   
,acts #h3bd4 ,or has it been godly      
sorrow1 which worketh repentance not to 
be repented of8 #b ,cor4 #g3i-aa4 ,has  
my heart been broken1 contrite1 and     
humble1 under a sense of my sins against
 ,god8 ,ps4 #cd3ah4 #ea3ag4 ,isa4       

#eg3ae4 ,has this sense of sin emptied  
me of myself1 and begotten a deep       
poverty of spirit8 ,isa4 #ff3b4 ,matt4  
#e3c4 ,has it led me to feel my         
unworthiness of ,god's favor8 ,gen4     
#cb3aj4 ,luke #ae3ai4 #ah3ac1 #ad4 ,have
 ,i been filled with shame and          
self-loathing1 on account of the        
exceeding greatness of my sin1          
considered under a view of the infinite 
purity and awful majesty of the great   
,jehovah1 against whom it has been      
committed8 ,ezra #i3f4 ,job #db3a-f4    
,jer4 #ca3ai4 ,ezek4 #af3fc4  #b4 ,as to
 my views of the government of ,god4 ,do
 ,i acquiesce in the government of ,god 
as a most wise1 most just1 and most     
righteous government8 ,rev4 #ae3c1 #d4  
,do ,i cordially1 cheerfully1 and       
without reserve1 yield myself1 as a     
moral and accountable being1 to the     
authority of ,god1 as the moral         
,governor of the universe8 ,rom4 #f3ac4 
#ab3a4 ,do ,i feel no reserve in my     
heart1 making first the condition that  

,i may be saved8 ,do ,i humbly acquiesce
 in the justice of ,god1 in the eternal 
punishment of the wicked8 ,do ,i include
 myself in this1 thereby accepting the  
punishment of my sin8 ,levit4 #bf3dj1   
#da4 ,am ,i sure that this feeling is   
not produced by the secret consciousness
 that it is an evidence of a gracious   
state8 ,jer4 #ag3i4 ,if all hope of     
salvation were suddenly taken away from 
me1 would my heart still acquiesce in   
the justice of the sentence of          
condemnation8  #c4 ,as to my faith in   
,christ4 ,have ,i ceased from my own    
works1 and1 as a heavy-laden sinner1    
come to ,christ for rest8 ,heb4 #d3aj4  
,matt4 #aa3bh4 ,have ,i seen him to be1 
in all respects1 a complete ,saviour1   
just such as my ruined and lost         
condition requires8 #a ,cor4 #a3cj4     
,gal4 #c3ac4 #d3c-e4 ,col4 #a3ai4 #b3c1 
#aj4 ,have ,i heartily given up all for 
him8 ,matt4 #aj3cg4 ,luke #ad3bf1 #cc4  
,phil4 #c3g-aj4 ,have ,i cheerfully     
taken up my cross and followed him8     

,luke #ad3bg4 ,do ,i now consider myself
 as no more my own1 but the ,lord's1 by 
the purchase of the ,redeemer's blood8  
#a ,cor4 #f3ai1 #bj4 ,do ,i therefore   
make it my constant and highest aim to  
glorify ,god with my body and spirit    
which are his8 #a ,cor4 #f3bj4 #aj3ca4  
,have ,i through him become dead to sin1
 but alive to ,god8 ,rom4 #f3aa4 ,have  
,i crucified the flesh1 with its        
affections and lusts8 ,gal4 #e3bd4 ,have
 ,i become dead also to the world1 not  
seeking my portion in its riches1       
honors1 pleasures1 or pursuits8 ,gal4   
#b3bj4 #f3ad4 #a ,john #b3ae4 ,have ,i  
utterly despaired of acceptance with    
,god in any other way than by the       
mediation of ,christ8 ,acts #d3ab4 ,heb4
 #aj3bf1 #bg4 ,have ,i cordially sought 
reconciliation with ,god through the    
blood of ,jesus8 ,col4 #a3bj-bb4 ,does  
my hope of salvation rest solely and    
alone in the righteousness and atonement
 of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8 ,rom4     
#c3bb-bf4 ,do ,i receive him as my      

