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tomless gulf, where the voice of mercy never sounds. Surely my heart should vibrate with ardent and incessant gratitude to the Savior, who delivers penitent souls from all the corroding anguish and black despair, known in the regions of the damned. But he not only saves them from hell, but raises them to the enjoyment of himself to unrivalled glory and unfading felicity. They shall live through endless ages in those regions of consummate amity, purity and bliss. They shall contemplate with hearts overflowing with love, the works, the glorious works, of their great Creator, and tune their golden harps to Immanuel's praise. When hundreds of ages have run their rounds, their happiness will be but commencing; and when millions more have elapsed, it will be no nearer ending. O what joy, what rapture will fill their heaven-born souls, when perfectly assimilated to Him they adore, and permitted to behold his glory, and gaze on his ineffable perfections. Every wish shall be gratified; and every heavenly grace shall bloom with unfading lustre, refined, exalted, and immortalized, in those blissful regions. Saints of all ages, nations and climes, shall there meet, and with angels and archangels sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. But mortal eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived, what God shall do for them that love him. They shall enjoy an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

June 24. How pleasant the return of the Sabbath. How delightful to worship God in his earthly courts. I often feel an inexpressible joy in being permitted to appear in the as

sembly of his saints, even when I do not hear a sentence. This has frequently been a great inducement for me to go, when I have been denied the privilege which others enjoy. O may I find today, that it is good to be there. May the Holy Spirit animate my devotion, elevate my affections, and enkindle a flame of love in my frozen heart. May the Savior manifest himself to my soul, and pray for me, that my faith fail not. O may I rise superior to the vanities of this world. May my hopes, my desires and my joys concentre in the unchangeable God.

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Sabbath eve. Alas, I seem to live in vain. I fear I am a poor, useless creature, a cumberer of the ground O that I could do a little good, while I am indulged with life and health. O that I could improve every opportunity to be useful, knowing that the time is short. This day I have partaken of the holy eucharist, and solemnly devoted myself to God. O that the vows I have made may never be forgotten, never be violated. May they stimulate me to shake off sloth, and to maintain good works. How can we live at this poor dying rate, when we know not but this night our souls may be required of us? How happy they must feel, who are doing great and lasting good in the world, from pure and refined motives. O that I could emulate their zeal and activity.

Letter to Miss Harriet Atwood of Haverhill.

Beverly, July 7, 1811. Sabbath morn.

My dear Miss Atwood,

I HAVE just laid down Mr. Dana's Memoirs of Pious Women, which I am re-perusing, for

the sake of answering your truly kind and valuable letter; for which I return you many thanks. Reading the life of the illustrious Countess of Warwick in the book above mentioned, I recognized with heart-felt delight the blessed effects of genuine religion. How does it purify the heart, refine and elevate the affection, and influence and adorn the deportment? Let the enemies of our religion substitute a better in its room, and we will acknowledge they have done something. But this they never have done, nor ever will do. How amiable the portraiture, "First pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Has this religion, my beloved friend, a seat in our hearts? and do we at all times act under its sacred influence? Have we imbibed the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus? and do we emulate his bright example? Do our affections, our hopes and our desires concentre in the unchangeable God? Have we risen superior to the puerile and insipid delights of this lower world; and learnt, with humble Mary, to sit at Jesus' feet, and with avidity treasure up his words in our hearts? Do we possess a faith in Christ, which is prolific of good works, and an ardent love to him as the chief among ten thousands and altogether lovely? If this is not the case, an inspired apostle would say of us, "Let them be Anathama Maranatha." Let us examine ourselves, and see whether we be in the faith. Let us bring our views, our feelings and our actions to that infallible criterion, the word of God, and endeavor to ascertain, whether they

comport with what it requires. I am more than ever impressed with the importance of a frequent, impartial and critical investigation of our hopes, characters, dispositions and lives. I think it would be well every evening to take a retrospect of the day, and inquire how we have performed the business of it, what duties. neglected, what mercies received, and what sins committed. We have a great and arduous work to do; and our time is short. We have evil tempers and propensities to subdue, and stubborn wills to conquer. We have an invisible and malicious adversary, ever ready to annoy us. We have a battle to fight, a race to run, a crown to win. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence; and the violent take it by force." It is obvious, our souls cannot be saved, and heaven obtained by a few indolent formal wishes, and heartless duties. No, sedulous care and unremitting vigilance and circumspection are necessary. We must place our whole dependence on Jesus. He is allsufficient, and, if we repair to him for grace and strength to do his will, he will not deny us. It is desirable to feel our own helplessness and nothingness, that we may value him the more, and place a more perfect reliance on his merits.

Sabbath eve. I have just returned from the house of God, where I have been indulged with hearing Mr. E. O that I could but appreciate my privileges as I ought, and make a wise improvement. How many of our dear fellowcreatures are groping in horrid darkness, destitute of the heavenly light of the gospel, and onveloped in a gloomy labyrinth of Jewish,

Mahometan or Pagan superstition. O that the Sun of righteousness would arise, and illumine those benighted corners of the earth with his benignant rays. I rejoice to hear there are a few, who are determined to quit their native land, to preach the everlasting gospel to illi erate, perishing Pagans. I have been apprised of your intention of going, and wish you had communicated some of your feelings, as it respects that subject. I am confident, my dear Miss Atwood, you will sit down and seriously count the cost, before you make any engagement. You have undoubtedly resolved in your mind the trying sacrifices you must make; the hardships and distresses you must probably endure. If you go, I hope you will be enabled to do great and lasting good in those distant climes, and give many a poor native reason to bless God through eternity that you came among them. When we consider that they have souls to be saved or lost, we are filled with amazement, that no greater exertions have been made for the promulgation of the gospel among them. Surely Jesus has done much for us; and now cannot we do something for him? We should consider no sacrifices too great to be made, no trials too great to be endured, if thereby we can advance his cause, and promote his glory. "It is the only cause on earth worth an anxious thought," says the excellent Dr. G. And what great matter is it in which quarter of the globe we reside, for an "inch or two of time," whether in Asia or America, if we can be doing good? The idea of parting with you is extremely painful; but if you go, I shall still have the rich con

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