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and I will show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."

I would advise you to store your memory, as opportunity offers, with various petitionary passages of Scripture, especially from the Psalms, that in the intervals of occupation, in your walks, and in your retirements, you may be furnished with prayers indited by the Spirit of truth, who knew the necessities and temptations of the human heart. You will find this habit of silent, momentary, ejaculatory petition, a great means of preserving that sedateness of feeling and quietness of deportment, which even in the vivacity of youth, should characterize the Christian.

Dear, I do hope God will strengthen you, that you may be able to stand, and at once and for ever turn your steps towards that narrow but pleasant path, which issues in rest eternal and glorious. What better can you do? Is it not, indeed, a reasonable service? Is not the present the best time to engage in it? Only think of the different retrospect you will have on a death-bed. Supposing (fearful supposition) that your

present desires wear off, and that, notwithstanding, you should be saved at a ninth or an eleventh hour, think of the remorse saved, the active good effected, the privileges enjoyed, the blessings diffused, by those who walk with God "from youth even to hoar hairs." Think of the temptations they escape, the sorrows they never feel, all suffered, and all felt, by those who enter the vineyard in later life. Think again of the fearful uncertainty which involves the future, and resolve, determine, act—now. Ask God to enlarge your heart, and set you in the way of his commandments; tell him you have no might, but plead his promise "to increase strength;" to "strengthen the spoiled against the strong;" to tread down your spiritual enemies under your feet; to arm you with the whole armour of God, and then teach you how to use it. Never fear that his gracious ear will be wearied with the tale of your sins, your wants, and your weaknesses. May he lead you into all truth, enable you to walk humbly, and therefore surely, and now, in these the bright and

joyous hours of life, unite you to himself in that bond which can never be broken; which gives power over the vicissitudes of time and the world, and even over death and hell! May he enable you not merely to begin, but to end well; that having overcome through the Spirit of faith, you may inherit all those royal promises, the fulfilment of which, if completed in heaven, commences here below. One thing is certain; of vacillation you will assuredly repent, of decision, never. You may twine your affections round the reeds of earth, and build towering hopes upon the sand, and seek after worldly vanities as after hid treasure, but the end of these things is sure even disappointment and destruction. And the end of a contrary conduct is sure also-glory, honour, immortality—all comprized in one weighty expression-eternal life! May God, who is, I trust, beginning a good work in you, bless and keep you by the glorious working of his effectual Spirit!

LETTER XIV.

I WRITE you the promised letter, dearest because you request it so earnestly, that I am induced to believe it will give you pleasure. But as I am not aware that you hold any opinions which admit of discussion, or encourage feelings which a friend would advise you to suppress, I can only offer a few general remarks on general subjects.

Thanks to the divine blessing on able instruction, your heart is already decided on the most momentous point that can engross the thoughts of a rational being, and you have acquired a taste for study, which predisposes you to continue the cultivation of

your mind. These are two things to be thankful for two, on which to ground hope for the future, both here and hereafter.

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My dear love, think often on this question, 'What is the true end of education?" To store the memory with facts? to grace the person with accomplishments? to enrich the understanding with noble sentiments? These are but the means-the way. The true end of education, is, to fit a thinking being for the part she is to perform in life, as the true end of life is to prepare the same being for eternity; so that merely to be well informed is not to be well educated. The question is not how much knowledge we possess; but are we disposed to render it available to moral improvement? subservient to practical duty? Will others benefit by our education, as well as ourselves? When you leave school you become a member of society, and, as such, the duties of society devolve upon you. See to it, then, that you first ascertain what you can do, and next, what you are especially required to do. Thinking soberly of ourselves, does not interdict our forming a correct esti

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