,prophet1 submitting my will entirely to
 the teachings of his word and ,spirit8 
,deut4 #ah3ae4 ,heb4 #a3a1 #b4 #b3a-c4  
,do ,i receive him in his office of     
,priest1 trusting in the atonement he   
has made1 and committing my case to him1
 that he may intercede for me1 before   
the offended ,majesty of heaven8 ,heb4  
#d3ad1 #ae4 #g3bf1 #h3a1 #i3aa1 #ab1    
#bd1 #be4 ,with humble confidence in his
 intercession1 do ,i come boldly to the 
throne of grace8 ,heb4 #d3af4 ,do ,i    
cordially submit to him in his office of
 ,king8 ,ps4 #b3f4 #de3a4 ,isa4 #i3f1   
l4c4 ,acts #e3ca4 ,do ,i yield my heart 
unreservedly to his authority1 making it
 my constant aim to bring into captivity
 every thought and action to the        
obedience of ,christ8 ,matt4 #aa3bi1    
#cj4 ,john #ae3ad4 ,rom4 #f3af4 #b ,cor4
 #aj3e4 ,whenever ,i fall into sin1 do  
,i seek to ease my conscience by        
reformation and forgetfulness1 or do ,i 
apply afresh to ,christ1 as the only    
propitiation for sin8 #a ,john #b3a1 #b4

 ,do ,i find peace of conscience and    
spiritual joy in believing in ,jesus8   
,rom4 #e3a4 #h3a4 #ad3ag4 #ae3ac4 #a    
,pet4 #a3h4 ,am ,i united to ,christ as 
the living branch is to the vine8 ,john 
#ae3a4 ,do ,i look to my union with him1
 as the branch to the vine1 for         
spiritual nourishment1 strength and     
life8 ,john #ae3d4 ,phil4 #b3ab1 #ac4   
,heb4 #ac3ba4 ,do ,i realize the danger 
of self-confidence8 ,prov4 #bh3bf4 ,mark
 #ad3bi-ca1 #fh-ga4 ,rom4 #aa3bj4 #a    
,cor4 #aj3ab4 ,do ,i realize to what my 
union with ,christ entitles me8 ,rom4   
#h3ag4 ,in view of this union1 do ,i    
feel a filial spirit of adoption towards
 ,god as my father8 ,ps4 #ajc3ac1 #ad4  
,rom4 #h3ae1 #af4 ,gal4 #d3d-g4 #a ,john
 #c3a1 #b4 ,does this union with ,christ
 lead me to feel a union of spirit with 
all his disciples8 ,john #ag3ba4 #a     
,cor4 #ab3ab-bi4 ,what sympathy does    
this lead me to exercise towards them8  
,rom4 #ab3ae4 #a ,cor4 #ab3bf4 #a ,john 
#c3ag4 ,is ,christ precious to my soul8 

#a ,pet4 #b3g1 f4c4 ,do ,i see a moral  
beauty and excellence in him above all  
created intelligences8 ,ps4 #de3a1 #b4  
,ca4 #e3i-ae4 ,john #a3ad4 ,col4 #b3c1  
#i4 ,heb4 #a3c4 ,how am ,i affected with
 the contemplation of his sufferings for
 the salvation of my soul8 #b ,cor4     
#e3ad1 #ae4  #d4 ,as to my love to ,god4
 ,do ,i take ,god for my supreme and    
eternal portion8 ,ps4 #af3a-aa4 #gc3be1 
#bf4 #aai3eg4 ,lam4 #c3ba4 ,is he the   
object of my highest love8 ,mark #ab3cj4
 ,am ,i willing to relinquish whatever  
comes in competition with him as an     
object of my affection8 ,mark #aj3cg-ci4
 ,do ,i prefer his favor and dread his  
power above that of all other beings8   
,ps4 #cf3g4 #dc3c4 #hi3f-h4 ,deut4      
#aj3ab4 ,ps4 #cj3e4 #cc3h4 #hh3f-h4     
,jer4 #aj3g4 ,do ,i derive comfort in my
 afflictions by making him my refuge8   
,ps4 #i3i4 #eg3a4 #ei3af4 ,jer4 #af3ai4 
,when my soul is under the hidings of   
his countenance1 can ,i enjoy any other 
good8 ,job #bi3b-e4 ,ps4 #ch3a-aj4 ,do  

,i experience any ardent longings after 
his spiritual presence with my soul8    
,ps4 #db3a1 #b4 #fa3a1 #b4 ,do ,i feel  
any earnest desires after conformity to 
his image8 ,matt4 #e3f4 ,rom4 #h3bi4 #a 
,cor4 #ae3di4 #b ,cor4 #c3ah4 #d3d4     
,col4 #c3aj4 ,ps4 #ag3ae4 ,do ,i delight
 in the moral law of ,god1 as a         
transcript of his holy character8 ,ps4  
#cg3ca4 #aai3gj1 #gb1 #gg1 #gi1 #aac1   
#aca4 ,rom4 #g3ab1 #bb4 ,do ,i feel     
grieved when ,i see his law disregarded8
 ,ps4 #aai3acf1 #aeh4 ,do ,i make his   
will the rule of my life8 #a ,john #e3c4
 ,do ,i earnestly strive to bring my    
heart and life into complete conformity 
to his will8 ,phil4 #c3g-ad4 ,do ,i love
 his word8 ,ps4 #ai3g-aa4 #aai3aa1 #af1 
#hb1 #afb1 #agb4 ,do ,i find delight in 
meditating upon it8 ,ps4 #a3b4 #aai3adh4
 ,do ,i delight in the ordinances of his
 house8 ,ps4 #bf3h4 #cf3h4 #abb3a4      
#hd3aj4 ,do ,i delight in the ,sabbath1 
anticipating its return with desire1    
hailing it with joy1 and engaging in its

 duties with sweet satisfaction2 ,isa4  
#eh3ac1 #ad4 ,do ,i delight in secret   
communion with ,god1 in prayer and      
praise8 ,ps4 #e3b1 #c4 #ee3af1 #ag4     
#hh3ac4 #aaf3b4 #ach3a1 #b4 #adf3a1 #b4 
#adg3a4 #adh4 ,do ,i love the children  
of ,god1 as bearing his image8 #a ,john 
#d3bj4 #e3a4 ,is my soul ever moved with
 sweet emotion in contemplating the     
infinite moral perfections of ,god8 ,ps4
 #cj3d4 #if3i4 ,do ,i delight also in   
his natural perfections1 as appertaining
 to the ,supreme ,ruler of the universe8
 ,ps4 #if3a-ac4 #ig3a-ab4 ,do ,i feel   
this delight in his character1          
independent of the idea that he is my   
friend8 ,hab4 #c3ag1 #ah4 ,am ,i sure   
that even this emotion is not produced  
by the secret thought that the exercise 
of it is an evidence of my being his    
friend8  #e4 ,as to my ,christian       
character in general4 ,do ,i realize my 
dependence upon the ,holy ,spirit for   
every right feeling and action8 ,john   
#ad3af1 #ag4 ,rom4 #h3i1 #ac1 #ad4 ,isa4

 #bf1 #ab4 ,are the fruits of the       
,spirit manifest in my heart and life8  
,gal4 #e3bb-bd4 ,have ,i mortified my   
members which are upon the earth1 and   
put off the works of the flesh8 ,gal4   
#e3ai-ba4 ,col4 #c3e1 #h4 ,have ,i put  
on the new man1 which is renewed in     
knowledge1 after the image of him that  
created him8 ,col4 #c3aj4 ,do ,i        
manifest my love to my brethren by a    
readiness to make sacrifices of personal
 feeling1 interest1 and enjoyment1 to   
promote their welfare and happiness8 #a 
,john #c3ad-ag4 ,do ,i manifest my love 
for all mankind1 by doing good to all as
 ,i have opportunity8 ,do ,i feel an    
unalterable desire for the conversion of
 their souls8 ,rom4 #i3a1 #b4 ,am ,i    
willing to make personal efforts and    
sacrifices to promote this object8 ,do  
,i heartily and earnestly offer the     
prayer1--,thy kingdom come1 doing and   
giving all in my power to promote it8   
,is the same mind in me1 in these       
respects1 that was in ,christ ,jesus8   

,phil4 #b3d-h4 ,rom4 #ae3b1 #c4 ,do ,i  
truly feel that it is more blessed to   
give than to receive8 ,acts #bj3ce ,do  
,i strive1 as much as in me lies1 to    
live in peace with all1 and to promote  
peace among all men8 ,ps4 #cd3ad4 ,matt4
 #e3i4 ,rom4 #ab3ah4 #b ,cor4 #ac3aa4   
,heb4 #ab3ad4 ,james #c3ag4 ,do ,i seek 
the peace of ,zion1 avoiding every      
unnecessary offence1 and even           
sacrificing my own feelings for the sake
 of the peace of the church8 ,ps4       
#abb3f4 ,rom4 #ad3ai-ba4 #a ,cor4 #g3ae4
 #h3ac4 #ad3cc4 ,eph4 #d3c4 #a ,thess4  
#e3ac4 ,am ,i long-suffering and patient
 under injurious treatment8 #a ,cor4    
#ac3d1 #g4 ,do ,i exercise a spirit of  
forbearance towards the faults of       
others1 forgiving injuries and offences8
 ,mark #aa3be4 ,eph4 #d3b4 ,col4 #c3ac4 
,do ,i put away all envy and jealousy   
from my bosom--not seeking occasion of  
offence by putting the worst            
construction upon the conduct of        
others--not expecting great things for  

myself1 and not being displeased when ,i
 am passed by with apparent neglect8    
,rom4 #ab3af4 #a ,cor4 #ac3d1 #e1 #g4   
,jer4 #de3e4 ,eph4 #d3b4 ,col4 #c3ab4   
,do ,i not think of myself more highly  
than ,i ought to think8 ,rom4 #ab3c1    
#af4 ,do ,i in lowliness of mind esteem 
others better than myself8 ,phil4 #b3c4 
,am ,i self-willed1 headstrong1         
determined to have my own way8 or am ,i 
ready to prefer the judgment of my      
brethren1 and submit to them1 when ,i   
can do it conscientiously8 ,eph4 #e3ba4 
#a ,peter #e3e4 ,am ,i tender of spirit1
 kind1 gentle1 and courteous1 in my     
intercourse with others8 #a ,thess4     
#b3g4 #b ,tim4 #b3bd4 ,titus #c3b4      
,james #c3ag4 ,eph4 #d3cb4 ,col4 #c3ab4 
#a ,peter #c3h4 ,have ,i put on         
meekness1 not being easily provoked to  
the indulgence of resentful feelings8 #a
 ,cor4 #ac3e4 ,have ,i put away from me 
all bitterness1 and wrath1 and anger1   
and clamor1 and evil-speaking1 with all 
malice1 not rendering evil for evil1 nor

 railing for railing8 ,eph4 #d3ca4 #a   
,pet4 #c3i4 ,do ,i love my enemies1     
bless them that curse me1 and seek the  
good of those who strive to injure me8  
,matt4 #e3dd4 ,rom4 #ab3ad1 #bj4 ,do ,i 
recognize the hand of ,god in the daily 
blessings of this life8 ,james #a3ag4   
,do ,i likewise recognize his hand in   
the little perplexities and trials of   
every-day life8 ,do all my trials subdue
 and chasten my spirit1 working in me   
patience1 experience1 and hope8 ,rom4   
#e3c1 #d4 ,heb4 #ac3f-aa4 ,am ,i content
 with such things as the ,lord gives me1
 day by day1 not taking anxious thought 
for the morrow1 nor disquieting myself  
for the future8 ,matt4 #f3be-cd4 ,phil4 
#d3aa4 #a ,tim4 #f3h4 ,heb4 #ac3e4 ,does
 my faith lead me to look at the things 
that are unseen1 and set my affections  
on things above1 and not on things on   
the earth8 #b ,cor4 #d3af-ah4 ,col4     
#c3a1 #b4         99       99       99  
99       99  ,remember1 this is a       
fearful question4 ,your all is at stake 

upon it4 ,but1 if at any time you come  
to the deliberate conclusion that you   
are resting upon a false hope1 give it  
up3 but do not abandon yourself to      
despair4 ,go immediately to the cross of
 ,christ4 ,give up your heart to him1 as
 though you had never come before4      
,there is no other way4 ,this is the    
only refuge1 and ,jesus never sent a    
soul empty away4 ,him that cometh to me1
 ,i will in no wise cast out4           
,persevere1 even though you find scarce 
evidence enough to give a faint         
glimmering of hope4 ,continually renew  
your repentance and faith in ,christ4   
,diligence in self-examination may be a 
means of growth in grace3 and if you are
 really a child of ,god1 your evidences 
will increase and brighten1 till you    
will be able to indulge a good hope     
through grace4 ,for1 in due time1 we    
shall reap1 if we faint not4  ,v4       
,another object of self-examination is1 
to ascertain whether we are prepared to 
approach the ,lord's table4 ,but let a  

man examine himself1 and so let him eat 
of that bread1 and drink of that cup4   
,here the duty of self-examination1     
before partaking of the ,lord's ,supper1
 is evidently taught4 ,and1 in the next 
verse1 we are told what is requisite to 
enable us to partake of this ordinance  
in an acceptable manner4 ,it is1 that we
 have faith in lively exercise to       
discern the ,lord's body4 ,a backslider 
in heart1 even though a real ,christian1
 is not prepared to partake of this     
spiritual feast1 without renewing his   
repentance and faith4 ,in this          
examination1 two subjects of inquiry    
present themselves3 #a4 ,am ,i a        
,christian8 #b4 ,am ,i growing in grace8
 ,in regard to the first of these       
inquiries1 enough has already been said4
 ,to answer the second1 you will need   
consider1--#a4 ,whether you were living 
in the exercise of gracious affections  
at the last communion4 #b4 ,whether you 
have since made any progress in the     
divine life4 ,to aid you in these       

inquiries1 ,i have prepared the         
following questions1 which may be varied
 according to circumstances3  ,the last 
time ,i partook of this ordinance1 did  
,i meet the ,lord at his table1 and     
receive a refreshing from his presence8 
,did ,i there renew my covenant vows8   
,have ,i kept my vows8 ,have ,i since   
lived not unto myself1 but unto ,god8   
,have ,i enjoyed more of the presence of
 ,god8 ,have ,i lived a life of faith   
and prayer8 ,have ,i been daily to the  
cross of ,christ for pardon and         
strength8 ,have ,i maintained           
continually a deep and lively sense of  
divine things8 ,have ,i lived a life of 
self-denial8 ,have ,i obtained any      
conquests over indwelling sin8 ,have ,i 
made any progress in subduing the unholy
 tempers of my heart8 ,has my will been 
brought more entirely to bow to the will
 of ,god1 so that ,i have no will of my 
own8 ,has my love increased8 ,do ,i feel
 more delight in contemplating the      
divine character1 in reading his word1  

in prayer1 in the ordinances of his     
house1 c48 ,do ,i feel more intense     
longings of soul after conformity to his
 image8 ,have ,i any deeper sense of the
 exceeding sinfulness of sin8 ,do my own
 sins in particular appear more         
aggravated8 ,do ,i think less of myself8
 ,does a sense of my own vileness and   
unworthiness humble me low before ,god8 
,does this lead me to see my need of    
just such a ,saviour as ,jesus8 ,am ,i  
now disposed to cast my all upon him8   
,has my love for ,christians increased8 
,do ,i feel any more compassion for     
dying sinners8 ,has this led me to do   
more for their conversion8 ,have ,i     
abounded more in every good word and    
work8 ,have the fruits of the ,spirit   
increased in my heart and life8 ,have ,i
 been more faithful in all the relations
 of life8 ,do ,i perceive any growing   
deadness to the world8 ,does my relish  
for spiritual things increase1 while my 
taste for earthly delights diminishes8  
,do ,i see more and more my own         

weakness1 and feel a more steady        
dependence upon ,christ8 ,do ,i feel    
increasing spirituality in religious    
duties8 ,do ,i feel increasing          
tenderness of conscience1 and maintain  
more watchfulness against sin8 ,do ,i   
feel greater concern for the prosperity 
of the church and the conversion of the 
world8 ,am ,i becoming more meek and    
gentle in spirit1 less censorious1 and  
less disposed to resent injuries8 ,am ,i
 more ready to receive reproof from     
others1 without anger or hardness of    
feeling8  ,if you have time to keep a   
journal1 you may find some advantage    
from reviewing it on such occasions4 ,it
 will aid your memory1 and help you to  
give your past life a more thorough     
examination4 ,you will thereby be the   
better able to judge whether you are    
making progress4 ,however1 this is a    
dangerous experiment1 as it is difficult
 to divest ourselves of the idea that we
 are writing for the perusal of others2 
and this furnishes many temptations4    

,but1 however unfit this examination may
 find you1 do not let ,satan tempt you  
to stay away from the ,lord's table4 ,it
 is your duty to commemorate his dying  
love4 ,it is your duty also to do it    
with a suitable preparation of heart4   
,both these duties you will neglect by  
staying away4 ,in doing so1 you cannot  
expect ,god's blessing4 ,but set        
immediately about the work of           
repentance4 ,come to the cross of       
,christ1 and renew your application to  
his pardoning blood4 ,give yourself away
 to ,god anew1 and renew your covenant  
with him4 ,in doing this1 he will bless 
your soul2 and the ,lord's table will be
 a season of refreshing4 ,but if this   
repentance and preparation be heartfelt 
and sincere1 its fruits will be seen in 
your subsequent life4   ,,conclusion4   
,i have now completed my intended series
 of letters4 ,i have endeavored to      
present the ,christian character1 and   
the duties required of the followers of 
,christ1 in the light of ,god's word4 ,i

 know1 however1 that ,i have done it    
with much imperfection4 ,but1 do not    
rest with the mere mechanical           
performance of the duties here          
recommended4 ,do not engage in any of   
them with the hope of meriting ,god's   
favor4 ,use them only as the means of   
promoting your spiritual progress2      
depending on the ,holy ,spirit1 through 
the blood and merits of ,christ1 to     
sanctify your heart4 ,for it is very    
possible for you to observe all these   
things1 and yet deceive yourself4       
,remember that true religion is a deep  
work of grace in the heart1 changing the
 bent and inclination of the soul1 and  
giving a new direction to all its       
faculties4 ,o may you so live that      
,jesus shall say to you1 as to the      
church at ,thyatira1 ,i know thy works1 
and charity1 and service1 and faith1 and
 thy patience1 and thy works and ,,the  
,,last ,,to ,,be ,,more ,,than ,,the    
,,first4 ,take also his exhortation to  
the church at ,smyrna3 ,,be ,,thou      

,,faithful ,,unto ,,death1 ,,and ,i     
,,will ,,give ,,thee ,a ,,crown ,,of    
,,life4                                 
,your affectionate ,brother4            
,,appendix4   ,,course ,,of ,,reading4  
,i4 ,,history4  #a4 ,sacred and         
,ecclesiastical ,history4--,josephus'   
,works2 ,millar's ,history of the       
,church2 ,jahn's ,hebrew ,commonwealth1 
,mosheim's ,ecclesiastical ,history2    
,milner's ,church ,history2 ,scott's    
,continuation of ,milner2 ,life of      
,knox2 ,gilpin's ,lives of the          
,reformers2 ,fuller's and ,warner's     
,ecclesiastical ,history of ,england2   
,millar's ,propagation of ,christianity2
 ,gillies' ,historical ,collections2    
,jones' ,church ,history2 ,mather's     
,magnalia2 ,neale's ,history of the     
,puritans2 ,wisner's ,history of the    
,old ,south ,church1 ,boston2 ,bogue and
 ,bennett's ,history of the ,dissenters2
 ,benedict's ,history of the ,baptists2 
,life of ,wesley2 ,history of           
,methodism2 ,life of ,whitefield2       

,millar's ,life of ,dr4 ,rodgers2       
,crantz's ,ancient and ,modern ,history 
of the ,church of the ,united ,brethren2
 ,crantz's ,history of the ,mission in  
,greenland2 ,loskiel's ,history of the  
,north ,american ,indian ,missions2     
,oldendorp's ,history of the ,danish    
,missions of the ,united ,brethren2     
,choules' ,origin and ,history of       
,missions4 ,those who have not          
sufficient time for so extensive a      
course1 may find the most interesting   
and important events in the progress of 
the church during the first sixteen     
centuries of the ,christian era1 in the 
author's ,sabbath-school ,church        
,history4  #b4 ,secular and ,profane    
,history4--,rollin's ,ancient ,history2 
,russel's ,egypt2 ,russel's ,palestine2 
,plutarch's ,lives1 to be kept on hand1 
and consulted as the names appear in    
history2 ,wharton's ,histories2 ,beloe's
 ,herodotus2 ,travels of ,anacharsis2   
,mitford's ,greece2 ,ferguson's ,history
 of the ,roman ,republic2 ,baker's      

,livy2 ,middleton's ,life of ,cicero2   
,murphy's ,tacitus2 ,sismondi's ,decline
 of the ,roman ,empire2 ,muller's       
,universal ,history2 ,hallam's ,history 
of the ,middle ,ages2 ,james' ,life of  
,charlemagne2 ,mills' ,history of the   
,crusades and of ,chivalry2 ,turner's   
,history of ,england2 ,burnett's        
,history of his own ,times2 ,robertson's
 ,history of ,scotland2 ,robertson's    
,charles ,v42 ,vertot's ,revolutions of 
,sweden2 ,vertot's ,revolutions of      
,portugal2 ,sismondi's ,history of the  
,italian ,republics1 7abridged in       
,lardner's ,cabinet of ,history27       
,roscoe's ,lorenzo de ,medici and ,leo  
,x42 ,sketches from ,venetian ,history2 
,malcolm's ,history of ,persia2         
,irving's ,life of ,columbus2           
,prescott's ,ferdinand and ,isabella2   
,robertson's ,history of ,america2      
,bancroft's ,history of ,america2       
,winthrop's ,journal2 ,ramsay's         
,american ,revolution2 ,marshall's ,life
 of ,washington2 with the ,biographies  

of ,penn1 ,jay1 ,hamilton1 ,henry1      
,greene1 ,otis1 ,quincy1 ,morris1 the   
,signers of the ,declaration of         
,independence1 ,sparks' ,american       
,biography1 with the ,lives of any other
 distinguished ,americans2 ,scott's     
,life of ,napoleon4   ,,ii4 ,,christian 
,,doctrine4  ,paley's ,evidences2       
,chalmers' ,evidences of ,christianity2 
,halyburton against the ,deists2        
,brown's ,compendium of ,natural and    
,revealed ,religion2 ,dwight's          
,theology2 ,bates' ,harmony of the      
,divine ,attributes2 ,edwards on        
,original ,sin2 ,watts' ,ruin and       
,recovery2 ,dr4 ,woods on ,native       
,depravity2 ,fuller's ,works2 ,payson's 
,sermons2 ,boston's ,fourfold ,state2   
,edwards' ,history of ,redemption2 ,dr4 
,owen on the ,death and ,satisfaction of
 ,christ2 ,butler's ,analogy2 ,cole on  
the ,sovereignty of ,god2 ,griffin on   
,divine ,efficiency2 ,charnock on the   
,dominion of ,god in his ,works2        
,edwards' ,sermons2 ,king1 ,toplady1    

,cooper1 and ,tucker1 on                
,predestination2 ,whitby and ,gill on   
the ,five ,points2 ,wesley's            
,predestination ,considered2 ,edwards   
and ,day on the ,will2 ,scott's ,essays2
 ,colquhoun on the ,covenants2 ,evans on
 the ,atonement2 ,griffin on the        
,atonement2 ,stewart on the ,atonement2 
,jenkyn on the ,atonement2 ,witherspoon 
on ,regeneration2 ,doddridge's ,ten     
,sermons on ,regeneration2 ,dr4 ,owen on
 the ,spirit2 ,hinton on the ,spirit2   
,works of ,robert ,hall2 ,dr4 ,owen on  
the #acjth ,psalm2 ,scott's ,treatise on
 ,repentance2 ,young's ,last ,day2      
,watts on ,death and ,heaven2 ,saurin's 
,sermons2 ,baxter's ,saint's ,rest2     
,chalmers' ,works4  ,cotton's ,power of 
the ,keys2 ,hooker's ,survey of the ,sum
 of ,church ,discipline2 ,owen's        
,inquiry into the ,nature of ,churches2 
,mitchell's ,guide2 ,hall's ,view of a  
,gospel ,church2 ,brown's ,vindication  
of the ,presbyterian ,form of           
,government2 ,dr4 ,miller on the ,office

 of ,ruling ,elder2 ,king's             
,constitution of the ,church2           
,stillingfleet's ,origines ,sacrae2 ,dr4
 ,woods on ,infant ,baptism2 ,the       
,baptized ,child2 ,household            
,consecration3 ,robinson's ,history of  
,baptism4   ,,iii4 ,,biography4         
,burner's ,memoirs2 ,memoirs of         
,isabella ,graham1 ,mrs4 ,huntington1   
,mrs4 ,savage1 ,mrs4 ,harriet ,newell1  
and ,mrs4 ,paterson3 ,philip ,henry2    
,oberlin2 ,francke2 ,neff2 ,payson2     
,henry ,martyn2 ,brainerd2 ,howard2 ,dr4
 ,hopkins2 ,president ,edwards2 ,mrs4   
,emily ,egerton2 ,mrs4 ,myra ,w4 ,allen3
 ,rev4 ,samuel ,davies2 ,lives of       
,maclaurin1 ,baxter1 ,doddridge1 ,owen1 
,watts1 ,howe1 ,mather1 ,dwight2 ,gill1 
,banyan1 ,robinson1 ,andrew ,fuller1    
,hall2 ,fletcher1 ,asbury1 ,clarke1     
,watson2 ,cecil1 ,fenelon4 ,mrs4        
,judson1 ,james ,b4 ,taylor1 ,rev4      
,joseph ,emerson1 ,harlan ,page2 ,mrs4  
,winslow1 ,parsons and ,fiske1 ,gordon  
,hall2 ,life of ,schwartz4  ,lives of   

,henry ,kirke ,white1 ,elizabeth ,smith3
 ,johnson's ,lives of the ,poets2 ,life 
of ,johnson2 ,teignmouth's ,life of ,sir
 ,william ,jones2 ,southey's ,life and  
,correspondence of ,cowper4   ,,iv4     
,,miscellaneous4  #a4 ,works on the     
,prophecies4--,bishop ,newton's         
,dissertations2 ,keith2 ,smith's ,key to
 the ,revelation2 ,sir ,isaac ,newton's 
,observations on the ,prophecies of     
,daniel1 and the ,apocalypse2 ,gray's   
,key to the ,old ,testament2 ,faber on  
the ,prophecies4  #b4 ,on ,christian    
,character1 ,experience1 and            
,duty4--,edwards on ,religious          
,affections2 ,doddridge's ,rise and     
,progress2 ,owen on ,indwelling ,sin2   
,serle's ,christian ,remembrancer2      
,bunyan's ,pilgrim's ,progress2         
,scougal's ,life of ,god in the ,soul2  
,howe's ,blessedness of the ,righteous2 
,owen on ,spiritual-,mindedness2        
,leighton on ,peter2 ,baxter's          
,practical ,works2 ,flavel's ,works2    
,prayer experimentally considered2      

,abbott's ,young ,christian1 and ,path  
of ,peace2 ,gallaudet's ,every-day      
,christian2 ,works of ,robert ,philip2  
,dr4 ,skinner's ,religion of the ,bible2
 ,the ,great ,teacher1 by ,harris2 ,the 
,american ,tract ,society's ,evangelical
 ,family ,library1 which includes some  
of the works above named4  #c4 ,on the  
,instruction and ,discipline of the     
,young4--,abercrombie on the            
,intellectual ,powers2 ,abbott's        
,teacher2 ,abbott's ,mother at ,home2   
,mother's ,friend2 ,mother's ,magazine2 
,todd's ,sabbath-school ,teacher2       
,hannah ,more's ,letters on ,female     
,education4  #d4 ,illustrations of      
,scriptures4--,the ,comprehensive       
,commentary1 to be referred to in       
connection with the study of the ,bible2
 ,townsend's ,bible1 for its            
chronological information and notes4    
#e4 ,health4--,combe on the             
,constitution2 ,catechism of ,health2   
,carnaro on ,temperance4  #f4           
,travels4--,bruce's ,travels ,in        

,abyssinia2 ,denon's ,travels in ,egypt2
 ,belzoni's ,personal ,narrative2       
,humboldt's ,personal ,narrative2       
,clarke's ,travels in ,russia2          
,mackenzie's ,travels in ,iceland2      
,mungo ,park's ,mission to ,africa2     
,denham's and ,clapperton's ,mission to 
,africa2 ,lander's ,journal2 ,sismondi's
 ,italy1 ,france1 and ,england2 ,dr4    
,humphrey's ,tour2 ,rome in the #aith   
,century2 ,buchanan's ,researches2 ,the 
,christian ,brahmin2 ,ramsey's ,journal2
 ,ellis' ,polynesian ,researches2       
,stewart's ,voyage in the ,south ,seas2 
,tyerman and ,bennett's ,journal2       
,williams' ,missionary ,enterprise in   
the ,south ,sea ,islands2 ,reed and     
,matheson's ,journal2 ,journals of the  
,missionaries1 in the bound volumes of  
the ,missionary ,herald4  #g4 ,the      
,sciences4--,watts on the ,mind2 ,locke 
on the ,human ,understanding2 ,brown's  
,lectures on the ,philosophy of the     
,mind2 ,douglass on the ,advancement of 
,society2 ,dick's ,works2 ,the          

,bridgewater ,treatises2 ,mrs4 ,b4's    
,conversations on ,philosophy and       
,chemistry2 ,wayland's ,moral ,science1 
and ,political ,economy4  #h4 ,belles   
,lettres4--,hannah ,more's ,works2 ,jane
 ,taylor's ,works2 ,madame de ,stael2   
,johnson's ,rasselas2 ,selections from  
the ,spectator and ,rambler4 ,poems of  
,milton1 ,young1 ,dryden1 ,cowper1      
,thomson1 ,montgomery1 ,hemans1         
,sigourney1 ,tappan4  #i4               
,promiscuous4--,mrs4 ,farrar's ,young   
,ladies' ,friend2 ,mrs4 ,sigourney's    
,letters to ,young ,ladies2 ,female     
,student1 by ,mrs4 ,phelps4